Category: Patents Rock

Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 9,805,705 Filed: 25 April 2016 In the name of: Drexel University Title: Multi-Touch Piano Keyboard What’s claimed: “A plurality of keys on a musical keyboard comprising: (a) each key of the plurality of keyboard keys arranged adjacent at least one other key of the plurality, each of the plurality of keyboard keys having a plurality of integrated touch sensors adjacent to each other and disposed in an array; and (b) a processor electronically coupled to the plurality of integrated touch sensors, the processor being programmed to receive input from several of the plurality of integrated […]

Rockin’ Design Patent: US Design Patent No. D809,588 Filed: 15 April 2016 In the name of: Luminary Roli Limited Title: Keyboard Instrument What’s claimed: “The ornamental design for a keyboard instrument, as shown and described.” Why this design patent rocks: This design patent appears to relate to Luminary Roli Limited’s ‘Seaboard’, which they promote as a ‘reinvention of the piano keyboard’. The Seaboard is a keyboard-style MIDI controller with flexible silicone rubber ‘keywaves’ in place of traditional moving keys. If you’re curious to know more, see here. If you’re a patent-savvy music tech business looking for patent help, get in touch […]

Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 2,940,351 Filed: 16 October 1953 In the name of: Harry C Chamberlin (inventor) Title: Magnetic Tape Sound Reproducing Musical Instrument What’s claimed: “In a sound reproducing device: a plurality of sound pickup heads; a plurality of record tapes each having a sound track thereon; power driven means for moving said tapes forwardly so that the sound tracks thereof will move relative to said pickup heads; control means for effecting operation of said power driven means to move said tapes forwardly, said control means including a plurality” of keys adapted to be respectively actuated when reproduction of […]

Rockin’ Design Patent: US Design Patent No. D798,377 Filed: 30 March 2016 In the name of: Soundbrenner Ltd Title: Metronome What’s claimed: “I claim the ornamental design for a metronome, as shown and described.” Why this design patent rocks: This design patent appears to relate to the Soundbrenner Pulse, a metronome watch that transmits a vibrating pulse in a BPM that the user can configure. The user can feel the tempo and play in synch with other musicians. For more information, see here. If you’re a patent-savvy music tech business looking for patent help, get in touch with Russell IP here! The […]

Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 3,524,365 Filed: 4 April 1968 In the name of: Moviecol Enterprises Ltd Title: Electronic Musical Instruments Played By Means Of A Stylus What’s claimed: “An electronic musical instrument comprising: an electronic oscillator for producing different musical frequencies, means for audibly reproducing said frequencies as musical notes, a plurality of exposed fixed electrically conducting contacts representing said different musical notes and connected to said electronic oscillator, at least one note selecting contact member adapted to be manually manipulated and including an electrical contact portion, a flexible electrically conducting lead connected between said electrical contact portion and said […]

Rockin’ Design Patent: US Design Patent No. D620,043 Filed: 13 October 2009 In the name of: Eigenlabs Ltd Title: Electronic Musical Instrument What’s claimed: “The ornamental design for an electronic musical instrument, as shown and described.” Why this design patent rocks: This appears to be one of several design patents that relate to Eigenlabs Ltd’s Eigenharp expressive electronic instrument. There are three models: Alpha, Tau, and Pico.  Each model has a stick-like vertical form, a breath-pipe, a matrix of velocity sensitive multi-expressive keys  (120, 72, and 18), a ribbon controller and a built-in wind controller. For a detailed take on the […]

Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 1,614,984 Filed: 5 May 1925 In the name of: Josef Hofmann Title: Recorder for Musical Dynamics What’s claimed: “The combination for a key-operated master musical instrument; mechanism associated with and movable by the depression of a key or the depression of a number of keys thereof according to the touch, and movable in accordance with the touch the same extent with respect to any key, means to multiply said movement, and devices operated by said means for expression recording instrumentalities.” Why this patent rocks: This patent appears to relate to Josef Hofmann’s device to record dynamics […]

Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 2,195,992 Filed: 6 May 1939 In the name of: Waterbury Button Co Title: Ocarina What’s claimed: “In an ocarina, a pair of interfitted complementary hollow halves, each half having a complementary mouthpiece portion, one of said mouthpiece portions having longitudinal groove formed therein, and the other mouthpiece portion having a longitudinal rib adapted to fit tightly within the sides of said groove and in slightly spaced relation from the opposing wall of said groove to provide an air blowing passage.” Why this patent rocks: This appears to be one of the many early patents that relate […]

Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 2,562,429 Filed: 23 May 1947 In the name of: Georges Jenny (inventor) Title: Cathodic Coupling Oscillator For Electronic Music Instruments What’s claimed: “In an electronic music instrument in combination, an oscillatory vacuum tube system tuned to audio frequency; said system including a first and a second triode element each including a cathode, a grid, and an anode; an electrical connection between said cathodes; an electrical connection between the grid of said first element and ground; a variable resistance connected between the grid of said second element and ground; and a condenser connecting the grid of said […]

Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 2,871,745 Filed: 20 December 1956 In the name of: Raymond Scott (inventor) Title: Keyboard Operated Electrical Musical Instrument What’s claimed: “A musical instrument comprising loudspeaker means for emitting an audible note, an oscillator of controllable frequency connected to energize said loudspeaker means for producing said note, said oscillator comprising a terminal for controlling the frequency of oscillation of said oscillator by variation of the capacitance to ground of said terminal, a fixed control electrode connected to said terminal, a movable grounded electrode cooperating with said control electrode for varying the pitch of said note by changes […]