WO2003067571A1

WO2003067571A1 - Cymbals, strings and components for musical instruments and a method of treating therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2003067571A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/000131
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ilan Smolarski
Original assignee: Ilan Smolarski
Priority date: 2002-02-07
Filing date: 2003-02-07
Publication date: 2003-08-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of treating a string for a musical instrument, cymbals and other components of musical instruments, the method including the steps of: a) positioning the string, cymbal or other components of the instrument inside a chamber; b) forming a partial vacuum in the chamber; and c) depositing a metal or a metal containing compound onto the string, cymbal or other component to form an outer coating thereon.

Description

CYMBALS, STRINGS AND COMPONENTS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND A METHOD OF TREATING THEREFOR

Background of the Invention The present invention relates to the application of vacuum coating technology for depositing metals onto the surface of substrates.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the application of vacuum coating technology to i) strings suitable for musical instruments such as electric and acoustic guitars, pianos, violins and harps; ii) cymbals; and iii) other components for musical instruments.

There are essentially two different types of strings for musical instruments. One type comprises a single solid strand of material such as metal or nylon. The other type comprises two strands of metal or nylon in which one strand is wound around a second inner strand or the two strands are interwound to form a thicker string for creating lower pitched sounds.

When a stringed instrument such as a guitar is played, the strings are exposed to oil and sweet excreted from the musician' s hands or salt from the surrounding atmosphere. Exposure to salty and moist conditions results in the strings microscopically corroding and thereby deteriorating the quality of the sound produced by the strings when plucked. In addition, pieces of loose debris can become caught and wedged between the strands of two strand strings, thereby interfering with critical physical properties of the strings such as the natural resonance and the amplitude at which the strings vibrate. Plucking of the strings, particularly by hand, therefore results in the strings becoming brittle and require frequent adjustment to maintain the required pitch. Understandably, these problems can be more troublesome for active musicians who regularly play their instrument. In the past the performance and longevity of strings has been improved by altering the atomic structure of the molecules of the strings by cryogenically treating the strings at subzero temperatures. This treatment is believed to increase the corrosion resistance of the strings . There are several manufactures currently producing strings using this technique, for example, strings sold under the trade mark DEAN MARKLEY BLUE STEEL are believed to be cryogenically treated.

Other guitar strings sold under the trade mark ELIXIR comprise two strands of wire, wherein one strand is wound around the other strand in a wound configuration and a polymer sleeve is fitted over the outside of the strands. The polymer sleeve protects the string from exposure to corrosive environments and prevents debris from becoming wedged between the strands.

Frets of a stringed musical instrument and musical cymbals are also exposed to corrosive environments when played and are susceptible to deterioration in a similar manner as guitar strings. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of improving a string for a musical instrument.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of improving cymbals and other components for musical instruments.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of treating a string for a musical instrument, the string being in the form of either; i) a single strand; or ii) a plurality of strands in a wound configuration, the method including the steps of: a) positioning the string inside a chamber; b) forming a partial vacuum in a chamber; and c) depositing a metal or a metal containing compound onto the string to form an outer coating thereon. It is preferred that step c) be carried using a vacuum coating process.

A person skilled in the art would appreciate that the term "a vacuum coating process" includes 3 known processes, namely: i) physical vapour deposition or evaporisation; ii) low temperature arc vapour deposition; and iii) sputtering. Further details relating to these processes are mention below.

It is preferred that the outer coating be deposited onto a single strand and the method further includes the step of winding said strand around a second strand. It is even more preferred that an outer coating also be deposited onto the second strand by means of a vacuum coating process.

It is preferred that said plurality of strands in a wound configuration includes two strands, in which one strand is wound around another strand, or the two strands are interwound around each other, and the outer coating is deposited onto said wound configuration.

It is preferred that the method includes winding one strand around another strand, or interwinding two strands to form the string in a wound configuration, and subsequently carrying out the steps a) , b) and c) above to form a coating thereon.

It is preferred that the metals or metal containing compounds used to form the outer coating include one or more of: aluminium, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, germanium, gold, indium, lead, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, osmium, platinum, rhenium, silver, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc and zirconium. It is preferred that the outer coating includes a zirconium containing compound.

It is preferred that the outer coating contain zirconium mononitride.

