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8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 1/14
US006884932B2
1 2 ) United States Patent 1 0 ) P a t e n t N 0 . : US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
Wrona e t a l . ( 4 5 ) D a t e
o f P a t e n t :
A p r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 5
5 4 )
STRINGED
INSTRUMENT
TRUSS
5 6 )
R e f e r e n c e s C i t e d
ASSEMBLY
U . S . PATENT DOCUMENTS
( 7 6 ) I n v e n t o r s :
M i c h a e l
W r o n a ,
9 0 7
E s c a r p m e n t
D r . ,
Lewiston, NY Glen
Allen
2 :
f I r e b s
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., , oura
i a n
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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( ) 5,127,299
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7/1992
S t r o h e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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H s i e h
( 2 1 )
A p p l . N o . :
1 0 / 4 3 5 , 7 9 5 ( 7 4 ) A t t o r n e y , A g e n t ,
o r F i r m — P h i l l i p s L y t l e
LLP
( 2 2 )
F i l e d : May 1 2 ,
2 0 0 3 ( 5 7 ) ABSTRACT
6 5 ) P r i o r P u b l i c a t i o n D a t a An
m p r o v e d
m u s i c a l
i n s t r u m e n t 1 5 ) h a v i n g a b o d y ( 1 6 ) , a n
e l o n g a t e d
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1 8 ) c o n n e c t e d
t o t h e
b o d y , a t o p - n u t 1 9 )
s u p p o r t e d
b y t h e n e c k ,
a b r i d g e
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5 2 ) US. C l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 4 / 2 9 1 ; 8 4 / 2 9 3 ; 8 4 / 3 1 3 ;
and
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2 2 )
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5 8 ) F i e l d of Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4 / 2 9 1 , 2 9 3 , 3 1 3 ,
8 4 / 3 1 4 N 1 4 C l a i m s , 8 Drawing S h e e t s
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8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 2/14
U.S.
Patent A p r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 5
S h e e t 1 o f
8 US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
HO
1
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 3/14
U.S.
Patent A p r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 5
S h e e t 2
o f 8 US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 4/14
U.S.
Patent A p r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 5
S h e e t 3
o f 8 US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2
B2
/
7 2 . . . ‘
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 5/14
U.S.
Patent A p r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 5
S h e e t 4
o f 8 US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
1 0 3
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 6/14
U.S. Patent A p r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 5
S h e e t 5 o f
8 US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
F I G .
8
F I G .
1 0
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 7/14
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 8/14
U.S.
Patent A p r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 5
S h e e t 7 o f
8 US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
5 0
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 9/14
U.S.
Patent A p r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 5
S h e e t
8 o f 8 US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2
B2
F I G .
1 4
F I G .
1 5
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 10/14
US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
1
STRINGED INSTRUMENT
TRUSS
ASSEMBLY
TECHNICAL
FIELD
The p re s e n t i n v e n t i o n
r e l a t e s
g e n e r a l l y t o t h e
? e l d o f
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s
a n d ,
more
p a r t i c u l a r l y ,
t o
a n i n s t r u m e n t
h a v i n g
a t r u s s r o d a s s e m b l y W h i c h p r o v i d e s f o r i m p r o v e d
a u d i o s u s t a i n .
BACKGROUND ART
T r u s s
r o d
a s s e m b l i e s f o r
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s , s u c h a s
g u i t a r s ,
a r e known i n
t h e p r i o r a r t . C o n v e n t i o n a l g u i t a r s
g e n e r a l l y i n c l u d e
a
t r u s s r o d
Which e X t e n d s
t h e l e n g t h o f t h e
n e c k
o f
t h e g u i t a r .
H o W e v e r ,
s u c h
c o n v e n t i o n a l t r u s s
r o d
a s s e m b l i e s do n o t
have a
t r u s s r o d t h a t e x t e n d s beyond t h e
p o i n t a t Which h e n e c k o f
t h e g u i t a r
i s c o n n e c t e d t o
t h e
body
o f
t h e
g u i t a r . F u r t h e r m o r e ,
t h e s t r i n g s i n a
c o n v e n t i o n a l
g u i t a r
g e n e r a l l y r i d e on a t o p - n u t a t t h e end o f
t h e neck
t h a t
i s
i n d e p e n d e n t
o f t h e t r u s s r o d and on a
b r i d g e
l o c a t e d on
h e
body o f t h e g u i t a r
t h a t
i s a l s o i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e
t r u s s
r o d .
The
t o p - n u t
a n d
b r i d g e
a r e
t h e r e f o r e
s e p a r a t e d
by
a
mass
o f
Wood, Which
r e s u l t s i n
a
dampening a f f e c t W i t h
r e s p e c t
t o
t h e
a c t i o n o f
t h e
s t r i n g s
a n d t h e s u s t a i n
o f a
m u s i c a l n o t e .
The l e n g t h o f t i m e
a
p l a y e r c a n e X p e c t t h e i n s t r u m e n t t o r i n g
W i t h
a
m u s i c a l n o t e i s
t h e r e f o r e l i m i t e d .
A c c o r d i n g l y , i t
Would
b e b e n e ? c i a l t o
have a s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t Which
p r o v i d e s
a g r e a t e r s u s t a i n t o t h e
musical
n o t e s t h a t a r e
p l a y e d .
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
W i t h
p a r e n t h e t i c a l
r e f e r e n c e
t o
t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g
p a r t s ,
p o r t i o n s o r s u r f a c e s
o f
t h e
d i s c l o s e d e m b o d i m e n t , m e r e l y f o r
t h e p u r p o s e o f i l l u s t r a t i o n a n d
n o t
by
Way o f
l i m i t a t i o n , t h e
p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n
p r o v i d e s a n i m p r o v e d
m u s i c a l
i n s t r u m e n t
1 5 )
c o m p r i s i n g a b o d y ( 1 6 ) ,
a n e l o n g a t e d n e c k 1 8 ) c o n
n e c t e d
t o
t h e
b o d y ,
a
t o p - n u t
1 9 )
s u p p o r t e d
b y
t h e
n e c k ,
a
b r i d g e
( 2 0 ) s u p p o r t e d b y t h e b o d y , a n d a t r u s s ( 2 1 ) i n
m e c h a n i c a l
e n g a g e m e n t W i t h t h e b r i d g e a n d t h e t o p - n u t . The
t r u s s m a y c o m p r i s e
a t r u s s r o d 2 2 )
e x t e n d i n g
l o n g i t u d i n a l l y
betWeen t h e t o p - n u t and t h e
b r i d g e . The
t r u s s r o d m a y b e a n
e l o n g a t e d
s t e e l
member
and
m a y have a n a n n u l a r c r o s s
s e c t i o n .
The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t
m a y
f u r t h e r c o m p r i s e
a
p l u r a l i t y o f s t r i n g s 2 3 )
m o u n t e d i n t e n s i o n
r e l a t i o n s h i p
o v e r
a t l e a s t
a p o r t i o n
o f t h e n e c k a n d t h e body a n d s u p p o r t e d a t
l e a s t i n
p a r t
b y
t h e t o p - n u t
a n d
t h e b r i d g e , a n d t h e
b r i d g e
m a y
c o m p r i s e
a b a s e s e c u r e d
t o t h e body
a n d a
s a d d l e 2 5 )
f o r
r e c e i v i n g
t h e s t r i n g s a n d a n
a r m
2 6 ) c o n ? g u r e d a n d
a r r a n g e d t o
p i v o t t h e s a d d l e i n
a ? r s t d i r e c t i o n f o r
d e c r e a s i n g
t h e
t e n s i o n
i n
t h e
s t r i n g s .
The
t r u s s r o d a s s e m b l y m a y
c o m p r i s e a t r u s s
f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member 2 8 )
mounted
t o
t h e
t r u s s r o d a n d
t h e
b r i d g e m a y c o m p r i s e a
s a d d l e
f o r c e
t r a n s f e r
member
2 9 ) ,
a n d
a
s p r i n g 3 0 )
m a y
c t
b e t W e e n
t h e
t r u s s f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member
and t h e s a d d l e f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
m e m b e r . The s p r i n g
m a y b e i n c o m p r e s s i o n
b e t W e e n
t h e
t r u s s f o r c e - t r a n s f e r member and t h e s a d d l e f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member,
a n d
t h e
p i v o t a l
movement o f t h e s a d d l e
i n
t h e
? r s t
d i r e c t i o n
m a y c a u s e
c o m p r e s s i o n
o f
t h e s p r i n g . The t r u s s
f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member m a y
b e
a d j u s t a b l y
mounted f o r l o n
g i t u d i n a l
movement
a l o n g a t
l e a s t
a
p o r t i o n
3 1 ) o f t h e t r u s s
r o d
and t h e
f o r c e o f
t h e
s p r i n g m a y
b e
a f u n c t i o n o f
t h e
l o n g i t u d i n a l p o s i t i o n
o f
t h e t r u s s f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member
on
t h e t r u s s r o d . The
s p r i n g
m a y b e a c o i l e d
s p r i n g
a n d t h e t r u s s
r o d m a y
e X t e n d
a l o n g t h e
c e n t e r
l i n e o f t h e c o i l .
