• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A neck construction for a stringed instrument such as a guitar has an asymmetric, preferably trapezoidal, profile of the neck. The asymmetry is opposite at the distal end, depicted in FIG. 9, and proximal end, depicted in FIG. 10. As the musician plays the instrument, the hand will move between the proximal and distal ends of the neck, using the thumb and palm as a support to press the fingers against the front portion of the neck. By changing the angles of the surfaces denoted as (15) and (19), and (16) and (20) from the proximal to the distal end, the musician's wrist is encouraged and guided to move in a comfortable and relaxed angle throughout the playing range of the instrument, while the musician's muscles and tendons are supported, thereby reducing the risk for the musician to develop repetitive strain injuries and allowing the musician to play better.
    公开号:SE1230001A1
    申请号:SE1230001
    申请日:2012-01-03
    公开日:2013-07-04
    发明作者:Ola Strandberg
    申请人:Ola Strandberg；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    _., ., *'. .,...É.-$É-., .§1.,“.,... N “..,...., _. x.The present invention is a novel cross-sectional profile of the neck of a stringed instrument such as aguitar or bass. The design of the neck profile increases the efficiency of the tendon system of thehands, wrists and arms, thereby reducing the risk for the musician to develop the repetitive straininjuries to which guitar and bass players are prone.
    A guitar typically has two main components, a neck and a body. The musician squeezes the strings ofthe guitar against frets that are on the neck in order to change intonations of the strings. The designof the neck is therefore an important pa rt of the guitar's performance and ergonomics.
    The neck is sometimes manufactured as a separate part that is bolted on to the body portion,sometimes the neck is glued to the body, and sometimes, the neck is manufactured from a piece thatis an integral part of the body. Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a so called bolt-on neck. The crosssection of a conventional guitar neck most commonly describes a semi-circle as depicted in Fig 2. As amatter of preference, musicians choose a flatter or rounder, thinner or thicker profile.
    When the musician plays the instrument, the thumb or palm of the hand presses against the rearportion (4) of the neck depicted in Fig 2 while the fingers press the strings against the fingerboard (3).The semi-circular shape allows placement of the thumb at any place along the section. Pushing thethumb or palm against this semi-circular is inherently unstable and muscles in the thumb, palm,forearm and upper arm are all engaged. The hand constantly adjusts, attempting to maintain balanceon this small contact area. The spacing between the strings of most stringed instruments increasesfrom the distal end to the proximal end, in order to allow more room to pluck the strings near theproximal end. Because of this generally increasing spacing, the embodiments herein are shown witha wider cross section at the proximal end, but this should not limit the invention to neck shapes withdifferent widths of the distal and proximal end.
    A profile that supports the muscles of the hand better than the conventional shape is depicted in Fig3. This shape is depicted in prior art US patent D630,676, and a variant as in Fig 4 is depicted in USpatent D635,182. These neck profiles allow the musician to play more relaxed by providing a largerand more stable contact area for the thumb, and thereby preventing injury of the tendons in fingersand hands, and allowing the musician to play longer and faster.
    An area which is not addressed in the previously discussed prior art is relieving tension of themuscles in the wrist. To change the intonation of the strings, the musician will press the stringsagainst the fingerboard at varying locations along the length of the neck. Often, multiple strings aredepressed at the same time in patterns to form chord voicings. Forming these chord voicings atdifferent locations of the neck affects the angle of the wrist acutely, often requiring the musician tobend the wrist at a sharp angle when playing at the distal end 1 of the neck in Fig 1 while having amore relaxed angle at the proximal end 2 of the neck in Fig 1.
    There is prior art for a solution that addresses providing a more relaxed angle of the wrist throughoutthe range of play in US patent 6,034,308, which describes twisting the neck along its axis, providing a5°-65° rotation of the distal end (5) in Fig 5 compared to the point where the strings are anchored inthe body, leaving the proximal end (6) parallel in relation to the body or at some angle. This solution,however, is a radical departure from common construction techniques, is complex to manufactureand does not allow many common maintenance operations using standard tools or knowledge.
    Lastly in the prior art, US patent 4,852,450 describes a way to position the frets, which provide fixedintonation positions on which the strings can be depressed, in a ”fan” shape that provides sonicadvantages. Such a fanned layout, however more subtle than what is described in the prior art, of thefrets is depicted in Fig 6. The result of fanning the layout of the frets is that each string has its ownscale length. Depending on the size of the musician and the playing style, a difference in scale lengthbetween the longest and the shortest scale of no less than 12 mm and no more than 37 mm canaffect the wrist angle of the musician in a positive way throughout the range of play.x z. v" .. .. _. _.._ _. axx. _ -_-.,. .,ÅQštGš ššx šxšâë ššš~*§~>ššï§}§šThe inventor of the present invention discovered a way to provide guidance for the hand and wrist/1/11/1when moving between the proximal and distal ends of a stringed instrument neck, encouraging arelaxed wrist position throughout the playing range, while maintaining standard constructiontechniques. According to certain em bodiments of the invention, stress and fatigue of the fingers,palm, wrist and entire arm is reduced.lt is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a stringed instrument neck profile thatpromotes relaxed playing, to reduce stress and strain of muscles and tendons in the fingers, palm,lower arm and upper arm.lt is a further objective of the invention to guide the musician's wrist in a relaxed position throughoutthe playing range from the proximal end of the neck to the distal end.
