Stringed instruments with interchangeable heads

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stringed instrument, as well as a method for manufacturing a stringed instrument, its components, and apparatus. The stringed instrument comprises an instrument body, a neck extending from the instrument body, a head, and a joint having a partition that conforms the shape of a portion of the neck to the shape of a portion of the head. The partition of the joint is designed to connect to the neck in a permanent or temporary manner. The head is attachable to the neck in a replaceable manner via the joint. In some embodiments, a positioning key extends from the partition of the joint, and the head has a cavity for housing the positioning key.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to stringed instruments, and more particularly to stringed instruments having interchangeable heads and methods for manufacturing the same.

Background Art

[0002] Stringed instruments are generally classified into two categories: bowed stringed instruments such as violins, or plucked stringed instruments such as lutes and guitars. Such instruments typically have a body, a neck extending from the body, a head (also called a headstock) connected to the end of the neck, a plurality of tuning keys disposed on the head, and a set of strings extending between the strings and a string fixing portion disposed on the body of the instrument. As a result, when the strings are bowed or plucked, the strings and the body of the instrument resonate to produce sound.

[0003] Generally, commercially available guitars and other stringed instruments are often sold as instruments in which the neck and the body are connected to each other by screws and the neck and the head are formed in an integral structure, and usually, it is not assumed that the neck and the head are interchangeable by the user of the instrument. Therefore, generally, neither the neck nor the head can be individually replaced.

[0004] However, recently, in order to provide instruments that not only have different tones but also have different appearances and feels for users, stringed instruments having interchangeable parts can be used. However, due to slight differences in the size of the parts and the connected state, a luthier may have to adjust the instrument in order to achieve the desired sound.

[0005] Furthermore, in stringed instruments with interchangeable heads, not only tone and playability (how easy it is to play) but also the strength and durability of the assembled instrument are important. Whatever devices or manufacturing methods are used to replace component parts, such devices or methods must not reduce the strength or impair the durability of the assembled instrument. In addition, the devices or manufacturing methods used must not reduce the compatibility between parts or negatively impact manufacturing costs.

[0006] Furthermore, it has been pointed out that in some instruments, the strings place significant tension on the neck, which tends to cause warping or twisting. Moreover, as the instrument is tuned, the strings are stretched further, placing additional longitudinal stress on the neck and body. If this stress is not properly controlled, warping or twisting can occur in the neck. As a result, the instrument will be out of tune when played. In fact, if the warping or twisting becomes very large, the strings may come into contact with the neck in undesirable places, potentially making the instrument unplayable.

[0007] Therefore, the inventors need to provide a high-quality stringed instrument that has the desired sound, appearance and feel, fit of its parts, and good finish, and also has an easily replaceable head. [Overview of the project]

[0008] The present invention provides a stringed instrument having a head-neck joint that can be replaced by the user of the instrument, a method for manufacturing the instrument, and a joint that fits the head-neck joint that can be replaced by the user. Embodiments of the present invention can be incorporated into a finished stringed instrument or its components, such components include, for example, a finished neck, or a replaceable head (or headstock) designed to be connected to a neck.

[0009] In some embodiments, the stringed instrument includes an instrument body, a neck extending from the instrument body, a head, and a joint having a partition that fits the shape of the neck into the shape of the head. The partition of the joint is designed to connect to the neck permanently or temporarily. The head can be attached to the neck in a replaceable manner via the joint. In some embodiments, a positioning key extends from the partition of the joint, and the head has a cavity for housing the positioning key.

[0010] Specific example 1: A stringed instrument has a body, a neck extending from the body, a head extending from the neck, and a joint having a partition, the partition dividing the joint into first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface having a shape designed to fit onto at least a portion of the neck, and the second surface having a shape designed to fit onto at least a portion of the head.

[0011] Specific example 2: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 1, the first surface of the joint is designed to be permanently connected to the neck, and the second surface of the joint is designed to be interchangeably attached to the head.

[0012] Specific example 3: The neck of a stringed instrument has a neck and a joint having a partition, the partition dividing the joint into first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface being permanently attached to the neck and having a shape that fits with at least a portion of the neck, and the second surface of the joint having a shape designed to fit with at least a portion of a head that is interchangeably connected to the neck.

[0013] Specific Example 4: In the neck of the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 3, a reinforcing member is further sandwiched between the fingerboard on the upper surface of the neck and the gripping portion on the lower surface of the neck, and the partition portion of the joint is designed to abut against and fit into the gripping portion of the neck.

[0014] Specific Example 5: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 1, the neck has a partition and a joint having first and second positioning keys extending from opposite surfaces of the partition, respectively, which allows the head to be interchangeably connected to the neck.

[0015] Specific Example 6: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 5, the first positioning key is connected to the neck, thereby providing a first finished surface to the neck with the partition of the joint facing the neck. On the other hand, the second positioning key is connected to the head, thereby providing a second finished surface to the head with the partition of the joint facing the head.

