Composition and methods for stringed instrument repair

Abstract

A composition and methods for the manufacturing, repair, maintenance and improvement of the nut and saddle of a stringed musical instrument. The composition is a powder configured to be used in nut and saddle slots to create lubricated, durable, aesthetically pleasing, color matched repairs and adjustments. The composition includes multiple substances to achieve strength, color, and lubrication. According to one aspect, the power may have four main components, including a Bulking Agent, a Hardener, a Color, and a Lubricant.

Claims

1. A composition for repairing a string slot in a nut of a musical instrument, comprising: a bulking agent configured to form a foundation and add bulk to said composition, said bulking agent having a ratio by volume in a range of 25% to 80% of said composition; a color agent configured to match a color of said nut, said color agent having a ratio by volume in a range of 0.1% to 5% of said composition; and a lubricant configured to add lubricity to said composition, said lubricant having a ratio by volume in a range of 0.2% to 30% of said composition; and a hardening agent configured to absorb a glue used with said composition, said hardening agent having a ratio by volume in a range of 15% to 50% of said composition; wherein said bulking agent, said color agent, said lubricant and said hardening agent are admixed and configured to be introduced into a string slot of a nut of a musical instrument to establish a substrate layer when a glue is thereafter added into said string slot such that an instrument may be used to shape at least one aspect of said substrate layer to create a repaired string slot within said nut, wherein said repaired string slot has lubricity due to said lubricant to enable an optimized string tension equalization on either side of the nut when a string is placed in said repaired string slot and thereafter tuned or played on said musical instrument.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said hulking agent comprises at least one of ground bone, bone dust, ground ebony, and ebony dust.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said color agent is a powdered colorant selected to match an approximate color of said nut of said musical instrument after said glue dries.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein said powdered colorant comprises one of a white colorant to create a bright white repaired string slot, a blond colorant to create a cream colored repaired string slot, and a black colorant to create a black repaired string slot.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein said lubricant is at least one of graphite and Teflon.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein said hardening agent is at least one of baking soda and ebony dust.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein said bulking agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 30% to 75% of said composition, said color agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 0.15% to 4% of said composition, said lubricant has a ratio by volume in a range of 0.35% to 27.5% of said composition, and said hardening agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 25% to 45% of said composition.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein said bulking agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 35% to 70% of said composition, said color agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 0.2% to 3% of said composition, said lubricant has a ratio by volume in a range of 0.5% to 25% of said composition, and said hardening agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 30% to 40% of said composition.

9. A method of repairing a nut of a musical instrument, comprising the steps of: (a) increasing at least one dimension of a string slot of said nut to create an expanded string slot; (b) introducing a composition into said expanded string slot of said nut, wherein said composition is an admixture of: (i) a bulking agent configured to form a foundation and add bulk to said composition, said bulking agent having a ratio by volume in a range of 25% to 80% of said composition; (ii) a color agent configured to match a color of said nut, said color agent having a ratio by volume in a range of 0.1% to 5% of said composition; (iii) a lubricant configured to add lubricity to said composition, said lubricant having a ratio by volume in a range of 0.2% to 30% of said composition; and (iv) a hardening agent configured to absorb a glue used with said composition, said hardening agent having a ratio by volume in a range of 15% to 50% of said composition; (c) adding a glue to said composition after introduction into said expanded string slot o create a substrate layer within said expanded string slot; and (d) shaping at least one aspect of said substrate layer to create a repaired string slot within said nut, wherein said repaired string slot has lubricity due to said lubricant to enable an optimized string tension equalization on either side of the nut when a string is placed in said repaired string slot and thereafter tuned or played on said musical instrument.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (d) are performed with a file instrument.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said bulking agent comprises at least one of ground bone and ground ebony.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said color agent is a powdered colorant selected to match an approximate color of said nut of said musical instrument after said glue dries.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said powdered colorant comprises one of a white colorant to create a bright white repaired string slot, a blond colorant to create a cream colored repaired string slot, and a black colorant to create a black repaired string slot.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said lubricant is at east one of graphite and Teflon.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said hardening agent is at least one of baking soda and ebony dust.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said bulking agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 30% to 75% of said composition, said color agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 0.15% to 4% of said composition, said lubricant has a ratio by volume in a range of 0.35% to 27.5% of said composition, and said hardening agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 25% to 45% of said composition.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein said bulking agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 35% to 70% of said composition, said color agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 0.2% to 3% of said composition, said lubricant has a ratio by volume in a range of 0.5% to 25% of said composition, and said hardening agent has a ratio by volume in a range of 30% to 40% of said composition.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Many advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art with a reading of this specification in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals are applied to like elements and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the primary components forming the composition according to one aspect of the present invention;

(3) FIGS. 2-3 illustrate a container including the composition of the present invention, both closed (FIG. 2) and open (FIG. 3) according to one aspect of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the repair steps involving the use of the composition of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is an illustration of a nut of a stringed musical instrument showing multiple string slots, one of which needs to be repaired according to an aspect of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 6 is an illustration of the nut of FIG. 5 during the first repair step, namely filing down or etching the string slot to promote adhesion according to an aspect of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 7 is an illustration of the nut of FIG. 6 during the second repair step, namely introducing the composition of the present invention into the string slot according to an aspect of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 8 is an illustration of the nut of FIG. 7 during the third repair step, namely adding cyanoacrylate to the composition within the string slot according to an aspect of the present invention; and

(9) FIG. 9 is an illustration of the nut of FIG. 8 during the final repair step, namely performing a final filing to bring the string slot to the desired height according to an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The composition and methods for stringed instrument repair disclosed herein boasts a variety of inventive features and components that warrant patent protection, both individually and in combination.

