US3058384A - Visual tuning device for stringed instruments - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1962 Filed June 29, 1959 C. O. MUSSER VISUAL TUNING DEVICE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CLAIR QMAI? M05551? BY M fin.

ATTORNEY Oct. 16, 1962 c. o MUSSER VISUAL TUNING DEVICE FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1959 'IIIIIIIIIIIIII III/l FIG. 9.

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Q Q 2 M V 2 A M 0 w M C A 7T02A/5Y United States Patent Ofiice 3,058,384 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 3,058,384 VISUAL TUNING DEVECE FOR STRINGED INTRUMENTS Clair Omar Musser, 12997 Blairwood Drive, Studio City, Calif. Filed June 29, 1959, Ser. No. 823,666 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-454) This invention pertains to visual tuners for stringed musical instruments.

The tuning of stringed musical instruments has always been regarded as a very serious matter. The average individual is normally regarded as being incapable of accurately tuning any such instrument because of a lack of proper auditory acumen. Even many professional musicians are incapable of accurately tuning stringed instruments for the same reason. The consequences of such inaccurate tuning vary, of course, with the extent of the inaccuracy. Practically every individual has on a number of occasions listened to music of an improper and disturbing character as a result of improperly tuned instruments.

Because of the fact that most individuals are incapable of accurately tuning by ear conventional stringed musical instruments a number of attempts have been made to provide devices capable of visual inspection in order to determine if such instruments are properly tuned. These prior visual tuners have relied upon reeds or rods fixed to some sort of a base or support so as to have a free end and a fixed end. In these prior devices one of these reeds or rods is generally provided for each of the strings of an instrument, and each of the reeds or rods is proportioned as to its length so as to vibrate sympathetically in accordance with the desired tuned frequency of a corresponding string of the instrument.

Visual tuners of this type are considered objectionable for a variety of reasons. One of these is that the frequency at which such a reed or rod will vibrate depends upon its length. Hence, such reeds or rods must vary considerably as to their lengths in many common types of stringed musical instruments. This obviously is inconvenient and impractical for many purposes. Further, the vibration of a reed or rod fixed at one end and having another free end is governed by a number of different physical limitations such as the inherent elasticity of the material from which such a reed or rod is manufactured. It is this elasticity which sustains the vibration in such a member.

As a result of the physical dimensions of such a reed or rod it will not vibrate exactly in the desired theoretical manner. This manifests itself by such a reed or rod dividing itself during vibration into a series of unequal ventral segments separated by various compound nodes. These effects are particularly evidenced at lower frequencies since comparatively long reeds or rods are more susceptible to the creation of compound nodes than are shorter reeds or rods.

An object of the'present invention is to provide visual tuners for use in stringed musical instruments which are much more desirable and acceptable than the aforegoing and various related types of visual tuners known at the present time. A further object of the present invention is to provide visual tuners which are much more accurate than many prior devices of a similar character and which nevertheless may be manufactured and used in a stringed musical instrument ata comparatively nominal cost. A i

ing any basic changes in the structures of such instruments.

These and many other objects and advantages of this invention will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this description including the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of what may be referred to as an extremely simple embodiment of a stringed musical instrument embodying a visual tuner of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of this instrument;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the tuner employed in the instrument shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a guitar including a visual tuner of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 6- 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional View taken at line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken at line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational View corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 6 of a modified visual tuner of this invention incorporated within a stringed musical instrument;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the visual tuner shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of several plastic parts which may be used in a modified visual tuner of this invention.

The accompanying drawings are primarily intended so as to clearly illustrate several presently preferred forms or embodiments of this invention. It will be realized, however, that visual tuners as herein described may be constructed in a number of difierent manners as may be desired in using these tuners upon various different instruments, such as pianos, zithers, violins, or the like. Such modification or adaptation of visual tuners of the present invention can be made through the exercise of routine or conventional engineering skill with a minimum of difiiculty following the principles of this invention set forth in this specification.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be essentially stated in summary form that it involves visual tuners for use in stringed instruments having at least one string held under tension. In accordance with this invention such a string extends across a supporting bridge structure so that some tension is applied to this bridge structure by the string. With the visual tuners of this invention a resilient reed or spring is mounted upon such abridge structure so as to have a free end located away from this bridge structure; this free end carries a counterbalanced head or weight. With this construction the combined reed and weight are proportioned and tuned so as to vibrate sympathetically with the corresponding string when this string is in tune and vibrates at the desired frequency.

e The actual nature of this invention is'best more fully explained by referring directly to the accompanying drawings. In FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings there is shown what may be considered a stringed musical instrument 10 of the present invention which has been designed so as to clearly illustrate the essential nature of a visual tuner as herein described. Strictly speaking the instrument 10 is not a conventional instrument at all, but is a simple structure containing a single string 12 which is capable of being'actuated so as to vibrate at a desired frequency when bowed, plucked or struck. Thus, the instrument 10 is designed so as to produce a single note. It is further 3 designed to show how the basic principles employed in a visual tuner of the present invention can be embodied within virtually any type of stringed instrument, regardless of Whether such an instrument is a zither, a violin, 'a guitar, a mandolin, a viola, a harp, a ukulele, a piano or the like.

