Patent Publication Number: US-10311851-B1

Title: Reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot-swap cartridge system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based upon Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/547,838 filed Aug. 20, 2017, and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 15/372,322 filed Dec. 7, 2017, the subject matter of which applications is incorporated herein by reference and the priority of which is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot-swap cartridge system. 
     Background of the Invention 
     Currently there are a number of solutions for the interchangeability of electric guitar pickups from the rear or side of the guitar body. Some of these solutions attempt to provide a means for insertion of removal, but these solutions fail to meet the needs of the industry because the method of insertion or removal is mechanically awkward, limited in capabilities or configuration, or not achievable in one swift simple motion. 
     Other solutions attempt to provide interchangeability with a cartridge-like system but these solutions are similarly unable to meet the needs of the industry because the cartridge design is not reversible, not multireconfigurable nor is it adaptable to existing guitar body designs where it is desirable to maintain the appearance and integrity of the front surface of the instrument. Still other solutions seek to provide a pickup replacement method but these solutions also fail to meet industry needs because they are not hot-swappable, and/or they do not provide for the adaptation or use of the existing extension spring tremolo systems which are naturally displaced and rendered useless as a result of these other and prior methods. 
     It would be desirable to have a device that allows electric guitar pickups to be instantly interchangeable and reconfigurable such that the tonal qualities of the instrument may be modified and experimented with at will. Furthermore, it would also be desirable to have a device that requires no tools to accomplish this end, and does not limit the combinations of pickups which can be achieved. Still further, it would be desirable to have a device which can provide such a reconfigurable option without the need to modify the primary, frontal, face or appearance of the instrument. Therefore, there currently exists a need in the industry for a device and associated method that allows for the instant, unlimited and visually favorable method for allowing the pickups in an electric guitar to be interchanged and reconfigured as desired without tools, and without having to unplug the instrument from its amplifier. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot-swap cartridge system which provides guitar players with the ability to experiment with the tonal qualities of their instruments easily and almost instantaneously, without tools, without having to dismantle the instrument, and with virtually unlimited combinations and orientations of electro-magnetic pickups. 
     The present invention is a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot-swap cartridge system, which is made up of the following components: the docking ring, the fixed circuit board with fixed electrical-contact fingers, the cartridges with the companion circuit board which mates mechanically and electrically with the contacts of the fixed circuit board, and the pickups. These components are related and connected together as follows: The body of the electric guitar is routed out from the back between the guitar neck and bridge, and the docking ring with fixed circuit boards with fixed electrical-contact fingers are inserted into the cavity. The contact fingers are wired into the controls and output circuits of the electric guitar. The guitar&#39;s electromagnetic pickups are screwed into the pickup cartridges, one, two or three pickups per cartridge, and are wired to the cartridge circuit board. The cartridges are then snapped via a mechanical latching system into the docking ring to complete the assembly of the system. With respect to the device it should be further noted that the system is designed so that upon insertion of the pickup cartridge into the docking ring, the cartridge circuit boards align precisely with the fixed electrical-contact fingers to complete an electrical circuit between the pickups and the guitar controls and output circuit, such that the pickups may function as they would should, they have been hard-wired into the electric guitar. 
     The present invention may also have one or more of the following: The cartridges may be configured in multiple sizes with the ability to hold one, two or three pickups each. The docking ring may be configured with fixed circuit boards with fixed fingers at opposite ends to allow reverse orientation of the cartridges, or along the long sides to allow the same. Furthermore, each cartridge shall have the ability to be rotated and reversed so as to provide for multiple positioning and configurations of one, two or all three pickups. Similarly, the method associated with the present invention may also include one or more of the following steps: Routing of the electric guitar body for the docking ring only part of the way through the back so that the front surface of the instrument remains intact as a continuous surface with only partial holes allowing just the pickups to protrude through, thus preserving the appearance of a conventional electric guitar. 
