	US 12,230,233 B2
	Foldable stringed instrument
Jonathan Spangler, San Diego, CA (US); James Lee, Carlsbad, CA (US); and Philip Simpson, Escondido, CA (US)
Assigned to Ciari Guitars, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by Ciari Guitars, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/135,752.
Application 18/135,752 is a continuation of application No. 17/879,730, filed on Aug. 2, 2022, granted, now 11,631,386, issued on Apr. 18, 2023.
Application 17/879,730 is a continuation of application No. 17/075,616, filed on Oct. 20, 2020, granted, now 11,404,032, issued on Aug. 2, 2022.
Application 17/075,616 is a continuation of application No. 16/301,438, granted, now 10,810,974, issued on Oct. 20, 2020, previously published as PCT/US2016/048047, filed on Aug. 22, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/322,232, filed on Apr. 13, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0368753 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G10D 3/00 (2020.01); G10D 1/00 (2020.01); G10D 1/08 (2006.01); G10D 3/04 (2020.01); G10D 3/06 (2020.01); G10D 3/12 (2020.01); G10D 3/18 (2020.01)

CPC G10D 3/04 (2013.01) [G10D 1/00 (2013.01); G10D 1/08 (2013.01); G10D 3/00 (2013.01); G10D 3/06 (2013.01); G10D 3/12 (2013.01); G10D 3/18 (2013.01)]

19 Claims

1. A stringed instrument, comprising:

a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a string aperture configured to allow an instrument string to pass from a translating string anchor disposed within said body to said upper surface;

a neck assembly including an upper neck portion and a lower neck portion, said lower portion configured to be coupled to said body, said upper neck portion including a headstock; and

a handle coupled to said lower surface of said body configured to move said translating string anchor between a first location and a second location, said handle configured to be rotated to a first, locked position such that said translating string anchor is moved to said first location to enable said instrument string to be tuned to a first string tension level when said upper neck portion and said lower neck portion are positioned in an aligned state for play, and said handle configured to be rotated to a second, unlocked position such that said translating string anchor is moved to said second location to lower said instrument string to a second string tension level to enable said upper neck portion to be moveable relative to said lower neck portion.