us patent 8,110,729, entitled "pyrolytic carbon components for stringed instruments", issued 2012

8/16/2019 US Patent 8,110,729, entitled "Pyrolytic carbon components for stringed instruments", issued 2012.

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1 2 )United States Patent 1 0 )P a t e n tN o . : U S 8 , 1 1 0 , 7 2 9B 2Guthrie e t a ] . ( 4 5 )Date o f P a t e n t : F e b . 7 , 2012

( 5 4 ) PYROLYTICC A R B O NC O M P O N E NT S F O R 2 i 1 g ; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~3 4 / 5 1 / 2 1 9 1 ;, , ee Wri t .TRINGED INSTRUMENTS 5,052,260 10/1991 Cipriani . . . . . . . . . . . ... 84/298

5,092,213 A 3/1992 C' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84/299

( 7 5 ) I n v e n t o r s :J a m e sM. G u t h r i e ,A u s t i n ,T X ( U S ) ; 5 , 1 2 5 , 3 1 0A 6 / 1 9 9 2 L g g l l g g oJona than C. Stupka, Austin, TX US) 5 , 2 2 7 , 5 7 1 A * 7 / 1 9 9 3 C i p r i a n i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 8 4 / 3 0 7

5,265,513 11/1993 Smith . . . . . . . ... 84/298

- - 5,347,905 A 9/1994 Cipriani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84/298( 7 3 ) A s s l g n e e . O b b h g a t o ,I n c . ,L a k e W a y ,TX U S ) 5 , 4 0 4 , 7 8 3A 4 / l 9 9 5 F e i t e ne t 3 1 ‘

6 , 2 5 5 , 5 6 8 B1 7 / 2 0 0 1 D d '* ) N o t i c e : S u b j e c tt o a n y d i s c l a i m e r ,t h e t e r m o f h i s ( c o m i n i z g i o1 e

p a t e n t i s e x t e n d e do r a d j u s t e d u n d e r 3 5

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( 2 1 ) A p p 1 _NO; 12598317 K o r e a nI n t e l l e c t u a lP r o p e r t y O f? c e , “ W r i t t e nO p i n i o no f t h eI n t e rn a t i o n a l S e a r c h i n g A u t h o r i t y ” d a t e dJ a n . 7 , 2009 i s s u e d i n c o n n e c

( 2 2 ) F i l e d ; Feb , 2010 t i o nW i t h c o r r e s p o n d i n gI n t e r n a t i o n a lA p p l i c a t i o nN o . PCT/U 2 0 0 8 /0 7 2 5 3 0 , 4p a g e s .

( 6 5 ) P r i o r P u b l i c a t i o nD a t a ( C o n t i n u e d )

US 0 1 0 /0 132533 A1 J u n . 3, 2 0 1 0 _

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( 6 3 ) C o n t i n u a t i o n o f a p p l i c a t i o n N O ‘ 1 3 7 1 4 )A t t o r n e y , A g e n t , o r F i r m i t c h Even T a b 1 n

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( 6 0 ) P r o v i s i o n a l a p p l i c a t i o nN o . 6 0 / 9 5 4 , 6 1 3 ,? l e d o n A u g . ( 5 7 ) ABSTRACT

8 ’ 2 0 0 7 P y r o c a r b o n c o m p o n e n t s h a v e b e e n f o u n dt o c r e a t e r i c h e r ,5 1 I t C l c l e a r e r s o u n d When employed a s b r i d g e s ( 1 9 ) ,s a d d l e s ( 1 ) ,

) G H I ' O D504 2 0 0 60 1 n u t s( 2 ) ,f r e t s3 ) ,t u n i n gh e a d s 4 ) ,p e g s ( 9 )a n do t h e rcom( _ ‘ ) _ _ _ ponents W h i c h c o n t a c t t h e s t r i n g s i n g u i t a r s ( 6 , 1 6 ) , v i o l i n s

( 5 2 ) US‘ C l ‘ 8 4 / 2 9 8 ’ 8 4 / 2 9 9 ’ 8 4 / 3 0 7 ’8 4 6 1 4 N ’ ( 1 1 ) and l i k es t r i n g e d m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t s . B r i d g e s / s a d d l e s_ _ _ 84614 R and nuts of stringed instruments produce a marked ifference

( 5 8 ) Field of Classi?cation Sea rch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 8 4 / 2 9 8 , i n t h e Sound W h e n Pyrocarbon Components a r e used Com_8 4 / 2 9 9 > 3 0 7 :314 N > _ 3 1 4R ’ 322 p a r e d W i t h c u r r e n t l y u s e d m a t e r i a l s . T h e r e i s a s i g n i ? c a n t

S e e apphcanon ? l e f o r C o m p l e t eS e a r c hh l s t o r y - i n c r e a s ei ns o u n dvolume o r a g i v e ni n t e n s i t yo f t r i n gmove

( 5 6 ) R Ct m e n t , a l o n gW i t hr i c h e r h a r m o n i c sa n d a c l e a r e r ,l e s smuddye erences 1 e

U . S . PATENT DOCUMENTS

934,678 A * 9/1909 L a u r i a n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 8 4 / 3 0 7

1 , 1 3 8 , 8 0 3 A * 5/1915 S h u t t 84/2981,338,583 A * 4/1920 Neft . . . . . . . . . 84/314N1 , 6 4 9 , 3 7 6 A * 11/1927 Bacon t a 1 . . . . . . . . . 84/308

3 , 5 4 7 , 6 7 6 A 1 2 / 1 9 7 0 Bokros t a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 4 2 7 / 2 1 3

3 , 8 0 5 , 6 6 2 A 4 / 1 9 7 4 Nishimura t a l .

s o u n d . The c r y s t a l l i n es t r u c t u r e o f p y r o l y t i c c a r b o n m i n im i Z e st h e damping o f s t r i n g v i b r a t i o na s i t i s t r a n s f e r r e dt o t h es o u n d - a m p l i f y i n gp o r t i o no f c o u s t i c i n s t r u m e n t s ,p r o d u c i n ga r i c h ,p l e a s i n ga n d h i g h e rvolume s o u n d . The u s e f u l l i f eo fs t r i n g si s i n c r e a s e di n c o n t a c tW i t hp y r o l y t i c c a r b o ncompon e n t s b e f o r e t h e yg o “dead” o r b r e a k .

