U.S. patent application number 10/300471 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for apparatus for supporting a stringed musical instrument.
Invention is credited to Walker, Bruce D..
Application Number | 20040094585 10/300471 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32297923 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040094585 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Walker, Bruce D. |
May 20, 2004 |
Apparatus for supporting a stringed musical instrument
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting a stringed musical instrument on a
user in which the apparatus comprises a harness that attaches to a
single anchor point on the instrument and further cradles the body
of the instrument along a length of the harness. The harness
includes a tab for engaging the anchor point on the instrument and
an adjustable strap forming a single closed loop that further
engages the front, back and side surfaces of the instrument during
use.
Inventors: |
Walker, Bruce D.;
(Fayetteville, AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Boyd D. Cox
Suite 506
75 N. East Avenue
P.O. Box 573
Fayetteville
AR
72702
US
|
Family ID: |
32297923 |
Appl. No.: |
10/300471 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/257 ;
224/264; 224/910 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/14 20130101; G10G
5/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/257 ;
224/264; 224/910 |
International
Class: |
A45F 003/14; A45F
003/12; A41F 015/02 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for supporting a stringed musical instrument, said
apparatus comprising: a fastening portion comprises means for
attaching to the instrument, and a strap; said strap comprises a
single closed loop which includes means for engaging a user and
means for cradling the instrument, wherein said single closed loop
is attached to said fastening portion.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for engaging a user
comprises a first portion of the strap and said means for cradling
the instrument comprises a second portion of the strap, said first
portion having first and second ends with said first end attached
to said fastening portion, and said second portion having third and
fourth ends with said third end attached to said fastening portion;
and an adjustable connector for adjustably adjoining the second and
fourth ends together, wherein said single closed loop is
selectively variable in size.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said adjustable connector
comprises first and second cooperating parts, wherein said first
cooperating part is on the second end of said first portion, said
second cooperating part is on the fourth end of said second
section, and said first and second cooperating parts are releasably
engaged.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first cooperating part
comprises a buckle and said second cooperating part comprises a
plurality of apertures.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the-stringed musical
instrument comprises a body having front, back and side surfaces, a
neck attached to the body and an anchor point attached to the side
surface opposite the neck, said body further having a mid-section
with a narrowed portion, wherein the fastening portion engages the
anchor point and said means for cradling the musical instrument is
positioned adjacent to the back, side and front surfaces and neck
of the instrument during use.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for attaching to the
instrument is a slot disposed in the fastening portion which
engages the anchor point on the instrument.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for cradling the
instrument extends from said fastening portion across the back
surface of the instrument to said narrowed portion, across said
side surface at said narrowed portion to said front surface, across
said front surface to said neck and around at least a portion of
said neck.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for adjusting
the strap, wherein a diameter of the single closed loop can be
selectively varied.
9. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a strap pad
disposed on the strap.
10. An apparatus for supporting a stringed musical instrument
comprising a neck, a body and an anchor point, said body having
front, back and side surfaces, and said neck and anchor point
attached at generally opposite ends of the body, the body further
comprises a mid-section with a narrowed portion, said apparatus
comprises: a strap; and a fastening portion; said fastening portion
is a planar tab having a one-point attachment for engaging the
instrument, said one-point attachment attaches to the anchor point
on the instrument; wherein said strap is attached to the planar tab
and is adapted to engage the instrument and the user.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said strap comprises first
and second elongated portions; said first portion having first and
second ends, wherein said first end is attached to said fastening
portion and said first portion is adapted to engage a user; said
second portion having third and fourth ends, wherein said third end
is attached to the fastening portion and said second portion is
adapted to receive the front, back and side surfaces and neck of
the instrument.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprises an adjustable
connector, wherein said adjustable connector releasably adjoins the
second and fourth ends of the first and second portions
respectively, thereby forming the strap into a single closed loop;
wherein the adjustable connector is selectively adjustable to
thereby vary effective lengths of the first and second portions and
vary the size of the single closed loop.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said one-point attachment
comprises a slot.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said fastening portion
attaches to the anchor point on the instrument, said second portion
extends from said fastening portion across the back surface to said
narrowed portion, across said side surface at said narrowed portion
to said front surface, across said front surface to said neck, and
around at least a portion of said neck to adjoin said first
portion; said first portion extends from said second portion around
a user, and attaches to the fastening portion.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a strap pad
disposed on said strap.
