Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 14/256,951 filed on Apr. 19, 2014, now pending, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/820,744 filed on May 8, 2013, now expired, both of are hereby incorporated into this specification by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional guitar  10  having a neck  12 , a headstock  14 , a plurality of tuning pegs  16 , a nut  18 , a plurality of strings  20 , and a plurality of frets  22 .  FIG. 2  shows a conventional metal slide  30  in the shape of a cylinder. Slide  30  has open ends so the player&#39;s finger may be inserted into either end as desired. The notes on guitar  10  are selected when a player depresses one of the strings  20  using a finger applied against one of the frets  22 . String  20  contacts fret  22  and the pitch is increased to sound the desired note. An alternative method of playing a note at the desired pitch is to use a slide  30 . This is a cylinder made of metal, glass or ceramic that is worn over the player&#39;s finger. The player contacts neck  12  at the desired position with slide  30  to achieve the desired pitch without necessarily contacting frets  22 . This method of play offers unique sounds, not achievable with finger contact on frets  22 . Slide  30  is somewhat awkward and can be difficult to put on and remove while playing. This is sometimes required, as parts of a song, which may or may not require this technique of play. While slide  30  is being worn, the finger wearing slide  30  cannot be used to depress strings  20  on frets  22  and use of this finger is lost. An expedient means of wearing and removing slide  30  is of value to the guitarist. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is a slide holder for use with a guitar having a headstock and a plurality of strings to support a slide. The slide holder comprises a block having a cavity and a magnet disposed in the cavity. The housing is made from a compressible material so the slide holder can be secured between the headstock and the strings of the guitar. A slide may be magnetically secured to the strings of the guitar thereby providing a support for the slide when not used. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The following description of the invention will be further understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a conventional guitar having a neck, a headstock and a plurality of strings; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a conventional slide; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a slide holder according to the present invention mounted on the headstock and under the strings of the guitar; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective of the slide holder mounted on the headstock and under the strings of the guitar and a slide secured to and/or engaged with the strings directly above the slide holder; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the slide holder; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a cross section view of the slide holder taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a cross section view showing the slide secured to and/or engaged upon the strings of the guitar directly above the slide holder mounted upon the head of the guitar. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a top view of another embodiment of a slide holder according to the present invention mounted on the headstock and under the strings of the guitar. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the slide holder showing a cavity and with a magnetic disposed therein. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the slide holder showing a cavity without a magnetic disposed therein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of another embodiment of a slide holder according to the present invention mounted on the headstock and under the strings of the guitar. 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a cross section view of the slide holder showing first and second magnets disposed in first and second cavities formed in the foam body of the slide holder. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a slide holder  40  according to the present invention is shown removably secured on a headstock  14  of a guitar  10 . Slide holder  40  is adapted to be inserted on headstock  14  just above nut  18  and below strings  20 . Slide holder  40  is further adapted to removably secure a slide  30  when desired by the player of guitar  10 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , slide  30  is shown removably secured and/or engaged with strings  20  directly above slide holder  40  disposed on headstock  14  of guitar  10 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , slide holder  40  generally comprises a housing  42 , magnets  52  and  54 , and a removable adhesive pad  56 . Housing  42  generally comprises a top surface  44 , a bottom surface  46 , a first cavity  48  and a second cavity  50  extending inward from top surface  44 . Housing  42  is made from a compressible and resilient EVA foam available under the brand name POLYCELL from MDI Products, LLC, 10045 102nd Terrace, Sebastian, Fla. 32958 (www.mdiproducts.com), and fabricated by well known injection molding processes. In the embodiment shown, housing  42  is rectangular shaped. In other embodiments, housing  42  may take different shapes such as a circular shape. The compressibility and resiliency of the compressible material of housing  42  allows it to be secured under a force between the headstock  14  and strings  20 . 