In the instrument one end of the string is immovably held by means of a small pin 14 mounted upon a board 16. This board 16 can be considered a sounding board although for explanatory purposes it can be considered as a complete top of any conventional type of instrument. The other end of the string 12 is held by means of a conventional tuning pin 18 in such a manner that the tension upon the string 12 may be adjusted as may be required. In the instrument 10 this string 12 extends across a fixed, conventional bridge 20 which may, for purposes of understanding this invention, be considered as being the equivalent of a fret or the like upon a number of different types of conventional musical instruments.

The string 12 also extends through holes 22 and 24 in another bridge 28 forming a part of a visual tuner of this invention. It will be seen from an examination of the drawings that the tuned length of this string 12 when it is in tune corresponds to the distance between the top of the bridge 20 and the hole 22. The bridge 28 has a generally square, cross-sectional configuration as indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawing. It includes a bottom side 30 designed to be attached to the board 16 by means of a small screw 32. The hole 24 is formed in a back side 34 of the bridge 28; the top side 36 of this bridge 28 connects the back side 34 with a front side 38 of it containing the hole 22. This front side 38 is separated from the bottom side 30 by means of a slot 40.

With this type of construction the string 12 is resiliently supported on the front side 38 in such a manner that vibrations of this string 12 are efficiently transmitted to the top side 36 of the bridge 28. Preferably the bridge 28 is sufficiently rigid in character so that tuning of the string 12 through the rotation of the pin 18 does not cause the front side 38 to contact either the board 16 or the bottom side 30 of the bridge 20.

In accordance with this invention vibrations from the string 12 are transmitted through the structure of the bridge 28 to a small, resilient, flat reed or spring 42. The reed 42 is mounted upon the top side 36 so as to extend therefrom by means of a clamping plate 44 secured to this top side 36 by means of screws 46. )With this construction the reed 42 is in direct intimate contact with the surface of the top side 36.

The reed 42 thus has both a fixed end held against the bridge 28 and a movable end located remote from this bridge 28. In accordance with this invention, this movable end carries a counter-balanced head or weight 48. Preferably this weight 48 is formed as an integral part of the reed 42 as by being cast of metal upon an end of this reed. The mass of the weight 48 is, in accordance with this invention, proportioned so that the entire reed 42 and the weight 48 structure extending from the bridge 28 sympathetically vibrates during vibration of the string 12 at a frequency corresponding to the desired tuned frequency of the string 12.

This type of construction, while seemingly very simple, is extremely important, effective and advantageous. With this construction the weight 48 is easily visible and there is no problem in determining when the reed 42 is or is not vibrating so as to indicate that the string 12 is in tune. In order to increase its visibility the weight 48 may, of course, be colored. More important than this is the fact that it is possible to form the reed 42 and weight 48 structure so that this structure is of a cornparatively small dimension and so that such structures can be used to accurately tune strings vibrating at virtually any frequency. As an example of this a series of small reeds and attached weights following the basic principles indicated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings de signed to operate with strings vibrating at frequencies normally encountered in musical instruments have been constructed so as to all have uniform lengths of approxirnately 1 cm.

A very important factor with the construction of the reed 42 and the combined weight 48 lies in the manner in which this structure vibrates sympathetically at a desired frequency without vibrating at other than such a desired frequency. During such vibration of this structure a node is created at the point where the reed 42 is rigidly secured to the bridge 28 and another node is created between the weight 48 and the bridge 28. In effect this means that the reed 42 vibrates during use in essentially a desired wave pattern and not as a conventional elongated reed or rod. As a result of this type of construct-ion undesired nodes and ventral segments are not created during the use of a visual tuner as herein described. Hence, a simple tuning structure as indicated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings is extremely accurate. These tuning structures have been made so that strings of an instrument may be easily and conveniently tuned to within plus or minus .02 of a semitone. These results are considered to be phenomenal.

In FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings there is shown a guitar 50 incorporating a complete visual tuner 52 of this invention. The guitar 50 is basically of a conventional construction and includes a body 54 having a top 56. From this body 54 there extends a neck 58 carrying at its ends a plurality of tuning pins 60. These pins carry the ends of a plurality of strings 62 which extend across frets 64 on the neck 58 and across the top 56 of the body 54 and terminate in a tail piece 66 serving to hold these strings 62 in place.

With this invention each of the individual strings 62 passes through a hole 68 in a resilient arm 70 formed on an elongated, generally rectangular bridge structure 72. These arms 70 extend from a base 74 of the bridge structure 72 which may be attached to the top 56 of the guitar 50 by an appropriate adhesive (not shown) or other equivalent means. It will be noted that each of the strings 62 passes through another hole 76 formed in a back side 78 of the bridge structure 72.

Within the tuner 52, flat, resilient metal reeds 80 similar to the reed 42 previously described are secured to the arms '70 by jeans of clamping plates 82 and screws 84 in substantially the same manner in which the reed 42 is secured in place in the instrument 10. Each of the reeds 80 carries a counterbalanced head or weight 86. These weights 86 differ from one another as to size so as to be capable of vibrating together with the attached needs 80 at a desired frequency corresponding to the tuned frequencies of the adjacent strings 62.

Preferably the tuner 52 includes a protective cover 88 attached to the back side 78 by means of screws 90. This cover is provided with an elongated transparent window 92 so that the vibration of the reeds 80 and the attached heads 86 may be easily observed during a tuning operation and so that these parts of the tuner are protected at all times.

The tuner 52 is operated in essentially the same manner as the tuner 28. Each of the reeds 80 and its attached head 86 is preferably proportioned so as to vibrate at the frequency of the string 62 passing through the arm 70* upon which this reed is operated. In accordance with the teachings of this invention it is pre ferred to form all the reeds 80 so that they are identical to one another, and to accomplish this proportioning by 0 varying the mass of the heads 86 attached to them. During the use of the tuner 52 an individual string 62 is caused to vibrate as the tension upon this string is varied through the use of pins 60. When a string is in tune, and only at this point, the corresponding reed 80 and head 86 will vibrate a substantial amount so as to indicate that this string is properly in tune. Further, since the reeds '80 are flat and are mounted so as to be spaced in substantial alignment with one another they will vibrate in parallel planes and will not interfere with each other during such vibration.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings there is shown a modified visual tuner 94 of the present invention mounted within the top 96 of a conventional stringed instrument such as a zither, a guitar, a violin or the like. This tuner includes an elongated, generally triangular shaped bar 98 forming a part of a bridge 100. From this bar 98 there extends a plate 102, the ends of which are formed so as to include a plurality of bent individual resilient arms 104. Each of these arms carries at its free end a. reed 106 to the free end of which there is attached a counter-balanced head or weight 108. The weight of the weights 108, of course, vary so as to allow the tuner to be used with strings capable of vibrating at different frequencies. The reeds 106 are secured to the arms 104 by means of plates 110 and screws 112 corresponding to the plates and screws 82 and 84 respectively.

The tuner 94 is preferably used so that shoulders 114 on the bar 98 rest against the top 96 and support the entire tuner in such a manner that the reeds 106 and heads 108 are located beneath the top 96 directly adjacent to an elongated, transparent window 116 mounted on the top 96. With this construction a plurality of strings 118, each corresponding to one of the reeds 106 extend across the exposed edge of the bar 98 in the es tablished manner.

When any of the individual strings 118 are in tune and are caused to vibrate such vibrations result in sympathetic vibration of a corresponding reed 106 and head 108. Since the reeds 106 are of a flat configuration and are mounted in substantially the same plane they do not interfere with each other as they vibrate, even though they are very closely spaced together. In tuning any one of these strings the tension on it may be adjusted until when it is vibrated this corresponding part of the tuner 94 automatically vibrates, indicating that the desired tuned state has been reached.

In FIG. 11 of the drawings there are shown several reeds 120 and 122 capable of being used with any of the embodiments of the invention previously discussed in place of the reeds, the heads on these reeds and the clamping plates used to hold them in position. Thus, it will be realized that the term reeds used in connection with the reeds 120 and 122 is employed in a broad generic sense.

These complete reeds 120 and 122 are designed to be molded completely out of known organic polymers such as are commonly used for many purposes. Both the reeds 120 and 122 include base plates 124 containing holes 125 which are adapted to be used in securing these reeds in place through the use of screws (not shown) so that the plates 124 are held firmly against a part of a bridge member in order to effectively transmit vibrations to flat, elongated reeds 126 of rectangular cross-section extending from surfaces 128 of the reeds 120 and 122. The free ends of the reeds 126 carry counterbalanced heads or weights 130.

