Abstract
An interchangeable pickup support is for a stringed musical instrument. The support is of the type that includes at least a base body provided with an attachment to a stringed musical instrument and a support for supporting and attaching the pickup to the base body. The attachment includes at least a fastener which is movable by an actuator which is rigidly connected to the fastener, the ends of which are configured to project in part through respective holes arranged on the outer surface of the base body and attached to the stringed musical instrument. The base body also includes at least a retainer for the fastener in the attachment to the stringed musical instrument.
Claims
1. An interchangeable pickup support for a stringed musical instrument comprising: a base body configured to support a pickup for a stringed musical instrument, said base body comprising at least two openings on an outer surface thereof, a fastener having an elongated body and comprising at least two projection sections and two through holes to maneuver the fastener, and a source of pressure configured to apply pressure to the fastener, wherein the base body comprises a space in an interior thereof to accommodate the fastener, and the fastener is configured to be movable such that the at least two projection sections project in part through the respective openings of the base body to engage with a body of the stringed musical instrument directly or indirectly and that the at least two projection sections retract to disengage with the body of the stringed musical instrument.
2. The interchangeable pickup support according to claim 1, wherein the at least two projection sections are symmetrical.
3. The interchangeable pickup support according to claim 1, wherein the base body comprises four openings and the fastener comprises four symmetrical projection sections configured to project in part through the respective four openings arranged on the outer surface of said base body.
4. The interchangeable pickup support according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is movable in a radial direction relative to a midpoint thereof.
5. The interchangeable pickup support according to claim 1, wherein the two through holes are arranged on either side of a midpoint of the fastener, allowing the fastener to be manoeuvred by the action of two fingers of the user.
6. The interchangeable pickup support according to claim 1, wherein the source of pressure comprises two helical springs which are arranged vertically on the fastener and apply pressure to said fastener against the base body.
7. The interchangeable pickup support according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is a planar and the at least two projection sections have a partially sloping termination.
8. A stringed musical instrument, comprising an interchangeable pickup support according to claim 1.
9. A stringed musical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the instrument is an electric guitar.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) To aid understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings are given as an explanatory but non-limiting example of two embodiments of the pickup support for stringed musical instruments.
(2) FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of a pickup support according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
(3) FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the pickup support according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
(4) FIG. 3 is a view from above of the pickup support according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
(5) FIG. 4 is a view from below of the pickup support according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of some elements of the pickup support according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
(7) FIG. 6 is a cross section of the pickup support through the plane VI-VI of FIG. 3.
(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pickup support according to a first embodiment of the present invention attached to an external element of the stringed musical instrument by the ends of the fastener element.
(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a stringed musical instrument with the location of the external element shown in FIG. 7 where the pickup support according to the present invention will be attached.
(10) FIG. 9 is a view from above of the pickup support according to FIG. 7.
(11) FIG. 10 is a cross section of the pickup support through the plane X-X of FIG. 9 in which the pickup support is not attached to the external element of the stringed musical instrument.
(12) FIG. 11 is an enlarged section of the cross section of FIG. 10.
(13) FIG. 12 is a cross section of the pickup support through the plane X-X of FIG. 9 in which the support is attached to the external element of the stringed musical instrument by the ends of the fastener element.
(14) FIG. 13 is an enlarged section of the cross section of FIG. 12.
(15) FIG. 14 is a first perspective view of a pickup support according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
(16) FIG. 15 is a second perspective view of the pickup support according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
(17) FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of some elements of the pickup support according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
(18) FIG. 17 is a view from below of the pickup support according to a second embodiment of the present invention in the attachment position.
