Abstract:
An aspect of the system relates to an intonation control mechanism for controlling, for example, the pitch of a plucked or vibrated string of a stringed instrument through a string contact point located at an appropriate intonation harmonic.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application seeks priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/277,002, filed Sep. 18, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to musical instruments. More specifically, the invention relates to an intonation control mechanism for controlling, for example, the tension, height and position of a plucked or vibrated string of a stringed instrument through a string contact point located at an appropriate intonation harmonic. An additional function of the mechanism is to couple vibration of the strings to the neck and soundboard thereby amplifying both string and soundboard movement. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0003]    Conventional technologies do not provide adequate intonation control for the vibrating strings of a stringed instrument, causing compromised tuning throughout the fingerboard, e.g, tempered tuning. Traditionally, strings are attached to a support at the top of the neck—defined as “head” or “headstock”—of the instrument from which strings travel down the neck to a top fret, conventionally defined as a “nut” where the fret has individual cut slots (grooves) within fret. This fret is an immovable support that provides friction capture of the string as the string travels down the neck of the instrument to a bridge and pickup system. These conventional technologies are easy to manufacture, but provide no variability for the musician. 
         [0004]    Conventional technologies at the head of the instrument are further deficient in that these technologies do not provide for adequate adjustability of string position relative to the fingerboard, or adjacent strings, as well as lateral, tangential or longitudinal string tension on the instrument. Conventional technologies provide a single fixed point, i.e. “nut” which requires irreparable physical alteration by a skilled technician with specialized tools in order to make string spacing, gauge or height changes. Such limited adjustability does not provide for intonation control and adjustability. Intonation is defined as a realization of pitch accuracy by the musician, whereby such accuracy is dependent upon ultimate string position, tension and the ability of the musician to accurately play the instrument at a desired position. In conventional technologies, the dimensions of the cut slot determines friction capabilities of the “nut” in holding the string to the instrument. These “nut” designs are made of premolded plastic, metal, or bone components that wear through friction over time. Thus, the wearing of the nut causes the instrument to lose intonation as well as altered string position relative to the fingerboard or adjacent strings. Temperature and humidity are important additional variables affecting intonation of an instrument. Conventional instruments remain highly dependent upon these variables due to the fixed point friction design. As a variable changes, the tune and intonation of the instrument changes, requiring the musician to frequently retune the instrument or have it repaired. 
         [0005]    There is a need to provide an intonation control mechanism that allows strings to be independently adjusted for string position relative to the fingerboard, and adjacent strings, as well as lateral, tangential or longitudinal string tension on the instrument and ultimately instrument intonation without requiring disassembly, relocation or irreparable physical modification of the mounting structure to the stringed instrument. 
         [0006]    There is a further need to provide a mechanism that will allow for pitch control of a vibrating string in a stringed instrument and to couple the vibration of the string to the soundboard as well as to the neck. 
         [0007]    There is a further need to provide an instrument that has a mechanism that minimizes the amount of time an individual will spend tuning the instrument. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide an intonation mechanism to control pitch and couple string vibration to the soundboard of a stringed musical instrument yet dissociate—or greatly reduce in comparison to conventional technologies—primary (direct) string vibration from the mounting structure of the bridge, e.g., intonation cantilever. 
         [0009]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation mechanism to simply alter the relationship between string and fingerboard, thus affecting playability (force required to fret a note at a given pitch) pitch, and intonation, without requiring interactive adjustments to the soundboard, soundboard bracing, or neck (fingerboard) angle in relation to the soundboard or bridge, e.g., intonation cantilever. This will facilitate and simplify tuning, maintenance, repair, and playability adjustments. 
         [0010]    It is also an objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation control mechanism that allows strings to be independently adjusted for string height (above the fingerboard), spacing (distance between strings) and intonation (pitch) without requiring disassembly or relocation of the mounting (holding) structure, e.g., intonation cantilever. This will facilitate and simplify construction, maintenance, repair and playability adjustments; including of multi-scale instruments, e.g, fanned fret (multi-scale). 