     Routing of the guitar body completely through the front surface creating a hole, but allowing multiple pickup configurations and orientations to then be utilized without limitation within the given space. 
     Manufacture of an acoustic guitar body such that the docking ring is incorporated into the body for future upgrade of the instrument to have this same reconfigurable electric guitar pickup capability. 
     Manufacture of the pickup cartridges such that one cartridge may hold one or more pickups with related circuitry, whether that cartridge is a full-size (where one cartridge fills the entire docking ring), or partial size where multiple cartridges may occupy the docking ring simultaneously in various combinations and orientations. 
     Manufacture of the pickup cartridges such that they may position the guitar pickups at different heights and different angles, depending on the overall depth and shape of the instrument. 
     Manufacture of the pickup cartridges such that the pickup height may be adjusted from the rear of the cartridge. 
     Manufacture of the cartridges such they may allow the pickups to protrude through existing holes in the front surface of the guitar, or that they incorporate their own front surface as an integral component of the cartridge. 
     Manufacture of the docking ring such that it may position the pickup cartridges at different heights and different angles, depending on the overall depth and shape of the instrument. 
     Manufacture of the docking ring incorporating holes, tabs or other method for directly connecting the guitar strings or tremolo system springs to the docking ring. 
     The present invention is unique when compared with other known devices and solutions because the present invention provides for (1) rapid one-handed electric guitar pickup removal and insertion, (2) hot-swappable pickup removal and insertion, (3) fully reconfigurable pickup combinations allowing virtually unlimited combinations of one, two or three pickups in various configurations and orientations. 
     The present invention is unique in that it may be manufactured into a production instrument, or retrofitted into an existing electric or acoustic guitar without modifying its front appearance or structure. More specifically, the present invention is unique due to the presence of multiple mechanical latching positions as well as multiple electrical connection positions allowing for virtually unlimited combinations of pickup configurations. 
     In addition, the present invention is mechanically adaptable not only to electric guitar bodies of varying shapes and angles, but also to acoustic guitar bodies thereby giving them interchangeable pickup capabilities previously unheard of. Also, the present invention provides for the continued use of extension spring tremolo systems by incorporating its own extension spring mounting method which replaces the factory springs that must be removed by necessity during the installation of any such rearmounted guitar pickup system. 
     Among other things, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot-swap cartridge system that does not suffer from any of the problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions. 
     It is still further an object of the present invention to allow for the adaptation of this reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot-swap cartridge system into existing musical instruments such that the instrument may be upgraded rather than replaced, and without modifying the current outward/frontal appearance. 
     Further still, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Reconfigurable Electric Guitar Pickup Hot-Swap Cartridge System that does not disable any existing tremolo system without providing a method for the continued functionality of same. 
     The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein, rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an electric guitar pickup hot swap cartridge system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged showing of the two pickups and the faceplate of  FIG. 1  but with the strings removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  with the two pickups extending through the cover plate but, also showing the docking ring circuit boards and a locking finger. 
         FIG. 4  is a back elevational view of the cartridge taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  showing the locking fingers in the outwardly biased locking position. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2  showing the locking fingers biased against the locking projections. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the guitar and docking ring and pickup cartridge of the prior Figures. 
         FIG. 7  is a back elevational view of the docking ring with the locking projections and circuit boards taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7  showing two locking projections and a circuit board. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the outwardly biased locking fingers and portions of the pickups and epositionable circuit board with reposiyionable fingers taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of a cartridge with no pickups included. 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of a cartridge with two different types of pickups mounted on a mounting plate but no cover plate. 
         FIG. 11A  is a front elevational view of an electric guitar utilizing the pickup cartridge of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 11B  is an enlarged showing of the pickup and the faceplate of  FIG. 11A  but with the strings removed. 
         FIG. 11C  is a cross sectional view taken along line  11 C- 11 C of  FIG. 11B  with the pickup extending through the cover plate but also showing the locking finger. 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevational view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11  showing the cartridge with licking fingers and two different pickups mounted for rotational movement. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12  showing one pickup and the brackets to facilitate pivoting. 
