Abstract:
The interface device provides a means to install a standard magnetic pickup into the sound hole of an acoustic guitar in a manner which employs the use of a commercially available feedback reduction device. The interface mounting device provides the ability to use standard magnetic guitar pickups with an acoustic guitar that would normally require a special purpose guitar pickup. Further this interface mounting device provides a means to install the standard magnetic guitar pickup in a manner that is both secure during its operation, is adjustable to fit personal taste, is totally removable, and does not permanently affect the underlying acoustic guitar.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,830, issued Jul. 26, 1983, for FEEDBACK REDUCER FOR AN ACUSTIC ELECTRIC GUITAR, by Paul J. Damisno, Manchester, Conn. 
         [0002]    The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,322, issued Mar. 16, 1999, for FEEDBACK MINIMIZING DEVICE, by Michael R. Baker, Minden, Nev. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
                 Not Applicable 
               
               
                 SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
                 Not Applicable 
               
               
                 US CLASS 
                 84/267; 84/453; 84/725 
               
               
                 FIELD OF SEARCH 
                 84/267, 453, 723, 725, 743 
               
               
                 BACKGROUND - FIELD 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. Field 
         [0004]    This interface device application relates to the field of acoustic guitars, specifically to where the user requires the capability to install a standard magnetic pickup into the sound hole of said acoustic guitar. 
         [0005]    2. Prior Art 
         [0006]    The use of a large generic class of standard magnetic pickups are not suitable for use with an acoustic guitar because there is no convenient way to mount these pickups within the sound hole of the guitar. The problem is, how does someone install one of these standard magnetic pickups, many of which are of high quality, relatively low-priced, and available to suit many individual tastes, into the sound hole of an acoustic guitar? 
         [0007]    Currently, mounting a magnetic pickup to an acoustic guitar has been accomplished via a customized arrangement to match a particular pickup configuration. The two patents referenced in this application provide methods of mounting unique magnetic pickups into the sound hole of an acoustic guitar. 
         [0008]    The device contained in the &#39;322 patent is of this variety, but is limited in that it will only accept specific magnetic pickups without further modification to the feedback reduction device. Whereas the interface device discussed herein provides an interface mounting adapter that enables the ability to mount a wide variety of commercially available magnetic guitar pickups without requiring modification to the mounting adapter, the feedback reduction device, or the acoustic guitar. Further this earlier invention had the restriction of not being able to allow individualized rotational adjustment of the pickup which is a highly desirable feature available with the design put forth herein. 
         [0009]    Another approach to mounting a magnetic pickup to an acoustic guitar sound hole is provided in U.S. Pat. No. &#39;830. One of the embodiments of this &#39;830 patent includes a magnetic pickup that has been custom installed into the sound hole plug. The method of mounting this specific magnetic pickup into the guitar sound hole results in a configuration that is inflexible once a particular pickup location is selected. 
         [0010]    Both of these earlier devices, U.S. Pat. Nos. &#39;830 and &#39;322 contain feedback reduction devices that will accept a custom magnetic pickup which is installed into the feedback reduction device that goes into the acoustic guitar sound hole. However, the shortfall of both of these earlier devices is that they will not accept a range of generic standard magnetic pickups. Neither do these earlier devices provide an easy method for rotational adjustment of the pickup within the sound hole relative to the fixed location of the strings. 
