Patent Abstract:
Provided is a string tuning mechanism that enables a musician to clamp and anchor a musical instrument string to a musical instrument tuning peg. The claimed subject matter enables the musician to put on and take off the strings of a stringed musical instrument easily and rapidly. The string attachment device also enables the installed musical instrument string to equalize to pitch faster than currently possible and enables a stringed musical instrument to remain in tune longer. The disclosed device is designed to fit easily against a tuning peg and to enable the musician to use the locking of the string to the peg technology without permanently changing the physical state of their musical instrument. Another purpose of the claimed subject matter is to provide a method and device that enables the musician to use the same strings he has always used, and not to have to buy special strings.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is related to and claims the benefit of the filing date of the following provisional application with a common inventor, which is hereby incorporated by reference: 
        U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/600,422, filed Aug. 10, 2004, titled “Method and Device for Attaching a Musical Instrument String to a Musical Instrument Tuning Peg.”       
 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention relates generally to stringed musical instruments, and more particularly to a method and device for attaching a musical instrument string to a musical instrument tuning peg.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The usual mechanism incorporated on a guitar or other similar stringed musical instrument used to adjust string tension and bring a musical instrument into correct tune is referred to as a tuning machine. This tuning machine usually consists of a hand operated mechanism that rotates a tuning peg which is an integral part of the tuning machine. There is one tuning machine for each string and they are an integral part of the musical instrument. Normally the string to be tuned is threaded through a hole in the tuning peg and the tuning peg is rotated several times by means of a arm driven gear assembly to wrap the string at least several times around the tuning peg. The musician then continues to rotate the peg to tighten the string, and by this means achieves a correct pitch for each string. On other types of stringed musical instruments such as an autoharp, piano or harp, the tuning peg is usually not a part of a tuning machine, but simply the tuning peg set in the wood or other material of the musical instrument and the tuning peg is turned by a special tool made for this purpose.  
         [0005]     This method of wrapping the string around the tuning peg is considered to have many problems including, but not limited to, the following: 
        To install a new string properly according to standard accepted practice requires wrapping the string around the tuning peg by turning the knob on the tuning machine. This wrapping of the string around the tuning peg requires skill, dexterity and is very time consuming.     It is difficult to get the string to wrap around the tuning peg evenly, which results in slack or loose windings that adversely affects tuning efficiency.     The part of the string that is wrapped around the tuning peg stretches and or slips and the string goes out of tune.     When turning the tuning machine to tune the string, not only is the musical or vibrating portion of the string being affected, but the windings or string wraps around the tuning peg are also affected. This is inefficient.     After the string is wrapped around the tuning peg and brought to the correct pitch there is a lag time when the musical instrument string has to be stretched quite a few times to equalize or remove slack or looseness in the wraps of the string around the tuning peg, and then the guitar has to be tuned to pitch again.     On guitars a special hand driven tuning machine knob winding tool is usually considered necessary to turn the tuning machine knob. Otherwise it takes a long time to wrap the string around the tuning peg by just turning the tuning peg by hand. Using this tool does not ensure that the string will be wrapped evenly and tightly.        
 
         [0012]     Inventors have addressed these problems by developing special tuning machines that include various built-in clamping means built. The musical instrument string is clamped and locked onto or into the tuning peg portion of these special tuning machines thereby avoiding the aforementioned wrappings of the string around the tuning peg. One advantage of these special locking style tuning machines is that it usually takes less than one complete turn of the tuning peg to bring the string to the correct pitch and using these locking tuning machines is considered to have the effect of keeping the guitar in tune longer. These special locking type tuning machines are complicated machines with gears, shafts, and bearings that are expensive to manufacture and are not even available for many of the large family of stringed musical instruments, especially acoustic stringed instruments.  
         [0013]     These aforementioned special locking tuning machines are also usually only pre-installed on higher-end, modern and expensive guitars. If a musician wants to retrofit his guitar with these special tuning machines, he typically must incur the additional expense of taking the guitar to a repair shop to modify the guitar to accept the new clamping style tuning machines.  