         FIG. 14  is a rear elevational view similar to  FIG. 4  but with two separate cartridges, each cartridge having a single pickup. 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14  showing the guitar and the docking ring and the two cartridges with two pickups of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a rear elevational view similar to  FIG. 44  but with two separate cartridges, one cartridge having two pickup, one cartridge having a single pickup. 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded perspective view taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16  showing the guitar and the two docking rings and the two cartridges with three pickups of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  is a rear elevational view similar to  FIG. 4  but with only one cartridge, the one cartridge having a single pickup. 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view taken along line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18  showing the guitar and the docking ring and the cartridges with a single pickup. 
         FIG. 20  is a rear elevational view of the docking ring taken along line  20 - 20  of  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hotswap cartridge system. 
     From a broad perspective, the present invention is a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot swap cartridge system  10 . First provided is a cartridge  14  formed of a mounting plate  16  having a geometric configuration with an upper edge  18 , a lower edge  20 , a left edge  22 , a right edge  24 , an interior surface  26 , and an exterior surface  28 . 
     By geometric configuration, as used throughout herein, it is meant rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or similar configurations. 
     Next a higher plate  30  is provided above the mounting plate. The higher plate has a geometric periphery with an upper edge  32 , a lower edge  34 , a left edge  36 , a right edge  38 , an interior surface  40 , and an exterior surface  42 . 
     A plurality of posts  44  are next provided. The posts couple the interior surface of the mounting plate and the interior surface of the higher plate to create a space for the receipt of at least one pickup. 
     Next, two spring biased plates  46  are mounted on the mounting plate. A coil spring  49  separates the two spring biased plates. The spring biased plates have locking fingers  48 . The locking fingers are reciprocally mounted on the mounting plate for engagement with locking projections  50  on a docking ring. Each spring biased plate has a finger hole  52  for retracting the locking fingers. 
     The system may further include at least one opening  54  in the higher plate for the receipt of at least one pickup. 
     The system may further include on the mounting plate at least one repositionable circuit board  56  with repositionable fingers  58 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the higher plate  60  is beneath a pickup, rather than extended above it, serving as a mounting surface for the pickup. 
     The system may further include a docking ring  62  having a geometric periphery with an open center  64  and a plurality of locking projections  50  coupled to the docking ring extending into the center opening. 
     The system may further include at least one fixed circuit board  70  with fixed fingers  72 . The circuit board is mounted on the mounting plate with connections for the wires of the installed pickup and related circuitry, as well as contacts for connecting to the fixed circuit board contact fingers on the docking ring. 
     The system may further include at least one pickup  74  supported by the higher plate. 
     The system may also include an electric guitar  84 . The electric guitar has a front  86 , a back  88 , and a side wall  90  defining a hollow body there between. 
     In alternate embodiments, the front of the guitar is planar  76  or the front may be non-planar. The front and back of the guitar may also be non-parallel. 
     In an alternate embodiment, further included is a single opening  92  in the front of the electric guitar for receiving the higher plate and at least one pickup. In another embodiment, included is at least one opening  94  in the front for receiving plural pickups of different styles. 
     Since the front and rear surfaces of a guitar are not always parallel, the invention includes a modified, or slanted, docking ring. The periphery of the docking ring is on a different plane than the ring mounting surface. 
     In its most complete form, the present invention device is made up of the following components: the insert docking ring, the fixed circuit boards with fixed electrical-contact fingers, the pickup cartridges, the cartridge circuit board with electrical contacts, and the pickups. These components are related and connected together as follows: The body of the electric guitar is routed out from the back and the docking ring is inserted into the cavity, along with the fixes circuit boards with fixed fingers, one at each end of the docking ring, or several along the sides of the docking ring. The fixed fingers are wired into the controls and output circuits of the electric guitar. The guitar&#39;s electro-magnetic pickups are screwed into the pickup cartridges, one, two or three pickups per cartridge, and are wired to the cartridge circuit board. The cartridges consist of the following primary components: a back plate, a latch, a circuit board and a pickup mounting plate. These components are assembled together with an electromagnetic pickup to complete the cartridge. The cartridges are then snapped via the cartridge&#39;s mechanical latch into the docking ring to complete the assembly of the system. 