1 3 C l a i m s , 7Drawing S h e e t s


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6 , 5 2 1 , 8 1 96 , 7 0 6 , 9 5 76 , 8 1 5 , 5 9 76 , 8 7 0 , 0 8 37 , 1 1 2 , 7 3 37 , 1 7 9 , 9 7 67 , 3 2 7 , 1 0 97 , 3 5 8 , 4 2 87 , 3 6 8 , 6 4 6

U S . PATENT DOCUMENTS

2 / 2 0 0 33 / 2 0 0 4

1 1 / 2 0 0 43 / 2 0 0 59 / 2 0 0 62 / 2 0 0 72 / 2 0 0 84 / 2 0 0 85 / 2 0 0 8

D i I o r i oMerkel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84/314 N

B o s l e y 8 4 / 3 2 2Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84/298

B a b i c ZWest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84/322

Hagen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318/298

B e l l et a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 84/298

Payung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84/290

7,507,888 B2 3 / 2 0 0 9 R i v e r a e t a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 8 4 / 3 1 4 R2 0 1 0 / 0 1 3 2 5 3 3 A1* 6 / 2 0 1 0 G u t h r i e e t a l . . . . .. . 8 4 / 2 9 82011/0011476 A1* 1 / 2 0 11 Brondum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 1 3 7 / 8 0 1

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

K o r e a nI n t e l l e c t u a lP r o p e r t y O f ? c e ,“ I n t e r n a t i o n a lS e a r c h R e p o r t ”d a t e d J a n . 7 , 2009 i s s u e d i n c o n n e c t i o nW i t hc o r r e s p o n d i n gI n t e r n at i o n a lA p p l i c a t i o nN o . P C T / U S 2 0 0 8 / 0 7 2 5 3 0 ,3 p a g e s .

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U S 8 , 1 1 0 , 7 2 9B21

PYROLYTIC CARBON COMPONEN TS FORSTRINGED INSTRUMENTS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATIONS

T h i s a p p l i c a t i o ni s a c o n t i n u a t i o no f I n t e r n a t i o n a lA p p l ic a t i o n No. PCT/US2008/072530 ? l e d 7 Aug. 2008 Whichc l a i m s p r i o r i t yf r o m U S . P r o v i s i o n a lA p p l i c a t i o nS e r .N o .6 0 / 9 5 4 , 6 1 3 ,? l e d A u g . 8 , 2 0 0 7 , t h e d i s c l o s u r e s o f b o t h o fWhich a r e i n c o r p or a t e d h e r e i nby r e f e r e n c e .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Up n t i ln o W,c h o i c e so f m a t e r i a l su s e d i n s t r i n g e dm u s i c a li n s t r u m e n t st h a t come i n c o n t a c t With t h e s t r i n g s have n o ts i g n i ?c a n t l y d e v i a t e df r o m t h o s e t r a d i t i o n a l l yu s e d . SomeneWer a t e r i a l s have been s e d , b u t t h e t e n d e n c yseems o bet o ?nd more commonly a v a i l a b l e m a t e r i a l s a t loWer c o s t a ss u b s t i t u t e s f o r m a t e r i a l s t h a t a r e becoming i n c r e a s i n g l yr a r ea n d /o r e x p e n s i v e .An x a m p l ei s TUSQ® y n t h e t i cm a t e r i a ld e v e l o p e dt o r e p l a c eb o n e o r i v o r y p a r t i c u l a r l y f o ra c o u s t i cg u i t a r s a d d l e s a n d n u t s .G e n e r a l l ys u c h a l t e r n a t i v em a t e r i a l st h a t hav e been r i e d i n an f f o r t t o improve t h e s o n i c c h a r a ct e r i s t i c sof s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t shave had some l i m i t e d s u cc e s s ,b u t o v e r a l l h a v ep r o d u c e dl e s st h a n d e s i r e d r e s u l t s .

U S . P a t .N o . 6 , 5 2 1 , 8 1 9d i s c l o s e s a V - s h a p e dcomponentt h a tmay b e p l a c e d b e t W e e ne l e c t r i cg u i t a rs t r i n g sa n d t h es a d d l e s / b r i d g ef o rt h e p u r p o s eo f m a x i m i Z i n gs t r i n gl i f eW h i l en o t a f f e c t i n g sound i n t o n a t i o n . I t i s s t a t e d t h a t t h e s e compon e n t s can be made of m e t a l , f o r e x a m p l e ,aluminum o r t i t an i u m ,h a r d w o o d ,b o n e ,s i l v e r ,g o l d ,d i a m o n d ,g r a p h i t e ,h a r dp l a s t i c ,c h r o m e ,n i c k e l , b r a s s ,b r o n Z e , o ro t h e rs u i t a b l yr i g i d ,hard o r s o f t s h e e t m a t e r i a l .

US. a t . No. 5 , 2 2 7 , 5 7 1d e s c r i b e s a s a d d l eWith an n c l i n e dl e v e r e l e m e n te x t e n d i n ga t an a c u t e a n g l eW i t hr e s p e c t t o i t sb o d ya n dh a v i n ga f u l c r u me n d s u p p o r t e db y t h e b r i d g e .T h e

i n t e n t i s c h a n g ed i r e c t i o no f t r i n gf o r c e s t o t h e s o u n d b o a r di no r d e r t o enhance volu me and s u s t a i n . I t i s s a i d t h a t t h e s ecomponents Which e d i r e c t f o r c e s c a nb e made f c o m p o s i t e so f g r a p h i t e o r c a r b o n ? b e r s , q u a r t z ,t i t a n i u m ,a l u m i n u m ,Wo o d ,i v o r y ,s y n t h e t i cr e s i n s ,c e r a m i cm a t r i x c o m p o s i t e s ,s i l i c o nn i t r i d e ,c e r a m i cs i l i c o nc o m p o s i t e s , m a t e r i a l s t h a th a v e s u p e r c o n d u c t i v ep r o p e r t i e s ,m e t a l m a t r i xc o m p o s i t e sr e i n f o r c e dW i t hc e r a m i c? b e r s , a n dm e t a l a l l o y s .