(11) FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a composition 10 for use in the manufacturing, repair, maintenance, and improvement of the nut and saddle of a stringed musical instrument. The composition 10 is a powder configured to be used in nut and saddle slots to create lubricated, durable, aesthetically pleasing, color-matched repairs and adjustments. The composition 10 includes multiple substances to achieve strength, color, and lubrication. According to one aspect, the composition 10 may comprise a powder having four main components, namely a bulking agent 12, an optional hardener 14, a color agent 16, and a lubricant 18.

(12) The bulking agent 12 may comprise any number of suitable compositions for adding bulk or volume to the composition 10, including but not limited to ground bone, bone dust, ground ebony, ebony dust, and other similar materials. The bulking agent 12 provides a foundation for the composition 10 and also a sturdy base.

(13) The hardener 14 may comprise any number of suitable compositions for hardening, including but not limited to baking soda and other similar materials. The hardener 14 may serve to absorb the cyanoacrylate or other glue that is used with the composition 10 of the present invention, in order to make a durable repair or adjustment. In one aspect, the hardener 14 may comprise ebony dust, which may also be used as a bulking agent 12.

(14) The color component 16 may comprise any number of suitable compositions for altering the color, including but not limited to powdered colorants and other similar materials. The color component 16 allows matching the existing nut or saddle and making the repair appear “seamless”. This may be accomplished, for example, by selecting a colorant to best approximate the color of the respective nut after the glue is applied to the composition of the present invention. In one aspect, the color component 16 may include white colorant to create a bright white nut repair to match a bright white nut, a cream/blond colorant to create a cream nut repair to match a cream-colored nut, and a black colorant to create a black nut repair to match a black nut.

(15) The lubricant 18 may comprise any number of suitable compositions to provide lubricity, including but not limited to powdered Teflon, graphite, and other similar materials. The lubricant 18 helps create a surface of the repaired string slot with sufficient lubricity such that strings can easily move or pass through, such that the strings do not stick or otherwise become impeded or restrained by the repaired nut slot while the strings are tuned or played. By providing a lubricious string passage in the repaired nut, the composition 10 of the present invention ensures an optimized string tension equalization on either side of the nut during tuning or string bending, which in turn enables proper and consistent string intonation while playing.

(16) The four main components can be combined at various ratios to create compounds that are tailored to work on a variety of nut and saddle configurations. According to certain aspects, the ratios by volume of the composition 10 may fall within the following exemplary ranges:

(17) TABLE-US-00002 Max Range Mid Range Low Range Composition % Volume Min % Volume Max % Volume Min % Volume Max % Volume Min % Volume Max Bulking   25% 80%   30%   75%   35% 70% Hardening   15% 50%   25%   45%   30% 40% Lubricant 0.20% 30% 0.35% 27.5% 0.50% 25% Colorant  0.1%  5% 0.15%   4% 0.20%  3%

(18) The composition 10 of the present invention may be packaged in any suitable container or dispenser, including but not limited to the container 20 shown in FIGS. 2-3 by way of example only. In one embodiment, the container 20 may be configured to enable the composition 10 to be focally inserted, injected, or otherwise distributed within a nut or saddle slot so the cyanoacrylate or other glue may be easily added thereto.

(19) FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the repair steps involving the use of the composition of the present invention. The first step 30 involves filing down (or etching) the string slot in need of repair. The second step 32 involves introducing the composition 10 into the string slot in need of repair. The third step 34 involves introducing cyanoacrylate to the composition 10 in the slot in need of repair. The fourth step 36 involves filing down (or etching) the string slot to the desired height.

(20) FIG. 5 is an illustration of a nut 40 of a stringed musical instrument showing multiple string slots, including a string slot 42 in need of being repaired or rebuilt according to an aspect of the present invention. The string slot 42 is in need of repair or rebuild because it is substantially deeper than the adjacent string slots of the nut 40. In that configuration, the string associated with string slot 42 would likely suffer from string buzz due to inadvertent/unwanted contact with the frets of the stringed instrument.

(21) FIG. 6 is an illustration of the nut of FIG. 5 during the first repair step 30, namely filing down the string slot 42 according to an aspect of the present invention. In this embodiment, a razor blade 44 may be used to file or otherwise etch down the string slot 42.

(22) FIG. 7 is an illustration of the nut of FIG. 6 during the second repair step 32, namely introducing the composition 10 of the present invention into the string slot 42 according to an aspect of the present invention. In one embodiment, the composition 10 is introduced into the string slot 42 via a spoon 46.

(23) FIG. 8 is an illustration of the nut of FIG. 7 during the third repair step 34, namely adding, in this case, cyanoacrylate 48 to the composition 10 within the string slot 42 according to an aspect of the present invention. In one embodiment, the cyanoacrylate 48 may be disposed on the edge of the razor blade 44, as shown, which allows the technician to precisely place the cyanoacrylate 48 within the string slot 42 after the composition 10 has been introduced therein.

(24) FIG. 9 is an illustration of the nut of FIG. 8 during the final repair step 36, namely performing a final filing step to bring the string slot 42 to a desired height (depth) and width according to an aspect of the present invention. In one embodiment, the filing or etching is performed via a file 50 that may be translated back and forth within the string slot 42 to create a desired height (depth) and width.

(25) Any of the features or attributes of the above-described embodiments and variations can be used in combination with any of the other features and attributes of the above-described embodiments and variations as desired. From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it is also apparent that various modifications, additions, and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.