U.S. patent number 3,596,866 [Application Number 05/010,444] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-03 for folding music stand and carrying case therefor.
Invention is credited to Donald B. Baker.
United States Patent |
3,596,866 |
Baker |
August 3, 1971 |
FOLDING MUSIC STAND AND CARRYING CASE THEREFOR
Abstract
A portable carrying case which when closed serves to store an
attached music stand and when partly open provides a base. It
comprises upper and lower boxlike sections hinged together. Each
secton constitutes a tray. The lower section provides a
self-standing base and stores a hinged leg which, in turn, serves
as a prop and holds the sections a part. The adjustable music stand
is integrally mounted on a handle-equipped yoke which is pivoted on
paired adapter brackets carried by a median forward part of the
openable and closable upper or cover section.
Inventors: |
Baker; Donald B. (Olympia,
WA) |
Family
ID: |
21745785 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/010,444 |
Filed: |
February 11, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/461; 190/11;
206/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
97/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
97/08 (20060101); A47B 97/00 (20060101); A47b
097/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/461
;108/33--41 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schultz; William H.
Claims
What I claim as new is as follows:
1. A portable stand and a complemental carrying case comprising, in
combination, a folding music stand embodying an extensible and
retractable height adjusting standard having upper and lower ends,
a rack having a backing plate provided with a flange providing a
sheet music positioning and supporting ledge, angling means
adjustably connecting the flanged portion of each plate with the
upper end of said standard, a storing case for said music stand,
said carrying case comprising a lower half-section providing a
self-standing base, an upper half-section complemental to said
lower half-section and providing a cover for said lower
half-section, and an operating and pivotal connection between the
lower end of said standard and a forward end portion of said upper
half-section permitting said stand to assume (1) an upright
ready-to-use position or (2) a collapsed out-of-use position when
folded and stored within the confines of the closed carrying
case.
2. The portable stand and carrying case combination defined in and
according to claim 1, and, in combination, a foldaway prop
comprising a leg having a lower end pivotally connected to said
lower half-section, and adapted to assume an upstanding position
when in use and a folded position within the confines of said lower
half-section when not in use.
3. The portable stand and carrying case defined in and according to
claim 2 and wherein each half-section is of hollow boxlike form and
embodies a main wall marginally encompassed by front, back and end
walls and providing individual top and bottom trays, the receptacle
portion of the bottom tray functioning to store the pivoted
in-folding leg, and the receptacle portion of the top tray serving
to receive and compactly store the overall in-folded music
stand.
4. The portable stand and carrying case defined in and according to
claim 3, and wherein the front wall of each half-section is
centrally provided with a forwardly projecting hollow truncated
extension, said extensions being of reduced transverse
cross-sectional dimension and registering with each other when the
upper and lower half-sections are folded together in aligned
overlapping relation.
5. The portable stand and carrying case defined in and according to
claim 1, and wherein said operating connection is characterized by
adapter brackets carried by the forward end portion of said upper
half-section and a yoke which is orientated with and cradled
between the respectively cooperable brackets, the lower end of said
standard being fixedly joined to said yoke. 6The portable stand
defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein said yoke is
substantially U-shaped and has a bight portion and arm portions,
and an accessible carrying handle bridging and operatively
rotatably mounted between said arm portions. 7. A portable carrying
case and attached foldaway companion music stand comprising in
combination a stand storing and supporting case comprising, in
combination, a lower half-section embodying a flat horizontal panel
providing a bottom wall and adapted to reside flatwise atop a floor
or similar support surface, said panel having marginally mounted
forward, rearward and adjoining end walls, the central part of said
forward wall having a relatively narrow forwardly projecting
truncated extension, a prop comprising a leg having a lower end
hingedly mounted in the truncated end portion of said extension,
said walled lower half-section providing an upwardly opening tray,
said leg being folded and stored, when not in use, in the
receptacle portion of said tray, an upper half-section complemental
and alignable with said lower half-section, said upper half-section
having a panel providing a top wall, said panel being provided with
marginal forward, rearward and adjoining end walls, the central
part of the forward wall having relatively narrow forwardly
projecting truncated extension, the rearward walls of the
respective sections being hingedly joined together so that the
sections can be folded into overlapping case-forming relationship,
said last-named extension being provided with adapter brackets
having end portions projecting beyond the truncated end of said
extension, a music stand, and means operatively connecting said
music stand to the end
portions of said brackets. 8. The carrying case and companion music
stand defined in and according to claim 7 and wherein said music
stand has an extensible and retractable standard, a head forming a
rack, said rack adjustably connected to the upper end of said
standard, the means joining the lower end of said standard to said
brackets comprising a U-shaped yoke, said yoke being pivotally
mounted between the coacting end portions of said brackets, the
lower end of said standard being rigidly secured to
the bight portion of said yoke. 9. The carrying case and companion
stand defined in and according to claim 8 and wherein said yoke is
provided with an upstanding ear and a stud, the upper end of said
prop being detachably
connectable with said stud. 10. The carrying case and companion
stand defined in and according to claim 8 and wherein said yoke is
provided with an upstanding ear and a stud, the upper end of said
prop being detachably connectable with said stud, and said yoke
being provided with a handgrip.
