Abstract:
An interchangeable modular insert for a electric stringed instrument is mounted in a cavity cut into the rear of the instrument. The rear insertion module provides rapid exchange of electronic components of different manufacturers. Placement of a module into the instrument automatically positions the module and electrically connects the same with the module being retained in the guitar body by a threaded fastener.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     There are no related applications.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of electric stringed instruments and, more particularly to an interchangeable, electronics-containing module which is fitted into an electronic stringed instrument body.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Stringed instrument electronics are comprised of magnetic pickups arranged beneath the strings of guitars and like instruments, and other electronic components which facilitate obtaining qualities of tonality, loudness, reverberation and timbre. Potentiometers regulate tonal qualities and volume and switches regulate the electronic signal between pickups or different tonal qualities within the same pickup. Vibrations in the strings of a guitar induce electric signals in the coils of the pickup which are modified by switches and potentiometers and transmitted through the output wires from the guitar to an amplifier. Modification of musical sound utilizing different pickup designs and complementary electronic components can be achieved by the regrouping of pickups and electronic components.  
         [0004]     Changes in styles of music and advances in pickup design and associated electronics, however, have spawned a large electronic music market with many manufacturers, each producing different electronics. Previously, there had been no way for guitar players to conveniently have available to them a choice between various sounds in a single instrument and the capability of repairing the electronics of same without leaving the guitar at the repair facilities. Guitarists have typically acquired numerous guitars, each with a particular electronic installation which produces distinct tonal qualities.  
         [0005]     The exchange of guitar electronics in existing guitars generally requires technical assistance that is costly and time-consuming. Guitar players having technical expertise may exchange pickups and electronics themselves by removing the strings, unscrewing the casement for each pickup and electronics, installing the new pickups and/or electronics and restringing. Thus, each electronic component may be replaced individually and wired to the respective electronic connection.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,823 issued Jun. 10, 1997 is directed toward an interchangeable electronics module mounted to an electric stringed instrument. The guitar is formed with a cavity formed through the instrument body beneath the strings to house the pickups and other electronic components. The rear insertion modules provide rapid exchange and simultaneous regrouping of pickups and electronic components. Placement of a module into the instrument automatically positions the pickups beneath the strings, with the module being retained in the body by a flange formed in the instrument body. The module is removably secured in the instrument body by resiliently biased latches, which also function as spacers between the module and instrument body and connect the electronic components installed in the module to a grounding plate in the instrument body.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,422 issued Mar. 28, 2000 patent discloses a removable active pickup module, directed particularly to a bodiless stringed musical instrument and has a main enclosure machined from dense solid material to provide a complex of internal compartments. The module is configured with a six-sided, diagonally-elongated shape consistent with the appearance of The Chapman Stick®.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,432 issued Jun. 16, 1998 uses a removable pickup cassette mounted in a cavity formed in a solid body electric guitar.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,194,644 issued Feb. 27, 2001 discloses an electric guitar with two structurally independent components. A neck/tailpiece module is set into a docking recess in the body module. In operation, the two components are joined mechanically and electronically by an indexing pin and a wiring connector and are fastened by a single bolt. The structural independence of the two members makes possible the utilization of bodies which may be constructed of almost any shape, size or material.  
         [0010]     Many of today&#39;s popular guitar body styles can be outfitted with suitable electronics only by having a separate configuration style for each body type. Furthermore since the electronics may produce different effects, many musicians will employ different electronics in an attempt to achieve the desired sound. When musicians are purchasing same, the musician will try out a number of different models of different manufacturers to determine which model produces the most desired effect.  
         [0011]     For the foregoing reasons, there has been a need for a rear entry interchangeable electronics module for increased rapidity of electronic exchange, a module that would be placed into a cavity formed in the instrument body, containing pre amp and associated tone controls allowing easy exchange of the same with other modules of different manufacturers. Furthermore there is a need to preclude leaving the guitar with a repairman for repair or substituting components and to preclude requiring time consuming removal and replacement of parts for the guitar. Further, there has been a need for a rear insertion module which allows easy installation of the electronic components on the current market.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present insertable module allows different electronic packages (other manufacturers pre amp-tone shaping and effects) to be used in the same musical string instrument. This would allow the player to be able to interchange pre amp systems quickly and test out different manufacturers (approximately 10 or more currently on the market) systems without having to go to the local repair person and have one permanently installed. With a single push of a button/release mechanism or removal of a fastening device, the module can be removed and the electronics of another of a different manufacturer can be installed in a matter of seconds. Also, any repairs or upgrades after purchase are made easier because all the electronics, pre amps, potentiometers and switches are contained in the unit and can be worked on outside and away from the instrument.  