         [0014]     In addition for a vast number of electric guitars, acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos cellos, violins, etc., there is no easy way to utilize the aforementioned locking the string to the tuning peg technology. For most of these instruments there are no locking style tuning machines available at all. On older guitars with antique or collector value, modifying the instrument to use a locking style tuning peg is not an option because modifying these antique type guitars decreases the value of the instrument. Since these special locking tuning machines are put on the guitar permanently, and are hard or impossible to change from one guitar to another the musician needs a separate set for each guitar. Therefore if a musician wants to use the clamping of the string to the tuning peg technology of attaching the string to the musical instrument tuning peg on the stringed instruments he already owns, there are no easy or cheap ways to do this.  
         [0015]     What is needed is an apparatus that makes the tuning process faster, enables the string to maintain the tension that has been applied during the tuning operation for a longer period of time and addresses the other issues identified above.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The musical string attachment device of the claimed subject matter enables a musician to simply and cheaply clamp and anchor a musical instrument string to a musical instrument tuning peg. The disclosed technology provides a method and device that enables the musician to take advantage of string locking technology cheaply and easily without having to purchase expensive clamping, locking style tuning machines or have to purchase a new instrument with string locking systems included. The claimed subject matter also provides a method and device that enables the musician to put on and take off the strings of a stringed musical instrument easily and rapidly which affords the musician the option of easily experimenting with various brands, materials, gauges, etc. of strings. The string attachment device also enables the installed musical instrument string to equalize pitch faster than currently possible with current practices by eliminating multiple string windings on a musical instrument tuning peg. The disclosed technology also enables a stringed musical instrument to remain in tune longer.  
         [0017]     The disclosed device is designed to fit easily against a tuning peg and to enable the musician to use the locking of the string to the peg technology without permanently changing the physical state of their musical instrument. One purpose of the claimed subject matter is to provide a method and device that will make available string locking technology inexpensively for people who use acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, violins, cellos, or any other stringed instruments with tuning pegs that are designed to wrap the string around the peg. Another purpose of the claimed subject matter is to provide a method and device that enables the musician to use the same strings he has always used, and not to have to buy special strings.  
         [0018]     This summary is not intended as a comprehensive description of the claimed subject matter but, rather, is intended to provide a brief overview of some of the functionality associated therewith. Other systems, methods, functionality, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary string instrument with the string tuning apparatus of the claimed subject matter in an unsecured position on a string.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the string attachment mechanism and tuning peg of  FIG. 1  in more detail.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of the string attachment mechanism and tuning peg of  FIGS. 1-2  from a different perspective.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of the string attachment mechanism of  FIGS. 1-3  in a secured position against the tuning peg of  FIGS. 1-3 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cut-away illustration of the string attachment mechanism and tuning peg of  FIGS. 1-4  in an unsecured position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away illustration of the string attachment mechanism and tuning peg of  FIGS. 1-5  in a secured position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary string instrument tuning process that employs the claimed subject matter.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     The following description illustrates the claimed subject matter but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope. Although described with particular reference to a guitar, the claimed subject matter can be implemented on any device in which a precise tension is required on a string. Those with skill in the musical and mechanical arts will recognize that the disclosed embodiments have relevance to a wide variety of musical instruments in addition to those described below.  
         [0027]     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
         [0028]     The following reference numerals are employed throughout the figures. Like numerals in different figures refer to the same object, often from different perspectives.  
                                               100   Guitar   102   Guitar string       104   String fixing end   106   Guitar string fixing end       108   String tuning end   110   Tuning peg       112   Tuning peg entrance   114   Tuning peg exit aperture           aperture       116   Tuning peg rotating   118   String attachment           mechanism       mechanism (SAM)       120   SAM entrance aperture   122   SAM exit aperture       124   SAM main body   126   Guideway slot       128   SAM string passageway   130   Curved arm       132   Releasable actuating arm   134   Pivot pin       136   Ratchet teeth   138   Ratchet engaging teeth       140   Curved arm string   142   SAM mating surface           passageway       144   Tuning peg mating surface   146   Tuning peg string                   passageway       148   Cam member   150   Cam curve                  
 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  illustrates a guitar  100  in the process of having a guitar string  102  installed. It should be understood that, although the following description uses a guitar for illustrative purposes, the claimed subject matter is equally applicable to any stringed musical instrument. Guitar string has a fixing end  104  and a tuning end  108 . String  102  is attached to a string fixing end  106  of guitar  100  at string fixing end  104  of string  102 . Turning end  108  of string  102  passes through a tuning peg  110  affixed to guitar  100 , entering tuning peg  110  at a tuning peg entrance aperture  112  and exiting a tuning peg exit aperture  114 . It should be noted apertures  112  and  114  are interchangeable depending upon the orientation of tuning peg  110 . In other words, entrance aperture  112  would become exit aperture  114  if, without a string inserted, tuning peg  110  is rotated one hundred eighty degrees (180°) and vice versa. At any particular point, prior to inserting string  102  through tuning peg  110 , tuning peg entrance aperture  112  is the aperture facing string fixing end of guitar  106 .  
