Patent Abstract:
A musical instrument slide including a body portion and a light source. The light source includes a switch for selective activation, enabling the slide body to emit light when activated. As the musician moves the slide across the strings as the instrument, such as a guitar, is played, a visual effect is created by the movement of the light. The body portion preferably is constructed of a material to pass light therethrough, and can be either wholly or partially clear or translucent, or a combination of both. Alternatively or in addition to the light source, the slide body can include an eccentric motor that causes the slide body to vibrate. This vibration, in turn, causes vibration of the guitar strings, or other sting instrument, as the slide is positioned on the strings, or moved along the strings, by the musician.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to musical instruments, and more particularly, to guitar slides having a visual and/or a tactile component powered by an electrical current. The visual component can include a light assembly, such as light emitting diodes, which provides a visual effect during movement of the slide by the musician along the guitar strings. The tactile component can include an eccentric motor which causes the slide itself to vibrate during movement by the musician. This vibration, either alone or with the movement of the entire slide across the guitar strings, causes various sounds as the slide is moved during playing. The guitar slide of the present invention can include both the lighting assembly and the vibrating assembly together. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Live musical performances provide both visual stimulation, as well as the obvious sound or audible experiences, to the performer and to the audience. Performers often enhance the visual aspects of their live performance with special, visual effects such as lighting displays, stage effects, and even pyrotechnics. Musical artists also employ various components to change or enhance the sound of the instrument being played. This latter aspect of a musical performance has become especially common with the advent of electrically amplified instruments, such as electrical guitars. 
   Some musical genres, such as the blues, rock and country music, make use of a unique sound generated by a guitar, in which the musician uses an instrument commonly referred to as a guitar slide to contact the strings along the neck of the guitar with one hand while the strings are being picked or strummed over the guitar body, or the pick ups of an electric guitar. Common guitar slides comprise a tube or cylindrical body portion with a hollow interior that is received over one of the fingers of a musician&#39;s hand that holds the guitar neck. In this manner of playing, the guitar slide is used to shorten or lengthen the effective vibratory length of the strings, thus changing the sounds emitted. The guitar slide is most often moved either slowly or quickly along the neck toward or away from the guitar body to change the sounds, as desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a guitar slide comprising a slide body that is preferably cylindrical, having a smooth, continuously curved outer wall that defines a central channel or bore, sized to accommodate a finger. In the embodiment of the invention that is directed solely to the visual component, a lighting assembly is attached to the slide body at one end. The slide body can be made of any rigid material, but preferably is comprised of a hard plastic or glass through which light may pass. The lighting assembly includes a contact ring that is approximately the same diameter as the tubular slide body. The contact ring supports one or more lights, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit light when powered by an electrical current. In a preferred embodiment, several LEDs are provided in order to emit enough light to achieve the desired visual effect, that is, so that the lights of the guitar slide are visually apparent to both the musician and persons watching the performance. An electrical switch that is powered by a small battery, such as the coin shaped, 3 volt lithium batteries commonly used to power watches, delivers power selectively to the lighting assembly. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a guitar slide having a miniature, vibrating motor instead of the lighting assembly referenced above. In this second embodiment, a slide body, similar to the tubular slide of the first embodiment, is provided, but includes end wall at one end of the cylindrical body that defines a channel recessed therein. In this embodiment, the body also is made of rigid material, including plastic, but preferably is made of metal, such as stainless steel, brass or copper. A small motor which rotates a shaft is affixed to the end wall, being positioned in the channel. A weight is mounted eccentrically on the shaft, so that the motor vibrates by the action of the spinning eccentric mass or weight as the shaft is current. Such vibrating motors are well known, and are used for example in common devices such as cell phones and video gaming controls. An electrical switch is connected to the motor in order to selectively turn the motor “on” and “off”, as desired. The motor is powered by a coin-shaped, 3 volt lithium batter, as described above. When the guitar is played by the musician, the vibrations of the slide against the guitar string along the neck produces unique sounds. 
   In a third embodiment, a guitar slide is provided having both the lighting assembly and the vibrating assembly, in order to combine the effects of visual and auditory effects. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a guitar slide of the present invention that includes a lighting assembly. 