U S . P a t .N o . 5 , 2 0 8 , 4 1 0 d i s c l o s e s a n a d j u s t a b l e b r i d g emechanism t h a t can be added t o a c o u s t i c g u i t a r s Which i ss i m i l a r t o those noW found on some e l e c t r i c g u i t a r s . T h eb r i d g e may b e made o u t o f b r a s s ,a l u m i n u m ,s t e e l ,o t h e rm e t a l sa n dm e t a la l l o y s ,p l a s t i c s ,Wo o d ,c e r a m i c s ,g r a p h i t e ,o rv a r i o u s s y n t h e t i cm a t e r i a l s .

U S . P a t . No. 5 , 0 9 2 , 2 1 3 d i s c l o s e s a g u i t a r s a d d l e W i t h ani n c l i n e d l e v e r p o r t i o n .I t i s s t a t e dt h a tt h e s a d d l e ,b r i d g e a n dWedge c a n b e made o f many s u i t a b l e m a t e r i a l s , i n c l u d i n gWo o d ,a l u m i n u m ,t i t a n i u m ,i v o r y ,g r a p h i t ec o m p o s i t e s ,c a rb o n ? b e r c o m p o s i t e s ,c e r a m i c s ,q u a r t z , s y n t h e t i cr e s i n s ,c e r a m i cm a t r i x c o m p o s i t e s ,s i l i c o nn i t r i d e ,c e r a m i cs i l i c o nc o m p o s i t e s ,m a t e r i a lW i t hs u p e r c o n d u c t i v ep r o p e r t i e s ,m e t a lm a t r i x c o m p o s i t e sr e i n f o r c e dW i t hc e r a m i c? b e r s , a n d m e t a la l l o y s .

U S . P a t .N o . 5 , 0 5 2 , 2 6 0 d i s c l o s e s a n a d j u s t a b l e b r i d g ea s s e m b l yf o r a c o u s t i c g u i t a r sa n d m e n t i o n st h a tt h e s a d d l ea n d / o r t h e p l a t f o r mmember may b e made o f c a r b o n ? b e rc o m p o s i t e s ,g r a p h i t e ,s i l i c o nc e r a m i c s ,c e r a m i c sW i t hs u p e rc o n d u c t i v ep r o p e r t i e s ,a n d c e r a m i c? b e r c o m p o s i t e s .

U S . a t .No. 4 , 9 6 0 , 0 2 7d i s c l o s e s a tWo i e c e b r i d g eWhereo n e c o m p o n e n tp r o v i d e sr i g i d i t ya n d t h e o t h e r l u b r i c i t y .I t i s

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2m e n t i o n e dt h a tt h e component p r o v i d i n g l u b r i c i t yc a n b emade o f g r a p h i t eamong o t h e r m a t e r i a l s

B R I E F SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

P y r o l y t i cc a r b o n ( p a r t i c u l a r l y ,l o W t e m p e r a t u r e , t u r b os t a t i c ,

i s o t r o p i cp y r o l y t i c c a r b o nW h e t h e r

i na l l o y e d o ru n a l

l o y e d f o r m ) , e i t h e r i n a m o n o l i t h i cs t a t e o r a s a c o m p o s i t e ,i . e .c o a t e dupon t h e r s u b s t r a t e m a t e r i a l s ,When s e d f o r b r i d g e s /s a d d l e s a n d n u t s o f s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t s ,s u r p r i s i n g l y p r od u c e s a marked d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e sound of h e s e i n s t r u m e n t sc o m p a r e dW i t hc u r r e n t l yu s e dm a t e r i a l s .I n p a r t i c u l a r ,t h e r e i sa s i g n i ? c a n t i n c r e a s ei n s o u n dvolume f o r a g i v e ni n t e n s i t y o fs t r i n gmovement a l o n g W i t hr i c h e r h a r m o n i c sa n d a c l e a r e r ,l e s smuddy s o u n d . I t a p p e a r s t h a tt h e p a r t i c u l a r c r y s t a l l i n es t r u c t u r eo f p y r o l y t i c c a r b o n m i n i m i Z e st h e d a m p i n go f t r i n gv i b r a t i o na s i t i s t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e s o u n d - a m p l i f y i n gp o r t i o no f a c o u s t i ci n s t r u m e n t sp r o d u c i n ga r i c h ,p l e a s i n ga n dh i g h e rvolume s o u n d . A n o t h e rd e s i r a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i co f p y r o l y t i cc a r b o n When u s e d f o r c o m p o n e n t sc o n t a c t i n g s t r i n g si ns t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t s i s an i n c r e a s e i n t h e u s e f u l l i f eo f t h es t r i n g s ,i . e . ,s t r i n g sc a n b e u s e df o r a l o n g e r p e r i o do f t i m eb e f o r eg o i n g“ d e a d ”( l o s i n g t h e l e v e lo f volume n d d e s i r a b l eh a r m o n i c s ) .A l s o , s t r i n g s t h a ta r e i n c o n t a c tW i t hp y r o c a r b o ns u r f a c e s , v e r s u s o t h e r m a t e r i a ls u r f a c e s , l a s tl o n g e r b e f o r eb r e a k i n gf o r a g i v e n i n t e n s i t y a n d d u r a t i o no f u s e . P y r o l y t i cc a r b o n c o m p o n e n t sa l s o W i l ll a s t l o n g e r t h a n o t h e r b o n e ,s y n t h e t i cb o n e a n d p l a s t i ct y p e c o m p o n e n t s ,W h i c ht e n d t oy e l l o Wand r a c k and h i p a s W e l la s t o l o s e i n t o n a t i o na s t h e ya g e .

I n one p a r t i c u l a r a s p e c t , t h e i n v e n t i o nr e s u l t s i n a s t r i n g e dm u s i c a li n s t r u m e n tW h i c hc o m p r i s e s :

( a ) tWo o r more a b u t m e n t st h a t s u s p e n dp o r t i o n s o f t h es t r i n g s ,t h e s p a c i n g o f W h i c ha b u t m e n t sp r o v i d e s d e s i r e dp r i m a r ys t r i n gv i b r a t i o nf r e q u e n c yo r t u n i n g , W h e r e i na t l e a s tone of h e abutments t r a n s m i t s v i b r a t i o n st o a soundboard or

s o u n d - a m p l i f y i n gs t r u c t u r e ;

( b )a n c h o r sWhich h o l d t h e s t r i n g s i np l a c e on t h e a b u tm e n t s a n dm a i n t a i nd e s i r e d s t r i n gt e n s i o n , a n d

( c )a d j u s t m e n tm e a n sf o rs e t t i n g s t r i n gt e n s i o n t o p r o v i d ed e s i r e d b a s e f r e q u e n c yo r t u n i n g ,

t h e improvement W h i c h comprises one o r more of compon e n t s ( a ) ,( b )a n d ( c )h a v i n gs u r f a c e sWhich r e i nc o n t a c tW i t ht h e s t r i n g s t h a t a r e formed o f p y r o l y t i c c a r b o n a s de?nedh e r e i n .

