US20090023356A1 - Smoke Effects Generator For A Musical Instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

An effects generator for a musical instrument, such as an acoustic electric guitar, is disclosed. Such a musical instrument is of the type having a body with at least one internal cavity and at least one sound-producing string. The effects generator comprises a smoke generator that includes a heating wire, a receptacle for holding a quantity of a smoke-producing compound, and a receptacle holder disposed within the at least one cavity of the instrument. A battery is selectively electrically connected to the heating wire of the smoke generator. As such, the heating wire heats the smoke-producing compound to produce smoke emanating from the at least one internal cavity of the instrument. Preferably a switch is electrically disposed between the power source and the heating wire. The body may further includes an aperture opening into the at least one cavity therein, proximate to the receptacle holder, such than an empty receptacle may be replaced easily by grasping the empty receptacle through the aperture and replacing the empty receptacle with a receptacle full of the smoke-producing compound.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
• Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• This invention relates to musical instruments, and more particularly to a smoking effect apparatus for use in a guitar.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
• It is well known that during musical performances, special effects such as lighting, smoke, confetti, and the like can add tremendously to the overall experience. Many prior art devices exist for producing such effects at concerts or live events, for example. Most of these devices, however, are concerned with effects that occur away from the performers themselves. For example, confetti cannons are typically pointed away from the performers and towards the audience, and are typically fired remotely by the lighting director or other manager, not by the performers themselves.
• Other prior art devices are directed towards allowing the performer to dictate the actuation and timing of effects by combining an effects module and a musical instrument. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,283 to Vidas on Jan. 27, 1981 teaches a special effects device that allows the performer to control the emission of a flame from the open end of the trumpet.
• US Patent Application 2005/0172785 to Fisher-Robbins et al. on Aug. 11, 2005 teaches an electric lighting effect device for inclusion inside a cavity in the body of a guitar. Such a device requires a transparent cover so that the lighting effects produced are visible by the audience. When actuated, colored lighting effects are produced under the hands of the guitarist, adding a visual dimension to the guitarist's performance.
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,717 to Wolf on May 3, 1988 teaches a smoke generator for a toy. Such a device utilizes a heated oil-soaked wick to produce an intermittent smoking effect with a blower. Such a device, however, eventually exhausts its supply of oil in the wick, providing less and less smoke as the device is used. Such a wick is not easily replaced.
• None of these devices teaches an effect for producing smoke from the area of the strings of a musical instrument. Further, none of these prior art devices teaches a system that allows for the subtle actuation of the device without the use of the performer's hands. None of these devices provides for easy replacement of a smoke-producing compound.
• Therefore, there is a need for such an effects device. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present device is an effects generator for a musical instrument, such as an acoustic guitar, electric guitar, or the like. Such a musical instrument is of the type having a body with at least one internal cavity and at least one sound-producing string.
• The effects generator comprises a smoke generator that includes a heating wire, a receptacle for holding a quantity of a smoke-producing compound, and a receptacle holder disposed within the at least one cavity of the instrument. A power source, such as a battery, is selectively electrically connected to the heating wire of the smoke generator, SO as to heat the heating wire. As such, the heating wire heats the smoke-producing compound to produce smoke emanating from the at least one internal cavity of the instrument.
• Preferably a switch is electrically disposed between the power source and the heating wire. The switch may be mounted to the body of the musical instrument, such that upon actuation of the switch, during playing of the instrument, for example, the power source is electrically connected to the heating wire of the smoke generator. The switch preferably includes an actuator that protrudes at least partially out of the body of the musical instrument.
• The body may further include an aperture opening into the at least one cavity therein, proximate to the receptacle holder, such than an empty receptacle may be replaced easily by grasping the empty receptacle through the aperture and replacing the empty receptacle with a receptacle full of the smoke-producing compound.
• The effects generator may be installed in an existing musical instrument, or manufactured as original equipment in a new musical instrument. When installed in an existing musical instrument, a suitable cavity of the instrument may be selected, or formed into the body of the instrument such as by routing or milling.
• The present device allows the performer to either to activate the device subtly, without the use of his hands, while playing, or by hand if the switch is located on the front surface of the body. Smoke is produced from the area of the strings of a musical instrument, providing a new visual dimension to the performer's performance. Further, the smoke-producing compound of the invention is easily replaced when exhausted, as is the battery that powers the device. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a musical instrument with the invention installed therein;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of electrical components of the invention; and
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rear surface of a musical instrument with the invention installed therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• FIG. 1 illustrates aneffects generator10 for amusical instrument20, such as an acoustic electric guitar, an electric guitar, a bass guitar, a violin, a bass, a cello, a banjo, a mandolin, an acoustic guitar, or the like. Such amusical instrument20 is of the type having abody30 with at least oneinternal cavity40 and at least one sound-producingstring50.
• Theeffects generator10 comprises asmoke generator60 that includes aheating wire70, areceptacle80 for holding a quantity of a smoke-producing compound90 (FIG. 2), and areceptacle holder100 disposed within the at least onecavity40 of theinstrument20. Thereceptacle holder100 is fixed to thebody30 within the at least onecavity40, such as by a mechanical fastener (not shown) such as at least one screw, adhesive, or the like.
• Apower source110, such as a battery, is selectively electrically connected to theheating wire70 of the smoke generator60 (FIG. 2), so as to heat theheating wire70. As such, theheating wire70 heats the smoke-producingcompound90 to producesmoke95 emanating from the at least oneinternal cavity40 of the instrument20 (FIG. 1). Acover25 may be used to substantially close the at least oneinternal cavity40, the cover either including at least oneaperture28 such that smoke may pass therethrough, or being offset slightly above thebody30 of theinstrument20 with spacers (not shown) such that smoke may pass around thecover25.
• Preferably aswitch120 is electrically disposed between thepower source110 and theheating wire70. Theswitch120 may be mounted to thebody30 of themusical instrument20, such that upon actuation of theswitch120 thepower source110 is electrically connected to theheating wire70 of thesmoke generator60. Theswitch120 preferably includes anactuator125 that protrudes at least partially out of thebody30 of themusical instrument20, such as through afront surface39, a rear surface38 (FIG. 3), or aside surface37 thereof. With themusical instrument20 being a guitar, having theactuator125 protrude through thefront surface39 of theinstrument20 is preferred as such positioning is less likely to be inadvertently actuated during play. On the other hand, with theaperture125 protruding through therear surface38, the performer may subtly actuate thedevice10 with his leg, for example, while playing theinstrument20 with both hands. Thus, the placement of theswitch120 is flexible, and may be determined by the performer. Moreover,other instruments20 may have different preferredswitch120 placement, depending upon how they're positioned with respect to the performer during play.
• Thebody30 may further includes anaperture35 opening into the at least onecavity40 therein, proximate to thereceptacle holder100, such than anempty receptacle80 may be replaced easily by grasping theempty receptacle80 through theaperture35 and replacing theempty receptacle80 with areceptacle80 full of the smoke-producingcompound90. InFIG. 3, theaperture35 is shown in therear surface38 of the instrument. However, theaperture35 may be also formed into thefront surface39 or theside surface37 of the instrument, depending upon preference and the type ofinstrument20 being used with theeffects generator10.
• Theeffects generator10 may be installed in an existingmusical instrument20, or manufactured as original equipment in a newmusical instrument20. When installed in an existing musical instrument, asuitable cavity40 of theinstrument20 may be selected, or formed into thebody30 of the instrument such as by routing or milling.Many instruments20 have at least onesuitable cavity40 therein, however. Further, theaperture35 may be added to thebody30 so as to provide access to thereceptacle80 of smoke-producingcompound90. In a newly manufactured instrument, thecavity40 may be formed into thebody30 of the instrument during manufacturing and specifically for holding theeffects generator10.
• While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the exact placement of theswitch120, theaperture35 in thebody30 of theinstrument20, and thecavity40 into which theeffects generator10 may be installed may all be modified. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. An effects generator for a musical instrument having a body with at least one internal cavity and at least one string, the effects generator comprising:

