Patent Publication Number: US-7906715-B2

Title: Puller for guitar bridge pins or the like

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/933,445, filed Jun. 5, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a puller for guitar bridge pins or the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a compact pocket tool for removing guitar bridge pins to change the strings, without causing damage to the portion of the guitar adjacent the pins. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It can be appreciated that guitar bridge pin pullers have been in use for years. Typically a guitar bridge pin puller is comprised of a pin puller that is positioned beneath the head of the bridge pin and uses a prying motion to remove the pin. This type of puller is often provided in the form of a rounded notch in the end portion of a guitar tuning peg winder. 
     Another type of known pin puller does not use the same prying motion, but instead pulls the pin straight up. However, this device is generally made of plastic, and includes two opposed claw-like teeth which are respectively positioned beneath the head of the pin for application of a pulling force. With this device, the tool can slip off the head of the pin, or slide out of position while it is being pulled. 
     The main problem with the first mentioned type conventional guitar bridge pin pullers is that the prying motion will often damage the bridge of the guitar. For example, the bridge is often made of soft wood such as rosewood, and removing a bridge pin with the traditional lever-type pin remover will leave small indentations in the wood. Another problem with conventional guitar bridge pin pullers such as the second type mentioned hereinabove, is that since all of these pin pullers are generally made of plastic, the pin pulling capture notch often flexes under strain, causing the tool to pop off of the pin without removing it. Furthermore, the relatively weak plastic pin pulling capture notch often wears out over time, rendering the tool useless after repeated use. Still another problem with existing upward pulling-type pin pullers is that they are open at both ends, which allows the pin to easily slip out of the tool. This action can inadvertently cause the user to damage the face of the guitar. Additionally, such existing tools are almost always connected to a tuning peg winder as a combination tool. In such arrangement, the tool needs to swivel in order to wind the pegs. The swiveling motion sometimes makes it difficult to use the tool for pin pulling due to the movement of the tool head. 
     While these devices may be suitable on a limited basis for the particular purposes for which they are intended, they are not as suitable for removing guitar bridge pins in order to change the strings. As noted, the main problem with conventional guitar bridge pin pullers is that the prying motion will often damage the bridge of the guitar. The bridge is often made of a soft wood such as rosewood and removing a bridge pin with the traditional lever type pin remover will leave small indentations in the wood. 
     Another problem is that since all of these pin pullers are made of plastic, the pin pulling capture notch often flexes under strain, causing the tool to loose its grip and slip off the pin without removing it. This problem is underscored by the fact that the capture notch generally only includes two gripping teeth, spaced about 180 degrees apart. With this type of structure, the pin pulling capture notch often wears out over time. 
     After repeated uses the plastic notch can wear away, rendering the tool useless. The present invention departs substantially from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing, provides a compact apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of removing guitar bridge pins in order to change the strings. 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of guitar bridge pin puller now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new construction wherein the same can be utilized for removing guitar pins in order to change the strings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purposes of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new puller for guitar bridge pins of the like that has many of the advantages over presently known guitar bridge pin pullers heretofore and many novel features that result in a new bridge pin puller which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the known guitar bridge pin pullers, either alone or in any combination. 
     To attain this objective, the present invention generally comprises a main body and swing arm with a capture notch at the free end. The main body serves as a housing for the swing arm. It also has a flange or lip having an aperture machined into it where a keychain ring can be attached. The swing arm is machined so that a major portion fits into the groove which is machined into the main body, with the exception of the capture notch. The capture notch sits next to the main body when in the closed position, forming a compact, generally cylindrical shape. The capture notch has a lip that extends over three sides—or about 270 degrees—and that is machined to fit under the head of a guitar&#39;s bridge pin to remove it. Furthermore, the capture notch is preferably made of a strong durable metal, and has a recessed cavity where the head of a bridge pin sits during removal. Other materials are contemplated, such as durable and hard plastics, etc., such as for example, Dupont&#39;s Delrin® brand plastics, glass filled nylon, or high density molecular weight polyethylene. 
     A standalone ergonomic puller for removing a bridge pin from a guitar bridge is disclosed, which comprises a handle configured and dimensioned to accommodate a hand crush grip with thumb resting on index finger, and an extension member attached to the handle and having a capture notch at a free end thereof. The extension member includes a recessed cavity directly adjacent to the capture notch, the recessed cavity being configured and dimensioned to receive and engage the undersurface of the bridge pin head in a manner to facilitate application of direct force thereto to remove the bridge pin from the guitar bridge. 
