Patent Application
20240295391
N/A
The present disclosure is directed generally to straight edges used when working on the finger board of a stringed instrument.
Straight edges are commonly used when building or servicing a stringed instrument. More particularly, straight edges are used to gauge flatness of fingerboard and/or frets. For example, by laying a straight edge across the frets, observations may be made as to whether the fret tops are perfectly level. If building a new fretboard, a straightedge can be laid across the fingerboard to check for any dips or bumps that might need further sanding. When constructing a new guitar, the straight edge can be used to check body joints or on a solid body electric guitar, for example, the straight edge can be used to ensure the body is perfectly flat prior to mounting the electrical components.
Luthiers and others who service stringed instruments typically have a two-edged straight edge, much like a ruler. One edge may be notched to accommodate frets while the other edge is completely flat, or the two edges may have different straight lengths to accommodate different scale lengths. The notched edge includes notches at intervals that correlate to the distance between frets and is useful when checking the flatness of a fretboard that includes frets already mounted with each notch being positioned over a fret and the straight edge laying across the board between the frets.
Due to different stringed instruments having different scale lengths and different fret patterns, several straight edges are typically needed to be able to service these different instruments.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a tool that includes three or more straight edges each of which is designed to be used for a different task or on a different instrument.
The present disclosure is directed to a multi-edged tool for use on stringed instruments.
According to an aspect is a tool for use with a stringed instrument, comprising an elongated body having at least three edges and at least three major surfaces, wherein at least one edge includes a first plurality of notches formed in the edge in spaced relation to one another each notch being a first predetermined distance from the adjacent notch, and at least one edge includes a second plurality of notches formed in the edge in spaced relation to one another each notch being a second predetermined distance from the adjacent notch that is different than the first predetermined distance.
According to an embodiment, at least one edge includes a continuous straight edge that extends the length of the edge.
According to an embodiment, at least one edge includes a continuous straight edge without notches formed tehrein but that extends less than the length of the tool
According to an embodiment, the tool further comprises a hole formed through at least one of the convex surfaces.
According to an embodiment, wherein each of the at least three major surfaces are convex.
According to an aspect is a tool for use with a stringed instrument, comprising an elongated body having at least three major surfaces and at least three edges each of which extends in spaced, parallel relation to the others, wherein at least one edge extends a first predetermined distance, and at least one edge extends for a second predetermined distance that is different than the first predetermined distance, and at least one edge extends for a third predetermined distance that is different than the first and second predetermined distances.
According to an embodiment, the tool further comprises a hole formed through at least one of the convex surfaces.
According to an embodiment, wherein each of the at least three major surfaces are convex.
According to an embodiment, a first convex surfaces include a first set of measurement marks formed thereon and a second convex surface includes a second set of measurement marks formed thereon which are different from the first set of measurement marks.
According to an embodiment, the first set of measurement marks is a SAE ruler and the second set of measurement marks is a metric ruler.
According to an embodiment, the tool further comprises a plurality of guitar and bass scale lengths formed on at least one major surface.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the embodiments described below.
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure describes a straight edge tool having at least three edges for use in working on a stringed instrument. The tool is used when building or performing service on a stringed instrument. The straight edge is placed on a surface that is supposed to be perfectly straight and the if light shines between any portion of the edge and the instrument, the user knows that area of the instrument is in need of straightening. For example, if the edge is placed on a fretboard and light shines through between the bottom of the edge and the fretboard, it suggests the user would need to straighten the neck to make it perfectly straight.
Referring to
Tool 10 also includes three major, preferably convex, surfaces 18, 20, and 22 that each extend between two edges. Printed or engraved into each convex surface are SAE and Metric rulers as well as a plurality (e.g., 13) guitar and bass scale lengths so the user can quickly and easily check the scale length on which he or she is working on. Furthermore, tool 10 may be used to extend from the 12th fret of a guitar, for example, to check the approximate bridge placement on the instrument. A hole 24 is formed through one surface 16, 18 or 20 to provide a convenient mechanism to hang tool 10 when not in use.
Referring to
Referring to
The notched straight edge 100 can be used to check the flatness of a fretboard, to assist in fretwork with notches that cover 17.6″ of the fretboards and touch the fretboard between 22 fret slots. In addition, tool 100 works for most electric and acoustic guitars fitting all 25.25″ to 25.50″ scale guitars. An alternate size can be used on all guitars with scale lengths ranging from 24.625″ to 25″. Toll 100 can be used to, among other functions, measure neck relief to see if adjusting the truss rod is necessary. A hole 118 is formed through one surface 112, 114, or 116 to provide a convenient mechanism to hang tool 100 when not in use.
Each straight edge 12, 14, 16, 102, 104, and 106 are precision ground to ensure smooth flat edges within an accuracy tolerance of +/−0.00125″/ft. Each tool 10, 100 is manufactured from premium 6063-T5 aluminum with a blue anodized finish that is extremely durable, abrasion resistant and does not peel or chip, thereby ensuring straightness over their entire length and they will not bend.
While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.
