US1626753A - Musical string-instrument tuner - Google Patents

Description

-May 3 1927. 1,626,753.

R. F. PECINA ET AL MUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT TUNER Filed Sept. '8, .1925

Z INVENTOR: 11 iiudonhflficina and 7*355 20 7 Erich l fm'lson, gag/4| BY I Y i /A9 122126 '19 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES FFICE.

RUDOLPH IF. PECINA AND ERIC V. CARLSON, OF LUS AI TGELES, GALIFORNIA.

MUSICAL STEIN G-INSTEUIVIE1T TUNER.

Application filed September Our invention relates to tuning devices for musical instruments, and more particularly to a tuning device for stringed musical. instruments.

The general object of our invention is to provide a tuning device for stringed musical instruments, such as violins, which may he adjusted to hold the strings oi? the instrument in proper tension to produce tones of the right pitch, and which will remain so adjusted when the strings hrealc, and may he manipulated 50 that new strings may .dily be connected thereto and h id in p oper tuning tension without lurthcr acljicitinei' thus making it possible for anyone without a musical ear to substitute, for a broken string, a new one which will automatically be in tune.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illust 'ated in the annexed drawing which forms a part oi? this specification and in which- Figure 1 is a side view 01 a stringed musical instrun'ient with our tuning device mounted thereon and holding the strings of the instrument in tuning tension.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the instrument and tuning device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the tuning device on an enlarged scale taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view partly broken away, of the tuning device.

Figure 5 is a iiragn'ientary side view of one of the tuning elements, shown in differ ent positions.

Figure 6 is a plan view of one ot the strings of the instrument constructed to be connected to my tuner.

Corresponding reference characters desi n ate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawing A. designates a musical instrument, such as a violin, comprising a body 1, a neck 2, a tail piece 8, a bridge 41:, strings 5, and finger board 6.

Our tuning device designated 13 is inouutml on the upper end of the neck 2 of the instrument A and comprises generally a base plate 7, a hood 8, and a plurality of string tuning and holding elements 9 corresponding in number to the number of strings 5 of the instrument. The plate 7 is secured at its inner end in the upper end of the neclr 2 of the instrument A. The hood 8 fits over the a, 1925. Serial no. 55,0210.

plate 7 and is detachably secured thereto near its lower edge by screws 10. Each string tuning and holding element 9 coinprises a swingable arm 11, a hook 12, a spring 13, an arm engaging roller 14, and a push rod 15. The arms 11 extend through slots 16 in the plate 7 and are pivoted at their lower ends 1? to bracket 18 secured to the under side of said plate. The hooks 12 are formed with shanks 19 pivoted at one end at 20 to the arms 11. A. crossbar 21 is screwed on the plate above and adjacent the upper end of the linger board 6 of the instrument A, which bar is formed with upturned flanges 22 and 23 along its upper and lower side edges and with a groove 2 L between said flanges. The lower edge of the forward end wall of the hood 8 rests upon the upper edge of the upper flange 22 at 25. The flange 22 is provided with a plurality of notches 26 aligned respectively with the strings 5 through which notches extend the shanks 19 of the hooks 12, the hooks them selves normally resting within the groove 24. Each of the rollers 14 is journaled in a pair of bearings 27 which are formed on the lower end of a spring 18 and straddle an arm 11. Each arm 11 is longitudinally grooved on. its lower side as indicated at 28 to provide a trackway for a roller 14- to ride in. In the upper end of each spring 13 is secured nut 29 which r ceives a screw 30 extending through an opening 31 in a block 32 on the upper end of the plate 7, the head 33 of the screw engaging the upper side of said block, said screw and nut through spring 13 drawing the roller 14L on the lower end of the spring against the lower side of an arm 11., whereby the hook 12 connected to said arm is drawn upwardly to tighten and tune the string 5 which is connected. to said hook. The opening Ell diverges down-- wardly so that the screw 30 may swing up or down from its head as a pivot against the hlock 32 to allow for the travel of the roller 14 up or down in the arm 11.

A look nut 234i screws on eachscrew 30 against the nut .29 engaged by said screw, whereby he tension of the spring 13 held by said screw, is adjusted to hold a string 5 in proper tuning tension. Each push rod 15 is slidahly mounted in a hearing 35 on the under side of the upper wall of the hood 8 in alignment wit and in position for its lower end to ..e upper end of an arm 11.,

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the upper end of the rod extending out through the upper end wall of the hood. and a button 36 being secured on said end ofthe rod. in spring 37 normally holds each push rod 15 withdrawn upwardly away from an arm 11, one end of said spring being connected at 38 to the bearing and the other end of the spring leing connected at 39 to the rod.

