|Publication number||US4890529 A|
|Application number||US 07/244,606|
|Publication date||Jan 2, 1990|
|Filing date||Sep 6, 1988|
|Priority date||Jun 15, 1987|
|Publication number||07244606, 244606, US 4890529 A, US 4890529A, US-A-4890529, US4890529 A, US4890529A|
|Inventors||Bruce M. Grant|
|Original Assignee||Grant Bruce M|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (9), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (19), Classifications (7), Legal Events (5)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 061,546 filed June 15, 1987, now abandoned.
This invention relates to string instruments and more particularly to electric guitars and stage props. A string instrument such as a guitar, bass, or similar instrument is often pleasing to look at due to the materials used, the design of the instrument itself or the colors that the instrument has been painted or stained. Often these instruments are used in front of thousands of individuals as part of a performance by a musician or musical group. Additionally, guitar-like props are used by individuals or groups who act out "playing" the music in order to visually enhance the playing of pre-recorded music. As show business becomes more technical and visual effects compose a larger part of live performances, it is important, and indeed necessary, to make the instruments as aesthetically exciting as possible.
As electronic power means become smaller and the overall detail of string instruments becomes greater, the use of electric lighting as part of a string instrument for visual enhancement purposes becomes more attractive. Illumination means can be used to outline a particular string instrument. Further, many guitar are now made of plastic, plexiglass, acrylic or other plastic like materials. The use of a plastic like string instrument which is luminescently outlined by neon or other type of light allows for the combination of a musical instrument or musical prop with electronic lighting resulting in unlimited number of color and style combinations.
The following U.S. Patents were considered in the investigation and evaluation of the prior art relative to the existing apparatus used with the invention.
______________________________________U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ISSUED______________________________________4,563,933 Kim January 14, 19864,334,452 Morrison June 15, 19824,313,362 Lieber February 2, 19824,236,191 Martinez November 25, 19804,088,050 Appel May 9, 1978______________________________________
It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved Luminescently Outlined String Instrument.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved Luminescently Outlined String Instrument Prop.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved method of illuminating a string instrument.
it is also an object of this invention to provide a new and improved method of decorating a string instrument.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved ornamental trimming mounted about the periphery of a string instrument.
The luminescently outlined string musical instrument described herein comprises a string instrument containing a continuous light source mounted about the periphery of the instrument. Associated with the light source is the electrical power means which can be built into the body of the string instrument or can be separate from the string instrument altogether. When the separate electrical power means is used an electrical cord or cable must connect the electrical power means to a transformer mounted in the guitar which the current passes through prior to travelling to the means of illuminating the string instrument one can use the present invention by merely deleting or not including any of the strings, pegs and other sound creating elements.
The luminiscently outlined string instrument or string instrument prop can be comprised of two separate acrylic plastic panels cut in a guitar shape which are attached to each other in such a way as to provide space between the two sheets to mount the electrical power means at the base of the string instrument body. Further, the space between the two panels would allow for the mounting of the illumination means about the periphery of the instrument. This can be accomplished in such a way so as to protect the illumination means by mounting same between the outer edges of the panels.
The body, neck and peg-head portions of the string instrument are preferably constructed of an acrylic plastic of thickness from about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. The open portion between the panels of the instrument is preferably 1 to 11/2 inches. The panels, or at least the edges which protrude over the illumination means, are preferably light penetrable.
The means of illumination would typically include neon tubing of any preferred color mounted about the periphery of the entire instrument. The mounting would consist of glue, sealant or any other means to fixably attach the neon tubing between the outer edges of the guitar. While the tubing would be mounted to the outer edge of the guitar, it would still be inset from the outer edge of the front and back sections of the instrument. This provides the protection of the illumination means by the acrylic sheets.
The instrument can be further developed by including the strings and additional electronics to enable the invention to be used as an actual musical instrument. A non-music making instrument silhouette may be outlined with the appropriate illumination means and used as a prop during musical performances or the playing of pre-recorded music.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantges of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of a musical instrument prop, in the form of a guitar, incorporating the instant invention.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a musical instrument, in the form of a guitar, incorporating the instant invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the guitar construction of this invention with the front section removed.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the neon tubing and the connection point between the front and back pieces.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the transformer, neon tubing and the electrical connection between the power means and neon tubing.
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, guitar (10) is illustrated having a body portion (16), a neck portion (14), and a peg-head portion (12). The guitar prop (10) is constructed using a front panel (20) and back panel (30), such panels being of translucent material. Front panel (20) has an outside face (22) and an inside face (24). Back panel (30) also contains an inside face (32) and outside face (34). Each panel both front and back, is of thickness (26). Each panel is cut identical and they are fixably attached to each other by a series of spacer lugs (5) which include a cylindrically threaded cavity (44) of depth (42) better shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 1 also shows that disposed between the panels there is transformer (80) and neon tubing (60) which follows the guitar shape periphery as better shown in FIG. 2. When a totally internal power source, such as batteries is used said power source would be located in the same position.
FIG. 3 shows a screw (40) disposed within cylindrically threaded cavity (44) of depth (D) to be used for holding the front instrument panel (20) to the back instrument panel (30) by being tightened through front section (20) into the cylindrically threaded slot member (44) disposed within spacer lug (50). Spacer lugs (50) are fixably attached to the inside face (32) of the back panel (30). Spacer lugs (50) and screws (40) are intermittently disposed about the prop (10) as shown in FIG. 2. Also displayed in FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the neon tubing (60). Enclosed within the cavity (62) of said tubing (60) is a gas which may be energized for illumination. Further shown in FIG. 4, the neon tubing (60) and the spacer lugs (50) are both fixably attached to the inside face (32) of the back panel (30) by glue or sealant.