I n a n o t h e rp a r t i c u l a ra s p e c t , t h e i n v e n t i o nr e s u l t si n a p l e ctrum d e v i c eW h e r e i na l lo f t s s u r f a c et h a t c o n t a c t s t h es t r i n g si s formed o f p y r o l y t i c c a r b o nf o r u s e W i t ha s t r i n g e dm u s i c a li n s t r u m e n tW h e r et h e p r i m a r ymeans o f n i t i a t i n g s t r i n gv i b r at i o n i s b y p l u c k i n g W i t ha p l e c t r u md e v i c e .

I n a f u r t h e r p a r t i c u l a r a s p e c t , t h ei n v e n t i o nr e s u l t s i n as t r i n g e dm u s i c a li n s t r u m e n tWhich n c o r p o r a t e s a f r e t b o a r da sa means o f c h a n g i n g p r i m a r y f r e q u e n c yo f t h e s t r i n g s ,Wherein one or more of h e f r e t s i n t h e f r e t b o a r d a r e formedW i t hp y r o l y t i c c a r b o ns u r f a c e s t h a t W i l l come i n c o n t a c tW i t hs a i ds t r i n g s .

B R I E F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 i s a s c h e m a t i cof an a c o u s t i c g u i t a r and s r e p r e s e nt a t i v eo f s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t se m p l o y i n ga ? n g e r b o a r d t oc h a n g et h e p i t c ho f s t r i n g sWhere h e s t r i n g sa r e strummed rp l u c k e d .

FIG. 2 i s a s c h e m a t i cof a v i o l i n and i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v eofs t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t se m p l o y i n ga ? n g e r b o a r dt o c h a n g et h ep i t c h o f s t r i n g sW h e r es t r i n gv i b r a t i o n i n i n i t i a t e da n d c o nt r o l l e d With t h e use of boW.


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U S 8 , 1 1 0 , 7 2 9B23

FIG. 3 i s a s c h e m a t i cof an e l e c t r i c g u i t a r .FIG. 4 i s a s c h e m a t i cof ?nger l i d e .FIG. 5 i s a s c h e m a t i cof plectrum o r p i c k .F I G . 6 i s a s c h e m a t i co f an a c o u s t i c g u i t a r b r i d g e s a d d l e .FIG. 7 i s a schematic of g u i t a r n u t .F I G . 8 i s a s c h e m a t i co f a n a c o u s t i cg u i t a r b r i d g e p i n .F I G . 9 i s a s c h e m a t i co f a n e l e c t r i cg u i t a r a d j u s t a b l eb r i d g e

( o n ei s r e q u i r e df o re a c hs t r i n g ) .F I G . 1 0 i s a s c h e m a t i co f a n e l e c t r i c g u i t a r a d j u s t a b l e

b r i d g e modi?ed W i t ha p y r o l y t i c c a r b o ni n s e r t .F I G . 1 1 i s a s c h e m a t i co f a g u i t a r t u n i n g machine head

mechanism.FIG. 12 s a schematic of v i o l i n t a i l p i e c e With ?ne u n e r

o n t h e h i g h e s tp i t c h e ds t r i n g .FIG. 13 i s a s c h e m a t i cof v i o l i n t u n i n gp e g .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS

T h e i n v e n t i o ne m p l o y sp r e v i o u s l yu n u s e dm a t e r i a l s f o rcomponents t h a t come i n c o n t a c t W i t h s t r i n g s on s t r i n g e di n s t r u m e n t s ;a l s o d i s c l o s e d i s t h e c o n c e p t o fp r o c e s s i n gt os h a p et h e s e c o m p o n e n t st o s i Z e sj u s tg r e a t e rt h a n maximumc o m p o n e n ts i Z es p e c i ? c a t i o ni n o r d e r t h a tt h e y may t h e n b ecustom ? t , a s d e s i r e d , t o accommodate t o l e r a n c e sof a p a rt i c u l a ri n s t r u m e n t .The i n v e n t i o ni s h e r e i n a f t e rd e s c r i b e dbyr e f e r e n c et o f a m i l i e s of components h a t come n c o n t a c tWiths t r i n g son s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t s .

Components s u c ha s s a d d l e s , b r i d g e s and u t s f o r a c o u s t i cg u i t a r s ,b a n j o s ,m a n d o l i n s ,u k u l e l e s ,l y r e s ,e t c . ,a l o n gW i t ht h o s e f o rv i o l i n s , v i o l a s ,c e l l o s ,s t r i n gb a s s ,e t c . ,a r ep r e f e ra b l y made b y a p p l y i n ga s t r u c t u r a lc o a t i n go f p y r o l y t i c c a rbon o v e r a h i g h d e n s i t y ,i s o t r o p i c g r a p h i t es u b s t r a t e o f s u i ta b l e s i Z ea n d s h a p e . I n c e r t a i np r e f e r r e d e m b o d i m e n t s ,t h eo u t e r g e o m e t r i c e n v e l o p eo f t h e c o m p o n e n ti s p r e - s h a p e dt op r o v i d ea s u i t a b l e“ b l a n k ” u s i n gl a p p i n g , g r i n d i n go r s a n d i n go p e r a t i o n ss u c ht h a t o n l y a minimum amount o f m a t e r i a lt h e n

h a s t o b e remov ed by t h e p e r s o n? t t i n g t h e component t o ap a r t i c u l a r i n s t r u m e n t . Such ?xed amount of m a t e r i a l can beremov ed by s u c h p e r s o nt o custom t a p a r t i c u l a r componentt o a p a r t i c u l a r i n s t r u m e n tu s i n g diamond o r s i l i c o n c a r b i d ea b r a s i v e so r W i t ho t h e r s u i t a b l e s a n d i n gp a p e r s / l o t h s .B l a n k smay b e p r o v i d e dW i t h o u t g r o o v e sf o r s t r i n g a l i g n m e n to r a sshoWn n F I G . 6 a n dF I G . 7 W i t hg r o o v e sf o r s t r i n ga l i g n m e n t .

