US3648558A

US3648558A - Elastically held guitar pick

Info

Publication number: US3648558A
Application number: US75535A
Authority: US
Inventors: John E Chenette
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-09-25
Filing date: 1970-09-25
Publication date: 1972-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-14

Abstract

A guitar pick conformed to fit about the finger of a user and be maintained in operative position thereon by a communicating elastic band extending about the finger. The design may be adapted for use with either a finger digit pick or a thumb pick. A species of thumb pick allows the use of a releasably held flat planar pick element of traditional design. The finger pick has no side structure to interfere with normal playing manipulations.

Description

United States Patent Chenette Mar. 14, 1972 [54] ELASTICALLY HELD GUITAR PICK [72] Inventor: John E. Chenette, 390 N.E. 7th Street,

East Wenatchee, Wash. 9880] [22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1970 [2i] Appl. No.: 75,535

[52] US. Cl ..84/322 [51] Int. ..Gl0d 3/16 [58] Field ofSearch ..84/320, 321, 322

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,045,57l 6/1936 Dopyera ..84/322 584.653 6/1897 Sivils ..84/322 l,557,476 l0/i925 Kimball et al ..84/322 1 263,740 4/1918 Burdwise ..84/322 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 583,275 1924 France ..84/322 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerJohn F. Gonzales Attorney-Keith S. Bergman '1] ABSTRACT A guitar pick conformed to fit about the finger of a user and be maintained in operative position thereon by a communicating elastic band extending about the finger. The design may be adapted for use with either a finger digit pick or a thumb pick. A species of thumb pick allows the use of a releasably held flat planar pick element of traditional design. The finger pick has no side structure to interfere with normal playing manipulations.

6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PMENTEBMAR 14 I972 3, 648 558 SHEET 1 or 2 f FIGURE 1 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 PAIENTEBMAR 14 I972 3, 648 5S8 SHEET 2 0F 2 FIGURE 10 FIGURE 12 ATTORNEY ELASTICALLY HELD GUITAR PICK BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates generally to picks for stringed instruments and more particularly to a finger-type guitar pick maintained in place by an elastic band.

2. Description of Prior Art Several stringed instruments such as the guitar are commonly played by rigid or semirigid mechanical picks. The form of such pick to provide proper musical tone and manipulability has evolved to a reasonably small, acutely configured element adapted for manual manipulation. Undoubtedly the most common present day commercial form of such pick is a triangularly shaped, relatively thin sheet of semirigid material such as plastic, of small size adapted to be manipulated by the finger tips of the user.

This type of pick is difficult to hold, requiring constant manipulation of the fingers for positional maintenance, and it may be easily displaced or lost during the playing operation. In response to this problem, various forms of finger picks directly held on a finger or having elements to aid their maintenance thereon have come to be known and quite extensively used. This instant invention seeks to provide an improved member of such class offinger picks.

The finger picks heretofore known have generally provided either an element fitting completely about the finger in the form of a ringlike band or have been formed of some rigid or semirigid material which by reason of configuration or slight deformity has maintained the pick on the finger. The form of pick required for thumb support as opposed to digital support obviously is different by reason of the habitual modes of playing but finger supported devices have come to be known for each form of pick. The band-type pick has found disadvantage in providing structure on the sides of the fingers which tends to interfere with playing and cause unwanted sounds and motions, especially if plural picks be used on one hand in adjacency. Other forms of rigid, conformed or deformable picks that have not provided side elements, generally have not provided a firm and positive support on the finger and have proven not to be much better than the ordinary flat triangular pick, if in fact as effective. Both types of prior art picks have generally proven uncomfortable in use, especially in extended use, and oftentimes have not produced the same tone as obtainable with the flat guitar pick by reason of their different mode of manipulation, their different tonal reaction, their different structure, or whatever.

The instant invention differs from this art in providing a finger pick conformed for a nondeformable support about the finger and held in place by an elastically resilient band communicating between a part of the pick and the finger upon which it is supported to provide a positive, readily releasable positioning of the pick upon the finger. The design is applicable to either a thumb or digital pick and the thumb form allows the use of a releasably held triangular pick of the habitually familiar form if desired. The finger pick allows strumming and playing from either side of the pick element.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION My invention provides a pick having a larger body portion configured to fit about the pad of a finger with a tip portion carrying finger supports extending over the nail of the finger to maintain the whole structure about the end portion of the finger.

The rearward part of the body provides a fastening element with plural spaced fastening catches adapted to adjustably hold an elastically resilient band or its parts. This fastening band is provided with a medial slit for a distance to divide a portion into two separable elements still configured as a band. To fasten the pick on a finger, it is placed thereabout with the fastening band extending from the fastening element over the opposite side of the finger. Either or both of the slit band elements may be attached to the fastening member.

In the digital form of my invention a pick is formed at the juncture of the body and finger supports with a configuration that allows picking motion from either side. In the thumb form of my invention, a pick portion is angularly disposed on the body to project at to the axis of the thumb to allow picking in the traditionally familiar manner. If desired, the body of the thumb pick may be formed to releasably accept a traditional triangular guitar pick and operatively maintain it.

