WO2023281541A1

WO2023281541A1 - Guitar having a reinforced structure and consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components.

Info

Publication number: WO2023281541A1
Application number: PCT/IT2021/000035
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniele FOLLEGA
Original assignee: Nanto S.R.L.
Priority date: 2021-07-07
Filing date: 2021-07-07
Publication date: 2023-01-12

Abstract

Guitar (100) having a reinforced structure and consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components, the same guitar (100) comprising: - a main body (104) and a neck (102, 103) with a relative head (101), in which one end of the neck (102, 103) is connected to a respective housing (108) obtained in the main body (104), the connection occurs through primary coupling elements (130); the neck (102, 103) consists of a proximal part (103) and a distal part (102), in which the proximal part (103) and the distal part (102) are connected to each other at their respective ends through elements of secondary coupling (140), in such a way that the structure of the guitar (100) can be assembled and/or disassembled with respect to its three components, in correspondence with its primary (130) and secondary coupling elements (140), and these three components consist of: the main body (104), the proximal part (103) of the neck and the distal part (102) of the neck with respective head (101); in such a way that, after repositioning the strings (105) and/or their relative disassembly, it is possible to store the entire guitar (100), in a disassembled configuration, inside a container (110) of reduced dimensions that allows an easy transportation, the same guitar (100) characterized by the fact of further comprising: - a rigid bar (120), arranged longitudinally inside the above said neck (102, 103), and having a first section (121) and a second section (122), connected to each other through the above said secondary coupling elements (140 ), which in turn comprise reinforced interlocking means; the above said primary coupling elements (130) in turn comprise a reinforced interlocking mechanism, in such a way that the overall structure of the guitar (100) is particularly rigid and robust, and in such a way that the assembly and disassembly operations do not affect, over time, the stability of the above said primary (130) and secondary coupling elements (140).

Description

GUITAR HAVING A REINFORCED STRUCTURE AND CONSISTING

OF MOUNTABLE AND/OR DISMOUNTABLE COMPONENTS.

The present invention relates to an improved guitar having a reinforced structure and consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components.

More precisely, the main parts of a guitar, consisting of the main body and the neck with its head, can be assembled to make up the overall object or taken apart to disassemble the same object into three or more components. In this way, it is possible to store the whole guitar, in a disassembled configuration, inside a container having reduced dimensions that allows an easy transportation.

As known, in the current state of the art there are many products of daily use that can be closed or disassembled in order to take less space, and they can then be reassembled for their normal use.

The most common cases are, for example, the snap-closed umbrella, which can be stored in a bag or briefcase, the foldable bicycle that can be easily transported in the trunk of a car, picnic tables and chairs, umbrellas and sun loungers, beach and garden furniture, modular bookcases, appliances such as vacuum cleaners, lunch boxes, computers and accessories, etc.

Normally, musicians and people who have the hobby of music have the problem of carrying their musical instruments, often of large dimensions and which have their own custom built case, generally having a rigid and predefined shape.

Guitarists and stringed instrument musicians have the difficulty of having to take into account the space occupied by such instruments, for example during transportation by car, bus and subway, motorbike, train and plane.

In the current state of the art, some attempts are known that have been made to solve the problem of transporting musical instruments, and in particular of transporting a guitar.

In the Chinese patent CN200990199Y, applied to a classical guitar, it has been proposed to connect the neck to the main body through a joint, so that if necessary it can be folded over the main body and the overall object can reduce its size.

The proposed solution has a number of drawbacks: firstly the rotation of the neck with respect to the joint does not allow the complete release of the same, secondly the strings must be uninstalled one by one, with an obvious increase of time, or bent angularly on themselves with the risk of being damaged, and finally the saving of space is not very significant as the disassembly takes place in only two parts, and the neck placed above continues to have a considerable size.

The Chinese patent CN204650979U, also applied to a classical guitar, allows the neck to be completely detached from the main body, so as to be able to store the respective components inside a single container for transportation.

Also in this case, the proposed solution has some drawbacks: first of all the space saving is not very significant, since the disassembly takes place in only two parts and the neck, even if independent, continues to have a significant size; moreover, the strings must also in this case be uninstalled one by one, with an obvious increase in time, or bent angularly on themselves with the risk of being damaged.