The t o p - n u t
m a y h a v e a h e a d
s i d e 3 2 )
a n d a n o p p o s i n g
n e c k
s i d e 3 3 )
a n d
a
t h r o u g h - p a s s a g e
3 4 )
b e t W e e n
t h e
s i d e s ,
10
25
35
40
45
55
6 5
2
t h e
t r u s s r o d m a y e X t e n d t h r o u g h
t h e
t h r o u g h - p a s s a g e a n d
h a v e
a
p o r t i o n
3 5 )
p r o j e c t i n g
o n
t h e h e a d
s i d e ,
t h e
p r o j e c t
i n g p o r t i o n
o f
t h e t r u s s r o d
t h r e a d e d
3 6 )
t o
r e c e i v e a
c o r r e s p o n d i n g
t h r e a d e d
a d j u s t m e n t
n u t
( 3 8 ) ,
a n d
t h e a d j u s t
ment n u t
m a y be i n t h r e a d e d engagement
W i t h t h e
t r u s s
r o d
W h e r e b y
t h e
t e n s i o n
o f t h e t r u s s
r o d
i s a d j u s t e d
b y
s e l e c t i v e
r o t a t i o n
o f
t h e
a d j u s t m e n t
n u t . The a d j u s t m e n t n u t m a y h a v e
a
t h r e a d e d
? r s t
p o r t i o n 3 9 ) a n d
a s e c o n d
p o r t i o n
c o m p r i s i n g
a r e c e s s 4 0 ) f o r r e c e i v i n g a t o r q u e - p r o d u c i n g
t o o l .
The t o p - n u t
m a y
c o m p r i s e
a
l o W e r p o r t i o n 4 1 ) s e c u r e d t o
t h e n e c k , a n u p p e r
p o r t i o n
4 2 ) a d j u s t a b l e
r e l a t i v e
t o t h e
l o W e r p o r t i o n , a n d a t l e a s t o n e u p p e r p i n
( 4 4 ) ,
t h e u p p e r p i n
a n d t h e u p p e r
p o r t i o n i n
t h r e a d e d e n g a g e m e n t s u c h
t h a t
t h e
u p p e r
p o r t i o n
moves r e l a t i v e
t o
t h e l o W e r
p o r t i o n
W i t h
s e l e c t i v e r o t a t i o n
o f
t h e
u p p e r p i n .
The s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t
m a y f u r t h e r
c o m p r i s e
a p l u r a l i t y
o f
s t r i n g s mounted i n t e n s i o n r e l a t i o n s h i p o v e r
a t
l e a s t a
p o r t i o n o f t h e
n e c k a n d
t h e body
a n d s u p p o r t e d a t
l e a s t i n
p a r t
o f
t h e b r i d g e , a p i c k - u p ( 4 5 ) s u p p o r t e d
b y
t h e
b o d y
a n d
p o s i t i o n e d
b e t W e e n t h e b o d y
a n d
t h e
s t r i n g s ,
t h e
p i c k - u p
h a v i n g a t o p s u r f a c e 4 6 ) a n d
t h e
i n s t r u m e n t h a v i n g a
p i c k - u p
t i l t
a d j u s t m e n t
m e c h a n i s m ( 4 8 )
f o r
a d j u s t i n g t h e
a n g l e
o f
t h e
t o p
s u r f a c e
r e l a t i v e
t o
t h e
p l a n e
o f
t h e
s t r i n g s .
T h e p i c k - u p
may
c o m p r i s e a
s u p p o r t
p l a t e
( 4 9 ) c o n ? g u r e d t o
p i v o t a b o u t
a
p i v o t l i n e 5 0 ) a n d t h e t i l t a d j u s t m e n t mecha
n i s m m a y c o m p r i s e a t
l e a s t
o n e
s p r i n g
5 3 ) b e t W e e n t h e
body
a n d t h e s u p p o r t p l a t e
o n
a ? r s t s i d e
5 1 ) o f
t h e
p i v o t
l i n e
a n d
a
s e l e c t i v e l y
a d j u s t a b l e
member
5 5 ) b e t W e e n t h e
b o d y a n d t h e s u p p o r t p l a t e o n t h e
o p p o s i t e
s i d e 5 2 ) o f
t h e
p i v o t
l i n e
f r o m t h e
? r s t
s i d e . The a d j u s t a b l e member a n d t h e
body m a y b e i n
t h r e a d e d
e n g a g e m e n t
s u c h
t h a t t h e f o r c e o f
t h e s p r i n g on
t h e
s u p p o r t
p l a t e i s a f u n c t i o n o f t h e r o t a t i o n
o f
t h e
a d j u s t a b l e m e m b e r . T h e a d j u s t a b l e
member a n d
t h e
body
m a y
b e i n t h r e a d e d e n g a g e m e n t s u c h
t h a t t h e
a n g l e o f
t h e t o p s u r f a c e
r e l a t i v e t o t h e p l a n e o f
t h e s t r i n g s
i s
a
f u n c t i o n o f t h e r o t a t i o n o f t h e
a d j u s t a b l e
member. The
s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t may f u r t h e r c o m p r i s e a
h e i g h t
a d j u s t
m e n t
mechanism
5 6 )
f o r
a d j u s t i n g t h e d i s t a n c e
b e t W e e n
t h e
t o p s u r f a c e a n d t h e p l a n e o f t h e s t r i n g s .
A c c o r d i n g l y ,
t h e g e n e r a l
o b j e c t
o f t h e
p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n
i s
t o p r ov i d e a n
i m p r o v e d
s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t W h i c h a l l o W s f o r
g r e a t e r s us t a i n o f
t h e
n o t e s
p l a y e d on t h e i n s t r u m e n t .
A n o t h e r o b j e c t i s t o p r o vi d e a n
i m p r o v e d s t r i n g e d i n s t r u
ment i n Which t h e
i n s t r u m e n t ’ s
t o p - n u t and
b r i d g e
a r e
m e c h a n i c a l l y c o n n e c t e d by a
t r u s s r o d
a s s e m b l y .
A n o t h e r o b j e c t i s
t o
p r o v i d e a s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t
i n
Which t h e t o p - n u t a n d b r i d g e a r e
c o n n e c t e d
by a t r u s s
t h a t
i n t e g r a t e s them i n t o a s i n g l e m e c h a n i c a l u n i t a n d
p r o v i d e s
a
pathWay
f o r
t h e
movement o f e n e r g y a n d
v i b r a t i o n s .
A n o t h e r
o b j e c t i s
t o
p r o v i d e a s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t
i n
Which t h e
t r u s s
r o d e X t e n d s beyond t h e t o p - n u t o f
t h e
i n s t r u m e n t .
Another
o b j e c t
i s
t o
p r o v i d e
a
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t W i t h
a
t r u s s r o d
t e n s i o n i n g a s s e m b l y W h i c h t e n s i o n s
a g a i n s t t h e
t o p - n u t .
Another
o b j e c t
i s
t o p r o v i d e a s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t W i t h a
t r e m o l o i n m e c h a n i c a l communication W i t h t h e t r u s s
r o d .
Another o b j e c t i s t o p r o v i d e a s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t
W i t h
a
t r e m o l o s p r i n g t h a t i s c o m p r e s s e d
t o d e c r e a s e
t e n s i o n i n t h e
s t r i n g s o f t h e i n s t r u m e n t .
A n o t h e r
o b j e c t i s
t o
p r o v i d e a s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t
W i t h t h e
t i l t a n d h e i g h t o f t h e e l e c t r o n i c p i c k - u p f o r t h e i n s t r u m e n t
a d j u s t a b l e
r e l a t i v e t o
t h e s t r i n g s o r b o d y , r e s p e c t i v e l y .
Another o b j e c t i s t o p r o v i d e a s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t W i t h a
i m p r o v e d
c o n n e c t i o n
b e t W e e n t h e n e c k
a n d
body o f t h e
i n s t r u m e n t .
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 11/14
US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
3
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
F I G .
1 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e v i e W o f
t h e
i m p r o v e d s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t .
F I G . 2 i s a t o p
p l a n
vieW
o f
t h e
i m p r o v e d
i n s t r u m e n t
shoWn
i n
F I G . 1 .
F I G .
3 s a
f r o n t
e l e v a t i o n
o f
t h e i n s t r u m e n t
shoWn
i n
F I G .
1
F I G . 4 i s
a
b o t t o m p l a n vieW o f t h e
i n d i c a t e d
p o r t i o n 4—4
o f F I G . 3 .
F I G .
5 i s
a
p a r t i a l
l o n g i t u d i n a l v e r t i c a l
s e c t i o n a l
vieW
o f
t h e i n s t r u m e n t
shoWn n
F I G . 2 , t a k e n g e n e r a l l y
on
i n e 5—5
o f F I G .
2 .
F I G .
6
i s a n
e n l a r g e d d e t a i l e d vieW o f
t h e t r e m o l o
a s s e m b l y shoWn i n
F I G .
5 , t a k e n W i t h in
t h e
i n d i c a t e d
c i r c l e
o f F I G .
5 .
F I G .
7 s a
p a r t i a l t r a n s v e r s e
v e r t i c a l
s e c t i o n a l vieW o f t h e
i n s t r u m e n t shoWn n F I G . 3 , t a k e n
g e n e r a l l y o n
l i n e 7—7 f
F I G .
