Patent Publication Number: US-11643614-B1

Title: Composition and methods for stringed instrument repair

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 63/138,362 entitled “COMPOSITION AND METHODS FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENT REPAIR,” filed Jan. 15, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to stringed musical instruments and, more particularly, to a composition and related methods for repairing the nut and/or saddle of a stringed instrument and with various improvements over the prior art. 
     II. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Stringed instruments include guides or retainers including a “nut” and a “saddle” that are installed, respectively, at the top of an instrument&#39;s fretboard and as or within the bridge. The purpose of the nut and saddle is to align the strings both in vertical respect to the fingerboard or frets, and also to provide two fixed witness points for the strings to vibrate between when played. While, at the bridge end of the string, the saddle slots are almost always the witness point for a played string, the nut may be temporarily replaced by finger contact with selected frets or, in the case of fretless instruments, a position on the fingerboard, as a temporary witness point. 
     To achieve ideal performance on a musical instrument, the nut and saddle and the string retaining slots that are built into said nut and saddle must be cut at a preferred and intended height with respect to the fret plane or fretless fingerboard. In particular, the nut slots must keep the string far enough away from the frets or fretless fretboard so that, when a string has been struck, it can let that string ring as clearly as when played elsewhere on the neck and, at the same time, be close enough to the fret plane or fretless fingerboard to allow comfortable playing with finger pressure similar to the pressure required to depress the string at any other position. Too low a nut or saddle will result in string rattle when the string is played. Too high a nut or saddle will cause discomfort and sharp intonation due to the excessive stretching of the string required to depress the string to touch the frets or fingerboard, particularly in the region near the nut. 
     The issues of concern are around the original adjustment of these slots during manufacture, repair, or due to maladjustment or wear. In manufacture, it is not unusual for these slots to be cut too low or spaced poorly with respect to each other. This is also true in situations of repair. As slot position is also a matter of personal preference, repositioning is a common desire. With repeated use, the slots are worn down by the instrument&#39;s strings rubbing against the slot and changing its height and width, creating issues with clear performance. 
     The prior art techniques to address these nut or saddle issues all suffer certain disadvantages. The first technique, which involves replacement of the entire nut or saddle, is not always ideal because it will change the aesthetic and/or originality of the instrument, compromise tonal qualities, and typically costs more than repair. The second technique, which involves repairing the nut or saddle, requires a technician to a) cut the damaged or incorrect slot with a file, b) adding material such as bovine bone dust and cyanoacrylate in the slot to build it back up; and then c) make a final cut to get the slot to the ideal height. The aforementioned repair makes it possible to change the dimension of the slot but suffers from numerous shortcomings, like low-durability, excessive friction, and/or incorrect color match. 
     Existing repair techniques are not consistently reproducible or predictable, from both a functional and cosmetic standpoint. Functional issues may include, but are not limited to, the resulting repair causing the strings to be impeded in their movement, which can cause tuning issues. Cosmetic issues may include, but are not limited to, a color mismatch between the native nut or saddle and the repair. 
     The present invention is directed at overcoming, or at least reducing, the problems of prior art techniques. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an improved composition and related methods for the manufacturing, repair, maintenance and improvement of the nut and saddle of a stringed musical instrument. The composition is a powder configured to be used in nut and saddle slots to create lubricated, durable, aesthetically pleasing, color-matched repairs and adjustments. The composition includes multiple substances to achieve strength, color, and lubrication. According to one aspect, the powder may achieve these characteristics by including the following compositions: a Bulking Agent, a Lubricant, a Color Agent (one or mixture of colors), and an optional Hardening Agent. 
     The bulking agent may comprise any number of suitable compositions for adding bulk or volume, including but not limited to ground bone, bone dust, ground ebony, ebony dust, and other similar materials. The bulking agent provides a foundation for the composition mixture and also a sturdy base. 
     The lubricant may comprise any number of suitable compositions to provide lubricity, including but not limited to powdered Teflon, graphite, and other similar materials. The lubricant helps create a surface of the repaired string slot with sufficient lubricity such that strings can easily pass through, which ensures an optimized string tension equalization above and below the nut or saddle during tuning or string bending and proper and consistent string intonation while playing. 
     The color component may comprise any number of suitable compositions for altering the color, including but not limited to powdered colorants and other similar materials. The color component allows matching the existing nut or saddle and making the repair appear “seamless”. In one aspect, the color component may include white colorant to create a bright white nut repair to match a bright white nut, a cream/blond colorant to create a cream nut repair to match a cream-colored nut, and a black colorant to create a black nut repair to match a black nut. More specifically, the colorant is selected to best approximate the color of the respective nut after the glue is applied to the composition of the present invention. 
     The hardener may comprise any number of suitable compositions for hardening, including but not limited to baking soda and other similar materials. The hardener may serve to absorb the cyanoacrylate or other glue that is used with the composition of the present invention, in order to make a durable repair or adjustment. In one aspect, the hardener may comprise ebony dust, which may also be used as a bulking agent. 
     The composition of the present invention may be packaged in any suitable container or dispenser. In one embodiment, the container of the composition is configured to enable the focal distribution of the composition within a nut or saddle slot so the cyanoacrylate may be easily added thereto. The composition of the present invention results in a powder that is ideal for nut and saddle repair and adjustment. The four main components can be combined at various ratios to create compounds that are tailored to work on a variety of nut and saddle configurations. According to certain aspects, the ratios by volume of the composition of the present invention may fall within any of the following exemplary ranges: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Max Range 
                 Mid Range 
                 Low Range 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Composition 
                 % Volume Min 
                 % Volume Max 
                 % Volume Min 
                 % Volume Max 
                 % Volume Min 
                 % Volume Max 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Bulking 
                   25% 
                 80% 
                   30% 
                   75% 
                   35% 
                 70% 
               
