US2588101A - Musical instrument construction - Google Patents

Description

March'4, 1952 A, FlNDER 2,588,101

I MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15} 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR.

. GEORGE A. FINDER AGENT March 4, 1952 G. AzFINDER 2,588,101

MUSI CAL INSTRUMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. GEORGE A. FINDER AGENT Patented Mar. 4, 1952 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CONSTRUCTION George A. Finder, San Diego, Calif., assignor to Fin-der Inc., San Diego, Calif.

; ApplicationJuly 15, 1950, Serial No. 174,095

. 12 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a musical: instrument construction, more particularlyto the construction of stringed musical instruments, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a "musical instrument construction which promotes injection molding of various musical instruments of plastic material;

Second, to provide a musical instrument construction in which a complete stringed musical instrument may be formed of two castings by addition of strings and keys;

Third, to provide a musical instrument construction of this class having very fine acoustical arrangement when constructed of two plastic castings;

Fourth, to provide a musical instrument construction of this class which provides an instrument which is :very durable, impervious to water and numerous solvents, and which will withstand very great temperature variations;

Fifth, to provide a musical instrument construction of this class having novel top and integral bridge construction for holding the strings of the musical instrument;

Sixth, to provide a musicalinstrument construction of this class having a novel key-holding. structure in the head thereof;

Seventh, to provide a musical instrument construction of this class havingnovel reinforcing structure cast therein which permits the instrument to be very light .in weight in proportion to its strength;

Eighth, to provide amusical instrument construction of this class in which the neck is integral with the body and the finger board is integral with the top, providing a structure which is very easy to assemble, promoting economy of manufacture;

Ninth, to provide amusical instrument construction of this class in which the musical instrument is substantially completed by the assembly of two castings, having novel indexing flanges which provide accurate interengagement of the two castings, which greatly facilitates the assembly thereof; and

Tenth, to provide a musical instrument construction of this class which is very simple and economical, efficient, durable, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

. With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novelfeatures "of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended-claims,"reference bethe characters of reference thereon, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a top or plan view of a musical instrument, more particularly a ukulele, incorporating my musical instrument construction; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view thereof, taken from the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of the lower body casting of my musical instrument construction; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the upper top and finger board casting of my musical. instrument construction; Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 6-B of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, takenirom the .line 1-1 of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 8-8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line 99 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line l0l0 of Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

. In my musical instrument construction, I. have provided two separate castings, which are preferably made by the injection molding process, and of plastic material. One of. the castings, .as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, incorporatesthe musical instrument body I, having an integral arcuate in cross-section neck 2, which includes a key-supporting head portion 3. The other casting, shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, incorporates a top 4, having an integral finger board portion 5,, and cover. portion 6, provided with projecting key-receiving bosses l, which are integral therewith. ,Spaced from the outer outline edge portions of the top casting 4 are angular flange portionsB, shown in detail in Fig. 10 of the drawings, which-engage the internal side wall portions 9 of the body I, greatly facilitating the assembly of the castings l and 4, and strengthening the structural connection thereof.

It will be noted that the spacing of the angular flange 8 from the outer edge H] of the top casting 4, as shown in Fig-10 of the drawings, is equal to the thickness of the side wall ll of-the body casting I, all as shown best in Fig. .10 .of thedrawings. It will be noted that the top casting 4 and. body casting areassembled byproviding, a .coatingof solvent cement adjacent the flange 8, so that after assembly the castings l and 4 become substantially integral. The assemmy of the castings I and 4 is therefore very simple, and requires only the placement of the cement on the outer side of the flange 8 preliminary to the fitting of the top casting 4 on to the body casting I, shown in detail in Fig. of the drawings. During the assembly of the top casting 4 with the body casting I, solvent cement is placed on the ends of the bosses I which abut the head portion 3 of the body casting I, shown best in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Thus, the bosses I are adhered to the head portion 3, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, then the bushing I2 is pressed into the opening I3 in the head portion 3, and forced into the boss I. A metal eyelet I4 is pressed into the opening I5 in the boss I, and the key holding structure is complete.

Reference is made to my co-pending application for String Holding Key for Musical Instruments, Serial No. 155 031, filed April 10. 1950, now matured into U. S. Patent No. 2,583,478, dated January 22, 1952, which discloses the details of the keys IB and bushin s I3 in relationship to the head of a musical instrument.

