US2770158A - Bridge for stringed musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 13, 1956 2,770,158

R. M. BOWMAN BRIDGE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Fi1`ed March 27, 1956 IN V EN TOR.

Pia/Ma 50M/wm United States Patent O BRIDGE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Reginald M. Bowman, Baltimore, Md.

Application March 27, 1956, Serial No. 574,315

3 Claims. (Cl. 84-309) The present invention relates to a support for stringed instruments and has for its object to provide a bridge which will transport more sound to the body of the instrument than the average type bridge and a method of producing a more rigid bridge than has before been obtainable from the same type material.

In the conventional type wooden bridge the strings imbed themselves into the wood and snubs the vibrations of the string. Further, strings wound with very line aluminum wire will sometimes be ripped of the string when drawn through a tight slot on the wooden bridge. Wh-ile some of the above objections would seem to be partly corrected by metal bridges, they have never been very popular, neither have bridges constructed from any of the known plastic materials.

While the general object of the invention has been set forth it is quite probable that other objects, uses and advantages will become apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed which, consists in the novel construction and the arrangement of its several parts, as set forth in the accompanying drawings and detail description:

Figure l is a perspective view of a Violin in light lines showing the location and position of the improved bridge in dark lines.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of the improved bridge showing more in detail of the improvement thereof.

Figure 3 is an end view of the same.

Figure 4 is an end View of a bridge constructed from a single piece of material.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view in elevation of a portion of a bridge illustrating in detail the grummet through which the instrument string passes.

In referring to the drawings, like character references are used to point out like and similar parts throughout the several views. The improved bridge is indicated by the letter A. The bridge shown in Figure 4 is constructed in a single piece, preferably Wood.

The bridge A is provided with suitable feet 13 and 14 and an arcuated upper edge 15, however while the instrument strings do not rest on the upper edge 15 of the bridge, it is not necessary that `it be in any particular form. Extending upwardly a predetermined distance ice from the bottom edge of the bridge there is provided a plurality of apertures 18, 19, 20 and 21. Each of these apertures is provided with a grummet 22, which are all alike and preferably of metal. The grummets line the aperture and extend about the outer edges in the form of shoulders 22 and 22". The apertures extend across the upper portion of the bridge a predetermined distance from the feet 13 and 14 and cover a wider span than the feet. In use the bridge is placed upon a violin 2S, or other musical instrument as shown in Figure l in light lines. The Violin strings 26, 27, 28 and 29 have one end connected with the tail piece 30, after which they are fed through the respective apertures in the bridge, then on over the finger board 31.

The advantage of the grummets in the bridge, is that, upon vibrating the strings the vibrations are transferred to the whole of the grummet, which as noted hereinbefore as being preferably metal, sets up a better vibration in the bridge which is transferred to the body of the instrument.

The preferred form is to construct the bridge of multiple sheets, or plys. This type bridge is many times stronger than those constructed from a single piece of wood. When constructed of this ply material the bridge is very sturdy and will not be broken unless placed under very unusual stresses. Under long tests the multiply ply bridge has never been broken when being properly used.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated a bridge constructed of a single piece of wood 13 having the grummets placed therein in substantially the same manner as shown and described in the previous form.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it is not intended as a limitation as is obvious that various changes and modiications of the device may be made without departing from the principles illustrated herein, therefore, what I consider as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A support for the strings of a stringed instrument comprising a bridge having a foot at each end and adjacent the bottom thereof for supporting the bridge upon the instrument, said bridge having a plurality of apertures spaced upwardly from the foot members a predetermined distance across the top portion of the bridge, a grummet surrounding each of the apertures of a material harder than the material of the bridge.

2. In a support for the strings of a stringed instrument as set forth in claim l in which the bridge is constructed of a single piece of material and being tapered inwardly toward the top.

3. In a support for the strings 0f a straight instrument, as set forth in claim l in which the bridge is constructed of not less than three sheets of relatively thin fibrous material glued together to form a multiple ply structure, said grummets extending through all of the plys with a shoulder on each outer surface thereof.

No references cited.

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