Patent Publication Number: US-8975497-B2

Title: Vibration transmission adapter for a string musical instrument

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vibration transmission adapter for the transmission of vibrations from strings of a string musical instrument to a sound reverberator device equipped with at least one spring to enhance the sound generated by the musical instrument and removably secured to the musical instrument. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In my U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,046, I describe a sound reverberator connectable to a guitar to enhance the tonality of the sound generated by the musical instrument. The reverberator is essentially a sound box having one or more large springs which can respond to the vibrations of the strings of the musical instrument to give maximum resonant effect or change the tonality of the sound generated by the strings and as well as amplify the sound generated by plucking, frictioning, striking or otherwise vibrating the strings of the instrument. 
     In order to properly transmit the sound and vibrations from the strings there is provided an adapter which is adaptable to the string of the musical instrument and capable of transmitting actual sounds generated by the strings which are placed in vibration. There is a need to provide an adapter which is easy to install and efficient in transmitting sound vibrations of strings. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is a feature of the present invention to provide a vibration transmission adapter which provides the above desired needs. 
     According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a vibration transmission adapter for the transmission of vibrations from strings of a string musical instrument to a sound reverberator device equipped with at least one spring to enhance the sound generated by the instrument. The strings are supported in contact with a bridge saddle of the instrument. The vibration transmission adapter is comprised by a rigid metallic member shaped to define a saddle contacting section and an integrally formed spring connecting section. The saddle contacting section is shaped to extend between and spaced from at least two adjacent strings of the string musical instrument. The spring connecting section extends in a rearward direction from a top end of the saddle contacting section and has a spring connecting free end. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a string musical instrument to which is secured a sound reverberator device and equipped with the vibration transmission adapter of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side cross-section view of the sound reverberator device showing the vibration transmission adapter of the present invention connected between the strings and saddle of the string musical instrument and the springs in the reverberator device; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first example of the construction of the vibration transmission adapter of the present invention secured to a modified saddle member of the bridge of the musical instrument; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the vibration transmission adapter illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a further example of the vibration transmission adapter of the present invention and wherein it is adapted to engage pairs of strings of a string musical instrument; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the vibration transmission adapter of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a side view showing the vibration transmission adapter of  FIG. 5  secured for contact with the strings of a musical instrument; and 
         FIG. 7B  is a front view of the vibration transmission adapter of  FIG. 5  when positioned on a saddle of the bridge of the string musical instrument. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown generally at  10  a string musical instrument, herein a guitar. It is hereinshown as equipped with a reverberator device  11  as described in my afore-mentioned U.S. Patent. The instrument  10  is provided with strings  13  which extend over a saddle  14  of a bridge piece  15  to generate sounds in the sound box of the instrument. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the reverberator device  11  is provided with one or more springs  16  which are supported therein as described in my afore-mentioned U.S. Patent. The front ends  16 ′ of the springs are secured to either one of the vibration adapters  17  and  17 ′ as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  and as will be described hereinbelow. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the vibration transmission adapter  17  is formed as a unitary member die-cut and shaped from a flat metal plate, herein stainless steel, and is shaped to define a saddle contacting section  18  and an integrally formed spring connecting section  19 . The saddle contacting section  18  is shaped to extend between and spaced from at least two adjacent strings  13  of the string musical instrument  10 . The spring connecting section  19  extends in a rearward direction from a top end of the saddle contacting section, as better shown in  FIG. 2  and has a spring connecting free and  20  for connecting to the end  16 ′ of the spring  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , there are three saddle connecting sections  18  equidistantly spaced-apart and interconnected together at a top end thereof in a bridge section  21 . Accordingly, when the strings  13  are placed into vibration, the vibration is transmitted into the saddle  14  and into the vibration transmission adapter  17  transmitting the vibration into the springs  16  which vibrate and provide a modified tonality to the sound generated by the guitar  10 . 
     The saddle connecting section  18  is better illustrated in  FIG. 4  and is comprised of a hook-shaped free end  22  adapted to engage into an associated slot  23  equidistantly spaced in the saddle  14  slightly above an associated pair of strings  13 . The strings  13  are guided in holes  25  formed in the saddle and equidistantly spaced. The slots  23  are disposed between associated pairs of holes  25  or strings in contact therein. The saddle is formed for use with a reverberator  11  and the adapter design  17 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 to 7B , there will be described a further embodiment  17 ′ of the vibration transmission adapter. As hereinshown, the saddle contacting sections are constituted by flat metal arms  30  interconnected together at a top end by a bridge section  21 ′. Each of the arms  30  have a saddle contacting formation  31  adapted to rest on a top face  32  of a saddle  14 ′ as shown in  FIG. 7B . The metal arms are each provided with string contacting fingers  33  projecting in a common horizontal plane in opposite directions at a free end of each flat metal arm. These string contacting fingers  33  are provided with flat inserts  34  formed preferably of the same material as the saddle such as ebony, bone, graphite, ivory or suitable composite materials and secured to the top surface of the fingers  33  by suitable means such as glue or rivets and each of the fingers  33  of each of the arms contact associated ones of a pair of strings, such as the pair shown at  13 ′ in  FIG. 5 . 
     When the vibration transmission adapter  17 ′ is positioned onto the saddle  14 ′, the fingers  33  engage a respective pair of strings  13 ′ from underneath the springs in front of the saddle  14 ′ as shown in  FIG. 7A . Accordingly, the vibration of the strings and sound emitted thereby is transmitted through the vibration transmission adapter  17 ′ and into three springs  16  secured in the reverberator device  11 . 
     It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the examples of the preferred embodiment described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.