Non-floating Tremolo Bridge with Roller Deflection Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floating tremolo bridges on guitars are prone to pitch instability due to external forces, such as hand pressure on the bridge, and lack individual string pitch adjustment capabilities, leading to inconsistent pitch changes across strings.
Innovation Solution
A non-floating tremolo bridge design with a rigidly attached bridge plate and dynamic string contacts, such as rollers, that allow for individual string pitch adjustment through a tremolo lever system, enabling customizable pitch changes and locking mechanisms to maintain tuning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a floating tremolo bridge is used to enable pitch adjustment, then string pitch can be changed, but pitch stability deteriorates under external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional floating tremolo design by making the bridge plate fixed rather than floating. The fixed bridge plate provides stable support for the strings, while the tremolo lever still achieves pitch adjustment through a different mechanism (rotating the bridge plate about a fulcrum when force is applied, rather than allowing the bridge to float freely). This inversion resolves the contradiction by maintaining pitch stability while preserving tremolo functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a floating tremolo bridge is used to enable pitch adjustment, then string pitch can be changed, but individual string pitch control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pitch control function by providing individual saddles for each string that can be independently adjusted. Each saddle can be positioned to change the effective length and pitch of its corresponding string individually. This segmentation allows musicians to fine-tune each string separately while maintaining the overall tremolo functionality, resolving the contradiction between pitch adjustment capability and individual string control.
3Reliability
If a fixed bridge plate is used to improve pitch stability, then pitch integrity is maintained, but tremolo functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic elements to the fixed bridge plate system. The bridge plate can rotate about a fulcrum when force is applied to the tremolo lever, allowing temporary pitch changes during tremolo operation. The spring mechanism provides dynamic tension to return the bridge plate to its neutral position. This dynamic capability allows the fixed bridge to maintain stability during normal playing while enabling tremolo effects when activated.
4Reliability
If a fixed bridge plate is used to improve pitch stability, then pitch integrity is maintained, but external force sensitivity remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a spring mechanism as a counterweight to offset the impact of external forces on the bridge plate. The spring applies continuous tension to pull the bridge plate back toward its neutral position when external forces (such as hand pressure or tremolo lever activation) attempt to displace it. This counterbalancing force reduces the harmful effects of external forces while maintaining the fixed bridge's inherent stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides stable pitch tuning, allowing for personalized string adjustments and maintaining pitch integrity even under external forces, with reduced friction and improved string tension management.
Implementation Method 1
Two to five tension coil springs are typically fixed to the bottom of this block at one end and the bottom of the guitar body at the other end. The springs are pre-tensioned to pull the block towards the peghead to offset the tension of the strings.
Implementation Method 2
A string may extend over the deflection arm and the deflection arm may pivot or otherwise move in response to the tremolo movement to change the tension on the string and therefore the pitch of the string. One or more rollers may be coupled with the deflection arm and a string may extend over the roller to enable the string to be deflected by the deflection arm without excessive friction.
Data Source
AI summary
A tremolo bridge mechanism enables pitch adjustment of strings with both ends of the string rigidly attached to the stringed instrument. A pitch adjustment feature incorporates a deflection arm that is coupled with an actuating rod that pivots about a rotational axis as controlled by the tremolo lever. The pitch adjustment features can be configured to enable normal tremolo pitch adjustment or an opposite pitch change for a given motion of the tremolo lever. In a first embodiment, linkages between the actuating rod and deflection arm can be modified to provide variation in the pitch affect. In another embodiment, a spring array can be oriented in two different directions to provide variation in pitch effect for each individual string. In addition, a pitch adjustment feature may be removed, or a string can be routed around the deflection arm, to prevent pitch change with tremolo lever action.