Abstract:
For musicians playing an electric or acoustic guitar, there is disclosed a re-designed plectrum having an orthogonally-protruding handle and a snubber extending from the handle. The handle and snubber allow the plectrum to be inserted into the channel of a flexible, primarily longitudinal strap-retainer. The plectrum and strap-retainer, thus connected, form a one-piece handled plectrum assembly, with the strap-retainer being fastened about one, two, or three fingers of the user. The disclosed plectrum assembly provides an improvement in the gripping surface available to the user, in addition to providing more comfort and more reliable thumb and forefinger gripping orientation. The assembly also permits a rapid release of the plectrum for finger-plucking or strumming style of play.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/701,621 filed on Sep. 15, 2012 and said provisional application is incorporated fully herein as though appearing as part of this application. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The inventive concept presented herein generally is concerned with devices and methods for playing stringed musical instruments, especially guitars. Historically, stringed instruments such as guitars, bass guitars, banjos, mandolins and the like are played either with the fingers, or more frequently, with the assistance of a plectrum. Plectrums come in a variety of sizes, weights, densities, materials, and textures. They are usually 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm thick, but can be much thicker. Plectrums are generally constructed in the approximate shape of an isosceles triangle, with rounded base angles and a relatively elliptical apex, or “picking point.” The musician normally orients the plectrum so as to make the apex point the part of the plectrum which strikes the strings of the instrument. 
         [0006]    It is not uncommon for a musician to lose the most effective position of his or her grip on the plectrum while playing, or to drop the plectrum entirely when playing rapid or intense passages consisting of multitudes of musical notes. If the grip on the plectrum is accidentally misaligned, the musician may not be able to timely strike the string or strings which for which he or she is aiming, and as an added consequence, the timbre of the string, or the quality of its induced resonance is lessened by such a mis-strike. 
         [0007]    (2) Description of the Related Art 
         [0008]    Musicians and instrument makers have been, for over one hundred years, making improvements and modifications in the basic simple plectrum, to make the device more versatile or convenient to use. A very early invention in this vein was designed in 1896, and involved a holder device for mandolin picks; ref. U.S. Pat. No. 557,293. The holder was flexible enough such that, by varying pressure on the device with the thumb and forefinger, a musician was able to strike the mandolin strings very soft with low volume or with force for louder, more emphatic tones. The holder minimized the risk of dropping the pick or losing grip. 
         [0009]    In 1916, U.S. Pat. No. 1,184,561 presented a design for a mandolin pick holder which resembled a miniature horseshoe. The device was made with a recessed chamber, sized so as to accommodate the insertion of the pick. The preferred embodiment of the device was made of rubber, which gave enhanced gripping qualities to the musician, as the gripping pressure of the fingers engaged the friction of the rubber. The pressure of the fingers also provided a firm retention force for maintaining the pick inside the horseshoe-shaped receptacle. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,263,740 features a pick for stringed instruments which is constructed with a small hole or aperture at the gripping end of the pick. A thin wire is inserted through the hole and then looped on both sides of the pick. The double loops provide resting places, or anchors, for the two most conveniently located fingers involved in gripping the pick for playing. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,776,592 describes a guitar pick attachment designed with a ring-like mechanism to fit over the forefinger. This helps prevent accidental dropping of the pick. The ring-like mechanism is connected to the pick by a “tongue” that is an integral part of the pick. The pick may be swiveled around its position on the ring-like mechanism to a non-playing position, which allows freedom of the fingers to pluck the instrument. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,838 consists of a guitar pick manufactured with an integral, continuous circular band extending from both sides of the pick. The band is designed with sufficient tension so as to securely hold a thumb or finger as that digit is inserted within the circular band in preparation for gripping the pick. 
         [0013]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/660,984 discloses a plectrum with an extended tab wherein an aperture within the tab accepts a tether which may be looped around the hand or selected fingers of the musician. 
