Reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot-swap cartridge system

Abstract

A cartridge is formed of a mounting plate having a geometric configuration with an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, a right edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. A higher plate above the mounting plate has a geometric periphery with an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, a right edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. A plurality of posts couple the interior surface of the mounting plate and the interior surface of the higher plate to create a space for the receipt of at least one pickup. Two spring biased plates are mounted on the mounting plate. A coil spring separates the two spring biased plates. The spring biased plates have locking fingers reciprocally mounted on the mounting plate for engagement with locking projections on a docking ring. Each spring biased plate has a finger hole for retracting the locking fingers.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot swap cartridge system (10) comprising, in combination: a cartridge (14) formed of a mounting plate (16) having a geometric configuration with an upper edge (18) and a lower edge (20) and a left edge (22) and a right edge (24), the mounting plate having an interior surface (26) and an exterior surface (28); a higher plate (30) above the mounting plate having a geometric periphery with an upper edge (32) and a lower edge (34) and a left edge (36) and a right edge (38), the higher plate having an interior surface (40) and an exterior surface (42); a plurality of posts (44) coupling the interior surface of the mounting plate and the interior surface of the higher plate to create a space for the receipt of at least one pickup; and two spring biased plates (46) mounted on the mounting plate, a coil spring (49) separating the two spring biased plates, the spring biased plates having locking fingers (48), the locking fingers reciprocally mounted on the mounting plate for engagement with locking projections (50) on a docking ring, the two spring biased plates each having a finger hole (52) for retracting the locking fingers.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 and further including at least one opening (54) in the higher plate for the receipt of at least one pickup.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 and further including on the mounting plate at least one repositionable circuit board (56) with repositionable fingers (58).

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the higher plate (60) is beneath a pickup serving as a mounting surface and providing pivotability for the pickup.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 and further including: a docking ring (62) having a geometric periphery with an open center (64), a plurality of locking projections (50) coupled to the docking ring extending into the center opening.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the geometric periphery of the docking ring is on a different plane than the ring mounting surface.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 and further including at least one fixed circuit board (70) with fixed fingers (72).

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 and further including at least one pickup (74) supported by the higher plate.

9. The system as set forth in claim 5 and further including: an electric guitar (84) having a front (86) and a back (88) and a side wall (90) defining a hollow body there between.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the front (86) of the guitar is planar.

11. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the front of the guitar is non-planar.

12. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the front and back of the guitar are non-parallel.

13. The system as set forth in claim 9 and further including a single opening (92) in the front for receiving the higher plate and at least one pickup.

14. The system as set forth in claim 9 and further including at least one opening (94) in the front for receiving plural pickups of different styles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an electric guitar pickup hot swap cartridge system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an enlarged showing of the two pickups and the faceplate of FIG. 1 but with the strings removed.

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the two pickups extending through the cover plate but, also showing the docking ring circuit boards and a locking finger.

(4) FIG. 4 is a back elevational view of the cartridge taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the locking fingers in the outwardly biased locking position.

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the locking fingers biased against the locking projections.

(6) FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the guitar and docking ring and pickup cartridge of the prior Figures.

(7) FIG. 7 is a back elevational view of the docking ring with the locking projections and circuit boards taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 showing two locking projections and a circuit board.

(9) FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the outwardly biased locking fingers and portions of the pickups and epositionable circuit board with reposiyionable fingers taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

(10) FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a cartridge with no pickups included.

(11) FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a cartridge with two different types of pickups mounted on a mounting plate but no cover plate.

(12) FIG. 11A is a front elevational view of an electric guitar utilizing the pickup cartridge of FIG. 11.

(13) FIG. 11B is an enlarged showing of the pickup and the faceplate of FIG. 11A but with the strings removed.

(14) FIG. 11C is a cross sectional view taken along line 11C-11C of FIG. 11B with the pickup extending through the cover plate but also showing the locking finger.

(15) FIG. 12 is a front elevational view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11 showing the cartridge with licking fingers and two different pickups mounted for rotational movement.

(16) FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12 showing one pickup and the brackets to facilitate pivoting.

(17) FIG. 14 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 4 but with two separate cartridges, each cartridge having a single pickup.

(18) FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14 showing the guitar and the docking ring and the two cartridges with two pickups of FIG. 14.

(19) FIG. 16 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 44 but with two separate cartridges, one cartridge having two pickup, one cartridge having a single pickup.

(20) FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 16 showing the guitar and the two docking rings and the two cartridges with three pickups of FIG. 16.

(21) FIG. 18 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 4 but with only one cartridge, the one cartridge having a single pickup.

(22) FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18 showing the guitar and the docking ring and the cartridges with a single pickup.

(23) FIG. 20 is a rear elevational view of the docking ring taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(24) The present invention is directed to a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hotswap cartridge system.

(25) From a broad perspective, the present invention is a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot swap cartridge system 10. First provided is a cartridge 14 formed of a mounting plate 16 having a geometric configuration with an upper edge 18, a lower edge 20, a left edge 22, a right edge 24, an interior surface 26, and an exterior surface 28.

(26) By geometric configuration, as used throughout herein, it is meant rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, or similar configurations.

(27) Next a higher plate 30 is provided above the mounting plate. The higher plate has a geometric periphery with an upper edge 32, a lower edge 34, a left edge 36, a right edge 38, an interior surface 40, and an exterior surface 42.

(28) A plurality of posts 44 are next provided. The posts couple the interior surface of the mounting plate and the interior surface of the higher plate to create a space for the receipt of at least one pickup.

(29) Next, two spring biased plates 46 are mounted on the mounting plate. A coil spring 49 separates the two spring biased plates. The spring biased plates have locking fingers 48. The locking fingers are reciprocally mounted on the mounting plate for engagement with locking projections 50 on a docking ring. Each spring biased plate has a finger hole 52 for retracting the locking fingers.

(30) The system may further include at least one opening 54 in the higher plate for the receipt of at least one pickup.

(31) The system may further include on the mounting plate at least one repositionable circuit board 56 with repositionable fingers 58.

(32) In an alternate embodiment, the higher plate 60 is beneath a pickup, rather than extended above it, serving as a mounting surface for the pickup.

(33) The system may further include a docking ring 62 having a geometric periphery with an open center 64 and a plurality of locking projections 50 coupled to the docking ring extending into the center opening.

(34) The system may further include at least one fixed circuit board 70 with fixed fingers 72. The circuit board is mounted on the mounting plate with connections for the wires of the installed pickup and related circuitry, as well as contacts for connecting to the fixed circuit board contact fingers on the docking ring.

(35) The system may further include at least one pickup 74 supported by the higher plate.

(36) The system may also include an electric guitar 84. The electric guitar has a front 86, a back 88, and a side wall 90 defining a hollow body there between.

(37) In alternate embodiments, the front of the guitar is planar 76 or the front may be non-planar. The front and back of the guitar may also be non-parallel.

(38) In an alternate embodiment, further included is a single opening 92 in the front of the electric guitar for receiving the higher plate and at least one pickup. In another embodiment, included is at least one opening 94 in the front for receiving plural pickups of different styles.

(39) Since the front and rear surfaces of a guitar are not always parallel, the invention includes a modified, or slanted, docking ring. The periphery of the docking ring is on a different plane than the ring mounting surface.

(40) In its most complete form, the present invention device is made up of the following components: the insert docking ring, the fixed circuit boards with fixed electrical-contact fingers, the pickup cartridges, the cartridge circuit board with electrical contacts, and the pickups. These components are related and connected together as follows: The body of the electric guitar is routed out from the back and the docking ring is inserted into the cavity, along with the fixes circuit boards with fixed fingers, one at each end of the docking ring, or several along the sides of the docking ring. The fixed fingers are wired into the controls and output circuits of the electric guitar. The guitar's electro-magnetic pickups are screwed into the pickup cartridges, one, two or three pickups per cartridge, and are wired to the cartridge circuit board. The cartridges consist of the following primary components: a back plate, a latch, a circuit board and a pickup mounting plate. These components are assembled together with an electromagnetic pickup to complete the cartridge. The cartridges are then snapped via the cartridge's mechanical latch into the docking ring to complete the assembly of the system.