B y p y r o l y t i c c a r b o no r p y r o c a r b o n ,Which t e r m s a r e u s e di n t e r c h a n g e a b l y ,i s m e a n tv a p o r - d e p o s i t e dc a r b o nW h i c hi sf o r m e db y h i g h t e m p e r a t u r e ,eg > 1 0 0 0 oC . ,d e c o m p o s i t i o no f a h y d r o c a r b o n .I t m a y be formed e i t h e r by c o a t i n go n t o as u i t a b l e s u b s t r a t e such a s one of dense i s o t r o p i c g r a p h i t e a sW e l l knoWn i n t h i s a r t , o r a s a m o n o l i t h ,eg y d e p o s i t i o no n t o a s u r f a c e and t h e n removed f rom t h a t s u r f a c e andm a c h i n e d . P y r o c a r b o ns ,b y d e ? n i t i o n ,d e p o s i t e db y t h eh i g ht e m p e r a t u r ep y r o l y s i s o f a c a r b o n - c o n t a i n i n gs u b s t a n c e ;i t i st h u s r e q u i r e dt h a t t h e s u b s t r a t eupon Which d e p o s i t i o no c c u r sb e s t a b l e a t t h e f a i r l yh i g h t e m p e r a t u r e st o Which t W i l l b es u b j e c t e dd u r i n gp y r o l y s i s .S u b s t r a t e so f c o mm e r c i a l l ya v a i la b l e i s o t r o p i c a r t i ? c i a l g r a p h i t e , s u c ha s t h a t s o l d a s AFX-5Qa n dAFX-5Q-10W y P O C O r a p h i t eC o m p a n y ,o f e c a t u r ,T e x . ,a r eg e n e r a l l yp r e f e r r e d .H o We v e r ,o t h e ra r t i ? c i a lg r a p h it e sh a v i n ga d e n s i t y b e t W e e na b o u t 1 . 7a n d a b o u t 2 . 1g / c m 3Which a r e c l o s e t o p e r f e c t l y i s o t r o p i c , e . g .h a v i n gan i s o t r ophy o f a b o u tBAF . 1 o r l e s s ,m a y a l s o be u s e d .

P r e f e r a b l yp y r o c a r b o ni s d e p o s i t e di n a ? u i d i z e db e da p p ar a t u s , and x a m p l e s o fs u c h f a b r i c a t i o n a r efound n U S . a t .N o s . 5 , 2 6 2 , 1 0 4 ; 5 , 2 8 4 , 6 7 6 ; 5 , 3 2 8 , 7 1 3 ;a n d6 , 2 7 4 , 1 9 1 ,a sWe l la s i n E u r o p e a nP a t e n tN o . 5 5 , 4 0 6 . The p h y s i c a lc h a r a c t e r i st i c so f t h e p y r o c a r b o nWhich may b e u s e d a r e g e n e r a l l y s e t

20

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4f o r t h i n t h e v a r i o u sU S . a t e n t s l i s t e d on h e t i t l es h e e t of U S .P a t .N o . 5 , 5 1 4 , 4 1 0 ,p a r t i c u l a r l yi nU S . a t . N o s . 3 , 5 4 7 , 6 7 6 ;3 , 6 7 6 , 1 7 9 ; 3 , 6 7 7 , 7 9 5 ;3 , 6 8 5 , 0 5 9a n d 3 , 7 0 7 , 0 0 6 , t h e d i s c l os u r e s o f Which a r e i n c o r p o r a t e dh e r e i n by r e f e r e n c e . Ve r yg e n e r a l l y , i t i s f e l tt h a tt h e p y r o c a r b o ns h o u l dh a v ea d e n s i t yo f a t l e a s ta b o u t 1 . 5c m 3 , a diamond pyramid h a r d n e s so f a tl e a s t a b o u t 160 DPH hen measured i t h a 50 g r a m o a d , anda c r y s t a l l i t es i Z e o f betWeen a b o u t 20 a n g s t r o m sand 80 angs t r o m s ; i t s h o u l da l s o b e i s o t r o p i c ,i . e .h a v i n ga BaconAnisotr o p y F a c t o r (BAP) b e t W e e na b o u t 1 . 0 - 1 . 5 .The p y r o c a r b o nmay be u n a l l o y e do r m a y be a l l o y e dW i t ha s u i t a b le m a t e r i a l ,eg uch s a s i l i c o n , a s i s W e l lknoWn n t h i s a r t and e s c r i b e di n t h e l a s tm e n t i o n e dl i s t o f p a t e n t s .P a r t i c u l a r l yp r e f e r r e dp y r o c a r b o ni s t h a th a v i n gt h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c st a u g h t i n US.P a t .N o s . 5 , 5 1 4 , 4 1 0a n d 5 , 6 7 7 , 0 6 1 , t h e d i s c l o s u r e sofWhicha r e i n c o r p or a t e d h e r e i nby r e f e r e n c e , Which s r e f e r r e d t o i nt h e t r a d e a s On-X c a r b o nand s s o l d c o m m e r c i a l l yby On-XL i f e T e c h n o l o g i e s ,I n c .o f u s t i n , Te x . T h i s u n a l l o y e dc a r b o nh a s a d e n s i t y betWeen a b o u t 1 . 7 and a b o u t 2 . 1 g / c m 3 , a DPHo f betWeen a b o u t 200 and 3 5 0 , and o t h e r p r o p e r t i e s a sd e t a i l e d i n t h e c l a i m s o f t h e ’ 0 6 1 p a t e n t .