The neck portion 2 of the body casting I, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings, is arcuate in cross-section and is provided with a plurality of longitudinal stiifeners I1, which are integral with the neck portion 2 and with the chordshaped transverse stiffeners I8, providing rigidity of the neck portion 2 of the body casting I. It will be noted that the middle longitudinal stiifener I'I extends to the body portion of the body casting I, and is inte ral with a transverse partition 36, which is disposed at the transition between the neck portion 2 and the body portion of the body casting I. This middle reinforcing portion I1 extends beyond said partition 36, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and is integral with the bottom I9 of the body casting I, shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be noted that this reinforcing portion I1 provides rigidity of the neck 2 for supporting strings under tension on the musical instrument.

In the body casting I, integral with the bottom I9 thereof, and extendin the full length of the bottom I9, is a reinforcing rib 20, which is in alignment with the reinforcing rib I I and transversely of this reinforcing rib are the reinforcing ribs 2I and 22, all of which serves to stiffen the back I9 of the body member I.

The top casting 4, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 23, which extend laterally of the longitudinal axis of the top casting 4, at opposite sides of the sound hole 24, and interconnecting these ribs 23 are secondary reinforcing ribs 25 at opposite sides of the sound hole 24, at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the top casting 4. Surrounding the sound hole 24 is a reinforcing rib 26, which is annular, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. The top casting 4 is provided with an integral string-holdin bridge 21, shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings in' section, and in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. This string-holding bridge is substantially channelshaped in cross-section and is integral with the top casting 4, and is provided with string-supporting slots 28, which extend through the normally upper portion thereof and through the rear side wall of said channel-shaped in crosssection bridge 21. These slots 28 are each provided with an enlarged portion 29, through which the knot ends of strings may be inserted during the stringing of the instrument. It will be noted that the channel-shaped in cross-section bridge 21 is open inwardly of the musical instrument, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, providing room for the insertion of a knot on the strings 3B, which engage the bar 3| of the bridge 21 in their extended relationship toward the keys I6, to which they are connected at their opposite ends.

The neck portion 5 of the .top casting 4 is provided with accurately graduated finger-board frets 32, which are integral therewith and raised above the upper surface 33 of the top casting 4. At the extreme end of the finger-board of the neck portion 5 is an integral nut 34, over which the strings pass in angular relationship to the keys I6. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and in detail in Fig. 7, the body casting side wall portions are provided with reinforcing ribs 35, which are integral with the side Walls I I and the back I 9, for stifiening the construction of the body casting I at the transition of said side walls II and back I9.

The operation of my musical instrument construction is substantially as follows:

When the top casting 4 has been cemented to the body casting I, as hereinbefore described, and when the keys I6 are in place as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the strings 30 may be provided with knotted portions near their ends, which may be inserted through the enlarged openings 29 in the bridge 21, then the strings may be pulled over the bar 3| and the nut 34 to a position in connected relationship with the keys I6, whereupon they may be tightened to the proper pitch. When the stresses in the strings 30 reach the desired value to provide tone pitch, the various reinforcing ribs within the body casting I and top casting 4 resist deflection of the neck of the musical instrument relative to the body thereof.

The arcuate cross-section neck portion 2 of the body member I provides structural strength in its integral cemented relationship with the finger-board neck portion 5 of the top casting 4. The flange 8, as shown in Fig. 10, which extends completely around the outline of the instrument, provides additional stifiening therefor, and the integral construction provided by the solvent cement connecting the body casting I and top casting 4 renders the instrument very strong and of a unitary resonant character.

The playing of my musical instrument construction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, is conventional, and it will be here noted that the hollow neck of the instrument pro' vided by the arcuate cross-section neck portion 2 of the body casting I promotes proper balance of the instrument during playing, and thereby provides a certain ease of handling of the instrument by the left hand during the fingering of the strings on the frets 32, shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to, secure by Letters Patent isi 1. In a musical instrument construction, a body casting having an arcuate in cross-section neck integral therewith and a top casting provided with an integral finger-board=thereon, having a flange engageable with the-inner side wall =of -said body "casting cemented to said inner side-=wall, said neck 'portion andsaid finger-"board portion 2. Ina musical instrumentconstruction, a body 1 casting having anarcuate in cross-section neck integral therewith; and atop casting-provided with an integral finger-board thereon, having a flange engageable with the inner side wall of said body casting cemented to said inner side wall, said top casting provided with an integral channel-shaped in cross-section bridge portion, having a plurality of slots therein, having enlarged opening portions at the rear of said channel-shaped in crosssection bridge portion, said neck portion of said body casting having longitudinal stiffeners therein, one of said stiffeners extending into and integral with the body portion of said body casting.