[0016] Specific Example 7: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 6, one of the first or second positioning keys is interchangeably connected.

[0017] Specific Example 8: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 7, the first positioning key is permanently connected to the neck. On the other hand, the second positioning key is designed to be interchangeably connected to a cavity formed in a part of the head, in order to provide an interchangeable connection between the head and the neck when it is located within the cavity of the head.

[0018] Specific Example 9: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 8, the second positioning key has a width of at least 50% of the average width of the head at the joint and a thickness of at least 25% of the average thickness of the head at the joint.

[0019] Specific Example 10: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 8, the replaceable mounting part has a structure in which it is fastened by a first screw that passes through a hole formed along the longitudinal axis of the head and is screwed into the hole of a second positioning key.

[0020] Specific Example 11: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 8, the second positioning key has a width of at least 50% of the average width of the head at the joint and a thickness of at least 25% of the average thickness of the head at the joint.

[0021] Specific Example 12: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 11, the interchangeable mounting portion has a structure in which it is fastened by a first screw designed to penetrate a second positioning key and a tenon (protrusion) of the head in a first direction, and a second screw designed to penetrate the head and enter the partition of the joint in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

[0022] Specific Example 13: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 12, the second positioning key is provided with at least one hole that aligns with at least one screw hole in the mortise of the head, in order to connect the head to the neck interchangeably by a structure fastened with a first screw, and the head is provided with a hole that aligns with a screw hole in the partition, in order to connect the head to the neck interchangeably by a structure fastened with a second screw.

[0023] Specific Example 14: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 8, the first positioning key is permanently connected to a metal support within the neck.

[0024] Specific Example 15: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 5, the neck side of the partition provides a finished surface to the gripping portion of the neck, and the nut attached to the second positioning key provides a finished surface to the fingerboard portion of the neck.

[0025] Specific example 16: A stringed instrument having a body, a neck extending from the body, and a head, with a joint positioned between the neck and the head, the joint having a first positioning key extending from one side thereof to permanently connect the joint to the neck, and a second positioning key extending from the opposite side thereof, the head having a cavity for housing the second positioning key, and the head and neck are designed to form an interchangeable connection between the head and the neck by forming either a lap joint or a mortise and tenon joint using the second positioning key and the cavity.

[0026] Specific Example 17: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 16, the second positioning key has a width of at least 50% or more of the average width of the head at the connecting portion with the neck and a thickness of at least 25% or more of the average thickness of the head at the connecting portion with the neck.

[0027] Specific Example 18: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 16, it further has a replaceable attachment portion, and the attachment portion has a structure fastened by a first screw designed to penetrate the dovetail or mortise positioning key and the cavity in a first direction, and in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a structure fastened by a second screw designed to penetrate the head and enter into the joint.

[0028] Specific Example 19: In the stringed instrument described in Specific Example 17, it further has a replaceable attachment portion, and the means has a structure fastened by a first screw designed to penetrate the dovetail or mortise positioning key and the cavity in a first direction, and in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a structure fastened by a second screw designed to penetrate the head and enter into the joint.

[0029] Specific Example 20: The method of manufacturing a stringed instrument includes optionally manufacturing the instrument body, optionally manufacturing the instrument head, optionally manufacturing the neck, optionally manufacturing a joint in which the first and second positioning keys extend in opposite directions, and connecting the joint to the neck by connecting the first positioning key of the joint to the neck and connecting the joint to the head by connecting the second positioning key of the joint to the head, wherein either one of the first and second positioning keys is connected using an accessible screw so that it can be easily removed after the instrument is assembled.

[0030] Specific Example 21: The method of manufacturing a stringed instrument includes arbitrarily manufacturing the instrument body, arbitrarily manufacturing the instrument head, arbitrarily manufacturing the neck, and arbitrarily manufacturing a joint having first and second positioning key portions extending in opposite directions on the first and second sides. The shape of the first side is designed to match at least a part of the shape of the head, the shape of the second side is designed to match at least a part of the shape of the neck, the second side of the joint is permanently connected to the neck, and the second side of the joint is connected to the head using accessible screws that can be easily removed after the instrument is assembled.

[0031] Specific Example 22: A headstock for attaching to the neck of a stringed instrument, the headstock having a structure designed to be attached to a joint connected to the head attachment end of the neck. The structure has a cavity for accommodating the positioning key of the joint and a through hole for accommodating a screw that is screwed into the positioning key in a state where the positioning key is accommodated in the cavity, and the headstock is connected to the neck in an exchangeable manner.

[0032] Specific Example 23: In the headstock described in Specific Example 22, the structure of the headstock defines at least a part of the shape of the headstock in the connection to the neck, and the shape is designed to match the shape of the joint, thereby providing a smooth transition from the headstock to the neck when the headstock is connected to the neck. <000​​​​​​In any embodiment disclosed herein, the neck may have a joint having a reinforcing member, a gripping member, a fretted fingerboard, and a positioning key extending from the end of the reinforcing member. The body, neck, head, or parts thereof may be manufactured from a metal such as aluminum or titanium, or from a high-strength plastic.

