Tube-Body Plastic Stringed Instrument for Low-Cost Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic stringed instruments replicate the form and shape of traditional violins but do not address the issues of fragility and expense, limiting accessibility, especially in schools with budget constraints.
Innovation Solution
A stringed musical instrument made from thermoplastic or thermoset materials, featuring a tubular design with a peg box, bridge, and chin rest, which is cost-effective and durable, replicating the sound and function of a traditional violin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wooden stringed instruments are used, then sound quality and durability are improved, but cost and fragility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional wood to thermoplastic polymer, fundamentally altering the instrument's properties. This material substitution maintains structural integrity and durability while significantly reducing manufacturing cost and eliminating the fragility issues associated with wooden instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument employs composite construction using thermoplastic polymer materials for the body, neck, and bridge components. This composite approach allows for integrated manufacturing of multiple parts from a single material system, achieving both durability and cost-effectiveness while maintaining the necessary structural properties for musical performance.
2Reliability
If traditional wooden stringed instruments are used, then sound quality is improved, but accessibility and affordability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by creating an instrument that is both inexpensive and durable enough for extended use. The thermoplastic construction allows for affordable mass production while maintaining sufficient longevity for educational and performance purposes, making music education accessible to students with limited budgets.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the material parameter from expensive wood to affordable thermoplastic polymer, the instrument becomes accessible to schools and students with budgetary constraints while still delivering acceptable sound quality and performance characteristics for educational purposes.
3Shape
If plastic stringed instruments replicate traditional violin form, then recognizability is improved, but functional performance and durability remain insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into distinct functional segments: body portion, neck portion, bridge, and chin rest, each optimized for its specific function. The bridge is separately designed with appropriate thickness and curvature to properly transmit string vibrations, while the neck and body segments are dimensioned to provide adequate playing surface and structural support, ensuring functional performance matches traditional instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the instrument have locally optimized properties: the bridge has increased thickness and specific curvature for vibration transmission, the body portion has controlled wall thickness for acoustic resonance, and the neck has appropriate dimensions for finger positioning. These local quality variations ensure that while the overall form replicates the traditional violin, each component performs its function effectively.
Data Source
AI summary
A stringed musical instrument is disclosed comprising a first tube including a body portion having a front side and a rear side, a bottom end and a top end, and a neck portion with a first end extending longitudinally from the bottom end of the body portion, and a second end. An opening is formed on the rear side of the body portion. A first string support is connected to the second end of the neck portion, and includes a peg box supporting a plurality of tuning pins. A plurality of musical instrument strings extend from the body portion to the tuning pins. The instrument also includes a one-piece bridge with a body-contacting portion configured to engage with the body portion, and a string-contacting portion configured to engage with the plurality of strings. Corresponding systems and methods also are disclosed.