Abstract:
An electric musical instrument deploys a strap that is tensioned and spaced away from an elongated supporting member generally having a flat face or strap support that extends below the plane of the strap. The instrument is generally played by slapping, tapping or drumming on the strap to causing it to vibrate. When a flat metal strap is deployed, the vibrations are detected by a magnetic transducer or “pick up” generally disposed within the supporting members and converted to sound by conventional audio amplification.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of priority to the US design patent application of the same title that was filed on Mar. 22, 2011, having application Ser. No. 29/388,003, and is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present application also claims the benefit of priority to the US Provisional patent application of the same title that was filed on Oct. 25, 2011, having application Ser. No. 61/551,278, and is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an Electric Musical Instrument that is optionally played as a string instrument or drum, as well as combined modalities thereof. 
     It is a first object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument that could produce a unique and pleasing sound. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument that is also easy to play. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument that is durable and robust. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a musical instrument that provides all of the above benefits and advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing a musical instrument comprising an elongated member with opposing ends on opposite sides thereof and having at least one flat face between the opposing ends; an elongated flat metal strap having a top and bottom end, the top and bottom end being connected proximal to the opposing ends of the elongated member such that the flat metal strap extends along the flat face thereof, being spaced apart there from by a gap; an adjustable means to modulate the tension of the strap between the ends thereof that are connected to the elongated member; and at least one pickup coil disposed within the elongated member to detect vibrations of the flat metal strap. 
     Another object is achieved by providing a musical instrument comprising: an elongated member with opposing ends, the elongated member having a width; an elongated flat strap having a top and bottom end, the top and bottom end being connected proximal to the opposing ends of the elongated member such that the flat metal strap extends along the length thereof; a means to adjust the tension of the strap between the ends thereof that is coupled to the elongated member; and at least one pickup means disposed within the elongated member to detect vibrations of the flat metal strap. 
     Another aspect of the invention is characterized by a process for fabricating the musical instrument, the process comprising the steps of providing a hollow elongated member having a front elongated side and a rear elongated opposite side opposite the front elongated side, the elongated member and the front and rear elongated sides terminating at a first and second end, wherein at least the first end is open; providing a flat strap having a first end and a second end; forming a first and second pair of slits in front and rear sides of the elongated member, the first pair being proximal to the first end thereof, and the second pair being proximal to the second end thereof and distal from the first end, each pair of slits of slits being a front slit in the front elongated side and a proximally disposed rear slit in the rear elongated slide; installing a tensioning means within the hollow elongated member from the first open end thereof; inserting the first and second ends of the flat strap though the first and second pairs of slits formed in the hollow elongated member, such that the first and second ends of the flat strap each enter the elongated member a the slit formed in the front elongated side and exit the elongated member at the slit formed in the rear elongated side, engaging a portion of the flat strap disposed with the interior of the elongated member proximal to the first end with the tensioning means, attaching the ends of the straps that extend beyond the rear elongated side of the elongated member to the elongated member. 
     The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cut away perspective view of an embodiment of the instrument showing the internal and external components thereof. 
         FIG. 2  is a cut-away side elevation view of the instrument of  FIG. 1   
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are front and side elevation views respectively a component of the tension mechanism shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is cut-away front elevation view of the instrument of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 5  is a cut-away and sectional side elevation view showing an alternate method of strap connection. 
         FIG. 6  is a cut-away front elevation view showing the alternate method of strap connection. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional side elevation of a lower portion of the instrument in  FIGS. 1-6  to show the installed pickup and the external electrical connection thereto. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved Electric Musical Instrument, generally denominated  100  herein. 
     In accordance with the present invention instrument  100  has a body that is generally an elongated member  110  preferably having at least one flat face  111  with an elongated flat strap  120  connected at opposing end thereof and tensioned to extend generally parallel to the flat face  111 . It is also preferable that the tension be adjustable, as will be disclosed further below. Further, within the elongated member  110  is a transducer or vibration pick up means  150  disposed to detect vibrations of the flat strap  120 , which produces a variable voltage at an output connecting port or socket  165  which makes electrical connection to the transducer  150 . 
     While the flat strap  120  is preferably ferromagnetic for use with a transducer or vibration pick up means that is a magnetic pickup coil, piezoelectric pickups and like vibration detection means can be deployed with other forms of straps. 