3 .
F I G .
8
i s
a n e n l a r g e d
d e t a i l e d
vieW o f
t h e neck
mount
shoWn
i n
F I G . 5 , t a k e n W i t h i n
t h e
i n d i c a t e d
c i r c l e
o f F I G . 5 .
F I G .
9 i s
a p a r t i a l
t r a n s v e r s e
v e r t i c a l s e c t i o n a l vieW o f t h e
neck mount shoWn
i n F I G .
8 , t a k e n
g e n e r a l l y
on
l i n e
9—9
o f F I G . 8 .
FIG.
10 i s
a
t r a n s v e r s e
v e r t i c a l
s e c t i o n a l vieW o f t h e
i n s t r u m e n t
shoWn
i n F I G . 3 , t a k e n g e n e r a l l y
on
i n e
1 0— 1 0
o f
F I G .
3 .
F I G . 1 1 i s a n
e n l a r g e d d e t a i l e d vieW
o f
t h e t o p - n u t
a s s e m b l y shoWn i n F I G .
5 , t a k e n W i t h in t h e
i n d i c a t e d c i r c l e
o f F I G .
5 .
F I G . 1 2 i s a n e n l a r g e d d e t a i l e d
vieW
o f t h e p i c k - u p
shoWn
i n F I G . 2 , t a k e n W i t h i n
t h e i n d i c a t e d c i r c l e
o f F I G . 2 .
F I G .
1 3 i s
a
p a r t i a l
v e r t i c a l
s e c t i o n a l
vieW
o f
t h e
p i c k - u p
shoWn
i n
F I G .
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F I G .
1 2 .
F I G .
14
s
a s i d e
e l e v a t i o n
o f
t h e
i n d i c a t e d p o r t i o n
1 4 —14
o f
F I G .
2 .
F I G .
15
i s
a p a r t i a l t r a n s v e r s e v e r t i c a l s e c t i o n a l
vieW o f
t h e t o p - n u t
shoWn
n F I G .
1 1 , t a k e n
g e n e r a l l y on i n e 1 5 — 1 5
o f
F I G . 1 1 .
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT
At t h e
o u t s e t ,
i t
s h o u l d b e c l e a r l y u n d e r s t o o d
t h a t
l i k e
r e f e r e n c e
numerals
a r e
intended t o
i d e n t i f y t h e
same
s t r u c
t u r a l e l e m e n t s , p o r t i o n s o r s u r f a c e s , c o n s i s t e n t l y t h r o u g h o u t
t h e
s e v e r a l
d r a W i n g
? g u r e s ,
a s s u c h
e l e m e n t s , p o r t i o n s o r
s u r f a c e s m a y
b e
f u r t h e r
d e s c r i b e d
o r
e X p l a i n e d
by t h e
e n t i r e
W r i t t e n s p e c i ? c a t i o n , o f Which h i s d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n i s a n
i n t e g r a l p a r t . U n l e s s o t h e r W i s e i n d i c a t e d , t h e d r a W i n g s a r e
i n t e n d e d
t o
b e
r e a d
( e . g . ,
c r o s s - h a t c h i n g ,
a r r a n g e m e n t
o f
p a r t s ,
p r o p o r t i o n , d e g r e e ,
e t c . )
t o g e t h e r
W i t h t h e
s p e c i ? c a t i o n , and
a r e
t o
be
c o n s i d e r e d
a
p o r t i o n o f t h e e n t i r e
W r i t t e n d e s c r i p t i o n
o f
t h i s i n v e n t i o n . As u s e d
i n
t h e
f o l l o W
i n g d e s c r i p t i o n , t h e t e r m s “ h o r i z o n t a l ” , “ v e r t i c a l ” , “ l e f t ” ,
“ r i g h t ” , “ u p ” a n d “ d o W n ” , a s W e l l a s
a d j e c t i v a l
a n d a d v e r b i a l
d e r i v a t i v e s
t h e r e o f ( e . g . ,
“ h o r i z o n t a l l y ” ,
“ r i g h t W a r d l y ” ,
“ u p W a r d l y ” , e t c . ) , s i m p l y
r e f e r
t o t h e o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e
i l l u s t r a t e d
s t r u c t u re a s t h e p a r t i c u l a r
d r a W i n g
? g u r e
f a c e s
t h e
r e a d e r . S i m i l a r l y , t h e t e r m s “ i n W a r d l y ” a n d “ o u t W a r d l y ”
g e n e r a l l y
r e f e r t o
t h e
o r i e n t a t i o n
o f
a s u r f a c e r e l a t i v e t o i t s
a X i s o f
e l o n g a t i o n , o r
a X i s o f r o t a t i o n , a s a p p r o pr i a t e .
R e f e r r i n g noW o t h e
d r a W i n g s
a n d , more p a r t i c u l a r l y , t o
F I G . 1 t h e r e o f , t h i s i n v e n t i o n
p r o v i d e s a
m u s i c a l
i n s t r u m e n t
1 5
25
35
40
45
55
6 5
4
h a v i n g i m p r o v e d s u s t a i n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , t h e p r e s e n t l y p r e
f e r r e d embodiment o f
Which
i s
g e n e r a l l y i n d i c a t e d
a t
1 5 .
S u s t a i n means t h e l e n g t h o f t i m e t h e g u i t a r ri n g s a f t e r
a
n o t e
i s p l a y e d
and s a
f u n c t i o n
o f t h e r a t e a t Which a
n o t e
decays
a f t e r i t i s p l a y e d .
As
shoWn
n F I G S . 1 — 3 , i n s t r u m e n t 1 5 i s
a n
e l e c t r i c g u i t a r
g e n e r a l l y
h a v i n g
a
body
1 6 a n d
a
n e c k
1 8 .
Body
1 6
i s
a
c o n t o u r e d Wooden member h a v i n g a number o f c a v i t i e s a n d
t a p e d h o l e s formed o
r e c e i v e c e r t a i n
e l e m e n t s o f h a r d W a r e .
A
r i d g e
20
i s
mounted
t o
body 1 6 .
Neck 1 8
i s a
Wooden e l e m e n t s e p a r a b l e f r o m body 1 6 .
Neck
1 6
i n c l u d e s
h e a d
e n d
5 8 ,
W h i c h s u p p o r t s t u n i n g p o s t s
5 9 , a h e e l
end
100
s e t
i n t o body 1 6 , a n d a f r e t b o a r d 1 0 1 .
F r e t b o a r d
101 i n c l u d e a
number o f
f r e t s 102 p o s i t i o n e d t o
p r o t r u d e a b o v e t h e f r e t b o a r d s u r f a c e a n d
s p a c e d
a t
p r e c i s e
d i s t a n c e s a l o n g f r e t b o a r d
101
s o a s t o c o r r e s p o n d W i t h n o t e s
of a
musical s c a l e .
A p l u ra l i t y o f s t r i n g s 2 3 e X t e n d
f r o m t u n i n g
p o s t s 5 9 o v e r
t o p - n u t 1 9 t o
b r i d g e
2 0 . S t r i n g s
2 3
a r e
i n
a g e n e r a l l y p a r a l l e l
a r r a n g e m e n t
a n d a r e i n t e n s i o n betWeen
p o s t s
59 a n d
a n c h o r s i n b r i d g e
2 0 .
S p r i n g s
2 3
a r e t u n e d
b y
a d j u s t i n g
t u n i n g
p o s t s 5 9 . S t r i n g s 2 3
e X t e n d
o v e r t h e s u r f a c e o f
f r e t b o a r d 1 0 1
a t
a c o n t r o l l e d h e i g h t , t y p i c a l l y b e i n g c l o s e r
t o
f r e t b o a r d 101 n e a r t o p -n u t
19
t h a n t h e y
a r e
n e a r body 1 6 . As
d e s c r i b e d
i n f u r t h e r
d e t a i l
b e l o W , t o p - n u t 1 9
a l l o W s
f o r
t h e
a d j u s t m e n t o f t h e h e i g h t o f s t r i n g s 2 3 a b o v e f r e t b o a r d 1 0 1
n e a r t o p - n ut 1 9 .
A i c k - u p
4 5
i s l o c a t e d
b e n e a t h
s t r i n g s
2 3
o n body 1 6
betWeen
h e e l 100 a n d b r i d g e 2 0 . As f u r t h e r
shoWn
i n F I G .
1 5 ,
a
volume c o n t r o l
6 2 i s
r e c e s s e d
i n t o
body 1 6 f o r
c o n t r o l l i n g t h e v o l u m e o f
p i c k - u p
4 5 . An u t l e t j a c k
6 1 i s s e t
i n t o
b o d y 1 6
f o r c o n n e c t i n g
p i c k - u p
4 5 ,
v o l u m e c o n t r o l
6 2 ,
and
o t h e r
c o n v e n t i o n a l
c o n t r o l s t o a s u i t a b l e a m p l i ? e r .
G u i t a r s knoWn i n
t h e p r i o r
a r t
h a v e
s t r i n g s s u p p o r t e d
b y
a n i n d e p e n d e n t
t o p - n u t
on h e neck and a b r i d g e on t h e
b o d y ,
t h e
t o p - n u t a n d b r i d g e
s e p a r a t e d
by
a
mass
o f W o o d , W h i c h
c a u s e s a
dampening
f f e c t .