         [0020]    Magnet  52  is secured in first cavity  48  by a conventional liquid adhesive. Similarly, magnet  54  is secured in second cavity  50  by a conventional liquid adhesive. Slide  30  is made of metal is removably attracted to magnets  52  and  54  of slide holder  40  as desired by the player of guitar  10 . Magnets  52  and  54  have a sufficient magnetic field strength to secure slide  30  to or upon strings  20 . In the embodiment shown, magnets  52  and  54  are neodymium magnets available from K&amp;J Magnetics, Inc., 18 Appletree Lane, Pipersville, Pa. 18947 (www.kjmagnets.com). Although magnets  52  and  54  have been illustrated, slider holder  40  may comprise a single magnet of circular or rectangular shape or more than two magnets of different shapes. Alternatively, magnets  52  and  54  may be molded as part of housing  42 . 
         [0021]    Adhesive pad  56  is a double sided self-adhering stick pad made with nano-suction cups that can be secured to the surface of headstock  14  which is typically made of wood with a polymer thin film coating, ceramic, metal and/or a combination thereof. Adhesive pad  56  comprises a top surface  58  removably secured to bottom surface  46  of housing  42  and a bottom surface  60  that is secured to headstock  14 . Adhesive pad  56  is well known and available from under the brand name STICK UM! from UM-BRANDS.COM, 13931 Central Avenue, Chino, Calif. 91710 (www.um-brands.com). 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , slide holder  40  is positioned under strings  20  and on headstock  14  of guitar  10 . It is critical that slide holder  40  have an overall height in the range of 0.375 to 0.500 inches which allows slide holder  40  to be inserted on headstock  14  and under strings  20  of guitar  10 . The compressibility of housing  42  provides height adjustment for insertion of slider holder  40  upon headtsock  14 . Adhesive pad  56  stabilizes the position of slide holder  40  in relation to strings  20  and diminish any motion when in use. When slide  30  is placed in proximity to magnets  52  and  54  and released by the player, it remains suspended in a ready position under the magnetic field produced by magnets  52  and  54 . The orientation and position are very favorable for reuse. When needed, the player inserts their finger into slide  30  and exerts enough force to remove it from the magnetic field of magnets  52  and  54 . The strategic location and ease of movement on and off the finger make slide holder  40  a very useful tool. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , where a slide holder  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention is removably secured on headstock  14  of guitar  10  and below strings  20 . Slider holder  100  comprises a housing or block  102  made from a compressible and resilient material such as foam. Housing  102  comprises a top surface  104 , a bottom surface  106 , and a cavity  108 . Slide holder  100  further comprises a magnet  110  disposed in cavity  108 . It is critical that block  102  have an overall height in the range of 0.250 to 0.750 inches which allows slide holder  100  to be inserted on headstock  14  and under strings  20  of guitar  10 . The compressibility and resiliency of the compressible material of housing  102  allows it to be secured under a force between the headstock  14  and strings  20  along top surface  104  and bottom surface  106 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , where a slide holder  200  according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing or block  202  made from a compressible and resilient material such as foam. Block  202  comprises a top surface  204 , a bottom surface  206 , a first cavity or hole  208  extending from top surface  204  to bottom surface  206 , and a second cavity or hole  210  extending from top surface  204  to bottom surface  206 . Slide holder  200  further comprises a first magnet  212  disposed in first cavity  208  and a second first magnet  214  disposed in second cavity  210 . It is critical that block  202  have an overall height in the range of 0.250 to 0.750 inches which allows slide holder  200  to be inserted on headstock  14  and under strings  20  of guitar  10 . The compressibility and resiliency of the compressible material of housing  202  allows first and second magnets  212  and  214  to be secured within first and second cavity  208  and  210  without any adhesive such as glue or any other securing means. Slider holder  200  further comprises a plurality of strong thin non-metallic membrane layers  220  and  222  disposed upon top surface  204  of block  202 . Membrane layers  220  and  222  prevent first and second magnets  212  and  214  from being pulled out off first and second cavity  208  and  210 , respectfully, as metal slide  30  ( FIG. 7 ) is pulled off of strings  20 . Membrane layers  220  and  22  can be made from any non-metal material such as plastic. The compressibility and resiliency of the compressible material of foam block  202  allows it to be secured under a force between headstock  14  and strings  20  along top surface  204  and bottom surface  206 . 
         [0025]    The foregoing description is intended primarily for purposes of illustration. This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Modifications and variations still falling within the spirit or scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.

Technology Category: g