The Italian patent IT 2016000114419 solves the above said drawbacks with the presence of coupling elements that allow the guitar to be disassembled and reassembled in at least three parts, with a significant reduction in space that allows the transportation of the overall object inside a luggage an airplane hand luggage, an office briefcase or a bag for a personal laptop computer.

However, the subdivision of the object into several components involves the presence of multiple points of discontinuity on the structure with relative junction elements, thus decreasing the structural stability of the object when it is mounted which, in the part of the neck, tends to flex and/or not to keep the strings at their proper tension. As a consequence, the joints tend to be affected over time, and the flexing strings make it difficult to keep the instrument tuned with its correct emission of sounds and notes during the normal use.

Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to modify the structure of existing guitars, identifying a special mechanism such that it is possible to store the entire guitar, in a disassembled configuration, inside a container of reduced dimensions that allows an easy transportation.

Another objective is that the assembly/disassembly operations of the guitar are simple and quick, and that the structural and functional integrity of the object is maintained which, when assembled, can appear aesthetically like a normal guitar and it can sound like a normal guitar.

Yet another objective is that the overall structure of the guitar, when mounted, is particularly rigid and robust, so that the assembly and disassembly operations do not affect, over time, the overall stability of the object and its components.

Yet another objective is to include a string positioning mechanism and/or a quick release and hooking mechanism of the strings so that they do not bend and/or deteriorate during the assembly/disassembly of the guitar. A further objective is that the assembly/disassembly mechanism according to the invention can be preferably applied in electric guitars, but can also possibly be applied in other types of guitars and string instruments such as for example viola, violin, cello, etc.

Therefore, it is specific subject of the present invention a guitar having a reinforced structure and consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components, the same guitar comprising:

- a main body and a neck with a relative head, in which one end of the neck is connected to a respective housing obtained in the main body, the connection occurs through primary coupling elements; the neck consists of a proximal part and a distal part, in which the proximal part and the distal part are connected to each other at their respective ends through elements of secondary coupling, in such a way that the structure of the guitar can be assembled and/or disassembled with respect to its three components, in correspondence with its primary and secondary coupling elements, and these three components consist of: the main body, the proximal part of the neck and the distal part of the neck with respective head; in such a way that, after repositioning the strings and/or their relative disassembly, it is possible to store the entire guitar, in a disassembled configuration, inside a container of reduced dimensions that allows an easy transportation, the same guitar characterized by the fact of further comprising:

- a rigid bar, arranged longitudinally inside the above said neck, and having a first section and a second section connected to each other through the above said secondary coupling elements, which in turn comprise reinforced interlocking means; the above said primary coupling elements in turn comprise a reinforced interlocking mechanism, in such a way that the overall structure of the guitar is particularly rigid and robust, and in such a way that the assembly and disassembly operations do not affect, over time, the stability of the above said primary and secondary coupling elements.

The present invention also has the following advantages: during a transportation by plane, the disassembled guitar placed inside a container becomes a small hand luggage; while traveling by car, train, bus, subway, motorbike, or while traveling on foot, the guitar becomes much easier to carry and requires less space; the guitar is inserted inside a sturdier container than standard cases, thus preventing accidental shocks from damaging the object; the guitar with detachable components constitutes a product having a particular aesthetic originality that makes the overall object a fashion, design and collectible product.

The present invention will now be described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, with particular reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a guitar, in a fully assembled configuration, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the same guitar of Figure 1, with transparent surfaces so that the internal structure is visible;

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of a detail of the neck in the same guitar of Figure 2, in which the primary coupling element which allows the operations of assembly/disassembly of the neck to the main body of the guitar is shown;

Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the same detail of Figure 3, in which the primary coupling element is shown in the position in which the neck is fixed to the main body of the guitar;

Figure 5 is a bottom perspective view of the same detail of Figure 3, in which the primary coupling element is shown in the position in which the neck is released from the main body of the guitar;

Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of the same neck of Figure 5, in the position in which it is released from the main body of the guitar;

Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of the same neck of Figure 5, in which the secondary coupling element is shown in the position in which the neck is released in the two proximal and distal parts;

Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the same neck of Figure 7, shown in its entirety, in which the secondary coupling element is highlighted in the position in which the neck is released in the two proximal and distal parts;

Figure 9 is a side perspective view of a detail of the same secondary coupling element of the previous Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 10 is a bottom perspective view of a rigid bar, longitudinally arranged inside the above said neck, and having a first section and a second section, connected to each other through the above said secondary coupling elements;

Figure 11 is a side perspective view of a detail of the same secondary coupling element of the previous Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 12 is a top view of the same guitar of the previous figures in a completely disassembled configuration, in which it is inserted inside a container to allow an easy transportation;

Figure 13 is an axonometric view from above of the same guitar of Figure 12, in which it is inserted inside the same container;

Figure 14 is a side view of the same guitar of Figures 12 and 13, in which it is inserted inside the same container.

