Field of the Invention
-
The invention relates to a cabinet of a musical device, in particular an amplifier, a loudspeaker, stage equipment, or sound equipment, or possibly a monitor, which are used in particular on a stage, in a studio, a theatre, cultural venues, or in public spaces.
Background of the Invention
-
During musical performances, theatrical or cultural shows, public readings, interpreting, conferences, in the evening hours, or in premises with reduced access to light, it is often necessary to illuminate text or musical notation on stages. In the music industry, in theatre, or at cultural or other events, various lighting solutions are known. These are usually various external lamps that are placed at a desired location, clipped with a clamp to stands or lecterns, or smaller lamps that are attached directly to the stand on which the text or musical notation is placed. A disadvantage of such lighting is possible disturbance of visual perception, insufficient illumination of texts, or even glare affecting musicians, and further complications.
-
During performances in public spaces in the evening hours, musicians, actors, or speakers must find a place where there is public or other lighting, or they assist themselves with various lights, such as headlamps and the like. Such lighting again disturbs the visual impression and, for example, when a headlamp is used, dazzles the audience.
-
External mobile local stage lighting ramps with a stand require an external supply of electrical energy and cannot be operated on batteries. On small stages they obstruct movement, necessarily require an external power supply and suppression of integrated power supply units. A long-term disadvantage is the possibility of being forgotten or lost during stage teardown. They also have a significantly disruptive appearance. They have a high weight on the order of 10 kg. This is an additional device that needs to be transported and is therefore unsuitable for musicians traveling on foot or by public transport and for busking, i.e. street performers. It is thus another transported device that must be monitored also in view of its high price.
-
External mobile local clip-on lamps for attachment to a music stand or a microphone stand are usually battery-powered and have a weight of approximately 250 g. Their disadvantage is likewise that they are external devices that can be forgotten or lost during stage teardown. They have low luminous output and clip-on use on a music stand is insufficiently stable. Due to the low output and large distance from the stage they provide a very low level of stage illumination. Another disadvantage is the risk of battery depletion and thus the need to carry spare batteries, wherein the further drawback that batteries cannot be replaced during the course of a musical piece. In some cases they have a disruptive appearance. Again, this is another transported device that must be monitored.
-
External mobile local linear lamps with a magnet for attachment to a music stand or a microphone stand are battery-operated and have a weight of approximately 200 g. Their disadvantage is that they are external devices that can be forgotten or lost during stage teardown. They have low luminous output. Use with a magnet limits application to metal stands and front metal grilles of loudspeakers and amplifiers, where they cause disturbance due to resonance. They have poor directionality of the light beam due to the type of mounting on metal surfaces. Due to the low output and large distance from the stage they mostly provide a low level of stage illumination. There is a risk of battery depletion, therefore a supply of spare batteries is necessary, wherein it is not possible to replace batteries during the course of a musical piece. Sometimes they have a disruptive appearance. Due to limited mounting options they may dazzle musicians or the audience. Again, this is another transported device that requires supervision.
-
External mobile local lamps with a clip and a base for attachment to a music stand or placement on the floor are operated by rechargeable batteries and have a weight of approximately 300 g. Their disadvantage is that they are external devices that can be forgotten or lost during stage teardown. There is a risk of battery depletion, therefore a supply of spare batteries is required, and in the case of rechargeable batteries it is necessary to carry charging equipment. It is not possible to replace batteries during the course of a musical piece. They usually have a high acquisition cost. This is another transported device that must be monitored.
Summary of the Invention
-
The above-mentioned disadvantages are largely eliminated by a cabinet of a musical device, in particular an amplifier, a loudspeaker, sound equipment, or stage equipment, according to the present invention. The essence of the invention consists in that the cabinet is provided on its bottom side with switchable constant or continuously dimmable floor lighting for illuminating written text and/or musical notation placed on the floor at a suitable intensity selected by the user of the device. With and/or without an integrated stand and/or support for elevation and/or tilting of the cabinet of the musical or stage device.
-
In a preferred embodiment, the cabinet of the musical device is provided on its bottom side with at least one stand and/or support for tilting and/or elevating the cabinet of the musical device and enabling illumination of text or a musical record placed on the floor in front of this musical device. The lighting is, however, also suitable for devices without a stand/support in the case of using incidental or artificial pads for tilting/elevating the device.