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of the guitar slide of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the guitar slide of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the guitar slide of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of another guitar slide having a lighting assembly. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of another guitar slide that includes a vibrating motor. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the guitar slide of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is another exploded perspective view of the guitar slide of  FIG. 7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows guitar slide  10  having a slide body  11  having a cylindrical side wall  12  that defines a bore or channel  13 , therethrough. The outer surface or wall  14  of body  11  is smooth and circular in shape. Body  11  can be made of any transparent or translucent material, such as glass or plastics such as polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, or polystyrene, such that light can pass through side wall  12 . The size of the diameter of bore  13  can be selected so that can be easily slid onto a finger of the musician, and stay in place while being played, but also is easily removed. A base or ring  15  is received at one end of the slide body  11 . The base  15  is ring-shaped and dimensioned so that its outer wall  16  is the same diameter as the outer wall  14  of slide body  11 . Flanges  19  ( FIG. 4 ) project from one side of the ring  15 , and are received into the bore  13  of the slide in a mechanical “snap fit” fashion, to secure the ring  15  to the slide body  11 . Base  15  defines spaced holes therethrough such as holes  20 . Below each hole  20  is mounted a separate light emitting diode (LED). Each LED has two electrical wires or contacts extending therefrom, a positive contact and a negative contact. The negative contact, such as contacts  21 , extends into hole  20  and is soldered to ring  15 , in order to firmly mount LED  22  to ring  15 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , all but one such contact  21  is cut so that it does not extend beyond the upper surface  15   a  of ring  15 . An insulator  23 , made of any electrically insulating material such as rubber, plastic, or paperboard, is fixed to the underside or bottom (not shown) of ring  15 . Positive contacts  24  extending upwardly from LEDs  22  and through insulator  23  are bent in an L-shape, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The positive contacts extend toward the middle portion of disk-shaped insulator  23 . A switch holder  30  is mounted by, for example, soldering two positive contacts  24 . Switch holder  30  is U-shaped, and includes a lower arm portion  31  and two upwardly extending arms  32 , thus forming a positive contact element, which is in electrical contact with contact  24 . An electrical switch  35  is mounted to switch holder  30 . Switch  35  can be any commonly known electrical switch suitable for turning on and off LEDs  22  by moving an actuator or post  36  to either the “on” or “off” positions, respectively. Switch terminals  37  extend from the opposite side of switch  35 , and form the negative contacts for switch  35 . One of the negative contacts  21   a  of LEDs  22  extends above the upper surface  15   a  of ring  15 , and is in electrical contact with contact  37   a  of switch  35  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Switch  35  also includes negative contact  38 , which is in electrical contact, such as by soldering, to contact  37 . A battery  40 , such as a common 3 volt, coin-shaped lithium battery commonly used in watches and other timepieces, rests with its negative side upon negative contact  38 . In this orientation, the positive side of battery  40  will extend away from switch  35 . A spring  41  is positioned on top of battery  40 , and keeps battery in physical contact with switch  35 , as discussed herein. 
   A base cover  50  is received around ring  15  and LEDs  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , to cover and protect LEDs  22 . The outer side wall  51  of base cover  50  is dimensioned identically to the side wall  14  of slide body  11 , so that side wall  51  is coincident to side wall  14 . A second circular cover  52  is position adjacent to cover  50 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . An end cap  55  is positioned adjacent to ring  52  to cover switch  35 . End cap  55  includes a rectangular-shaped cutout section  56 , through which extends actuator or post  36  of switch  35 , so that post  36  can be moved manually to “on” and “off” positions, respectively. Cover  55  includes an end wall  58  ( FIG. 3 ) that serves as a compression surface for spring  41 , so that battery  40  is maintained in contact with switch  35 . Two elongate bores  60  extend through cover  55 , ring  52 , and cover  51  opposite to one another. The side wall (not shown) of bore  60  is threaded, and a pin  61  extends through bore  60 , so that when tightened, cover  55 , ring  52 , and cover  51  are held firmly together as a single unit by the pins  61 . When the guitar slide  10  is assembled and turned on, the LED&#39;s  22  are illuminated, and send light through the translucent (either clear or opaque) side wall  12 . Therefore, a visual light effect is created. As the musician moves the slide up and down the guitar neck, the visual effect to the musician or to observers is enhanced, creating a unique and pleasing visual effect. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . This second embodiment includes a slide body  111  that is cylindrically-shaped, and including side wall  112  defining a bore  113  therethrough. The side wall  112  includes a smooth, curved outer surface  114 . A base or LED holder  115  as shown in  FIG. 5  includes flanges  119  along one side that are sized to mechanically snap fit LED holder  115  to slide body  111 . Holder  115  defines holes  121  formed therethrough. In this embodiment, LEDs  122  extend into and through holes  121 , toward slide body  111 , so that light emitted therefrom extends into the slide body. Holder  115  also defines internally threaded holes  133  which, as discussed below, receive a pin for mounting purposes. The LEDs  122  are mounted to a circuit board  123 . As well known in the art, circuit board  123  is printed with the necessary circuits to allow switch  135 , which is similar in structure and function to switch  35 , to turn LEDs  122  on and off. A battery holder  165 , which can be formed of plastic or other such non-conductive material, is attached to circuit board  123 . A battery  140  is received in holder  165 , to power LEDs  122  on when switch  135  is turned to its “on” position by pressing button  136 . A top cap  155  defines two bores  160  through which pins (not shown) extend. Therefore, the pins  160  extend through cap  155 , circuit board  123 , and into bore or holes  133  of holder  115 . When pins  160  are tightened, cap  155  is mechanically fixed to base  155  and therefore to slide body  111 . Cap  155  also defines hole  162 , through which button or hole  136  of switch  135  extends, so that button or post  136  can be actuated to turn switch  135  to either “on” or “off” positioned respectively. Therefore this second embodiment is nearly identical to the first embodiment discussed above in structure and function, except principally that it includes a printed circuit board that delivers current from the battery to the LED&#39;s, instead of using the pins or contacts  21   m    21   a  and  24  of the first embodiment. 