It should be emphasized that in the following, only some of the possible embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated, by way of non-limiting examples, since it is possible to describe many others on the basis of the particular technical solutions identified. In the various figures the same elements will be indicated with the same reference numbers.

Figures 1 and 2 show a guitar 100 having a structure consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components. In the example described an electric guitar is represented, the same principles of invention also apply to a classical guitar and/or to other types of stringed instruments such as viola, violin and cello.

The guitar 100 comprises a main body 104 and a neck 102, 103 with relative head 101, in which one end of the neck 102, 103 is connected to a respective housing 108 (Figures 4 and 5) obtained in the main body 104, and the connection takes place through primary coupling elements 130. The neck 102, 103 consists of a proximal part 103 and a distal part 102, in which the proximal part 103 and the distal part 102 are connected to each other at their respective ends through secondary coupling elements 140 (Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11).

In this way the structure of the guitar 100 can be assembled and/or disassembled with respect to its three components, in correspondence with its primary 130 and secondary 140 coupling elements. These three components consist of: the main body 104, the proximal part 103 of the neck and the distal part 102 of the neck with respective head 101. Thus, by repositioning the strings 105 and/or their relative disassembly, it is possible to store the entire guitar 100, in a disassembled configuration, inside a container 110 (Figures 12, 13 and 14) of reduced dimensions that allow an easy transportation.

As illustrated in Figure 10, the same guitar 100 differs, with respect to known solutions, in that it further comprises a rigid bar 120, longitudinally arranged inside the above said neck 102, 103, and having a first section 121 and a second section 122, connected to each other through the above said secondary coupling elements 140, which in turn comprise reinforced interlocking means. The above said primary coupling elements 130 in turn comprise a reinforced interlocking mechanism.

In this way, the overall structure of the guitar 100 is particularly rigid and robust, and the assembly and disassembly operations therefore do not affect, over time, the stability of the above said primary 130 and secondary 140 coupling elements.

Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the above said secondary coupling elements 140, which allow the neck 102, 103 to be hooked and/or released into the individual parts 102 and 103. They in turn comprise means to reinforced joint which consist of at least one cylinder 111 located in the proximal part 103 of the neck and integrally connected to said first section 122 of the rigid bar 120 (Figure 10) which, during the coupling phase, is inserted into the respective housing 114 constituted by a complementary cylindrical hole located in the distal part 102 of the neck, and integrally connected to said second section 121 of the rigid bar 120 (Figure 10). The cylinder 111 is inserted in its respective housing 114 in a perfectly longitudinal direction.

In this way the two components 102 and 103 of the neck are aligned with each other exactly horizontally, and the neck itself can function and be used as a single block.

To lock the cylinder 111 in its housing 114, a standard system of teeth and spring can be implemented, with release activated by a button, similar to the system used in snap-open umbrellas and in some types of modular vacuum cleaners.

Alternatively, the above said secondary coupling elements 140, which allow to hook and/or unhook the neck 102, 103 in the individual parts 102 and 103, can consist of one or more of the following systems: interlocking connection, with single ring or multiple, with screws or with nut and bolt, lever systems with spring control, systems with external or internal screwing, systems with return springs that can be activated by buttons on the surface or by external keys, etc.

In this way the above said rigid bar 120, in assembled configuration, represents a single body in which the first section 122 is stably connected to the second section 121, representing the same rigid bar 120 a truss rod with respective tensioning means which allow to increase or decrease the structural rigidity of the neck 102, 103 of the same guitar 100.

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the above said primary coupling elements 130 which allow the neck 102, 103 to be hooked and/or released from the main body 104. They in turn comprise an interlocking mechanism which is constituted by a slide element 109 located in the proximal part 103 of the neck which, during the coupling phase, is inserted into the respective housing 108, consisting of a recess having a complementary shape located in the main body 104. The slide element 109 has lateral protrusions which are inserted in the lateral guides of its respective housing 107 located in the main body 104, along a perfectly longitudinal direction.