F I G . 1 i l l u s t r a t e san a c o u s t i c g u i t a r 6 W i t h a b r i d g e 1 9c o n t a i n i n ga s a d d l e 1 . S h a p e s o fs a d d l e s v a r y a m o n g s tt h ev a r i o u s b r a n d s o fg u i t a r s .F I G . 6 i l l u s t r a t e sa t y p i c a l s h a p es a d d l e 2 1 . F I G . 2 i l l u s t r a t e sv i o l i n 1 1 W i t ha b r i d g e 7 . S a d d l e sf o r a c o u s t i c g u i t a r sa n d s i m i l a r i n s t r u m e n t s a l o n g W i t hb r i d g e s f o r v i o l i n s a n d s i m i l a r i n s t r u m e n t s p l a ya n i m p o r t a n tr o l e a s t h e y a r e a key l i n k betWeen r a n s m i t t i n gs t r i n g v i b r at i o n e n e r g yt o t h e i n s t r u m e n tsound o d i e s . M o n o l i t h i cp y r ol y t i cc a r b o nand p y r o l y t i c c a r b o nc o a t e do v e r a s u i t a b l e s u bs t r a t ep r e - f o r m ,s u c h a sa h i g hd e n s i t y ,h i g hp u r i t yi s o t r o p i cg r a p h i t e ,s i g n i ? c a n t l yi m p r o v e st h et r a n s f e ro f d e s i r e ds t r i n gv i b r a t i o ne n e r g yr e l a t i v e t o c u r r e n t l yu s e d m a t e r i a l s . S a d d l egeometry o n c e o p t i m i Z e df o r a p a r t i c u l a r g u i t a ri s t h e samef o r p y r o l y t i c c a r b o na s i t i s f o r o t h e r m a t e r i a l s . Once o p t im i Z e df o ra p a r t i c u l a ri n s t r u m e n t ,v i o l i n b r i d g e g e o m e t r yf o rp y r o l y t i c c a r b o ni s s i m i l a r i n t h e r e g i o n o f c o n t a c t W i t ht h e

body n d t h e s t r i n g sa so t h e r c u r r e n t l yu s e dm a t e r i a l s , b u t t i st h i n n e r i n t h e m i d d l e p o r t i o n i n o r d e r t o r e d u c e mass byu t i l i Z i n gt h es t r e n g t ho f t h ep y r o l y t i cc a r b o n .

F I G . 1 i l l u s t r a t e san a c o u s t i c g u i t a r 6 W i t ha n u t 2 , f r e t s3 ,t u n i n gm a c h i n eh e a d s 4 a n d b r i d g e p i n s 5 . F I G . 7 p r o v i d e samore d e t a i l e d vieW of a nut 2 2 . FIG. 11 provides a mored e t a i l e dvieW o f a t u n i n gmachine head 7 . F I G . 8 p r o v i d e samore d e t a i l e dvieW o f b r i d g ep i n 2 3 . F I G . 2 i l l u s t r a t e sa v i o l i n1 1 W i t h ? n g e r b o a r dn u t 8 , t u n i n g p e g s 9 a n d t a i l p i e c en u tde?ned s t h e l a s tp o i n t o f c o n t a c tbetWeen h e s t r i n g and h et a i l p i e c e1 0 t o Wa r d st h e b r i d g e2 0 . The i o l i n ? n g e r b o a r dn u t8 i s s i m i l a r t o t h e g u i t a rn u t e x c e p tf o r accommodating f e W e rs t r i n g s . F I G . 1 3p r o v i d e sa more e t a i l e d vieW of t u n i n gpeg3 3 . FIG. 12 p r o v i d e s a more d e t a i l e d vieW of t a i l p i e c e 30a n d t a i l p i e c en u t 3 1 . T h i s t a i l p i e c eh a s a ? n e t u n i n ga d j u s t e r3 2 o n t h e h i g h e s t p i t c h e ds t r i n g .Ta i l p i e c e s may h a v e a n yWhere f r o m Z e r o t o f o u r ?ne t u n i n g a d j u s t e r s .The t a i l p i e c en u t i s de?ned a s b e i n g t h e l a s tp o i n t o f c o n t a c t t o W a r d st h eb r i d g eb e t W e e nt h e s t r i n ga n d t h e t a i l p i e c eW h e t h e ro r n o t ?net u n i n ga d j u s t e r s a r e u s e d . A l l o f t h e s e components l s o t r a n sm i t s t r i n gv i b r a t i o n e n e r g y t o t h e i n s t r u me n t ,t h o u g h n o tn e a r l yt o t h e d e g r e ea s d o t h e s a d d l e sa n d b r i d g e s . H o W e v e r ,t h e s e c o m p o n e n t s W h i c hc o n t a c t t h es t r i n g sa f f e c t s t r i n gl i f ea n d b e n e ? t f r o mt h e a d v a n t a g e st h a tp y r o l y t i c c a r b o no f f e r so v e rc u r r e n t l yu s e d m a t e r i a l s . N u t s a n db r i d g ep i n s Would b emade of p y r o l y t i c carbon c o a t e d o v e ra s u i t a b l e s u b s t r a t ep r e - f o r m .V i o l i n t u n i n gp e g s c o u l de i t h e r b e a c o m p l e t ep y r ol y t i cc a r b o n / s u b s t r a t ep r e - f o r mcomponent o r c o u l d be a na s s e m b l y o fa p y r o l y t i c c a r b o ns l e e v e , i nt h e r e g i o nm a r k e d3 4 , a n d a p e g , W i t h t h e r e m a i n i n gp o r t i o n o f t h e p e g b e i n g


12/12

U S 8 , 1 1 0 , 7 2 9B25

f a b r i c a t e d f r o ma c u r r e n t l yu s e d m a t e r i a l a n d a t t a c h e du s i n ga s u i t a b l e a d h e s i v e .G u i t a r t u n i n gmachine e a d s Would i k e l ya l s o f e a t u r e a p y r o l y t i c c a r b o ns l e e v e i n t h e r e g i o n2 8 ( F I G .1 1 ) t h a t i s a t t a c h e du s i n g a s u i t a b l e a d h e s i v et o t h e r e m a i n i n gp o r t i o no f t h e t u n i n gp o s t 2 9 , Which may e f a b r i c a t e df r o mac u r r e n t l yu s e dm a t e r i a l .