[0035] Further embodiments are disclosed below. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0036] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a stringed instrument having a body, neck, and interchangeable head in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0037] [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a more detailed exploded perspective view of a stringed instrument.

[0038] [Figure 3A] Figure 1 is a more detailed top-view exploded perspective of the connection between the head and neck of the stringed instrument.

[0039] [Figure 3B] Figure 3A is a top perspective view of the assembled head and neck connection of the stringed instrument.

[0040] [Figure 3C] This is a top perspective view of the connection between the assembled head and neck of a stringed instrument in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0041] [Figure 4A] This is a top perspective view showing the connection between a joint and a reinforcing member in a stringed instrument of the type shown in Figures 3A and 3B, in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0042] [Figure 4B]This is a bottom perspective view showing the connection between a joint and a reinforcing member in a stringed instrument of the type shown in Figures 3A and 3B, in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0043] [Figure 5] Figures 3A and 3B show a bottom perspective view of the coupling shown in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0044] [Figure 6A] and [Figure 6B] This is a top exploded perspective view of two embodiments useful for connecting a joint to a neck, in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0045] [Figure 7A] This is a top exploded perspective view of the connection between the head and neck of a stringed instrument in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0046] [Figure 7B] Figure 6A is an exploded perspective view of the bottom of the head-neck connection.

[0047] [Figure 7C] Figure 7A is an exploded perspective view of the bottom of the head-neck connection.

[0048] [Figure 8A] This is a bottom exploded perspective view of the head-neck connection in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0049] [Figure 8B] This is a bottom exploded perspective view of the head-neck connection in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0050] [Figure 8C] This is a top exploded perspective view of the connection between the head and neck in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0051] [Figure 9A] This is a lower perspective view of a neck having a joint in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0052] [Figure 9B] This is a lower perspective view of a neck having a joint in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0053] [Figure 10] A flowchart of a method for manufacturing a stringed instrument in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0054] [Figure 11] A flowchart of a method for manufacturing the neck of a stringed instrument in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0055] While several embodiments are illustrated herein, those skilled in the art will understand that the stringed instruments having interchangeable heads disclosed herein are not limited to the embodiments or drawings herein. The drawings and the detailed description of the invention are not intended to limit embodiments to any particular form of disclosure. Rather, they are intended to encompass all specific examples, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the scope of methods and parts for manufacturing stringed instruments having interchangeable heads as defined by the appended claims. Titles herein are for structural convenience only and do not limit the detailed description of the invention or the claims. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0056] Embodiments of the present invention describe below specific examples of stringed instruments, parts, and methods of manufacture having interchangeable heads. The following detailed description provides several specific examples to fully illustrate the claims. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the entire scope of the claims can be implemented without all of these specific examples. Otherwise, detailed descriptions of manufacturing methods, parts, or systems well known to those skilled in the art are omitted to avoid obscuring the claims.

[0057] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary stringed instrument (hereinafter simply referred to as "instrument") 100. The instrument 100 has a body 102, a neck 104, and a head 106. In this specification, "head" (e.g., head 106, head 225, head 300, head 700, head 801, etc.) and "headstock" are used interchangeably. The instrument 100 further has strings extending between the body 102 and the head 106, an example of which is further shown below. These strings typically extend between a bridge located on the body 102 and a nut located near the end of the neck 104 opposite the body 102.

[0058] In the example shown in Figure 1, a guitar is exemplified as instrument 100. However, the technical features of the present invention are not limited to the guitar. Embodiments disclosed herein can also be used with various other stringed instruments, such as viola, cello, double bass, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele.

[0059] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the head 106 and neck 104 can be interchangeably connected using a joint 108. The joint 108 has a curved partition or crown portion 110, with first and second positioning keys 112 and 114 extending from opposite faces. In some embodiments, the first positioning key 112 is used to permanently connect the joint 108 to the neck, and the second positioning key 114 is used to interchangeably connect the joint 108 to the head 106. In some embodiments, the second positioning key 114 is used to perform an lap joint, that is, the parts of the head 106 and neck 104 to be connected are overlapped and then connected by a structure such as a screw. Each overlapping part is thinned by about 25-50% before overlapping so that the thickness of the connecting portion of the head 106 and neck 104 is restored to 100% when connected. Other types of joints (e.g., mortise and tenon, dovetail, key, groove, or box joint) can also be used, as will be described later.

[0060] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stringed instrument 200. The instrument 200 has a body 202, a neck 205 extending from the body 202, and a head 225 extending from the neck 205. The instrument 200 further has tuning keys 244 (for example, located on the head 225) and a bridge 245 (for example, connected to the body 202) for holding strings 248.