16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said fastening portion is
attached to the anchor point on the instrument, said second portion
extends from the fastening portion along the side surface of the
instrument to the narrowed portion, where said second portion
extends from the side surface, across the front surface to the
neck, and around at least a portion of the neck, and adjoins the
first portion, said first portion extends around a user and adjoins
the fastening portion adjacent the anchor point.
17. An apparatus for supporting a guitar, wherein the guitar has an
elongated body and a neck extending outwardly from the body, the
body having front, back and side surfaces and an anchor point, the
body further comprises a mid-section with a narrowed portion, the
front and back surfaces each having a respective perimeter which
are adjoined to the side surface, and the anchor point is disposed
on the side surface of the elongated body opposite the neck, said
apparatus comprises: a harness; and a strap pad; said harness
comprises a fastening portion, a strap, and means for adjusting the
strap; said fastening portion is a generally planar tab having a
one-point attachment for attaching the harness to an instrument,
said one-point attachment comprises a slot which engages the anchor
point on the instrument; said strap comprises a width and first and
second elongated portions; said first portion having first and
second ends, wherein said first end is integrally attached to the
fastening portion; said second portion having third and fourth
ends, wherein said third end is integrally attached to the
fastening portion; said means for adjusting the strap is an
adjustable connector, wherein effective lengths of the first and
second portions are varied as the strap is adjusted; said
adjustable connector comprises first and second cooperating parts,
wherein said first cooperating part is disposed on said second end
of the first portion and said second cooperating part is disposed
on said forth end of the second portion; wherein the first and
second portions of said strap form a single, closed loop with said
adjustable connector adjoining the second and fourth ends of said
first and second portions, respectively; said first portion
includes means for engaging a user and said second portion includes
means for cradling the instrument; said strap pad comprises an
elongated member having a width and an upper surface and a lower
opposing surface, the width of the strap pad is greater than the
width of the strap, said lower opposing surface having a cushion
thereon, said strap pad further comprises a plurality of openings
in the elongated member, wherein said harness is threaded through
said openings; and wherein to support the stringed musical
instrument, said slot is attached to the anchor point on the
instrument, the means for engaging a person extends around the
person and said means for cradling the musical instrument extends
around the instrument, such that said fastening portion extends
from the anchor point and across--the side surface to the perimeter
of the back surface, the first portion of the strap extends from
said fastening portion across the back surface of the instrument
and to the user, the second portion extends from the fastening
portion at an acute angle to the first portion, across the
perimeter and back surface of the body towards the narrowed portion
of the body, across the perimeter of the back surface to the side
surface at the narrowed portion, across the side surface at the
narrowed portion to the perimeter of the front surface, across the
perimeter of the front surface, across the front surface between
the narrowed portion and the neck, across the perimeter of the
front surface and around the neck, upwardly from the neck to the
first portion, wherein said fourth end of the second portion is
adjoined to the second end of the first portion by the adjustable
connector.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting
a stringed musical instrument, and specifically to a harness for
holding and positioning a guitar about the body of a person to play
the instrument while in a standing position. The apparatus is a
simple device that cradles the lower portions of the instrument's
body while resting on the shoulder of the person.
[0002] When performing, many guitarists prefer to stand and hold
their musical instruments, a procedure that appears to be
preferable among rock, country and folk musicians. Since it is
difficult to both hold a guitar and simultaneously play the
instrument, many musicians use a strap or harness to support the
instrument in a comfortable playing position in order to free their
hands to play the instrument.
[0003] Most conventional straps for guitars attach to the musical
instrument at two anchor points on the body. These anchor points
are characterized by a pin or stud that has been inserted into the
body of the guitar or adhered to the outer surface of its body. One
anchor point is typically located on a side of the instrument
adjacent to the neck, while the other is on an opposite side of the
instrument's body opposite the neck. When attached to the anchor
points, such a strap can be placed around the person's neck and
supported on their shoulder to hold the guitar in a convenient
manner for playing the instrument.