Each of the strings 5 of the instrument is formed with loops l0 and ll at its lower and upper ends respectively. The lower loops oi? the strings engage lugs -12 respectively on the tail piece 3 ot the instrument, while the upper loops ll engage the hoolis 12 whereby the strings are held in position on the instrument.

hen a string breaks the button 36 of the element 8 which holds the string is pressed downwardly, which correspoi'idingly press the rod into enga inent with the upper end ot the arm 11 or .aid element and swings said arm downwardly against the tension of the spring 13 of said element, whereby the hook of said element is pushed downwardly and is raised slightly by its engagement with the lower side of the groore .Jtt of bar 21 into position to be engaged by the upper loop 41 of a new string, the lower loop of said string having been first engaged with a lug 42 of the tail piece 3 of the instrument. The button 36 is then released, whereupon the spring 13 swings the arm 11 upwardly and draws the 11001: 12 and the string upwardly until the string is drawn to the proper predetermined tension and tuned, the spring 13 holding said string being adjusted to hold the string in proper tuning tension, by means of the screw 30 and loclr nut 34, thus making it possible for one not having a musical ear to puta new string in the instrument in tuned tension.

A plurality of set screws l3 are seated in the block 32 and respectively engage the screws 30 for prerenting said screws, spring 13, and roller 1s: from turning and disengaging the rollers from the arms 11.

e clainnv 1. in combination with a stringed instrument, a tuning device incliidin s tor en i d holdin' the strings ot the instrument in tuned te on. and a push rod independent of said engaging and holding meansadapted tor relaxing said engaging and hold ng means.

2. In combinat on with a stringed musical instrument. a tuning device including means for engaging and holding the strings of the instrument in tuned tension, a slidable push rod independent of said engaging and hold ing means adapted -for relaxing said engaging and holding means, and nieans for ad 'ustine' said en 'aoging and holdin means.

- 3 D cl V r- 3. In combination with a stringed musical instrument, a tuning device including a plurality ot string tuning elements correspond ing in number to the number of strings of the instrument cach tuning element comprising a pivoted arm, a hook connected to said arm to which hoot: the upper end of one oi the strings of the instrument connected, :1 a roller journaled in one end 0t said and engaging said arm it or drawing in, boot; and string upwardly to tune the string.

In conibii'iation with a stringed musical rninent, a tuning device including a. plurality ot rtring tuning elements (O.1L."j)t)t1(t ing in number to the number of strum; ot? the in unieut. each tuning (ltltlltllt comprising a pivoted arm. a hoot: connected to raid arm to which hool: the upper end it one (it tl e str ngs oi the instrument is connected, :1 sprin a roller jfltl tlititfl in one end ot' said up tl'ttl ei'zgugir aid arin tor dra tring upwardly to ing said rrni. hoot: and tune the string. and means tor adjusting the tension of said sprii'ig.

5. in combination with a stringed inn sicul instrument, a tuning device including a plurality of string tuning elements corresponding in number to the number of strings of the instrument, each tuning element comprising a pivoted arm, a hook connected to said arm to which hook the upper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected, a spring, a roller journaled in one end of said spring ano engaging said arm for drawing said arm hook and string upwardly to tune the string, and a push rod for engaging said arm and swinging the same and drawing said hook downwardly for connecting the upper end ot a string to sand book.

6. In combination with a stringed musical instrument a tuning device including a plurality of string tuning elements corresponding in number to the number of strings oi? the instrument, each tuning element cominrising a pivoted arn'i. a hoot: connected to said arm to which hook the upper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected, a spring, a not fixed in one end of said SJliIlg. a fixed block. a screw err tending through said block and ena'aainq said nut for adjusting the tension (it Enid spring, a roller journaled on the other end of said spring and engaging iid arm for d *awing said arm. hook andisqring upwardly to tnnethe string. i

t. In combination with a. stringed musical instrument. a tuning device including a pinrality of string timing elements corresponding in number to the number of strings of the instrument, each tuning element com prising a pivoted arm. hook connected to said arm to which hoolq the upper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected, a spring.v a roller journaled in one end 0'? said spring and engaging said arm ltlt) lie Illa

for drawiug'said arm, hook and string upwardly to tune the string, a grooved member in which said hook normally rests and which said. hook engages and is raised slightly thereby when the arm is swung and the hook moved downwardly for connecting a string to the hook.

8. In combination with a stringed musical instrument a tuning device including a plu rality of string tuning elements corresponding in number to the number of strings of the il'istrument, each tuning element com prising a pivoted arm, a hook connected. to said arm to which hook the upper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected,

a spring, a nut fixed in one end of said spring, a fixed block, a screw extending through said block and engaging said nut for adjusting the tension of said spring, a lock nut on said screw for locking the spring adjusted to the proper tension, a roller journaled on the other end of said spring and engaging said arm for drawing said arm, hook and string upwardly to tune the string.

9. In combination with a stringed musical instrument, a tuning device including a pluraiity of string tuning elements corresponding in number to the number of strings of the instrument, each tuning element comprising a pivoted arm, a hook connected to said arm to which hook the upper end of one of the strings of the instrument is connected, a s ring, a roller journaled in one end of saic spring and engaging said arm for drawing said arm, hook and string upwardly to tune the string, a push rod for engaging said arm and swinging the same and drawing said hook downwardly for connecting the upper end of a string to said hook, and a lock nut on said screw for locking the spring adjusted to the proper tension.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix our signatures.

RUDOLPH F. PECINA. ERIC V. CARLSON.

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