-
The lighting is provided with a light source selected from the group consisting of an LED, an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent lamp, and a discharge lamp, and the lighting is further provided with a button, switch, or contactor, or a touch sensor with a regulator of lighting intensity. It is powered from the musical or stage device itself, which has its own power supply from an electrical distribution network of 110 V or 230 V, or alternatively from an internal installation of the device powered by battery or rechargeable cells. It therefore does not require its own separate connection to electrical energy, battery replacement, or recharging, as is common with standalone conventional lamps.
-
An advantage of this solution is enabling illumination of written text or musical notation without the need for additional external lighting. This lighting fully meets the needs of musicians, wherein it is not illuminating or dazzling the audience in any way. It also cannot happen that a musician or speaker forgets an external light at home, which would reduce his or her performance as an artist or performer on stage. The integration of floor lighting for reading texts and for discreet illumination of small technical devices, such as small instrument effects, stompboxes, small technical devices, and lost picks, timing and signaling devices that cannot be found under reduced stage lighting. At the same time, due to connection to an already existing power source in the device, this represents a very economical solution and minimization of required components. These, apart from the already existing internal power source of the musical or stage device, consist of a small heatsink with a reflector, the light source itself, a small diffractor, a supply cable, and a button, switch, and/or contactor with a regulator of lighting intensity, which controls the power supply of the lighting from the internal existing electrical power source. By means of this lighting, it is commonly possible to achieve an illumination intensity in the reading zone of, for example, up to 3000 lx.
-
The disclosed lighting device eliminates the following disadvantages of current solutions. No additional external lighting device is required, wherein an integrated lighting device it does not obstruct small stages. As an integrated lighting device it does not require an external supply of electrical energy or suppression of power supply units. It cannot be forgotten or lost anywhere, for example during stage teardown, which commonly happens especially in a tangle of cables on stage under poor lighting conditions. There is no risk of a disruptive appearance. It does not incur additional acquisition costs. As an integrated device, the lighting device at stage level always has sufficient luminous output and sufficient intensity for illuminating text or musical notation. Unlike conventional clip-on devices, it is maximally stable. It does not require a supply of spare batteries and there is no risk of needing to replace depleted batteries during the course of a musical piece or other audio production or performance. There is also no risk of undesirable resonance on loudspeaker grilles as with devices equipped with holding magnets. It always provides perfect direction of the light beam onto the reading surface, wherein there is no risk of glare affecting musicians or the audience. It does not require charging equipment for recharging power accumulators. As an integrated lighting device, it contributes to the overall weight of the sound device typically only 60 g, in contrast to devices with batteries or rechargeable cells. The service life of the lighting device, unlike external lighting devices, is the same as the service life of the sound or stage device. Maintenance requirements, unlike external lighting devices, are zero.
Brief Description of the Drawings
-
The cabinet of a musical device according to the present invention will be disclosed in more detail by means of specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, where Fig. 1 shows an axonometric bottom view with the stand folded down, and Fig. 2 shows the cabinet with the stand unfolded.
Embodiments of the Invention
-
An exemplary cabinet of an instrument combo amplifier or stage device has feet A located on the bottom, and along one edge of the bottom of the cabinet there is arranged floor lighting B for illuminating written text and/or musical notation placed on the floor in front of the combo amplifier or a similar stage device. On the bottom side, the cabinet is provided with a foldable stand C for tilting the musical device and directing it toward the musician and simultaneously directing the light onto the text or musical notation on the floor in front of the musician, wherein in this case the stand C is unfolded. The lighting B is provided with a light source in the form of an LED strip. The lighting B is provided with a lighting intensity regulator.
-
In another embodiment, the LED lighting B is replaced by an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent lamp, or a discharge lamp.
-
Installation in the bottom part of the cabinet makes it possible to use the integrated lighting device also together with the stand C or a support for elevating or tilting a sound, stage, interpreting, or conference device.
-
The exemplary device is suitable for illuminating a document for reading or for reading musical notation, wherein it is provided with a touch sensor for switching on and regulating the lighting intensity.
Industrial Applicability
-
The cabinet of a musical device according to the present invention finds application primarily in musical productions in public spaces, on stages, in studios, at conferences, during theatrical performances, public readings, and author readings, and the like.