F I G . 3 i l l u s t r a t e san l e c t r i c g u i t a r 1 6 W i t hb r i d g e a r e a 1 2 ,n u t 1 3 , t u n i n gm a c h i n eh e a d s 1 5a n d r e t s1 4 . F I G . 9 p r o v i d e sa more d e t a i l e d vieW of an a d j u s t a b l eb r i d g e mechanism 2 4 .Some u i t a r sh a v ei n d i v i d u a la d j u s t a b l eb r i d g e m e c h a n i s m sf o r e a c hs t r i n g ;g u i t a r 1 6 i s s u c ha n e x a m p l e .O t h e rg u i t a r s u s eo n e a d j u s t a b l eb r i d g e mechanism f o r a l l o f t h e s t r i n g s .F I G .1 0 p r o v i d e s a d e t a i l e d vieW o f a n a d j u s t a b l e b r i d g e mechanism 25 h a t h a s been modi?ed i t h a p y r o l y t i c c a r b o ni n s e r t2 6 t h a t p r o v i d e st h e c o n t a c t s u r f a c eb e t W e e nt h e s t r i n ga n dt h eb r i d g e . The p y r o l y t i c c a r b o ni n s e r ti s a t t a c h e dt o t h e r e s to ft h e b r i d g emechanism h i c h i s f a b r i c a t e dW i t hc u r r e n t l yu s e dm a t e r i a l s using a s u i t a b l e a d h e s i v e , s u c h a s an epoxy o rc y a n o a c r y l a t e . I n t h ec a s e o f o n e a d j u s t a b l eb r i d g eb e i n g u s e df o r a l l o f t h e s t r i n g s ,a p y r o l y t i c c a r b o ni n s e r t s i m i l a r t o 26Would b e a t t a c h e dt o t h e b r i d g e u n d e re a c hs t r i n g .

FIG. 7 p r o v i d e sa more d e t a i l e d vieW of h e n u t 2 2 . As With

t h e c a s e o f t h e a c o u st i cg u i t a r , t h i sp i e c eWould r e f e r a b l yb ef a b r i c a t e d from p y r o l y t i c carbon c o a t e do v e r a s u b s t r a t e p r ef r o m . F I G . 1 1 p r o v i d e s a more d e t a i l e d vieW of a t u n i n gmach ine head 2 7 . As With t h e c a s e of h e a c o u s t i cg u i t a r , ap y r o l y t i c c a r b o n s l e e v e i n t h e a r e a o f 28 Would be a t t a c h e du s i n g a s u i t a b l e a d h e s i v et o t h e r e m a i n i n gp o r t i o n o f t h et u n i n g p o st2 9 Which may b e f a b r i c a t e dfrom c u r r e n t l yu s e dm a t e r i a l . E l e c t r i c g u i t a r sm i g h tn o t b e n e ? tf r o m t h e s o u n de n h a n c i n ge f f e c t so f p y r o l y t i c c a r b o nc o m p o n e n t sq u i t e a sm u c h s a c o u s t i cg u i t a r s b e c a u s esound s more in?uenced byt h ep i c k u p s a n d b a s i cg u i t a r c o n s t r u c t i o n .H o w e v e r ,s t r i n gb r e a k a g ei s a s i g n i ? c a n tp r o b l e mf o re l e c t r i cg u i t a r s ,e s p ec i a l l yb e c a u s es m a l l e rg a u g es t r i n g s o f t e n t e n d t o b e u s e dt of a c i l i t a t e“ s t r i n gb e n d i n g ”W h i l ep l a y i n g .S t r i n gl i f ei s f o u n dt o b e s i g n i ? c a n t l yi n c r e a s e dWhen h e y c o n t a c tp y r o ly t i c c a rbon s u r f a c e s r a t h e rt h a n t r a d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s .

The r e t b o a r do f b o t ha c o u s t i ca n de l e c t r i cg u i t a r s W i l lh a v ea s e r i e so f s p a c e da p a r t f r e t s3 and 1 4 a l i g n e d p e r p e n d i c u l a rt ot h e s t r i n g s ;t h e s e a r eu s u a l l ym e t a ls t r i p so f r a s s ,n i c k e la l l o yo r s t a i n l e s s s t e e l .These f r e t s can have d i f f e r e n t s i Z e s ands h a p e s s o a s t o a l l o Wc u s t o m i Z i n gt o a g i v e np l a y e r ’ s p r e f e re n c e . P y r o l y t i cc a r b o nf r e t sr e d u c e s t r i n gb r e a k a g ei n a d d it i o n t o p r o v i d i n ga s m o o t h e r ,l o W e rf r i c t i o ns u r f a c ef o r s t r i n gb e n d i n g .

I n t h e c a s e of i c k s 1 8 , f a b r i c a t i o ncan e i t h e r be e i t h e r ofd e n s e p y r o l y t i c c a r b o n - c o a t e d o v e ra g r a p h i t e s u b s t r a t e p r ef o r mo r b y m a c h i n i n gm o n o l i t h i cd e n s ep y r o l y t i cc a r b o n . Ofp a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s ti s t h e f a b r i c a t i o no f a g u i t a r p i c k o r p l e ct r u m1 8 ( F I G .5 )f r o mp y r o l y t i cc a r b o n - c o a t e dg r a p h i t e .S u c hn o t o n l y p r o v i d e st h e d e s i r e dl e v e lo f s t i f f n e s s ,b u t i t sg l i d i n ga c t i o na g a i n s t t h es t r i n g sp r o d u c e sa u n i q u es o u n d ,c o m p a r e dt o v a r i o u s p l a s t i ca n d m e t a l p i c k s . I t i s e x p e c t e dt h a tt h i ss o u n dr e s u l t i n g f r o mt h e i n t e r a c t i o no f p y r o l y t i c c a r b o n W i t hs t r i n g s W i l l p r o v e t o be p a r t i c u l a r l y d e s i r a b l e t o a number o fd i s c r i m i n a t i n gm u s i c i a n s .

I t i s a l s o f e l tt h a t t h i sc h a r a c t e r i s t i c sound m a y a l s o ?ndf a v o r a m o n g number of musicians W h e n such i s used a s am a t e r i a l f o r a ? n g e rs l i d e ;one exampl e o f a ? n g e r s l i d e 1 7 i sshoWn i n F I G . 4 , Which may be made o f a p y r o l y t i c c a r b o nc o a t e dg r a p h i t e s u b s t r a t e .

F o r b o t h p i c k s 1 8 a n d ? n g e rs l i d e s1 7 ,t h e p y r o c a r b o ns u r f a c e ? n i s h c a n b e e i t h e r s l i g h t l y t e x t u r e d o r h i g h l y p o li s h e d .T h e c h o i c eW o u l ds i m p l yd e p e n du p o nt h e p a r t i c u l a rm u s i c i a n ’ sp r e f e r e n c ef o r h o W h e o r s h e Would l i k e t h e s es u r f a c e s t o i n t e r a c t W i t hs t r i n g s .