         [0013]     The present invention has been made in view of the above-described disadvantages associated with the known electric stringed instruments and has as an object to provide a rear entry modular instrument with an exchangeable electronics module.  
         [0014]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a convenient and fast replacement of electronic components by the use of interchangeable modules.  
         [0015]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide interchangeable electronic modules using electronic components of differing manufacturers which can be placed into the same electric stringed instrument body for purposes of comparing effects.  
         [0016]     It is still further an object of the present invention to provide a module that is not an integral part of the structure of the instrument.  
         [0017]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a module and instrument body construction which maintains the aesthetic appearance of the instrument.  
         [0018]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a module which is easily fitted into an instrument body.  
         [0019]     It is further an object of the present invention to provide a module which maintains the aesthetic and utilitarian qualities of the instrument.  
         [0020]     The cavity cut into the rear surface of the instrument is of a shape and size to remove and receive a module which is preferably retained in the cavity by a base plate. Once installed, the module has a fixed connector allowing it to be connected to various pickups and volume control. Modules having different electronic components may be provided with an instrument to offer a musicians a choice between distinct selected sounds.  
         [0021]     These and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent when considered with the teachings contained in the detailed disclosure which along with the accompanying drawings constitute a part of this specification and illustrate embodiments of the invention which together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a guitar used with the interchangeable electric guitar modular with the module removed.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is an exploded partial enlarged view of  FIG. 1  showing the control knob holes cut into the body of the guitar;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a enlarged partial bottom planar view of the guitar with the module placed in a side elevational view;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of the module being installed in the cavity of the guitar body;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the guitar with the module installed and secured; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the module with cover. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     The preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . While the invention is described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended that the present invention be so limited. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalent arrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
         [0029]     The present invention comprises a pre amp module used in electric stringed instruments including the electric guitar, the bass guitar, the electric mandolin and the like. For illustrational purposes only, the drawings and descriptions herein refer only to the bass guitar.  
         [0030]      FIG. 1  illustrates an electric guitar  10  with the interchangeable module  20  located on the rear of the guitar. The guitar includes a plurality of metallic strings running from the head to the bridge assembly. The strings are located cooperatively with two or more pickups such that the pickups will detect vibrations into an electrical current for external amplification and other adjustments. The movement of the metal string in proximity to the pickup causes the pickup to generate a minute electrical signal which corresponds to the vibration of the related string, thus exhibiting the string characteristics such as pitch and the presentation of frequencies including harmonics. The guitar  10  comprises a guitar body  12  with a module cavity  16  having a side wall  17  preferably formed in the bottom of the instrument body as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . A module  20  containing the associated electronic components including the pre amp is shown removed from the guitar body  12  in  FIG. 6 . The module  20  may be constructed of metal, plastic or any other suitable material such as wood, fiberglass, graphite and composite materials. The module  20  is inserted through the back face  14  of the guitar body  12  with the control knobs  51  for the pickup blend control, dual bank mid control, bass/treble control and volume/bypass switch electronics inserted through holes  18  cut in the guitar front face  13  and extending into the module cavity  16 . The function and operation of these controls is well known to electric guitar players and will therefore not be described further. A support plate  60  is mounted to the guitar in cavity  16  as seen in  FIG. 3 . The support plate  60  can be glued to the guitar or mounted via fasteners which can take the form of posts, tabs, screws, or clips. The support plate  60  has a raised planar portion  62  with an arcuate projection  64  having a threaded, blind bore  65  and a lower planar portion  66  with a throughgoing aperture  68  axially aligned with guitar body aperture  19  cut through the front face  13 .  