         [0011]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation control mechanism that allows strings to be independently adjusted for string height (above the fingerboard), spacing (distance between strings) and intonation (pitch) without requiring disassembly or relocation of the mounting (holding) structure, and for this mechanism to be located at either the neck or body end of the strings, e.g., intonation cantilever. This will facilitate and simplify construction, maintenance, repair and playability adjustments; including of multi-scale instruments, e.g, fanned fret (multi-scale). 
         [0012]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation mechanism to facilitate location independent of the primary mass of the structure of the bridge, e.g. intonation cantilever. The intonation mechanism can dissociate from structural necessity, i.e., function independently of form, shape, size, configuration, integrity and design issues related to the primary mass of the structure of the bridge, as well as of the soundboard. This will dissociate—or greatly reduce, in comparison to conventional technologies—bridge mass from the soundboard, thus increasing the directional vibrational responsiveness of the soundboard and enhancing transient detail, overtone, and note articulation amplification. This will also facilitate soundboard designs that require less structural bracing, thus simplifying construction, maintenance, and reducing mechanical failure opportunities. 
         [0013]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation control mechanism to facilitate location independent of other strings, and in relation to the intonation length of the string, e.g., intonation cantilever. This will simplify design, construction, and playability adjustments; including of multi-scale instruments, e.g, fanned fret systems. 
         [0014]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation mechanism to redirect longitudinal string tension and increase contact force between the string and intonation point (saddle), e.g., intonation cantilever. This will enhance vibration coupling between the string and intonation point (saddle). 
         [0015]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation mechanism to redirect longitudinal string tension and increase contact force between the string and intonation point (saddle) with greatly reduced—in comparison to conventional technologies—reciprocal force applied to the soundboard, e.g., intonation cantilever. This will reduce soundboard damping, thus increasing the directional vibrational responsiveness of the soundboard and enhancing transient detail, overtone, and note articulation amplification. 
         [0016]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation mechanism to facilitate string self-alignment—longitudinal, tangential, lateral—in relation to the nut, saddle, bridge, and tuning mechanism, e.g., intonation cantilever. This will reduce friction and string breakage. 
         [0017]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation mechanism to facilitate longitudinal, tangential and lateral string movement, e.g., intonation cantilever. This will reduce friction and string breakage, and facilitate and simplify tuning. 
         [0018]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation mechanism that facilitates string vibration and reduces damping, thus enhancing transient detail, overtone, and note articulation amplification, e.g., intonation cantilever. 
         [0019]    It is a further objective of an aspect of the invention to provide an intonation mechanism to facilitate anchoring of the string, without the necessity of a ball-end or anchoring device integral to the string. This will facilitate use of conventional, commercially available, nonproprietary strings. 
         [0020]    The objectives of the invention are achieved as illustrated and described. In an embodiment of the invention, a plain or ball-end string is anchored to an intonation cantilever mounted in the nut position of the neck or the bridge position of the body. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the string contacts an intonation point (saddle) and anchors independently of the intonation cantilever. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the intonation cantilever is a supported beam. The intonation cantilever is adjustable for string height (above the fingerboard), spacing (distance between strings) and intonation (pitch) without requiring disassembly or relocation of the mounting (holding) structure. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the string contacts an intonation point (saddle) coupled to a piston that contacts the soundboard. The piston slides freely in the intonation cantilever transferring vibration from intonation point (saddle) to soundboard, or the piston can held in position (clamped) to the intonation cantilever. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the string passes through a string alignment guide. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, more than one intonation cantilever is located on one mounting plate. These objectives are accomplished without coupling primary (direct) string vibration to the mounting structure of the bridge. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1A  is an expanded top view of the intonation cantilever in conformance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1B  is a contracted top view of the intonation cantilever in conformance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0023]      FIG. 1C  is a contracted side view of the intonation cantilever in conformance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0024]      FIG. 1D  is an expanded sectional view of the intonation cantilever in conformance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0025]      FIG. 1E  is an alternate end view of the intonation cantilever in conformance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 1F  is a sectional end view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1E . 
