Patent ID: 7906716
Filing Date: 2011-03-15
Classification: G10D

Abstract:
1. A mute for a stringed instrument of the type having a top, a bridge having a thickness, a tailpiece, peg box, and first, second, third and fourth strings, each of said strings having a top, a width, said strings resting in a spaced apart position on said bridge disposed upon said top of said instrument, said bridge having a top arc, a front face facing said tailpiece and a rear face facing said peg box with a thickness defined between said front face and said rear face, said strings extending from said peg box to said tailpiece over said bridge forming a string angle from the top of said bridge to said tailpiece, each of said strings further extending at its convergence angle toward one another as they extend from said bridge to said tailpiece, comprising: an elongated body having a first side, a second side, first end, second end, a top and a bottom; first and second legs extending from said bottom of said elongated body at said first end, said first and second legs each having an inner side and an outer side; third and fourth legs extending from said bottom of said elongated body at said second end, said third and fourth legs each having an inner side and an outer side; a first slot defined between and separating said first and second legs, and a second slot defined between and separating said third and fourth legs, said first and second slots each having a width, said width of each of said first and second slots being somewhat narrower than said thickness of said bridge; first and second notches defined parallel to one another in the bottom of said elongated body, said first and second notches extending from said first side of said elongated body to said second side of said elongated body, said first and second notches being formed deeper at said first side of said elongated body than at said second side of said elongated body, said first and second notches each having a top, the top of each notch extending at an angle being the same angle as each of said string's string angle from said bridge to said tailpiece, said first and second notches defined within said elongated body for receiving, respectively, said second and third strings within each of said first and second notches, said first notch having an approximate width of said second string, said second notch having the approximate width of said third string, with such strings extending through said notches at their convergence angles for causing said tops of said first and second notches to fully contact and exert retention pressure on said second and third strings for aiding in holding said mute in place on said strings as said strings extend therethrough at their convergence angles while said first and second ends of said elongated body and said outer sides of said first and second legs and said third and fourth legs do not extend sufficiently to contact, respectively, said first and fourth strings when said mute is positioned with said second and third strings engaged, respectively, within said first and second notches, and said first side of said mute is pushed against said front face of said bridge in a second mode of use position; said mute positionable in a first position on top of said bridge, said bridge received within said first and second slots, respectively, between said first and second legs and said third and fourth legs in frictional engagement therewith said first and second legs and said third and fourth legs exerting pressure on said front and rear faces of said bridge; and said mute further having a resting position when moved from said second mode of use in a position on said second and third strings toward said tailpiece, said second and third strings being received into said first and second notches at a position near said tailpiece with said first and fourth strings then contacting, respectively, said first and second sides of said elongated body of said mute for applying frictional pressure to said mute along with the frictional pressure of said second and third strings engaged in said first and second notches for retaining said mute in said resting position.