     The capture notch of the ergonomic puller is dimensioned and configured to snugly surround the stem of the bridge pin so as to engage the undersurface of the bridge pin head. The capture notch extends approximately 270 degrees around the inner perimeter of the free end to fit under the head of the bridge pin for optimal engagement therewith. The capture notch is formed with a beveled undersurface to promote substantial purchase with the undersurface of the bridge pin head to prevent slippage of the puller with respect to the bridge pin. 
     The extension member is pivotably movable between a first closed position in-line with the handle, and a second open position generally perpendicular to the handle having an over-center position, and in a manner such that when the handle is positioned adjacent the guitar bridge in a generally parallel relation thereto, the extension member is in a generally perpendicular relationship to the guitar bridge. 
     The handle is formed as a housing with a groove to receive the swing arm when in the closed position such that at least a portion of the swing arm fits in the groove to form a generally ergonomically cylindrical shaped puller. 
     The capture notch is made of a material selected from one of metal, hard plastic, glass filled nylon, high density molecular weight polyethylene and other hard materials. 
     The recessed cavity is dimensioned and configured to accommodate commercially available bridge pins, each bridge pin having a size distinct from other bridge pins. 
     In one embodiment, the extension member is fixedly oriented in a generally perpendicular relationship to the handle in a non-collapsible monolithic structure. 
     It should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     A primary feature of the present invention is to provide a puller for guitar bridge pins that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide an improved collapsible and compact pocket device for removing guitar bridge pins in order to change the strings. 
     Another feature is to provide a strong and durable pin puller for guitar bridge pins that can remove guitar bridge pins without prying on the bridge of the guitar and without causing surface damage to the adjacent areas. 
     Still another feature is to provide a puller for guitar bridge pins that is small, lightweight and easy to carry. 
     Still another feature of the invention relates to a puller for guitar bridge pins that is not connected to a tuning peg winder, and that can be used with a majority of bridge pins. Furthermore, the present device will never wear out from repeated uses. 
     A method of using the ergonomic puller for removing a bridge pin from a guitar bridge is also disclosed. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader, and it is intended that these objects, features and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, features and advantages, the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a left side perspective view from above, of a guitar bridge mounted on a sound-board of an acoustic guitar, illustrating the removal of a bridge pin from the guitar with the tool of the present invention, for the purpose of changing a string; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view, taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a right side perspective view from above, of the hand tool shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  for removing guitar pins, constructed according to the present invention, and showing the active swing arm in phantom lines in the open—or pin removal—position; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the hand tool of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating in phantom lines, the active swing arm in the pin removal position; 
         FIG. 5  is a right side perspective view of the hand tool of the present invention, with parts separated to illustrate the camming motion of the swing arm in the open and closed positions; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the puller is structured according to a fixed “T” shaped configuration, incapable of collapsing as in the first embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the attached Figs. illustrate a standalone ergonomic pin puller  10  for guitar bridge pins constructed according to the invention. Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pin puller  10  comprises a main body  12  and an extension member (swing arm)  14  with capture notch  16  to remove a bridge pin  19  from bridge  20  mounted on sound-board  22  of an acoustic guitar to change string  23 . Essentially the capture notch is an arcuately shaped end piece defining a semi-circular notch which surrounds and “captures” a major circumferential portion of the pin just below the head in order to obtain substantial purchase under the surface of the head (i.e., preferably 270 degrees) for pulling the pin from its cavity. 
     The entire guitar is not shown in  FIG. 1 , but rather only sound-board  22  with sound opening  21  are shown. The main body  12  of pin puller  10  serves the dual function as a housing for the swing arm  14 , and as a gripping device for applying force to the bridge pin  19  via the swing arm  14 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , main body  12  includes a flange  42  at one end, which has an aperture  24  machined into it for attachment to a keychain ring. The swing arm  14  is machined so that the majority of it fits into groove  26  which is machined into the main body  12 , with the exception of the capture notch  16 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the capture notch  16  sits next to the main body  12  when in the closed position, forming a compact cylindrical shape. The capture notch  16  has a lip  28  that is essentially three-sided, and which is machined to fit snugly under the head  18  of a guitar bridge pin  19  to remove the pin for re-stringing or other purposes, as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the undersurface  17  of the capture notch is beveled (i.e., chamfered) to promote optimal surface-to-surface contact between the capture notch and the lower surface (i.e., bottom) of the head of the pin which is usually spherical or near spherical. As can be seen in the drawings, the capture notch  16  achieves substantial purchase with the underside of the head  18  of the pin  19 , gripping about 270 degrees of the undersurface of the head. The capture notch  16  is preferably made of a strong metal such as steel, hardened aluminum, zinc or the like, for reasons of strength, and it has a recessed cavity  30  where the head of a bridge pin sits during removal. Other materials can be used, provided they are strong and durable and able to withstand the pulling forces applied to remove such pins. As noted previously, such materials as Delrin® brand plastics, glass filled nylon, or high density molecular weight polyethylene are contemplated. 
