EP2369580B1 - Pin for a stringed instrument - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vortex for a stringed instrument having the features of the preamble of claim 1. It further relates to a provided with such a vortex string instrument itself.

In the case of stringed instruments, the whirling wooden pegs or metal pegs on which the string ends are rolled up are called vertebrae. With their help, the tension of the strings can be changed and the instrument can be tuned with it. For example, in guitars or violins, these vortices are arranged on the so-called head, in modern guitars, the vertebrae are adjustable by means of appropriate handling gear stages, to be able to cause a fine tuning.

In the technical sense, therefore, whirls are waves on which a string end can be wound up for a tightening and thus higher mood, or for relaxing and thus for deeper voices.

For fixing a string to a vertebra, the latter typically has, in a winding section, a through hole or slot through which the string end is guided and subsequently fixed by knotting or entangling. This type of fixing a string end to the vortex is complicated to perform and there is - especially in non-professional execution - the risk of loosening or yielding of the end of the string and, consequently, a detuning of the instrument. In addition, a node attached here for fixing the end of the string or a similar twisted construct occupies a considerable space, so that the space required for vertebrae is comparatively large.

The above-mentioned disadvantages also have an effect, in particular, on such vertebrae which, as part of automated tuning systems, adjust the tension of the strings by motor-driven means. In particular, it depends on a high strength of the specified end of the string for a reproducible tuning of the instrument. Also, for a motor-driven adjustment as uniform as possible winding the string end on the vertebrae of advantage, which is difficult for a one-sided arranged on a vertebra node or a similar loop, since there the string always on the through the node or the Loop formed increase accumulates.

It has also been in the prior art attempts to set the strings ends by selective jamming to a vortex, for example by a clamping mandrel is guided to a point on the string and the string between the clamping mandrel and an abutment is clamped. Such an example is in the US 2002/0148342 A1 shown. However, it has been shown that not only the forces to be applied for a secure grip were considerable, but that in particular due to the high forces and the punctual introduction of the same into the string, the risk of cracks or breaks of the string at the terminal point is considerable. If such a crack or break of the string occurs during the play of the musical instrument, the game is to be interrupted, and it must first be raised and tuned a new string before the game can be continued. In addition to the not inconsiderable costs that are incurred for a new instrument string, this is also a nuisance, which is a clear disadvantage of such attempts of setting the string.

Furthermore, from the US 532,053 a string fixation known in which a string end through a Zackenausnehmung a crown-like prong edge is guided on a front side formed on a vertebral end bearing surface and placed around a central threaded opening around. In this threaded opening, a threaded portion of a clamping element can be screwed, which clamping element fixes the string on the bearing surface with a clamping surface. Although there is reached over another section of the string end clamping (ie no selective application of force), but a leadership of the string outside the clamping area is in need of improvement.

Here is to be remedied with the present invention and given a way of defining a string end to a vertebra or such a vortex itself, on the one hand a firm and secure against slipping down the string end with little effort and thereby excessive stress on the string end and so that the risk of a string break or crack compared to the prior art significantly reduced.

This object is achieved by a vortex for a stringed instrument having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of such a vortex according to the invention are specified in the subclaims 2 to 5. The invention further provides an advantageously developed stringed instrument which has a novel vortex.

A vortex for a stringed instrument, which can be used according to the invention in particular for a guitar, but also for other stringed instruments, has a winding section on which the string runs, and a fastening device for fixing a free end of the string. In accordance with the invention, the fastening device comprises a clamping element, an abutment section on the vortex and a holding section on the vortex. In this case, the holding section and the clamping element are set up such that the clamping element can be axially displaced along the holding section onto the vortex and locked in a clamping position. Further, the clamping member and the abutment portion are arranged to interpose one another Clamp longitudinal section of the free end of the string and can hold. A longitudinal section of the free end of the string is to be understood as an elongate section which has a clear longitudinal extent and differs in this respect from a piece of the string to be clamped only at certain points.

