Vibrato assembly for stringed instruments
US5435219A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 8, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 8, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10D3/153
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A vibrato assembly for stringed instruments makes slight and rapid changes in the pitch of the tone produced by stringed instrument. Previously known vibrato assemblies use knife-edge hinges or rolling ball bearings to produce these variations. The vibrato assemblies described herein use flexure bearings to produce variations in the tension of the strings and thereby the pitch of the tones. These flexure bearing vibrato assemblies have the advantages of high strength, zero operational noise and rumble, and virtually zero friction and hysteresis. Additionally, flexure bearing vibrato assemblies provide a robust path between the instrument and the strings resulting in improved tonal quality, range, and sustain.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.