OctaveTouch fretpad

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a capo, or a fretpad for a capo, for use with a stringed musical instrument. The fretpad is manufactured from a pliable material that mimics the compression of a human finger, and which prevents the instrument from going out of tune prematurely. The fretpad insert is radiused and configured to be insertable into a frame, which may be detachably connected to a capo body.

Claims

1. A fretpad for use on a capo comprising: a radiused fretpad insert, whereby said fretpad insert is curved longitudinally; a fretpad frame, wherein said radiused fretpad insert is detachably affixed to said fretpad frame, whereby said fretpad frame provides structural support to said radiused fretpad insert; wherein said radiused fretpad insert has a durometer of between 15 and 40 shore A.

2. The fretpad of claim 1 wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from silicone.

3. The fretpad of claim 1 wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from rubber.

4. The fretpad of claim 1 wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from a mixture of silicone and rubber.

5. The fretpad of claim 1, wherein said radiused fretpad has a durometer of between 20 and 35 shore A.

6. The fretpad of claim 1, wherein said radiused fretpad has a durometer of 30 shore A.

7. The fretpad of claim 1, wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from silicone rubber.

8. The fretpad of claim 1, wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from butyl rubber.

9. The fretpad of claim 1, wherein said fretpad frame is manufactured from polycarbonate.

10. The fretpad of claim 1, wherein said fretpad frame is manufactured from ABS.

11. A capo comprising: a capo body; a radiused fretpad insert, whereby said fretpad insert is curved longitudinally; a fretpad frame, wherein said radiused fretpad insert is detachably affixed to said fretpad frame whereby said fretpad frame provides structural support to said radiused fretpad insert and is detachably connected to said capo body; wherein said radiused fretpad insert has a durometer of between 15 and 40 shore A.

12. The capo of claim 11, wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from silicone.

13. The capo of claim 11, wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from rubber.

14. The capo of claim 11, wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from a mixture of silicone and rubber.

15. The capo of claim 11, wherein said radiused fretpad has a durometer of between 20 and 35 shore A.

16. The capo of claim 11, wherein said radiused fretpad has a durometer of 30 shore A.

17. The capo of claim 11, wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from silicone rubber.

18. The capo of claim 11, wherein said radiused fretpad insert is manufactured from butyl rubber.

19. The capo of claim 11, wherein said fretpad frame is manufactured from polycarbonate.

20. The capo of claim 11, wherein said fretpad frame is manufactured from ABS.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a bottom view diagram of the radiused fretpad insert.

(3) FIG. 2 is an upsidedown side view diagram of the radiused fretpad insert.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view diagram of the radiused fretpad insert.

(5) FIG. 4 is a top view diagram of the fretpad frame.

(6) FIG. 5 is an upsidedown side view diagram of the fretpad frame.

(7) FIG. 6 is a bottom view diagram of the fretpad frame.

(8) FIG. 7 is an exploded side view diagram the rubber spring and the radiused fretpad insert.

(9) FIG. 8 is an exploded side view diagram the OctaveTouch fretpad.

(10) FIG. 9 is a side view diagram showing a capo 800 with an OctaveTouch fretpad.

(11) FIG. 10 is an oblique exploded side view diagram of an OctaveTouch fretpad.

(12) FIG. 11 is an oblique exploded side view diagram of an OctaveTouch fretpad.

(13) FIG. 12 is an oblique side diagram of a capo with an OctaveTouch fretpad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) Before the invention is described in further detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.

(15) Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed with the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges is also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention.

(16) Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, a limited number of the exemplary methods and materials are described herein.

(17) It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

(18) All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, if dates of publication are provided, they may be different from the actual publication dates and may need to be confirmed independently.

(19) It should be further understood that the examples and embodiments pertaining to the systems and methods disclosed herein are not meant to limit the possible implementations of the present technology. Further, although the subject matter has been described in a language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the Claims.

(20) A human finger reacts to strings on a guitar, including a 12-string guitar. The finger tip is initially very soft, molding around the strings but then quickly bottoms out on bone, so that both strings are pressed against the fret with equal tension. When you barre with the side of your finger, the fleshy part of the finger makes contact with the fretboard and depresses the octave strings.

