United States Patent
US Patent 7276868: Carbon-fiber laminate musical instrument sound…
US 7276868 · granted 2007-10-02
Abstract
A soundboard for a hollow-body stringed instrument made of layers of carbon-fiber and resin material surrounding a core of one or more layers of constant-thickness plywood, veneer (thinly sliced wood) or paper. Additional shaped layers are provided to produce a desired pattern of stiffness in the soundboard. The soundboard may be tuned by attaching additional masses to a surface of the soundboard. A method of making and tuning the soundboard of the invention is provided.
| Patent Number | 7276868 |
|---|---|
| Title | Carbon-fiber laminate musical instrument sound board |
| Filed | 2005-03-29 |
| Granted | 2007-10-02 |
| Inventor(s) | Allred, III; Jimmie B. |
| CPC Classification | G10D 3/02, G10C 3/04 |
| Number of Claims | 40 |
Abstract
A soundboard for a hollow-body stringed instrument made of layers of carbon-fiber and resin material surrounding a core of one or more layers of constant-thickness plywood, veneer (thinly sliced wood) or paper. Additional shaped layers are provided to produce a desired pattern of stiffness in the soundboard. The soundboard may be tuned by attaching additional masses to a surface of the soundboard. A method of making and tuning the soundboard of the invention is provided.
Claim 1
Is allowable over the prior art for a method of making a musical instrument soundboard from carbon-fiber laminate material comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one layer ofcarbon fiber material with epoxy resin, for forming a face layer; b) laying the epoxy wetted material on a smooth surface; c) placing a core material over the wetted carbon fiber face layer (1); d) placing shaped additional layers of material on thecore material, to provide desired stiffness by building up a graduated thickness of the core in selected positions; e) wetting carbon fiber material forming a back layer; f) placing the back layer of epoxy wetted carbon fiber over the core material andadditional layers; g) applying a layer of peel-ply and/or release-ply-over the back layer; h) placing a "breather" layer over the back layer; i) encasing all of the layers in an airtight plastic bag; j) evacuating the air from the bag; k) allowingthe epoxy to cure; I) removing the bag; and m) separating the smooth surface and the peel-ply, release-ply and breather layers from the finished laminated sound board.
Claims
40 totalIs allowable over the prior art for a method of making a musical instrument soundboard from carbon-fiber laminate material comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one layer ofcarbon fiber material with epoxy resin, for forming a face layer; b) laying the epoxy wetted material on a smooth surface; c) placing a core material over the wetted carbon fiber face layer (1); d) placing shaped additional layers of material on thecore material, to provide desired stiffness by building up a graduated thickness of the core in selected positions; e) wetting carbon fiber material forming a back layer; f) placing the back layer of epoxy wetted carbon fiber over the core material andadditional layers; g) applying a layer of peel-ply and/or release-ply-over the back layer; h) placing a "breather" layer over the back layer; i) encasing all of the layers in an airtight plastic bag; j) evacuating the air from the bag; k) allowingthe epoxy to cure; I) removing the bag; and m) separating the smooth surface and the peel-ply, release-ply and breather layers from the finished laminated sound board.