a smoke generator comprising a heating wire, a receptacle for holding a quantity of a smoke-producing compound, and a receptacle holder disposed within the at least one cavity and fixed to the body therein;

a power source selectively electrically connected to the heating wire and adapted to heat the heating wire;

whereby when the power source is electrically connected to the heating wire, the heating wire heats the smoke-producing compound to produce smoke emanating from the at least one internal cavity of the musical instrument.

2. The effects generator ofclaim 1 further including a switch electrically disposed between the power source and the heating wire, the switch mounted to the body of the musical instrument, whereby upon actuation of the switch the power source is electrically connected to the heating wire of the smoke generator.

3. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the musical instrument is an acoustic electric guitar.

4. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the musical instrument is a bass guitar.

5. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the musical instrument is a violin.

6. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the musical instrument is a bass.

7. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the musical instrument is a cello.

8. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the musical instrument is a banjo.

9. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the musical instrument is a mandolin.

10. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the musical instrument is an acoustic guitar.

11. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the musical instrument is an electric guitar.

12. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the switch includes an actuator that protrudes at least partially out of the body of the musical instrument.

13. The effects generator ofclaim 1 wherein the cavity includes an aperture therein proximate to the receptacle holder, whereby an empty receptacle may be replaced easily by grasping the empty receptacle through the aperture and replacing same with a full receptacle.

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