         [0030]     Tuning peg  110  is attached to a tuning peg rotation mechanism  116 , which enables a musician to rotate tuning peg  110 . The amount of rotation of tuning peg  110  determines the tension on string  102  and, therefore, the musical pitch of string  102 . Those with skill in the musical arts should appreciate the manner in which a stringed instrument is tuned.  
         [0031]     Inserted on string  102  in between tuning peg  110  and string tuning end  106  is a string attachment mechanism  118  (SAM), which, in this example, is spherical and illustrated in an unsecured, or open, position. String  102  enters SAM  118  at a SAM entrance aperture  120  and exits at a SAM exit aperture  122 . SAM  118  and its relationship to string  102 , tuning peg  110  and the various other elements of guitar  100  are described in more detail below in conjunction with  FIGS. 2-6 . In this figure, string  102  has been inserted through SAM  118  and SAM  118  is being slid down string  102  toward tuning peg  110 . To secure string  102 , SAM  118  is first slid along string  102  until SAM  118  abuts tuning peg  110 . The process for securing string  102  to tuning peg  110  and tuning guitar  100  is explained in more detail below in conjunction with  FIG. 7 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of tuning peg  110 , guitar string  102  and SAM  118  of  FIG. 1  in more detail. In this figure, SAM  118  is in a closed position and secured against tuning peg  110 . SAM  118  opened and closed positions are explained in more detail below in conjunction with  FIGS. 3-6 . Also visible in  FIG. 2  is string  102  exiting from SAM exit aperture  122  ( FIG. 1 ).  
         [0033]     SAM  118  includes a SAM main body  124 , which in this example is spherical. It should be understood that many possible shapes for SAM main body  124  including, but not limited to, a barrel shape, an ovular shape, a cubical shape and compound shaped curves. As illustrated more clearly in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , SAM main body  124  is provided with a string passageway  128 , which extends from SAM entrance aperture  120  ( FIG. 1 ) along the longitudinal axis of SAM main body  124  to SAM exit aperture  122 . A curved arm  130 , which is part of a releasable actuating arm  132  is connected to SAM main body  124  by means of a pivot pin  134 . Curved arm  130 , actuating arm  132  and pivot pin  134  are described in more detail below in conjunction with  FIGS. 3-6 .  
         [0034]     In this example, releasable actuating arm  132  is held into the closed position by means of ratchet teeth  136  on curved arm  130  that engage ratchet engaging teeth  138  on SAM main body  124 . In a second embodiment, curved arm  130  does not include ratchet teeth  136  and SAM main body  124  does not include ratchet engaging teeth  138 . In the second embodiment, releasable actuating arm  132  is held into a closed position by means of tension on string  102  from the direction of string fixing end  104  and friction and compression among a cam member  148  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of releasable actuating arm  132 , string  102  and cam curve  150  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) of SAM main body  124 .  
         [0035]     Releasable actuating arm  132  includes a curved arm string passageway  140  that enables string  102  to pass through curved arm  130  when releasable actuating arm  132  is in both an open and closed position. In this example, curved arm string passageway  140  is illustrated as an oval opening in curved arm  130 . In another embodiment, curved arm string passageway  140  may be a notch that extends from the upper portion of curved arm  130  through the bottom of curved arm  130 , thus in effect turning curved arm  130  into two (2) parallel arms or prongs.  