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6A l t h o u g ht h e i n v e n t i o nh a s b e e nd e s c r i b e dW i t hr e g a r d t o

c e r t a i n p r e f e r r e d e m b o d i m e n t sWhich c o n s t i t u t e t h e b e s tmode knoWn o t h e i n v e n t o r sa t t h i s t i m e f o r c a r r y i n go u t t h e i ri n v e n t i o n , i t s h o u l db e u n d e r s t o o dt h a tv a r i o u s c h a n g e sa n dm o d i ? c a t i o n sa s Would be o b v i o u s t o one h a v i n go r d i n a r ys k i l li n t h i sa r t , may b e made W i t h o u td e p a r t i n gfrom t h es c o p e o f t h e i n v e n t i o n Which i s de?ned by t h e c l a i m sa p p e n d e dh e r e t o .F o r e x a m p l e ,a l t h o u g ha r t i ? c i a lg r a p h i t ei sW e l l d e s c r i b e da s t h e p r e f e r r e ds u b s t r a t e , i t s h o u l db e u n d e rs t o o d t h a t o t h e r comparable m a t e r i a l s c a n b e u s e dWhichW o u l db e s a t i s f a c t o r y f o rh i g h - t e m p e r a t u r ec o a t i n g o p e r at i o n s .P i a n o s t r i n g s a r e c o n n e c t e dt o t h e s o u n d b o a r dt h r o u g ha p i a n ob r i d g ea n db r i d g ep i n s ,b o t h o f W h i c hc o u l db e c o a t e dW i t hp y r o c a r b o n .

The i n v e n t i o nc l a i m e di s :1 . I n a s t r i n g e d m u s i c a li n s t r u m e n tWhich c o m p r i s e s :( a ) tWo o r more a b u t m e n t st h a t s u s p e n dp o r t i o n s o f t h e

s t r i n g s ,t h e s p a c i n go f W h i c ha b u t m e n t sp r o v i d e s d e s i r e dp r i m a r ys t r i n gv i b r a t i o nf r e q u e n c yo r t u n i n g ,W h e r e i na tl e a s t one of t h e abutments t r a n s m i t s v i b r a t i o n s t o as o u n d b o a r do r s o u n d - a m p l i f y i n gs t r u c t u r e ;

( b )a n c h o r sWhich h o l d t h e s t r i n g s i np l a c e on t h e a b u tm e n t s a n dm a i n t a i nd e s i r e d s t r i n gt e n s i o n , a n d

( c )a d j u s t m e n tm e a n sf o rs e t t i n g s t r i n gt e n s i o n t o p r o v i d ed e s i r e d b a s e f r e q u e n c yo r t u n i n g ,

t h e improvement Which comprises one o r more of compon e n t s ( a ) ,( b )a n d ( c )h a v i n gs u r f a c e sWhich r e i nc o n t a c tW i t ht h e s t r i n g s t h a t a r e formed o f p y r o l y t i c c a r b o n a s de?nedh e r e i n h a v i n g a Bacon A n i s o t r o p yF a c t o r (BAF) b e t W e e na b o u t 1 . 0 and 1 . 5 .

2 . The i m p r o v e m e n to f c l a i m 1 W h e r e i ns a i d component sf o r m e do f a p y r o l y t i c c a r b o n - c o a t e dg r a p h i t e s u b s t r a t e .

3 . The i m p r o v e m e n to f c l a i m 1 W h e r e i nt h e component sformed of a s u i t a b l e s t r u c t u r a l m a t e r i a l t h a t i s i n l a i d Withp y r o l y t i c c a r b o ni n s e r t s .

4 . The improvement o f c l a i m 3 Wherein s a i d i n s e r t s a r ef o r m e do f m o n o l i t h i cp y r o l y t i c c a r b o n .

5 . The i m p r o v e m e n to f c l a i m 1 W h e r e i ns a i d component sa b r i d g e , s a d d l e , o r n u t .

6 . The i m p r o v e m e n to f c l a i m 1 W h e r e i ns a i d component sa ?nger l i d e .

7 . The improvement o f c l a i m1 W h e r e i nt h e m u s i c a li n s t r ument s an a c o u s t i cg u i t a r .

8 . The improvement o f c l a i m1 W h e r e i nt h e m u s i c a li n s t r ument s a v i o l i n .

9 . The improvement o f c l a i m1 W h e r e i nt h e m u s i c a li n s t r ument s an e l e c t r i c g u i t a r .

1 0 . The improvement o f c l a i m 1 Where s a i d p y r o l y t i c c a rbon a s a c r y s t a l l i t es i Z e betWeen b o u t 20 and 8 0 a n g s t r o m s .

1 1 . The improvement o f c l a i m 1 Where s a i d p y r o l y t i c c a rbon s u n a l l o y e dc a r b o n h a v i n ga Diamond y r a m i dH a r d n e s s(DPH) o f betWeen 200 and 350 When measured W i t h a 5 0g r a m l o a d .

1 2 . A l e c t r u md e v i c e Wherein l l o f i t s s u r f a c e t h a t cont a c t st h e s t r i n g si s f o r m e do f p y r o l y t i c c a r b o nh a v i n ga Bacon

A n i s o t r o p yF a c t o r(BAF) b e t W e e na b o u t 1 . 0 a n d 1 . 5 ,f o r u s eW i t ha s t r i n g e d m u s i c a li n s t r u m e n tWhere h e p r i m a r ymeanso f i n i t i a t i n g s t r i n gv i b r a t i o ni s b y p l u c k i n gW i t ha p l e c t r u md e v i c e .

1 3 . I n a s t r i n g e dm u s i c a li n s t r u m e n tWhich i n c o r p o r a t e s af r e t b o a r d a s a means o f c h a n g i n g p r i m a r y f r e q u e n c y o ft h es t r i n g s ,t h e improvement Wh ich o m p r i s e sone o r more o f h ef r e t si n t h e f r e t b o a r d b e i n g f o r m e dW i t h p y r o l y t i c c a r b o ns u r f a c e s t h a t W i l l come i n c o n t a c t W i t h s a i d s t r i n g s , s a i dp y r o l y t i c c a r b o n h a v i n ga B a c o nA n i s o t r o p yF a c t o r ( B A F )betWeen a b o u t 1 . 0 and 1 . 5 .

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us patent 8,110,729, entitled "pyrolytic carbon components for stringed instruments", issued 2012

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