Patents

There’s so much to write about patents, and they’ll surely be the topic of future blog posts! (How to use provisional patents to safely and cheaply publish new innovations, Patents vs. Trade Secrets — pros and cons of each, USPTO: Hero or villain?, Do you need a Patent Attorney?, “Trademark” vs. “Copyright”, NDAs — do you need them?, and the list goes on! (jotting these down in the “notes to self” department for future blog posts!)

Our policy at Saddle Rider is fairly simple: All our novel designs are protected for the first year with a provisional patent. After that, we file utility patent applications on some, and rely on U.S. trademark laws for others. We welcome innovation, and provide free Creative Commons licensing for most of our products to individual luthiers and educators who inquire about expanding on our research and designs. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a design partner.

Below is language from our old website about the original patent on our adjustable saddle (the namesake “Saddle Rider Tone Adjuster.”)

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The Saddle Rider Tone and Playing Response Adjuster for violin, viola, cello, and double bass has recently received United Sates patent approval for the fulcrum “Saddle Rider” design, the L and T-nut mounting assemblies, as well as any integrated approach that builds these principles directly into a stringed instrument. International patents are pending, and the full documentation, including drawings and mechanical specifications, have recently been published here at the USPTO.

That said, we would be honored if luthiers of fine handmade instruments use our patented design in limited production instruments. If needed, we would be happy to provide custom-made bolts, fittings, and/or recommendations about the materials that work best in constructing adjustable saddles using the Saddle Rider principles. In the event that a luthier suggests an improvement to our design that we incorporate, we will be delighted, and will reciprocate by providing a free, fully functional, prototype of the improved design to the person who makes the suggestion.

Before using this design, we simply ask that you give us a “heads up” about what you are doing, and request that you reference the Saddle Rider brand on your website to help us generate business that will support the development of new products.

Thank you for your consideration!

Saddle Rider Music LLC