1. A stringed musical instrument, comprising:
a composite string comprising a first elongate segment and a second e1ongate segment joined end-to-end, the second segment being more pliable in bending than the first segment;
a string mounting system, the mounting system having a pivot member; and
at least one vibration separator, a mount zone being defined on one side of the separator, a playing zone defined on the opposite side of the separator, and the composite string is drawn across the vibration separator;
wherein the second segment is at least partially wrapped about the pivot member so that the direction of the composite string changes at the pivot; and
wherein the vibration separator is configured so that string vibrations are substantially blocked from being communicated across the separator.
2. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 1, wherein the pivot member is disposed in the mount zone.
3. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 2, wherein the first segment extends through the playing zone, and the second segment is disposed in the mount zone.
4. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 3, wherein the pivot member comprises a tuning knob.
5. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 3, wherein the pivot member comprises a pulley.
6. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 5, wherein the second segment is joined end-to-end in the mount zone with a third elongate string segment, and the third segment extends through the playing zone, and the second segment is more pliable in bending than is the third segment.
7. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 6, wherein the first segment communicates with an anchor, and the third segment communicates with a tensioner, wherein tension in the first and third segments is substantially the same.
8. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 7, wherein substantially no tension in the composite string is applied to bending the second segment about the pulley.
9. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 8, wherein each of the first and third string segments is configured to emit a musical note when vibrating at its corresponding harmonic frequency, and the emitted notes of the respective string segments differ in accordance with a relative tuning pattern.
10. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 6 additionally comprising a second mount zone defined on a side of the playing zone opposite the first mount zone, a second pulley being arranged in the second mount zone, and a fourth segment is attached end-to-end to the first segment in the second mount zone, wherein the fourth segment is at least partially wrapped about the second pulley.
11. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 10, wherein the composite string is arranged in a continuous loop.
12. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 11, wherein at least one of the pulleys is linearly movable, and moving the movable pulley a predetermined linear distance changes the tension in the composite string.
13. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 3, wherein the first and second segments are formed separately from one another.
14. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 3, wherein the second segment has a width and a thickness, and the width is greater than the thickness.
15. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 14, wherein the second segment comprises a plurality of longitudinally-extending filaments.
16. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 14, wherein the first and second segments are formed separately from one another and are selectively detachable from one another.
17. A stringed musical instrument, comprising:
a composite string comprising a first elongate segment and a second elongate segment joined end-to-end, the first and second segments being formed separately from one another and being selectively detachable from one another, the second segment being more pliable in bending than the first segment; and
a string mounting system, the mounting system having a pivot member;
wherein the second segment is at least partially wrapped about the pivot member so that the direction of the composite string changes at the pivot.
18. A stringed musical instrument, comprising:
a composite string comprising a first elongate segment and a second elongate segment joined end-to-end, the first and second segments being formed separately from one another, the second segment having a width and a thickness, the width is being greater than the thickness, the second segment being more pliable in bending than the first segment; and
a string mounting system, the mounting system having a pivot member;
wherein the second segment is at least partially wrapped about the pivot member so that the direction of the composite string changes at the pivot.
19. A stringed musical instrument, comprising:
a composite string comprising a first elongate segment and a second elongate segment joined end-to-end, the first and second segments being formed separately from one another, the second segment comprising a plurality of longitudinally-extending filaments and being more pliable in bending than the first segment; and
a sting mounting system, the mounting system having a pivot member;
wherein the second segment is at least partially wrapped about the pivot member so that the direction of the composite string changes at the pivot.
20. A stringed musical instrument, comprising:
a composite string comprising a plurality of musical string segments and a plurality of bending string segments, a bending segment being interposed between adjacent musical segments;
a string mounting system having a plurality of pivots, the composite string at least partially wrapped about the pivots so that a direction of the composite string changes at each pivot, the mounting system configured so that the bending segments engage the pivots and the musical segments do not engage the pivots;
wherein each musical string segment has a harmonic frequency corresponding to a string tension and a string length so that vibration of the musical string segment at the harmonic frequency emits sound at a corresponding musical note;
wherein each bending segment is more pliable in bending than the adjacent musical segments;
wherein the string mounting system is configured to hold each string segment at a desired tension so that the plurality of musical string segments are tuned so that each of the musical segments emits a different musical note in accordance with a relative tuning pattern when the composite string is held at a tension; and
a string tension adjustment system configured to simultaneously change the tension of each of the plurality of string segments in a manner so that the emitted musical notes of the musical string segments change with the changing tension, but the relative tuning pattern of the notes emitted by the respective musical string segments remains substantially the same.
21. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 20, wherein the tension adjustment system is configured so that actuation of the adjustment system changes the tension in one of the segments to a greater degree than in another of the segments.
