US2664022A - Nut for stringed musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

lll llll Il llll M. MACCAFERRI NUT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Dec. 29, 1953 Original Filed March l5, 1950 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NUT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Mario Maccaferri, Rye, N. Y., assignorvto French American Reeds Manufacturing Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 1 Claim. 1

My present invention is directed to certain improvements in nuts for stringed musical instruments, and more specicially to an improved arrangement of a string dividing nut and rst fret for such instruments; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the musical instrument art in the light of the iollowing explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what l now believe to be the preferred embodiments or mechanical and functional expressions of the invention from among various other forms, e2".- pressions, modiiications, constructions and combinations of which the invention is capable within the broad spirit and scope thereof as denned by the claim hereto appended.

This application is led as a division of my copending application Serial No. 149,741, filed March 15, 1950, for Stringed Musical instrun ments, now Patent No. 2,597,154 dated May 20, 1952.

The invention is concerned with those types of musical instruments characterized by a resonant body or bell having a fretted nger board mounting neck extending therefrom and terminating at its outer end in a head for mounting therein a plurality of string adjusting and tuning keys. Such types of instruments also include spaced strings secured to the head mounted keys and extended therefrom inwardly along and over the linger board and the frets thereon to a bridge member, anchor or the like on the body or bell of the instrument with a socalled nut or string divider or spaced disposed transversely across the nnger board at the outer or head end thereof for receiving and positioning the strings. More specincally my invention is concerned with such instruments when formed of plastic materials, such as an instrument of my above identified copending application, or such an instrument having the finger board thereof formed of plastic, although my invention is not limited to instruments, or the nnger boards thereof, formed of any particular material or materials.

With such stringed musical instruments as heretofore generally designed and constructed, usually of Wood, a string divider is secured across the outer end of the iinger board at or adjacent the inner end of the head and this string divider is required to function also as the rst fret of the nger board. Such a string divider, usuall made of wood, and with the strings of necessity in very tight engagement therewith and thereacross, tends to create a difference in the note produced by a string over the note produced by the string from any of the other frets of the nger board, which other frets are usually formed of metal or the like material strips or bars inset in and across the nger board.

It is a general object of my invention to eliminate the disadvantages of such a string divider and fret arrangement; and in carrying out such object the invention provides a iirst or outer end fret on the finger board as solely a fret similar to and formed of the same material as the remaining frets on the nger board, with a separate string divider functioning solely or primarily as such immediately adjacent to the rst fret.

Another object is to provide an improved rst fret and string divider combination for a fretted finger board formed of a plastic material.

A further object is to provide a nrst fret and string divider arrangement for a fretted ringer board of a stringed musical instrument in which the first fret is engaged by the strings and holds the strings normally out of engagement with the remaining series of frets While the string divider maintains the strings properly spaced Without interfering with the quality of the musical notes produced by the strings.

And a further object is to provide a design and construction of rst fret and string divider which lends itself readily to formation vby injection molding from a thermoplastic material as components of a fretted linger board and neck for a stringed musical instrument.

With ythe foregoing and various other objects which will be readily recognized from the following detailed description and explanation, my invention consists in certain novel features in design and in construction and combinations of parts, all as will be more fully referred to and specied hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several gures thereof:

Fig. 1 is a view in top plan of a stringed musical instrument of the ukulele type having a retted iinger board incorporating the iirst fret and string divider embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the neck and fretted nger board of the instrument of Fig. l, taken as on the line 2--2 oi Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the rst fret and string divider of the form or the invention of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the position `component of polystyrene plastic. comprises lthe -bottom wall .i5 and the .opposite assumed by the strings of the instrument relative to the string divider and first fret.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the neck and the string divider, taken as on the line li-li of Fig. l.

I have selected and illustrated and described herein, purely by way of example and not in all respects by way of limitation, a stringed musical instrument of the ukulele type formed of a moldable thermoplastic material having a fretted finger board incorporating an embodiment of first fret and string divider of the invention. However, arrangements yof a first fret and string divider in accordance with the invention are not limited to use in stringed instruments of the ukulele type or to instruments formed off a .there moplastic material, as the invention is adapted to and intended for use generally with stringed musical instruments utilizing fretted finger boards.