[0061] In the specific example shown in Figure 2, the neck 205 has a gripping member 215 with a curved cross-section that provides a comfortable feel on the underside of the neck, a fingerboard 220 forming the upper surface, and a reinforcing member 210 sandwiched between them, which are usually joined using an adhesive such as epoxy. In some embodiments, the truss rod 230 is incorporated into the reinforcing member 210. In a preferred embodiment, the reinforcing member 210 is made of an extruded metal such as aluminum, titanium, or steel, and has a flat, elongated upper surface and a double flange provided on the lower surface. The cross-sectional shape of the reinforcing member 210 is not limited to the specific double-flange example shown herein, and other embodiments applicable to elongated members can also be employed.

[0062] Similar to Figure 1, in the specific example shown in Figure 2, the head 225 and the neck 205 are interchangeably attached to each other using the lap joint illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B. Specifically, the reinforcing member 210 has a joint 234 permanently connected to its upper end. A positioning key 236 is used to precisely position the partition 235 at the upper end of the neck 205, so that the shape of the gripping portion 215 precisely matches the shape of the partition 235. On the other hand, on the opposite side of the partition 235, a positioning key 238 is used to precisely position the opposite side of the partition 235 relative to the head 225, so that the opposite side of the partition 235 precisely matches the shape of the head 225. The positioning key 238 is designed to fit snugly into the cavity 240 of the head 225.

[0063] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 3A-3B, the nut 242 is interchangeably mounted on the upper surface of the positioning key 238, providing a standard finished surface on the upper surface of the cavity 240, which supports the string 248 passing over to the tuning key 244. Alternatively, the nut 242 may be located on or above the joint 234, at the end of the neck 205, or on the head 225. Interchangeable connections between the head 225 and the neck 205 are also illustrated in Figures 7A-7C and 8A-8C.

[0064] The main body 202, neck 205, head 225, or parts thereof may be made of a metal such as aluminum. For example, in some embodiments, the reinforcing member 210, or at least a part of the reinforcing member 210 and head 225, is made of aluminum or other metal. On the other hand, other components such as the main body 102 and gripping part 215 are made of wood. Such embodiments may have substantially higher strength and be less prone to warping or breakage compared to configurations made entirely of wood.

[0065] Such embodiments can also produce a unique sound that cannot be obtained with a configuration consisting entirely of wooden components. The head 225, the reinforcing members 210, or parts thereof may optionally be made of plastic, composite materials, magnesium, titanium, or other substantially rigid materials.

[0066] The main body 202, gripping member 215, fingerboard 220, or parts thereof may be made from hardwood (e.g., maple, oak, teak, or rosewood), plastic, composite material, or other material (including metal). In some embodiments, the gripping member 215, fingerboard 220, or parts thereof may be made from non-metallic material. Using non-metallic material for the gripping member 215, fingerboard 220, or parts thereof can provide a warmer feel to the player's hand compared to metal.

[0067] Embodiments using certain lightweight metals, such as aluminum, do not substantially affect the weight of the stringed instrument. The parts and manufacturing methods disclosed herein are not limited to the aluminum examples shown herein.

[0068] The truss rod is a component for controlling the curvature of the neck. As shown in Figure 2, the truss rod 230 may be located inside or near the reinforcing member 210. The truss rod 230 can stabilize the longitudinal curvature (e.g., forward bow) of the neck 205. In addition, the truss rod 230 can maintain the neck 205 in a substantially straight position by applying tension to the neck 205 to counteract the tensile force of the strings 248.

[0069] The truss rod 230 may have an adjustable metal rod (e.g., steel or titanium) extending longitudinally through the neck 205, and one or both ends of the truss rod 230 may have nuts for adjusting its tension. The truss rod 230 may have, for example, a threaded portion extending from the neck 205, and the head 225 may have a cavity in the joint 234 that houses the threaded portion.

[0070] In Figures 1 to 3, the head 225 is shown as a solid shape, but to reduce the weight of the head 225, a portion of its lower surface may be made hollow. The shape of the head 225 is not limited to a specific shape; for example, it may be a bifurcated shape as shown in Figures 6A to 6B, or it may be a shape in which a portion is hollow.

[0071] Figures 3A and 3B are exploded and assembled perspective views, respectively, of the head 300 connected to the neck 305. As previously mentioned, the head 300 can be made from a variety of materials. In some embodiments, the head 300 can be made from, for example, 3 / 8-inch thick 6061-T6 grade aluminum or magnesium. The head 300 may be cut or molded as a single piece, or it may be formed by joining multiple pieces.

[0072] A joint 302 having a structure similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 is attached to the neck 305. The joint 302 has a partition 312 that divides the joint into first and second opposing surfaces, the first surface being designed to match the shape of the end 217 of the gripping portion 215, and the second surface being designed to match the shape of the lower surface 301 of the head 300. A positioning key 308 extends from the first surface of the partition 312 and is configured to precisely position the joint 302 at the upper end of the reinforcing member 210. Meanwhile, a positioning key 304 extends from the second surface of the partition 312 and is configured to precisely position the joint 302 relative to the head 300. A screw is threaded through the countersunk hole 303 of the reinforcing member 210 into the threaded hole 309 of the positioning key 308, thereby fixing the joint 302 to the upper end of the neck 305. A nut 310 is connected to the upper surface of the positioning key 304 for lap jointing.