In providing such a device it is a principal object of my invention to provide a guitar pick for either thumb or digital use that is conformed to fit about a particular finger and be maintained in appropriate position by an elastically resilient band passing from the guitar pick about the finger.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device that is adjustably positionable on the finger for comfortable use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a guitar pick of this form for use on the thumb that will accept the traditional triangular pick heretofore known and releasably maintain it for use.

A still further object of my invention is to provide such a device that is of new and novel design, of rugged and durable nature, of simple and economic manufacture and otherwise well adapted to the uses and purposes for which it s intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of my invention, however, it is to be understood that its accidental features are susceptible of change in design and structural arrangement with only one preferred and practical embodiment being illustrated in the drawings as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and wherein like numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is an isometric phantom view of the thumb form of my pick in place upon the thumb of a user.

FIG. 2 is an isometric back view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic side view of the pick of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic back view of the pick of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an orthographic back view of a species of thumb pick adapted for use with a releasably positionable fiat, triangular pick.

FIG. 6 is a back view of the device of FIG. 5 with a pick in operative position.

FIG. 7 is an orthographic side view of the device of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the digital form of my guitar pick in place upon the index finger of the hand.

FIG. 9 is an isometric back view of the device of FIG. 8 removed from the finger.

FIG. 10 is an orthographic back view of the device of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an orthographic side view of the device of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is an orthographic back view of a species of finger pick having a fastening element that does not provide for adjustment.

FIG. 13 is an orthographic side view of the pick of FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in more detail and especially to those of FIGS. 2 and 9 it will be seen that my invention generally comprises medial body 15 structurally supporting pick element 16, finger supports 17 and fastening element 18 configured to accept elastic fastener 19 for extension about a finger when the whole be operatively positioned.

Body 15 includes sheetlike element 20 conformed for a nice fit about the pad of a particular finger and of a real extent somewhat comparable to that of the finger pad. Medial hole 21 is convenient in using the device to aid in properly maintaining it in position, and in the thumb model with releasable pick to aid in maintaining the pick in proper position. The

body is formed from some semirigid material such as plastic or aluminum that is easily formable and yet sufficiently rigid but resiliently deformable to serve its purpose. If the pick be used with an electric guitar preferably it is formed of electrically nonconductive material.

Periphery 22 of body 15, in its outer portion (with reference to finger position) supports paired cooperating finger supports 17, providing cooperating bandlike elements 26 conformed to fit nicely over the end of a finger and extend somewhat back upon the fingernail to, in cooperation with the body element, support the pick about the end of the finger of a user. The exact dimensioning of band elements 26 is not critical but that illustrated in the drawings has been found to be quite satisfactory. These elements again are preferably formed from material similar to that of the body and for the same reasons. Normally elements 26 are formed as an integral part of body but if desired they may be structurally joined thereafter.

Pick element 16 projects outwardly from the body 15. In the thumb specie of pick illustrated in FIGS. 1, et seq., the pick element constitutes triangular projection 23, formed as an integral part of body 15. The configuration of this projection preferably conforms with the common, habitually familiar, planar guitar pick and its projection away from the body preferably is such that when the body of my pick be positioned on the finger, it will project about the same distance as that habitually familiar.

The pick element of the digital specie of my invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8, et seq. It is positioned approximately 90 angularly from the pick element of the thumb species to allow operation in the habitually familiar fashion as the thumb is normally held substantially parallel to the strings in picking and a finger is held substantially perpendicular thereto. The digit form of pick provides a small protuberance with rounding point 24 and similar, substantially parallel sides 25 formed in the fashion illustrated, particularly in FIGS. 10, ll, 12, and 13 so that the pick may be used to operate in either direction perpendicular to its broader surfaces or may be used in strumming. For these reasons the exact configuration of the surfaces is somewhat critical as the device is not particularly operative unless they be formed substantially as illustrated.

A specie of thumb pick that makes use ofa seperable planar pick element, such as that known in present day commerce is illustrated in the drawings of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. Here the body is provided with a plurality of peripheral pick catches 27 overturned with proper dimensioning to hold the periphery of a normal pick therebeneath. The number and positioning of pick catches obviously might vary but the configuration shown has been found to be most operative. Planar pick 28 is inserted under the catches and maintained in operative position as I]- lustrated in FIG. 6, between them and pick body. It is further to be noted that the pick will be maintained between the body element and the thumb to further aid in maintaining position.