Still further displayed in FIG. 3, as well as 4, is the recessed channel (25) in which the neon tubing (60) is located. The channel (25) is defined by the inside faces of the front and back panels (24) and (32) respectively. This channel (25) is continuous about the periphery of the instrument body of the guitar (10) and protects the neon tubing (60) or other chosen illumination means as well as acting as a possible color altering screen through which the emitted light will, or will not pass.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken at the base of the instrument body (16) disclosing the transformer (80), neon tubing (60) and the cable (100) through which the current travels in route to transformer (80). The cable (100) passes through a small cylindrical opening (98) of diameter (96) disposed within back panel (30) before entering through the back plate (84) of said power means (80). The front face (86) of the transformer (80) is flat against the inside face (24) of the front panel (20). The current flows into and out of transformer (80), to and from neon tubing (60), through wires (90) which are connected to the transformer (80). The wires (90) connect to the neon tubing (60) in order to transfer the power energizing the gas contained within the neon tubing cavity (62). As noted above, the transformer (80) is merely a transformer of the current brought in through cable (100) with an actual power means located outside of the instrument itself; however, a total internal power source can be substituted instead.
In operation, electrical wire 100 is connected to an electrical power source such as a standard electrical wall outlet. At this time, an illuminous gas contained within cavity (62) of tubing (6) will be energized through the transformer (80). The illuminated neon tube will enhance the guitar shape periphery of the probe, achieving the goal of the present invention.
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, an apparatus and method to enhance the visual appeal of a string instrument body that fully satisfies the objects, aims, and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this patent is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US1873584 *||Mar 28, 1931||Aug 23, 1932||Claude Neon Electrical Product||Illuminated sign construction|
|US1913233 *||Feb 9, 1928||Jun 6, 1933||De Francesco John||Light illuminating musical instrument|
|US2092768 *||May 20, 1936||Sep 14, 1937||Irving V Mansell||Luminous tube sign|
|US3943815 *||Nov 4, 1974||Mar 16, 1976||Gilbert Guitars, Inc.||Illuminated guitar|
|US4088050 *||Sep 27, 1976||May 9, 1978||Proll Molding Co., Inc.||Molded plastic toy stringed instrument|
|US4236191 *||Jan 26, 1978||Nov 25, 1980||Martinez Fredy R||Illuminated musical instrument|
|US4313362 *||Jan 22, 1980||Feb 2, 1982||Lieber Thomas G||Guitar construction|
|US4334452 *||Jul 11, 1980||Jun 15, 1982||Norlin Industries, Inc.||Plastic musical instrument body having structural insert|
|US4563933 *||Jun 30, 1982||Jan 14, 1986||Kim Chung C||Dynamically illuminated guitar|
|1||*||Metro Goldwyn Mayer, That s Dancing , 1985, at its disclosure of Golddigers of 1933, Shadow Waltz.|
|2||Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, "That's Dancing!", 1985, at its disclosure of Golddigers of 1933, Shadow Waltz.|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US5796025 *||Dec 13, 1995||Aug 18, 1998||Haake; John M.||Fiberoptically illuminated electric stringed musical instrument|
|US6225544||Feb 26, 1999||May 1, 2001||Kevin Sciortino||Music instrument illuminator and positioning aid|
|US6294718||May 19, 2000||Sep 25, 2001||Kaman Music Corporation||Stringed musical instrument top member|
|US6372970||May 19, 2000||Apr 16, 2002||Kaman Music Corporation||Stringed musical instrument body and neck assembly|
|US6708433 *||May 21, 2002||Mar 23, 2004||Lighted Logos, L. C.||Portable lighted display|
|US7465870||Mar 11, 2008||Dec 16, 2008||Homan Randy W||Illuminated heart-shaped guitar with strobe lights and a modified bridge|
|US8192040 *||Jun 5, 2012||Spurgeon Stephen L||Decorating guitars|
|US8710337||Nov 23, 2011||Apr 29, 2014||Fernando R. Gomes||Tone enhancement bracket|
|US8766069 *||May 17, 2012||Jul 1, 2014||Michael Bisheimer||Device for facilitating stringing of a musical instrument|
|US9324307 *||Jul 10, 2015||Apr 26, 2016||Alexander A. Castillo||Instrument cover system for customizing appearance|
|US20040126512 *||Dec 31, 2002||Jul 1, 2004||Jazz Hipster Corporation||Structural improvement for sound case|
|US20050172785 *||Jun 18, 2004||Aug 11, 2005||Fisher-Robbins Holly E.||Musical instrument|
|US20070163420 *||Jan 14, 2006||Jul 19, 2007||Stuart Reiss||Interchangeable decorative covers for guitar components|
|US20070176128 *||Dec 22, 2006||Aug 2, 2007||Asml Netherlands B.V.||Alignment systems and methods for lithographic systems|
|US20090253509 *||Apr 2, 2009||Oct 8, 2009||Howard Tripp||Illuminated game controller|
|US20100317434 *||Jun 16, 2010||Dec 16, 2010||Golle Aaron J||Method and Apparatus for Gaming Controller with Electroluminescence|
|US20110075395 *||Sep 30, 2009||Mar 31, 2011||Spurgeon Stephen L||Decorating Guitars|
|US20120285313 *||Nov 15, 2012||Michael Bisheimer||Device for Facilitating Stringing of a Musical Instrument|
|USD750700 *||Jan 23, 2014||Mar 1, 2016||John F. Abate||Guitar body|
|U.S. Classification||84/291, 984/110, 362/263, 84/464.00A|
|Aug 3, 1993||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Jan 2, 1994||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Jan 3, 1994||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Jan 3, 1994||SULP||Surcharge for late payment|
|Mar 15, 1994||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 19931226