The two reeds 120 and 122 differ as to the physical dimensions of these heads 130 so as to illustrate how reeds of the general type shown in FIG. 11 may be adapted to be used in tuning different strings of diflerent frequencies. From an examination of FIG. 11 of the drawings it will be noted that the weight 130- on the reed 120 is smaller than the weight 130 on the reed 122. This is because the reed 120 is adapted to be used in tuning strings at a higher frequency than the reed 122. With both of the reeds 120 and 122 the total lengths of all of the complete structures shown are equal. Preferably all of the parts of these reeds 120' and 122 are also of equal di- 6 mension and weight in all respects except as to the weights of the heads used upon them.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will realize that visual tuners as herein described constitu-te a decided advance in the art of musical instruments. Tuners of the categories indicated in this specification can be easily and conveniently used so as to accurately tune visually Virtually any stringed musical instrument. It is also important that these tuners may be manufactured and installed in either new or existing instruments at a comparatively nominal cost, thu bringing accurate tuning within the financial reaches of virtually anyone using a musical instrument. In all the tuners herein described the strings employed bear against the bridges forming a part of these tuners in such a manner as to cause sympathetic vibrations to be transmitted through these bridge structures to the individual headed reeds used corresponding to a string employed. Because of the nature of this invention it is to be considered as being limited only by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. In a stringed musical instrument having a bridge and at least one tunable string extending across said bridge so as to bear against said bridge so that a portion of said string next to said point of engagement of said string with said bridge is capable of being vibrated during the use of said instrument, a tuning structure which includes:

a spring member operatively attached to said bridge so as to extend therefrom adjacent to each string on i said instrument;

a weight operatively attached to each spring member at an extremity thereof remote from said bridge, each of said weights being tuned so as to cause the spring member carrying it to vibrate sympathetically during the vibration of the string adjacent to said spring member when this string vibrates at a desired tuned frequency;

a resilient arm formed on said bridge corresponding to each string on said instrument,

each string on said instrument bearing against said bridge adjacent to the resilient arm corresponding thereto, each spring member being attached to the resilient ar-m corresponding to the string which corresponds with such spring member so as to extend therefrom;

each string in said instrument bearing against a portion of said bridge remote from the resilient arm corresponding to it.

2. In a stringed musical instrument having a bridge and at least one tunable string extending across said bridge so as to bear against said bridge so that a portion of said string next to said point of engagement of said string with said bridge is capable of being vibrated during the use of said instrument, a tuning structure which includes:

a spring member oper-atively attached to said bridge so as to extend therefrom adjacent to each string on said instrument;

a weight operatively attached to each spring member at an extremity thereof remote from said bridge, each of said weights being tuned so as to cause the spring member carrying it to vibrate sympathetically during the vibration of the string adjacent to said spring member when this string vibrates at a desired tuned frequency;

a plurality of strings extending across and bearing against said bridge,

the spring member and the weight operatively attached thereto corresponding to each of said strings operatively attached to said bridge, each of said spring members and the weight operatively attached thereto corresponding to one of said strings;

said bridge extending into the interior of said musical instrument,

said spring members and the weights that are attached thereto being located within the interior of said instrument, and

window means mounted on said instrument enabling said spring members and the weights attached thereto to be viewed from the exterior of said instrument.

3. In a stringed musical instrument having a bridge and at least one tunable string extending across said bridge so as to bear against said bridge so that a portion of said string next to said point of engagement of said string with said bridge is capable of being vibrated during the use of said instrument, a tuning structure which includes:

a spring member operatively attached to said bridge so as to extend therefrom adjacent to each string on said instrument;

a weight operatively attached to each spring member at an extremity thereof remote from said bridge, each of said weights being tuned so as to cause the spring member carrying it to vibrate sympathetically during the vibration of the string adjacent to said spring member when this string vibrates at a desired tuned frequency;

a plurality of strings extending across and bearing against said bridge,

the spring member and the weight operatively attached thereto corresponding to each of said strings operatively attached to said bridge, each of said spring members and the weight operatively attached thereto corresponding to one of said strings;

a resilient arm formed in said bridge corresponding to each of said strings,

each of said spring members being operatively attached to the one of said arms corresponding to the string which corresponds to the spring member operatively attached thereto,

said strings bearing against a part of said bridge remote from said arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 796,289 Brady Aug. 1, 1905 841,384 England Jan. 15, 1907 1,742,869 Mirfield Jan. 7, 1930 2,681,588 Dyner June 22, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 205,560 Germany Jan. 4, 190 9

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