Fastening element 18 provides shaped, sheetlike member 29 structurally communicating with periphery 22 of body 15 opposite the pick in the digital form and 90 from the pick in the thumb form. The member comfortably fits about the inner surface of the finger for support, preferably terminating at or below the first joint for comfortable use. The fastening member provides at least one fastening notch 30 providing an element that will hold the elastic fastener. Preferably fastening notch 30 is a turned-over portion of member 29 and may occur singly or in opposed pairs according to preference. The form of fastening notch illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 12 provides for no band adjustment, while the form illustrated in F IG. 2 and FIG. 9 provides plural notches to allow adjustment. With most mature adult fingers, the average dimensioning is sufficiently close that the elastic resilience of the fastener will take care of the necessary adjustment and the fastening element need not have plural fastening notches 30 unless desired. To accommodate a great range of finger sizes with a single unit, however, plural fastening notches may be added to provide adjustment to lessen tension on the elastic fasteners for more comfort.

dividing this half into two bands 33 each continuous with the principal band 31. This form gives a little greater versitility as each split band 33 may be fastened about different fastening notches 30 to provide a particular type of fit or one band may be fastened about one notch and the other may be left about the inner surface of the finger to provide a different type of fit.

Having thusly described the structure of my invention its use may be understood.

Firstly a pick is formed according to the foregoing specification and if it be a thumb pick it is placed on the pad side of the thumb as illustrated in FIG. 1 or if it be a digit pick it is placed on the particular digit pad according to the illustration of FIG. 8. Elastic fastener 19 is then placed about at least one fastening notch 30, slipped over the finger so that it passes around it, and moved upwardly thereon so that there is slight elastic tension in the band, between finger and pick to maintain the guitar pick in proper playing position. The elastically deformable contact between band and finger cause appropriate friction to maintain the band in this position against normal playing activity but yet allow ready placement or removal with or dinary digital manipulation.

After the pick is positioned, if it be a thumb pick, it is played in the normal fashion in which the traditional flat triangular pick is played. It is to be noted, however, that it is positively positioned on the thumb without the possibility of dislodgement and that it might be played in either direction as is the case with a traditional pick held between the thumb and adjacent index finger.

The finger pick is placed in similar fashion according to the illustration. With the finger pick it is to be noted that one or more may be used on any digit or combination of digits. No metal parts project laterally outwardly on either side to interfere with playing or make noise if finger picks be used on adjacent digits. It is further to be noted that from the configuration of the pick element, the digit pick may be used in either direction of normal motion of the finger and may be used for strumming if desired, a feature not common to other digit picks of commerce. This species of pick, like the thumb pick, is positively maintained on the finger against normal playing displacement.

The species of thumb pick having removable pick element is used in the same fashion as described except that the auxiliary thumb pick is inserted before the device is placed on the finger.

The foregoing description of my invention is necessarily of a detailed nature so that specific embodiments of it might be set forth as required but it is to be understood that various modifications of detail, rearrangement and multiplication of parts might be resorted to without departing from its spirit, essence, or scope.

Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent, and what I claim is:

l. A guitar pick to be elastically held on the finger of a user, comprising, in combination:

a body conformed to fit adjacent the pad of a finger and configured to be somewhat coextensive therewith;

a pick element, carried by the body, extending from the periphery thereof normally outwardly therefrom;

at least one finger support carried by the body to extend from the periphery thereof over the end of the carrying finger adjacent the fingernail; and

a fastening element, carried by the periphery of the body opposite the finger support, configured for a conformable fit against the inner surface of the finger substantially below the first joint and having at least one fastening notch adapted to hold an elastic band.

2. The inventionzbf claim 1 in combination with:

an elastic band otentially positionable, when the guitar pick is in posit for use on a finger, to extend from the fastening notch o'fthe fastening element to and about the finger upon which the guitar pick is held with some elastic tension to aid in maintaining pick position upon the finger.

3. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by:

the pick element extending outwardly from the body periphery, substantially perpendicularly to a line through the finger support and fastening element, to adapt the pick for use on the thumb.

4. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by:

the finger supports having the pick element formed substantially at their communication with the periphery of body to form a digit pick. 5. The invention of claim 4 further characterized by:

the pick element being symmetrically formed with a pickirifl

Claims

1. A guitar pick to be elastically held on the finger of a user, comprising, in combination: a body conformed to fit adjacent the pad of a finger and configured to be somewhat coextensive therewith; a pick element, carried by the body, extending from the periphery thereof normally outwardly therefrom; at least one finger support carried by the body to extend from the periphery thereof over the end of the carrying finger adjacent the fingernail; and a fastening element, carried by the periphery of the body opposite the finger support, configured for a conformable fit against the inner surface of the finger substantially below the first joint and having at least one fastening notch adapted to hold an elastic band.

2. The invention of claim 1 in combination with: an elastic band potentially positionable, when the guitar pick is in position for use on a finger, to extend from the fastening notch of the fastening element to and about the finger upon which the guitar pick is held with some elastic tension to aid in maintaining pick position upon the finger.

3. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by: the pick element extending outwardly from the body periphery, substantially perpendicularly to a line through the finger support and fastening element, to adapt the pick for use on the thumb.

4. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by: the finger supports having the pick element formed substantially at their communication with the periphery of the body to form a digit pick.

5. The invention of claim 4 further characterized by: the pick element being symmetrically formed with a picking surface on each side of the pick element for picking in each direction of finger joint motion.

6. The invention of claim 1 further characterized by: the body having plural fastening notches about the body periphery; and the pick element comprising a separable sheetlike, triangular guitar pick releasably maintained on the body by the plural fastening notches.