         [0011]    Both the ability to accept generic standard magnetic pickups, and the ability to allow for precision adjustment of the location of the pickup relative to the fixed location of the strings are the principal objectives of the current interface device disclosed herein. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    The claimed invented device provides an interface mounting adapter which is used as a means to install a standard magnetic pickup into a sound hole of an acoustic guitar. In accordance with the embodiment described herein, the interface mounting adapter approach provides a significant advantage by providing the ability for the musician to easily install and remove a broad range of commercially available standard magnetic pickups without damage to the acoustic guitar. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         [0013]    A complete understanding of the present interface device may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an overall top view of an acoustic guitar configured with the standard magnetic pickup mounted via the interface mounting adapter attached to the inner wall of the sound hole containing the feedback reduction device. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1A  is a closer overall top view showing the standard magnetic pickup installed via the interface mounting adapter installed in the sound hole of the guitar with the guitar strings situated above the standard magnetic pickup. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top detail view of a feedback reduction device serving as the structure to support the interface device, the standard magnetic pickup interface mounting adapter attached to the inside circumference wall of the feedback reduction device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the overall assembly of the claimed invention which is the interface mounting adapter. The interface mounting adapter captures the standard magnetic pickup and then this resulting combination is in turn inserted into the feedback reduction device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a center cut through view of a feedback reduction device with the standard magnetic pickup mounted within the feedback reduction device via the magnetic pickup interface mounting adapter whose elements are grouped and shown in  FIG. 4A . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a closer detailed view of one side of the interface mounting adapter showing the elements which comprise the interface mounting adapter. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a front detail view of an interface mounting adapter showing one of the two support bracket hardware sets as installed to the standard magnetic pickup with the hook or loop fastener set which in turn connects the interface mounting adapter to the feedback reduction device inner wall via its hook or loop fastener mate. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a standard magnetic pickup depicting that the pickup can be rotated within the feedback reduction device using the interface mounting adapter, thus allowing the user flexibility in achieving their personalized optimum configuration relative to the location of the fixed strings of the acoustic guitar. 
       
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10  acoustic guitar 
               12  strings 
               14  sound hole 
               16  feedback reduction device 
               18  standard magnetic pickup 
               20  interface mounting adapter 
               22  pickup interface cable 
               24  sound hole with installed feedback reduction device 
               26  support bracket 
               28  hook or loop set 
               30  hook or loop mate 
               32  mounting hardware 
               34  pickup height adjusting screw 
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0035]    Like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is an overall top view of an acoustic guitar  10  configured with the standard magnetic pickup  18  mounted via the interface mounting adapter  20  attached to the inner wall of the sound hole containing the feedback reduction device  24 . The output of the standard magnetic pickup  18  is made available to external electronics via the pickup interface cable  22 . Situated above the sound hole  14  are the guitar strings  12 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 1A  is a closer overall top view showing the standard magnetic pickup  18  installed via the interface mounting adapter  20  installed in the sound hole  14  of the guitar  10  with the guitar strings  12  situated above the standard magnetic pickup  18 . The interface mounting adapter  20  containing the standard magnetic pickup  18  on one end of the support bracket  26  assembly is then positioned within the interior of the sound hole  14  by connecting to the inner wall of the feedback reduction device  16 . The output of the standard magnetic pickup  18  is made available to external electronics via the pickup interface cable  22 . Located above the sound hole  14  are the guitar strings  12 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a top detail view of a feedback reduction device  16  serving as the structure to support the standard magnetic pickup via the interface device, the interface mounting adapter  20  attached to the inside circumference wall of the feedback reduction device  16 . The interface mounting adapter  20  attaches to the feedback reduction device  16  via a hook or loop fastener set  28 . This hook or loop fastener set  28  consists of a hook or loop set of materials which mate to each other. The hook or loop fastener set  28  can be easily separated from each other, repositioned, and re-fastened. The feedback reduction device  16  contains the hook or loop fastener mate  30  material which is installed along the inside circumference of the feedback reduction device  16 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the overall assembly of the claimed invention which is the interface mounting adapter  20 . The interface mounting adapter  20  captures the standard magnetic pickup  18  and then this resulting combination is in turn inserted into the feedback reduction device  16 . One of the features of the interface mounting adapter is that it allows the use of a pickup height adjusting screw which is then used to precisely position the pickup in the up and down direction relative to the fixed position of the guitar strings.  FIG. 3 , specifically the interface mounting adapter  20  is the preferred configuration for the invention device claimed herein. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a center cut through view of a feedback reduction device  16  with the standard magnetic pickup  18  mounted within the feedback reduction device  16  via the interface mounting adapter  20 . An alternative configuration for implementation of the interface mounting adapter  20  is shown by the combination of elements contained in the grouping shown in  FIG. 4A . The interface mounting adapter  20  is a generic term for a group of components that perform the function of interfacing between the standard magnetic pickup  18  to the inner circular wall of the feedback reduction device  16 . This group of components is further identified In  FIG. 4A . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4A  is a closer detailed view of one side of the interface mounting adapter  20  showing its compositional elements when implemented in a discreet manner as shown. In this configuration the interface mounting adapter  20  consists of a group of components consisting of: a support bracket  26 , a hook or loop fastener set  28  attachment material, its hook or loop fastener mate  30 , mounting hardware  32  to connect the support bracket  26  to the standard magnetic pickup  18 , and a pickup height adjusting screw  34  for the purpose of fine tuning the height position of the standard magnetic pickup  18  to the desired location within the sound hole with feedback reduction device  24 . 
