Supports: racks – Special article – Musical instrument
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-22
2001-01-30
Gibson, Jr., Robert W. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Musical instrument
C211S087010, C211SDIG001, C084S327000, C248S309100, C248S206500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179135
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to stands, clips and other supports for holding a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, when not being played, to protect the instrument against falling and resulting damage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Stringed instruments, such as guitars, are fragile and must be protected against damage when not in use. Often, it is not convenient to return the instrument to an enclosing case during break in playing and the like. Also, a musician may use several different instruments, switching between them during a performance.
A number of different stands, clamps, etc., have been developed to support a stringed instrument when not in use. They tend to provide insufficient support for the instrument and to be large and complex and difficult to store and transport.
Typical of the prior art supports is the stand described by Broersma et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,073. A flat sheet of plastic material having recesses for receiving a stringed instrument neck and a weighted extension for placing on an adjacent amplifier. The recesses, however, do not retain the neck against being jarred from the recess and falling to the floor if the instrument or amplifier is bumped. Further, simply relying on the weight of the stand to keep it from sliding off of the amplifier if the amplifier or stand is bumped is not satisfactory.
Caudill, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,633 describes a claw-like receiver for a stringed instrument neck, with the receiver mounted on a large clamp mechanism that extends entirely across the top of an amplifier or speaker. The arms of the receiver must be pushed apart to receive wide instrument necks and, if inadvertently releases during neck insertion or withdrawal could damage the neck or strings thereon. The clamping mechanism is large and cumbersome and would be difficult to store and transport when not in use. The clamping mechanism would only fit an amplifier and the like that have two opposite surfaces the necessary distance apart and that did not have controls or the like that would be covered by the large clamp.
Cuccio, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,688, describes a holder for stringed instruments that comprises a curved cradle against which the instrument is leaned. The cradle is mounted on a prong for insertion into an electrical receptacle jack. The shallow cradle would not protect the instrument in the case of a slight impact against either the instrument or the amplifier. Further the prong would require an unused jack of the required size and would be likely to rotate in the jack and allow the instrument to fall.
Smith, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,866, describes an elaborate, large and relatively heavy stand for a guitar having a U-shaped bracket from which the guitar is hung, mounted on a wide and long clamp mechanism extending from front to back across an amplifier or the like. The bracket will not protect the guitar against a bump in the direction of the U-shaped opening. Since the guitar is suspended, falling from the bracket could cause significant damage. The entire assembly is very large and would be very inconvenient to store and transport. Further, the bracket may cover or obstruct controls on many amplifiers.
Harkey, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,809, describes a simple U-shaped bracket for supporting the neck of a stringed musical instrument, with the bracket mounted on a clamp mechanism that extends across the upper surface of an amplifier, with the clamp held in place by spring forces. Any slight impact against the neck of the instrument in the direction of the bracket opening would cause the instrument to fall and possibly be damaged. The clamping device is large and would be difficult to store between uses and may obstruct amplifier controls.
Thus, there is a continuing need for improved devices for supporting stringed instruments, such as guitars, when not being played, that provide protection against the instrument falling out of the device, that are quickly and easily connected to a support structure such as an amplifier, that provide a firm connection to the support that will resist being knocked loose by inadvertent contact, and that are small and compact so as to be storable and transportable in the instrument case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-noted problems, and others, are overcome by the support device of this invention that basically comprises a member having opposed surfaces, means for mounting the device on a support structure, such as an amplifier or speaker, with an end extending away from the support structure having at least one of the surfaces horizontal and an opening extending into a side of the device.
The opening has an entrance into an area preferably having a generally straight side towards the end of the device, with a short finger extending into the entrance, a short straight ramp narrowing the entrance opposite the finger and a curved (optimally elliptical) surface opposite the straight side.
In one embodiment, a plurality of openings are provided along the length of the member spaced so that a corresponding plurality of stringed instruments can be supported. The openings are formed in an elongated member secured to a base. The base may be secured to a wall or the like by fasteners, such as screws, bolts or the like, to semi-permanently secure the base and member to a wall or the like with all of the openings horizontal. The member may be formed of any suitable material, including wood, molded plastic, non-magnetic metal, etc. For light weight and excellent appearance, wood is preferred.
In a second embodiment, the member has a single opening at one end and a base at the other end. High strength permanent magnets, preferably neodymium magnets, are secured to the base, preferably adhesively bonded within a pocket in the base. Preferably, an aperture between the base and the opening houses conventional batteries and electrical circuitry, with a lamp extending through the member at a predetermined location, with a manually operated switch on the member, to be operated to illuminate the member to aid in inserting or removing a stringed instruments where light levels are low. The batteries may be rechargeable and a connector may be mounted on the member for connection to a conventional recharger.
While the member of the second embodiment may be formed from any suitable material, such as a non-magnetic material, molded plastic and the like, aluminum is preferred for light weight, non-magnetic properties and ease of manufacture.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 97999 (1935-12-01), Hamilton
patent: D. 305083 (1989-12-01), White
patent: 350523 (1886-10-01), Bodley
patent: 944312 (1909-12-01), Brede
patent: 2772787 (1956-12-01), Lee
patent: 3765633 (1973-10-01), Caudill
patent: 4176580 (1979-12-01), Gallegos
patent: 4583647 (1986-04-01), Schinzing
patent: 5346073 (1994-09-01), Broersma et al.
patent: 5375497 (1994-12-01), Pirchio et al.
patent: 5488890 (1996-02-01), Biasini
Casillas Anthony A.
Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
Harms Donn K.
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