It is preferred that the outer coating range from 10% to 15% nitrogen and 90% to 85% zirconium. An advantage with this composition is that the outer coating exhibits improved corrosion resistance and a bright brass colour.

It is preferred that the method includes controlling the amount of carbon of the outer coating. One of the purposes for controlling the amount of the carbon in the outer coating is to adjust the colour of the outer coating. The outer coating becomes blacker as the amount of carbon increases. In addition, depending on the actual metal or metal compounds used in the outer coating, the colour of the outer coating can, for example, be selected from a variety of colours including light yellow to a bright gold, greens, browns, blues, purples and reds.

It is preferred that the outer coating range from 0.01 to 5 micrometers in thickness.

It is preferred that the outer coating range from 1 to 2 micrometers in thickness.

It is preferred that the or each strand to which an outer coating can be deposited may be formed from any metal including steel, bronze nickel, chromium or nylon. It is preferred that the outer coating have a static co-efficient of friction range from 0.2 to 1. It is preferred that the outer coating have a static coefficient of friction of approximately 0.31.

According to the present invention there is also provided a string for a stringed instrument manufactured according the method described above, wherein the method for treating the string may include none or a combination of the preferred aspects of the method also mentioned above.

According to the present invention there is also provided a string for a stringed musical instrument, the string including: a strand for emitting sound when vibrated, the strand having an inner core and an outer coating applied thereto, wherein the outer coating consists of a metal or a metal containing compound that is different to the composition of the inner core of the strand.

It is preferred that the string includes two of said strands, one of the strands being wound around the other strand.

It is preferred that the string includes two strands, one strand being wound around the other strand, characterized in that only one of said strands includes said outer coating.

According to the present invention there is also provided a string for a stringed musical instrument, the string including: two strands for emitting sound when vibrated one of said strands being wound around the other said strand to form a string core, and an outer coating applied to the string core, wherein the outer coating consists of a metal or a metal containing composition that is different to the composition of one or both of said strands.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of treating a cymbal or a fret of a stringed instrument, the method including the steps of: a) positioning either i) a cymbal or fret, inside a chamber; b) forming a partial vacuum in a chamber; and c) depositing a metal or a metal containing compound onto said cymbal or fret.

It is preferred that step c) be carried out using" a vacuum coating process. Some examples of vacuum coating processes are provided below.

According to the present invention there is also provided cymbal or fret including an outer coating applied to an inner core, wherein the outer coating consist of a metal or a metal containing composition that is different to the composition of the inner core, and the coating is applied by a vacuum coating means .

It is preferred that the cymbal be one of a splash cymbal, a ride cymbal, a high hat cymbal, a crash cymbal, or a hand held cymbal.

A person skilled in the art would appreciate that a fret is an elongated length of wire that is normally used to mark graduations along the neck portion of a stringed instrument such as a guitar. The frets also determine the note of the sound being played.

The outer coating of the string, cymbal or fret may have any one of the characteristics mentioned above including: the preferred metals or metal compounds of the outer coating; the preferred carbon composition on the outer coating; the preferred thickness of the outer coating; and the preferred co-efficient of friction of the outer coating.

A cymbal, fret or string for a musical instrument according to the present invention includes numerous benefits. For example, the outer coating of each strand of a string can increase the string's resistance to corrosion caused by salty sweet and oils excreted from the hands of a musician. Similarly, an outer coating according to the present invention can also prevent corrosion of the cymbals, frets and strings in humid and salty outdoor environments .

Another benefit of a string according to the present invention is that outer coating may have a reduced co-efficient of friction compared to traditional strings. As a result, very active musicians are less likely to develop calluses caused by prolonged strumming and plucking of strings.

A further advantage provided by the present invention is that the outer coating can be constituted by a material that is harder than the substrate on which it is deposited, thereby improving the clarity and tone of the sound produced the string. This is particularly the case when an outer metal coating is deposited over a metallic strand.

In order to carry out the method of the present invention it is intended that a person skilled in the art will utilize coating processes carried out in a partial vacuum. The following is a brief discussion of 3 varieties of vacuum coating processes, namely: i) Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) ; ii) Low Temperature Arc Vapour Deposition (LTAVD) ; and iii) Sputtering. It is noted that vacuum coating processes other than those described below may be used to carry out the present invention.

Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) PVD processes or operated in a partial vacuum and enable a metal or a metal containing material to be deposited as a thin film coating on a substrate in a partial vacuum.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a vacuum chamber for carrying out a PVD process. The chamber includes one or more positively charged sacrificial cathodes 18 that contain metal or metal compounds intended to be deposited on the substrate 19. The process involves creating a low voltage/high current arc 17 that extends along the cathode (s) 18 which causes metal particles in the form of ions to be released from the cathode (s) 18.

In some cases a gas containing reactive elements such as carbon, nitrogen, silicon or oxygen may also used to combine with the metal ions released from the cathode such that the film deposited on the substrate includes metal compounds such as metal oxides, nitrides, carbides and carbonitrides . It some instances metal compounds provide a harder film coating and increases adhesion between the coating material and the substrate. In order to facilitate deposition of the particles on the substrate 19, a negative charge is applied to the substrate 19.

It is understood that the following non- exhaustive list of operating parameters influence the rate and quality of the coating deposited on the substrate 19: i) the material composition of the cathode (s); ii) the composition of the reactive gas (if used) that combines with the metal ions; iii) the current creating the arc 17; iv) the temperature inside the chamber; and v) the separation between the or each cathode 18 and the substrate 20.

Low Temperature Arc Vapour Deposition (LTAVD)

LTAVD processes are a specialized form of the PVD process described above and is particularly suited for depositing a coating of metal or metal containing compounds onto strings for musical instruments, cymbals and other components for musical instruments. An aspect of LTAVD processes that makes the processes particularly suitable is that metals and metal containing compounds having high melting points to be deposited onto substrates having low melting points .

It is understood that LTAVD processes are similar to PVD processes save for several difference, some of which may include: i) a LTAVD process can be carried out at ambient temperatures whereas the PVD process is normally carried out at elevated temperatures; ii) the current required to generate the arc on the cathode in a LTAVD process is normally greater than the current required to generate the arc in the PVD process; and iii) the substrate in a LTAVD process normally has a stronger negative charged than the substrate in a PVD process.

Sputtering Sputtering is a process that normally involves the following: i) placing a substrate and a metal source for coating the substrate in a chamber (the metal source may either be in a liquid or solid state) ; ii) substantially evacuating the chamber of air and backfilled the chamber with an inert gas such as argon to a pressure of approximately 0.1 to 10 Pa; iii) energising the argon atoms using a ion beam or a plasma discharge; iv) biasing the metal source to have a negative charge such that the metal source is bombared with an ion flux which causes the metal source to emit a sputter flux; and v) positively charging the substrate such that the sputter flux is attracted toward and deposited into the substrate as a thin film coating. The rate at which the coating is deposited on the substrate depends on several factors including the position of the substrate relative to the metal source.

It is noted that the present invention covers the use other coating process carried out under partial vacuum environments .

A preferred embodiment of a string for a musical instrument according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a string comprising a single strand; and

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate a perspective view of a string comprising two strands .

Figure 1 illustrates a string, generally identified by reference numeral 5, comprising a single strand having an inner core 6 and an outer coating 7. The inner core may comprise any suitable material normally used to make strings such as steel, nylon or bronze. The outer coating encases the inner core along the entire length of the core. The outer coating is deposited on the inner core by means of known vacuum coating process mentioned above.

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate a string comprising two strands, wherein a first strand 8 is wound around a second central straight strand 9 to form a wound configuration.

With reference to Figure 2, the first and second strands 8 and 9, in an uncoated form, are first wound into a wound configuration. The outer coating 10 is then deposited on the outer surface of the string using the vacuum coating processes mentioned previously. In particular, the coating process is operated such that particles applied to the substrate are deposited on both exposed areas of the first strand 8 and exposed areas of the second central strand 9 between the windings the first strand 8. An advantage provided by vacuum coating processes is that the coating can be deposited on any exposed area including very small areas between the strands of a multi-strand string because the coating is developed progressively by depositing atomic or molecular sized particles that can penetrate between the strands. Figure 3 illustrates a string comprising two strands, wherein both strands are first coated with an outer coating 11 using a known vacuum coating process before the outer strand 12 is wound around the inner strand 13 to form a string.

