| GIBSON GUITAR CORP. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20080229900 | Tremolo Mechanism For A Stringed Musical Instrument With Cam Actuated Lock - The tremolo mechanism includes a novel cam actuated lock having a plurality of parallel locking channels disposed on an engagement surface of a movable locking arm and further having a locking ridge disposed on an engagement surface of a locking block so as to be in aligned opposition with the locking channels. Each pairing of locking channels is separated by a chromatic spacing distance corresponding to a chromatic half step change in the pitch of the plurality of tensioned strings. The lock of the further including a cam actuated torsion bar to positioning the locking arm according to a cam follower's position on a cam profile. The torsion bar provides a flexible means of applying a motive force for moving the locking arm such that, with the locking ridge and a selected locking channel misaligned and the cam follower disposed upon the locked seat, the torsion bar elastically deforms as the locking ridge is received by a land disposed between the locking channels without damaging the lock. Further, any additional transverse movement of the locking arm relative to the locking block causes the locking ridge to slide across the land and seat into an adjacent locking channel. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080229899 | Tremolo Mechanism For A Stringed Musical Instrument With Angled Saddle Rollers - A tremolo mechanism having a novel roller is mounted beneath a tensioned string of a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar. The tensioned string exerts a static force on the roller and further exerts a vibratory force on the roller during oscillatory movement of such string. The roller rotates around a roller axis disposed with relation to the tensioned string such that the component of the static force directed along the roller axis is generally greater than any component of the vibratory force directed along the roller axis. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a saddle roller assembly includes a saddle block having two opposing block walls which form a roller cavity there between. The block walls each have a roller bore disposed in alignment along a roller axis. The saddle roller includes a cylindrical body attached to a roller pin. The saddle roller further includes a circumferential seat receiving a tension string. The roller pin is rotatably disposed in the roller bores such that the saddle roller is disposed in the saddle block cavity. The roller axis is oriented so as to extend obliquely with respect to the support surface so as to define an oblique roller angle. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080229898 | Tremolo Mechanism For A Stringed Musical Instrument With Pivoting String Anchor - A novel pivoting anchor assembly for a tremolo mechanism includes a pivot support structure, a pivot and an anchor structure for receiving and holding an end of a tensioned string. In a preferred embodiment, the pivoting anchor assembly includes a rate screw mounted on a pivoting tuning arm, the rate screw receiving: an anchor block including a string end anchor; a jaw opening; and a knife edge extending into the jaw opening. An upper portion of the rate screw includes a circumferential knife edge seat and extends through the jaw opening such that the knife edge is received within the knife edge seat, so as to form a knife edge pivot. The knife edge pivot allows the anchor block with the string end anchor to pivot both axially and radially relative to the rate screw in response to changes in the magnitude and direction of the tension force exerted long the tensioned string. The changes in the tension force bias the position of the anchor block and string end anchor so as to align the knife edge pivot, the string end anchor holding a string end, and the string apex. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080229897 | Musical Instrument Sloped Neck Joint - A joint between a neck and a body of a stringed musical instrument is described, wherein a neck receiving cavity in the body has a sloped major bearing surface. The sloped major bearing surface urges the neck laterally into a side surface of the neck receiving cavity as a connector pulls the neck into the neck receiving cavity. By urging the neck into a side surface of the neck receiving cavity, a second bearing surface is made in a different plane than the major bearing surface, which makes a more rigid joint between the body and the neck of the musical instrument. | 09-25-2008 |