With such a vortex configured in accordance with the invention, the end of a string to be defined therein and to be adjusted with respect to its tension and tuning can not simply be fixed by arranging a corresponding longitudinal section of the free end of the string on the abutment section and by means of the holding section clamped on the vertebra clamping element is clamped there. The jamming of the string end can be carried out in a particularly high positional and stable, so that not as in the traditional method a yielding of a node or a release from the attachment to be feared and thus no induced thereby detuning the specified there string. Due to the fact that the string is clamped along a longitudinal section, that is to say over a section of its length deviating significantly from a punctiform clamping between the abutment section and the clamping element, the applied clamping forces are distributed over a further region of the string, so that it is not too stressful and associated danger of breakage or tearing of the string comes.

As an abutment portion, a circumferential collar is provided according to the invention. This circumferential collar extends around the axis of the vortex and serves as a support for a portion of the string end, which there guided around a considerable peripheral part (up to almost 360 °) about the axis of the vortex and then clamped with this entire length portion by means of the clamping element can be. Such a circumferential collar thus offers the possibility in compact space to clamp the string end over a considerable longitudinal extent and thus to distribute the clamping forces over a wide portion of the string. This results in addition to the already mentioned reduction of Spitzenentlasten also improved support, as over a longer and larger portion of the string end the clamping and thus the backing due to the clamping and frictional forces takes place.

The circumferential collar of the vortex according to the invention is further partially along the circumference around the vertebra is interrupted, has one or more cuts on is called. Such a cut can e.g. can be used to measure the end of the string from one side of the collar, on e.g. the winding section may (see claim 2) to the opposite side, on which the collar has the abutment surface and on the e.g. The holding section can lie (see claim 2) to lead, without having to form here a particularly sharp-edged kink of the string on the collar edge. In such a guide of the string end from a collar side through an incision as a passage through to the winding section, the string end can be performed in comparatively gently curved radii, which in turn benefits the durability of the string, in which sharp-angled deflections always represent a point of weakness, especially then if there is still friction due to the vibrating string.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the holding portion may be a provided with an external thread portion of the vortex and the clamping element is a screw with a corresponding to the external thread internal thread. Such a solution results in a particularly simple handling, also can be achieved by appropriate choice of the thread pitch and the other design of male and female thread a secure locking between the external thread and the internal thread in the position in which the clamping element abutting against the abutment Presses string and holds them due to the applied clamping force.

It is particularly advantageous if the externally threaded portion is arranged at a free end of the vortex in such a manner that the screw is completely detachable from the vortex screwed onto the externally threaded holding portion. This type of design allows in particular easy replacement and care of the parts. Of course, it is also possible to form the screw element so that it is not, at least not readily solvable from the externally threaded portion of the vortex, for example, to avoid the loss of the screwable clamping element in case of accidental over-opening of the same.

The screw is provided for better handling of the same in an advantageous manner with a handle portion, which may in particular be toothed, knurled or structured in any other way as a peripheral portion. With such thumbscrews or provided in other ways with handle structures screw elements handling without tools is particularly easy.

Fig. 1 a bis d

einen erfindungsgemäßen Wirbel in einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel in vier verschiedenen Ansichten, in Fig. 1 a in einer Seitenansicht, in Fig. 1b in einer Ansicht von der in Fig. 1 a rechts dargestellten Stirnseite her, in Fig. 1c in einer weiteren Seitenansicht, gegenüber der Seitenansicht gemäß Fig. 1 a um 90° um die Längsachse des Wirbels gedreht, und in Fig. 1d in einer dreidimensionalen Darstellung;

Fig. 2a

und b in zwei verschiedenen Ansichten eine Klemmschraube zum Zusammenwirken mit dem Wirbel gemäß Fig. 1 zum Bilden der Einrichtung zum Festlegen des zweiten Endes;