   A third embodiment of the present invention is designed to impart vibration to the slide body, instead of providing a visual or lighting effect. In this third embodiment, a tubular or cylindrical slide body  211  includes side wall  212  that defines an internal bore  213  therethrough. Bore  213 , however, does not extend from end to end of slide body  211  as in the previous embodiments. Bore  213  is open at one end, but closed at the opposing end. End portion  204  includes end wall  205  that effectively closes one end of body  211  so that bore  213  does not extend through closed end wall  205 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The end wall  205  defines a space, or channel,  206  therein. A vibrating motor  270  is received in channel  206 , and mechanically mounted by pins, glue, mechanical fit or other suitable manner to end wall  205  of slide body  21  so that as vibrating motor  270  vibrates, the entire slide body  211  will vibrate at the same frequency as the motor. Motor  270  can be of any vibrating motor well known, to include eccentric mass type vibrating motors that are used in, for example, cellular telephones to cause the cellphone to vibrate when a call is received, or as commonly used in video game controllers. 
   The remaining components, that is electrical connections, circuit board, battery, and covers for this third embodiment of the present invention are identical to those described with respect to the previous embodiments discussed above. These elements include a switch holder  215  which includes either positive or negative contacts or a printed circuit board, as desired. A switch  235  is mounted to holder  215 . A battery  240 , of the type described above, powers vibrating motor  270  through selective activation of switch  235 . A spring  241  compresses battery  240  against switch  236  and cap  255  as discussed above. Pins (not shown) extend through holes  260  defined in cap  255  and into holes  233 , which are internally threaded, of holder  215 . In this manner, cap  255  is held to holder  215 . Holder  215 , itself, is held to body  211  by mechanical means, such as being snap fit, or by pins, as desired.  FIG. 7  shows slide body  211  and end wall  205  which includes channel  206 . Vibrating motor  270  includes rotating, eccentric mass  275  which rotates about shaft  276  which is turned by motor  270 . 
   In use, this third embodiment of the guitar slide vibrates to impart vibration to the guitar strings, principally along the neck of the guitar. When the switch  235  is turned to the “on” position by the musician, current is delivered from battery  240  to the vibrating motor  270 . The shaft  276  of the motor is caused to rotate, spinning eccentric mass  275 . This action causes motor  270 , and slide body  211 , to vibrate as the same frequency. In use, the musician strums or picks the guitar strings along the guitar body, or the pick ups of an electric guitar with one hand, and selectively moves the slide along the guitar strings along the neck of the guitar with the other hand. This sliding action, combined especially with the vibrating action of the vibrating guitar slide, causes a unique and pleasing sound, by a talented musician. 
   In a fourth embodiment, the lighting assembly and the vibrating motor assembly are combined, to produce a lighted guitar slide that also vibrates. In this embodiment of the present invention, the slide is comprised of either translucent plastic, or of metal with plastic windows. An end cap, such as end cap  205 , is provided as shown in  FIG. 7 , but holes (not shown) are arranges through end cap  205  that receive LED&#39;s (not shown). Therefore, the embodiment of  FIGS. 6 through 8  is modified to include LED&#39;s, in order to provide both the visual and auditory effects discussed above. 
   It will further be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the above embodiments here chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, and full result may be had to the doctrine of equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6