           [0027]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of a second embodiment of the intonation cantilever in conformance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2B  is a top exploded view of the second embodiment with components removed for clarity of the intonation cantilever in conformance with the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0029]      FIG. 2C  is a contracted side view of the intonation cantilever in conformance with the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0030]      FIG. 2D  is an expanded sectional side view of the intonation cantilever in conformance with the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0031]      FIG. 2E  is a side end view of the intonation cantilever in conformance with the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0032]      FIG. 2F  is an alternate end sectional side view of the intonation cantilever in conformance with the embodiment of  FIG. 2A . 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is an end view of an intonation point (saddle) in conformance with an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    Referring to all embodiments provided in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C and  1 D,  1 E and  1 F, a view of an intonation cantilever arrangement  5  is illustrated. The intonation cantilever  5  allows a musician to change and specify the intonation for a musical instrument. The intonation cantilever  5  is a fully adjustable unit that may fit, for example, at the head of an instrument. For the purposes of this description, the head of the instrument is defined as the extreme end of the guitar furthest away from the body of the guitar. 
         [0035]    In the illustrated embodiments provided, the intonation cantilever  5  is made of a material that is rugged to allow the cantilever  5  to be capable of holding a string of a stringed instrument without significant bending, warping or need for servicing. Such materials may be, as non-limiting examples, aluminum, steel, brass, copper, metallic alloys, sturdy plastics and epoxy materials, or wood. In the illustrated embodiment, the intonation cantilever  5  is made of aircraft grade aluminum to allow the entire cantilever to be light weight, yet strong. 
         [0036]    The mounting of the intonation cantilever  5  is accomplished through a connection established on the head of the instrument. The connection in the illustrated embodiment is a mounting screw  2 . The mounting screw  2  can be configured with any threading necessary to provide proper connection to the head of the instrument. The head of the mounting screw  2  may be a standard flat head connection, Torx head, Allen head or Phillips head design, as non-limiting examples. The head of the mounting screw  2  may directly contact a mounting surface of the intonation cantilever  5  to evenly distribute the force from the intonation cantilever  5  to the contact surface at the head of the instrument. The mounting screw  2  may be configured of the same metal or material as the intonation cantilever  5  to prevent galvanic corrosion from occurring. 
         [0037]    Although illustrated as a single mounting screw  2  that attaches the intonation cantilever  5  to the instrument, other configurations are possible and the arrangement shown should be considered non-limiting. In an alternate configuration, the intonation cantilever  5  may be attached through a chemical bond to the head of the instrument. In another non-limiting embodiment, the intonation cantilever  5  may be attached to the head of the instrument by a series of locking slides placed in the headstock of the instrument. In this embodiment, the intonation cantilever  5  may be slid onto the headstock of the instrument and placed into proper position by a series of locks that prevent further movement of the cantilever  5  when placed into correct position. 
         [0038]    In the illustrated embodiment provided in  FIG. 1A , the intonation cantilever  5  is positioned in an “expanded” state, wherein an adjustment screw  4  is arranged to let the slide portion  9  of the intonation cantilever  5  be positioned in the “expanded” position. Referring to  FIG. 1B , a top view of the intonation cantilever  5  is illustrated, wherein the cantilever  5  is placed in a contracted state through the slide portion  9  being slid toward the mounting screw  2  and secured in place by the adjustment screw  4 . The adjustment screw  4  connects the slide portion  9  of the intonation cantilever  5  to the mounting plate  1  that abuts the headstock of the stringed instrument. 
