Foldable Stringed Instrument Actuator System for Tuning Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stringed instruments, such as guitars, are cumbersome for travel due to their rigid construction and bulk, which complicates storage and maintenance of predictable tuning and quality of play.
Innovation Solution
A foldable stringed instrument with an actuator system that facilitates string management and folding/unfolding, allowing the instrument to fold mid-neck to assume a reduced profile for easier transportation and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the instrument uses rigid construction with solid neck coupled to body, then predictable tuning and quality of play are maintained, but the instrument becomes cumbersome for travel and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into separable components: the body and the neck are detachable, allowing the user to separate these segments for travel. The neck can be removed from the body, and the bridge can be detached from the neck, enabling compact storage while maintaining the complete instrument functionality when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic configurable system. The neck can be in different states (attached or detached from body, attached or detached from bridge), and the bridge can be positioned in different locations on the neck, allowing the instrument to adapt between playing and traveling states.
2Ease of operation
If the instrument is made smaller or scaled down, then ease of travel is improved, but predictable tuning and quality of play are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the neck from the body, the invention allows the user to transport only the smaller body portion or the neck portion separately, reducing the size for travel while maintaining the full-sized playing components. The complete instrument can be reassembled to original dimensions for playing.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument size is made dynamic rather than fixed. The user can configure the instrument in a compact state for travel by detaching components, and restore it to full playing size by reassembling, thus adapting size to the operational context without compromising either travel convenience or playing quality.
3Volume of moving object
If the instrument is folded mid-neck, then reduced profile for storage is achieved, but string management and folding/unfolding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism is simplified by segmenting the string routing system. The bridge is detachable from the neck, allowing strings to be easily managed during folding. The neck can be folded at a mid-neck location with the bridge separating from the neck body, creating a compact configuration without complex string management requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The string management system is made dynamic through the detachable bridge and flexible folding mechanism. Strings can be easily routed and managed as the neck folds and unfolds, with the bridge moving between attached and detached states to facilitate compact storage while maintaining simple string handling during play.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable stringed instrument having an actuator system that serves to selectively loosen and tighten the strings to fold and unfold the stringed instrument for storage/travel and play, respectively, as well as a mid-neck hinge to enable symmetrical folding of the stringed instrument. Optional cavities may be provided in the body of the stringed instrument for weight reduction and/or receiving sustain modules configured to modify the sustain of the stringed instrument depending upon the weight and/or material properties of the sustain modules.