As
shoWn n F I G . 5 ,
g u i t a r
1 5 h a s
a
t r u s s
21
b e t W e e n b r i d g e 20 a n d
t o p - n u t
1 9 t h a t i n t e g r a t e s
b r i d g e 20 a n d
t o p - n u t
1 9 a n d p r o v i d e s a more e f ? c i e n t
pathWay
f o r
t h e
movement o f
e n e r g y
a n d
v i b r a t i o n s .
Truss
21
i n c l u d e s
a t r u s s
r o d
2 2 .
T r u s s rod
22 i s a s o l i d
c y l i n d r i c a l member
e l o n g a t e d a l o n g
a X i s
X—X a n d i s
t h r e a d e d
a t
b o t h e n d s .
T r u s s r o d
22
engages
t o p - n u t
19 a t
c o n n e c t i o n
104
a n d e n g a g e s
b r i d g e 20 a t
c o n n e c t i o n
1 0 3 .
One t h r e a d e d
end o f t r u s s
r o d 22 engages a t r e m o l o t e n s i o n
n u t 28
and
t h e o t h e r t h r e a d e d
end
o f
t r u s s
r o d 22 engages a
t r u s s r o d a d j u s t m e n t n u t 3 8 .
As
s h o W n , t r u s s r o d 22 e x t e n d s
t h r o u g h a l i g n e d l o n g i t u d i n a l l y e x t e n d i n g t h r o u g h b o r e s i n
n e c k
1 8 a n d body
1 6 .
F I G . 6
i s a n
e n l a r g e d d e t a i l e d vieW
o f c o n n e c t i o n
1 0 3 ,
t a k e n W i t h i n
t h e i n d i c a t e d c i r c l e
o f
F I G . 5 . As shoWn i n
F I G S .
4 — 7 ,
c o n n e c t i o n 1 0 3 g e n e r a l l y c o m p r i s e s
t r e m o l o
t e n s i o n n u t 2 8 ,
t r e m o l o
b l o c k
2 9 ,
t r e m o l o
t e n s i o n s p r i n g 3 0 ,
a n d
b r i d g e b a s e 2 4 .
Tremolo
t e n s i o n n u t 28 i s
a
c y l i n d r i c a l r i n g - s h a p e d annu
l a r s t r u c t u r e
e l o n g a t e d a l o n g
a X i s
X—X n d
bou nded by
a n
o u t W a r d l y - f a c i n g h o r i Z o n t a l
c y l i n d r i c a l
s u r f a c e 1 0 5 , a
r i g h t Wa r d l y - f a c i n g a n n u l a r
v e r t i c a l s u r f a c e
1 0 6 ,
a
t h r e a d e d
i n W a r d l y - f a c i n g h o r i Z o n t a l
c y l i n d r i c a l
s u r f a c e
1 0 7 , a n d a
l e f t W a r d l y - f a c i n g
a n n u l a r
v e r t i c a l s u r f a c e 1 0 8 . The l e f t e n d
p o r t i o n 31 o f
t r u s s r o d
22 i s
t h r e a d e d a n d
s u r f a c e
107
i s
p r o v i d e d
W i t h
t h r e a d s
c o r r e s p o n d i n g
t o p o r t i o n 3 1 .
A c c o r d i n g l y , r o t a t i o n o f t r e m o l o t e n s i o n n u t 28 c a u s e s a X i a l
movement o f
t e n s i o n
n u t
28
a l o n g
p o r t i o n 31
o f t r u s s r o d
2 2 .
Depending up on t h e d i r e c t i o n
o f
r o t a t i o n
o f
t e n s i o n n u t
2 8 , r o t a t i o n
o f
t e n s i o n n u t
28
i n c r e a s e s
o r
d e c r e a s e s t h e b i a s
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 12/14
US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
5
o f
s p r i n g
3 0 .
T h u s , t h e
f o r c e
e x e r t e d by s p r i n g
3 0
i s a
f u n c t i o n o f t h e
l o n g i t u d i n a l p o s i t i o n
o f t e n s i o n n u t 2 8 on
t r u s s
r o d 2 2 .
B a s e p l a t e
24 i s a r e c t a n g u l a r
p l a t e
member h a v i n g a
b o t t o m s u r f a c e s u b s t a n t i a l l y p a r a l l e l t o t h e t o p s u r f a c e o f
b o d y 1 6 . T h e r i g h t e d g e o f
b a s e
p l a t e 2 4 i s
a t t a c h e d
t o b o d y
1 6 W i t h
b r i d g e
m o u n t i n g
s c r e W s
6 5 .
Body
1 6
i n c l u d e s
a
c a v i t y 70
e x t e n d i n g
t r a n s v e r s e t o
a x i s x—x. B a s e p l a t e 24
o v e r l a y s
a n d
p a r t i a l l y c o v e r s
t h e
t o p o p e n i n g o f c a v i t y
7 0 .
Block 29 i s
s e c u r e d
t o t h e u n d e r s i d e o f p l a t e 24 a n d
e x t e n d s i n t o
c a v i t y 7 0 .
B l o c k
29 i s a r e c t a n g u l a r member
h a v i n g a r i g h t W a r d l y - f a c i n g t r a n s v e r s e v e r t i c a l p l a n a r s u r
f a c e
1 0 8 a n d a l e f t W a r d l y - f a c i n g
t r a n s v e r s e
v e r t i c a l p l a n a r
s u r f a c e
1 0 9 . A
e r t i c a l
s l o t 7 3 e x t e n d s
t h r o u g h
b l o c k
29
p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o s u r f a c e s 108 a n d 1 0 9 . The W i d t h o f s l o t 7 3
i s
s l i g h t l y g r e a t e r t h a n t h e
d i a m e t e r
o f t r u s s r o d 22 a n d
i s
l e s s
t h a n
t h e
i n s i d e
d i a m e t e r
o f
t h e c o i l s i n s p r i n g 3 0 .
T r u s s r o d 2 2 e x t e n d s t h r o u g h
s l o t
7 3 p e r p e n d i c u l a r
t o
s u r f a c e s 1 0 8
a n d
1 0 9 o f b l o c k 2 9 . As s h o W n , t h e
l e f t
s u r f a c e
109
o f
b l o c k
29
and t h e r i g h t
s u r f a c e
106 o f n u t
28 a r e
g e n e r a l l y
i n a p a r a l l e l o r i e n t a t i o n . S p r i n g
3 0
i s p o s i t i o n e d
b e t W e e n a n d
s u p p o r t e d
by
s u r f a c e s
1 0 6 a n d 1 0 9
r e s p e c
t i v e l y .
S p r i n g 30 i s a
c o i l e d
s p r i n g
h a v i n g
a
c e n t r a l a x i s o f
e l o n g a t i o n x—x. T r u s s r o d 22 e x t e n d s t h r o u g h
t h e
c e n t e r o f
s p r i n g
3 0 .
As i n d i c a t e d , t h e t e n s i o n i n s p r i n g 3 0
may
b e
a d j u s t e d
W i t h
r o t a t i o n
o f a d j u s t m e n t
n u t 28
a b o u t
a x i s
x—x.
When
u t
28 i s r o t a t e d f o r a x i a l movement o t h e r i g h t , t h e
d i s t a n c e b e t W e e n s u r f a c e s
1 0 6 a n d 1 0 9
d e c r e a s e s ,
c a u s i n g
t h e
f o r c e
e x e r t e d on
b l o c k
29
t o
i n c r e a s e .
A l t e r n a t i v e l y ,
When
n u t 28 i s r o t a t e d
f o r a x i a l
movement t o t h e l e f t , t h e
d i s t a n c e
b e t W e e n s u r f a c e s 1 0 6 a n d 1 0 9
i n c r e a s e s
c a u s i n g
t h e b i a s e x e r t e d on
b l o c k
29
t o
d e c r e a s e . I n t h e p r e f e r r e d
e m b o d i m e n t ,
s p r i n g 3 0
i s i n c o m p r e s s i o n b e t W e e n s u r f a c e s
106 a n d
1 0 9 .
B r i d g e
2 0 i n c l u d e s
t r e m o l o
6 0 ,
s e c t i o n a l
s a d d l e s 2 5 ,
i n t o n a t i o n t e n s i o n s c r e W s 6 8 , i n t o n a t i o n t e n s i o n s p r in g s 6 7
a n d
s a d d l e h e i g h t a d j u s t m e n t
s c r e W s 6 9 . The l e f t e d g e o f
p l a t e
2 4 h a s a n u p W a r d l y
c u r v e d
? a n g e p o r t i o n 6 6 . B a s e
p l a t e
24
s
s e c u r e d
t o
body
1 6 W i t h
m o u n t i n g
s c r e W s
6 5
s u c h
a s t o
p e r m i t
l i m i t e d p i v o t a l
movement o f b a s e p l a t e
2 4 .
S a d d l e h e i g h t
a d j u s t m e n t s c r e W s 6 9 , o n e f o r e a c h o f s t r i n g s
2 3 ,
e x t e n d f o r W a r d l y t h r o u g h
s a d d l e s 25 a n d a r e
s c r e W
t h r e a d e d i n t o s e c t i o n a l s a d d l e s e l e m e n t s 2 5 . H e i g h t a d j u s t
ment s c r e W s 6 9 b e a r
a g a i n s t
t h e
t o p
o f b a s e
p l a t e
2 4 .