(21) When a rubber fretpad makes contact with the strings, the rubber conforms slightly to the strings, but it is nowhere as soft or as pliable as a finger. This means that a lot of force is being applied to the standard gauge strings in order to press then down far enough to hit the octave strings.

(22) One embodiment of the present invention is referred to as an OctaveTouch fretpad. Note that the OctaveTouch fretpad does not have grooves, but appears to have the profile of a fretpad which does have grooves when it is applied to a guitar. In one embodiment of the present invention, the OctaveTouch fretpad is made of silicone with no special additives with a 25 durometer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the OctaveTouch fretpad is made of silicone mixed with additives with a 25 durometer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the OctaveTouch fretpad is made of a material other than silicone with a 25 durometer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the OctaveTouch fretpad is made of silicone with a durometer in the range of 15-40. In one embodiment of the present invention, the OctaveTouch fretpad is made of a material other than silicone with a durometer in the range of 15-40. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fretpad is radiused, meaning that instead of being flat, the fretpad has a radius or curve that goes across the fingerboard of a guitar in line with the frets.

(23) Turning now to FIG. 1, shown is a bottom view diagram of the radiused fretpad insert 100. The radius feature 110 is the front face of the radiused fretpad insert 100 that is applied to the strings across the fretboard of a guitar when integrated into a capo. The radiused fretpad insert 100 is manufactured out of rubber, silicone, or hybrid mixture. The radiused fretpad insert 100 defines the radius and the strings of a guitar that are to be compressed. In a partial version of the radiused fretpad insert 100 there are cutouts to allow certain strings to ring free. In the full version of the radiused fretpad insert 100 as shown, all strings are compressed. The material and elastomeric properties of radiused fretpad insert 100 define the function. Standard rubber fretpads are often made of a harder butyl rubber, while the radiused fretpad insert 100 can be made from a softer silicone rubber. The radius feature 110 goes across the strings of a guitar and is a defined radius to match the instruments fretboard radius.

(24) Turning now to FIG. 2, shown is an upsidedown side view diagram of the radiused fretpad insert 100 with the radius feature 110 on top and various features along the bottom used for connecting the radiused fretpad insert 100 with a fretpad frame. The front alignment knub feature 120 slots through a fretpad frame for attachment to the fretpad frame and also can further slot into a capo body when inserted to hold it in place and keep it from being pulled out of the capo body when lateral force is applied from sliding capo up the neck of the instrument. The front center alignment knub feature 130 slots through a fretpad frame for attachment to the fretpad frame and can also further slot into the capo body when inserted to hold it in place and keep it from being pulled out of the capo body when lateral force is applied from sliding capo up the neck of the instrument. The center knub feature 140 has a molded number that shows the radius of the fretpad so that a user can readily tell multiple fretpads from one another. The rear center alignment knub feature 150 slots through a fretpad frame for attachment to the fretpad frame and can also slot into the capo body when inserted to hold it in place and keep it from being pulled out of the capo body when lateral force is applied from sliding capo up the neck of the instrument. In one embodiment of the present invention, the front alignment knub feature 120, the front center alignment knub feature 130, the center knub feature 140, and the rear center alignment knub feature 150 are feature protrusions molded with, and from the same material as, the radius feature 110.

(25) Turning now to FIG. 3, shown is a top view diagram of the radiused fretpad insert 100 with the back of the radius feature 110 shown with various features used for connecting the radiused fretpad insert 100 with a fretpad frame. The front alignment knub feature 120 slots through a fretpad frame for attachment to the fretpad frame and also can further slot into a capo body when inserted to hold it in place and keep it from being pulled out of the capo body when lateral force is applied from sliding capo up the neck of the instrument. The front center alignment knub feature 130 slots through a fretpad frame for attachment to the fretpad frame and can also further slot into the capo body when inserted to hold it in place and keep it from being pulled out of the capo body when lateral force is applied from sliding capo up the neck of the instrument. The center knub feature 140 has a molded number that shows the radius of the fretpad so that a user can readily tell multiple fretpads from one another. The rear center alignment knub feature 150 slots through a fretpad frame for attachment to the fretpad frame and can also slot into the capo body when inserted to hold it in place and keep it from being pulled out of the capo body when lateral force is applied from sliding capo up the neck of the instrument.