22. A stringed musical instrument as in claim 21, wherein the musical instrument comprises at least two groups of string segments, each group comprising at least two segments, wherein the string segments within each group maintain substantially the same proportional tension relationship.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A shower system that is attachable to a shower head, the shower head comprising an input interface for receiving a fluid flow from a water source and an output interface for delivering the fluid flow to the user, the personal hygiene system comprising:
a connector comprising:
a connector housing comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway extending therebetween, wherein the connector inlet is configured to receive a fluid flow directly from the output interface of the shower head and is configured to deliver the fluid into the passageway;
wherein the inlet comprises a threaded shaft for threadedly connecting the connector housing to the output interface of the shower head;
a valve positioned within the passageway of the connector housing and movable between a first position and a second position, the valve comprising at least one aperture to allow the flow of fluid out of the outlet of the connector housing;
a valve seat positioned within the passageway to position the valve within the passageway when the valve is in the first position;
an attachment device comprising a first open end and a second open end, wherein the first open end further comprises at least one radial opening, wherein the first open end is attachable to the outlet of the connector housing for receiving the flow of fluid so as to move the valve to the second position to allow fluid to flow around the valve and into the at least one radial opening;
a flexible fluid conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the second open end of the attachment device to receive the fluid flow from the shower head;
a douching applicator that is removably coupled to the distal end of the fluid conduit for directing the fluid flow to a target area;
a non-douching applicator that is configured to be removably coupled to the distal end of the fluid conduit; and
a package for storing the connector, flexible fluid conduit, the douching applicator and the non-douching applicator.
2. The shower system of claim 1, wherein the attachment device is removably attachable to the connector housing.
3. The shower system of claim 1 wherein removal of the attachment device allows fluid flow to exit the outlet of the housing only through the at least one aperture in the valve.
4. The shower system of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit is threadedly, adhesively, snap fit, pressure fit, or taper fit to the attachment device.
5. The shower system of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a contoured wafer valve comprising a plurality of openings for regulating flow of the fluid through the fluid conduit.
6. The shower system of claim 1 wherein the non-douching applicator comprises a brush.
7. The shower system of claim 6 wherein the brush comprises a handle coupled to a head that comprises a cleaning element,
wherein the head comprises one or more openings adjacent the cleaning element that is in fluid communication with a fluid lumen that extends from a proximal end of the handle, wherein the fluid lumen in the handle is coupleable to the fluid conduit to receive the fluid flow from the shower head.
8. The shower system of claim 7 wherein the brush comprises a soap chamber in communication with the fluid lumen.
9. The shower system of claim 7 wherein the cleaning element is removably coupled to the head.
10. The shower system of claim 6 wherein the brush comprises a handle coupled to a head that comprises a bristles:
wherein the head comprises one or more openings adjacent the bristles that are in fluid communication with a fluid lumen that extends from a proximal end of the handle, wherein the fluid lumen in the handle is coupleable to the fluid conduit.
11. The shower system of claim 10 wherein the brush comprises a soap chamber in communication with the fluid lumen.
12. The shower system of claim 1 wherein the non-douching applicator comprises a body coupled to a luffa sponge,
wherein the body comprises a lumen that comprises a first opening for receiving a fluid flow from the flexible conduit, and a second opening for delivering the fluid flow through pores in the luffa sponge.
13. The shower system of claim 1 wherein the non-douching applicator comprises a water toothpick or a water toothbrush.
14. A method of using a shower system, the method comprising:
providing a shower head comprising an input interface for receiving a fluid flow from a water source and an output interface for delivering the fluid flow to the user;
coupling a connector housing comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway extending therebetween, wherein the connector housing inlet is configured to receive a fluid flow directly from the output interface of the shower head and is configured to deliver the fluid out of the outlet;
coupling a first end of a flexible fluid conduit to the outlet of the connector housing;
removably attaching a first applicator to a second end of the flexible fluid conduit to receive a fluid flow from the flexible fluid conduit;
delivering a fluid flow from the shower head through the connector housing, flexible fluid conduit and the first applicator to deliver the fluid flow to a target area;
stopping the fluid flow;
replacing the first applicator with a second, different applicator; and
delivering a fluid flow through the connector housing, flexible fluid conduit and the second applicator.
15. The method of claim 21 wherein coupling a connector housing comprises threadedly connecting the connector housing to the output interface of the shower head.
16. The method of claim 21 wherein one of the first and second applicators is a douching applicator.
17. The method of claim 21 wherein the first and second applicators are a douching applicator, a water toothpick, a water toothbrush, a brush, a luffa sponge.
18. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one of the first and second applicators comprise a chamber for receiving a soap or cleaning agent.
19. A shower system comprising:
a connector that comprises a threaded shaft, wherein the threaded shaft is configured to be received by an output interface of a shower head;
a flexible fluid conduit that is coupleable to the connector to receive a fluid flow from the shower head; and
a plurality of different applicators that are configured to be removably attached to the flexible fluid conduit.
20. The shower system of claim 26 wherein the plurality of different applicators comprise a douching applicator and a non-douching applicator.
21. The shower system of claim 26 wherein the non-douching applicator comprises a water toothbrush, a water toothpick, a brush or a luffa sponge.