     With respect to the device it should be further noted that the system is designed so that upon insertion of the cartridge into the docking ring, the fixes circuit board fingers align precisely with the cartridge circuit board contacts to complete an electrical circuit between the pickups and the guitar controls and output circuit, such that the pickups may function as they would should they have been hard-wired into the electric guitar. It should further be noted that this system may be manufactured as part of a production instrument or retrofitted to an existing electric or acoustic guitar body, regardless of the material that the instrument was manufactured from. 
     The most complete form of performing the method associated with the present invention device consists of the following steps: Routing or constructing the electric or acoustic guitar body to fit the docking ring, whether the routing is partially through or completely through the back of the instrument, with the routing location centrally between the neck and the bridge of the guitar where the electric pickups would normally be. Affixing the docking ring to the guitar body both mechanically and electrically so as to facilitate the connection of the cartridges and their pickups to the guitar controls and output circuit once snapped into the docking ring. It should further be noted that with regard to extension spring tremolo systems which would need their springs removed to make way for this system, the docking ring of this system would provide for an alternate spring mounting system so as to allow a tremolo feature of the guitar to continue to function. 
     A device and a method associated with the device are described. The device is a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot-swap cartridge system which allows a user to remove, insert, and reconfigure the pickups in an electric guitar without tools, without dismantling the instrument, and without unplugging it from its amplifier. This device can be used to exchange the electromagnetic pickups within the electric guitar within seconds, allowing different tones to be achieved. 
     The core components of the device are: the docking ring, the contact pins circuit boards, the pickup cartridges, the cartridge circuit board, and the pickups. Generally speaking, the configuration of the components is as follows. The body of the electric guitar is routed out from the back between the guitar neck and bridge, and the docking ring is inserted into the cavity, along with the contact pins circuit boards which may be one at each end of the docking ring, or several along the sides of the docking ring. The contact pins circuit boards are wired into the controls and output circuits of the electric guitar. The guitar&#39;s electro-magnetic pickups are screwed into the pickup cartridges, one, two or three pickups per cartridge, and are wired to the cartridge circuit board. The cartridges, consisting of a back plate, a latch, a circuit board, and a pickup mounting plate are then snapped, via the cartridge&#39;s mechanical latching system, into the docking ring to complete the assembly of the system. It should be noted that the system is designed so that upon insertion of the pickup cartridge into the docking ring, the cartridge circuit board traces align precisely with the docking ring contact pins circuit boards to complete an electrical circuit between the pickups and the guitar controls and output circuit such that the pickups may function as they would if they had been hard-wired into the electric guitar. Furthermore, it should be noted that the pickup cartridges may be configured in multiple sizes with the ability to hold one, two, or three pickups each, each cartridge with the ability to be rotated and reversed so as to provide for multiple positioning and configurations of one, two, or all three pickups. 
     Following are the core steps to be followed in order to carry out the method. The docking ring shall have multiple latching positions allowing for individual pickup cartridges to be snapped into various positions and orientations. The docking ring shall also have one or more contact pins circuit boards affixed within it to provide for multiple electrical contact positions between the guitar and the pickup cartridges. The pickup cartridges shall be configured with a shape and a latching mechanism which allows them to be connected to the docking ring in multiple positions and orientations while maintaining electrical connection integrity regardless of position or orientation. Ultimately, at the conclusion of these steps, the electric guitar will have the ability to have its pickups removed and/or inserted into the guitar in seconds, and in any orientation or combination as desired by the player, without the need for tools nor disconnection from the guitar amplifier. 
     While the present invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.