         [0031]     The module  20  as shown in  FIG. 6  is constructed with an arcuate shaped planar surfaced face or cover plate  22  which defines an arcuate recess  24  which acts as a keyway as it receives the arcuate projection  64  of the support plate. This aligns a threaded center mount boss  23  to blind bore  65  formed in the support plate  60  so that the module can be fastened to the support plate. A fastener  21  in the form of a screw is mounted into the threaded boss  23  as is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and screwed into blind bore  64 . Additional support is provided by threaded bore  26  formed in the face plate  22  which upon insertion of the arcuate projection  64  is aligned with aperture  19  formed in the guitar front face  13  and threaded aperture  68  formed in support plate  60 . A control electronics housing  28  covers the pre amp which is not shown but which is mounted to the support plate in a known manner and respective control electronics which are not shown as the same are well known in the art. A housing  28  can be mounted by screws to one or more bosses or posts extending from the base plate  30  or through the use of snap on retainer clips mounted on the base plate  30 . The posts can be rectangular or cylindrical and have a threaded blind bore axially centered to receive a screw. The control electronics housing  28  is provided with side walls and is seated on base plate  30 . The support plate  60  defines cutouts in the form of holes  27  which are aligned with holes  18  cut into the guitar to receive the knobs  51  for the control electronics. The cutouts  27  can also be in the form of recessed notches or curves if so desired.  
         [0032]     The base plate  30  of the housing  28  has a battery holder  32  mounted thereto as seen in  FIG. 6  so that the battery  31  is exposed and easily accessible. The battery leads are mounted inside the battery holder. A contact connector member  34  is formed in the side wall of the housing  28  to provide an electrical contact point for the inner electronics.  
         [0033]     The battery holder  32  has positive and negative connectors which causes a battery shown in  FIG. 6  to be electrically engaged when a battery is placed in the battery holder. The battery  31  which is commercially available, is inserted into the battery holder  32  to engage the conductors of the battery holder prior to insertion of the module  20  into the guitar cavity. A built in pre amp and required electronic component are mounted on the inside of the module by adhesive or brackets. The pre amp is of standard construction purchased off the shelf by one of a number of manufacturers well-known in the art. The connector member  34  is mounted to a side wall of the housing  28  but can be mounted to the base plate  30 . The connector member  34  which is a male pin type connector has a series of slide pins  36  which are adapted to be mounted to the female/mate pin connector  38  mounted on the inside wall of cavity  16  as is shown in  FIG. 3 . The pin connector  34  is a 6-10 pin flat modular connector with extra connections for any possible switching arrangement, e.g., neck and bridge pick up phasing, coil selection, ground, jack, etc. The support plate  60  is provided with a plurality of cutouts or holes  38  through which the respective knob controls  53 ,  55 ,  57  and  59  for the control electronics extend. When the module  20  is mounted within the guitar cavity  16 , the knobs controls  51  extend through holes  38  and guitar holes  18  cut through the front face of the guitar up past the upper surface of the guitar allowing easy adjustment of one or more of the various control electronics when the module is seated in the guitar body cavity. The housing can be snap fit in retainers mounted on the support plate  60 . All the electronics, potentiometers, and switches are contained in the unit module so that the same can be removed from the guitar and worked on outside and away from the instrument. The electronics are standard off the shelf units available from a number of manufacturers currently used in electric stringed instruments.  
         [0034]     The module  20  is inserted through the back of the guitar body  12  as depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and is maintained in position by the face plate  22 , support plate  60 , fastener  21  and a fastener inserted through hole  19  into the face plate. The module  20  houses the pre amp and battery, with wiring connecting the electronic control components, namely, the pickup blend control, the dual band mid control, the bass/treble control and the volume/bypass switch control to the housed pre amp. Wires and/or a cord can be run from the interior of the housing  28  outside of the module  20  through hollow stem  33 . In accordance with the invention, each interchangeable module permits the regrouping of varying types of electronics and allows connection via a connector  34  to the selected switching arrangement.  
         [0035]     The module  20  is held in the guitar body  12  by means a screw  21  which is threaded into threaded boss  23  and aperture  65  as is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6  and another screw which is threaded through aperture  19  and aperture  68  into threaded boss  26 .  
         [0036]     This construction enables the installation or servicing of different pickups and electronic components in any given module, if desired. For rapid exchange of pickups and electronic components, however, interchangeable modules, each having a different electronic installation is preferred. Thus, by having a single instrument and multiple modules, a variety of distinct sounds are achieved through the exchange of modules, and an infinite variety of combinations of pickups and electronics is provided.  
         [0037]     The foregoing description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0038]     The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments which have been described above. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present inventions defined by the following claims: