Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure pertains to musical instruments, and more particularly, to musical instruments having devices to monitor and locate the musical instruments. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Every year over 1 million instruments are stolen from musicians and less than 3% are recovered. Even though many stolen musical instruments are unique and identifiable by some aspects, nearly all are unrecovered by the true owners. This is partially because of the ease of concealing and transporting certain musical instruments, such as guitars, violins, and the like. Furthermore, many musical instruments are very valuable, making them more prone to theft than less expensive and less available merchandise. Some collectible guitars have been sold for millions of dollars. For example, “The Strat” generated a total of 3.7 million dollars at auction. As another example, some violins have been sold for millions of dollars. The “Vieuxtemps Guarneri” sold for 18 million dollars, making it the most expensive violin in the world. Thus, some musical instruments are akin to rare art, having a constant risk of theft, except that many common musical instruments look alike and are difficult to track, which poses an even higher risk of theft because of resellability. 
         [0005]    Once a musical instrument is stolen, it can easily and quickly be sold on the black market, to pawn shops, or through online sales and auctions. Thus, the stolen musical instrument can pass through many purchasers in a relatively short timeframe, which causes greater difficulties for the owner and authorities in finding and recovering the instrument. In many instances, a thief or purchaser of a stolen instrument will use and keep the instrument indoors and never reveal it to the public, which makes ever recovering the stolen item almost impossible. In contrast, stolen vehicles are much more visible and traceable than a stolen musical instrument because a stolen vehicle is very difficult to conceal and sell; even the parts are difficult to sell because of enhanced security measures. Such is not the case with musical instruments. Millions are stolen and few are recovered. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a musical instrument includes a location transmitting device permanently secured inside the musical instrument. The location transmitting device wirelessly outputs a location of the musical instrument in the event the musical instrument is lost or stolen. In a preferred aspect, the location transmitting device is in a position in the musical instrument that requires removal of a musical component of the musical instrument in order to remove the location transmitting device, thus making it permanent with respect to the musical use of that instrument. 
         [0007]    If the would-be thief is unaware of the presence of a location transmitting device in a stolen guitar, the owner and the authorities could simply trace the location of the guitar and repossess it. In any event, the location transmitting device prevents theft of the guitar in the first instance and it provides a mechanism for recovering the guitar if it were indeed stolen. 
         [0008]    In the event a would-be thief is aware of the existence of a location transmitting device permanently installed in a musical instrument (such as by an insignia on the outside of the guitar), the thief may be required to permanently destroy the musical instrument in the process of removing the location transmitting device in order to steal the instrument, which thereby renders the musical instrument useless and/or valueless because it would not be playable or resalable. This would defeat the purpose of stealing the musical instrument in the first instance. In some aspects, it is required to destroy a musical component of the musical instrument in order to remove or destroy or otherwise tamper with the location transmitting device. For example, where the location transmitting device is permanently secured inside of a guitar, a thief must remove the top cover and even other musical components of the guitar to access the location transmitting device. The would-be thief must do this quickly in order to “safely” steal the guitar since it must be done before the location transmitting device can output a signal to the owner of the guitar of its current location, after being taken. In any event, whether removing and/or destroying a component of the musical instrument, the particular position of the location transmitting device can prevent (or at least slow down) the thief from stealing the musical instrument. 
         [0009]    In some aspects, a location transmitting device is coupled to an electric power source that is also in the musical instrument for powering the location transmitting device. As such, the location transmitting device and the electric power source are permanently secured inside a musical instrument, and may be housed in one unit. The location transmitting device may have a location sensing unit and at least one wireless transmitter. The location sensing unit is capable of determining a location of the musical instrument, and the at least one wireless transmitter will output information pertaining to the musical instrument, including its current location. 
         [0010]    In some aspects, a location transmitting device is in a position that does not noticeably interfere with the acoustic properties of the musical instrument. This is a very important aspect to musicians because any interference of the musical properties of a musical instrument, such as a string or wind instrument, can dramatically affect performance of the musical instrument, which is the livelihood for many musicians. 
         [0011]    In some aspects, the musical instrument is one of an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, a hybrid guitar, a string musical instrument, and a wind musical instrument, although a location transmitting device could be permanently installed in other musical instruments, such as percussion instruments. 
         [0012]    Throughout this disclosure, it will be appreciated that use of the term “guitar” could be replaced with any musical instrument that is capable of receiving a permanently installed location transmitting device according to the present disclosure, such as other string instruments, brass instruments, percussion instruments, wind instruments, etc. 
         [0013]    In aspects of the musical instrument being an acoustic guitar, a location transmitting device may be permanently secured to a proximal end of the neck of the guitar and inside a cavity of the guitar. For example, a location transmitting device may be permanently secured to a neck block in a cavity of a guitar, or even inside of a formed cavity in the neck itself. 
         [0014]    In aspects of the musical instrument being an electric or hybrid-electric guitar, a location transmitting device may be permanently secured to a cavity underneath the electrical pickup of the guitar. Thus, the location transmitting device would be in a position that requires removal of the pickup (and perhaps even the strings) in order to remove or tamper with the location transmitting device. When the location transmitting device is mounted under the pickup of an electric guitar, the battery can be of the rechargeable type. Each time the guitar is plugged in, the battery will be provided a power source to recharge the battery. 
         [0015]    In some aspects, the at least one wireless transmitter may be capable of outputting a wireless signal having information to at least one of a mobile device, computing system, satellite, communication tower, and wireless router. The information may include at least one of a location of the musical instrument, a state of charge of the location transmitting device, a proximity of the musical instrument relative to a location, and data pertaining to a type of musical instrument. Thus, when the musical instrument is stolen or lost, the owner can quickly and readily determine the location of the musical instrument by receiving the output from the location transmitting device delivered to the owner&#39;s mobile device, for example. It is common knowledge that the chance of recovering a stolen item drastically reduces with each minute of time that passes after the item is stolen. Thus, being able to immediately determine a location of a stolen musical instrument is key to quickly and safely recovering the stolen item before it is moved and/or before the location transmitting device is destroyed and/or before the location transmitting device depletes the energy from an energy power source inside the guitar. In some aspects, the location transmitting device automatically outputs a signal that the musical instrument has been slightly moved, or removed from proximity to a location or a computing system, thereby alerting the owner that the musical instrument has just been moved and might be about to be stolen. 
         [0016]    In some aspects, a system for monitoring musical instruments includes a plurality of musical instruments in proximity to each other at a location. Each musical instrument may have the same or similar features discussed in the present disclosure, particularly with reference to the location transmitting device and energy storage device, which is permanently secured in each guitar. A computing system having a transmitter may be in proximity to the location and the plurality of musical instruments and is in communication with the location transmitting devices of the musical instruments. For example, the computing system may have a wireless router in a home or building, or may even have a Bluetooth device used on location, such as at a concert. The computing system may be capable of receiving and transmitting information obtained from the location transmitting device of each of the plurality of musical instruments to at least determine the location of at least one of the plurality of musical instruments. Accordingly, when one or more musical instruments are removed from a proximity of each other or a proximity of the location, the computing system detects such movement and outputs a signal that a particular musical instrument has been removed from the location. This is particularly advantageous to locations having many musical instruments, such as pawn shops, retail stores, museums, and a collector&#39;s home. 
         [0017]    A method of making a musical instrument with an anti-theft device includes forming a portion of a musical instrument having an open body having a cavity and a neck. A location transmitting device with an attached power source is put into the neck of the musical instrument. The location transmitting device may also be installed in the open body. The location transmitting device may have a location sensing unit and at least one wireless transmitter that outputs a location of the musical instrument. The open body is then closed to form a closed cavity. Thus, the location transmitting device and the electric power source are permanently secured in the closed body in a position that requires removal of a musical component of the musical instrument in order to remove the location transmitting device. 
         [0018]    In aspects of the musical instrument being an acoustic guitar, the open body may be closed with a top portion of the guitar. In some aspects, the location transmitting device is permanently secured in a cavity in the neck. Accordingly, the neck may be milled or formed to have a cavity to receive a location transmitting device, whether before or after the open body is closed. 
         [0019]    In some aspects, the method includes installing a power supply line and a power supply port. The power supply line is coupled to the power supply port and the power supply port may be coupled to an exterior portion of the musical instrument. Accordingly, when electrical power is low in the installed battery, an external power source may be coupled to the power supply port to electrically charge the battery. In some aspects, the battery is installed in the musical instrument and has enough charge to last many years such that recharging is not required, which may be achieved by programming the location transmitting device to power on at certain times and intermittently output a signal when moved, thereby reducing the energy requirements for operation of the location transmitting device. In other aspects, electromagnetic induction could be utilized to recharge the electric power source, which obviates the need for power supply lines and ports. 
         [0020]    The anti-theft device includes both a location sensing unit and a transmitting unit. Both will consume power, but the transmitting unit will consume more power. If the location sensing unit does not sense a change in location, then there is no need to transmit and power is saved. But if the location sensing unit senses a change in location, it can then output a signal for the transmission unit to output a new signal. If the musical instrument continues to be moved, it will periodically output a signal to direct an owner to its location. Further, the location will be transmitted at least once or twice per day, even if stationary, so that its location can always be tracked and checked at least daily. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an acoustic guitar having a location transmitting device according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1B  is a schematic view of a location transmitting device and an electric power source of  FIG. 1A  according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an acoustic guitar having a location transmitting device and an electric power source secured in the neck of the guitar according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2B  is a schematic view of a location transmitting device and an electric power source of  FIG. 2A  according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an electric guitar having a location transmitting device and an electric power source according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of an electric guitar having a location transmitting device and an electric power source according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a graphical representation of a communication system of a plurality of guitars each having a location transmitting device and an electric power source according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1A  shows a musical instrument  10  according to one aspect of the present disclosure. In this example, the musical instrument is an acoustic guitar  10 . The guitar  10  includes a plurality of musical components, such as a body  12  having a cavity  14 , a neck  16 , a bottom  18 , a top  20 , sides  22 , a sound hole  24 , a bridge  26 , strings  28 , a head  30 , tuning keys  32 , and a neck block  34  extending partially into the cavity  14 . As shown in the cutaway of the guitar  10 , a transmitter housing  35  is permanently secured inside the body  12  of the guitar  10 .  FIG. 1B  shows one example of a transmitter housing  35  having a location transmitting device  36  and an electric power source  38  electrically coupled to each other. The location transmitting device  36  may include a location sensing unit  40  and a wireless transmitter  42  electrically coupled to each other. In this example, the transmitter housing  35  is permanently secured to the neck block  34  inside the cavity  14  of the body  12 . It will be appreciated that the location transmitting device  36  and the electric power source  38  may be positioned in separate areas inside the guitar  10  and electrically coupled to each other. Accordingly, the location transmitting device  36  is in a position in the guitar  10  that requires removal of a musical component of the musical instrument in order to remove the location transmitting device  36 , such as removal and/or destruction of the bottom  18 , the top  20 , the sides  20 , the strings  28 , and/or the neck  16 . If any of these parts are removed or destroyed, the musical qualities of the instrument are altered or destroyed. 
         [0029]    In some aspects, the location sensing unit  40  of the location transmitting device  36  is capable of sensing a location of the guitar  10  and communicating such location to the wireless transmitter  42 . Accordingly, the wireless transmitter  42  outputs a location of the guitar  10  in the event the musical instrument is lost or stolen, for example. 
         [0030]    In some aspects, the guitar  10  includes a power supply line  44  and a power supply port  46  electrically coupled to each other. The power supply line  44  may be coupled to the electric power source  38  in the transmitter housing  35 . The power supply port  46  may be coupled to the side  22  of the guitar  10  and may extend exterior to the side  22  to electrically couple the electric power source  38  to an external electric power source for recharging. 
         [0031]    In some aspects, the transmitter housing  35  is positioned at least partially in the guitar  10  in a position that does not noticeably interfere with the acoustic properties of the musical instrument. Accordingly, the transmitter housing  35  may be very small. Furthermore, the transmitter housing  35  may be partially or wholly positioned inside of the neck block  34 , or the components inside the transmitter housing  35  may be spatially separated throughout various components inside the guitar  10 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2A  shows a musical instrument  110  according to one aspect of the present disclosure. In this example, the musical instrument is an acoustic guitar  110 . The guitar  110  includes a plurality of musical components, such as a body  112  having a cavity  114 , a neck  116 , a bottom  118 , sides  122 , strings  128 , a head  130 , tuning keys  132 , and a neck block  134 . As shown in the cross sectional cutaway view of the guitar  110 , the neck  116  includes a neck cavity  148  that may be milled or otherwise formed during or after the manufacturing process of the guitar  110 , and then may be sealed off from access. The neck cavity  148  includes a transmitter housing  135  permanently installed inside the neck  116  of the guitar  110 . Accordingly, after the transmitter housing  135  is installed in the neck cavity  148 , manufacturing of the guitar  110  can be completed, thereby sealing the neck cavity  148  indefinitely. Thus, the electric power source  138  is not electrically coupleable to an external power source for recharging. The electric power source  138  may include a sufficient charge that will last for many years, or it may be charged through indirect electrical charging, such as electromagnetic induction. 
         [0033]    As shown on  FIG. 2B , the transmitter housing  135  includes a location transmitting device  136  and an electric power source  138  electrically coupled to each other. The location transmitting device  136  may include a location sensing unit  140  and a wireless transmitter  142  electrically coupled to each other. Accordingly, the location transmitting device  136  is in a position in the guitar  110  that requires removal and/or destruction of a musical component of the guitar  110  in order to remove the location transmitting device  136  from the neck cavity  148 , or otherwise tamper with the device  136 . 
         [0034]    In some aspects, the location sensing unit  140  of the location transmitting device  136  is capable of sensing a location of the guitar  110  and communicating such location to the wireless transmitter  142 . Accordingly, the wireless transmitter  142  outputs a location of the guitar  110  in the event the musical instrument is lost or stolen, for example. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3A  shows a musical instrument  210  according to one aspect of the present disclosure. In this example, the musical instrument is an electric guitar  210 . The guitar  210  includes a plurality of musical components, such as a body  212  having a neck  216 , strings  228 , and a pickup  222  covering a cavity  248  in the body  212 . As with many electric and hybrid-electric guitars, the pickup  222  is secured to the strings  228  and removably fastened to the body  212  with a plurality of fasteners. The pickup is the component that senses the vibration of the strings and sends a signal to the amplifier to output the sound. As shown by the cutaway of the guitar  210 , a transmitter housing  235  is permanently installed inside the cavity  248  of the guitar  210 . The transmitter housing  235  may include the features of  FIG. 1B . For example,  FIG. 1B  illustrates that the transmitter housing  235  of the guitar  210  of  FIG. 3A  may include a location transmitting device  36  and an electric power source  38  electrically coupled to each other. The location transmitting device  36  may include a location sensing unit  40  and a wireless transmitter  42  electrically coupled to each other. The location sensing unit  40  is capable of sensing a location of the guitar  210  and communicating such location to the wireless transmitter  42  to wirelessly output a location of the guitar  210  in the event the musical instrument is lost or stolen, for example. The features of  FIG. 2B  may also be combinable with the transmitter housing  235  of the guitar  210  of  FIG. 3A . 
         [0036]    Accordingly, the transmitter housing  235  is positioned underneath and adjacent the pickup  222  in a position that requires removal of at least the strings  228  and pickup  222  and in order to remove or tamper with the location transmitting device  235 . 