Referring now to the drawings, the .example instrument in the form .of a ukulele is ,comprised of a hollow body or bell B having a sounding board S over and closing the upper side thereof. The

sounding board S is Aformed with a sound Aopening E therethrough. A neck N .extends from .one .end of the body B .and terminates Vat its .outer .end in a tuning key mounting head H. A fretted linger board F is mounted on and over the neck N and .extends between the inner .end of a head H vand the adjacent end `of 'body B and sounding board S. A cover plate C is in this instance mounted on and covers the -upper -side ,of head H. A bridge D is secured in transversely disposed position on the `outer side yof a sounding hoard ,S between the outer end of body B and the sound opening In the ukulele type of stringed .instrument four (fi) strings are usually provided, as in the instant example, and four .(4) string .tuning keys Gi, .C1-2,

G3 and .G6 are journaled and .extend trans- ,f

versely through head H and :the .coi/ er plate C to which are attached .the .ends of the strings i, 2, 3 and il, respectively. Such strings may be of any material suitable for the purpose, Aalthough in the present example l.they may be .considered to y be of a suitable plastic such as nylon.

The strings i, 2, .3 and s are stretched from the tuning keys in somewhat parallel relation inwardly across the finger board F, Ysounding beard S and the sound .opening E therein, to the bridge D to which they .are .attached and secured in spaced relation, rvas will be .clear by reference to Fig. 1. The strings I, 2, .3 :and 4 are stretched between the tuning keys and bridge D :under tension, which tension `may be lvaried by .the `rotatable keys to thereby tune'the strings.

The body E, the neck N and Athe head H are formed as a unitary, one-piece, injection molded The neck N side walls it, so shaped and integrally joined as to form this component of generally U-shape in cross section throughout the major portion of its length, with the outer or upper side thereof open.

The head H of this one-piece, molded component is integral with neck N and extends outwardly in continuation thereof but is disposed angularly relative to the general plane of neck N ina direction inwardly from the outer side of the instrument. Head H includes a bottom wall it' in continuation of bottom wall l5 of neck N, and .opposits side walls i8 in continuation of the opposite side walls I6 of the neck. Head H is open at the outer side of the instrument but the side walls i8 at the outer end thereof are joined .by

an end wall lBa extending therebetween and transversely thereacross.

The nger board F of this example is molded of polystyrene to form the elongated plate or strip 3,5 having the depending flanges 3i along opposite longitudinal sides thereof but spaced a distance ,inwardly from the outer longitudinal edges of strip Sil, so as to provide the opposite shoulders 34e, The finger board so formed is mounted on and over neck N with the flanges 3i extending into the neck between and forming a snug flt with the inner surfaces of the opposite side walls I6 of rthe neck and with shoulders Sia seating upon the upper or outer edges of neck side walls i6. -The finger board plate or base 33 is cemented and secured assembled position on and completely over and closing the outer side of neck N, with the inner end 33a of the plate projected a distance beyond the adjacent ends of flanges Sla to extend over onto the upper side of sounding board S for cementing thereto.

The finger board F includes the series of transversely disposed, parallel frets 35 thereon fand thereacross, the frets being spaced progressively increasing distances .apart `outwardly ,along the finger board in the established manner for lfretted finger boards of such types of musical instruments :In the present example the frets 3,5 are each formed of a metallic plastic over-molded on and bonded to the yfinger board to form jin effect nxed ,and permanent components ,of the finger board.

By my present invention the ,outermost inetallic plastic fret '35 of fingerboard F `is located at or immediately adjacent the outer end of the `base member .3Q .of the fingerboard and a ,Septrate string divider in the form Aof a plastic strip .or bar Si is attached in position `against and across the .outer end of the finger board in Yposition parallel with and in immediate proximity to fret 3.5'. This .divider strip 3l in the instant example occupies a space provided between the adjacent .ends .of the finger board and the cover plate C. String .divider 'el .extends upwardly ,-a .distance above the outer vsurface of finger board F and a plane passing `through the outer edge surfaces of the frets 35 and first fret 31,5, String divider 3i is provided `with properly spaced transverse slots Sla across the outer `or upper edge portion thereof and these slots extend a distance into the divider to provide a depth therefor to receive. vand -retain the strings. in proper spaced relation elevated .above and .out of contact with the .divider ,at the inner ends of the slots as the strings .extend across and `in contact with the outer end or so-called first fret 3,5" to the tuning keys. The bridge D is so dimensioned and positioned on sounding board 1B relaztte to the rst fret 35 andthe remaining frets 35 on finger board F, that the strings i, 2, 3 and when in playing condition under tension .stretched between the `bridge and the keys GI, G2, G'and G4, are engaged over only the fret .35 held lout of .contact lwith the remaining frets 35. The fret 35 is thus relieved of yany duty to function .to divide and maintain the spacing .between .the springs and is left vfree to function solely Ias the first fret of the nger board. he 4,divider .Ziff i,s, however, positioned immediately adjacent @hereto but at the outer side thereof so that there is no interference with the strings at or inwardly of the fret 35 by this first fret being forced .to Yalso serve as a string divider and spacer,