         [0039]    The adjustment screw  4  connects the mounting plate  1  to the slide portion  9 . The mounting plate  1  is drilled to accept the threads of the adjustment screw  4  so that the components may be secured together. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment screw  4  is configured with a large number of threads per unit length of travel, allowing fine adjustment between the slide portion  9  and the mounting plate  1 . The adjustment screw  4 , in the illustrated embodiment, is made of the same material as both the mounting plate  1  and the slide portion  9  to eliminate potential galvanic corrosion. The head of the adjustment screw  4  may be a standard flat head screw top, Torx head, Allen head or Phillips head design, as non-limiting examples. The head of the adjustment screw  4  may directly contact a specially created mounting surface to evenly distribute the force from the slide portion  9  to the mounting plate  1 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a piston  6  is placed in the slide portion  9  of the intonation cantilever  5 . The piston  6  is created to provide an intonation point  7 , (in this non-limiting example defined as a slotted frustoconical unit through a screw), that inserts into the piston  6 . Other types of screws and geometries may be used. The string of the stringed instrument passes through the frustoconical intonation point  7 . The piston  6  rises a predefined height to allow the musician to define the overall height of the string as it passes along the neck of the instrument. In the illustrated embodiment, the piston  6  is a press fit, non-rattling unit that fits within the slide portion  9  of the intonation cantilever  5 . In the illustrated embodiment of a frustoconical intonation point screw  7 , the screw  7  may be inserted or removed, through the screw threads, from the piston  6  to a desired height defined by the musician. In this manner, the musician may preselect the overall height of the string of the instrument. 
         [0041]    Referring to side view  FIG. 1C  and sectional view  FIG. 1D , the adjustment screw  4  may be configured with sufficient length such that the adjustment screw  4  may penetrate a countersunk hole in the neck of the stringed instrument. This attachment between the screw  4  and the neck of the stringed instrument may allow for resistance to turning of the intonation cantilever  5  as two points of attachment will be created. Although illustrated as a flat bottomed screw, the adjustment screw  4  may also be configured with a point to successfully insert into the neck of the instrument. In another configuration, the neck of the stringed instrument may be configured with an insertable sleeve to allow the adjustment screw  4  to be captured by the neck of the instrument. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1E  illustrates a side view of the intonation cantilever  5  of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1F  illustrates a sectional side view of the intonation cantilever  5  of  FIG. 1A . 
         [0043]    The string for the stringed instrument enters through a string guide  3 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C, and  1 D. The string guide  3  is non-binding positional device that allows for the string to be guided to the frustoconical intonation point screw  7 . The string guide  3  does not provide any sharp edges though which the string may bind. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A through 2F , a second embodiment of the intonation cantilever  50  is illustrated.  FIG. 2C  is a side view of the arrangement, while  FIG. 2D  is a sectional side view. In this embodiment, mounting screws  20  are used to position the remainder of the intonation cantilever  50  on to the neck of a stringed instrument. The head of the mounting screws  20  may directly contact a mounting surface of the intonation cantilever  50  to evenly distribute the force from the intonation cantilever  50  to the contact surface at the head of the instrument. The mounting screws  20  may be configured of the same metal or material as the intonation cantilever  50  to prevent galvanic corrosion from occurring. 
         [0045]    Adjustment screws  40  attach the slide portion  30  to the baseplate portion  100 . Lateral tension screws  60  are positioned to connect the baseplate portion  100  of the intonation cantilever  50  to the slide portion  30 . The slide portion  30  has a drilled and tapped portion  62  that accepts the lateral tension screws  60  to provide lateral tension between the slide portion  30  and the baseplate portion  100 . The lateral tension screws  60  may also provide longitudinal string tension adjustment. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 2E and 2F , an intonation point (saddle)  70 , that may have various geometries such as an advantageous frustoconical unit, is provided to accept a string, that may, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , vary in size. The string may range in size from a 0.008″ diameter string, as in  80 A to a 0.080 diameter string as in  80 B, as non-limiting examples. String diameter may include any commercially available string diameter for fretted or fretless hand held stringed instruments, including: guitar, bass, violin, cello, mandolin, and banjo as non-limiting embodiments. In  FIG. 2E , two of the slide portions  30  are removed for clarity of view of the baseplate  100 . In  FIG. 2F , one slide portion  30  is removed, and one slide portion  30  is illustrated in sectional view for clarity of view of adjustment screw  40  and baseplate  100 . In  FIG. 2C , the intonation point (saddle)  70  is retracted into the body of the slide portion  30 . In  FIG. 2D , the intonation point (saddle)  70  is expanded from the slide portion  30 . In all  FIG. 2  embodiments, a vertical screw  40  also may be used to attach the slide portion  30  to the baseplate portion  100 . 