[0004] Stringed instruments, in general, and some guitars, in
particular, are equipped with at least two anchor points to which
the strap can be attached. However, many classical and vintage
guitars have only one or no anchor points on the instrument's body.
Typically, the single anchor point is positioned opposite the neck
to which the strap can be attached. In order to use such
conventional guitar straps with two point attachments, the
additional anchor points must be added to the instrument. Adding
anchor points can damage the body of the guitar adversely affecting
the sound of the instrument and reducing its value.
[0005] Other similar guitar straps or harnesses are available that
clamp directly to the body of the guitar or have a plurality of
straps that encircle the guitar. While these may not damage the
body of the guitar, due to their cumbersome design they can be time
consuming to install on an instrument and expensive to manufacture.
Furthermore, clamps attaching to the sound board of the instrument
can affect the sound quality of the instrument.
[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a simple, inexpensive and
effective apparatus for supporting a stringed musical instrument
that can readily engage and support the instrument on a person in a
standing or upright position. The need also exists for an
instrument supporting apparatus that requires only one anchor point
for support, thereby eliminating the need for additional anchor
points whose installation would damage the instrument and reduce
its value.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present invention is directed to an apparatus for
supporting a stringed musical instrument on a person. The apparatus
comprises a harness which includes a fastening portion that is
adapted to engage a single anchor point on the musical instrument.
The harness also includes a strap that forms a closed loop attached
to the fastening portion. The closed loop includes means for
engaging a user and means for cradling the musical-instrument. The
means for cradling the musical instrument wraps around the back,
front and side surfaces of the instrument to distribute the weight
of the instrument along a length of the loop, while securely
holding the instrument on the harness.
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus that securely supports a stringed musical instrument on a
user, with the instrument having only a single anchor point on the
instrument.
[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
harness for a stringed musical instrument having an anchor point
located on a side of the instrument opposite the neck, wherein the
harness attaches to the anchor point and further engages the
instrument's body along a line extending generally from the anchor
point to the neck of the instrument.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an instrument harness comprising a strap that distributes the
weight of the instrument along a length of the strap.
[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
harness for a guitar that supports the body of the instrument
adjacent to the instrument's neck.
[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
harness for supporting a guitar that does not require an anchor
point on the instrument body adjacent to the instrument's neck.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
guitar strap that cradles the lower side surface of the guitar's
body in order to support the guitar.
[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
guitar strap that cradles the lower side surface at the narrowed
portion of the guitar's body in order to support the guitar.
[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
harness for a guitar that can be adjusted for different sizes of
instruments and for different sizes of musicians using the
harness.
[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
harness for a stringed instrument that can be readily installed on
the instrument.
[0017] The apparatus for supporting a stringed musical instrument
of the present invention is simple and can be readily installed for
use. Since the strap only crosses one corner of the sounding board
when installed on an instrument, minimal contact between the strap
and the sounding board of the instrument occurs. This minimal
contact decreases the probability of distorting the sound of the
instrument.
[0018] The harness of the apparatus is fastened onto the instrument
at a single anchor point on the instrument, while the strap wends
around the instrument body to secure the instrument to the
apparatus and ultimately to the musician.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which are
shown illustrative embodiments of the invention and from which
novel features and advantages will be apparent.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the apparatus for supporting a stringed musical instrument of the
present invention shown supporting a guitar on a user.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus for supporting
a stringed musical instrument of FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG.
2 supporting a guitar.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a planar bottom view of the guitar and apparatus
of FIG. 3.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a planar back view of the guitar and apparatus
shown by FIG. 3.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of a guitar with the
apparatus of FIG. 2 in an alternate supporting arrangement from
that shown in FIGS. 3-5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] A stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar (100) as
shown by example herein in FIG. 1, is typically characterized by an
elongated body (101) and a neck (102) attached to one end of the
body (101). The elongated body (101) is formed by a front surface
(103) comprising a sounding board, a back surface (104) and a
contoured side surface (105). Both the front (103) and back (104)
surfaces have a respective perimeter (107), wherein the perimeter
(107) of the front surface (103) is adjoined to the perimeter (107)
of the back surface (104) by the contoured side surface (105). The
elongated body (101) includes a narrowed portion (108) near the
mid-section of the body (101). The narrowed portion (108) is
characterized by a smaller span across the front (103) and back
(104) surfaces of the guitar (100). The neck (102) has two ends,
one of which is a heel (109) attached to the elongated body (101).