         [0042]    The pickup height adjusting screw  34  allows the pickup to be precisely positioned in the up and down direction relative to the fixed position of the guitar strings  12 . There are two interface mounting adapters attached to the standard magnetic pickup  18 . Each interface mounting adapter  20  is located on each end of the standard magnetic pickup  18  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  is a front detail view of an interface mounting adapter  20  as implemented in a discrete component manner showing one of the two support bracket  26  hardware sets as installed to the standard magnetic pickup  18  with the hook or loop fastener set  28  which in turn connects the other end of the support bracket  26  to the feedback reduction device  16  inner wall via its hook or loop fastener mate  30 . 
         [0044]    The discrete component implementation methodology as shown in  FIG. 5  contains a support bracket  26  with two threaded holes which connect the support bracket  26  to the standard magnetic pickup  18 . There is a center screw which serves as a pickup height adjusting screw  34 . The purpose of this pickup height adjusting screw  34  is to allow interface of the standard magnetic pickup  18  in a manner that will enable positioning of the pickup up and down relative to the support bracket  26  while the support bracket  26  remains stationary. 
         [0045]    In the discrete implementations shown the support bracket  26  contains a hook or loop fastener set  28 . One typical implementation for installation of the individual hook or loop fastener set  28  is to have one side that has an adhesive backing which allows one side of the hook or loop fastener set  28  to mount to the support bracket  26 , while the other side [the hook or loop fastener mate  30 ] is adhesively mounted on the inner wall of the feedback reduction device  16 . 
         [0046]    The support bracket  26  is made such that it is picked up by two screws on the standard magnetic pickup  18 . The hook or loop fastener set  28  that is attached to the feedback reduction device  16  is contained along an inner circumference of the feedback reduction device  16 . These hook or loop fastener sets  28  are situated such that the hook or loop fastener  28  on the support bracket  26  can come in contact with the hook or loop fastener mate  30  on the inside of the feedback reduction device  16 . 
         [0047]    This hook or loop fastener set  28  attaching arrangement allows for the support bracket  26 , with the standard magnetic pickup  18  to be rotated within the sound hole with feedback reduction device  24  to achieve personalized precision tuning of the standard magnetic pickup  18  relative to its position below the strings  12  of the acoustic guitar  10  in the rotational plane relative to the guitar strings  12 . 
         [0048]    The interface mounting adapter  20  in the preferred configuration is shown in  FIG. 3  is of single piece construction. This interface mounting adapter  20  then captures the standard magnetic pickup  18  via two pickup height adjustment screws  34 . The preferred configuration with the installed standard magnetic pickup  20  is then inserted into the feedback reduction device  16 . In the preferred configuration the interface mounting adapter  20  is held in place to the feedback reduction device  16  via friction. However there are other implementation methods besides friction for positioning the interface mounting adapter to the inner wall of the feedback reduction device. 