         [0014]    A relatively intricate pick design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,433, which claims a plectrum ring. The ring element is designed to be worn about the middle finger of the musician&#39;s playing hand, with the plectrum being snapped into place by means of a stud and boss assembly on the surface of the ring element. The plectrum may have one or more boreholes drilled into it to allow a selection of multiple positions and angles for the plectrum to be attached to the ring element. Other variations of this basic mechanism are further disclosed. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,237 consists of a guitar pick with two curved metallic bands attached to the pick. The pick itself has two small pads, one glued to each side of the gripping half of the pick. There are grooves within the pads to allow the insertion of the two bands. The bands are relatively stiff but deformable to allow insertion of the musician&#39;s fingers and also to allow the pick to be swiveled out of playing range when the pick is not in use. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,913 features a plectrum which is attached to a flexible tongue device, which in turn is connected to a bendable, circular hand engaging member. The hand engaging member is designed to be variably fitted onto the base of the musician&#39;s middle finger. Thereafter, the flexible tongue stretches to allow the pick to be grasped by the musician&#39;s thumb and forefinger for playing the instrument. 
         [0017]    An abandoned British patent application (publication #GB2347550) discloses a variety of plectrum devices, including one with a handle to be grasped in the user&#39;s fist. At least one variety of the handle is manufactured with a tongue-like device which is integral to the handle and extends outward an appropriate distance so as to allow the attachment of a pick to the tongue. 
         [0018]    Another development with respect to playing stringed instruments is a device referred to as the F-1™ “Ergonomic Guitar Pick.” This invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,643 and is designed to be used as either a pick or a pick holder. It resembles an inverted clamshell, and features a pick of engineered material with a curved finger grip. One side of the device is a finger cradle, or saddle, to accommodate either the thumb or the index finger of the musician. The opposite side of the device is a flat planar area for ease of gripping with pressure exerted by the other fingers. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The inventive concept herein discloses a re-designed plectrum  1  having a protruding handle  3  oriented at an angle between approximately seventy to ninety degrees to the axis  6  of the plectrum body  5  and a “snubber”  4  extending from the handle  3 . The handle  3  and snubber  4  enable the plectrum  1  to be inserted into a channel  10  of a flexible, primarily longitudinal strap-retainer  20 . The plectrum  1  and strap-retainer  20 , thus assembled, form a one-piece handled plectrum assembly  21  with a resulting inner loop. The handled plectrum assembly  21  may then be fastened to itself, forming a loop to enclose one to three fingers of the playing hand of the user/musician. 
         [0020]    The disclosed handled plectrum assembly  21  features an improvement in the gripping surface available to the musician or player of a stringed musical instrument. There is also provided for the player more comfort, more reliable thumb and forefinger gripping pressure, and a greater consciousness of ergonomically correct muscular movements when playing a stringed musical instrument, particularly an electric guitar. The handled plectrum assembly  21  allows a musician or player to more effectively hold the plectrum  1  and to apply more accurate placement when the plectrum  1  strikes the strings of the instrument. 
         [0021]    For illustrative purposes only, this disclosure presents peg-and-hole and also hook-and-felt type fastening mechanisms. Another means of connecting the device in the fastening zone  15  of the plectrum assembly is a hook-and-felt mechanism, with the hook component being the male fastener and the felt component being the female fastener. However, a variety of fastening mechanisms may be used in the fastening zone  15  of the device, including, but not limited to, press-fit elastomeric grooves, magnetic materials, peg and through-hole fasteners, and tongue-and-groove fittings. For ease of description and convenience sake only, the references to playing function of the handled plectrum assembly shall be with respect to a user&#39;s (musician/guitarist) playing of a guitar. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The objects, features, and advantages of the concepts presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling ten figures and sub-figures, show the basic functioning of the plectrum assembly, combined with two of the preferred embodiments of the device. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures. 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  depicts the fastened handled plectrum assembly utilizing a through-holes and pegs mechanism in the fastening zone of the device. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  depicts the arrangement of through-holes and pegs as the male and female fasteners, respectively. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2(   a ) is an end view of the receptor, showing the shape of the channel. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a side-view of a strap-retainer which utilizes the through-holes and pegs fastening mechanism. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  presents a strap-retainer with a hook-and-felt fastening mechanism. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4(   a ) is an end view of the receptor, showing the shape of the channel. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  depicts a strap-retainer with a hook-and-felt fastening mechanism. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  depicts a view of the planar surface of the plectrum, further showing the axis passing through the apex of the plectrum. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  ( a ) is an edge view of the plectrum, as seen looking at the outer edge, or brace, of the snubber component. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  depicts a guitar player&#39;s right hand after fastening the strap-retainer about his/her bottom three fingers. 
       
