Violin shoulder cradle

Details Violin shoulder cradle Violin shoulder cradle

2000-07-12

2001-08-21

Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)

Music

Instruments

Stringed

C084S280000, C084S281000, C084S029000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06278044

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention broadly concerns a shoulder cradle useful for violins, violas and similar stringed instruments intended for support on the shoulder of the musician. More particularly, it is concerned with a shoulder cradle which is provided with a stepped shoulder-engaging shelf and which maintains the instrument at the proper position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Violins produce tones when a bow is drawn across the strings, known as arco, or when the strings are finger-plucked (pizzacato). As used herein, the term “violin” is intended to include similar instruments such as violins of reduced size, such as half or three-quarter sized violins, and violas, where the instrument is typically positioned between the shoulder and chin of the musician. The violin produces a sympathetic vibration between the instrument's belly and back, which adds volume and resonance to the sound produced by the vibration of the strings. A chin rest is typically provided adjacent the tail piece between the belly of the violin body which provides a support between the musician's chin and the violin body.
Shoulder rests have sometimes been used between the violin body and the musician's shoulder. In the simplest form, the cushion includes a small fabric or elastic cushion which if held between the back of the violin body and the shoulder of the wearer. These shoulder rests help to support and cushion the violin against the shoulder of the wearer whereby the hard wooden back of the violin is separated from the musician's shoulder. However, they have lacked features which would inhibit the violin from slippage on the shoulder and which promote proper playing positions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are largely met by the violin shoulder cradle of the present invention. That is to say, the violin shoulder cradle hereof not only inhibits slippage and promotes the maintenance of the violin in the proper playing position, but is ergonomically configured for comfort and precise conformation to the shoulder of the musician.
Broadly speaking, the violin shoulder cradle hereof includes a base having instrument gripping legs and a shoulder rest which is stepped into a plurality of different shelves in order to better conform to the wearer's shoulder. The shoulder rest includes a relatively hard foundation which provides the stepped shelves, on which is preferably applied a relatively thin cushion. Most preferably, the cushion has a surface of a friction-promoting material such as velvet cloth or the like which resists slippage relative to the clothing of the wearer. The stepped shelves engage the bone structure of the musician's shoulder and clavicle, thereby providing levels of engagement in contrast to a surface without such stepped shelves which is prone to slippage.
Additionally, the arms of the base extend laterally to firmly grasp the instrument, thereby providing a solid and unitary platform to rest on the musician's shoulder. At least one of the legs is preferably adjustably coupled to the base to permit the musician to adjust the distance between the instrument and the shoulder rest to accommodate the physical size and playing position of the musician. The cradle will enable the musician to be more relax ed during performing, thereby accommodating a good technique and allowing the musician to comfortably play longer and better.


REFERENCES:
patent: 156613 (1874-11-01), White
patent: 217330 (1879-07-01), Bull
patent: 550386 (1895-11-01), Davis
patent: 576950 (1897-02-01), Coloney
patent: 5415070 (1995-05-01), Kaman
patent: 6031163 (2000-02-01), Cullum et al.
Shar Holiday Gift Guide, (serving string musicians since 1962), “Now through Jan. 8, 2000,” 4 selected pages, including cover, back cover, p. 23, and unnumbered page, Shar Products Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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