[0073] The head 300 has a cavity 306, which is designed to accommodate a positioning key 304 without gaps, thereby creating an overlapping joint between the head 300 and the neck 305. Screws are used to connect the head 300 to the joint 302 in an interchangeable manner. The head 300 and the neck 305 can be attached to and detached from each other by the user. Furthermore, the head 300 is interchangeable with other components.

[0074] According to the embodiments shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the head 300 can be interchangeably connected to the neck 305 by passing a screw through the countersunk hole of the positioning key 304. The head 300 and neck 305 can be attached to and detached from each other by the user. The head 300 is interchangeable with other heads.

[0075] The opposite end of the joint 302 has a positioning key 308 sized to fit snugly between the double flanges formed on the lower surface of the reinforcing member 210. The joint 302 can be connected to the neck 305, for example, by welding the positioning key 308 to the metal reinforcing member 210 using well-known welding techniques, or by using countersunk screws. Other methods for attaching the joint 302 to the neck 305, with or without the positioning key, can also be used, for example, according to any other embodiment disclosed herein.

[0076] The nut 310 is connected to the upper surface of the lap joint positioning key 304 using countersunk bolts that are screwed into the threaded holes shown in Figures 4A and 4B. The nut 310 ensures that all strings are positioned at the correct intervals and at the correct height above the fretboard. The grooves or projections formed in the nut 310, along with the clamps / caps connected to the nut, help to securely hold the guitar strings in place.

[0077] In some embodiments, the upper surface of the joint is formed flat. In some embodiments, at least the upper surface of the partition portion of the joint is formed flat. In some embodiments, the upper surface of the joint or the upper surface of the partition portion of the joint is configured to be located below the fingerboard of the neck. For example, in some embodiments, the upper surface of the joint or the upper surface of the partition portion of the joint is configured to be flush with the upper surface of the reinforcing member of the neck. Alternatively, the upper surface of the joint or the upper surface of the partition portion of the joint may be located above or below the upper surface of the reinforcing member, but when assembled into the neck, it is configured to be located below the upper surface of the fingerboard. For example, in some embodiments, when assembled, the fingerboard may cover all or part of the partition portion of the joint.

[0078] As shown in Figure 3C, in some embodiments, the joint partition 235 is covered by the neck fingerboard 220, with the end of the fingerboard 220 directly adjacent to one side of the nut 310. The joint partition 235 is positioned between the neck grip 215 and the underside 301 of the head 300 in the assembled instrument, and is therefore visible only from the side and rear. Similar to those in Figures 3A-3B, but the configuration in Figure 3C is not limited to the features disclosed in Figures 3A-3B. For example, the head and neck may have different configurations, the nut may be made of different material, or may be positioned in different locations (e.g., on the fingerboard or on the head). Furthermore, the joint for connecting the neck and / or head may also conform to any embodiment described herein.

[0079] Figure 4A is a top perspective view of an assembled neck showing the connection between the joint and the reinforcing member in the stringed instrument shown in Figures 3A and 3B. Figures 4B and 5 show the bottom view of the connection between the neck and the head.

[0080] In these specific examples, the reinforcing member 210 has a flat, elongated upper transverse member 406 and a pair of reinforcing flanges 408 extending along the length of the upper transverse member 406. The reinforcing flanges 408 define a channel or groove 410, which may extend along the length of the upper transverse member 406. The joint positioning key 308 is connected to the reinforcing member 210, for example, by plug welding or by countersunk screws as shown in Figure 6A.

[0081] The countersunk hole 402 is for accommodating a screw that enters the screw hole in the cavity 306 through the positioning key 304, thereby allowing the joint 302 to be interchangeably connected to the head 300. The screw hole 404 is used to properly maintain the position of the nut 310 relative to the head 300.

[0082] As shown in Figure 5, in some embodiments, when the head and neck are connected, the threaded hole 314 formed in the partition 312 of the joint 302 aligns with the through hole 316. To further secure the connection between the head and neck, a shoulder bolt is inserted into the through hole 316 and removably fixed to the threaded hole 314. The axial direction of the threads passing through the threaded hole 314 and the through hole 316 is substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the threads passing through the hole 402. This provides a head-neck connection that is highly durable and easily detachable. In the embodiments shown in Figures 6A to 6B, two bolts are used to connect the head 300 to the partition 312.

[0083] The partition portion 312 is designed to have a finished surface on one side that contacts the gripping portion 215 and a finished surface on the opposite side that contacts the head 300, thereby enabling more economical assembly and manufacturing.