         [0049]    Since the feedback reduction device is flexible  16 , the interface mounting adapter  20  can be either rigid or semi-flexible in order for the interface mounting adapter to be securely positioned on the inner circular wall of the feedback reduction device  16 . The interface mounting adapter  20  can be made from metal such as stamped steel, or cast aluminum, or a molded plastic for example. 
         [0050]    The discrete alternate implementation of the interface mounting adapter  20  consists of two support brackets  26  with mounting hardware  32  and hook or loop fastener set  28  on each side of the standard magnetic pickup  18 . Each support bracket  26  is sufficiently flexible such that the portion of the support bracket  26  that comes in contact with the hook or loop fastener set  28  set can conform to the circular inner wall of the feedback reduction device  16  containing the hook or loop fastener mate  30  thus providing sufficient surface area for securing the standard magnetic pickup  18  with adapter inside the feedback reduction device  16 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a standard magnetic pickup  18  depicting that the pickup can be rotated within the feedback reduction device  16  using the interface mounting adapter  20 , thus allowing the user flexibility in achieving their personalized optimum configuration relative to the location of the fixed strings  12  of the acoustic guitar  10 . 
         [0052]    For illustration purposes the standard magnetic pickup  18  is shown rotated 45° with respect to the referenced baseline location within the feedback reduction device  16 . This realignment of the standard magnetic pickup  18  is enabled by the interface mounting adapter  20  which enables rotation of the standard dynamic pickup the entire 360° within the sound hole with feedback reduction device  24 . The output of the standard magnetic pickup  18  is provided via the pickup interface cable  22  that then attaches to other electronic equipment external to the acoustic guitar  10 . 
         [0053]    The acoustic guitar  10  strings  12  that are used with the standard magnetic pickup  18  arrangement are of a magnetic variety which is commercially available. Normally acoustic guitars are equipped with a nylon type string material, however nylon type construction will not properly excite the standard magnetic pickup  18 , therefore nylon type guitar strings  12  are not useful when using the standard magnetic pickup  18  configuration. There are a variety of metalized guitar strings  12  that will fit an acoustic guitar  10  and are suited for properly exciting the standard magnetic pickup  18 . 
         [0054]    The standard magnetic pickup  18  shown in the figures illustrate the use of a double coil type of pickup commercially known as a ‘Humbucker’. However single coil pickups are just as applicable to the use of this interface device. The difference in the interface mounting adapter  20  dimensions would need to be dimensioned slightly different between the two coil types since the single coil is narrower than the double coil standard magnetic pickup  18  configuration. 
         [0055]    The use of the hook or loop set material is one implementation to attach the interface mounting adapter  20  to the inner feedback reduction device  16  wall. However other materials are just as applicable such as an appropriate metal strip on the inside of the feedback reduction device  16  wall with a magnet on the support bracket  26 . 
         [0056]    Also the adjustment of the standard magnetic pickup  18  inside the feedback reduction device  16  does not need to be continuous such as provided by a ribbon of hook or loop fastener set  28 , but can be periodic such as discrete/individualized hook or loop fastener set  28  discs, hook or loop fastener squares, magnetic disks, or magnetic squares. The main idea with this interface device is to be able to interface a standard magnetic pickup  18  to an acoustic guitar  10 . 
         [0057]    Other attachment methods, as alternatives to the preferred method of friction, are also available to secure the interface mounting bracket, which is holding the standard magnetic pickup  18 , to the inner wall of the feedback reduction device  16 . These other securing implementations of the interface mounting adapter  20  to the inner circular wall of the feedback reduction device  16  would include methodologies such as the hook or loop fastener set  28 , spring tension, snaps, pegs, or tape. 
         [0058]    Since other modifications and changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the interface device is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of this magnetic pickup interface mounting device. 
         [0059]    Having thus described the interface device, what is desired to be protected by this patent is provided in the subsequent claims section.