In this way the two components 102 and 103 of the neck are aligned with the main body 104 exactly horizontally, and the whole guitar 100 can function and be used as a single block.

To lock the slide element 109 in its respective housing 107, a standard coupling system with spring lever 106 can be implemented, with release activated by the raised position of the same lever, in a similar way to the system used in coupling the wheels of bicycles to their pivot on the frame.

Alternatively, the above said primary coupling elements 130 which allow to hook and/or unhook the slide element 109 in its respective housing 108 can be constituted by one or more of the following systems: interlocking connection, with single or multiple ring, with screws or with nut and bolt, lever systems with spring control, systems with external or internal screwing, systems with return springs that can be activated by surface buttons or external keys, etc.

As already mentioned, in the passage from the assembled configuration to the disassembled configuration, the strings 105 of the guitar 100 can be completely detached from the guitar 100 itself and stored separately in the container during the transportation.

In this case, both the head 101 of the neck 102, 103 and the bridge of the guitar 100 can be provided with suitable devices for hooking/unhooking the ends of the strings 105.

To lock the strings 105, small plates connected to the respective ends of the strings 105 and inserted in their respective housings can be used, and a standard spring lever coupling system can be used, with release activated by the raised position of the same lever.

Alternatively, both the head 101 of the neck 102, 103 and the bridge of the same guitar 100 can be provided with alternative devices for hooking/unhooking the strings 105 consisting of one or more of the following systems: interlocking, screw or nut connection and bolt, systems with external or internal screwing, systems with return springs that can be activated by buttons on the surface or by external keys, etc. Figures 12, 13 and 14 show the same guitar 100 of Figures 1 and 2, in a completely disassembled configuration, with the components grouped together, in which the guitar 100 is inserted inside a container 110 to allow for an easy transportation.

Such container 110 can be represented by one of the following objects: a suitcase, a briefcase, a backpack, a travel bag, a trolley, an airplane hand luggage, an office briefcase, a bag for a personal laptop computer, etc.

The above described examples demonstrate that the present invention achieves all the proposed purposes. In particular, it allows to implement a special mechanism such that it is possible to store the entire guitar, in a disassembled configuration, inside a container of reduced dimensions that allows an easy transportation. Still according to the invention, the assembly/disassembly operations of the guitar are simple and rapid, and the structural and functional integrity of the object is maintained which, when assembled, appears aesthetically like a normal guitar and it sounds like a normal guitar.

And again, the overall structure of the guitar, when mounted, is particularly rigid and robust, so that the assembly and disassembly operations do not affect, over time, the overall stability of the object and its components.

Furthermore, a string positioning mechanism and/or a quick release and coupling mechanism of the strings may be included in such a way that they do not bend and/or deteriorate during the assembly/disassembly of the guitar. Further according to the invention, the assembly/disassembly mechanism can be preferably applied in electric guitars, but possibly also in other types of guitars and stringed instruments such as for example viola, violin, cello, etc.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes according to some preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that any variations and/or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without thereby departing from the relative scope of protection as defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. Guitar (100) having a reinforced structure and consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components, the same guitar (100) comprising:

- a main body (104) and a neck (102, 103) with a relative head (101), in which one end of the neck (102, 103) is connected to a respective housing (108) obtained in the main body (104), the connection occurs through primary coupling elements (130); the neck (102, 103) consists of a proximal part (103) and a distal part (102), in which the proximal part (103) and the distal part (102) are connected to each other at their respective ends through elements of secondary coupling (140), in such a way that the structure of the guitar (100) can be assembled and/or disassembled with respect to its three components, in correspondence with its primary (130) and secondary coupling elements (140), and these three components consist of: the main body (104), the proximal part (103) of the neck and the distal part (102) of the neck with respective head (101); in such a way that, after repositioning the strings (105) and/or their relative disassembly, it is possible to store the entire guitar (100), in a disassembled configuration, inside a container (110) of reduced dimensions that allows an easy transportation, the same guitar (100) characterized by the fact of further comprising:

- a rigid bar (120), arranged longitudinally inside the above said neck (102, 103), and having a first section (121) and a second section (122), connected to each other through the above said secondary coupling elements (140 ), which in turn comprise reinforced interlocking means; the above said primary coupling elements (130) in turn comprise a reinforced interlocking mechanism, in such a way that the overall structure of the guitar (100) is particularly rigid and robust, and in such a way that the assembly and disassembly operations do not affect, over time, the stability of the above said primary (130) and secondary coupling elements (140).