Fig. 3

in einer Explosionsdarstellung den Wirbel gemäß Fig. 1 mit der Klemmschraube gemäß Fig. 2 und zwei für dieses Ausführungsbeispiel mit vorgesehenen Gehäuseteilen;

Fig. 4

die in Fig. 3 in Explosionsdarstellung gezeigte Einheit in zusammengebauter Form mit einem auf dem Wirbel auflaufenden und in der erfindungsgemäßen Klemmeinrichtung festgelegten Saitenende.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures. Showing:

Fig. 1 a to d

a vortex according to the invention in a first embodiment in four different views, in Fig. 1 a in a side view, in Fig. 1b in a view of the in Fig. 1 a front side shown on the right, in Fig. 1c in a further side view, opposite the side view according to Fig. 1 a rotated 90 ° about the longitudinal axis of the vortex, and in Fig. 1d in a three-dimensional representation;

Fig. 2a

and b in two different views a clamping screw for cooperation with the vortex according to Fig. 1 for forming the means for setting the second end;

Fig. 3

in an exploded view of the vortex according to Fig. 1 with the clamping screw according to Fig. 2 and two for this embodiment with provided housing parts;

Fig. 4

in the Fig. 3 in an exploded view unit in assembled form with a auflaufenden on the vortex and fixed in the clamping device according to the invention string end.

In the figures, an embodiment of a vortex according to the invention is shown, which is here a vortex for a guitar, in particular an electric guitar. The figures shown are purely schematic and do not represent complete design drawings. They are merely illustrative and description of an embodiment for further illustrating the invention.

In the FIGS. 1a to 1d is shown in four different views, an inventive vortex shown without the fastening device for fixing the end of a string of the musical instrument also belonging clamping element. The vortex 1 is an elongated part, technically a wave. At its one longitudinal end, it has a connecting portion 2 for connection to an actuating mechanism, for example a hand-wheel drive for rotational adjustment of the vortex 1.

The vertebra 1 further has a winding section 3, on which a string of the musical instrument wound or from which they are unwound can be used to increase or decrease the tension of the strings to adjust the tuning of the string. On the opposite side of the connecting portion 2 of the winding section 3 is limited by a circumferential collar 4, on the one hand forms a lateral stop for the string and thus a limitation of the winding section 3, but on the other hand also on the winding section 3 opposite side forms an abutment surface 5, whose function will be explained below. On the side opposite the winding section 3 side of the collar 4 further includes a holding portion 6, which forms the connecting portion 2 opposite free end of the vortex 1. The holding portion 6 has a not-shown here external thread, which cooperates in a manner to be described later with the internal thread of a clamping element.

In the collar 4 incisions 7 are also provided at radially opposite positions, in which the collar 4 is cut to the diameter of the winding section. These cuts 7 are used to carry out a string or a string end of the winding section 3 on the opposite side of the collar 4 to the abutment surface. 5

In Fig. 2 is shown as a clamping element, a clamping screw 8. This clamping screw is formed substantially cylindrical and has on its peripheral surface, which forms the grip portion of the clamping screw 8, a knurling 9. This knurling 9 improves the grip and allows easy operation of the clamping screw 8 with two fingers of one hand.

As in particular in Fig. 2b can be seen, the clamping screw 8 on its inside a there not graphically illustrated, but provided with the reference numeral 10 internal thread. This internal thread is formed corresponding to the formed on the holding portion 6 of the vertebra 1 external thread and can be brought into engagement with this for screwing the clamping screw 8 on the free end of the vertebra 1 with the holding portion 6. In this way, the clamping screw 8 in axial Direction of the vortex 1 are screwed up and down, in particular with a clamping surface 17 against the abutment surface 5 are pressed.

