The present disclosure describes multiple tremolo systems for a foldable stringed instrument, for example a travel guitar. According to certain aspects, the tremolo systems disclosed herein are mounted to an actuator used to tighten or loosen the strings to enable playing or folding. The foldable stringed instrument folds mid-neck to assume a reduced profile.
A foldable acoustic guitar having a foldable neck assembly and a hollow body with at least one sound hole and a neck channel formed in the back for receiving a section of the neck assembly while the guitar is in a folded configuration. An actuator assembly is disposed in a recess formed in the body opposite the foldable neck. The actuator assembly serves to selectively loosen and tighten the strings in order to enable folding and unfolding of the guitar for travel/storage or play, respectively. While in the playing configuration, a user of the guitar may create any of a variety of musical notes by depressing the various strings between the various frets as known in the art. While in the folded configuration, a user can place the folded guitar in a backpack or other compact bag or carry-case for stress-free mobility or convenient storage.
A foldable stringed instrument having an actuator system that serves to selectively loosen and tighten the strings to fold and unfold the stringed instrument for storage/travel and play, respectively, as well as a mid-neck hinge to enable symmetrical folding of the stringed instrument. Optional cavities may be provided in the body of the stringed instrument for weight reduction and/or receiving sustain modules configured to modify the sustain of the stringed instrument depending upon the weight and/or material properties of the sustain modules.
An actuator system for a foldable stringed instrument (for example, a travel guitar). The actuator system serves two primary function: 1) to selectively retract and extend a ram rod used to unlock and lock a mid-neck hinge of the foldable stringed instrument.
A hinge assembly having reinforced abutment surfaces for use in a neck of a foldable fretted instrument. Multiple strike plates are mounted to the hinge assembly, which are made from stronger and more robust materials than the underlying hinge such that the strike plates bear the loads (vs. the underlying hinge material) to prevent deformation of the hinge components during use over time. An elongated locking strut is dimensioned to be slidably advanced into the hinge assembly to selectively lock and unlock the neck of the foldable fretted instrument.
A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.
An in-airport guitar kiosk and related methods for allowing air travelers an opportunity to relax and play guitar before or after flights (to improve the passenger journey) as well as the opportunity to try a novel travel guitar uniquely suited for air travel.
E04H 1/12 - Small buildings or other erections for limited occupation, erected in the open air or arranged in buildings, e.g. kiosks, waiting shelters for bus stops or for filling stations, roofs for railway platforms, watchmen's huts or dressing cubicles
An actuator system for a foldable stringed instrument (for example, a travel guitar). The actuator system serves two primary function: 1) to selectively retract and extend a ram rod used to unlock and lock a mid-neck hinge of the foldable stringed instrument.
A foldable stringed instrument, for example in the form of a travel guitar that folds mid-neck to assume a reduced profile is described. The mid-neck folding is accomplished in a symmetrical manner about a three-part hinge located in the neck to configure the travel guitar into a reduced profile. The bridge assembly can be translated longitudinally relative to the head of the guitar to allow sufficient detensioning of the guitar strings to enable an upper portion of the neck to be folded away from a lower portion of the neck and/or body to assume a reduced profile. To deploy the travel guitar for playing, the upper portion of the neck is unfolded into alignment with the lower portion of the neck and/or body, and the bridge assembly translated longitudinally relative to the head and locked in position to allow the guitar to be tuned for playing.
A guitar holder with a built-in guitar amplifier for enabling convenient guitar practice and/or play with a compact, space-saving footprint. The guitar holder may comprise any of a variety of guitar holders, including but not limited to a guitar stand and/or a guitar wall hanger.
A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.
An in-airport guitar kiosk and related methods for allowing air travelers an opportunity to relax and play guitar before or after flights (to improve the passenger journey) as well as the opportunity to try a novel travel guitar uniquely suited for air travel.
E04H 1/12 - Small buildings or other erections for limited occupation, erected in the open air or arranged in buildings, e.g. kiosks, waiting shelters for bus stops or for filling stations, roofs for railway platforms, watchmen's huts or dressing cubicles
A hinge assembly with reinforced abutment surfaces via the use of multiple strike plates. The strike plates are made from stronger and more robust materials than the underlying hinge, such that the strike plates bear the loads (vs. the underlying hinge material) to prevent deformation of the hinge components during use over time.
