Patent ID: 7479592
Filing Date: 2009-01-20
Classification: G10D

Abstract:
1. A vibrato device for an instrument having a plurality of strings, the device comprising: a base plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one peripheral edge connecting the top and bottom surfaces, the at least one peripheral edge comprising a forward side having a pivot means fixed proximately thereto; a plurality of string attachment means fixed to the base plate and pivotable relative to the base plate about an axis substantially distally parallel to the forward side of the peripheral edge, each string attachment means fixed to one string of the instrument and including a string biasing means that keeps the string in tension at the string attachment means, the string biasing means generally balancing the string tension around the pivot means; a vibrato handle fixed to the base plate, the handle when moved causing the base plate to pivot around the pivot means; whereby with each string of the instrument being fixed to one of the string attachment means, each string tunable against the string biasing means independently of any other string, the base plate being biased thereby towards the pivot means along the longitudinal axis of the strings, and whereby the vibrato handle may be moved to cause the base plate to pivot around the pivot means to cause the effective pitch of each string to be changed thereby.