         [0036]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of tuning peg  110 , guitar string  102  and SAM  118  of  FIG. 1  from a different perspective.  FIG. 3  illustrates the positions of tuning peg entrance aperture  112  ( FIG. 1 ), tuning peg exit aperture  114  ( FIG. 1 ), SAM entrance aperture  120  ( FIG. 1 ) and SAM exit aperture  122  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). String  102  is illustrated passing through tuning peg  110 , entering at tuning peg entrance aperture  112  and exiting at tuning peg exit aperture  114  and passing through SAM  118 , entering at SAM entrance aperture  120  and exiting at SAM exit aperture  122 . In this illustration, SAM  118  is in an open position as evidenced by the fact that curved arm  130  ( FIG. 2 ) is not secured to SAM main body  124  ( FIG. 2 ) by means of ratchet teeth  136  ( FIG. 2 ) being engaged with ratchet engaging teeth  138  ( FIG. 2 ). In the illustrated open position, string  102  is able to slide freely through SAM string passageway  128  (see  FIGS. 5-6 ). A portion of curved arm  130  pivots through SAM  118  in a guideway slot  126 .  
         [0037]     When SAM  118  is correctly positioned to secure string  102  with respect to tuning peg  110  (see  FIGS. 4 and 6 ), a SAM mating surface  142  on SAM main body  124  fits against a tuning peg mating surface  144 . SAM mating surface  142  is positioned on the same side of SAM main body  124  as SAM entrance aperture  120 . Tuning peg mating surface  144  is on the same side of tuning peg  110  as tuning peg exit aperture  114 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of tuning peg  110 , guitar string  102  and SAM  118  of  FIG. 3  illustrated with SAM  118  in a closed position. Also illustrated and labeled are SAM main body  124 , curved arm  130 , pivot pin  134  ratchet teeth  136 , ratchet engaging teeth  138 , SAM mating surface  142 , tuning peg mating surface  144  and guideway slot  126 . In the closed sting-securing position, string  102  is not free to slide freely through SAM string passageway  128  (see  FIGS. 5-6 ). The closed position is characterized by curved arm  130  pushed down toward SAM main body  124  such that ratchet teeth  136  are engaged with ratchet engaging teeth  138 . Further, SAM mating surface  142  abuts tuning peg mating surface  144 . The manner in which string  102  is prevented from sliding freely through SAM string passageway  128  when SAM  118  is in the closed position and thus securing string  102  with respect to tuning peg  110  is explained in more detail below in conjunction with  FIG. 6 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of SAM  118  and tuning peg  110  of  FIGS. 1-4  in an unsecured, or open, position. Illustrated and labeled in  FIG. 5  are string  102 , tuning end of string  108 , tuning peg  110 , tuning peg entrance aperture  112 , tuning peg exit aperture  114 , guideway slot  126 , SAM string passageway  128 , curved arm  130 , releasable actuating arm  132 , pivot pin  134 , ratchet teeth  136 , ratchet engaging teeth  138 , curved arm string passageway  140 , SAM mating surface  142  and tuning peg mating surface  144 , all described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-4 .  
         [0040]     In addition, a tuning peg string passageway  146 , a cam member  148  and a cam curve  150  are visible. Releasable actuating arm  132  is mounted on pivot pin  134 , which projects laterally across guideway slot  126 . Cam member  148  is part of releasable actuating arm  132  and secures string  102  within SAM  118  by pressing string  102  against cam curve  150  of SAM string passageway  128  when SAM  118  in a closed position. Although illustrated with a curved surface, cam member  148  could also be a wedge shape. Releasable actuating arm  132  is integrally connected to cam member  148  and extends upward through guideway slot  126  and outside of SAM main body  124 . Curved arm portion  130  of releasable actuating arm  132  arcs downward following around the outside curve of SAM main body  124 .  
         [0041]     In  FIG. 5 , SAM  118  is in an open position and not engaged with tuning peg  110 , which as explained above in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , means that string  102  is able to pass freely through SAM string passageway  128 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  is a cut-away illustration of the SAM  118  and tuning peg  110  of  FIGS. 1-5  in a secured, or closed, position. Like  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  illustrates and labels string  102 , tuning end of string  108 , tuning peg  110 , tuning peg entrance aperture  112 , tuning peg exit aperture  114 , guideway slot  126 , SAM string passageway  128 , curved arm  130 , releasable actuating arm  132 , pivot pin  134 , ratchet teeth  136 , ratchet engaging teeth  138 , curved arm string passageway  140 , SAM mating surface  142  and tuning peg mating surface  144 , all described above in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-5 . In addition, tuning peg string passageway  146  ( FIG. 5 ) and cam member  148  ( FIG. 5 ) are visible.  