               
                 Hardening 
                   15% 
                 50% 
                   25% 
                   45% 
                   30% 
                 40% 
               
               
                 Lubricant 
                 0.20% 
                 30% 
                 0.35% 
                 27.5% 
                 0.50% 
                 25% 
               
               
                 Colorant 
                  0.1% 
                  5% 
                 0.15% 
                   4% 
                 0.20% 
                  3% 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art with a reading of this specification in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals are applied to like elements and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating the primary components forming the composition according to one aspect of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  2 - 3    illustrate a container including the composition of the present invention, both closed ( FIG.  2   ) and open ( FIG.  3   ) according to one aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    is a flow chart illustrating the repair steps involving the use of the composition of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    is an illustration of a nut of a stringed musical instrument showing multiple string slots, one of which needs to be repaired according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    is an illustration of the nut of  FIG.  5    during the first repair step, namely filing down or etching the string slot to promote adhesion according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG.  7    is an illustration of the nut of  FIG.  6    during the second repair step, namely introducing the composition of the present invention into the string slot according to an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG.  8    is an illustration of the nut of  FIG.  7    during the third repair step, namely adding cyanoacrylate to the composition within the string slot according to an aspect of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  9    is an illustration of the nut of  FIG.  8    during the final repair step, namely performing a final filing to bring the string slot to the desired height according to an aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The composition and methods for stringed instrument repair disclosed herein boasts a variety of inventive features and components that warrant patent protection, both individually and in combination. 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a composition  10  for use in the manufacturing, repair, maintenance, and improvement of the nut and saddle of a stringed musical instrument. The composition  10  is a powder configured to be used in nut and saddle slots to create lubricated, durable, aesthetically pleasing, color-matched repairs and adjustments. The composition  10  includes multiple substances to achieve strength, color, and lubrication. According to one aspect, the composition  10  may comprise a powder having four main components, namely a bulking agent  12 , an optional hardener  14 , a color agent  16 , and a lubricant  18 . 
     The bulking agent  12  may comprise any number of suitable compositions for adding bulk or volume to the composition  10 , including but not limited to ground bone, bone dust, ground ebony, ebony dust, and other similar materials. The bulking agent  12  provides a foundation for the composition  10  and also a sturdy base. 
     The hardener  14  may comprise any number of suitable compositions for hardening, including but not limited to baking soda and other similar materials. The hardener  14  may serve to absorb the cyanoacrylate or other glue that is used with the composition  10  of the present invention, in order to make a durable repair or adjustment. In one aspect, the hardener  14  may comprise ebony dust, which may also be used as a bulking agent  12 . 
     The color component  16  may comprise any number of suitable compositions for altering the color, including but not limited to powdered colorants and other similar materials. The color component  16  allows matching the existing nut or saddle and making the repair appear “seamless”. This may be accomplished, for example, by selecting a colorant to best approximate the color of the respective nut after the glue is applied to the composition of the present invention. In one aspect, the color component  16  may include white colorant to create a bright white nut repair to match a bright white nut, a cream/blond colorant to create a cream nut repair to match a cream-colored nut, and a black colorant to create a black nut repair to match a black nut. 
     The lubricant  18  may comprise any number of suitable compositions to provide lubricity, including but not limited to powdered Teflon, graphite, and other similar materials. The lubricant  18  helps create a surface of the repaired string slot with sufficient lubricity such that strings can easily move or pass through, such that the strings do not stick or otherwise become impeded or restrained by the repaired nut slot while the strings are tuned or played. By providing a lubricious string passage in the repaired nut, the composition  10  of the present invention ensures an optimized string tension equalization on either side of the nut during tuning or string bending, which in turn enables proper and consistent string intonation while playing. 
     The four main components can be combined at various ratios to create compounds that are tailored to work on a variety of nut and saddle configurations. According to certain aspects, the ratios by volume of the composition  10  may fall within the following exemplary ranges: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Max Range 
                 Mid Range 
                 Low Range 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Composition 
                 % Volume Min 
                 % Volume Max 
                 % Volume Min 
                 % Volume Max 
                 % Volume Min 
                 % Volume Max 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Bulking 
                   25% 
                 80% 
                   30% 
                   75% 
                   35% 
                 70% 
               
