N/A
The invention relates generally to audio turntables. In particular, the present invention relates to such turntables that are used by a disc jockey (DJ) for vinyl playback.
In the prior art, audio turntables for vinyl playback are very well known. They include a rotating platter that receives the vinyl disc thereon. A tone arm assembly, with a tone arm and cartridge, interfaces with the vinyl record so that audio signals can be created therefrom to the produce the desired audio. The rotating platter of the turntable that holds the vinyl typically has a beveled or straight edge. The design of this edge for an operator who is only listening to a record is primarily cosmetic.
However, there are some turntable platters that contain regularly spaced dots or other shapes that, when strobed with a light, could inform the user of whether the platter was turning at a specific rate. For example, as shown in
However, a DJ often forcibly changes the speed of the rotating platter by placing a finger or fingers on the edge of the platter to slightly change, such as slow down or speed up, the rate of the rotating platter momentarily. For example, this is done by DJs for beat matching purposes during a performance. Since the strobe dots are typically in relief, they can be somewhat abrasive to the touch, particularly when they are running past the fingers of a DJ. Therefore, turntables with platters, with the usual strobe or ornamental relief structures, can be uncomfortable for a DJ during DJ performance. This can be clearly understood with reference to the side elevational view of a prior art platter of
The prior art is devoid of platter configuration for a vinyl turntable that is well-suited for a DJ performance. There are currently no ergonomic platter configurations that meet the need of the DJ to alter the rate of rotation using finger control in a comfortable fashion.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a rotating platter for a vinyl turntable that is well-suited for a DJ performance. There is a need for an improved turntable platter configuration that is optimized for a DJ performance. There is a need for a turntable platter configuration that operates in the usual fashion while also provided the aforesaid optimized configuration for DJ performance.
The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art turntables and platter configurations used therewith. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available turntable platter configurations and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available turntable platter configurations.
The invention is generally directed to the novel and unique turntable platter configuration. The turntable platter configuration of the present invention includes a platter construction that is configured with an edge profile that is optimized for DJ performance. The turntable platter includes a groove on the platter edge about its periphery to allow for an improved ergonomic finger control for a DJ to alter the speed of the platter rotation. The turntable platter of the present invention also includes regularly spaced shapes about the periphery of the platter that may be used with a strobe for allowing the user to ensure the rate of the rotation is rotating with zero pitch relative to the current desired speed of, for example, 33 RPM or 45 RPM. The regularly spaced shape may be of any shape, such as a linear or pill-shaped channel.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a rotating platter for a vinyl turntable that is better suited for a DJ performance than prior art turntable platters.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved turntable platter configuration that is optimized for DJ performance.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a turntable platter that can operate in the usual fashion and also provide strobe monitoring of the speed of the turntable platter.
The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Turning first to
As seen in
Referring now to
As to the platter 100 itself, the disc 102 includes an edge 106 with a unique profile that can be seen in
The use and operation of the turntable platter of the present invention is shown in detail in
The new inventive DJ platter configuration and construction may be carried out and used in a wide array of types of turntables to improve a DJ performance. The inventive platter peripheral edge 106 may be incorporated into a platter 100 of any material but is preferably well-suited for use in a platter 100 made of metal.
It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1334690 | Davis | Mar 1920 | A |
4247976 | Reuter | Feb 1981 | A |
D433011 | O'Donnell | Oct 2000 | S |
8116892 | Huang | Feb 2012 | B2 |
20030012125 | Santos | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20040079623 | Kataoka | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040085865 | Kataoka | May 2004 | A1 |
20050052981 | Shim | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050188395 | Liu | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20070079315 | Mittersinker | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20090164033 | Huang | Jun 2009 | A1 |
20090320670 | Flum | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20130123961 | Roman | May 2013 | A1 |
20160189699 | Garet | Jun 2016 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2106300 | Apr 1983 | GB |
2405686 | Mar 2005 | GB |