US316508A

US316508A - Banjo

Info

Publication number: US316508A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1885-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1902-04-28

Description

No Model.)

G. A. WASHBURN.

BANJO.

No. 316,508. Patented Apr. 28, 1885.

InvenZ'Wi P:TERs Phamukho np UNITED STATES 1 PATENT O FIC 1 G. ARTHUR WASHBURN, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN C. HAYNES & CO., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BANJO.

5PECIEIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,508, dated April 28, 1885.

Application filed May 12, 1884. (No model.) I

To all 2071,0122, it may concern:

- useful Improvement in Banjos, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a section of the body of my improved banjo Fig. 2, aside elevation of one of the brackets represented as in use, a portion of the body being shown inthe same figure in transverse section; and Fig. 3, avertical longitudinal section of one of the brackets and a transverse section of a por tion of the body.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates more especially to the brackets and means for straining the head of the banjo or rendering it taut; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a more desirable and effective device of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all con versant with such matters from the following explanation, its extreme simplicity rendering an elaborate description unnecessary.

In the drawings, A represents the body of the banjo; B, the head; C, the top hoop, and D the {head-band or straining-wire, to which the head is attached, all of these parts being of the ordinary construction and not broadly claimed herein.

A series of brackets, E, are disposed at regular intervals around the body A,being secured in position thereon by the screws on. The form and specific construction of these brackets are best seen in Fig. 3, in which E represents the body of the bracket, and ac a hollow interiorly threaded stud projecting from its rear side.

The body is provided with a vertically-arranged hole, 2, for receiving the threaded straining wire or rod N, and with a downwardly-projecting guard, J, for covering the lower end of the rod.

A transverse slot, i, is formed in the center of the body E, and disposed therein is a nut, K, threaded to fit the rod N, which is provided at its upper end with a hook, o, for engaging the top hoop, C.

A hole, f, is formed in a proper position in the body A for receiving the stud x of the bracket, and also the screw m, by which the bracket is secured to the body, the screw being passed from the interior of the body through the hole and turned into the hole in the stud, its head resting on a washer, Z, when in position.

The stud may be omitted and ascrew passed through the hole f and inserted directly in the body of the bracket, if desired, although I deem it preferable to use the stud, as it enables the bracket to be secured with much greater firmness than is possible where it is not employed.

In brackets of this character as ordinarily constructed no stud is used, and the nut for putting a strain on the rod N is placed on the lower end of said rod, leaving the end of the rod in some instances exposed, the nut being always liable to work loose or come off.

In my improved bracket the nut, being dis posed in the slot 2', can never work loose and escape from the rod, and, as it is slightly less in diameter than the immediately-surrounding parts of the body E, is not liable to be accidentally turned to change the strain 011 the rod.

By the use of the fixed guard J for covering the lower end of the rod N the bracket is rendered more ornamental, and the general appearance of the instrument very much improved.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a banjo, the bracket E, provided with the guard J, for housing or concealing the lower end of the rod N, substantially as specified.

2. In a, banjo, the'b'racket E, provided with guard in whichthe threadedend of the strainthe slot i, and having the guard J, in oombiing-rod is housed, and a nut, interposed be- 20 nation with the nut K and threaded rod N, provided with the hook o, substantially as specified.

8. In a banj o, the bracket E, having the slot z, a threaded stud, x, and guard J, in conubination with the nut K and threaded rod N, having the hook v, substantially as set forth.

4. In a banjo, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: the bodyA, provided with hole f, the head B, provided with the wire D, the threaded rod N provided with the hook v, the bracket E, provided with the slot 2', guard J, and stud m, the nut K, and screw m, constructed, combined, and arranged to operate substantially as specified.

5. In a banjo, a bracket provided with a tween said guard and the unhoused end of said rod, said not being adapted to exert a strain on the rod, substantially as set forth.

6. In a banjo, a bracket having a guard in which thelower end of the straining-rod is 25 housed, and a slot through which the straining-rod passes, in combination with a nut disposed on said rod within the slot, said nut being less in diameter than the surrounding or adjacent parts of the bracket,whereby the nut 0 .is prevented from being accidentally turned on the rod, substantially as specified.

G. ARTHUR IVASHBUR-N. Witnesses:

F. E. BASSETI, O. A. Blissnr'r. f