Patent Application
20190304414
Almost everyone wants to play the guitar. Whether it is being able to sit around a campfire and play folk songs, serenade a loved one, or be the star on the stage in a rock band, everyone dreams of being a guitar idol. However, few realize the rigors and physical demands of prolonged playing of a guitar and other stringed instruments.
Guitarists are some of the most vulnerable musicians to hand injuries. Repetitive strain injuries or injuries of the musculoskeletal and/or nervous systems caused by repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression, or sustained or awkward positions are particularly prevalent for guitar players. Examples of common problems include nerve compression syndromes, such as carpel tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome. Tendonitis or inflammation of the tendons is also common in the wrist of a guitar player. Other ailments include tennis elbow, focal dystonia, and arthritis.
Surprisingly it is often the strumming hand rather than or in addition to the fret hand that develops the repetitive strain injuries. A plectrum, also known as a pick, is a traditionally flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. Playing a guitar with a plectrum produces a bright sound compared to plucking with the fingertip. Plectrums also offer a greater contrast in tone across different plucking locations. For these reasons and more, most guitar players prefer to use a plectrum when playing. Thus, the strumming hand of a guitar player is often holding a plectrum by squeezing it between the thumb and one or more other fingers while the hand is making a strumming motion. These muscular stresses and awkward movements together over time can lead to fatigue and/or injury of the hand, such as one or more of the injuries discussed above.
Plectrum design has been largely unchanged since its first introduction as a flat surface in the late nineteenth century. Though different materials have been used and different thicknesses of the plectrum have been manufactured, very little has been done in terms of designing a plectrum that is more comfortable for the guitar player to hold and that reduces the likelihood of hand fatigue and injury. In addition, because of the uniform size and shape of a plectrum, only a single sound can be produced using conventional plectrums. Furthermore, because of their generally flat shape, plectrums are difficult to store and are easy for the guitarist to misplace.
There is therefore a need for a plectrum that is ergonomically designed and that has improved handleability. There is a further need for a plectrum that reduces hand fatigue and reduces the likelihood of hand injury. There is a further need for a plectrum that can produce multiple sounds. There is still a further need for a plectrum that is easy to store in connection with a stringed instrument.
The present invention satisfies these needs. In one aspect of the invention, an improved plectrum is provided.
In another aspect of the invention, a plectrum has an ergonomic design that provides improved handling and/or that reduces hand fatigue and/or reduces the likelihood of hand injury.
In another aspect of the invention, a plectrum has the ability to produce different sounds or tones.
In another aspect of the invention, a plectrum has multiple different pick tips.
In another aspect of the invention, a plectrum has an ergonomic design including a raised portion that orients the plectrum in the hand of a user with respect to multiple pick tips.
In another aspect of the invention, a plectrum is attachable to the strings of a stringed instrument.
In another aspect of the invention, a plectrum for strumming a stringed instrument comprises a body having a front side, a rear side, a center portion, and a periphery, wherein the body has one or more pick tips having an edge adapted to strum a stringed instrument, and an ergonomic contour on the front side or the rear side of the body, the ergonomic contour comprising a protrusion that extends radially from the center portion toward the periphery, the protrusion having one or more projections or recesses, wherein the ergonomic contour creates a surface that is contactable by the thumb or other finger of a user to aid in the gripping of the plectrum.
In another aspect of the invention, a plectrum for strumming a stringed instrument comprises a body having a front side, a rear side, a center portion, and a periphery, wherein the body has a first pick tip having a first edge adapted to strum a stringed instrument and a second pick tip having a second edge adapted to strum a stringed instrument, and an ergonomic contour on the front side or the rear side of the body, the ergonomic contour comprising a first protrusion corresponding to the first pick tip and a second protrusion corresponding to the second pick tip, wherein the ergonomic contour creates a surface that is contactable by the thumb or other finger of a user to aid in the gripping of the plectrum.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of strumming a stringed instrument with a plectrum comprises providing a plectrum having a body having a front side, a rear side, a center portion, and a periphery, wherein the body has a first pick tip having a first edge adapted to strum a stringed instrument and a second pick tip having a second edge adapted to strum a stringed instrument, and an ergonomic contour on the front side or the rear side of the body, the ergonomic contour comprising a first protrusion corresponding to the first pick tip and a second protrusion corresponding to the second pick tip. The method further comprises contacting the front side with a thumb or other finger, contacting the rear side with a thumb or other finger, and rotating the plectrum between the fingers from a first position where the first pick tip is positioned to strum the stringed instrument to a second position where the second pick tip is positioned to strum the stringed instrument, wherein a different sound is produced in the first and second positions.
These features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary features of the invention. However, it is to be understood that each of the features can be used in the invention in general, not merely in the context of the particular drawings, and the invention includes any combination of these features, where:
The present invention relates to a plectrum for strumming strings of a stringed instrument. Although the plectrum is illustrated and described in some instances in the context of being useful as a guitar pick, the present invention can be useful in other instances. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the examples and embodiments described herein.
A plectrum 100 according to one version of the invention is shown in
The plectrum 100 may be gripped and manipulated in any of numerous manners. For example, the plectrum 100 may be gripped with two fingers, such as the thumb and the index finger or the thumb and the middle finger. Alternatively, the plectrum may be gripped with three fingers, such as the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger. The motion of the plectrum 100 against the strings of the stringed instrument also can vary from user to user. For example, a user may hold the plectrum very stiffly between the thumb and index finger, locking the thumb joint and striking with the surface of the pick nearly parallel to the string. Alternatively, a user may use a technique where the thumb joint is bent on the downstroke and straightened on the upstroke, causing the tip of the pick to move in a circular pattern, which can allow speed and fluidity. Many rock guitarists use a flourish or pick slide that involves scraping the pick along the length of a round wound string. Whatever the grip and motion, the user of a plectrum must apply substantial gripping pressure in order to keep the plectrum from slipping. This pressure can place tremendous stress on the fingers, hands, and wrists of the user, especially when used over prolonged periods of time.
