Patent Publication Number: US-6342661-B1

Title: Multi-string guitar pick

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of earlier-filed, co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/159,220 filed on Oct. 13, 1999, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to devices for playing a musical instrument, and more specifically, to devices for plucking the strings of a stringed instrument. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Various types of devices have been used to pluck the strings of stringed musical instruments. These devices include simple guitar picks, as well as devices that allow the user to pluck a string in a more complex fashion to create different types of sounds. U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,562 issued to Kline discloses an example of the latter type of device. 
     Known plucking devices do not, however, allow the user to simultaneously pluck two strings of a stringed instrument. Thus, there is a need for a plucking device that allows the simultaneous plucking of two strings. There is also a need for a device that can be used either to pluck two strings simultaneously or to pluck a single string. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a hand-held device which allows a person to pluck simultaneously a plurality of strings of a stringed instrument. The invention comprises means for plucking two strings of a stringed musical instrument simultaneously and means for a user&#39;s hand to engage the plucking means. 
     In one aspect of the invention, the plucking means permits the user to pluck two adjacent strings simultaneously. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the plucking means permits the user to pluck two non-adjacent strings simultaneously. 
     An additional aspect of the invention is that, when engaged with the user s hand in an alternative orientation, the device permits the user to pluck a single string. 
     It is an object of the invention to allow a person to pluck simultaneously two adjacent strings of a stringed instrument. 
     It is a further object of the invention to allow a person to pluck simultaneously two non-adjacent strings of a stringed instrument. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a device that allows a person to pluck multiple strings of a stringed instrument simultaneously, or, alternatively, to pluck a single string of the instrument. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide the player of a stringed instrument greater versatility and enjoyment in playing music in that new musical compositions can be created and played, and existing musical compositions can be played differently 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide the player of a stringed instrument an inexpensive device for obtaining greater versatility and enjoyment in the playing of music. dr 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing an embodiment of the device which allows the player of a stringed instrument to pluck two adjacent strings of the instrument simultaneously. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device of the invention, which allows the player of a stringed instrument to pluck two non-adjacent strings of the instrument simultaneously. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the device of FIG. 1, in use. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the device of FIG. 3, in use. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 in use such that a single string of a stringed instrument is plucked, where the picking members of the device are held between the thumb and index finger of the user&#39;s hand. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 in use, such that a single string of a stringed instrument is plucked, held in an alternate fashion, where the picking/grasping member of the device is held between the thumb and index finger of the user&#39;s hand. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows the inventive device  10 . The preferred embodiment of device  10  includes two thin, planar picking members  12  and  14 , and one thin, planar picking/grasping member  16 , constructed of rigid nylon of the type commonly used to construct guitar picks. It has been found that the same nylon material produced by Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. of Benicia, Calif., works satisfactorily. Other rigid materials of different thicknesses and compositions might also work satisfactorily in practicing the invention. The device may also be constructed of plastic, wood, or metal or a combination of nylon and these materials. Other rigid materials of different thicknesses and compositions might also work satisfactorily. 
     Picking members  12  and  14  are preferably identical in size and shape and generally similar to the size and shape of a conventional triangular guitar pick. Picking member  12  has a base portion  18  and a tip portion  20 , and two side portions  22 . Picking member  14  has a base portion  24  and a tip portion  26 , and two side portions  28 . Side portions  22  and  28  are preferably roughly 1¼ inches long. Base portions  18  and  24  are preferably roughly ⅞ inches long. 
     Picking/grasping member  16  is similar in size and shape to a conventional triangular guitar pick, but, for reasons set forth further below, picking/grasping member  16  is preferably longer from base to apex than a conventional guitar pick. Picking/grasping member  16  has a base portion  30  and a tip portion  32 , and two side portions  34 . Side portions  34  are preferably slightly longer than side portions  22  and  28 . Base portion  30  is preferably the same length as base portions  18  and  24 . 
     Picking members  12  and  14 , and picking/grasping member  16  are joined at their bases to a common supporting portion  36 . Picking members  12  and  14  are preferably disposed in parallel planes, with tip portions  20  and  26  extending away from supporting portion  36  in a first direction. Tip portions  20  and  26  are preferably equidistant from supporting portion  36 . 
     Picking/grasping member  16  extends away from supporting portion  36  in a second direction, wherein the second direction is preferably opposite to, i.e., approximately 180 degrees from, the first direction. Picking/grasping member  16  is disposed in a plane parallel to, and intermediate to, the planes in which picking members  12  and  14  reside. 
     Common supporting portion  36  exists at the juncture of base portions  18 ,  24 , and  30 . This juncture could be the contact point of picking members  12  and  14  and picking/grasping member  16  in a one-piece, integral structure, or it could be a separate structure to which picking members  12  and  14  and picking/grasping member  16  are attached. 
     Device  10  is preferably a unitary, integral structure, molded, cast, or otherwise fashioned as a single piece; however, other constructions may also work satisfactorily as well. For example, separate picking members  12 ,  14 , and  16  may be joined to a separate common supporting portion  36  to yield the inventive device. 
     One embodiment of the invention allows the user to pluck two adjacent strings simultaneously, as shown in FIG.  1 . In this embodiment, used to play a conventional six-string guitar, tip portions  20  and  26  are preferably ⅜″ to {fraction (9/16)}″ apart. Another embodiment of the invention allows the user to pluck two non-adjacent strings simultaneously. This alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and is identified with reference numeral  11 . In this embodiment, used to play a conventional six-string guitar, tip portions  20  and  26  are preferably ¾″ to {fraction (13/16)}″ apart. The distances between tip portions  20  and  26  would be different for a device used to play stringed instruments other than a conventional six-string guitar, such as a banjo or sitar. 
     In use, as shown in FIG. 4, the player of a stringed instrument grasps picking/grasping member  16  of device  10  between the thumb and index finger of the hand and contacts the stringed instrument with tip portions  20  and  26  such that two strings of the instrument are plucked simultaneously. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of device  10  in use that allows the player to pluck two adjacent strings simultaneously. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment that allows the player to pluck two non-adjacent strings simultaneously. FIGS. 6 and 7 show device  10  in use in two alternative fashions that allow the player to pluck a single string of a stringed instrument. In one case, the player may grasp picking members  12  and  14  between the thumb and index finger of the hand, as shown in FIG.  6 . In another case, the user may grasp picking/grasping member  16  between the thumb and index finger of the hand, as shown in FIG.  7 . In both cases, the player contacts the stringed instrument with tip portion  32  such that a single string is plucked. 
     The foregoing disclosure of device  10  is illustrative of the preferred embodiment and is not a limitation upon the scope of the invention or the claims. There are other variations that fall within the scope of the claims. For example, picking members  12  and  14  may be disposed in planes which are not parallel to each other. In another variation, tip portions  20  and  26  may not be equidistant from supporting portion  36 . In another example, picking/grasping member  16  may be disposed in a plane which is neither parallel nor intermediate to the planes in which picking members  12  and  14  reside. Picking/grasping member  16  may extend away from supporting portion  36  in a direction which is not approximately 180 degrees from the direction of picking members  12  and  14 . Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations of the structure herein that nevertheless fall within the scope of the invention.