3. In a musical instrument construction, a plastic body casting having an arcuate in crosssection neck portion, a body back portion and integral side wall portions, a top casting having an angular flange spaced from the outer edges thereof, engageable with the inner side wall of said body casting and adhered to said inner side Wall, said top casting having a finger-board portion integral therewith adhered to said arcuate in cross-section neck portion of said body casting, said finger-board and said neck portion provided with head portions adapted to receive keys.

4. In a musical instrument construction, a plastic body casting having an arcuate in cross-section neck portion, a body back portion and integral side wall portions, 2. top casting having an angular flange spaced from the outer edges thereof, engageable with the inner side wall of said body casting and adhered to said inner side wall, said top casting having a finger-board portion integral therewith adhered to said arcuate in cross-section neck portion of said body casting, said finger-board and said neck portion provided with head portions adapted to receive keys, boss portions integral with one of said head portions and adhered to the other of said head portions.

5. In a musical instrument construction, a plastic body casting having an arcuate in cross-section neck portion, a body back portion and integral side wall portions, a top casting having an angular flange spaced from the outer edges thereof, engageable with the inner side wall of said body casting and adhered to said inner side wall, said top casting having a finger-board portion integral therewith adhered to said arcuate in cross-section neck portion of said body casting, said finger-board and said neck portion provided with head portions adapted to receive keys, boss portions integral with one of said head portions and adhered to the other of said head portions, longitudinal and transverse reinforcing ribs integral with the back portion of said body casting, said top casting provided with a sound hole therein, having reinforcing ribs therearound.

6. In a musical instrument construction, a plastic body casting having an arcuate in cross-section neck portion, a body back portion and integral side wall portions, a top casting having an angular flange spaced from the outer edges thereof, engageable with the inner side wall of said body casting and adhered to said inner side wall, said top castinghaving a finger-board portioniintegral therewith adhered to said arcuate in cross-section neck portion of saidbody cast ing, said finger-board and said neck portion provided with head portions adapted to receive keys, boss portions integral with oneof said head spartions and adhered-to the-otherof said head'portions, longitudinal and transversereinforcing ribs integral with-the back portion of'said body cast- "ing, saidtop casting provided with a sound hole therein, having reinforcing ribs therearound, said top casting provided withtransverse reinforcing.-

ribs adjacent said sound hole.

7. In a musical instrument construction, a cast instrument top having an integral normally inverted channel-shaped in cross-section bridge thereon, provided with string-receiving slots in one normally vertical side wall thereof communicating with the inner side of said top, said slots having enlarged open portions near instrument top for receiving string knots.

8. In a musical instrument construction, a cast instrument top having an integral normally in-- verted channel-shaped in cross-section bridge thereon, provided with string-receiving slots in one normally vertical side wall thereof communicating with the inner side of said top, said slots having enlarged open portions near instrument top for receiving string knots, said channel-shaped in cross-section bridge having a bar at the normally upper side thereof integral therewith, spaced from said slots, over which said strings may be engaged.

9. In a musical instrument construction, a musical instrument neck head, comprising a pair of spaced head portions adhered to each other, one of said head portions having integral hollow bosses abutted and adhered to the other of said head portions, metal bushings extending through said hollow bosses, and keys revolubly mounted in said bushings.

10. In a musical instrument construction, a body casting having an arcuate in cross-section neck integral therewith and a top casting pro vided with a finger-board thereon, having a flange engageable with the inner side wall of said body casting cemented to said inner side wall, said body casting having a back portion and side wall portions and reinforcing ribs at the transition of said back portion and said side wall portions for reinforcing the same.

11. In a musical instrument construction, a body casting having an arcuate in cross-section neck integral therewith and a top casting provided with a finger-board thereon, having a flange engageable with the inner side wall of said body casting cemented to said inner side wall, said body casting having a back portion and side wall portions and reinforcing ribs at the transition of said back portion and said side wall portions for reinforcing the same, said ribs integral with said back portion and said side wall portions.

12. In a musical instrument construction, a body casting having an integral neck portion, and

. a top casting provided with an integral fingerboard fixed to said body casting, said neck portion and said fingerboard portion provided with head portions contiguously fixed to each other, one of said head portions provided with integral boss portions adhered to the other of said head portions, said boss portions having openings extending therethrough, and keys in said openings.

GEORGE A. FINDER.

(References on following page) file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Kopp July 8, 1890 Borcur Mar. 22, 1898 Kindig July 25, 1899 Schultz Feb. 8, 1916 Horton July 19, 1927 Swanson May 8, 1928 Number Number Name Date Puoina Dec. 1, 1931 Young Oct. 4, 1932 Moertel Jan. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Nov. 26, 1889 OTHER REFERENCES Acrylic Resins Find Industrial Applications,

Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, September 1937, vol. 44, No. 9, pages 468-471.

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