     It was discovered that in the more preferred embodiments of instrument  100  using the magnetic pick up and ferromagnetic strap could produce a unique and pleasing sound, yet was easy to play. Further, deploying the preferred material of construction, the instrument was also durable and robust. Instrument  100  also enables a musician to deploy a number of creative modalities. For examples, as the strap  120  floats just above the length of the body  120 , it can be ‘fretted’ like a stand-up bass. However, rather than strumming, the strap can also be struck against the elongated member with one or two hands. It can even be bowed like a violin, with two hand tapping, hand and stick, and with bending of the instrument body to create a vibrato effect. Further, the instrument can be played upright, or nearly vertical like a stand-up bass, or placed horizontally with the strap upright for playing like drums or other percussion instruments. By deploying various means to tension strap  120  the instrument  100  can be open tuned to almost any key. 
     It should be appreciated that the elongated member and strap dimension can be varied from the preferred embodiment disclosed herein to provide a wide range of acoustic outputs, as well as accommodate a range of playing styles by musicians. As such, the preferred ranges for other parameters are likely to change accordingly. For example, in the case of an instrument having a length of having a length of about 50 to 60 inches it was particularly discovered utilizing a magnetic pick up and a ferromagnetic strap  120  that a small gap of 0.020″ along the full length created a problem with the strap buzzing against the flat face the elongated member that deployed the magnetic pickup. Although a larger gap of 0.010″ along the full length made the instrument sound much better, having eliminated the buzz, it was harder to play the instrument with such a small gap. Hence, it was then discovered that it is preferable to vary gap G along the length of the instrument to provide a tapered gap, with the wider gap near the transducer end opposite where the strap  120  would come in contact with the musician&#39;s hand(s) or another implement held in their hands. Thus, while it is still generally preferably to tap this portion of the strap  120 , the optimum gap dimension are likely to vary with the strap  120  and elongated member length, as well as the strap  120  width. The preferred means to provide such a tapered gap is to attach opposing ends  120   a  and  120   b  of the strap  120  to the elongated members by a single fold or wrap over a cylinder shaped spacing nuts  130   a  and  130   b , each of which is seated in a matching depression  133   a / 133   b  on the flat face  111 . Alternatively, cylindrical spacing nut  130   a  and  130   b  can be seated within a wide slit  113   a / 133   b  that accommodates the strap thickness, but has a slit width that is less than the combined thickness of the strap and spacing nut diameter. It should also be appreciated that while the elongated member provides rigid extremities for supporting the end of the strap  120  under tension, as well as for disposing the vibration detection means close to the strap  120 , the shape and outer surface of the elongated member can vary between these positions for aesthetics or greater user comfort, depending on how the instrument is either held or supported so that the face closest to the strap  120  need not be planar or flat. However, manufacturing the instrument from an elongated member having at least one flat face for placement adjacent to the strap  120  simplifies the placement of the vibration detection means at an optimum position from the strap  120  in manufacturing. 
     Further, in accord with deploying an elongated member having a flat face for this purpose, the diameter of the spacing nuts, and more specifically their projection above front face  111 , can set the gap thickness at the opposing ends of the elongated member  110 . Thus, the cylindrical spacing nuts ( 130   a ,  130   b ) are also preferably disposed external and perpendicular to the elongated member  110 . Most preferably, the gap, G between the strap  120  and the front face is tapered by the diameter of the upper and lower spacing nuts such that the gap a the top G 1  is about 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) and the gap at the bottom, G 2 , is about 0.1 inches (2.5 mm). It was discovered that a tighter gap tolerance of 0.02″ allowed the strap  120  to be manipulated with minimum effort in an upper portion of the elongated member  110  proximal to end  110   a , comparable to a fingerboard on other string instruments. Rather than using different diameter spacing nuts, it is more preferably that the depths of the concave depressions that seat the spacing nuts  130   a  and  130   b  set the gap thickness. Thus, when both spacing nuts are the same diameter (0.375″) and their respective concave slots are preferably machined at different depths to achieve the 0.020″ and 0.100″ gap thicknesses. 
     It should also be appreciated that the larger gap (0.10″) at bottom allows the strap  120  to be further from the body in the lower area around the pickup. Hence, the variable gap provides the easiest play-ability without the buzzing effect. The 0.02″ to 0.1″ taper in the air gap was the result of multiple experiments, in which it was also discovered that pickup  150  is preferably ⅕ of the strap  120  span from the bottom, with strap  120  having a length of about 50 to 60 inches (127-152 cm). More generally, in various other embodiments, the strap can be about 80-90% of the length of the elongated member  110 . However, the pick-up 150 but can be placed elsewhere when applying the above principles should the gap have a different taper or the instrument a different length. 