    
    
       [0033]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Nomenclature of Components 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  1. Plectrum 
               
               
                   
                  2. Planar dimension 
               
               
                   
                  3. Handle 
               
               
                   
                  4. Snubber 
               
               
                   
                  5. Body 
               
               
                   
                  6. Axis 
               
               
                   
                  7. Apex 
               
               
                   
                  8. Brace 
               
               
                   
                  9. Receptor 
               
               
                   
                 10. Channel 
               
               
                   
                 11-12. n/a 
               
               
                   
                 13. Flap 
               
               
                   
                 14. Flap angle 
               
               
                   
                 15. Fastening zone 
               
               
                   
                 16. Felt component 
               
               
                   
                 17. Hook component 
               
               
                   
                 18-19. n/a 
               
               
                   
                 20. Strap-retainer 
               
               
                   
                 21. Handled plectrum assembly 
               
               
                   
                 22. Top edge 
               
               
                   
                 23. Lower edge 
               
               
                   
                 24. Back end 
               
               
                   
                 25. Front end 
               
               
                   
                 26. Inner surface 
               
               
                   
                 27. Outer surface 
               
               
                   
                 28. Thumb-tip 
               
               
                   
                 29. Index finger 
               
               
                   
                 30. Through-hole segment 
               
               
                   