               
                 Hardening 
                   15% 
                 50% 
                   25% 
                   45% 
                   30% 
                 40% 
               
               
                 Lubricant 
                 0.20% 
                 30% 
                 0.35% 
                 27.5% 
                 0.50% 
                 25% 
               
               
                 Colorant 
                  0.1% 
                  5% 
                 0.15% 
                   4% 
                 0.20% 
                  3% 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The composition  10  of the present invention may be packaged in any suitable container or dispenser, including but not limited to the container  20  shown in  FIGS.  2 - 3    by way of example only. In one embodiment, the container  20  may be configured to enable the composition  10  to be focally inserted, injected, or otherwise distributed within a nut or saddle slot so the cyanoacrylate or other glue may be easily added thereto. 
       FIG.  4    is a flow chart illustrating the repair steps involving the use of the composition of the present invention. The first step  30  involves filing down (or etching) the string slot in need of repair. The second step  32  involves introducing the composition  10  into the string slot in need of repair. The third step  34  involves introducing cyanoacrylate to the composition  10  in the slot in need of repair. The fourth step  36  involves filing down (or etching) the string slot to the desired height. 
       FIG.  5    is an illustration of a nut  40  of a stringed musical instrument showing multiple string slots, including a string slot  42  in need of being repaired or rebuilt according to an aspect of the present invention. The string slot  42  is in need of repair or rebuild because it is substantially deeper than the adjacent string slots of the nut  40 . In that configuration, the string associated with string slot  42  would likely suffer from string buzz due to inadvertent/unwanted contact with the frets of the stringed instrument. 
       FIG.  6    is an illustration of the nut of  FIG.  5    during the first repair step  30 , namely filing down the string slot  42  according to an aspect of the present invention. In this embodiment, a razor blade  44  may be used to file or otherwise etch down the string slot  42 . 
       FIG.  7    is an illustration of the nut of  FIG.  6    during the second repair step  32 , namely introducing the composition  10  of the present invention into the string slot  42  according to an aspect of the present invention. In one embodiment, the composition  10  is introduced into the string slot  42  via a spoon  46 . 
       FIG.  8    is an illustration of the nut of  FIG.  7    during the third repair step  34 , namely adding, in this case, cyanoacrylate  48  to the composition  10  within the string slot  42  according to an aspect of the present invention. In one embodiment, the cyanoacrylate  48  may be disposed on the edge of the razor blade  44 , as shown, which allows the technician to precisely place the cyanoacrylate  48  within the string slot  42  after the composition  10  has been introduced therein. 
       FIG.  9    is an illustration of the nut of  FIG.  8    during the final repair step  36 , namely performing a final filing step to bring the string slot  42  to a desired height (depth) and width according to an aspect of the present invention. In one embodiment, the filing or etching is performed via a file  50  that may be translated back and forth within the string slot  42  to create a desired height (depth) and width. 
     Any of the features or attributes of the above-described embodiments and variations can be used in combination with any of the other features and attributes of the above-described embodiments and variations as desired. From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it is also apparent that various modifications, additions, and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.