     A preferred strap  120  is a solid steel ferromagnetic strap about ¾-inches (19 mm) wide by 0.025″ (0.64 mm). It should be noted that steel strap, because of its shape, can only vibrate in one plane, as opposed to a string, which vibrates in all directions regardless of how it&#39;s plucked. It should be appreciated that the ferromagnetic strap  120  while preferably solid metal, such as iron and nickel, can be alternatively clad or laminated metal or a non-metal strap having a metal coating or lamination or impregnation with ferromagnetic layers, sheets or wires. Generally the width of the strap is at least 60% width of the front flat face  111  of the elongated member  110 . 
     It should be appreciated that the cross-sectional shape of the elongated member  110  is alternatively a square, I-beam, triangle. Any shape is possible, but most preferably the elongated member  110  has at least one flat elongated front face that is generally, but need not be precisely parallel to strap  120 . The cross-section shape of elongated member  110  need not be of constant shape along its length, as it is can be optionally shaped for additional user comfort, aesthetic style and the like. In one embodiment, the elongated member  110  is preferably a hollow metal (aluminum) shaft or rod, and most preferably the elongated member  110  is a rigid square shaped tubular body of anodized 6061 alloy aluminum with a square cross section of about 1¼″ by 1¼″ (32 mm×32 mm) by about 65-inches (165 cm) long. However, in other embodiment the strap can vary from about 12 to about 70 inches long, or more, and the elongated member  110  can be from about 1¼ in. to about 2 in. wide. 
     As shown in various Figures, a rubber boot  260  is preferably connected to the lower end  110   b  of elongated member  110  to protect it in use when supported on the ground and provide frictional support to prevent lateral sliding on a supporting surface. 
     The ends  120   a  and  120   b  of the strap  120  are optionally coupled to the elongated member  110  in various ways. A preferred means for this terminal connection of the flat metal strap to the elongated member  110  is achieved after first the strap  120  passing over spacers  130   a  and  130   b  is so a the ends enter the center of member  110 . The ends or terminal portions  120   a  and  120   b  of the strap  120  can then extend outward from the back face through rear slits  113 ′ a  and  113 ′ formed in the back of the hollow square rod shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In more preferred embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5 , each of the opposing terminal portion  120   a  and  120   b  of the strap exit the elongated member  110  through the back face slits  113 ′ a  and  113 ′ b  respectively, and then extend over engaging cylindrical nuts  131   a  and  131   b . Thereafter they reenter the interior of the elongated member  110  via the same back side slit. Friction between the engaging cylinder surfaces  131   a / 131   b  and the strap portions  120   a  and  120   b  in contact therewith prevent the strap  120  from becoming loose. In this embodiment it is preferable to seat the rear cylindrical engaging nuts  131   a  and  131   b  in a concave depression on the rear face  114 , which forces the cylinder to center itself over the slit when the strap  120  is tensioned. Most importantly, the concave surface creates more surface area to ‘pinch’ the strap between the cylinders  131   a/b  and elongated member  110 . 
     In another embodiment, the terminal portions  120   a  and  120   b  of strap  120  that extend through the back via slits  113 ′ a/b  are attached directly to the back of the elongated member  110  as in  FIG. 5  with screws  531   a  and  531   b.    
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the adjustable tensioning means  140  is preferably a threaded tensioning nut  141  that engages a threaded bolt  142  external to the end cap  112  (which can seal an otherwise open top end  110   a  of the elongated member  110 ). The opposite end  142   b  of the threaded bolt  142  terminates in a connection to the crown of a shackle  144  with a portion  120   c  of the strap  120  that extends between a front  113   a  and back  113 ′ a  slit extending around the shank of the shackle pin  145  (or shackle bolt), transversely spans between arms  146  and  146 ′ of the crown shackle  144 . Thus, the upward movement of the shackle pin  145  via the handle  142  tensions the strap  120 . Tensioning the strap, such as via the nut  140 , or any alternative means increases the frictional engagement of the strap  120  to the rear engaging or locking cylindrical nuts  131   a  and  131   b.    
     An alternative tensioning means for strap  120  is to wrap and attach one end to a turning peg secured externally to the elongated member  110  proximal to the top  110   a , or bottom  110   b.    
     Another aspect of the invention is a method of forming instrument  100  using a hollow elongated member  110 . The slits  113   a  and  113   b  formed in the front face  111  and slits  113 ′ a  and  113   b  are formed in the rear face  114  of member  110 . The strap ends  120   a  and  120   b  are inserted through the slit pairs  113   a / 113 ′ a  and  113   b / 113 ′ b . The tensioning means is installed in the top  110   a  to engage a portion of strap  120  proximal to end  120   a  inside the elongated hollow member  110 , and then the ends  120   a  and  120   b  of the strap are secured to the elongated hollow member  110 , either externally as shown in  FIG. 5 , or internally via frictional engagement with cylinders  131   a/b  as described above. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.