A hinge assembly with reinforced abutment surfaces via the use of multiple strike plates. The strike plates are made from stronger and more robust materials than the underlying hinge, such that the strike plates bear the loads (vs. the underlying hinge material) to prevent deformation of the hinge components during use over time.
A foldable stringed instrument, for example in the form of a travel guitar that folds mid-neck to assume a reduced profile is described. The mid-neck folding is accomplished in a symmetrical manner about a three-part hinge located in the neck to configure the travel guitar into a reduced profile. The bridge assembly can be translated longitudinally relative to the head of the guitar to allow sufficient detensioning of the guitar strings to enable an upper portion of the neck to be folded away from a lower portion of the neck and/or body to assume a reduced profile. To deploy the travel guitar for playing, the upper portion of the neck is unfolded into alignment with the lower portion of the neck and/or body, and the bridge assembly translated longitudinally relative to the head and locked in position to allow the guitar to be tuned for playing.
An in-airport guitar kiosk and related methods for allowing air travelers an opportunity to relax and play guitar before or after flights (to improve the passenger journey) as well as the opportunity to try a novel travel guitar uniquely suited for air travel.
E04H 1/12 - Small buildings or other erections for limited occupation, erected in the open air or arranged in buildings, e.g. kiosks, waiting shelters for bus stops or for filling stations, roofs for railway platforms, watchmen's huts or dressing cubicles
A foldable stringed instrument, for example in the form of a travel guitar that folds mid-neck to assume a reduced profile is described. The mid-neck folding is accomplished in a symmetrical manner about a three-part hinge located in the neck to configure the travel guitar into a reduced profile. The bridge assembly can be translated longitudinally relative to the head of the guitar to allow sufficient de-tensioning of the guitar strings to enable an upper portion of the neck to be folded away from a lower portion of the neck and/or body to assume a reduced profile. To deploy the travel guitar for playing, the upper portion of the neck is unfolded into alignment with the lower portion of the neck and/or body, and the bridge assembly translated longitudinally relative to the head and locked in position to allow the guitar to be tuned for playing.
A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.
A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.
A foldable stringed instrument, for example in the form of a travel guitar that folds mid-neck to assume a reduced profile is described. The mid-neck folding is accomplished in a symmetrical manner about a three-part hinge located in the neck to configure the travel guitar into a reduced profile. The bridge assembly can be translated longitudinally relative to the head of the guitar to allow sufficient de- tensioning of the guitar strings to enable an upper portion of the neck to be folded away from a lower portion of the neck and/or body to assume a reduced profile. To deploy the travel guitar for playing, the upper portion of the neck is unfolded into alignment with the lower portion of the neck and/or body, and the bridge assembly translated longitudinally relative to the head and locked in position to allow the guitar to be tuned for playing.
A travel guitar having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile configured to house or otherwise receive or coupled to a tablet computer (e.g. iPad by Apple, Inc.) and/or a smart phone (e.g. iPhone by Apple, Inc.) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the travel guitar, and a string assembly capable of retracting or otherwise housing the strings to enable or facilitate configuring the travel guitar into a reduced profile.
G10H 3/18 - Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussion instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent device using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means using strings, e.g. electric guitars
A foldable stringed instrument having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile by folding an upper neck portion away from the playing position through the use of a translating bridge assembly and a translating truss assembly, wherein the foldable stringed instrument is capable of housing or otherwise being coupled to any of a variety of electronics or electrical components (e.g. a smart phone or tablet computer) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the foldable stringed instrument.
A travel guitar having a neck and/or body that may assume a reduced profile configured to house or otherwise receive or coupled to a tablet computer (e.g. iPad by Apple, Inc.) and/or a smart phone (e.g. iPhone by Apple, Inc.) having one or more applications (apps) for driving the operation, functionality and/or effects associated with the travel guitar, and a string assembly capable of retracting or otherwise housing the strings to enable or facilitate configuring the travel guitar into a reduced profile.