Figure 4 illustrates a string comprising two strands, wherein the strand 15 is first coated using known vacuum coating process to form an outer coating 16 thereon before being wound around the central straight strand 14.

Although not illustrated in the figures, a cymbal or fret may have an inner core made from a variety of metals including brass, bronze, nickel or steel. In particular, the inner core of cymbal comprises a concave brass or bronze plate to which an outer coating using a known vacuum process can be deposited. Similarly, the inner core of a fret comprises a length of elongated metal material such as brass, bronze, nickel or steel to which an outer coating using a known vacuum process can be deposited.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art of the present invention that modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, it is possible that the method for treating strings may include: a) subjecting one or two strands to a vacuum coating process; b) winding the strands into a wound configuration; and c) subsequently depositing a further outer coating onto the wound configuration.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A method of treating a string for a musical instrument, the string being in the form of either; i) a single strand; or ii) a plurality of strands in a wound configuration, the method including the steps of: a) positioning the string inside a chamber; b) forming a partial vacuum in the chamber; and c) depositing a metal or a metal containing compound onto the string to form an outer coating thereon.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c) is carried out using a physical vapour deposition process.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c) is carried out using a low temperature arc vapour deposition process.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c) is carried out using a sputter process.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the string is constituted by two strands in a wound configuration in which one strand is wound around another strand, or alternatively the two strands are interwound around each other.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the string is constituted by a single strand and the method further includes combining the coated string with another uncoated or coated strand to form a string having a wound configuration of lower pitch.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the method includes forming the string constituted by two strands by winding one strand around another strand, or interwinding two strands to form the string in a wound configuration, and subsequently carrying out the steps a) , b) and c) to form the outer coating thereon.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal or metal containing compounds used to form the outer coating include one or more of: aluminium, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, germanium, gold, indium, lead, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, osmium, platinum, rhenium, silver, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc and zirconium.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer coating includes a zirconium containing compound.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer coating contains zirconium mononitride.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer coating is constituted by 10% to 15% nitrogen and 90% to 85% zirconium.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method includes controlling the amount of carbon in the outer coating to adjust the colour of the coating.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer coating includes one or more of the following metal compounds: metal oxide, metal nitride, metal carbide or metal carbonitride .

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the outer coating is in the range of 0.01 to 5 micrometers.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the thickness of the outer coating is in the range of 1 to 2 micrometers .

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer coating has a static coefficient of friction ranging from 0.2 to 1.

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer coating has a static coefficient of friction of approximately 0.31.

18. A string for a musical instrument treated according to the method of any one of the preceding claims .

19. A method of treating a cymbal or a fret of a stringed instrument, the method including the steps of: a) positioning either a cymbal or fret inside a chamber; b) forming a partial vacuum in a chamber; and c) depositing a metal or a metal containing compound onto said cymbal or fret.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein step c) is carried out using a physical vapour deposition process.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein step c) is carried out using a low temperature arc vapour deposition process.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein step c) is carried out using a sputtering process.

23. The method according to any one of claims 18 to

22, wherein the metal or metal containing compounds used to form the outer coating include one or more of: aluminium, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, germanium, gold, indium, lead, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, osmium, platinum, rhenium, silver, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc and zirconium.

24. The method according to any one of claims 19 to

23, wherein the outer coating includes a zirconium containing compound.

25. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the outer coating contains zirconium mononitride .

26. The method according to any one of claims 19 to

25, wherein the outer coating is constituted by 10% to 15% nitrogen and 90% to 85% zirconium.

27. The method according to any one of claims 19 to

26, wherein the method includes controlling the amount of carbon of the outer coating to adjust the colour of the coating.

28. The method according to any one of the preceding claims/ wherein the outer coating includes one or more of the following metal compounds: metal oxide, metal nitride, metal carbide or metal carbonitride.

29. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 28, wherein the thickness of the outer coating is in the range of 0.01 to 5 micrometers.

30. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 29, wherein the thickness of the outer coating is in the range of 1 to 2 micrometers.

31. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 30_/ wherein the outer coating has a static co-efficient of friction ranging from 0.2 to 1.

32. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 31, wherein the outer coating has a static co-efficient of friction of approximately 0.31.

33. A fret or cymbal treated according to the method of any one of claims 19 to 32.