The other end is disposed opposite the heel (109) and includes a
tuning pad (111). An anchor point (106), as given in this example,
is a pin or stud (110) with an enlarged head. The anchor point
(106) is generally located on the contoured side surface (105) of
the elongated body (101) at a location positioned opposite the
attachment location of the neck (102).
[0027] Referring now in detail to the referenced characters of the
drawings of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2 to be an apparatus (1) for supporting a stringed
musical instrument (100). The apparatus (1), generally supported on
the shoulder of a person during use, comprises a harness (10) and
strap pad (11) which is disposed on the harness (10).
[0028] The harness (10) includes planar fastening portion (12), a
strap (13) and means for adjusting the strap (13). The planar
fastening portion (12) is a rectangularly-shaped tab having means
for attaching the harness (10) to an instrument (100). The anchor
point (106) on a musical instrument (100) generally comprises a pin
or stud (110) with an enlarged head and the means for attaching the
harness (10) to the instrument (100) is shown in a preferred
embodiment to be a securing element such as a slot (14). The slot
(14) is slipped around the pin or stud (110) to attach the harness
(10) to the instrument (100). It should be noted that in the
preferred embodiment this attachment only partially secures the
harness (10) to the instrument (100) for use.
[0029] The strap (13) of the harness (10) is made up of a first
elongated portion (15) and a second elongated portion (16). The
first portion (15) includes a length and first (17) and second (18)
ends. Similarly, the second portion (16) of the strap (13) has a
length and third (19) and fourth (20) ends. Attached to the
fastening portion (12) are the first (17) end of the strap's first
portion (15) and the third end (19) of the strap's second portion
(16).
[0030] Furthermore, the means for adjusting the strap (13) is
disposed on the first (15) and second (16) portions of the strap
(13). It comprises an adjustable connector (21) that releasably
adjoins the first (15) and second (16) portions to form the strap
(13) into a single, adjustable closed loop (22).
[0031] In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the adjustable
connector (21) comprises first (23) and second (24) cooperating
parts. The first cooperation part (23) is a buckle (23) being
positioned on the second end (18) of the strap's first portion
(15), while the second cooperating part (24) is a plurality of
apertures on the fourth end (20) of the second portion (16). When
the adjustable connector (21) is engaged, the buckle (23) engages
at least one of the apertures (24) and the first (15) and second
(16) portions of the strap (13) form the closed loop (22). The
first portion (15) of the strap (13) within the closed loop (22)
comprises means for engaging a user and the second portion (16)
comprises means for cradling a stringed musical instrument (100)
along a portion of its length.
[0032] For comfort and ease of use, the apparatus (1) can be
adjusted to fit differently sized musical instruments and/or
differently sized people. When the adjustable connector (21) is
released, the effective length of the strap (13) can be varied to
change the size of the closed loop (22). The buckle (23) can be
engaged with any one of the plurality of apertures on the strap
(13) in order to vary the strap's effective length and the
resultant size of the closed loop (22).
[0033] The strap pad (11) is an elongated member having a width
that is greater than a width of the strap (13). The elongated
member includes an upper surface (25), an opposing lower surface
(26) and means for securing the strap pad (11) to the harness (10).
The opposing lower surface (26) has a cushion (27) disposed
thereon. The cushion (27) is adapted to lie adjacent to a person
using the apparatus (1) in order to enhance comfort. The means for
securing the strap pad (11) to the harness (10) comprises a series
of openings (28) positioned along a length of the strap pad (11).
The strap (13) is threaded through the openings (28) thereby
securing the strap pad (11) to the harness (10). Preferably, the
strap pad (11) is positioned on the strap (13) adjacent to the
adjustable connector (21) in order to provide a cushioned buffer
between the user and the first (23) and second (24) cooperating
parts that might otherwise lie adjacent to and irritate the user.
It should be appreciated that while the means for securing the
strap pad (11) to the harness (10) comprises openings (28), other
suitable means including loops cooperating snaps or rivets could be
used instead to secure the strap pad (11) to the harness (10).
Alternately, the strap pad (11) could be fixed to the strap (13) by
adhesives or stitching. However, it is preferred that the strap pad
(11) be movably mounted on the harness (10).
[0034] The harness (10) is preferably made from leather that is
pliable enough to conform somewhat to the shape of the instrument
(100) and the user's body. The first (15) and second (16) portions
of the strap (13) are integrally formed with the planar tab of the
fastening portion (12) and extend outwardly from a side of the
rectangularly-shaped pad (11). Alternately, the harness (10) can be
made of materials other than leather that exhibit suitable
characteristics, including durability and flexibility, such as
characterized by woven and spun natural fibers, nylon and
plastics.
[0035] As shown in the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3-5, the
apparatus (1) is installed for use on the musical instrument (100)
by attaching the fastening portion (12) to the pin (110) on the
guitar (100). The means for engaging a user is positioned around
the person and the means for cradling a stringed musical instrument
(100) is positioned around the body (101) of the instrument
(100).
[0036] Specifically, the slot (14) on the fastening portion (12) is
attached to the pin or stud (110) of the anchor point (106), such
that the fastening portion (12) extends from the anchor point (106)
across the side surface (105) and toward the perimeter (107) of the
back surface (104). Crossing the perimeter (107), the strap (13) of
the closed loop (22) extends across the back surface (104) of the
instrument (100) in a direction generally toward the narrowed
portion (108) of the body (101). At the narrowed portion (108), the
strap (13) extends across the perimeter (107) of the back surface
(104) toward the front surface (103) and onto the contoured side
surface (105). The strap (13) crosses the contoured side surface
(105) and extends over the perimeter (107) of the front surface
(103). From the front surface's perimeter (107) proximate the
narrowed portion (108), the strap (13) extends across the front
surface (103) of the instrument (100) towards the neck (102). The
strap (13) then crosses the perimeter (107) of the front surface
(103) and extends around behind the neck (102) of the guitar. The
strap (13) then extends upwardly around the user and downwardly
across the back surface (104) of the instrument's body (101) where
it adjoins with the fastening portion (12) of the harness (10).
[0037] In another preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, the
fastening portion (12) extends downwardly from the stud or pin
(110) along the contoured side surface (105) of the elongated body
(101). From the fastening portion (12) either the first (15) or
second (16) portion of the strap (13) extends along the contoured
side surface (105) to the narrowed portion (108) on the lower side
of the instrument (100). At the narrowed portion (108), the strap
(13) extends toward the perimeter (107) of the front surface (103)
and crosses over it onto the front surface (103) of the elongated
body (101). The strap (13) extends across the front surface (103)
to the neck (102) at which area, it extends around the back of the
instrument's neck (102) and upwards to engage a person using the
apparatus. The strap (13) encircles the body of the user and
extends downwardly across the back surface (104) of the guitar
(100) where the strap (13) adjoins with the fastening portion
(12).
[0038] The simplicity of the apparatus of the present invention
allows ready installment on a musical instrument and also allows
for quick removal therefrom. Since the present invention
effectively supports the instrument by a one point attachment on
the fastening portion combined with the strap cradling the
instrument's body, a person can use the apparatus on most classical
and vintage guitars without having to add another anchor point and
risk damaging the instrument or compromising the sound quality.
Furthermore, with contact between the apparatus and the front
surface and sounding board being limited to a small area in the
lower quadrant of the instrument's body, the sound quality of the
instrument is not unduly affected when using the apparatus of the
present invention.
[0039] Furthermore, the apparatus (1) is reversible and can be
adapted to either left-handed users or right-handed users. By
reversing the front to back positions of the first (15) and second
(16) portions of the strap (13), the apparatus (1) can be
alternated for use between left-handed and right-handed
players.
[0040] It should be appreciated that while a guitar has been given
as an example for a stringed musical instrument, the apparatus can
be used with other stringed musical instruments having a similar
body shape, as do some mandolins and dulcimers.
[0041] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions
thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and
scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the
description of the preferred versions contained herein.
* * * * *