Patent Publication Number: US-10770038-B1

Title: Two piece sound-hole cover

Description:
FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of stringed instruments and more particularly to an apparatus for removably covering a sound-hole of a stringed instrument such as a guitar. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many hollow-bodied stringed instruments have what is known as a sound-hole in the face of the instrument beneath the strings, allowing for sound to emanate out of the hollow-body (and, unfortunately, foreign objects to fall into the hollow-body). 
     Many times, it is desired to dampen sound from entering the hollow-body, especially when the sound is amplified, as the sound from the amplifier causes increased vibration of the instrument&#39;s body, and at certain amplification levels, feedback occurs as this vibration is picked up and sent to the amplifier. 
     There exist a class of devices that are designed to mount in the sound-hole, especially the sound-hole of acoustic guitars, blocking acoustic sound waves from entering/exiting the sound-hole. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,646,581 to Landis, a single-piece, mesh-type sound-hole cover is disclosed for the purpose of preventing foreign objects (e.g. picks) from entering the sound-hole. This device is held in place on the sound-hole by a plurality of adhesive fasteners. Many guitarists do not want to use any type of adhesive on their guitar as with time, heat, and humidity, even temporary fasteners often damage the surface of the instrument. 
     Likewise, there are many decorative, solid sound-hole covers on the market. These currently marketed sound-hole covers are typically solid plastic or wood parts that are sized for a particular set of instruments. The wooden sound-hole covers often come with an elaborate design that allows sound to enter/escape; only preventing objects from entering the sound-hole. Some sound-hole covers are printed with a manufacturer name or marketer name. 
     No existing sound-hole covers offer customization of the front facing surface with custom printing. Any printing that is done is at the factory in quantity; for example, production runs of 100s of sound-hole covers with a guitar manufacture name on the front facing surface. There is no way for a garage band to order two sound-hole covers with the name of the band, phone number, etc. 
     What is needed is a sound-hole cover that will provide decoration and dampen acoustic feedback. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a sound-hole cover is disclosed including a frame member that has a rim and a front surface that is recessed from the rim. The frame member also has a plurality of spring-loaded orifices and a back surface of the frame member has a plurality of spring member holders opening radially outwardly from a center point of the frame member. An insert member has a planar front surface and a plurality of pegs, each peg corresponding to one of the spring-loaded orifices such that when the pegs are inserted into the spring-loaded orifices, the insert member remains on the frame member within the rim. There are foam spring members, each foam spring member is held by a corresponding spring member holder of the frame member. The foam spring members removably hold the sound-hole cover within a sound-hole of a musical instrument. 
     In another embodiment, a method of covering a sound-hole of a musical instrument is disclosed including providing a sound-hole cover that has a frame member, an insert member, and foam spring members. The frame member has a rim and a front surface that is recessed from the rim. The frame member also has four spring-loaded orifices and a back surface of the frame member has three spring member holders opening radially outwardly from a center point of the frame member. The insert member has a planar front surface and four pegs, each peg corresponding to one of the four spring-loaded orifices such that when the pegs are inserted into the spring-loaded orifices, the insert member remains on the frame member within the rim. Three foam spring members are held by a corresponding spring member holder of the frame member. The foam spring members removably hold the sound-hole cover within a sound-hole of the musical instrument. The method includes inserting the pegs of the insert member into the spring-loaded orifices of the frame member, thereby holding the insert member against the frame member and installing the frame member against the sound-hole of the musical instrument such that the foam spring members press against an inner edge of the sound-hole of the musical instrument, thereby holding the sound-hole cover against a body of the musical instrument until removed. 
