Compact Travel String Instrument With Overlapping Tuners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compact travel string instruments often compromise on playability and ergonomics due to their reduced size, leading to awkward playing experiences and difficulties in tuning and maintaining string tension.
Innovation Solution
A compact travel string instrument design that includes a main body with a neck and head, featuring overlapping tuners for minimized length, a wrap-around bridge for string support, and an attachable body part for ergonomic support and adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the instrument size is reduced for travel, then portability is improved, but playability and ergonomics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into separate components: a compact main body with neck and head, and an attachable body part that can be connected or disconnected. This segmentation allows the instrument to be transported in a compact form while providing full-size ergonomics when assembled for playing.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachable body part extends the instrument in a directional manner to provide ergonomic support for the strumming arm and knee rest, creating a three-dimensional playing configuration that improves comfort without significantly increasing the base instrument size.
2Length of stationary object
If the body size is reduced to minimize instrument length, then portability is improved, but ergonomic support deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The body is segmented into a compact main body and a separate attachable body part. The main body contains essential components (neck, head, tuners, bridge) in a minimized configuration, while the attachable part provides the necessary ergonomic surfaces for comfortable playing posture.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachable body part can be adjusted and positioned dynamically to accommodate different playing styles and user preferences, providing adaptable ergonomic support that enhances comfort without permanently increasing the instrument's base dimensions.
3Length of moving object
If tuners are mounted on the main body instead of the head, then instrument length is reduced, but playability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing tuners on the head at the end of the neck (traditional arrangement), the tuners are invertedly positioned on the main body closer to the player's hand. This reversal reduces the distance to frets while maintaining tuner functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The tuner mounting position is changed from the longitudinal end (head) to a lateral position on the main body, utilizing a different spatial dimension to achieve both compact length and improved hand accessibility to the fretboard.
4Volume of moving object
If the instrument is folded for travel, then compactness is improved, but string tension is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is designed as separable components rather than a folding structure. The main body and attachable part can be disconnected for compact storage without compromising the structural integrity and string tension of the assembled instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachable body part provides dynamic structural support that maintains string tension during playing, while allowing the instrument to be disassembled into compact segments for travel without the string tension issues associated with folding mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A string instrument made of two parts, where the first part is the most compact manufacturable assembly that that can be made, including the strings and all associated parts to retain the string under their normal tuning tension and where the string instrument is suitable for ease of travel and transport. A second part which is an attachment mounted to the first part and which increases the string instrument size such that it looks and feels like the common full size string instrument model and is also playable like a full-size string instrument. In addition, the second part attachment allows for adjustment of player arm rest, and can easily be transported in its own separate travel bag, can be folded over itself, or folded underneath the first part for travel and transport.