2. Guitar (100) having a structure consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components, according to the previous claim 1, characterized in that:

- the above said secondary coupling elements (140), which allow the neck (102, 103) to be hooked and/or released in the individual parts (102) and (103), in turn comprise reinforced interlocking means which consist of at least one small cylinder (111) located in the proximal part (103) of the neck and integrally connected to said first section (122) of the rigid bar (120), which, during the coupling phase, is inserted in the respective housing (114) consisting of a complementary cylindrical hole located in the distal part (102) of the neck, and integrally connected to said second section (121) of the rigid bar (120); the cylinder (111) is inserted in its respective housing (114) in a perfectly longitudinal direction, in such a way that the two components (102) and (103) of the neck are aligned with each other exactly horizontally, and the neck itself can function and be used as a single block.

3. Guitar (100) having a structure consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components, according to the previous claim 2, characterized in that a standard system of teeth and spring is implemented to lock the cylinder (111) in its housing (114), with release activated by a button, similar to the system used in snap-open umbrellas and some types of modular vacuum cleaners.

4. Guitar (100) having a structure consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components, according to one or more of the previous claims, characterized in that:

- the above said secondary attachment elements (140), which allow the neck (102, 103) to be hooked and/or released in the individual parts (102) and (103), consist of one or more of the following systems: interlocking connection, with single or multiple ring, with screws or with nut and bolt, spring-operated lever systems, external or internal screwing systems, systems with return springs that can be activated by surface buttons or external keys, etc., in such a way that the above said rigid bar (120), in assembled configuration, represents a single body in which the first section (122) is stably connected to the second section (121), representing the same rigid bar (120) a truss rod with respective tensioning means which allow to increase or decrease the structural rigidity of the neck (102, 103) of the same guitar (100).

5. Guitar (100) having a structure consisting of mountable and / or dismountable components, according to the previous claim 1, characterized in that:

- the above said primary coupling elements (130) which allow the neck (102, 103) to be hooked and/or removed from the main body (104), in turn comprise a reinforced interlocking mechanism which consists of a slide element (109) located in the proximal part (103) of the neck which, during the coupling phase, is inserted into the respective housing (108), consisting of a recess having a complementary shape located in the main body (104); the slide element (109) has lateral protrusions which fit into the lateral guides of its respective housing (107) located in the main body (104), along a perfectly longitudinal direction, in such a way that the two components (102) and (103) of the neck are aligned with the main body (104) exactly horizontally, and the whole guitar (100) can function and be used as a single block.

6. Guitar (100) having a structure consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components, according to the previous claim 5, characterized in that a standard system is implemented to lock the slide element (109) in its respective housing (107) spring lever (106), with release activated by the raised position of the same lever, similar to the system used to hook bicycle wheels to their pivot on the frame.

7. Guitar (100) having a structure consisting of mountable and/or dismountable components, according to the previous claim 5, characterized in that:

- the above said primary coupling elements (130) which allow to hook and/or unhook the slide element (109) in its respective housing (108) consist of one or more of the following systems: interlocking connection, with single ring or multiple, with screws or with nut and bolt, lever systems with spring control, systems with external or internal screwing, systems with return springs that can be activated by buttons on the surface or by external keys, etc.

8. Guitar (100) having a structure consisting of mountable and / or dismountable components, according to one or more of the previous claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: in the passage of the guitar (100), from the assembled configuration to the disassembled configuration, the strings (105) are completely unhooked from the guitar itself (100) and are stored separately in the container during transport; both the head (101) of the neck (102, 103) and the bridge of the guitar itself (100) are provided with devices for hooking/unhooking the ends of the strings (105); to lock the strings (105) there are plates connected to the respective ends of the same strings (105) and inserted in their respective housings, and a standard spring lever coupling system is used, with release activated by the raised position of the same lever.

9. Guitar (100) having a structure consisting of mountable and/or disassemblable components, according to the previous claim 8, characterized in that: both the head (101) of the neck (102, 103) and the bridge of the same guitar (100) are equipped with alternative devices for hooking/unhooking the strings (105) consisting of one or more of the following systems: interlocking connection, a screws or nuts and bolts, systems with external or internal screwing, systems with return springs that can be activated by buttons on the surface or by external keys, etc.