     In another embodiment, a sound-hole cover is disclosed including a frame member that has a rim and a front surface that is recessed from the rim. The frame member has four spring-loaded orifices and a back surface of the frame member has three spring member holders opening radially outwardly from a center point of the frame member. An insert member has a planar front surface and four pegs, each peg corresponding to one of the four spring-loaded orifices such that when the pegs are inserted into the spring-loaded orifices, the insert member remains on the frame member within the rim. Three foam spring members are inserted into and held by a corresponding spring member holder of the frame member. The foam spring members removably hold the sound-hole cover within a sound-hole of a musical instrument. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a sound-hole cover. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a bottom view of a frame member of the sound-hole cover. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a top view of a frame member of the sound-hole cover. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the frame member of the sound-hole cover. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of a spring of the sound-hole cover. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of an insert of the sound-hole cover. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of an insert of the sound-hole cover. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of an insert of the sound-hole cover. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the sound-hole cover  10  is shown assembled, ready to place into a sound-hole of, for example, a guitar. The sound-hole cover  10  is made from a frame member  20  and an insert member  30 . The insert member  30  is held to the frame member  20  by a series of pegs  32  of the insert member  30  (see  FIGS. 5 and 7 ) that are frictionally held into spring members  27  (see  FIGS. 2-4 ) of the frame member  20 . In this way, the sound-hole cover is manufactured by simple injection molding utilizing simple molds that do not require inserts or other moving pieces. Another advantage of making the sound-hole cover  10  to include a frame member  20  and a separate insert member  30  is that many musicians are interested in decorative covers having, for example, names or logos  11  on the outward facing surface of the cover. Prior covers provide decorative wood pattern designs, and some have company names (e.g. a guitar manufacturer name). The insert member  30  of the sound-hole cover  10  has a planar face  30 F (see  FIG. 6 ) that is configured for ease of printing, then coating with a clear coating such as urethane or epoxy paint. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3 , a frame member  20  of the sound-hole cover  10  is shown. In  FIG. 2 , the back side  20 B (see  FIG. 2A ) of the frame member  20  of the sound-hole cover  10  is shown having a plurality (four are shown) of spring members  27  for accepting and holding a corresponding plurality of pegs  32  of the insert member  30  (see  FIGS. 5 and 7 ) by way of friction. In this, the spring-loaded orifices  29  that are central to the spring members  27  are formed between two spring arms  28 . When each peg  32  is inserted into the spring-loaded orifices  29 , the spring arms  28  exert force onto the pegs  32  to hold the insert member  30  against the frame member  20 . 
     Although four spring members  27  and four pegs  32  are shown, any number is anticipated, including spring member  27  and one peg  32 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , foam spring members  24  slide into spring member holders  22  of the back side  20 B. Each foam spring member  24  has an angled outward facing surface  26 . 
     The frame member  20  has a greater diameter than the targeted sound-hole, thereby a back surface of the frame member  20  rests against the edge of the sound-hole when installed. When the sound-hole cover  10  is inserted into the sound-hole, the foam spring members  24  deform slightly, permitting the frame member  20  to fit snuggly within the sound-hole, then the foam spring members  24  push outwardly, radially, exerting force against an inside edge of the sound-hole to prevent the sound-hole cover  10  from falling out of the sound-hole during use or storage of the musical instrument. Although three spring member holders  22  and a corresponding three foam spring members  24  are shown, any number of such is anticipated. The foam spring members  24  provide a positive holding pressure between the sound-hole cover  10  and the sound-hole without the use of adhesives or locking mechanisms that have been used in the past. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the front side  20 F of the frame member  20  is recessed from an outer decorative rim  23  of the frame member  20  so that, when the insert member  30  is inserted into the frame member  20 , the insert member  30  is substantially flush with the outer decorative rim  23 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a top view of a foam spring member  24  of the sound-hole cover  10  is shown. Note that in some embodiments, each of the foam spring members  24  has a head that is wider than its body so that the head prevents excessive insertion of the foam spring member  24  into the spring member holder  22 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , an insert member  30  of the sound-hole cover is shown. In  FIG. 5 , the back surface  30 B (the side that interfaces with the frame member  20 ) of the insert member  30  is shown having four pegs  32  strategically located to mate with the four spring-loaded orifices  29  of the frame member  20  such that, when the insert member  30  mates with the frame member  20 , each peg is held with a corresponding spring-loaded orifices  29  by force of spring arms  28 . Alternately, the frame member  20  is used without the insert member  30 , allowing a small amount of sound to pass through the spring-loaded orifices  29  and around the spring arms  28 . 
     The planar face  30 F of the insert member  30  faces outwardly when the sound-hole cover  10  is mounted into a sound-hole of an instrument. The planar face  30 F is planar allowing for simple printing of artwork, letters/words, logos, band names, sponsor names, etc. For example, a music store might provide sound-hole cover  10  at a low cost or for free having the store&#39;s logo, name, and/or phone number for advertising purposes. 
     In  FIG. 7 , a side view of the insert member  30  is shown. Note that the pegs  32  emanate from the back surface  30 B of the insert member  30  and are cylindrical. As such, during the molding process, a two-part mold is used, allowing for easy separation of the two parts after cooling of the insert member  30 . 
     Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
     It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.