Abstract:
A harness is provided for securely holding a conventional plectrum or pick in firm engagement with a guitar player&#39;s thumb, the harness consisting of a flexible and resilient strap contoured to fit around the thumb in advance of the first knuckle and being provided with a central portion which is slit to receive and hold the plectrum firmly against the undersurface of the thumb with the pointed end of the pick protruding through one of the slits into playing position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to guitar playing equipment and, more particularly, to a novel plectrum and harness combination for attaching said novel plectrum to a player&#39;s thumb as employed in playing guitar. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional plectrums for playing stringed instruments are commonly a thin piece of flexible plastic, generally triangular in shape, which is grasped between the thumb and index finger. The plectrum is moved over the strings of a stringed instrument such as a guitar, bass, ukulele, or the like, to create sound. Such plectrums are generally comprised of die cut or cast plastic materials such as nylon, polycarbonate, high-density polyethylene, or other flexible polymers. Plectrums are typically die cut from a sheet or injection molded. Grasping a plectrum between the thumb and forefinger can cause fatigue that can lead to dropping the plectrum during performance. Such grasping can also reduce the flexibility of the plectrum. Means of attaching a plectrum to the thumb have been developed to mitigate such drawbacks and are referred to as thumb picks. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the disclosed embodiment to provide a comfortable means of engaging a replaceable plectrum with a thumb, further providing a tactile engagement between said harness and plectrum, further providing engagement with the thumb allowing for appropriate flex of the plectrum. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an example embodiment  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a flexible body  130  is comprised of a resilient material and although may be made of leather or textile materials, the preferred embodiment is comprised of a castable elastomer that may be any of a number of polyurethanes, silicones or vinyl. Appropriate castable elastomer shore-durometers for some embodiments are between Shore-00 rating between 30 and 80 and Shore-A rating between 0 and 40. 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an example harness and plectrum combination is provided that includes a semi-rigid molded harness that provides specific tactile means of engagement with the root of the thumb nail, the thumb tip and the thumb pad. The semi-rigid molded harness is affixed to the thumb with a strap that is received by a channel with molded engagement means to hold the strap. A slot in the harness is provided that receives a replaceable plectrum. A replaceable plectrum comprises a substantially curved surface that engages with both the harness and with the surface of the thumb for tactile engagement with the plectrum. A groove and flare engage the plectrum with the slot in the harness. 
     These and other non-limiting features or characteristics of the present disclosure are further described below. Features are provided from the following description are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a harness consisting of a castable elastomer form contoured to fit the thumb with tactile engagement with the root of the thumb nail, the tip of the thumb and the thumb pad and which has a portion dimensioned to provide an area that receives and hold a contoured pick such a plectrum providing a surface that sits firmly against the surface of the thumb with the substantially pointed end of the plectrum protruding through said slit into playing position. 
     Any combination or permutation of embodiments is envisioned. Additional advantageous features, functions and applications of the disclosed assemblies, systems and methods of the present disclosure will be apparent from the description which follows, particularly when read in conjunction with the appended figures. All references listed in this disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purposes of illustrating the disclosure set forth herein and not for the purposes of limiting the same. Example embodiments of the present disclosure are further described with reference to the appended figures. It is to be noted that the various features and combinations of features described below and illustrated in the figures can be arranged and organized differently to result in embodiments which are still within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. To assist those of ordinary skill in the art in making and using the disclosed systems, assemblies and methods, reference is made to the appended figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front, left perspective view of an example thumb pick according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front, left perspective view of an example thumb pick according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective, exploded view of an example thumb pick according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective, exploded view of an example thumb pick according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a front, left perspective view of a thumb pick according to the present disclosure in a semi-closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a front, left perspective view of a thumb pick according to the present disclosure in a closed position. 
         FIG. 7  is a front, left perspective view of a thumb pick according to the present disclosure in a closed position over a thumb. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The example embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative of advantageous features and functions for an improved harness and plectrum combination providing comfort and tactile engagement with both the harness and plectrum. A more complete understanding of the components, processes, and apparatuses disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to demonstrate the present disclosure and are not intended to show relative sizes and dimensions or to limit the scope of the disclosed embodiment(s). In particular, the figures provided herein are not necessarily to scale and, in certain views, parts may be exaggerated for purposes of clarity. 
