Ovation Guitar Top 1983 German Construction Patent
DE 3221219 A1
1983
Charles H. Kaman; C. William Kaman
US
Guitar soundboard construction (fiberglass-resin composite with integral reinforcing ribs)
14 drawings
German patent for a guitar top/soundboard made from a single molded plastic composite part (approx. 40% glass fiber, 60% synthetic resin). Features integral concentric circular reinforcing ribs around the sound hole and diverging straight ribs running lengthwise, plus an integral peripheral ledge and optional integral bridge. The composite construction provides consistent reproducible acoustic properties, high stiffness-to-weight ratio, and immunity to temperature and humidity changes compared to traditional wood soundboards. Filed in Germany on 4 June 1982 with US priority date 20 July 1981 (US 285070).