    Another objective of the invention is to provide a neck construction for a musical instrument withergonomic benefits that can be constructed and maintained using standard tools and commonknowledge.
    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from a review of thedetailed descriptions and accompanying drawings. lt should be understood that the description andexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are not intended to limitthe breadth of the invention since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope ofthe invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. ln particular, all describedembodiments describe a trapezoidal cross section, i.e. with exactly two parallel sides, but aquadrangular shape with no parallel sides is another possible embodiment. Additionally, the edges ofthe trapezoidal profiles in the drawings are shown sharp, but should be smoothed and roundedaccording to the personal preference of the musician, while maintaining the trapezoidal crosssection.x :_.XfššßThe present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given below,/I/lmm4r/A,.<~_<_§_,. .nu ..: _ §f7/O7/1m1/1//f/ritogether with the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus arenot to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. ln the drawings:Fig 1 shows a perspective view of a conventional bolt-on guitar neck as an example of prior art.
    Fig 2 shows the cross section of a conventional neck for a stringed instrument.
    Fig 3 shows a trapezoidal cross section of a guitar neck as depicted in prior art US patent D630,676.Fig 4 shows a cross section of a guitar neck as depicted in prior art US patent D635,182.
    Fig 5 shows the interrelation of the distal and proximal end of an embodiment of prior art US patent6,034,308.
    Fig 6 shows a layout offrets on a fingerboard as described in prior art US patent 4,852,450, but witha more subtle fan than described in the preferred embodiments of that patent.
    Fig 7 shows a perspective view of a bolt-on em bodiment of the present invention.
    Fig 8 shows how the flat surface that is parallel to the front portion of the neck describes a quarter ofa sinus-like curve from the proximal to the distal end of the neck.
    Fig 9 shows the cross section of the distal end of an embodiment of the present invention.Fig 10 shows the cross section of the proximal end of an embodiment of the present invention.
    Fig 11 shows a comparison between a conventional neck profile and an embodiment of the presentinvention.
    Fig 12 shows how the flat surface that is parallel to the front portion of the neck describes a straightline from the proximal to the distal end of the neck./rmFig 7 shows an embodiment of the present invention in perspective. As a musician plays theinstrument, the hand moves between the proximal end (7) and the distal end (8). The strings arepressed against the fingerboard using the fingers, while the thumb or palm of the hand is supportedby the flat surfaces (9), (10), and (11). The curve of the surface (9) encourages the thumb to follow itand thereby straightening the wrist as the hand is moved towards the distal end (8). When playingcertain chords, the asymmetric displacement of the surface (10) from being closer to the thumb atthe distal end where the neck is narrow, to being closer to the palm at the proximal end where theneck is wider, the hand is further allowed to relax in a comfortable grip with full support for thethumb against surface (10).
    Fig 8 shows a view from the rear of the portion of the neck that is subject for this patent, with theproximal end at the bottom and the distal end of the neck on the top. ln this picture, a quarter sinuscurve is formed by the edges (12) and (13) of the surface (14) that is parallel to the front portion(fingerboard) of the neck and that forms the thumb support. The designations A-A and B-B refer tofigures Fig 9 and Fig 10 respectively.
    Fig 9 shows the distal end schematic cross sections of the points A-A as indicated in Fig 8. lt can beseen that the trapezoidal shape is shifted asymmetrically in the direction of the thumb of the (right-handed) musician, which will be supported by surfaces (15) and (17), while the sharper angle ofwhere the surface (16) joins the fingerboard at point (18) gives the joint of the palm and index fingerof the musician room to move comfortably. The angle of surface (15) and the fact that surface (17) isshifted asymmetrically from the center of the neck guides the wrist into a relaxed and straighterangle than on a conventional neck. For a left-handed musician, the asymmetry would be mirrored.
    Fig 10 shows the proximal end schematic cross section at the point B-B as indicated in Fig 8. lt can beseen that the trapezoidal shape is shifted asymmetrically towards the palm of the (right-handed)musician. The surface (20) supports the palm and joint between palm and index finger and allows fora correct and relaxed angle of the wrist when accessing the proximal end of the neck. Surfaces (19)and (21) provide support for the thumb in a way that makes it easier to reach around the neck andthe musician experiences that the neck feels slimmer than a conventional neck. For a left-handedmusician, the asymmetry would be mirrored.
    Fig 11 shows a comparison between the asymmetric trapezoidal cross section and a conventionalcross section. lt can be seen how the thumb would receive more support and guidance to straightenthe wrist on surface (22) of the object of the invention while the palm of the hand and the joint ofthe palm and index finger are given room to move on surface (23).
