US00603431.6A UnitedO States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 6,034,316 HOOver (45) Date of Patent: Mar. 7, 2000 54 CONTROLS FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 5,378,850 1/1995 Tumura. SUSTANERS 5,449,858 9/1995 Menning et al.. 5,523,526 6/1996 Shattil. 76 Inventor: Alan Anderson Hoover, 3937 5,585,588 12/1996 Tumura. Cranbrook Dr., Indianapolis, Ind. 46240 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 21 Appl. No.: 09/258,251 NAMM Statistical Review of U.S. Music Products Industry, 1-1. 1998 National ASSociation of Music Merchants Publication, 22 Filed: Feb. 25, 1999 Carlsbad, CA. (51) Int. Cl." ..................................................... G10H 1/057 52 U.S. Cl. ......................................... 84/738; 84/DIG. 10 (List continued on next page.) 58 Field of Search ................................ 84/738, DIG. 10 Primary Examiner Stanley J. Witkowski 56) References Cited 57 ABSTRACT U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS A Sustainer is provided for prolonging the vibrations of 472,019 3/1892 Omhart. Strings of a Stringed musical instrument. The instrument has 1,002,036 8/1911 Clement. at least one magnetic pickup means responsive to the 1,893,895 6/1933 Hammond. Vibrations of the Strings. The pickup produces an output 2,001,723 5/1935 Hammond. Signal in response to the vibrations of the instrument Strings. 2,600,870 6/1952 Hathaway et al.. At least one control potentiometer provides the capability to 2,672,781 3/1954 Miessner. control at least one parameter of the output Signal. The 3,185,755 5/1965 Williams et al.. Sustainer comprises a String driver transducer capable of E. 8.7 R et al. inducing Vibrations in the Strings, a Sustainer amplifier 3.742.113 6f1973 Cohen. having an input which accepts the pickup output signal, and 3813473 5/1974 Terymenko. an amplifier circuit which amplifies the pickup output signal 4,075,921 2/1978 Heet. to form a drive Signal. The Sustainer amplifier also has an 4,137811 2/1979 Kakehashi. output, from which the drive signal transferS Sufficient 4,181,058 1/1980 Suenaga. energy to the String driver transducer to Sustain the vibra 4,236,433 12/1980 Holland. tions of the Strings. A power Supply provides electrical 4,243,575 1/1981 Oliver. energy to the Sustainer amplifier. A power Switch provides 4.245,540 1/1981 Groupp. connection and disconnection means between the power 2. i. Rise Supply and the Sustainer amplifier in response to actuation of 4,697.491 10/1987 NE the power switch in order to turn the Sustainer on and off. 4,852.444 8/1989 Hoover et al. The power Switch is an integral part of the control 4,907,483 3/1990 Rose et al.. potentiometer, where the two are a physical combination. 4.941,388 7/1990 Hoover et al.. Both Switch and potentiometer are actuated by the shaft of 5,031501 7/1991 Ashworth. the potentiometer. Furthermore, the appearance of the con 5,050,759 9/1991 Hoover et al.. trol potentiometer having the power Switch as an integral 5,054,361 10/1991. Usa. part, when viewed from the outside of the musical 5,123,324 6/1992 Rose et al.. instrument, is Similar to that of the instrument containing the 3.E. Me potentiometer without the power Switch being present as the 5,233,123 8/1993 Rose et al.. integral part of the potentiometer. 5,275,586 1/1994 Oba et al.. 5,292,999 3/1994 Tumura. 24 Claims, 24 Drawing Sheets 604 610 612 6O1 ? 321 21 --- ?h VR606 602 / u1 13'- 300 6O7 608 L VR305 H 636 -1 --- 605 6,034.316 Page 2 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Internet article on Michael Brook and Infinite Guitar; http:// web.inter.nl.net/users/K.VanBunningen/music/Sylvian/oth 1998 Guitar and Bass Buyer's Guide, pp. 157-160, ers/brook.html 1997. 162-169; Miller/Freeman, San Francisco, CA. Electra Guitar info on internet: http://www.mindspring Intenet article on Michael Brook and Infinite Guitar; http:// .com/~ cantrells/electra.html 1999. www.rolandca.com/reverb?e/cl-34.html 1999. Gibson “Les Paul” and “SG” models from internet; http:// www.gibson.com/products/gibson/ 1997. Lawrence, David; Guitar World Magazine, Jul., 1989; Fender “Stratocaster” http://www.fender.com/ 1999. Kramer Floyd Rose Sustainer Solid-Body Guitar. 1998 “Thoroughbred Music' catalog, pp. 2–22, various Jackson Guitar catalog, 1996, p. 16, showing Floyd Rose electric guitars including Gibson, Fender. Sustainer in Jackson Guitar. 