[0084] The reinforcing member 210 may be made by extrusion molding using aluminum (e.g., aircraft aluminum) or other suitable material. The flange 408 and the upper transverse member 406 may be formed integrally, or the flange 408 may be welded to the upper transverse member 406.

[0085] The flanges 408 may be spaced apart from each other, so that the reinforcing members 210 can resist the torsional forces that arise due to warping and the longitudinal forces that are applied to the neck when the instrument's strings are tensioned.

[0086] In some embodiments, the reinforcing member 210 may have only one flange 408, or it may not have any flanges 408 at all. In that case, the neck 205 can be resisted by the truss rod 230.

[0087] The characteristics of the reinforcing member 210 (e.g., its dimensions and / or material) can be selected and / or modified for the purpose of improving strength and / or sound quality. For example, optionally, the reinforcement against warping, bending, and twisting of the neck can be further enhanced by forming ribs on the upper transverse member 406 and flange 408, or on the neck.

[0088] Figures 6A and 6B are top exploded perspective views showing two embodiments useful for connecting a joint configured according to the present invention to the neck of a stringed instrument. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6A, the joint 602 has a partition 612, and on the side facing the reinforcing member 610, there is a cavity 614 machined to accommodate the upper end of the reinforcing member 610. This cavity 614 is formed such that the upper surface of the reinforcing member 610 is flush with the upper surface of the partition 612 when the positioning key 608 is aligned with the hole 606. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6B, the upper end of the reinforcing member 610 is machined so that a tongue-shaped portion and a mortise are easily connected. The tongue-shaped portion 616 is designed to match the shape of the mortise-shaped cavity 614 formed in the partition 612. In both concrete forms, the positioning key 608 is aligned with the hole 606, and a countersunk screw is used to connect the joint 602 to the reinforcing member 610. Furthermore, the connection between the joint and the reinforcing member can be made even stronger by epoxy bonding or other means.

[0089] Figures 7A and 7B are exploded perspective views showing the top and bottom surfaces of the head-neck joint of a stringed instrument configured according to another embodiment of the present invention, respectively. Figure 7C is another exploded perspective view of the bottom surface of the head-neck joint shown in Figure 7B.

[0090] As shown in Figures 7A to 7C, the joint 702 has substantially the same shape and function as the joint 302 shown in Figures 3A to 3B, in that it has positioning keys 704 and 708 arranged opposite each other, and a partition 712 provided between them. The positioning key 708 is connected to the reinforcing member 710 in the same manner as described with respect to each of the above figures. On the other hand, the positioning key 704 has a curved shape, unlike the flat positioning key 304 shown in Figures 3A to 3B. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7B, the head 700 is provided with a mortise-shaped cavity 714 having a corresponding curved shape for accommodating the curved positioning key 704. Two through holes 716 are provided on the lower surface of the head 700, and the head 700 is interchangeably connected to the joint 702 by screwing shoulder bolts through these through holes 716 into corresponding threaded holes in the positioning key 704.

[0091] Figure 8A is an exploded bottom perspective view of the head-neck connection in an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8A, the head 803 has a hole 815 for passing a screw through which the head 803 is connected to the joint 801. The joint 801 may have a first tongue-shaped portion 804A that connects to the reinforcing member 802 of the neck and a second tongue-shaped portion 804B that connects to the head 803. The hole 805 provided in the tongue-shaped portion 804B of the joint 801 aligns with the hole 815 in the head 803. In this embodiment, only one connecting fastener or screw is sufficient. This is because the connection between the head 803 and the joint 801 is stabilized when the tongue-shaped portion 804B of the joint 801 facing the head 803 is inserted into the head 803.

[0092] Figure 8B is an exploded bottom perspective view of the head-neck connection in an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8B, the head 803 is connected to the joint 801 without having a second tongue-shaped portion facing the head (i.e., only a tongue-shaped portion 804 extending toward the reinforcing member 802 is provided). In this embodiment, the joint 801 has one or more holes 805 (at least two holes 805 in some embodiments) for passing fasteners (e.g., screws). The head 803 has a number of holes 815 (e.g., one or more or at least two) corresponding to the holes 805. In this embodiment, the head and neck are stably connected by fasteners connecting the head to the joint. By using a joint without a second tongue-shaped portion extending toward the head, it is possible to achieve a stable connection while reducing mass, which has the advantage of making the joint 801 (head 803) lighter.

[0093] Figure 8C is a top exploded perspective view of the head-neck joint in an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8C, the nut 806 is connected to the top surface of the head 803. This embodiment shows that the position of the nut 806 is independent of the joint 801. Such an arrangement can be applied to any embodiment disclosed herein unless otherwise explicitly disclosed (for example, unless the joint includes a portion adapted to accommodate the nut). The joint 801 (or any joint disclosed herein) can preferably be used as a joint for connecting the head and the neck.

