Stringed instrument fretboard for use with light-system

Abstract

A fingerboard (or fretboard) for use with a stringed instrument and light-system is disclosed and has a bottom surface adapted to mate or be attached to a neck of the instrument, and has wells extending from the bottom surface toward, but not through, a top surface. The wells are sized to receive a light-emitting device, such as LEDs, and are positioned along the fingerboard according to finger positions of the instrument. Illumination from the light-emitting devices is visible to a player of the instrument, however, when the devices are not illuminated, the fingerboard appears substantially as one made without the wells. The structure is useful for learning to play the instrument, while not appearing as a learning device.

1 . A fingerboard for a stringed instrument comprising:
 an elongated structure having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface sized to be disposed on an upper surface of a neck base of a stringed instrument, the top surface having at least one finger position; and   an opening in the bottom surface and a well extending therefrom toward, but not through, the top surface, the well sized to receive a concealed light-emitting device and having a height measured from the bottom surface to allow light from the light-emitting device to be visible to a player of the instrument, the opening disposed at a location designating the finger position on the top surface, wherein the top surface appears substantially opaque.   
     
     
         2 . The fingerboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of frets disposed along the top surface, each fret designating one or more finger positions. 
     
     
         3 . The fingerboard of  claim 2 , further comprising grooves disposed along the top surface of the fingerboard, each groove adapted to receive a fret. 
     
     
         4 . The fingerboard of  claim 2 , further comprising nut assemblies, each assembly adapted to secure a fret to the top surface of the fingerboard. 
     
     
         5 . The fingerboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a circuit board, wherein the circuit board has a plurality of light-emitting devices, and each light-emitting device is positioned on the circuit board to be received by a corresponding well in the bottom surface of the fingerboard. 
     
     
         6 . The fingerboard of  claim 5 , wherein the bottom surface of the fingerboard is attached to the circuit board. 
     
     
         7 . The fingerboard of  claim 6 , further comprising a recessed area disposed on the bottom surface, the recessed area sized to receive the circuit board. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The fingerboard of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerboard is composed of a polymer material. 
     
     
         10 . The fingerboard of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer material is a polycarbonate. 
     
     
         11 . The fingerboard of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerboard comprises a single piece structure. 
     
     
         12 . The fingerboard of  claim 11 , wherein the fingerboard is injection molded. 
     
     
         13 . The fingerboard of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of material between a top of the well and the top surface is between approximately 0.01 inch and approximately 0.4 inch. 
     
     
         14 . The fingerboard of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of material between a top of the well and the top surface is between approximately 0.05 and approximately 0.1 inch. 
     
     
         15 . A neck assembly for a stringed instrument comprising:
 an elongated neck structure having a head end and a body end, the body end adapted to mate with a body of a stringed instrument, and the structure having an upper surface adapted to mate with a fingerboard;   an elongated fingerboard structure having a substantially opaque top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface sized to be disposed on an upper surface of the neck, the top surface having at least one finger position; and   a plurality of wells formed in the bottom surface of the fingerboard, wherein each of the plurality of wells extends toward, but not through, the top surface, and each of the plurality of wells is positioned and sized to receive a concealed light-emitting device and has a height measured from the bottom surface to allow light from the concealed light-emitting device to be visible to a player of the instrument, wherein the plurality of wells are disposed at locations designating the at least one finger position on the top surface.   
     
     
         16 . The neck assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a circuit board disposed between the neck structure and the fingerboard structure, the circuit board having a plurality of light-emitting devices disposed thereon and each corresponding to a well on the bottom surface of the fingerboard. 
     
     
         17 . The neck assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the fingerboard further comprises a recessed area along the bottom surface configured to receive the circuit board. 
     
     
         18 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A learning tool for learning to play a stringed instrument comprising:
 a fingerboard disposed on a neck base of a stringed instrument, the fingerboard having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface sized to be disposed on an upper surface of the neck base, the top surface having at least one finger position and appearing substantially opaque;   an opening in the bottom surface of the fingerboard and a well extending therefrom toward, but not through, the top surface, the well sized to receive a concealed light-emitting device and having a height measured from the bottom surface to allow light emitted from the concealed light-emitting device to be visible to a player of the instrument and the concealed light-emitting device to be substantially hidden from the player when not illuminated, the opening disposed at a location designating the at least one finger position on the top surface; and   the concealed light-emitting device coupled to a light-system that illuminates the concealed light-emitting device according to a musical note or chord.   
     
     
         28 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The neck assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the top surface of the fingerboard structure is generally curved. 
     
     
         42 . The neck assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the circuit board appears substantially similar to the fingerboard structure. 
     
     
         43 . The neck assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the circuit board is glued to the neck structure and the fingerboard structure.