Block
2 9 i s
p r o v i d e d W i t h a p l u r a l i t y
o f v e r t i c a l l y -e x t e n d i n g b o re s ,
one
f o r each o f s t r i n g s 2 3 . Each s t r i n g
23
p a s s e s
o v e r
a
c o r r e s p o n d i n g s a d d l e e l e m e n t
2 5 ,
a n d i n t o a c o r r e s p o n d i n g
b o r e
by Way o f
a
h o l e i n
b a s e
p l a t e 2 4 . The end o f e a c h o f
s t r i n g s 23
c o n n e c t s
t o
a n a n c h o r
e l e m e n t i n
b l o c k
2 9 .
Atremolo
arm 26
i s
s e c u r e d t o t h e s i d e o f b a s e p l a t e 2 4 .
I n n o r m a l p l a y i n g p o s i t i o n ,
arm
2 6 i s
d i s p o s e d
a b o v e t h e
p l a n e o f s t r i n g s 23
a n d
beloW t h e
l o W e s t
s t r i n g 23 s o a s t o
b e
r e c e i v e d
i n
t h e
palm
o f
t h e
p l a y e r s
hand
When
i n a
p o s i t i o n
t o s t r i k e t h e
s t r i n g s . I f arm 26
s
p i v o t e d
t o o r aWay
f r o m t h e
body o f
t h e
p l a y e r d u r i n g v i b r a t i o n o f a n y o r a l l
t h e
s t r i n g s , a c o n v e n t i o n a l t r e m o l o e f f e c t W i l l
b e
p r o d u c e d by
e a c h o f t h e v i b r a t i n g
s t r i n g s . With
movement o f
n u t 2 8 ,
t h e
t e n s i o n i n s p r i n g 30 c a n
be
a d j u s t e d t o
a s s u r e
t h a t u n l e s s
t r e m o l o arm 28 i s manually
o s c u l a t e d
t h e r e i s
n o
t e n d e n c y
f o r
b l o c k
29 t o v i b r a t e When
t h e
s t r i n g s a r e
p l u c k e d . T h u s ,
no tremolo e f f e c t
o c c u r s e x c e p t
a t t h e W i l l and d i r e c t i o n
o f
t h e
p l a y e r .
A c c e s s
t o c a v i t y
7 0 i s p r o v i d e d t h r o u g h a n o p e n i n g i n t h e
u n d e r s i d e o f
body
1 6 . When i n u s e , t h i s o p e n i n g i s c o v e r e d
W i t h t r e m o l o c o v e r p l a t e
7 6 .
Tremolo c o v e r p l a t e 76 i s
a t t a c h e d t o t h e
u n d e r s i d e
o f body
16
W i t h t r e m o l o c o v e r
10
25
35
40
45
55
6 5
6
p l a t e s c r e W s
7 8 . When
t h e p l a y e r
d e s i r e s
t o
a d j u s t
t h e
f o r c e
o f s p r i n g 3 0 , c o v e r p l a t e 76 i s removed t o a l l o W
a c c e s s
a n d
a p p r o p r i a t e r o t a t i o n
o f
n u t 28
a n d
movement o f n u t 28
a l o n g
t r u s s
r o d 2 2 .
F I G . 1 1 i s a n e n l a r g e d d e t a i l e d vieW o f c o n n e c t i o n 1 0 4 ,
t a k e n W i t h i n t h e i n d i c a t e d c i r c l e o f
F I G .
5 . As shoWn i n F I G .
5
a n d F I G .
1 1 ,
c o n n e c t i o n 1 0 4
g e n e r a l l y
c o m p r i s e s
t o p - n u t
1 9 , W a s h e r 6 4 a n d t r u s s r o d a d j u s t m e n t n u t
3 8 .
T r u s s r o d a d j u s t m e n t n u t 3 8 i s a c y l i n d r i c a l s h a p e d
s t r u c t u r e e l o n g a t e d a l o n g a x i s x—x n d
g e n e r a l l y bounded
by
a r i g h t W a r d l y - f a c i n g
a n n u l a r v e r t i c a l
s u r f a c e 1 1 1 ,
a n
o u t W a r d l y - f a c i n g h o r i Z o n t a l c y l i n d r i c a l s u r f a c e
1 1 2 ,
a
l e f t W a r d l y - f a c i n g
a n n u l a r
v e r t i c a l s u r f a c e 1 1 3 , a
t h r e a d e d
i n W a r d l y - f a c i n g h o r i Z o n t a l
c y l i n d r i c a l
s u r f a c e 1 1 4 ,
a n d a
l e f t W a r d l y - f a c i n g
c i r c u l a r v e r t i c a l
p l a n a r s u r f a c e
1 1 5 .
T h e
r i g h t e n d p o r t i o n 35 o f t r u s s r o d 22 i s
t h r e a d e d
a n d s u r f a c e
1 1 4 i s p r o v i d e d W i t h
t h r e a d s c o r r e s p o n d i n g
t o
p o r t i o n
3 5 .
T o p - n u t
1 9
i s
g e n e r a l l y
a
r e c t a n g u l a r s o l i d
member
s p l i t
h o r i Z o n t a l l y
i n t o
a n
u p p e r
p o r t i o n
4 2
a n d
a
l o W e r p o r t i o n
4 1 .
Upper p o r t i o n
4 2 i s
b o u n d e d
by
r i g h t
v e r t i c a l s u r f a c e , a l e f t
v e r t i c a l
s u r f a c e ,
a bottom
h o r i Z o n t a l s u r f a c e ,
a
f r o n t
v e r t i c a l
s u r f a c e ,
a r e a r v e r t i c a l
s u r f a c e
n o t
shoWn)
a n d
a
t o p
h o r i Z o n t a l s u r f a c e . T o p s u r f a c e o f
p o r t i o n
4 2
h a s
l o n g i t u d i
n a l l y
e x t e n d i n g
g r o o v e s c u t i n t o i t ,
o n e g r o o v e
f o r e a c h
o f
s t r i n g s 2 3 .
LoWer p o r t i o n
4 1 i s
bounded by a
r i g h t
v e r t i c a l
s u r f a c e
1 1 6 ,
a l e f t v e r t i c a l
s u r f a c e 1 1 7 ,
a
f r o n t
v e r t i c a l s u r f a c e , a
r e a r
v e r t i c a l s u r f a c e n o t
s h o W n ) ,
a
b o t t o m
h o r i Z o n t a l
s u r f a c e ,
a
t o p h o r i Z o n t a l s u r f a c e , a n d a n i n W a r d l y - f a c i n g h o r i Z o n t a l
c y l i n d ri c a l s u r f a c e 1 1 8 .
S u r f a c e 1 1 8 d e ? n e s
a
t h r o u g h
p a s s a g e 35
betWeen
s u r f a c e s 1 1 6
a n d 1 1 7 . The
d i a m e t e r
o f
p a s s a g e 35
i s
s l i g h t l y
g r e a t e r
t h a n t h e
d i a m e t e r
o f t r u s s r o d
2 2 . The
e n d
o f t r u s s
r o d 22 e x t e n d s t h r o u g h p a s s a g e 35
s u c h
t h a t a t h r e a d e d
p o r t i o n
35
o f
t r u s s r o d 35 e x t e n d s t o t h e r i g h t
o f
s u r f a c e 1 1 6 o f t o p - n u t 1 9 .
T o p - n u t
19 i s
i n s e t i n
a t r a n s v e r s e s l o t i n
neck 1 8 .
A
l o n g i t u d i n a l c y l i n d r i c a l
b o r e
8 0 i n n e c k
1 8
h o u s e s W a s h e r
6 4 ,
t e n s i o n a d j u s t m e n t
n u t
3 8
a n d
t h e
e n d p o r t i o n 3 5
o f
t r u s s
r o d 2 2 . Washer 64
s
p l a c e d on t r u s s r o d 22
betWeen
s u r f a c e
1 1 6
o f p o r t i o n
4 1
o f t o p - n u t
1 9
a n d s u r f a c e
1 1 3
o f t e n s i o n
a d j u s t m e n t n u t
3 8 .
L e f t
v e r t i c a l s u r f a c e 1 1 7 o f l o W e r
p o r t i o n
4 1
a b u t s t h e
r i g h t W a r d l y - f a c i n g
v e r t i c a l s u r f a c e
o f
t h e s l o t
i n
n e c k
1 8 .
T h u s , l o W e r p o r t i o n 4 1 b e a r s a g a i n s t
a v e r t i c a l
s u r f a c e
o f n e c k 1 8 s u c h t h a t l o W e r p o r t i o n
4 1
i s r e s t r a i n e d
f r o m
moving t o
t h e
l e f t . T h i s
a l l o W s
f o r
t h e
t e n s i o n i n g o f
t r u s s r o d 22
W i t h r o t a t i o n
o f a d j u s t m e n t n u t 3 8 .
A d j u s t m e n t
n u t
3 8 e n g a g e s t h e t h r e a d e d e n d
p o r t i o n
3 5 o f
t r u s s r o d 2 2 t h a t e x t e n d s t o t h e r i g h t o f
s u r f a c e
1 1 6 o f t o p - n u t
1 9 .