In this manner the .string divider functions solely, or primarily, as a divider and the frbst fret 35 in immediate proximity thereto is provided to function solely as a fret. I thus obtain for the first fret 35 the full advantages of the characteristics of this fret in obtaining the proper tone or note from any one of the strings I, 2, 3 and 4 which may be vibrated or played by a player whether the string is stopped or is unstopped. While preferably, as in the form of the invention of the selected embodiment hereof, the divider 31 is so positioned relative to the first fret 35' and has the slots 31a thereof of such a depth that the strings do not have bearing engagement under tension on the divider at the bottom of the slots, yet it is recognized that the strings, or any of them may have contact engagement at the lower ends of the slots if the primary bearing and tensioning engagement remains on the first fret. By thus providing the slots 31a of a depth such that the strings clear and are out of engagement with the divider at the inner ends of the slots, the strings extend in straight paths directly from the keys Gl, G2, G3 and G4, to and in engagement with and across the first fret 35 without interruption to the normal angle of inclination of the strings. Similarly, where the divider slots 31a have a depth such that the strings may have contact with the divider at the inner ends of the slots, the surfaces at the slot inner ends may have an angle of inclination, or be otherwise formed so as to not interrupt or break the normal angle or straight line path of the strings from the keys to the first fret.

In the example embodiment the string divider 31 happens to be in the form of a separate element suitably secured in position on the neck N between the finger board F and the head cover C. Obviously, however, and especially where, as in this example, the finger board F and the cover C are formed of a molded thermoplastic, the string divider may be molded as an integral outer end portion of the nger board, or may be molded as an integral inner end portion of the cover plate C.

It will further be evident that various other i changes, modifications, additions, eliminations and substitutions might be resorted to without departing from the broad spirit and scope of my invention, and hence, except as may be required by intended specic limitation thereto in the appended claim, I do not desire to limit my invention in all respects to the specific example hereof.

What I claim is:

In a stringed musical instrument, in combination, a hollow resonant body having a sounding 6 board over and closing the top side thereof; a neck member extending from one end of said body; a head member at the outer end of said neck member; string tuning keys mounted on said head member; a ngerboard on the top side of said neck member in position extending thereon between said head member and said body; a string divider in position disposed transversely across said neck between said fingerboard and said head member; said string divider having transverse, spaced playing string receiving slots therein; said fingerboard being provided with a series of frets thereon, including a first fret, with each fret of said series of frets including said rst fret being formed of identical material and characteristics disposed on said fingerboard transversely across the outer side thereof in positions spaced apart therealong between said string divider and said body; said rst fret of said series of frets being positioned at the outer end of said fingerboard disposed transversely thereacross at and substantially against and along the inner side of said string divider; a bridge member on and extending a distance outwardly from the outer side of said sounding board; said bridge member providing a playing string contact surface across the outer side thereof; playing strings attached at their opposite ends to said bridge member and said tuning keys, respectively; said playing strings being adapted to be extended under tension from said tuning keys through the slots in said string divider to said bridge member and being supported between the said tuning keys and bridge member solely on said first fret and on said string contact surface on said bridge member; and said string contact surface of said bridge member being positioned a distance outwardly from said sounding board to maintain said playing strings normally spaced outwardly a distance from and out of contact with the frets of said series of frets between said first fret of said series or" frets on which said strings are supported and the said body.

MARIO MACCAFERRI.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 455,221 Lorang June 30, 1891 1,237,872 Crow Aug. 2l, 1917 2,270,612 Williams Jan. 20,1942

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 661,267 France July 23, 1929

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