(19) FIG. 18 is a view from below of the pickup support according to a second embodiment of the present invention in the release position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(20) FIGS. 1 to 4 are respective perspective, from above and below views of a first embodiment of a pickup -300- support -1-. Said support -1- comprises a base body -100- which is the portion of the support -1- which is attached to the stringed musical instrument. In addition, said support -1- comprises a plate (not shown) to which the pickup -300- is attached by means, for example, of screws normally arranged at the ends thereof. In addition, the pickups comprise a decorative casing -200- which covers the entirety of said plate (not shown) to which the pickup -300- is attached by the corresponding screws for adjustment and attachment of the pickup -200- to the plate. As can be seen in 1 and 2, according to this first embodiment of the pickup -300- support -1-, the base body -100- has a rectangular prismatic shape closed by a lower plate -140- (see FIG. 4), comprising, on each of the faces thereof that are opposite one another along the longitudinal axis of said base body -100-, two holes -110-, -120- through which may project, as will be seen below, respective ends -111- and -121- of a fastener element -130- illustrated in FIG. 5.
(21) In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the fastener element -130- comprises through-holes -171- and -172- arranged on either side of the midpoint of the surface of the fastener element -130- (also shown in greater detail in FIG. 5) which allow two respective fingers of the user to be inserted in order to manoeuvre and move the fastener element -130- between two positions, as will be explained later. In addition, the lower plate -140- of the base body -100- comprises respective through-holes -141- and -142- through which a user can gain access using the respective fingers in order to manoeuvre the fastener element -130- through the respective holes thereof -141- and -142-. Said through-holes -141- and -142- are of the elongate type so as to allow movement of the fastener element -130- through the respective holes thereof -141- and -142- between a connection position (in which the ends -111- and -121- of the fastener element -130- project through the respective holes -110-, -120- of the base body -100-, as can be seen for example in FIGS. 7, 12 and 13) and a disconnection position (in which the ends -111- and -121- of the fastener element -130- move backwards until said ends are once more inside the base body -100-, as shown for example in FIGS. 6, 10 and 11).
(22) In addition, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the base body -100- comprises a housing in the interior thereof where the fastener element -130- is located, said housing being suitable to allow the guidance and movement of said fastener element -130- between said connection and disconnection positions. As can be seen in said FIG. 5, the fastener element -130- is preferably planar with a shape adapted to the space inside the base body -100- so as to be able to produce the trajectory of movement thereof unimpeded by internal elements of said pickup -300- support -1-, such as attachment screws or additional springs, among others. Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the ends -111- and -121- have a partially sloping termination which, as will be seen later, facilitates the movement of the fastener element -130- when being connected to the stringed musical instrument. In addition, the base body -100- also comprises means for retaining the fastener element -130-, which consist of two helical, preferably conical, springs -131- and -132- arranged vertically on the fastener element -130-, preferably on either side of the midpoint of said fastener element -130-. Said helical springs -131- and -132- are configured to apply constant pressure to said fastener element -130- against the lower plate -140- of the base body -100-, both in said connection position and in the disconnection position.
(23) The pickup -300- support -1- may either be connected directly to the body of a guitar (not shown), which has grooves or holes for receiving the respective ends -111-, -112-, or may be connected to an external element -400-, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 9, said external element -400- in turn being connected to a hole -40- made in a body -4- of a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, for example (see FIG. 8).
(24) FIGS. 10 and 11 show the pickup -300- support in the disconnection position of the fastener element -130- with respect to the external element -400-, whereas FIGS. 12 and 13 show the pickup -300- support in the connection position of the fastener element -130- with respect to the external element -400-. Between the disconnection position and the connection position, the user previously inserts two fingers of his or her hand through the holes -171- and -172- of the fastener element -130- through the respective elongate holes -141- and -142- of the lower plate -140- of the base body -100- and moves said fastener element -130- along the trajectory defined internally in the base body -100- and limited by the ends of the elongate holes -141- and -142-. On moving the fastener element -130- from one end to the other of each respective elongate hole -141- and -142-, the fastener element -130- is moved causing the ends -111- and -121- of said fastener element -130- to project from the respective holes -110- and -120-. The ends -111- and -121- of said fastener element -130-, by projecting from the respective holes -110- and -120- of the base body -100-, enter into respective holes -410- and -420- of the external element -400- for receiving said ends -111- and -121-, producing the connection between the base body -100- and the external element -400-. To ensure efficient retention of said connection between the pickup -300- support -1- and the musical instrument body, which will comprise the external element -400-, as explained above the two helical springs -131- and -132- apply constant pressure at all times to said fastener element -130- against the lower plate -140- of the base body -100-, and also to the ends -111- and -121- at the respective points of connection in the holes -410- and -420-.