A c c o r d i n g l y ,
r o t a t i o n
o f
a d j u s t m e n t n u t 3 8 a b o u t a x i s
x—x c a u s e s a x i a l movement o f
a d j u s t m e n t
n u t 38 a l o n g
p o r t i o n 3 5 o f
t r u s s
r o d
2 2 .
Depending upon t h e
d i r e c t i o n o f
r o t a t i o n ,
r o t a t i o n
o f
adjustment
n u t
38
c a u s e s
t h e
r i g h t W a r d l y - f a c i n g
v e r t i c a l c i r c u l a r
p l a n a r s u r f a c e
1 1 9
o f
t r u s s rod 22
t o
m o v e toWards o r aWay from s u r f a c e 1 1 5 of
a d j u s t m e n t
n u t
3 8 . Such r o t a t i o n
o f
a d j u s t m e n t n u t
3 8
i n c r e a s e s o r d e c r e a s e s t h e t e n s i o n i n
t r u s s
r o d
2 2 .
S i n c e
t r u s s
r o d 22
a c t s
i n t h e p r e f e r r e d
embodiment
t o c o u n t e r b a l a n c e
t h e
? e x
o f n e c k 1 8
c a u s e d
b y
t h e p u l l o f
s t r i n g s
2 3 ,
s u c h
c o u n t e r b a l a n c i n g
f o r c e c a n b e a d j u s t e d W i t h r o t a t i o n
o f
a d j u s t m e n t
n u t 38
a b o u t
a x i s
x—x.
As
i n d i c a t e d ,
a r e c e s s 40
i s
p r o v i d e d
t o a l l o W
f o r t h e r o t a t i o n
o f a t t a c h m e n t
38
W i t h
a p r o p e r l y c o n ? g u r e d
t o o l .
U p p e r p o r t i o n 4 2 o f t o p - n u t 1 9 i s
a b l e
t o b e a d j u s t e d
v e r t i c a l l y
r e l a t i v e t o l o W e r p o r t i o n 4 1
W i t h r o t a t i o n
o f
t h r e a d e d
u p p e r p i n s 44 a n d 8 1 .
As
shoWn
n F I G .
1 5 , u p p e r
a n d l o W e r p o r t i o n s 4 1 a n d 4 2 i n c l u d e tWo t h r e a d e d b o r e s
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 13/14
US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
7
e x t e n d i n g
v e r t i c a l l y
o n e i t h e r
s i d e
o f t h r o u g h p a s s a g e
3 4 . As
i n d i c a t e d , t h e
p o r t i o n o f
t h e s e b o r e s , 8 1 a n d 8 4 r e s p e c t i v e l y ,
n e a r
t h e
t o p s u r f a c e
o f p o r t i o n 41
a r e
n o t
t h r e a d e d and have
a d i a m e t e r t h a t i s g r e a t e r
t h a n
t h e o u t s i d e
t h r e a d e d
d i a m e t e r
o f
p i n s 8 1 , 4 4 , 8 2 a n d 4 3 .
P i n s
4 1 a n d 8 1 a r e
i n t h r e a d e d
e n g a g e m e n t W i t h
u p p e r p o r t i o n 4 2 o f t o p - n u t 1 9 , a n d
p i n s
4 3
a n d 8 2 a r e i n t h r e a d e d engagement W i t h l o W e r
p o r t i o n 4 1
o f
t o p - n u t 1 9 .
The
l o W e r
r o u n d e d
s u r f a c e
o f p i n
4 4
i s
i n
b e a r i n g
r e l a t i o n s h i p W i t h
t h e u p p e r
r o u n d e d s u rf a c e o f
p i n
4 3 , a n d
t h e
l o W e r
r o u n d e d s u r fa c e o f p i n 8 1 i s i n b e a r i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p
W i t h
t h e
u p p e r
r o u n d e d s u r f a c e
o f p i n
8 2 .
P i n s
44
a n d 4 3
a n d
8 1
a n d 8 2 , r e s p e c t i v e l y , b e a r
a g a i n s t
e a c h o t h e r W i t h i n b o r e
p o r t i o n s 8 3 a n d
8 4 , r e s p e c t i v e l y .
A c c o r d i n g l y ,
t h e
s p a c e 8 5
b e t W e e n
t h e b o t t o m h o r i Z o n t a l s u r f a c e
o f
p o r t i o n 4 1 a n d t h e
t o p h o r i Z o n t a l s u r f a c e o f 4 2 m a y b e a d j u s t e d s u c h
t h a t
t h e
h e i g h t o f p o r t i o n 4 2 a b o v e f r e t b o a r d
1 0 1
may b e a d j u s t e d .
To
i n c r e a s e
t h e
d i s t a n c e
8 5 b e t W e e n u p p e r p o r t i o n 4 2 a n d
l o W e r p o r t i o n
4 1 , a n d t h e r e b y i n c r e a s e t h e
h e i g h t
o f s t r i n g s
23 above f r e t b o a r d 1 0 1 , p i n s
44 a n d 81
a r e r o t a t e d
i n
a
c l o c k W i s e
d i r e c t i o n
l o o k i n g doWn
o n
t h e t o p o f g u i t a r 1 5 )
a b o u t t h e i r v e r t i c a l
a x e s .
T h i s p r o v i d e s movement o f p o r t i o n
41
i n a n
upWard d i r e c t i o n r e l a t i v e
t o
p o r t i o n
4 1 , a s shoWn i n
F I G .
1 5 , t h e r e b y
i n c r e a s i n g d i s t a n c e
8 5 a n d
r a i s i n g
s t r i n g s
2 3 .
T h i s
c o n ? g u r a t i o n
o f t o p - n ut
1 9
a l l o W s
f o r
n o t
o n l y
t h e
a d j u s t m e n t o f t h e h e i g h t o f
s t r i n g s
2 3
a b o v e
f r e t b o a r d 1 0 1 ,
b u t
a l s o
f o r e a s y r e p l a c e m e n t o f u p p e r
p o r t i o n
4 2 When
u p p e r p o r t i o n
4 2 i s o v e r l y
Worn d u e t o
t h e
b e a r i n g o f
s t r i n g s
2 3 i n t h e
g r o o v e s
i n u p p e r p o r t i o n 4 2 . F u r t h e r m o r e , p i n s 4 3 ,
8 2 , 4 4 a n d 8 1
m a y
b e
e a s i l y
r e p l a c e d When
W o r n .
As shoWn i n F I G .
3 and
F I G . 1 1 , neck 1 8 i n c l u d e s a
s u p p o r t member
1 2 0
mounted
t o
h e a d s t o c k
5 8 .
S u p p o r t
member
1 2 0
c o m p e n s a t e s f o r a n y l o s s o f
s t r e n g t h
i n n e c k 1 8
c a u s e d
b y t h e i n c r e a s e d
d e p t h
o f t o p - n u t 1 9 s e t i n t o n e c k 1 8
a n d b r a c e s a g a i n s t
l a t e r a l movement o f
t o p - n u t 1 9 , p a r t i c u
l a r l y
l a t e r a l
movement o f u p p e r
p o r t i o n
4 2 .
F I G S .
1 2 a n d
1 3 shoW
p i c k - u p 4 5
i n t h e
p r e f e r r e d
e m b o d i m e n t . As
shoWn n
F I G S . 1 2 — 1 3 ,
p i c k - u p
4 5
i n c l u d e s
a c o n v e n t i o n a l m a g n e t i c p i c k - u p mounted on a s u p p o r t p l a t e
4 9 .
Body
1 6
i s
c o n ? g u r e d
t o
r e c e i v e
a
p o r t i o n
o f p i c k - u p
4 5
a n d i n c l u d e s
a number
o f
v e r t i c a l
h o l e s a n d s p r i n g
s e a t s f o r
r e c e i v i n g v a r i o u s s c r e W s
a n d s p r i n g s .
P l a t e 4 9
i s
p o s i t i o n e d
o v e r r e c e s s 8 8 a n d i s
h e l d
i n p l a c e by m o u n t i n g
r i n g 8 9
a n d
f o u r m o u n t i n g
r i n g s c r e W s
9 0 a — 9 0 d .
S u p p o r t p l a t e
4 9 i s
c o n ? g u r e d
t o p i v o t a b o u t
a
p i v o t l i n e
50. TWo
s p r i n g s 5 3 a n d
5 4 a r e
s e a t e d i n t h e
b a s e o f r e c e s s 88
on
s i d e 51 o f p i v o t
l i n e
5 0 .
S p r i n g s 5 3 a n d
5 4
p r o v i d e a n u p W a r d
b i a s a g a i n s t t h e
b o t t o m
s u r f a c e
o f
p l a t e
4 9
on s i d e
5 1 o f p i v o t l i n e 5 0 . A
t h r e a d e d a d j u s t m e n t b o l t 5 5 e x t e n d s t h r o u g h a c o r r e s p o n d
i n g l y
t h r e a d e d
v e r t i c a l
b o r e h o l e i n
b a s e 1 6 .