[0094] Figure 9A is a bottom perspective view of a neck having a joint in an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9A, the partition portion 901 of the joint can be permanently connected to the reinforcing member 902 of the neck, for example, by adhesive, welding, or casting. The joint has one or more holes 905 for connecting the head to the neck via the joint. An advantage of this embodiment is that manufacturing costs can be reduced because the mechanical processing of the joint is reduced. Furthermore, there is the advantage that the mass of the joint is lighter, and the overall embodiment can be made lighter. Figure 9B is a bottom perspective view showing the embodiment of Figure 9A in which the partition portion 901 of the joint is separated from the extruded portion of the reinforcing member 902.

[0095] Figure 10 is a flowchart of method 1000 for manufacturing a stringed instrument. Note that the method for manufacturing a stringed instrument is not limited to the specific example shown in Figure 10.

[0096] In 1002, the instrument body is optionally manufactured. The instrument body may be constructed in any suitable manner consistent with the disclosures shown herein. Alternatively, a ready-made body may be obtained.

[0097] In 1004, the neck may optionally be manufactured. The neck may be constructed according to any example described herein. Alternatively, a ready-made neck may be obtained.

[0098] In 1006, the head may optionally be manufactured. The head may be configured according to any example described herein, or a ready-made head may be obtained.

[0099] 1008 optionally manufactures a joint having first and second positioning keys extending in opposite directions. Alternatively, a ready-made joint having the aforementioned features and conforming to any embodiment disclosed herein may be obtained.

[0100] Figure 11 is a flowchart of method 1100 for manufacturing a stringed instrument. Note that the method for manufacturing a stringed instrument is not limited to the specific example shown in Figure 11.

[0101] In 1102, the instrument body may optionally be manufactured. The instrument body may be constructed in any suitable manner consistent with the disclosures shown herein. Alternatively, a ready-made body may be obtained.

[0102] In 1104, the neck may optionally be manufactured. The neck may be constructed according to any example described herein. Alternatively, a ready-made neck may be obtained.

[0103] In 1106, the head may optionally be manufactured. The head may be configured according to any example described herein, or a ready-made head may be obtained.

[0104] 1108 optionally manufactures a joint having first and second positioning keys extending in opposite directions. In this case, the shape of the first face is designed to match at least a portion of the shape of the head, and the shape of the second face is designed to match at least a portion of the shape of the neck. Alternatively, a ready-made joint having the above features and conforming to any embodiment disclosed herein may be obtained.

[0105] In the 1110, the body, neck, and head are connected to each other. The neck and head are connected by connecting the first positioning key of the joint to the neck and the second positioning key of the joint to the head, with at least one of the first and second positioning keys being connected using a screw that can be easily removed after the instrument is assembled. The body may be connected to the neck before or after connecting the neck and head via the joint.

[0106] One or more steps of Method 1000 or 1100 can be performed using programmable machinery and / or dedicated hardware. For example, Method 1000 or 1100 may include a step of processing metal (e.g., aluminum) to form joints or create cavities for truss rods. Furthermore, Method 1000 or 1100 may include a step of using welding or an adhesive such as epoxy in the mounting area between the body and the neck and / or between the neck and the joint configured according to this disclosure.

[0107] Method 1000 or 1100 can be used in the manufacture of an entire stringed instrument or a part thereof. For example, it can be applied to the manufacture of a neck for a stringed instrument and / or the manufacture of a head having a corresponding shape, which is specifically designed to be attached to a neck constructed according to this disclosure.

[0108] The technology for attaching the various parts of a stringed instrument reduces the occurrence of mounting defects (e.g., breakage or fracture of the head or neck). Furthermore, the interchangeability of heads allows for the design of different heads in any shape and their adaptation to any instrument. This provides users (e.g., musicians and instrument makers) with greater flexibility when customizing different stringed instruments.

[0109] The features and embodiments of the present invention can be used in various combinations, or in combination of parts thereof, and all of these fall within the scope of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the features and embodiments of each disclosed embodiment can be combined or substituted for one another. Furthermore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments illustrated herein, but are presented for illustrative purposes only. The embodiments described above are merely examples of the present invention, and various other embodiments can be constructed without departing from its basic technical scope.

Claims

1. The instrument itself, A neck extending from the main body, The head extending from the aforementioned neck, A stringed instrument having a joint with a partition, the partition dividing the joint into first and second mutually opposing surfaces, the first surface having a shape designed to fit onto at least a portion of the neck, and the second surface having a shape designed to fit onto at least a portion of the head.

2. A stringed instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first surface of the joint is designed to be permanently connected to the neck, and the second surface of the joint is designed to be interchangeably attached to the head.

3. A stringed instrument according to claim 1, wherein the joint further comprises first and second positioning keys extending from opposite faces of the partition for interchangeably connecting the head to the neck.

4. A stringed instrument according to claim 3, wherein the first positioning key is connected to the neck, thereby the partition portion of the joint facing the neck provides a first finished surface to the neck, and the second positioning key is connected to the head, thereby the partition portion of the joint facing the head provides a second finished surface to the head.

