Acoustic string instrument, and methods for manufacturing and repairing same

{
  "publication_number": "US10789915B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Acoustic string instrument, and methods for manufacturing and repairing same",
  "abstract": "An acoustic string instrument includes a top plate, a back plate, and a body disposed between the top plate and the back plate. The body has a plurality of first positioning portions. At least one of the top plate or the back plate, or both has a plurality of second positioning portions. The first positioning portions are fixed to the second positioning portions corresponding to the first positioning portions.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An acoustic string instrument comprising: a top plate; a back plate; a body disposed between the top plate and the back plate and having a plurality of holes; and a plurality of fixing members connecting the body to at least one of the top plate or the back plate, or both; the at least one of the top plate or the back plate, or both having a plurality of blind holes on a body-side surface of the at least one of the top plate or the bottom plate, or both, the blind holes corresponding to the holes of the body, respectively, each of the plurality of fixing members contacting each of the holes of the body and each of the blind holes.",
    "2. The acoustic string instrument according claim 1, wherein each of the fixing members is a dowel, which is disposed in each of the holes of the body and each of the blind holes.",
    "3. The acoustic string instrument according to claim 1, wherein the holes of the body are arranged bilaterally symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal center line of the body.",
    "4. The acoustic string instrument according to claim 1, wherein one of the holes of the body is positioned on a first side of a longitudinal center line of the body, one of the holes of the body is positioned on a second side of the longitudinal center line of the body, one of the holes of the body is positioned not on a straight line that connects centers of the hole positioned on the first side and the hole positioned on the second side, and the first side is opposite to the second side.",
    "5. The acoustic string instrument according to claim 2, wherein the top plate, the back plate, and the body are made of wood, and surfaces of the plurality of dowels are made of resin or metal.",
    "6. The acoustic string instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the top plate or the back plate, or both further has a purfling disposed on an outer peripheral portion, and the blind holes are formed on an inner side of the purfling.",
    "7. A method for manufacturing an acoustic string instrument, the method comprising: forming a plurality of holes on a body; forming a plurality of blind holes which have a one-to-one correspondence with the holes of the body, on a body-side surface of at least one of a top plate or a bottom plate, or both, the at least one of the top plate or the bottom plate, or both having an outer peripheral edge that has been processed; inserting a dowel into each of the holes of the body or into each of the blind holes; applying an adhesive to at least one of the body-side surfaces or a surface of the body, or both; and fixing the body to the at least one of the top plate or the back plate, or both by inserting the dowel projecting from the blind holes into the holes of the body, or by inserting the dowel projecting from the holes of the body into the blind holes.",
    "8. A method for repairing an acoustic string instrument, the method comprising: separating a body having a plurality of holes from at least one of a top plate or a back plate, or both having a plurality of blind holes, which have a one-to-one correspondence with the holes of the body and are formed on a body-side surface of the at least one of the top plate or the back plate, or both; removing a plurality of dowels inserted into the holes of the body and the blind holes; repairing at least one or more of the body, the top plate, or the back plate; inserting a plurality of different dowels into the holes of the body, or into the blind holes; applying an adhesive to at least one of the body-side surfaces or a surface of the body, or both; and fixing the body to the at least one of the top plate or the back plate, or both by inserting the different dowels projecting from the blind holes into the holes of the body, or by inserting the different dowels projecting from the holes of the body into the blind holes."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to an acoustic string instrument and methods for manufacturing and repairing same.\n\nAcoustic string instruments, such as violins, are often provided with a body between a top plate and a back plate. The top plate and the back plate have projections that project outwardly from the body. In the violin manufacturing process, a top plate and a back plate that are slightly larger than finished size are prepared. After the top plate and the back plate are fixed to the body, the outer peripheral edges of the top plate and the back plate are then processed along the body to adjust the width of the projections (refer to Chris Johnson “The Art of Violin Making,” Robert Hale Ltd, April 1998). This violin manufacturing method is the traditional method of manufacturing violins that has been in continuous use for more than the past 400 years and requires proficient skill.\n\nIn the conventional manufacturing method, since the outer peripheral edges of the top plate and the back plate are trimmed after the top plate and the back plate are fixed to the body, a high-precision alignment of the top and back plates during fixing to the body is not required. However, the timbre of a violin changes as a function of the positional relationship between the body and the top plate and the positional relationship between the body and the back plate. As a result, a conventional violin has the problem of varying timbre.",
  "cpc": [
    "G10D 3/22",
    "C07C 17/38",
    "C07C 17/386",
    "C07C 19/07",
    "C07C 45/80",
    "C07C 45/83",
    "C07C 47/06",
    "C07C 51/12",
    "C07C 51/44",
    "C07C 53/08",
    "F16B 5/10",
    "G10D 1/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G10D 1/02",
    "G10D 3/22"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Yamaha Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kazuki Soga",
    "Toshihisa Yamazaki",
    "Yoshiro YAMAUCHI",
    "Akio Matsushima",
    "Hiroshi Nakaya"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-07-12",
  "publication_date": "2020-09-29",
  "grant_date": "2020-09-29",
  "priority_date": "2017-01-16",
  "application_number": "US-201916510227-A",
  "family_id": "62840575",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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  ]
}