    Fig 12 shows the rear view of a portion of an alternate embodiment of the invention, where theedges (24) and (25) of the surface (26) parallel to the front portion (fingerboard) of the necks formsstraight lines from the proximal end to the distal end. The disposition of the edges (24) and (25) andthe width of surface (26) will be a matter of personal preference.
    Fig 13 shows a comparison of the cross sections of the distal end (27) and the proximal end (28). Apreferred embodiment has the same widths X1 and X2 of the surface (29) parallel to the front portionof the neck (30). Musical instrument necks come in many different sizes depending on, for example,the number of strings or personal preference. ln some instances, the width X1 of the surface (29) maybe reduced.
    Fig 14 shows a comparison of the cross sections of the distal end (31) and the proximal end (32). Apreferred embodiment has the same heights Yl and YZ of the trapezoid. Musical instrument neckscome in many different sizes depending on, for example, the number of strings or personalpreference. ln some instances, the height Yl of the trapezoid may be reduced.
    权利要求:
    Claims (11)
    [1] 1. 10.11. A neck portion for a stringed instrument, comprising:a proximal end closer to the musician;a distal end farther away from the musician;a front facing portion, forming the area where the strings are pressed using thefingers in order to sound different notes; anda rear facing portion, forming the pinch support for the hand and thumb, said rearfacing portion having an asymmetrical quadrangular, preferably trapezoidal, cross-section, the asymmetry being opposite on the proximal and the distal ends.The neck portion of claim 1, wherein the asymmetry of the preferably trapezoidal cross-section on the distal end is shifted towards the player's thumb and the asymmetry of thepreferably trapezoidal cross-section on the proximal end is shifted towards the player's palm,when the neck is gripped in a conventional pinch grip.The neck portion of claim 2, wherein the edges of the rear surface parallel to the frontportion of the neck describe a curve between the proximal end and the distal end.The neck portion of claim 2, wherein the edges of the rear surface parallel to the frontportion of the neck describe a portion of a sinus curve between the proximal end and thedistal end.The neck portion of claim 2, wherein the edges of the rear surface parallel to the frontportion of the neck describe a straight line between the proximal end and the distal end.The neck portion described in claim 2, wherein the rear surface parallel to the front portionof the neck has the same width between the proximal end and the distal end.The neck portion described in claim 2, wherein the rear surface parallel to the front portionof the neck is wider at the proximal end than at the distal end.The neck portion described in claim 2, wherein the height of the trapezoid in the trapezoidalcross-section is the same in the proximal end and the distal end.The neck portion described in claim 2, wherein the height of the trapezoid in the trapezoidalcross-section is higher in the proximal end than in the distal end.The neck portion described in claim 2, combined with a fanned layout of the frets.The neck portion described in claim 10, wherein the differences between the longest and theshortest scale length is between 12 mm and 37 mm.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    SE537138C2|2015-02-17|
    US20130186254A1|2013-07-25|
    US9029670B2|2015-05-12|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US3319504A|1966-10-06|1967-05-16|Orbra W Appleton|Slanted finger board for stringed instruments|
    US4534260A|1984-06-04|1985-08-13|Burrell Leo L|String musical instrument|
    US4852450A|1988-06-30|1989-08-01|Ralph Novak|Fingerboard for a stringed instrument|
    US5140887A|1991-09-18|1992-08-25|Chapman Emmett H|Stringless fingerboard synthesizer controller|
    US5239908A|1992-01-15|1993-08-31|James Attias|Neck construction of a musical instrument|
    US5852249A|1996-06-03|1998-12-22|Actodyne General, Inc.|Elongated string support for a stringed musical instrument|
    US6034308A|1997-02-18|2000-03-07|Hampshire College|Ergonomic string instrument|
    USD630676S1|2008-10-25|2011-01-11|Richard Warren Toone|Guitar neck|
    USD635182S1|2010-08-03|2011-03-29|Richard Warren Toone|Guitar neck|US9082373B2|2013-09-26|2015-07-14|David Kear|Device and method for cushioning the neck of a stringed instrument|
    US9530392B2|2014-11-25|2016-12-27|Mla Industries Llc|Method for increasing the shape and effective thickness of the neck of a stringed musical instrument|
    SE543823C2|2015-06-22|2021-08-03|Modern Ancient Instr Networked Ab|An augmented string instrument with a flat surface on the back of the neck for locating sensors|
    US10916157B1|2019-09-26|2021-02-09|Christopher Taylor Donley|Guitar neck rear adhesive decal|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1230001A|SE537138C2|2012-01-03|2012-01-03|Ergonomic neck for stringed instruments|SE1230001A| SE537138C2|2012-01-03|2012-01-03|Ergonomic neck for stringed instruments|
    US13/733,522| US9029670B2|2012-01-03|2013-01-03|Ergonomic neck for stringed instrument|
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