                 31. Peg segment 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    For an overall view of the inventive concept, analysis shall begin with  FIG. 1 . in  FIG. 1  there is shown a fastened handled plectrum assembly  21  which subsequently forms a loop defined by the inner surface  26  of the handled plectrum assembly  21 . For the inventive concept to function as intended, the plectrum  1  is inserted into what is termed a “receptor”  9  of a “flap”  13  component. The flap  13  is integrally connected to a strap-retainer  20  at a “flap angle”  14  of approximately thirty degrees. The angular connection enhances a guitarist&#39;s orientation of the apex  7  of the plectrum  1  striking the strings of the guitar. The flap-angle  14  may be manufactured at a greater or lesser angle, depending on the comfort level of a particular player&#39;s plectrum grip style. In viewing  FIG. 2 , the flap-angle  14  is more clearly shown, which preferably is constructed at an angle, relative to the top edge  22  of the strap-retainer  20 . 
         [0035]    The strap-retainer  20  is an essentially longitudinal strap, comprising a top edge  22 , a lower edge  23 , a back end  24 , a front end  25 , an outer surface  26 , an inner surface,  27 , and a fastening zone  15 . In the preferred embodiment, the strap-retainer  20  is constructed from an elastomeric material; however any material that is relatively bendable or flexible may be used. 
         [0036]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the back end  24  of the strap-retainer  20  is shown detachably connected to the fastening zone  15  proximate the front end  25  of the strap-retainer  20 . The back end  24  of the strap-retainer  20  provides the location for affixing any variety of male fastener segments. The fastening zone  15  provides the location for any of a variety of female fastener segments corresponding to the particular male fastener segment used. In  FIG. 1 , there is shown an arrangement of through-holes  30  forming the female fastening segment, while the male fastener segment (out of view) comprises a matching arrangement of raised pegs  31 . 
         [0037]    In referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  there is also shown a peg-and-hole fastening mechanism wherein the male fastening segment (pegs)  31  are shown integral to the back end  24  of the strap-retainer  20  while the female fastening segments (through-holes)  30  are integral to the fastening zone  15 . The relative positioning of the fastening segments  30 ,  31  may be reversed in different embodiments of the device, with either of the fastening segments  30 ,  31  being placed on mutually opposite sides  26 ,  27  of the strap-retainer  20 . Further, in all embodiments, the locations of the male and female segments  30 ,  31  may be reversed, in different embodiments of the handled plectrum assembly  21  relative to the front end  25  and the back end  24  of the strap-retainer  20 . 
         [0038]    The handled plectrum assembly  21  functions by the player/musician looping the strap-retainer  20  into a sufficiently large (or small) circle to securely encompass one to three fingers of the user&#39;s playing hand. Once the loop is formed, the male fastener is placed in the vicinity of the fastening zone  15 , which, in the preferred embodiment, contains the female fastener segment. For illustrative purposes, an embodiment depicting a hook-and-felt type fastener is used in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . The player/user may press the hook component  16  being the male fastener, onto the felt component  17 , or the female fastener (hidden from view in  FIG. 4 ) within the range of distance covered by the fastening zone  15 . 
         [0039]    Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the player may press a plurality of the pegs  31  onto a portion of the through-holes  30  that are constructed within the fastening zone  15 , to render a functional handled plectrum assembly  21  ready for playing. Prior to this fastening operation, the user will have selected an appropriate thickness plectrum  1  to insert into the receptor  9  of the strap-retainer  20 . In other embodiments, a plurality of snap fasteners or press studs, (a pair of interlocking male and female discs) may be used in the fastening zone  15  of the strap-retainer  20 . A male snap fastener, being a circular lip under one disc, fits into a groove on the top of the other, a female fastener, thereby holding both of them fast after a minimal amount of force is applied. 
         [0040]    In referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  there is shown a hook-and-felt fastening mechanism wherein the male fastening segment (or felt)  16  is shown integral to the back end  24  of the strap-retainer  20  while the female fastening segment (hook component)  17  is integral to the fastening zone  15 . The relative positioning of the fastening segments  16 ,  17  may be reversed in different embodiments of the device, with either of the hook and felt segments  16 ,  17  being placed on mutually opposite sides  26 ,  27  of the strap-retainer  20 . Further, the locations of the hook and felt segments  16 ,  17  may be reversed in different embodiments of the handled plectrum assembly  21  relative to the front end  25  and the back end  24  of the strap-retainer  20 . 
         [0041]    In viewing  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 6(   a ), there is shown a detailed presentment of the plectrum  1 . A plectrum snubber  4 , which is an extension of the handle  3  of the plectrum  1 , is designed with perimentral dimensions slightly larger than the interior dimensions of a channel  10  within the receptor  9 . The receptor  9  is of an elastomeric material which expands to accept the handle  3  of the plectrum  1  and the snubber  4 . Once inserted, the snubber  4  securely holds the plectrum  1  in an orientation within the receptor  9  which affords the player a secure gripping texture when thumb and index finger pressure is placed on both sides of the receptor  9 , simultaneously maintaining constant contact with the upper portion of the plectrum  1 . The brace  8  of the plectrum  1  also gives the player comfortable leverage for securely aiming and placing the apex  7  and body  5  of the plectrum  1  against the selected strings of the musical instrument, particularly during rapid music passages. 
         [0042]    For general consumer marketing, most plectrums or picks are fabricated of a relatively inexpensive, thin plastic or other material which may be constructed in a range of thicknesses from 0.30 mm to 3.0 mm or more. Reference is made to  FIG. 6(   a ), depicting the plectrum  1  dimension  2 . Plectrums are designed to bend a certain amount and therefore, according to the individual taste of a musician, different thicknesses of plectrums may be selected. The plectrum  1  of the disclosed device is also constructed in a variety of thicknesses, which gives a musician the option of selecting different weights and stiffness of plectrums. As necessary, and when time permits, the musician need only pull the current plectrum  1  in use from the grip of the receptor  9 , insert a replacement plectrum  1  into the receptor  9 , and resume playing. 
         [0043]    In referring to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated the right hand of a musician or user of the device, shown after having fully encompassed his/her outer three fingers within the loop formed by fastening of the strap-retainer  20 . To prepare for playing a stringed instrument with the device, the musician need only place his/her thumb-tip  28  against the juncture of the receptor  9  and the top portion of the plectrum  1  while simultaneously pressing against the tip of the index finger  29 . In this manner, the user may be assured of adequately gripping texture and orientation of the plectrum  1  against the strings of a guitar or other stringed instrument. The lower three fingers may very lightly grasp the contacted portion of the strap-retainer  20 , which naturally enhances an ergonometric positioning of the user&#39;s wrist, forearm and hand, particularly relative to guitar strings. 
         [0044]    For the finger-plucking style of guitar playing, the user may release the grip of the thumb-tip  28  and index finger  29  on the plectrum  1 , thereby freeing all five fingers of the hand for plucking or strumming the instrument strings. Depending on a user&#39;s preference, he/she may fasten the strap-retainer  20  about only one finger, or any combination of the lower three fingers shown in  FIG. 7 . When not in use, the fastened strap-retainer  20  may be stored on the head or lug nuts of the guitar. 
         [0045]    The strap-retainer  20  may comprise any one of a number of different types of materials including, but not limited to, plastic, rubber, cloth, canvas, leather, or any of several elastomeric substances or alternatively, rigid materials. The fastening zone  15  and areas immediately adjacent to the fastening zone  15  may be of a rigid material while the remaining portions of the strap-retainer  20  may be constructed from an elastomeric material. Further, the fastening zone  15  may be configured to accept an orthogonal, or other angular fastening of the back end  24  of the strap-retainer  20  onto the fastening zone  15 . 
         [0046]    It must be realized that the embodiments presented in this inventive concept are not dependent solely upon any particular type of materials or fastening mechanism as the means of efficient or effective fastening of the retainer-strap  20 . Fastening means such as zippers, pins, suction devices, track-and-groove fasteners, miniature snaps, magnets, or other mechanisms may function as well, if not better. A variety of fastening means as well as plectrum grasping means are readily capable of providing the functionality encompassed by this inventive concept. It is a fact that those skilled in the art may devise similar embodiments that are nevertheless, envisioned within the scope and limitations disclosed in this document.