(26) Turning now to FIG. 4, shown is a top view diagram of the fretpad frame 200 which connects with the radiused fretpad insert to provide structure and support for the radiused fretpad insert. The fretpad frame 200 is a hard plastic frame made from polycarbonate, ABS or the like. The fretpad frame top 210 is that part that connects the OctaveTouch fretpad to a capo. Shown on the far left is a frame snap feature 220, a protrusion on fretpad frame top 210 made of plastic and designed to snap into the capo body to keep the OctaveTouch fretpad held in place during use. The front center alignment slot feature 230 is designed to allow the front center alignment knub feature to slot through it for alignment and to increased adhesion to the fretpad frame 200. The center slot feature 240 is designed to allow the front center alignment knub feature to slot through so that a user can see the radius number when assembled. The rear center alignment slot feature 250 is designed to allow the rear center alignment knub feature to slot through it for alignment and to increased adhesion to the fretpad frame 200. The rubber spring slot 260 provides a cavity into which a rubber spring can be adhered.

(27) Turning now to FIG. 5, shown is an upsidedown side view diagram of the fretpad frame 200. The fretpad frame 200 is a hard plastic frame made from polycarbonate, ABS or the like. The fretpad frame top 210 is that part that connects the OctaveTouch fretpad to a capo. Shown on the far left is a frame snap feature 220, a protrusion on fretpad frame top 210 made of plastic and designed to snap into the capo body to keep the OctaveTouch fretpad held in place during use. The rubber spring 260 is inserted into, connected to, or glued into the rubber spring slot.

(28) Turning now to FIG. 6, shown is a bottom view diagram of the fretpad frame 200 which connects with the radiused fretpad insert to provide structure and support for the radiused fretpad insert. The fretpad frame 200 is a hard plastic frame made from polycarbonate, ABS or the like. The fretpad frame top 210 is that part that connects the OctaveTouch fretpad to a capo. Shown on the far left is a frame snap feature 220, a protrusion on fretpad frame top 210 made of plastic and designed to snap into the capo body to keep the OctaveTouch fretpad held in place during use. The front center alignment slot feature 230 is designed to allow the front center alignment knub feature to slot through it for alignment and to increase adhesion to the fretpad frame 200. The center slot feature 240 is designed to allow the center knub feature to slot through so that a user can see the radius number when assembled. The rear center alignment slot feature 250 is designed to allow the rear center alignment knub feature to slot through it for alignment and to increase adhesion to the fretpad frame 200. The rubber spring slot 260 provides a cavity where you can adhere or connect the rubber spring.

(29) Turning now to FIG. 7, shown is an exploded side view diagram showing how the rubber spring 700 and the radiused fretpad insert 100 connect with the fretpad frame 200. The rubber spring 700 keeps the OctaveTouch fretpad snapped into the metal body of a capo. In one embodiment of the present invention, the rubber spring is manufactured from butyl rubber with a 85 durometer.

(30) Turning now to FIG. 8, shown is an exploded side view diagram showing how the OctaveTouch fretpad comprising the radiused fretpad insert 100, rubber spring 700 and fretpad frame 200, connect with a capo 800. This is the metal part of the capo that the fretpad attaches to. The body contains the mechanical features that provides pressure for the capo function. In one embodiment of the invention, the capo body may be made from zinc, aluminum, magnesium or equivalent.

(31) Turning now to FIG. 9, shown is a side view diagram showing a capo 800 with an OctaveTouch fretpad comprising a fretpad frame 200 and a radiused fretpad insert 100.

(32) Turning now to FIG. 10, shown is an oblique exploded side view diagram showing how the radiused fretpad insert 100, rubber spring 700 and fretpad frame 200 connect together in order to connect to a capo body 800.

(33) Turning now to FIG. 11, shown is an oblique exploded side view diagram showing how the OctaveTouch fretpad comprising a fretpad frame 200 and a radiused fretpad insert 100 is connected to the capo body 800.

(34) Turning now to FIG. 12, shown is an oblique side diagram of a capo body 800 with an OctaveTouch fretpad is installed, in which part of the radiused fretpad insert 100 is shown.

(35) Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.