(25) Optionally, as can be seen in FIG. 11, the alignment of the respective holes (-110-, -120-) and (-410-, -420-) of the external element -400- and of the base body -100- may be stepped. In this case, the partially sloping termination of the ends -111- and -121- of the fastener element -130- will make it easier to move said fastener element -130- when being connected to the stringed musical instrument. Thus, on moving the fastener element -130- causing the ends -111- and -121- of said fastener element -130- to project from the respective holes -110- and -120-, said ends -111- and -121- will rise up the step formed between the respective holes (-110-, -120-) and (-410-, -420-) of the external element -400- and of the base body -100- so as to be able to enter respective holes -410- and -420- of the external element -400- for receiving said ends -111- and -121-. On rising vertically up said step, the fastener element -130- will also be raised to the position defined by the plane which contains the respective lower portions of the holes -410- and -420-. In addition, when the fastener element -130- rises vertically inside the base body -100-, the respective helical springs -131- and -132- contract slightly, ensuring in turn reliable retention of the fastener element -130- at the ends thereof -111- and -120- connected in the respective holes -410- and -420-.
(26) FIGS. 14 to 18 are respective views of a second embodiment of a pickup -300- support -1-. Said second embodiment comprises elements that are practically the same as those of the first embodiment, with the exception of what will be described below, and therefore similar elements with respect to the first embodiment may have the same reference numeral and will not be described with respect to said second embodiment.
(27) In said second embodiment, the support -1- also comprises a base body -100- having a rectangular prismatic shape closed by a lower plate -140-. However, in this case, the base body -100- respectively comprises, on the four vertical faces thereof, four respective holes -110-, -150-, -120- and -160- through which, as will be seen below, respective ends -111-, -151-, -121- and -161- of a fastener element -130-, illustrated in FIG. 16, may project. In this case, the fastener element -130- may optionally comprise at least an elongate hole -135- which is different from the elongate holes -171- and -172- for manipulating the fastener element -130-, said elongate hole -135- being configured to house internal elements of said pickup -300- support -1-, such as attachment screws or additional springs, among others, and thus to allow unimpeded movement of the fastener element -130-. Said configuration of four ends of the fastener element -130- produces a connection that is more reliable and secure against vibrations that may arise during the use of the stringed musical instrument.
(28) The connection and disconnection operation between the base body -100- of the pickup -300- support -1- and the external element -400- is the same as for the first embodiment and therefore, in this case, the user shall previously insert the respective fingers of his or her hand through the holes -171- and -172- of the fastener element -130- through the respective elongate holes -141- and -142- of the lower plate -140- of the base body 100- and move said fastener element -130- along the trajectory defined internally in the base body -100- and limited by the ends of the elongate holes -141- and -142-. In this case, on moving the fastener element -130- from one end to the other of each respective elongate hole -141- and -142-, the fastener element -130- is moved causing the ends -111-, -151-, -121- and -161- of said fastener element -130- to project from the respective holes -110-, -150-, -120- and -160-, and enter respectively into respective holes in the external element -400- for receiving said ends -111-, -151-, -121- and -161-, producing the connection between the base body -100- and the external element -400-. In this case, too, in order to ensure efficient retention of said connection between the pickup -300- support -1- and the musical instrument body, which will comprise the external element -400-, the two helical springs -131- and -132- apply constant pressure at all times to said fastener element -130- against the lower plate -140- of the base body -100-, and also to the ends -111-, -151-, -121- and -161- at the respective points of connection in the respective holes for receiving said ends -111-, -151-, -121- and -161-.
(29) Although the invention has been set out and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it should be understood that these do not limit the invention, and that it is possible to alter many structural or other details that may prove obvious to persons skilled in the art after interpreting the subject matter disclosed in the present description, claims and drawings. Therefore, the scope of the present invention includes any variant or equivalent that could be considered covered by the broadest scope of the following claims.
