Patent ID: 7829773
Filing Date: 2010-11-09
Classification: G10D

Abstract:
1. A tremolo mechanism for varying tension and hence vibration frequencies of a plurality of strings of a stringed musical instrument having a body, a neck protruding from said body, a tuning head terminating said neck, a bridge attached to said body for securing first ends of a plurality of strings, a plurality of longitudinally disposed strings extending from said bridge above an upper surface of said neck and across and in contact with a nut comprising a laterally disposed rib which protrudes upwardly from said neck near an upper end thereof, said strings being secured at second ends thereof to individual tuning mechanisms located between said nut and an outer end of said neck, said tremolo mechanism comprising; a. a pivot mechanism for pivotably supporting a pivot block, said pivot mechanism comprising, b. a pivot block which protrudes downwardly from said pivot plate, said pivot block having located near a lower end thereof at least one return spring attachment structure for engagement by a first end of a tremolo mechanism return spring, c. an extended lip portion including an upright laterally disposed plate which protrudes upwardly from said pivot plate near a rear laterally disposed edge thereof, d. a plurality of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally adjustable bridge segments located forward of said extended lip portion and disposed parallel to and above the upper surface of said pivot plate, each of said adjustable bridge segments having at a front end thereof a string guide having therein a groove for supporting a string anchored by a string anchor structure to said pivot block at a first, lower end of said string and anchored at a second, upper end of said string to a tuning peg, each of said adjustable bridge segments having associated therewith an individual longitudinal position adjustment mechanism, whereby longitudinal adjustment of said adjustable bridge segment varies the tension and hence vibrating frequency of a said string, e. a plurality of laterally spaced apart string anchor structures fixed to at least one of said pivot block and said pivot plate at a location below and rearward of said string guides of said adjustable bridge segments, f. at least a first tremolo mechanism return spring secured at a first, lower end thereof to said return spring attachment structure of said pivot block and at a second, upper end thereof to said body to thus exert a torque on said pivot block in opposition to torque exerted thereon by tension of said strings, and g. a tremolo arm protruding upwards from said pivot plate and graspable by an instrument player to pivot said pivot plate and said extended lip portion downwards against torque exerted by said tremolo mechanism return spring to thus increase tension and hence vibrating frequency of said strings, and releasable to enable said tremolo mechanism return spring to restore said pivot block, pivot plate and string tensions and frequencies to unpivoted initial quiescent values, said longitudinal position adjustment mechanism of said adjustable bridge segment comprising in combination; h. a lateral adjustment mechanism for adjusting the lateral position of said bridge segments in lateral directions parallel to an upper surface of said pivot plate, said lateral adjustment mechanism including in combination: i. a detent mechanism for retaining said adjustment knob at an adjusted angle, said detent mechanism comprising in combination, at least one tang protruding forward from said knob, and a laterally elongated channel groove formed in a rear surface of said transverse rail for receiving said tang, said channel groove being vertically centered on said threaded stud bores.