Musical instrument stand

[57] ABSTRACT

A somewhat claw-like instrument receiver is provided for receiving the neck of a guitar, the upper portion of a wind instrument, etc. The instrument receiving device is mounted on a clamp mechanism that will clamp across the top of a stable base or support, such as a guitar amplifier or loudspeaker equipment.

Claims, 5 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED oct 161973

3.765,633

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INVENTOR

CLARENCE D.J.CAUDILL

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Attys

By

3,765,633

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STAND

Most portable musical instruments are difficult to stand up in stable position. Guitars, clarinets, and other musical instruments are often simply stood up and leaned against a wall or some other article. However, this is an unstable condition, and someone brushing against the instrument, or even walking near it may cause the instrument to fall over, with consequent damage. I am aware that musical instrument stands have been constructed somewhat in the nature of sheet music stands, i.e., with tripod supports for resting on the floor, with portions for receiving the neck of an instrument, with part of the instrument resting on the floor, or with means for receiving the entire instrument, and supporting it above the floor. All such devices known to me are quite unstable, and are easily tipped over, either by accidental brushing against, or simply by being walked near.

Thus, the principle object of the present invention is to provide a musical instrument stand that is stable, and that positively holds the musical instrument in upright ^position.

In accordance with the present invention I have overcome the defects of the prior aft by providing a somewhat claw-like instrument support having opposed concave surfaces for receiving the neck of an instrument with the lower portion of the instrument resting on the floor. The instrument receiver is affixed to a clamping device which is large enough to grip across the top of a guitar or the like amplifier, or across the top of a loudspeaker housing. Although being quite stable, due to being mounted on the top of a massive and relatively non-tippable structure, the musical instrument support is itself rather small and readily transportable.

Specific examples of the present invention will be seen in the drawings which should be studied along with the accompanying specification, the drawings comprising:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing my musical instrument stand secured to the top of a piggyback amplifier and holding a guitar in upright position;

FIG. 2 is a top or plan view of my musical instrument stand;

FIG. 3 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. S is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a modification of the invention.

Returning now in greater particularity to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, there will be seen a loudspeaker housing 10 with an amplifier 12 on the top thereof, this being the type of amplifier commonly referred to as a “piggyback” amplifier due to its mounting on top of the loudspeaker housing. My musical instrument stand 14, shortly to be described in greater detail, supports a guitar or other instrument 16 in upright position. In the example shown, the head 18 of the guitar rests on the floor 20 on which the loudspeaker housing 10 rests, while the neck 22 is in generally upright position, being held by a receiver 24 forming a part of my musical instrument stand.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4 as well as FIG. 1, the musical instrument stand 14 will be seen to comprise a generally L-shaped base 26, including a relatively wide section of steel plate, having a horizontal body portion 28 and a depending flange 30 forming slightly less than a right angle therewith. For convenience of mounting the flange 30 is provided with a reversely bent tip 32 at the lower end thereof.

As will be seen particularly in FIG. 1, the body 28 of the base 26 lies across the top of the amplifier 12, illustrated as being in the short dimension thereof, with the flange 30 depending along the front of the amplifier.

An inverted channel 34 is mounted on top of the body 28 by means such as screws 36 extending through the channel 34 and tapped into the body 28. As will be apparent, the channel is provided with a top wall or web 38, and with depending, relatively thick side flanges 40 through which the screws 36 extend. The open face of the channel confronts the top of the body 28.

The flange 40 along one side of the channel is provided with an opening 42, and a vertical pin 44 extending through this opening pivotally mounts a pawl 46 having a rounded nose 48 and a tail 50 extending outwardly and substantially in parallelism with the adjacent channel flange 40. A leaf spring 52 is mounted along the side of the channel 38 by means such as a screw 54 with the free end of the spring 52 bearing against the heel of the pawl 46 to urge the nose 48 of the pawl inwardly of the channel.