Accordingly, in order to help alleviate some of the stresses associated with playing the stringed instrument, in one version of the plectrum 100 of the invention a front ergonomic contour 135 is provided on the front face 125 of the plectrum 100. The front ergonomic contour 135 includes one or more front projections and/or recesses 140. The front projections and/or recesses 140 create a front surface 145 that is contactable by the thumb or other finger of the user to aid in the gripping of the plectrum 100. Additionally or alternatively, as shown in
The front ergonomic contour 135 and/or the rear ergonomic contour 150 extend outwardly from the front face 125 and/or rear face 120, respectively, of the plectrum 100 to provide improved ergonomics for the user. The front surface 145 is shaped to receive a thumb of a user so that the user may more easily grasp the plectrum 100 with the thumb. The front projections and/or recesses 140 conform comfortably to the thumb and provide additional friction or a perch for the thumb, and thus the plectrum 100 with the front ergonomic contour 135 can be secured under the thumb with less thumb stress and pressure. When less pressure is needed, the soft tissue in the hand can be less strained and the wrist can move more freely. As a result, the user can experience less hand fatigue, discomfort, and fewer wrist ailments, such as carpel tunnel syndrome. In like manner, the rear ergonomic contour 150 with its rear projections and/or recesses 155 conform comfortably to a finger of the user and provide additional friction or perches for the finger. As a result of the front ergonomic contour 135 and/or the rear ergonomic contour 150, the plectrum 100 can be grasped with decreased pinching pressure which can not only reduce injury but can in some cases loosen the wrist and improve guitar playing ability.
In the version of
To further help alleviate some of the stresses associated with playing the stringed instrument, and as shown in
As can also be seen in
In the particular version of
Another version of a plectrum 100 is shown in
Also as shown in the version of
The plectrum 100 of the present invention may be provided with multiple pick tips 115 that are each the same or different. In one version, the plectrum 100 comprises a plurality of different pick tips 115 and in the version shown comprises three different pick tips 115. In this version, each pick tip 115 may have a different size, shape, and/or material that provides each pick tip 115 with a particular sound and/or handling characteristic. For example, in the version of
Additionally or alternatively, two or more of the angled corner portions 105 can have a different shape than the other or others. The shape of the tip 110 has a large influence on sound. A pointed tip produces a brighter, more focused sound, while a rounded tip produces a rounder, less defined sound. Accordingly, one of more of the pick tips 115 can have a more or less pointed edge 120 than the other or others. In another version, the overall size of pick tip can affect the sound generated. Therefore, in one version, one or more of the pick tips 115 can be a different size than the others. An example of this version is shown in
The front radially extending protrusions 165 and/or the rear radially extending protrusions 195 can be arranged so that they correspond to a pick tip 115. By correspond it is meant that at least one of the protrusions can be associated with one of the pick tips and another protrusion can be associated with a different pick tip. For example, one protrusion may be contacted by a thumb or other finger when a first pick tip is being used, and the second protrusion may be positioned so that it is contacted in substantially the same position when the second pick tip is being used. Alternatively, the protrusions may be positioned so they are contacted in a noticeably different manner to indicate to the user which pick tip is being used. In the version of
In use, a user grasps the plectrum 100 between two of the user's fingers, such as with the thumb contacting the front face 125 and the index finger contacting the rear face 130, as shown in
In the versions shown, the plectrum 100 has a general shape of an equilateral triangle. In other versions, the plectrum 100 can have a general shape other than an equilateral triangle. For example, the plectrum can be in the general form of an acute isosceles triangle with two equal rounded corners and a third corner less rounded. In yet other versions, the plectrum 100 can be circular, oval, square, rectangular, or any other geometric shape.
The plectrum 100 may be made from a single piece of material, such as being a single piece of molded plastic. Alternatively, the plectrum 100 may be made of a mdodular design. In yet another version, as shown in
The versions described and illustrated show exemplary sizes and shapes and relative dimensions for a plectrum 100. These dimensions, sizes, and shapes are not intended to limit the invention in any way. In general, the plectrum can have a length from edge 120 to edge 120 of from about 30 mm to about 60 mm, more preferably from about 40 mm to about 50 mm, and most preferably about 44 mm. The width of the plectrum 100 from tip edge 120 to an opposite side is preferably from about 25 mm to about 55 mm, more preferably from about 35 mm to about 45 mm, and most preferably about 40 mm. The thickness of the angled corner portions 110 can range from any of the dimensions discussed above. The thickness of the front radially extending protrusion 140 at its periphery end and/or the distance from the most outwardly extending portion of the lobe to the front face 125 can be from about 1.7 mm to about 4.7 mm, more preferably from about 2.7 mm to about 3.7 mm, and most preferably about 3.2 mm. The thickness of the rear radially extending protrusion 155 can be from about 1.2 mm to about 4.0 mm, more preferably from about 1.7 mm to about 3.0 mm, and most preferably about 2.2 mm. For different materials, the above dimensional ranges can change accordingly.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with regard to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible, and alterations, permutations and equivalents of the version shown will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. For example, the cooperating components may be reversed or provided in additional or fewer number. Also, the various features of the versions herein can be combined in various ways to provide additional versions of the present invention. Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present invention. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “comprise” and its variations such as “comprises” and “comprising” should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step but not the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps. Therefore, any appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein and should include all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
The present application claims the benefit of domestic priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/626,654 filed on Feb. 5, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62626654 | Feb 2018 | US |
