Dual Plectrum Guitar Pick

Abstract

A pick providing two plectra is a laminate of two conjoined planar components. A first component comprises rigid material providing at one end a grasping portion and at an opposite end a plectrum portion as a rounded point suitable for plucking. The second component comprises flexible material providing at one end an upper portion for joining to the first component and at the other end a plectrum portion as a rounded point suitable for strumming. The pick is grasped by a player at the grasping portion of the first component. By angling the attack of the pick, the player may then employ either the plectrum of the first component for picking strings or the plectrum of the second component for strumming strings.

Claims

1. A dual-plectrum pick for stringed instruments, comprising: a rigid planar component, comprising: a grasping portion, a first plectrum distal the grasping portion, and a receiving portion intermediate the grasping portion and the first plectrum; a flexible planar component, comprising: a lower portion comprising a second plectrum, and an upper portion; the upper portion of the flexible planar component affixed to the receiving portion of the rigid planar component, whereby the dual-plectrum pick comprises the grasping portion and, distending therefrom, the first plectrum and the second plectrum.

2. The dual-plectrum pick for stringed instruments according to claim 1, wherein the first plectrum and the second plectrum subtend an angle between 25 and 45 degrees.

3. The dual-plectrum pick for stringed instruments according to claim 1, wherein the first plectrum and the second plectrum subtend an angle of 36 degrees.

4. The dual-plectrum pick for stringed instruments according to claim 1, wherein the rigid planar component is comprised of polyetherimide plastic.

5. The dual-plectrum pick for stringed instruments according to claim 1, wherein the flexible planar component is comprised of 0.5 to 0.8 mm sheet nylon.

6. A dual-plectrum pick for stringed instruments, comprising: a rigid planar component comprised of polyetherimide plastic and further comprising: a grasping portion, a first plectrum distal the grasping portion, and a receiving portion intermediate the grasping portion and the first plectrum; a flexible planar component comprised of nylon and further comprising: a lower portion comprising a second plectrum, and an upper portion; the upper portion of the flexible planar component affixed to the receiving portion of the rigid planar component, whereby the dual-plectrum pick comprises the grasping portion and, distending therefrom, the first plectrum and the second plectrum.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Objects of the present invention as well as advantages, features and characteristics, in addition to methods of operation, function of related elements of structure, and the combination of parts and economies and methods of manufacture, will become apparent upon consideration of the following description and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures, and wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment showing the two planar components comprising the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention, showing the upper portion of the component comprising the stumming plectrum conjoined with the component comprising the picking plectrum;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of the invention; and

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates the relative angles of the plectra of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts the two planar components comprising an embodiment of the invention. First component 102 is comprised of rigid material such as 0.73 mm polyetherimide, available as ULTEM® branded thermoplastic from Aetna Plastics Corp. of Valley View, Ohio. First component 102 is configured with a plectrum end 104 in the form of a rounded point and an opposite grasping end 106. In some embodiments such as that depicted here, first component 102 is further configured with a recessed area 108 for receiving second component 110. Second component 110 is comprised of flexible material such as 0.6 mm nylon. Second component 110 is configured with a plectrum end 112 and an upper portion 114 for conjoining to first component 102. In some embodiments, second component 110 may simply be along the lines of a smaller standard commercially available strumming type stringed instrument pick.

[0015] First component 102 may be fabricated by stamping its form into rigid sheet material. As will be understood by those in the art, alternative methods for fabricating the component include injection molding, additive manufacturing or machine tooling. Because of its relative thinness and uniform surface, in some embodiments the second component may be easily fabricated by simply punching the form from sheet material.

[0016] Turning now to FIG. 2, shown is a front view of an embodiment of a pick 201. Flexible second component 210 is conjoined with and affixed to rigid first component 202. In embodiments such as that depicted in FIG. 1, second component 210 is affixed within an appropriately configured recessed portion of first component 202. As will be understood by those in the art, embodiments may affix first component 202 and second component 210 together in a number of ways, including thermal bonding or by means of an adhesive glue such as acrylonitrile, epoxy or other permanent bonding agent.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of the pick 301 such as depicted in FIG. 2. Rigid first component 302 retains flexible second component 310 in such a way that flexible plectrum 312 and rigid plectrum 304 depend from pick 301. A player grasps pick 301 at the grasping portion 306 of first component 302 of pick 301 and may selectively use either flexible plectrum 312 or rigid plectrum 304 by appropriately angling the attack of pick 301 to the strings of the player's instrument.

[0018] FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of a pick 401 just as depicted in FIG. 2. First phantom line 416 and second phantom line 418 are normal to the curves of rigid plectrum 404 and flexible plectrum 412 respectively at their points. In the depicted embodiment, these phantom lines subtend an attack angle 420 of 36 degrees. This attack angle 420, the angle between rigid plectrum 404 and flexible plectrum 412, determines the displacement required for a player to adjust the attack of pick 401 between rigid plectrum 404 for plucking and flexible plectrum 412 for stumming. If attack angle 420 is too great, players will have difficulty quickly switching from one plectrum to the other. If attack angle 420 is too small, it may be difficult for the player to select a desired plectrum accurately. While 36 degrees has been found to be an effective attack angle, persons of skill in the art will recognize that picks may be fabricated in a range of attack angles around 36 degrees to provide the utility of the invention.

[0019] The invention accordingly affords the player of a stringed instrument the option of using a rigid plectrum for plucking or a flexible plectrum for strumming, with a design enabling ease of plectrum selection. Persons in the art will recognize that, while there is utility selecting an individual plectrum for playing, the invention may also serve to provide two plectra for picking one or more strings at once, producing a unique tone. In any case, it is notable that, though certainly appropriate for use with a guitar, the invention also provides utility for playing other stringed instruments such as mandolins, tenor banjos, lutes, balalaikas and so on.

[0020] The foregoing describes the invention with a certain degree of particularity. Nonetheless, it should be recognized that elements thereof may be altered by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the rigid component of the invention has been described as substantially planar, embodiments may have 3-dimensional features for ergonomic, decorative or other purposes. Further, embodiments may vary the proportions and measurements of the invention's elements considerably from the depictions of embodiments in the drawings herewith while still practicing the invention. In any event, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth in this specification, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be reasonably included within the scope of the invention. The invention is limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.