A slidebar 58 extends through the channel in close fitting relation with the channel and with the underlying body 28, and is provided with a depending flange 61 at an acute angle thereto, and having a reversely bent tip 63. A pad 64 such as of foam rubber is provided both to avoid damage to the guitar amplifier, and to take up variations in spacing.

The slidebar 58 is provided along the edge thereof confronting the pawl with a series of scallops 60 having protuberant teeth 62 therebetween. The scallops 60 are of slightly greater diameter than the nose 48 of the pawl whereby the pawl is resilient urged by the spring 52 into a respective scallop 48.

As will now be apparent, the base 26 and the slidebar 58 form a clamp which is mounted across the top of a guitar amplifier or the like. A finger or thumb is used to push against the tail 50 of the pawl 46 to retract the pawl so that the slidebar 58 may be advanced through the channel 34 to the extent necessary for the flanges 30 and 60 to abut the opposite vertical sides of the guitar amplifier. The pawl 46 is then released so that the nose 48 projects into one of the scallops 60 of the slidebar to fix the slidebar in clamping position across the top of the guitar amplifier. The initial acute angles of the depending flanges, coupled with the inherent resiliency thereof allows for tight, non-slip clamping, and accommodate for the fact that the pawl and the scallops do not provide a continuous adjustment, but a step-wise adjustment. Further accommodation is provided by the foam pad 64.

In addition to the foregoing structure, there is a musical instrument receiver 24 secured to the depending flange 30. The musical instrument receiver comprises a continuous metallic strap having a flat web or bight 66 held against the flange 30 by means such as screws 68 extending through the web and tapped into the flange 30. Angled upwards slightly from the web 66 and converging somewhat toward one another is a pair of integral arms 70 having at their extremities opposed, concave sections 72, the entire structure being somewhat claw-like. Resilient sleeves 74 such as of rubber or plastic overlie the arms 70 and extremities 72

3,765,633 thereof to protect a musical instrument against damage.

As will be seen particularly in FIG. 3, the musical instrument receiver 24 is tipped up slightly from a horizontal plane, whereby to be substantially at right angles to the neck of an instrument such as the guitar shown in FIG. 1. The space 76 at the outer ends of the confronting concave sections 72 is large enough to receive the neck of many an instrument. In other cases the neck may be somewhat too large, and in this case the inherent resiliency of the receiver allows the space 76 to be enlarged for receipt of the neck of an instrument, whether it be a guitar, a clarinet or otherwise.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIG. 5, and similar numerals are used to designate like parts, whereby to avoid prolixity. A suffix a is appended to similar identifying numerals for clarity. The distinction in FIG. 5 resides in the fact that the nose 48α of the pawl is pointed, presenting a definite right angle shoulder 78, and an adjacent cam surface 80. Similarly, the teeth 62α are provided with definite right angle shoulders 82 for confronting the pawl shoulder 78, and also with a cam surface 84 for engagement with the cam surface 80 of the pawl nose. With the construction of FIG. 5 the clamping device 14α can readily be ratcheted into clamping position, but requires positive release by finger pressure against the pawl tail 50α. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a certain amount of ratcheting action into clamping position can be obtained, due to the fact that the pawl pivots toward releasing position if the slidebar is pushed to the right relative to the base 26, whereas attempted motion of the slidebar to the left results in wedging in place of the pawl nose.

Other types of retaining mechanisms are within the purview of the present invention, and for example a ball-type clutch allows continuous adjustment of the clamping mechanism, rather than a step-wise adjustment. However, a ball-type clutch requires hardened steel surfaces, and this is disadvantageous in that the expense is greater, and in that hardening renders the clamping device less resilient.

In any event, although my musical instrument stand is relatively inexpensive and is quite readily portable, great stability is provided, since it mounts on a massive and stable structure, specifically a musical instrument amplifier, or loudspeaker housing, specifically of the type used for reproducing electric guitars. Thus, an instrument, such as the guitar 16 illustrated, is readily held in very stable upright position substantially immune from accidental tipping over.

The specific examples of the invention as herein shown and described are for illustrative purposes only. Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and will be understood as form ing a part of the present application insofar as they come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.