         [0037]    In some aspects, the guitar  210  includes a power supply line  244  electrically coupled to the transmitter housing  235  and to an output jack  250  of the electric guitar. In this manner, electric power may be supplied to the electrical power supply in the transmitter housing  235  when an input line is coupled to the output jack  250 , for example. In some aspects, the transmitter housing  235  is positioned in the guitar  210  in a position that does not noticeably interfere with the acoustic and electric properties of the guitar  210 , such as below the pickup  222  or in a formed cavity in another portion of the guitar  210 , for example. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3B  shows a musical instrument  211  according to another aspect. In this example, a well-known Les Paul design guitar  211  is provided having the same or similar features with respect to the description of  FIG. 3A , as indicated by the same reference numerals of  FIG. 3A . The guitar  211  may be combinable with features described with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 . As shown by the cutaway of the guitar  211 , a transmitter housing  235  is permanently installed inside a cavity  248  underneath a pickup  222  of the guitar  211 . The transmitter housing  235  may include the features of  FIG. 1B . Accordingly, the transmitter housing  235  is in a position that requires removal of at least the strings  228  and pickup  222  and in order to remove or tamper with the location transmitting device  235 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a musical instrument monitoring system  300  according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The system  300  includes a plurality of guitars  310  in proximity to each other at a location L. Each guitar  310  includes a location transmitting device  336  permanently secured inside the guitar  310  in a position that requires removal of a musical component of the guitar in order to remove the location transmitting device, such as described with reference to  FIGS. 1A-3B . Each location transmitting device  336  may include a location sensing unit and a wireless transmitter, such as described with reference to  FIGS. 1A-3B . 
         [0040]    The system  300  may include a computing system  312  in proximity to the location L. The computing system  312  may be capable of receiving and transmitting information obtained from the transmitter of one or more of the location transmitting devices  336  in the plurality of guitars  310 . Based on such information, the computing system  312  may determine and monitor the location of one or more of the guitars  310 . 
         [0041]    In some aspects, the location L is inside or near a building B, for example. The computing system  312  may be coupled to a wireless router  314  inside the building B. The wireless router  314  may be capable of receiving information from the location transmitting devices  336  for transmittal of such information to the computing system  312 . Accordingly, the wireless router  314  may be constantly or intermittently determining and monitoring the location of the guitars  310  such that if one or more guitars  310  are removed from building B, the wireless router  314  transmits a signal to the computing system  312 . In some aspects, the computing system  312  is in wireless communication with a mobile device  317  to alert the owner of a location of the guitars  310 , for example. In some aspects, the wireless router  314  detects other information pertaining to the guitars  310 , such as a state of charge of the electric power source to alert the owner when power levels are low, for example. 
         [0042]    In some aspects, the system  300  includes a means for wireless communication between the guitars  310  and other systems. For example, the location transmitting devices  336  may be capable of outputting a signal to a transmission tower  316 , for example. The tower  316  may be a cellular tower that transmits the signal to the mobile device  317  and/or to a computing system  318 . The computing system  318  may transmit the information to the mobile device  317 . As another example, the location transmitting devices  336  may be capable of outputting a signal having information to a satellite  320 , for example. The satellite  320  may be in space and may transmit the information to the mobile device  317  and/or to the computing system  318 , for example. 
         [0043]    In some aspects, the information transmitted through the system  300  comprises at least one of a location of the guitar(s), a state of charge of the energy power source in the guitars, a proximity of the guitar(s) relative to the location L and/or the building B, and data pertaining to a type of guitar(s) that may have been removed from the location L and/or the building B. 
         [0044]    Thus, when one or more guitars  310  are removed from the location L and/or the building B, the owner (or other person) can immediately receive an alert on the computing system  312  and/or the mobile device  317  that one or more guitars  310  have been stolen, for example. 
         [0045]    The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary, to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments. 
         [0046]    These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.

Technology Category: 3