Music – Instruments – Stringed
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-10
2001-11-13
Hsieh, Shih-Yung (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Stringed
C084S421000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06316706
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to stands, and more particularly relates to entertainer stands for mounting musical items such as music, microphones, and instruments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Entertainers tour this country playing on successive nights in locations that may be in the next city or across the country. When this is the case, stage equipment is packaged every evening, transported and unpacked every day. In the case of stands, such as those for microphones or music, it has been found advantageous to provide stands which may quickly and easily be disassembled and re-assembled. For example, Michaelson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,541 discloses a microphone stand providing quick assembly and disassembly. It has also been found advantageous to provide music, microphones or instrument stands which are capable of being reduced in size for easier transportation. Such devices which accomplish this goal are typically collapsible or foldable to provide a more compact configuration for transport. For example, Kuo, U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,032 discloses a foldable stand assembly for microphones. Similarly, Liao, U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,735 discloses a folding guitar stand.
While these devices maybe folded down and/or quickly assembled and disassembled, they are generally limited to very specific purposes. Thus an entertainer or group of entertainers who utilize numerous instrument stands, music stands and microphone stands, a large amount of equipment is still required to be assembled and disassembled, and transported every evening. Additionally, too many stands can often interfere with each other. For example, when two or more musicians or singers are attempting to share a single piece of sheet music, the entertainers and/or their instruments may interfere with one another. If the entertainers attempt to prevent interference, the entertainers may not have a good view of the music or the audience may not have a good view of each entertainer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the above, it is a general aim of the present invention to provide a stand assembly which can simultaneously perform multiple functions. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose entertainer stand which can act as an instrument stand, a music stand, as well as a microphone stand.
In that regard, it is also an object of the present invention to provide an entertainer stand capable of supporting numerous microphones which are each independently and uniquely adjustable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose entertainer stand accomplishing the above objectives while also capable of folding and collapsing into a compact configuration that is ideal for storage and transportation of the stand. It is a related object to provide quick-release couplings for connecting the various components of the stand in a manner that is quickly and easily assembled and disassembled.
In one embodiment of the invention, an entertainer stand comprises a central mast and a base, the base having a hub and a plurality of legs pivotally attached to the hub for supporting the stand. The hub is connected to the central mast and is vertically adjustable along the central mast. A main body is connected to the central mast and is vertically adjustable along the central mast. A pivot body is pivotally attached to the main body for supporting a microphone, the microphone being vertically adjustable by rotating the pivot body relative to the main body. A music easel is pivotally attached to the central mast for displaying sheet music. Preferably, the base's hub and the music easel are vertically adjustable along the central mast.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an instrument stand is provided. The plurality of legs include a first leg and a second leg, the first and second legs each including a foot pivotally connected thereto. The feet generally have a hook shape and are sized and spaced to receive the base of a guitar between the feet. A generally U-shaped neck is attached to the central support for supporting the guitar, the neck cooperating with the feet to provide support for a guitar. Preferably the neck is vertically adjustable along the central mast.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a microphone stand is provided. Preferably, a plurality of microphones are connected to the central mast and are independently usable and adjustable such that a plurality of entertainers may utilize the entertainer's stand. In one embodiment, a plurality of main bodies are connected to the central mast, the main bodies being vertically adjustable along the central mast and rotatably adjustable about the central mast. A plurality of pivot bodies are pivotally attached to the main bodies for supporting of plurality of microphones. The microphones are thus independently adjustable vertically as well as rotationally about both the central mast and the main body. In another embodiment of the invention, a single main body is connected to the central mast, the main body being vertically adjustable along the central mast and rotatably adjustable about the central mast. A plurality of pivot bodies are pivotally attached to the main body for supporting a plurality of microphones, the microphones being adjustable by rotating the pivot bodies relative to the main body. In a more detailed aspect of this embodiment, a plurality of risers are pivotally connected to the plurality of pivot bodies, the plurality of risers supporting the plurality of microphones. The microphones are thus independently adjustable both vertically and laterally by virtue of their connection to the central mast.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the entertainer stand may be quickly and easily folded down into a compact configuration. The plurality of legs are permitted to pivot about the hub to a position generally parallel with the central mast. The hub is vertically adjustable relative to the mast. The pivot body is pivotally attached to the main body for rotation to a position generally parallel with the central mast, the main body also being vertically adjustable along the mast. The music easel is foldable and vertically adjustable along the mast. In combination with the use of quick-release locking mechanisms, the entertainer stand may be quickly folded down into a compact configuration that is ideal for transportation and storage.
Other objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5744735 (1998-04-01), Liao
patent: 5799919 (1998-09-01), Orr
patent: 5893541 (1999-04-01), Michaelson
patent: 6007032 (1999-12-01), Kuo
patent: 6036159 (2000-03-01), Yu
Eight (8) pages from the 1999 Ultimate Support Product Catalog.
Hsieh Shih-yung
Leydig Voit & Mayer Ltd
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