         [0043]     In the closed position, cam member  148  secures string  102  within SAM  118  by pressing string  102  against a cam curve  150  of SAM string passageway  128 . Cam member  148  and cam curve  150  are shaped so that as curved arm  130  is pressed down in the direction of SAM main body  124  the space between cam member  148  and cam curve  150  gets smaller. In this manner, strings of varying sizes can be secured within SAM  118 .  
         [0044]     In  FIG. 6 , SAM  118  is in a closed position, which, as explained above in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , means that string  102  is not able to pass freely through SAM string passageway  128  because string  102  is pinched in between cam member  148  and cam curve  150  of SAM main body  124 . In the illustrated embodiment, curved arm  130 , releasable actuating arm  132  and cam member are fixed into a closed orientation with respect to cam curve  150  by means a combination of tension on string  102  and an engagement of ratchet teeth  136  and ratchet engaging teeth  138 . As explained above in conjunction with  FIG. 2 , in a second embodiment, curved arm  130  does not include ratchet teeth  136  and SAM main body  124  does not include ratchet engaging teeth  138 . In the second embodiment, releasable actuating arm  132  is held into a closed position by means of tension on string  102  from the direction of string fixing end  104  and friction and compression among cam member  148  of releasable actuating arm  132 , string  102  and SAM main body  124 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of an exemplary String Instrument Tuning process  200  that employs the claimed subject matter. SAM  118 , string  102 , guitar  100  and the other elements introduced in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-6  are employed together to install and tune strings of guitar  100  by means of the following technique.  
         [0046]     Stringed Instrument Tuning process  200  starts in a “Begin Tune Instrument” block  202  and proceeds immediately to an “Attach Strings” block  204 . During block  204 , fixing end  104  of string  102  is attached to string fixing end  106  of guitar  100  in a manner that should be familiar to those with skill in the musical arts. Block  204  is then executed on any other strings of guitar  100 . Although process  200  is described with each block applied sequentially to each string of a particular stringed instrument, process  200  may be executed such that one or more blocks is executed on multiple strings before the next block is executed. For the sake of simplicity, the following blocks are described with respect only to string  102 .  
         [0047]     During a “Thread Strings” block  206 , tuning end  108  of string  102  is passed through tuning peg  110 , entering tuning peg  110  at tuning peg entrance aperture  112  and exiting at tuning peg exit aperture  114 . Then, tuning end  108  of string  102  is passed through SAM entrance aperture  120 , SAM string passageway  128 , SAM exit aperture  122  and curved arm string passageway  140  of releasable actuating arm  132  of SAM  118 , as shown in a string accepting position as in  FIG. 4 . The string accepting position of SAM  118  is achieved by lifting releasable actuating arm  132 , which causes cam member  148  to rotate axially around pivot pin  134  providing space for tuning end  108  of string  102  to pass easily through SAM  118 .  
         [0048]     During a “Remove Slack” block  208 , string  102  is pulled from tuning end  108  to remove slack and create tension in string  102  with one hand, while at the same time with the other hand apply pressure to SAM  118  to cause SAM  118  to slide easily along string  102  towards tuning peg  110 . While applying pressure against SAM main body  124  at the curved arm  130  of releasable actuating arm  132 , SAM mating surface  142  contacts tuning peg mating surface  144 . Tuning peg  110 , which is an opposing body, and a continuation of the aforementioned applied pressure against curved arm portion  130  of releasable actuating arm  132  causes cam member  148  to rotate axially around pivot pin  134 . In this manner, cam member  148  exerts a clamping action upon string  102 , which brings about the state of string  102  being clamped and locked tightly with respect to SAM  118  and tuning peg  110 , as shown in detail in  FIGS. 2, 4  and  6 .  
         [0049]     During a “Tune Strings” block  210 , once all the strings of guitar  100  are attached as described above during blocks  204 - 208 , guitar  100  is tuned using tuning peg rotating mechanisms  116  ( FIG. 1 ) in a process that should be familiar to those with skill in the musical arts. Finally, in an “End Tune Instrument” block  219 , String Instrument Tuning process  200  is complete. The disclosed subject matter enables a musical instrument string to be tuned to a the proper pitch with less turning of tuning peg rotating mechanism  116 , typically multiple windings around tuning peg  110  are eliminated.  
         [0050]     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. It is to be recognized that any material suitable for the construction and manufacture of the device can be used. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6