1998 “Thoroughbred Music' catalog, pp. 23–31, various effectors. Ad showing Floyd Rose Sustainer in Kramer Guitar, Guitar Widders-Ellis, Andy, “Four Fabulous D.I.Y. Pickup Tricks”; Player Magazine, Jan. 1989, Miller/Freeman, San Francisco, Guitar Player Magazine, Feb. 1993, pp. 98, 100, 102, 106, CA. 153; Miller/Freeman, San Francisco, CA. Brochure, Audio Sound International, Indianapolis, IN, Integral Potentiometer. Switch Combintion; Stewart showing Sustainiac GA-2 sustainer, circa 1990. McDonals Guitar Supply catalog, Spring 1998, p. 63. Ad showing Sustainiac GA-2 Sustainer in Hamer Guitar, WD Music Products catalog, pp. 29 and contents; WD Guitar Player Magazine, circa 1990. Music Products, Fr. Meyers, FL Jan. 1998. Lindskold, Mike, “Guitar Wiring 101’, Stewart McDonals Article on Fernandes Sustainer; Guitar Player Magazine, Guitar Supply catalog, Spring 1998, p. 61. Jan. 1989, Miller/Freeman, San Francisco, CA. Brosnac, Donald, Guitar Electronics For Musicians, Wise Fernandes Guitar Catalog, 1995, pp. inside cover, 1,2,3, Publications, London, England various guitar wiring dia Fernandes Guitars, No. Hollywood, CA also, see www grams, use of integral Switch/potentiometer combinations ..fernandesguitars.com. 1983. 1998 “Thoroughbred Music” catalog, p. 30, Heet “Ebow” Sustainiac "Model B' Sustainer brochure, Maniac Music, Sustainer. Inc. Indianapolis, IN 1989. Heet Ebow websight ad; http://www.ebow.com/brochure .htm 1999. Sustainiac "Model B' Sustainer Owner's Manual; Maniac Keibel, Jeff, “Albino Alligator”, Internet article on “Infinite Music, Inc. Indianapolis, IN 1989. Guitar, invented by Michael Brook; http://www.dns.net/ Advertisement, Sustainiac “Model B' Sustainer, Guitar eyesore/html/interview/BrookMichael. Albino Alligator Player Magazine, Aug. 1987, Miller/Freeman, San Fran Filmpress.html 1997. cisco, CA. U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 1 of 24 6,034,316 1 O2 104 101 FIGURE 1 a PRIOR ART FIGURE 1 b PRIOR ART U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 2 of 24 6,034,316 S. S. S. NS CN & R U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 3 of 24 6,034,316 |93 LHVHOTHCH CIZ'5)|–} OLZZ U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 4 of 24 6,034,316 |92 O U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 5 of 24 6,034,316 U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 6 of 24 6,034,316 FIG. 3a PRIOR ART S310 316 32 311 (1810 32O 321 313 330 FIG. 3b VR305 - rts- 331 PRIOR ART 340 3OO 322 316 315 314 N 30 32O 321 t 312 311 / 341 VR305 NSZ ( 1s FIG. 3C f PRIOR ART 322 316 315 314 U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 7 of 24 6,034,316 S310 FIG. 3C PRIOR ART FIG. 4 PRIOR ART L - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 8 of 24 6,034,316 532 El Papill S520 J536 520C FIG. 5a PRIOR ART FIG. 5b ( seo VR34 PRIOR ART U536 U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 9 of 24 6,034,316 51O 521 / 524 U536 C530 VR VR 532 S 534 7 FIG. 5C PRIOR ART U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 10 of 24 6,034,316 N 510 512 556 FIG. 5d PRIOR ART 500 530 FIG. 5e PRIOR ART VR532 S520 VR534, U.S. Patent 6,034,316 U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 12 of 24 6,034,316 630 FIG. 6a Prior Art FIG. 6b Prior Art U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 13 of 24 6,034,316 630 614 U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 14 of 24 6,034,316 601 v?. 610 612 U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 15 of 24 6,034,316 700 709 ETT DIT IS II-III-H- E. st III All EHRH TIAL Sz CUT = U ---it 701 FIG. 7a 73O 766 Prior Art 732 731 737 726 760 S750 704 V 736 v 7624 (YS761 2-1 O 751 O SVR(30 C742 753 764 O GD 74 () 755 O \ VR740 752 -- -- -- 756 736a NY 766 712 714a D7 NC 767 A. 711 716 758 O O G 754 V 718 75Oa 702 714 / 750b 70 CD O N C C722 717 CD VR710 O VR72O FIG. 7b -- Prior Art U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 16 of 24 6,034,316 700 N 709 "E.IIIs... 720 710 EEEEEEEEEEEEE (G) T. 730 U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 17 Of 24 6,034,316 Za ASA Fa-FreeSeeSSEESetsEIL TO THEIT is HECITVEIIRIR SEPTEIvy t 7 778 -- o U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 18 of 24 6,034,316 760 S750 732 731 737 726 7624 () is 761 41 704 V 736 v 751 (O 753 164 C vralCD 752 756 O W2 u1 766 - - - - N( 767 75Ob 754 A. S CR (9-75Oa N GD 3.750C S. 330 820 FIGURE 8C U.S. Patent Mar. 7, 2000 Sheet 19 of 24 6,034,316 FIGURE 8a U866 82O PRIOR ART 860 862 - 861 VR830 N C842 J866 \ 86 867 A. S850 - G ! 27 2831 VR820, 832 O \ N C O 8O2 804 O 1. O O NVR810 FIGURE 8b - - | PRIOR ART U.S. Patent 6,034,316 7/98 Z/8 U.S. Patent Mar.