Description
The present invention relates to certain new and useful
improvements in a portable folding music stand and carrying case
therefor and has to do with an adaptation which, broadly stated, is
characterized by a sectional case which functions as a base and
also as a carrying case. A vertically extensible and retractable
music stand is foldably but operatively connected with the upper
section of the case, and a prop is carried by the lower section and
serves to spread the sections apart when the music stand is readied
for use.
More specifically stated, the case comprises upper and lower
hingedly joined boxlike half-sections, the lower half-section being
provided with a hingedly mounted leg which functions as a prop and
spreads the sections apart in divergent relationship, and a music
stand which is similar to music stands currently being used by
musicians but is unique in that it is employed as a component part
of the overall structure.
An object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a stand
and case combination of the character above set forth wherein the
music stand is adjustable for height and angle, is retractable and
foldable, when not in use into the upper traylike or cover section,
the leg or prop being so constructed and arranged that it well
serves the purposes for which it is capable of being utilized and
coordinates with the other parts in providing a simple, practical
and compact stand and case combination.
Briefly, the concept has to do with a carrying and storing case
which is unique in that the lower boxlike section provides a
self-standing base, the receptacle portion thereof serving to
receive and store the prop or leg when the latter is collapsed and
folded to assume an out-of-the-way position. The upper or top
section has a rear depending wall which is hingedly connected to an
upstanding rear wall of the lower section. This section also
provides a tray and functions as a cover. When it is down it is
aligned with the lower section and the shallow traylike portion
thereof serves to receive and store the music stand, that is, the
standard and also the complemental rack. The lower end of the
standard when in use is joined to a bight portion of a pivotally
mounted U-shaped yoke. The yoke is bracketed in place on the
forward median portion of the upper or cover section. The yoke is
also provided with a carrying handle. The yoke is freely pivoted to
swing from an in-use position to an out-of-use position at which
time it permits the music stand to be compactly folded to an
out-of-the-way position and brings the then accessible handle or
handgrip into play.
These together with other objects and advantages which become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and
in which:
FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing the improved folding music
stand and carrying case and showing, more significantly, how the
sections of the case are propped apart to assume an open position
and how the then accessible music stand is erected for adjustment
as to height and angle. FIG. 2 is a view in perspective similar to
FIG. 1 with the component parts in the same position and
relationship but observing the structure in a direction from right
to left.
FIG. 3 is likewise a view in perspective which shows the two
sections of the case spread out into coplanar relationship with the
leg folded and stored in the lower section and the music stand
folded and stored in the upper section.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view with parts in section and elevation
taken approximately on the plane of the section line 4-4 of FIG. 2,
looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are horizontal detail cross sections taken on the
lines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively, of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper
bifurcated end portion of the aforementioned leg or prop.
FIG. 8 is a view in perspective on a suitably enlarged scale
showing the sections of the case closed and fastened with the stand
and prop stored and concealed and with the handle in a convenient
carrying position.
With reference first to that part of the overall structure which
constitutes the storing and carrying case the component parts can
be made from any appropriate lightweight material. The lower
boxlike section is denoted by the numeral 10 and the companion as
well as complemental upper half -section is denoted by the numeral
12. The two sections are approximately the same in construction and
shape. Accordingly, then these sections can be symmetrically mated
and opened and closed to achieve the result evident from the
illustrative views of the drawings. The bottom panel or wall of the
lower section 10 is denoted by the numeral 14 and is primarily
rectangular in plan. This overall panel is substantially flat and
provides a self-standing base when used in the manner shown best in
FIGS. 1 2 and 4. One marginal wall, which is here referred to as
the rearward wall, is denoted at 16 and it is cooperatively aligned
with a similar rearward depending wall 18 carried by the panel
portion 20 of the upper half-section 12. These walls are
commensurate in length and shape and size and adjacent edge
portions thereof are hingedly joined together as at 22 to permit
the sections to be opened and closed as shown. The respective
sections are provided with transverse end walls which are
designated at 24. The forward or front walls are denoted on both
sections at 26. The median portion of each front wall is provided
with a truncated triangulate extension. The bottom extension is
denoted at 28 and has a truncated open end 30 as shown in FIG. 3.