The
t o p
e n d
o f
a d j u s t m e n t
b o l t 5 5
e x t e n d s
i n t o r e c e s s 8 8
a n d
b e a r s a g a i n s t
t h e b o t t o m s u r f a c e
o f
p l a t e
8 8
o n t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e 5 2
o f
p i v o t
l i n e 5 0 f r o m s i d e 5 1 . A c c o r d i n g l y , r o t a t i o n o f b o l t 5 5
around
i t s v e r t i c a l a x i s
c a u s e s
v e r t i c a l a x i a l
movement o f
b o l t
5 5 . Depending
upon
t h e
d i r e c t i o n
o f
r o t a t i o n
o f
b o l t
5 5 ,
r o t a t i o n o f b o l t
55
i n c r e a s e s o r d e c r e a s e s t h e b i a s o f s p r i n g s
5 3
a n d
5 4 . T h u s , t h e f o r c e e x e r t e d b y s p r i n g s 5 3
a n d
5 4
i s
a f u n c t i o n o f t h e v e r t i c a l p o s i t i o n o f b o l t 5 5 . F I G .
1 3
shoWs
p l a t e
4 9 i n a n
u n t i t l e d p o s i t i o n ,
s u c h t h a t
s u r f a c e
4 6 i s
p a r a l l e l
t o t h e
p l a n e o f s t r i n g s 2 3 . H o W e v e r ,
When
b o l t 5 5
i s
r o t a t e d
s o a s t o p r o v i d e a x i a l l y v e r t i c a l
movement
upWard
a n d
t o
e x t e n d a g re a t e r p o r t i o n o f t h e end
o f
b o l t
55
i n t o
r e c e s s 8 8 , s u r f a c e 46
W i l l
t i l t f o r W a r d r e l a t i v e t o
t h e
p l a n e o f
s t r i n g s 2 3 .
A l t e r n a t i v e l y ,
i f
b o l t 55
s r o t a t e d s o a s t o p r o v i d e
a x i a l l y movement
d o W n W a r d ,
s p r i n g s 5 3
a n d
5 4 W i l l b i a s t h e
f r o n t
e d g e o f
p l a t e
4 9
i n
a n upWard d i r e c t i o n
s o
t h a t
s u r f a c e
4 6
t i l t s
backWard
e l a t i v e t o
t h e p l a n e o f s t r i n g s 2 3 . Thus t h e
a n g l e o f
t o p s u r f a c e 4 6 o f p i c k - u p 4 5 may
b e
a d j u s t e d
r e l a t i v e t o t h e p l a n e o f tWo o r
more
s t r i n g s 2 3 .
1 5
25
35
40
45
55
6 5
8
F I G .
8 and
F I G .
9
shoW
t h e c o n n e c t i o n betWeen
neck
1 8
a n d b o d y 1 6 ,
W i t h t r u s s r o d
2 2 e x t e n d i n g
t h r o u g h
t h e
c o n n e c t i o n .
H e e l
1 0 0 o f n e c k
1 8
h a s
v e r t i c a l u n t a p e r e d s i d e s
s u c h
t h a t
t h e bottom o f h e e l 100 h a s
a W i d t h
e q u a l t o
u p p e r
p a r t
o f h e e l 1 0 0 . H o W e v e r ,
body
1 6 h a s
a p o c k e t W i t h
t a p e r e d
s i d e s 1 2 1 a n d 1 2 2 s u c h t h a t t h e b o t t o m o f p o c k e t 9 4
h a s a
W i d t h
l e s s t h e n t h e W i d t h
a t
t h e
t o p
o f p o c k e t 9 4 . T h i s
a l l o W s
f o r s n u g
s e a t i n g
o f h e e l
1 0 0 i n
t h e t a p e r e d p o c k e t 9 4
o f body
1 6 .
Neck
1 8 i s r e m o v a b l y
s e c u r e d t o body
1 6 W i t h
f o u r t h r e a d e d b o l t s 9 5 . As shoWn n F I G S .
4
a n d 8 , body 1 6
i n c l u d e s a r e c e s s
125
f o r
r e c e i v i n g
t h e e n d s
o f
b o l t s 95 a nd
n e c k p l a t e
1 2 3 . T h u s ,
n e c k p l a t e 1 2 3
a n d
b o l t s 9 5 a r e
r e c e s s e d beloW t h e
s u r f a c e
o f body
1 6 .
As shoWn
i n F I G . 4 ,
s t r a p
b u t t o n
124 i s
mounted t o t h e o u t s i d e
s u r f a c e
o f neck
p l a t e 1 2 3 .
As shoWn
i n
FIGS.
8 — 1 1 , t r u s s
21 a l s o
i n c l u d e s a c y l i n
d r i c a l s l e e v e 9 6 c o n c e n t r i c t o t r u s s r o d 22
and i n s l i d i n g
engagement W i t h t r u s s r o d
2 2 .
S l e e v e 9 6 e x t e n d s a r o u n d
t h a t
p o r t i o n
o f t r u s s r o d 2 2 i m m e d i a t e l y
t o t h e
l e f t o f
s u r f a c e
1 1 7
o f
t o p - n u t
1 9 . T o
a d d
a d d i t i o n a l c o u n t e r b a l a n c i n g s t r e n g t h
t o
n e c k 1 8 ,
a
l o n g a n d n a r r o W
p l a t e
9 8 i s p o s i t i o n e d o n
t o p o f f
s l e e v e
9 6
a n d g e n e r a l l y p a r a l l e l t o t r u s s
r o d
2 2 . P l a t e
9 8
e x t e n d s from s u r f a c e 1 1 7 o f t o p - n u t
1 9 t o
a l o n g i t u d i n a l
p o i n t on t r u s s
r o d 22
betWeen b o l t s 95a a n d 9 5 b . P l a t e 9 8 i s
Welded t
one
end
o
s l e e v e 96 and s Welded t i t s o t h e r e n d ,
a s
shoWn
i n
FIG. 8 , t o t r u s s r o d 22 a t Weld 9 9 .
F I G . 1 4 shoWs s l i d e s t y l e
m a s t e r
volume c o n t r o l
6 2
e m p l o y e d i n t h e p r e f e r r e d e m b o d i m e n t . As i n d i c a t e d i n F I G .
2 , c o n t r o l 6 2
i s
mounted o n
t h e
t o p r i g h t s h o u l d e r o f body
1 6
s u c h
t h a t a p l a y e r
c a n e a s i l y
d e t e r m i n e
v i s u a l l y hoW
h i g h
t h e
i n s t r u m e n t
i s
t u r n e d
u p .
Because
o f
t h e
m e c h a n i c a l
engagement
o f
t r u s s
r o d
22
W i t h t o p - n u t
1 9 a n d b r i d g e 2 0 , t h e
t r u s s p r o v i d e s i m p r o v e d
management o f
k i n e t i c
e n e r g y W i t h i n
t h e i n s t r u m e n t .
T h i s
i m p r o v e d management o f k i n e t i c e n e r g y r e s u l t s i n
a g r e a t e r
s u s t a i n
o f n o t e s When p l a y e d .
T h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n c o n t e m p l a t e s t h a t many c h a n g e s
a n d m o d i ? c a t i o n s m a y b e m a d e . The p a r t i c u l a r m a t e r i a l s
o f
Which
t h e
v a r i o u s body
p a r t s a n d
component
p a r t s
a r e
formed a r e n o t deemed c r i t i c a l and m a y be r e a d i l y v a r i e d .
T h e r e f o r e ,
W h i l e
t h e p r e s e n t l y p r e f e r r e d f o r m o f
t h e
i n s t r u
ment
h a s
been
shoWn a n d
d e s c r i b e d ,
a n d
s e v e r a l modi?ca
t i o n s d i s c u s s e d , p e r s o n s s k i l l e d i n t h i s a r t
W i l l r e a d i l y
a p p r e c i a t e t h a t
v a r i o u s
a d d i t i o n a l c h a n g e s a n d m o d i ?c a t i o n
m a y
b e made
W i t h o u t
d e p a r t i n g f r o m t h e s p i r i t o f t h e
i n v e n t i o n ,
a s
d e ? n e d
a n d
d i f f e r e n t i a t e d by
t h e
f o l l o W i n g
c l a i m s .
What i s
c l a i m e d
i s :
1 .
A t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t
c o m p r i s i n g :
a
b o d y ;
a n e l o n g a t e d n e c k c o n n e c t e d t o s a i d b o d y ;
a
t o p - n u t
s u p p o r t e d
b y
s a i d
n e c k ;
a b r i d g e
s u p p o r t e d
b y s a i d
b o d y ;
a p l ur a l i t y o f s t r i n g s
mounted n
t e n s i o n r e l a t i o n s h i p o v e r
a t
l e a s t
a
p o r t i o n
o f s a i d
n e c k
a n d s a i d body a n d
s u p p o r t e d a t
l e a s t i n p a r t b y s a i d t o p - n u t
a n d
s a i d
b r i d g e ;
a
t r u s s
complying a
t r u s s
r o d e x t e n d i n g l o n g i t u d i n a l l y
betWeen s a i d
t o p - n u t
a n d s a i d b r i d g e a n d a t r u s s
f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member
mounted t o s a i d t r u s s
r o d ;
s a i d b r i d g e c o m p r i s i n g
a b a s e s e c u r e d t o
s a i d
b o d y , a
s a d d l e
f o r r e c e i v i n g
s a i d s t r i n g s ,
a n arm
c o n ? g u r e d a n d
a r r a n g e d t o p i v o t s a i d s a d d l e i n a
? r s t
d i r e c t i o n f o r
d e c r e a s i n g t h e
t e n s i o n i n s a i d s t r i n g , a n d a
s a d d l e
f o r c e - t r a n s f e r m e m b e r ; a n d
8/16/2019 US Patent 6,884,932, entitled "Stringed instrument truss assembly" to Wrona and Miller, issued Apr. 26, 2005.
