Supports – Stand – Receptacle
Patent
1998-06-09
2000-01-18
Ramirez, Ramon O.
Supports
Stand
Receptacle
248152, 248174, 84327, A47G 2302
Patent
active
060151218
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a collapsible stand, particularly for use with musical instruments such as guitars.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A guitar stand supports a guitar, when not in use, in an upright or near-upright position. Instruments such as guitars are space consuming and only rarely does a practical situation permit the instrument to be laid flat on the floor. This is hazardous and is also inconvenient since the user must then bend or stoop when re-use is required. However if the instrument is balanced against an upright fixture, such as a wall, or a music stand, it is vulnerable to being knocked and to damage if it falls.
Guitar stands are normally constructed of metal rod or tube with rubber pads at strategic points to prevent damage to the instrument. This construction makes the known stands relatively expensive, somewhat heavy and cumbersome to carry and erect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a stand for supporting an item in an upright manner, comprising: folded to be substantially flat with the base or oriented at an angle to the base for supporting said item; each side portion into contact with said item for support in the stand; and bias force direction; stand.
Preferably the stand is made from a lightweight planar sheet material, such as a plastics material and it can easily be fabricated from a sheet of plastic making it cost effective to manufacture, and strong, yet light, portable and easily collapsible.
Cardboard, ply-wood, wood or compressed board would be suitable alternative materials.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an integral handle is incorporated, for example as cooperating holes in the base and one side portion. A clip or tie or strap may be used to hold the portions in their folded state for carrying. A carrying strap could be added.
The bias may be provided by any appropriate resilient member, such as by elastic cord means or by spring members. Such an arrangement is arranged to utilise the shape of the item such as a guitar and its own weight to alter the profile of the stand such that the edges of the altered profile act upon the guitar's side surfaces providing lateral restraint and maintaining the guitar in an upright position.
The elastic cord is preferably adjustable, in its point of connection to the stand, and/or adjustable vertically and horizontally, to suit different guitars, for example different sizes and shapes and weights.
A non-scratch coating or binding material may be applied to those edges of the side portions which contact the instrument in use. Preferably this is a felt-like nonwoven material. A non-scratch coating or material may be applied to, or incorporated within, the underside of the base, and an anti-slip coating or material may be applied to, or incorporated within, the surface of the base portion on which the instrument rests in use. The instrument may rest on a deformable pad or in a hollow formed in the base portion. Additional support may be provided for the guitar by a flexible sling holding the guitar within the stand. Further strength may be added to the structure by elastic cords or other resilient ties between each end so as to minimise movement of the instrument.
One or more spaces may be incorporated into the base portion, or pockets provided to hold and/or carry sheet music, spare guitar strings, guitar plectra or other paraphernalia.
The base can be designed to fit into a guitar case shaped accordingly to follow the profile of a guitar. Alternatively the stand could be clipped onto the outside of a guitar case. The stand could also or alternatively incorporate its own carrying handle or strap.
A guitar stand according to the invention is particularly advantageous since it is easy to use, quick to erect and dismantle or fold away and will also support the instrument securely at other than the true vertical: angles of up to 10.degree. and possibly 15.degree. and more may be achieved without danger to the instrument, depending upon the exa
REFERENCES:
patent: 1708285 (1929-04-01), Truett et al.
patent: 1949607 (1934-03-01), Harrold
patent: 2736225 (1956-02-01), Marcus
patent: 2743499 (1956-05-01), Edgerton
patent: 4099441 (1978-07-01), Landon
patent: 4213369 (1980-07-01), Swartwout
Baxter Gwendolyn
Ramirez Ramon O.
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