The similarly constructed and performing triangulate truncated
centralized or median extension on the upper half-section is
distinctively denoted by the numeral 32 and it likewise has an open
or truncated apical end 34. Both sections are thus capable of being
lined up and swung together in closed relation as shown in FIG. 8
or swung apart to assume either the divergent angular position
illustrated in FIGS. 1,2 and 4 or the coplanar position shown in
FIG. 3. The generally rectangular part of the lower half-section 10
provides a shallow tray or receiver 36. This tray in conjunction
with the truncated extension 28 serves as a support for the
aforementioned prop, more particularly a rigid leg 38 of requisite
length and cross section. The lower end 40 of the leg is riveted to
one leaf 42 of a hinge. The other shorter leaf 44 is bolted or
otherwise fastened in the truncated end portion of the extension 28
as evident, particularly FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The upper end portion 46
of the leg is bifurcated to provide a pair of furcations 48. There
is also a notch 50 thus provided and the lower end of the notch
(FIG. 7) is suitably recessed as at 52. This structure or
arrangement of features will be brought out as the description
proceeds. In any event it will be seen that the thus hinged prop or
leg can be folded to the collapsed or down position as shown in
FIG. 3 wherein it is then stored in the receptacle portion of the
tray 36. It can also be extended to the up prop forming position as
brought out in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 in particular.
With more particular reference now to the upper or cover section it
will be evident that the receiver or tray portion is denoted at 54.
The converging side walls of the extension 32 are provided with
strap members which are here designated as adapter brackets 56. One
end portion of each strap, that is the portion 58, is superimposed
on the adjacent wall and is riveted or otherwise fastened thereto
as denoted at 62. These brackets serve as an ideal means to
accommodatingly position the mount for the music stand. More
specifically this mount comprises a substantially U-shaped yoke 64
the bight portion of which is denoted at 66 and the arms or limbs
at 68. These limbs are positioned between the end portions 62 of
the bracket and serve to accommodate a sleeve 70. The sleeve serves
to accommodate a bolt 72 which is passed through the end portions
62 of the brackets and also through the bore of the sleeve and
apertures in the limbs 68 thus providing a freely swingable and
properly usable yoke. The sleeve provides the aforementioned
handgrip, that is the handle 70.
The music stand itself is not unlike music stands which are in
common use today. The standard portion of the overall stand is
denoted by the numeral 74. More specifically it comprises a lower
tube 76 the lower end portion 78 of which is welded or otherwise
fixed to the bight portion of the yoke. A second smaller tube 80 is
fitted telescopingly in the tube 76 and serves to accommodate a rod
82 which is provided on its upper end with a serrated head 84.
Appropriate clamping collars for the tube and rod sections are
shown at 86 and as brought out in FIG. 5 have end portions 88
secured together by clamping or setscrews 90. The head or rack
which is angularly adjustable comprises an appropriately shaped
backing plate 92 which is provided with a centrally notched flange
94. The notched portion of the flange is provided with L-shaped
clips 96 which straddle the serrated head and which are secured by
a thumb nut 98. It follows that the standard 76 is an integral part
of the yoke and the yoke is pivoted between the brackets to achieve
the desired compact and convenient opening and closing result. It
is evident too that the rack can be angularly adjusted and clamped
relative to the standard.
With reference again to the yoke 68 it will be evident that a
portion thereof is provided with a struckup ear 95 which in turn is
provided with a stud 97 to accommodate a thumb nut 99. The stud and
nut means cooperate with the aforementioned bifurcated and recessed
upper end 46 of the aforementioned prop whereby to permit the prop
to be elevated and secured in place to hold the yoke and the stand
in an erected position. When thus erected the stand can be adjusted
either up or down depending on the height desired. Also the stand
can be collapsed and the entire assembly, that is the stand and
yoke can be folded to fit with requisite nicety within the confines
of the receptible portion of the upper case section 12.
It is believed that the construction of the sectional case is clear
from the description and views of the drawing. Likewise it is
believed that the construction and arrangement and positioning of
the music stand is substantially self-evident. This is to say the
stand is shown in its erected, adjustable and ready-to-use position
in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as 4. The folded position of the leg and
stand is clearly brought out in FIG. 3 wherein the case sections
are then swung open into coplanar relationship. The manner in which
the case is readied for carrying is brought out in FIG. 8 in
particular and it will be noted in this connection that appropriate
trunk fasteners 100 are provided at appropriate points to secure
the sections together and in which position the yoke is so arranged
that the handle 70 is convenient for carrying purposes.
The foregoing is considered at illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
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