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us-patent-6884932-entitled-stringed-instrument-truss-assembly-to-wrona 14/14
US 6 , 8 8 4 , 9 3 2 B2
a
s p r i n g
a c t i n g between s a i d t r u s s
f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member
a n d s a i d s a d d l e
f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member;
Whereby
s a i d
t r u s s
i s
i n
m e c h a n i c a l
engagement W i t h
s a i d
b r i d g e a n d s a i d t o p - n u t .
2 .
The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t
s e t f o r t h
i n
c l a i m
1 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d
s p r i n g i s i n c o m p r e s s i o n
b e t W e e n s a i d
t r u s s
f o r c e
t r a n s f e r member a n d
s a i d s a d d l e f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member.
3 .
The
s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t
s e t
f o r t h
i n
c l a i m
1 ,
W h e r e i n
p i v o t a l movement o f s a i d s a d d l e i n s a i d ? r s t d i r e c t i o n c a u s e s
a c o m p r e s s i o n f o r c e on
s a i d
s p r i n g .
4 .
The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s e t f o r t h i n c l a i m
1 , W h e r e i n
s a i d t r u s s f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member
i s a d j u s t a b l y mounted f o r
l o n g i t u d i n a l
movement a l o n g a t l e a s t a p o r t i o n o f s a i d t r u s s
r o d a n d t h e f o r c e o f s a i d
s p r i n g
i s a
f u n c t i o n
o f t h e
l o n g i t u d i n a l p o s i t i o n
o f
s a i d t r u s s f o r c e - t r a n s f e r
member
on
s a i d
t r u s s
r o d .
5 .
The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t
s e t f o r t h i n c l a i m 1 , W h e r e i n
s a i d
s p r i n g
i s
a
c o i l e d
s p r i n g a n d
s a i d
t r u s s
r o d e X t e n d s a l o n g
t h e
c e n t e r l i n e o f s a i d
c o i l .
6 .
A
t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t
c o m p r i s i n g :
a b o d y ;
a n e l o n g a t e d
n e c k c o n n e c t e d t o
s a i d
b o d y ;
a
t o p - n u t
s u p p o r t e d
b y
s a i d
n e c k ;
a
b r i d g e
s u p p o r t e d b y
s a i d
b o d y ;
a p l ur a l i t y
o f s t r i n g s mounted n t e n s i o n r e l a t i o n s h i p o v e r
a t l e a s t
a
p o r t i o n o f s a i d n e c k a n d s a i d body
a n d
s u p p o r t e d a t
l e a s t i n
p a r t b y
s a i d
t o p - n u t a n d
s a i d
b r i d g e ;
a t r u s s r o d e x t e n d i n g
l o n g i t u d i n a l l y
betWeen
a n d
i n
m e c h a n i c a l e n g a g e m e n t W i t h s a i d t o p - n u t a n d s a i d
b r i d g e ;
s a i d
t o p - n u t
c o m p r i s i n g a
h e a d
s i d e , a n
o p p os i n g n e c k
s i d e a n d a t h r o u g h - p a s s a g e b e t W e e n s a i d
s i d e s ;
s a i d t r u s s r o d e x t e n d i n g t h r o u g h s a i d t h r o u g h - p a s s a g e
a n d
h a v i n g a
p o r t i o n
p r o j e c t i n g o n s a i d h e a d s i d e ;
s a i d p r o je c t i n g p o r t i o n o f s a i d t r u s s
r o d
o n s a i d
h e a d
s i d e
t h r e a d e d t o r e c e i v e
a c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y t h r e a d e d
a d j u s t
ment
n u t ;
s a i d a d j u s t m e n t
n u t i n t h r e a d e d
e n g a g e m e n t
W i t h
s a i d
t r u s s r o d ;
W h e r e b y
t h e
t e n s i o n
o f
s a i d t r u s s
r o d i s
a d j u s t e d b y
s e l e c t i v e r o t a t i o n o f s a i d
a d j u s t m e n t
n u t .
7 .
The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s e t f o r t h i n c l a i m 6 , W h e r e i n
s a i d a d j u s t m e n t n u t h a s a t h r e a d e d ? r s t
p o r t i o n
a n d s e c o n d
p o r t i o n c o m p r i s i n g
a r e c e s s f o r
r e c e i v i n g
a
t o r q u e - p r o d u c i n g
t o o l .
8 .
The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s e t
f o r t h
i n
c l a i m 6 , W h e r e i n
s a i d t o p - n u t
c o m p r i s e s
a
l o W e r p o rt i o n s e c u r e d t o s a i d n e c k
a n d a n
u p p e r p o r t i o n
a d j u s t a b l e
r e l a t i v e t o s a i d l o W e r
p o r t i o n .
10
1 5
35
40
45
1 0
9 .
The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s e t
f o r t h i n c l a i m 8 , a n d f u r t h e r
c o m p r i s i n g :
a t l e a s t one up per p i n ;
s a i d
u p p e r p i n
a n d s a i d
u p p e r p o r t i o n i n
t h r e a d e d
e n g a g e
ment such t h a t s a i d upper
p o r t i o n moves
r e l a t i v e t o
s a i d
l o W e r
p o r t i o n W i t h
s e l e c t i v e
r o t a t i o n
o f
s a i d u p p e r
p i n .
1 0 .
A
t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t c o m p r i s i n g :
a b o d y ;
a n
e l o n g a t e d
n e c k c o n n e c t e d t o s a i d
b o d y ;
a
t o p - n u t s u p p o r t e d b y
s a i d
n e c k ;
a
b r i d g e
s u p p o r t e d
b y
s a i d b o d y ;
a p l ur a l i t y
o f
s t r i n g s
mounted n t e n s i o n r e l a t i o n s h i p o v e r
a t l e a s t a p o r t i o n o f s a i d n e c k a n d s a i d body a n d
s u p p o r t e d
a t
l e a s t
i n p a r t
b y
s a i d b r i d g e ;
a t r u s s
i n
m e c h a n i c a l engagement
W i t h
s a i d b r i d g e a n d
s a i d t o p - n u t ;
a
p i c k - u p s u p p o rt e d b y s a i d b o d y
a n d
p o s i t i o n e d
b e t W e e n
s a i d b o d y
a n d s a i d
s t r i n g s ;
s a i d
p i c k - u p
h a v i n g
a
t o p
s u r f a c e ;
a n d
a p i c k - u p t i l t a d j u s t m e n t mechanism f o r a d j u s t i n g t h e
a n g l e
o f s a i d t o p
s u r f a c e
r e l a t i v e
t o
t h e p l a n e o f s a i d
s t r i n g s .
1 1 . The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s e t f o r t h i n c l a i m 1 0 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d p i c k - u p c o m p r i s e s a
s u p p o r t
p l a t e c o n ? g u r e d
t o
p i v o t
a b o u t a p i v o t l i n e
a n d s a i d
t i l t
a d j u s t m e n t
mechanism
c o m p r i s e s a t
l e a s t o n e s p r i n g
b e t W e e n s a i d
body a n d
s a i d
s u p p o r t
p l a t e on
a
? r s t s i d e
o f s a i d
l i n e
a n d a
s e l e c t i v e l y
a d j u s t a b l e
member
e t W e e n s a i d
b o d y
a n d
s a i d s u p p o r t
p l a t e
on t h e
o p p o s i t e s i d e
o f
s a i d
l i n e from s a i d ? r s t s i d e .
1 2 . The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s e t
f o r t h
i n
c l a i m
1 1 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d a d j u s t a b l e member a n d s a i d
body
a r e
i n t h r e a d e d
engagement
s u c h t h a t
t h e f o r c e o f s a i d s p r i n g on s a i d
s u p p o r t
p l a t e
i s
a
f u n c t i o n o f
t h e r o t a t i o n
o f
s a i d
a d j u s t a b l e
member.
1 3 . The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s e t f o r t h i n c l a i m
1 1 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d a d j u s t a b l e
member a n d
s a i d
body a r e i n
t h r e a d e d
e n g a g e m e n t
s u c h
t h a t
t h e a n g l e
o f
s a i d
t o p s u r f a c e r e l a t i v e
t o s a i d p l a n e o f s a i d s t r i n g s i s a f u n c t i o n o f t h e r o t a t i o n o f
s a i d a d j u s t a b l e
m e m b e r .
1 4 .
The
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s e t
f o r t h
i n
c l a i m 1 0 , a n d
f u r t h e r c o m p r i s i n g
a
h e i g h t a d j u s t m e n t
mechanism f o r
a d j u s t i n g
t h e
d i s t a n c e
b e t W e e n s a i d
t o p s u r f a c e a n d
s a i d
p l a n e o f s a i d s t r i n g s .