In Fig. 3 an assembly of the vortex 1 with the clamping screw 8 is shown in an exploded view, and further a drive housing, in which the vortex 1 is used. The drive housing consists of a guide member 11 with molded thereon housing cover and a housing part 13 in which the drive units are arranged. The guide member 11 is provided with a guide sleeve 12 in which the swivel 1 is rotatably mounted. In the housing part 13, an opening 14 is arranged through which a drive axle, for example with a hand screw for manual adjustment of the rotational angular position of the vortex 1 can be passed.

The structure shown here is set up in particular for a motor drive of the vortex 1, for which a motor, possibly with a gear unit, can be arranged in the housing part 13.

In Fig. 4 is finally the assembly of in Fig. 3 shown in exploded view parts, and it is shown how a string 1 5 runs onto the winding portion 3 and is fixed with a free end 16 in accordance with the invention by means of the fastening device. The string 15 runs, as already mentioned, on the winding section 3, its free end is passed through the incision 7 in the collar 4 and placed in a circle around almost 360 ° on the abutment surface of the collar 4. The clamping screw 8 is screwed onto the holding portion of the vertebra 1 and presses with its clamping surface on the free end 16 of the string 15 and thus jammed this free end 16 against the abutment surface of the collar. 4

The free end 16 of the string 15 can be set as easy and fast on the vortex 1. Thus, it is only necessary to arrange the free end 16 on the abutment surface 5 of the collar 4 and the clamping screw 8 in the direction of the collar 4 and its abutment surface 5 to screw and so the free end 16 of the string 15 between the abutment surface 5 and the clamping surface 17th pinch. How out Fig. 4 can be recognized, the clamping takes place over a considerable longitudinal portion of the free end 16 of the string 15, so that the forces distributed over a longer range of the string 15 are applied to this and not, as known in the art, selectively. This reduces clearly the risk of cracking or breaking the string. Furthermore, it can be seen that the radii about which the string 15 must be bent at its free end 16 in order to pass this free end 16 on the one hand through the recess 7 in the collar 4 and on the other hand store on the bearing surface 5 of the collar 4, comparatively are large, so that here too no high loads of the string 15 occur.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

whirl

2

connecting portion

3

winding section

4

collar

5

Abutment surface

6

holding section

7

incision

8th

clamping screw

9

knurling

10

inner thread

11

guide part

12

guide sleeve

13

housing part

14

opening

15

string

16

free end

17

clamping surface

Claims (6)

1. Machine head for a stringed instrument, especially a guitar, with a winding section (3), on which a string (15) can be wound and a securing device for fastening a free end (16) of the string (15), where the securing device consists of the following elements:

   i) A clamping element (8),

   ii) a thrust collar section (4, 5) on the machine head (1) and

   iii) a holding section (6) on the machine head (1),

   where the holding section (6) and the clamping element (8) are so set up that the clamping element (8) is shifted axially along the holding section (6) relative to the machine head (1) and can be locked in a clamped position, and where the clamping element (8) and the thrust collar section (4, 5) are so set up that they can clamp and hold a length of the free end (16) of the string (15) between them and characterised by a circumferential collar (4) as thrust resisting section with a least one notch (7) in the collar (4) for the threading through of the free end (16) of the string (15).
2. Machine head according to Claim 1, characterised in that, when seen in the axial direction of the machine head (1), the winding section (3) being located on one side of the collar (4) and the holding section (6) on the opposite side of the collar (4), especially when the holding section (6) is close to the collar (6).
3. Machine head according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the holding section (6) of the machine head (1) having an external thread and the clamping element (8) being a threaded element with an internal thread (10) that matches the external thread of section (6).
4. Machine head according to Claim 3, characterised in that the section with the external thread being so positioned on the free end of the machine head (1) that the threaded element with internal thread can be completely detached from the external thread section of machine head (1).
5. Machine head according to one of the Claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the threaded element having a section (9) that can be gripped, especially a toothed, knurled or in other manner structured circumferential section.
6. String instrument with at least one machine head according to one of the Claims 1 to 5.

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