     As can be seen in the Figs., the main body  12  serves as a housing for the swing arm  14 . Preferably, the main body  12  is a one-piece machined chrome plated steel cylinder with a rectangular notch  26  that runs little more than half way through the length thereof to accommodate the swing arm  14  when in the stored position. Inside the notch  26  of the main body  12 , there is a small spring cavity  32  where a cam  34  and a coil spring  36  sit to keep the swing arm  14  in the desired position, i.e. either in the folded, or the open—or active—position. Housing  12  also has a hole  38  drilled through the midsection as shown in  FIG. 5 , where a small pivot pin  40  is inserted to provide a hinge for the swing arm  14  via pivot aperture  43  located at the pivot end of the swing arm  14 . In addition, there is a semi-circular flange or protrusion  42  on the end of housing  12  opposite the swing arm  14  with an aperture  24  drilled into it in order to accommodate a key ring. 
     As can be seen in the Figs., the main body  12  is the housing for all of the other components. The main body can be various sizes, shapes and finishes. Various hinge placement and applications can be used to create the same desired effect. Optionally, the key ring protrusion can be removed to provide a sleeker design. Also, the capture notch  26  for the swing arm  14  can be made in various shapes to accommodate other swing arm shapes, dimensions and configurations, or even alternative types of pins. 
     One variation of this pin puller is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this alternative embodiment, the puller  50  is structured and designed to eliminate all moving parts and is fabricated as a fixed “T” shaped tool incapable of the collapse function of the previous embodiment. The main body  52  and the functional pulling arm  54  are essentially the same shape, but the arm  54  would permanently be in the open position. In another variation (not shown) the main body and pulling arm  14  are in the form of a single straight piece, with the same unique three-sided capture notch  16  at the free end. This would provide a pen shaped tool which could be easily carried with other small implements. Essentially this alternative embodiment would appear like the tool shown in  FIG. 3  where in the closed condition, but structured as a single piece. 
     The tool which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  has two positions, open and closed. In the closed position, the swing arm  14  is held in place by the spring  36  and steel cam  34  in the recessed spring cavity  32  of the main body  12 . As can best be seen in  FIG. 5 , the spring  36  engages the cam  34  against the butt end  44  of the swing arm  14 , which keeps the swing arm  14  aligned with the main body  12  when in the folded condition, thereby creating a unique compact cylindrical configuration. The swing arm  14  can then be manually moved to the open position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in which it forms a 90 degree angle with the main body  12 . The spring  36  and cam  34  again hold the swing arm in the open position by pushing up against the butt side (camming surface)  46  of the swing arm  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 . When the tool is moved from the open position to the closed position, the spring  36  is compressed within the recessed spring cavity  32 , which is configured and dimensioned to allow the cam  34  to provide room for the swing arm  14  to change positions. To open or close the swing arm  14 , a user simply exerts force on the swing arm  14  in the appropriate direction. At this point, the cam  34 , impelled by the spring  36 , exerts force against a curved portion  45  of the cam surface  48  and the swing arm is deflected to the other position, passing through an over-center position therebetween. For example, in the open position, the user can grip the tool by inserting it between the index and middle fingers in a hand crush grip with the thumb resting on the index finger. The capture notch  16  is then slid under the head  18  of the bridge pin  19  as shown for example in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , until the head sits just above the three-sided cavity of the capture notch  16  and within the recessed cavity  30  adjacent the capture notch  16 . The user then exerts upward force on the bridge pin in the direction of arrow “A” in  FIG. 2 , which pulls the pin from its tapered hole in which it is generally held by friction or press fit, or a combination of both. Generally a force of between 15 and 20 pounds is required to remove most pins. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the configuration of the tool and its related structure is critical to successful and quick removal of a bridge pin without damaging the guitar. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and descried in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.