(41) With respect to the device it should be further noted that the system is designed so that upon insertion of the cartridge into the docking ring, the fixes circuit board fingers align precisely with the cartridge circuit board contacts to complete an electrical circuit between the pickups and the guitar controls and output circuit, such that the pickups may function as they would should they have been hard-wired into the electric guitar. It should further be noted that this system may be manufactured as part of a production instrument or retrofitted to an existing electric or acoustic guitar body, regardless of the material that the instrument was manufactured from.

(42) The most complete form of performing the method associated with the present invention device consists of the following steps: Routing or constructing the electric or acoustic guitar body to fit the docking ring, whether the routing is partially through or completely through the back of the instrument, with the routing location centrally between the neck and the bridge of the guitar where the electric pickups would normally be. Affixing the docking ring to the guitar body both mechanically and electrically so as to facilitate the connection of the cartridges and their pickups to the guitar controls and output circuit once snapped into the docking ring. It should further be noted that with regard to extension spring tremolo systems which would need their springs removed to make way for this system, the docking ring of this system would provide for an alternate spring mounting system so as to allow a tremolo feature of the guitar to continue to function.

(43) A device and a method associated with the device are described. The device is a reconfigurable electric guitar pickup hot-swap cartridge system which allows a user to remove, insert, and reconfigure the pickups in an electric guitar without tools, without dismantling the instrument, and without unplugging it from its amplifier. This device can be used to exchange the electromagnetic pickups within the electric guitar within seconds, allowing different tones to be achieved.

(44) The core components of the device are: the docking ring, the contact pins circuit boards, the pickup cartridges, the cartridge circuit board, and the pickups. Generally speaking, the configuration of the components is as follows. The body of the electric guitar is routed out from the back between the guitar neck and bridge, and the docking ring is inserted into the cavity, along with the contact pins circuit boards which may be one at each end of the docking ring, or several along the sides of the docking ring. The contact pins circuit boards are wired into the controls and output circuits of the electric guitar. The guitar's electro-magnetic pickups are screwed into the pickup cartridges, one, two or three pickups per cartridge, and are wired to the cartridge circuit board. The cartridges, consisting of a back plate, a latch, a circuit board, and a pickup mounting plate are then snapped, via the cartridge's mechanical latching system, into the docking ring to complete the assembly of the system. It should be noted that the system is designed so that upon insertion of the pickup cartridge into the docking ring, the cartridge circuit board traces align precisely with the docking ring contact pins circuit boards to complete an electrical circuit between the pickups and the guitar controls and output circuit such that the pickups may function as they would if they had been hard-wired into the electric guitar. Furthermore, it should be noted that the pickup cartridges may be configured in multiple sizes with the ability to hold one, two, or three pickups each, each cartridge with the ability to be rotated and reversed so as to provide for multiple positioning and configurations of one, two, or all three pickups.

(45) Following are the core steps to be followed in order to carry out the method. The docking ring shall have multiple latching positions allowing for individual pickup cartridges to be snapped into various positions and orientations. The docking ring shall also have one or more contact pins circuit boards affixed within it to provide for multiple electrical contact positions between the guitar and the pickup cartridges. The pickup cartridges shall be configured with a shape and a latching mechanism which allows them to be connected to the docking ring in multiple positions and orientations while maintaining electrical connection integrity regardless of position or orientation. Ultimately, at the conclusion of these steps, the electric guitar will have the ability to have its pickups removed and/or inserted into the guitar in seconds, and in any orientation or combination as desired by the player, without the need for tools nor disconnection from the guitar amplifier.

(46) While the present invention has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.