         [0047]    The string, as it passes through the intonation point (saddle)  70  is supported to allow the string to pass through the remainder of the intonation cantilever  50 , thus the saddle  70  guides the string at a desired height. 
         [0048]    The intonation point (saddle)  70  is height adjustable, in this illustrated embodiment, through an embedded piston that provides a predefined amount of force upon the string. In an alternative configuration, the frusto conical intonation point (saddle)  70  may be a manually adjustable screw or height adjustable wedge. In the illustrated embodiment, the piston may be a gas operated unit, or, as provided, a spring with a fixed spring constant. As illustrated in  FIG. 2E , each of the saddles  70  may be individually height adjustable according to the needs of the musician. 
         [0049]    The aspects of the invention provide several advantages over conventional technologies. First, conventional technologies only provide for what is conventionally called a “nut”. The “nut” only provides an elongated bar or top fret, with accompanying grooves, that a string passes through on the string&#39;s progression down the neck of the stringed instrument to the bridge design. The “nut” design, while cheap to manufacture, has several different drawbacks that minimize usefulness. This design requires the use of expensive and complicated bridge mechanisms down near the center or bottom of the instrument to allow for adjustments of string tension and string height. Thus, conventional designs never address any type of variability at the head of the instrument, but rather take a simplistic approach of simply guiding the string over a slotted fret. This conventional design does not allow for any variability of the string performance whatsoever other than providing for a string attachment point to the instrument. 
         [0050]    Aspects of the current invention, however, allow a musician to independently vary different parameters of individual strings at the head of the instrument before they progress down the neck of the instrument. Thus, on its face, aspects of the invention eliminate the non-variability of the conventional head type designs. The complete failure of such conventional systems to allow for readily changeable string height, position and intonation of the instrument are solved by the current invention. 
         [0051]    The use of aspects of the current invention at the head of the instrument can eliminate expensive bridge and pickup systems used on stringed instruments, thereby saving on the overall cost of the stringed instrument. 
         [0052]    Aspects of the current invention also allow for the use of either proprietary or non-proprietary strings in the instrument, thereby allowing a musician to choose the string more appropriate to his/her preference. 
         [0053]    Aspects of the current invention also provide for a compact design at the head of the instrument, allowing for light weight operation with full adjustability not found in conventional designs. The compact design is ruggedly constructed so that string position, tension and intonation specific parameters are maintained during movement. The compact design also provides a robust locking mechanism for the string, allowing the instrument to maintain its desired tune and performance characteristics over time. As is well known by people of skill in the art, conventional systems are required to be tuned regularly before they are played. These conventional systems thereby are variable to the point that excessive time is spent by the musician to fine tune the instrument back to a desired play configuration. Aspects of the current invention remove the variables presented by conventional systems, thereby allowing a musician to simply pick up the instrument and play, without need for excessive tuning. This solves the long sought need of musicians worldwide, eliminating tuning mechanisms and wasted valuable play time. 
         [0054]    In an alternative embodiment, aspects of the invention also provide for a more efficient coupling of string vibration and soundboard when the invention is provided at a base of the stringed instrument rather than at the head of the instrument. When located at the base or middle of the instrument, the vibration from the string may be more accurately coupled to the soundboard through the design of the invention. This accurate coupling of the invention to the soundboard allows for a more harmonious sound of the instrument compared to conventional systems. 
         [0055]    In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the intonation cantilever may be an adjustable ramp assembly. This assembly may be split into at least two ramps—wedges—that allows for intonation point adjustment. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the intonation cantilever may be hinged. In non-limiting examples, the hinge may divide the intonation cantilever and it may be located where the intonation cantilever attaches to the mounting plate. The intonation cantilever serves as a positioning device that allows any simple machine sub-assembly to adjust the intonation point of the at least one string.