5. A stringed instrument according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the following is true: the first positioning key is interchangeably connected to the neck, or the second positioning key is interchangeably connected to the head.

6. A stringed instrument according to claim 4, wherein the first positioning key is permanently coupled to the neck, and the second positioning key is designed to be interchangeably coupled to a cavity formed in a part of the head in order to provide an interchangeable coupling between the head and the neck when the head is positioned within the cavity of the head.

7. A through-string instrument according to claim 6, further having a structure in which a first screw is fitted so as to pass through a hole formed along the vertical axis of the head and screw into the hole of a second positioning key.

8. The stringed instrument according to claim 6, wherein the second positioning key has a width of at least 50% of the average width of the head at the connection portion with the joint and a thickness of at least 25% of the average thickness of the head at the connection portion with the joint.

9. A through-stringed instrument according to claim 6, further comprising a first screw structure designed to penetrate the second positioning key and the tenon of the head in a first direction, and a second screw designed to penetrate the head and enter the partition of the joint in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

10. A stringed instrument according to claim 9, wherein the second positioning key is provided with at least one hole that aligns with at least one screw hole in the mortise of the head for interchangeably connecting the head to the neck by a component having the first screw structure, and the head is provided with a hole that aligns with a screw hole in the partition for interchangeably connecting the head to the neck by a structure fastened by a second screw.

11. A stringed instrument according to claim 6, wherein the first positioning key is permanently connected to a metal support within the neck.

12. A stringed instrument according to claim 1, wherein the neck side of the partition provides a finished surface to the gripping portion of the neck, and the nut attached to the second positioning key provides a finished surface to the fingerboard portion of the neck.

13. A stringed instrument according to claim 1, wherein the joint further comprises a first positioning key extending from one side thereof for permanently connecting the joint to the neck and a second positioning key extending from the opposite side thereof, the head having a cavity for housing the second positioning key, and the head and the neck are designed to form an interchangeable connection between the head and the neck by forming either a lap joint or a mortise joint using the second positioning key and the cavity.

14. A stringed instrument according to claim 13, wherein the second positioning key has a width of at least 50% of the average width of the head at the connection point with the neck and a thickness of at least 25% of the average thickness of the head at the connection point with the neck.

15. A stringed instrument according to claim 14, further comprising a replaceable mounting portion, the mounting portion having a structure fastened by a first screw designed to penetrate the positioning key and the cavity of the lap joint or mortise joint in a first direction, and a structure fastened by a second screw designed to penetrate the head and enter the joint in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

16. A stringed instrument according to claim 13, further comprising a replaceable mounting portion, the mounting portion having a structure fastened by a first screw designed to penetrate the positioning key and the cavity of the lap joint or mortise joint in a first direction, and a structure fastened by a second screw designed to penetrate the head and enter the joint in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

17. A neck for a stringed instrument, the neck having a joint having a partition that divides the joint into first and second opposite faces, the first face being permanently attached to the neck and having a shape that fits into at least a portion of the neck, and the second face of the joint having a shape designed to fit into at least a portion of a head that is interchangeably connected to the neck.

18. A neck for a stringed instrument according to claim 17, wherein the neck further comprises a reinforcing member sandwiched between a fingerboard on the upper surface of the neck and a gripping portion on the lower surface of the neck, and the partition portion of the joint is designed to abut and fit with the gripping portion of the neck.

19. A headstock that is attached to the neck of a stringed instrument, The headstock has a structure designed to be attached to a joint connected to the head mounting end of the neck, the structure having a cavity for housing a positioning key of the joint, and a through hole for housing a screw that is screwed into the positioning key while the positioning key is housed in the cavity, and the headstock is detachably connected to the neck.

20. A headstock according to claim 19, wherein the structure of the headstock defines at least a portion of the shape of the headstock in connection with the neck, the shape is designed to match the shape of the joint, and provides a smooth transition from the headstock to the neck when the headstock is connected to the neck.

21. A method for manufacturing stringed instruments, A method comprising connecting a headstock to a neck via a joint, wherein the joint has first and second positioning keys extending therefrom in directions opposite to each other, the first positioning key being connected to the neck and the second positioning key being connected to the head, and at least one of the first and second positioning keys being connected using screws that are accessible so that the stringed instrument can be removed after it has been assembled.

22. In the method according to claim 21, further, The manufacturing of the instrument itself, The manufacturing of the head, The manufacturing of the aforementioned neck, Manufacturing of the aforementioned joint part, The connection of the instrument body to the neck, A method that includes this.

23. In the method of claim 22, The shape of the first side surface of the joint is designed to match at least a portion of the shape of the neck at the interface between the joint and the neck. The shape of the second side surface of the joint is designed to match at least a portion of the shape of the head at the interface between the joint and the head, and further, The first surface of the joint is connected to the neck in a permanent manner, The second surface of the joint is connected to the head using screws that are accessible so that the stringed instrument can be easily removed after it has been assembled. A method that includes the act of doing so.

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