     Although specific terms are used in the following description, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structures in the drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function. 
     The terms “about” or “approximately” when used with a quantity includes the stated value and also has the meaning dictated by the context. For example, they include at least the degree of error associated with the measurement of the particular quantity. When used in the context of a range, the terms “about” or “approximately” should also be considered as disclosing the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints. For example, the range “from about 2 to about 4” or “from approximately 2 to approximately 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4”. 
     Example embodiments include, but are not limited to, a molded elastomeric harness having tactile engagement with the root of the thumb nail, the tip of the thumb and the pad of the thumb. The molded harness further provides a slot for engagement with a replaceable plectrum. The replaceable plectrum includes a portion for interacting with the strings of a stringed instrument and a surface that is in contact with the surface of the thumb, thus providing the user with the feel of the contact of the plectrum with the strings. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 2  front, left and front right perspective views respectively of an example embodiment  100  of a harness and plectrum combination is shown. The harness  130 , comprised of a castable elastomer as previously described. The harness comprises a strap  116  having a plurality of protrusions  114  and spaces between protrusions  119 . The strap is enjoined with a mid-section  122  that has a slot  120  for a plectrum  110 . A curve in the surface provides a stop  129  that rests on the tip of the thumb preventing the harness from sliding along the long axis of the thumb. A slot  118  receives the strap  116 . Spaces  124  and ridges  128  engage with protrusions  114  and the spaces between protrusions  119  respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , rear and front exploded, perspective views are shown. The plectrum  110  is removed from the slot  120 . Seen in this view is a textured surface  126  on the interior of the harness  130 . The textured surface  126  provides proper engagement between the harness  130  and the thumb. 
     The plectrum  110  comprises a substantially pointed portion  109  for engaging with the strings of a stringed instrument. The plectrum further comprises a rear surface  111  and tabs  113  that engage with a recess  119  in the harness  130  and also engages with the surface of the thumb. Proper engagement with the surface of the thumb provides a means of transferring the vibration that occurs as the playing portion  109  of the plectrum  110  makes contact with a string(s) of a stringed instrument. In this manner the harness does not interfere with the tactile sensation on the thumb of the plectrum on the strings. The plectrum engages with the harness being fitted through the slot  120 . A recess  117  is of a similar dimension to the width of the slot  120  and a flared portion  115  is wider than the slot  120 . As the harness  130  is comprised of an elastomeric material, the slot  120  is able to flex sufficiently to receive the flared portion  115 . Once through the slot the flared portion  115  rests on the outer surface of the harness  130  thus keeping the plectrum in place. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  front perspective views of the harness  130  and plectrum  110  combination is illustrated with the harness flexed.  FIG. 7  illustrates the harness flexed and worn on a thumb  140 . The strap  116  is received by the slot  118  and protrusions  114  secure the strap in place by residing between the ridges  128 . In other words, a plurality of protrusions  114  and spaces  119  between protrusions  114  engage respectively with spaces between ridges  124  and ridges  128  to provide adjustability in the diameter of the harness  130  to fit various size thumbs  140 . The textured portion  126  of the harness  130  resides against the pad of the thumb. The stop  129  can be seen in  FIG. 7 , resting against the tip of the thumb  141 . A curved surface  112  rests against the root of the thumb nail  143  providing a tactile location of the harness with the thumb nail root  143 . Although the systems and methods of the present disclosure have been described with reference to example embodiments thereof, the present disclosure is not limited to such example embodiments and or implementations. Rather, the systems and methods of the present disclosure are susceptible to many implementations and applications, as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from the disclosure hereof. The present disclosure expressly encompasses such modifications, enhancements and or variations of the disclosed embodiments. Since many changes could be made in the above construction and many widely different embodiments of this disclosure could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the drawings and specification shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Additional modifications, changes, and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure.