GB2052828A

GB2052828A - Device for supporting a musical instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2052828A
Application number: GB8018680A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-06-08
Filing date: 1980-06-06
Publication date: 1981-01-28
Also published as: GB2052828B; JPS6248830B2; DE3021047A1; JPS55166696A; DE3021047C2; CH647612A5

Abstract

Violin shoulder rest comprises a support member (8) whose ends are provided with clamps (10) which fix the support to the instrument, and a rest member (22) fixed to the support by a locable universal joint (19). The clamps may be adjustable by means of slots (9) in the support. The universal (eg ball and socket) joint (19) is locked by a locking screw (21) and may be axially displaced and locked in a guide slot (18) in the support member (8). The support member is curved to conform to the instrument back but may be reversed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for supporting a musical instrument The present invention relates to device for supporting musical instruments.

The invention is particularly but not exclusively suitable for use in supporting a violin or other such stringed instrument which is to be supported between the chin and shoulder of the musician, in which case the device is used for supporting the instrument on the shoulder of the musician. The instrument may also be provided with a chin support in the usual manner.

The present invention includes a device for supporting a musical instrument on the body of a musician, the device comprising a support member provided with clamping means at each of opposed ends thereof for clamping said member to respective edges of the musical instrument, said member being shaped to lie adjacent to the back of the instrument when clamped thereto in use, and a rest member adjustably connected to the support member by means of a lockable universal joint.

The support device to be described ensures a contact between the body and the support plate which is as immobile as possible in any playing position of the instrument. The support plate preferably allows its surface which is in contact with the players shoulder to conform anatomically therewith, which ensures in particular that the chin region and the arm are relaxed and unstrained whilst holding the instrument in any playing position.

The advantage of the described supporting device lies in particular in that a change in the playing position of the instrument does not involve a change of the support plate position as a result of the arrangement of a ball and socket joint between the member and the support plate, thus ensuring that the strain on the player whilst holding the instrument is reduced.

A further advantage lies in that a change in position of the instrument, independently of the support plate, may be provided for any desired or customary position by adjustment of the ball and socket joint. The ball and socket joint may be fixed in a known way by rotating the head via a locking screw, and the instrument position may be locked by hand without moving the instrument and without putting the bow down even during very short pauses in play.

By means of the supporting device to be described it is possible to ensure a careful fastening to all usual instruments, and it is possible to adapt the instrument position to the customary playing positions of the musician.

As a result of the arrangement of component parts of the supporting device, in particular as a result of the positioning of the support plate independently of the position of the member, a basic positioning of the support plate is possible and the support plate may be substantially adapted to the anatomy of the player, as a result of which the chin region and the arm of the player are not strained and therefore remain free from cramp.

In order that the invention may be well understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a device for supporting a musical instrument; Figure 2 shows a detail of the device of Fig.

1; and Figure 3 shows a partial view of an instrument with a supporting device as in Fig. 1 fixed thereto.

As illustrated in the drawings, a device 7 for supporting a musical instrument 1 comprises a slightly curved support or member 8 which extends preferably substantially parallel to the outer contour of the back 2 of the instrument 1 and which is made, for example, from a material of the same type as the instrument and which does not impair the tone of the instrument, such as wood, plywood, or metal. The support 8 has fixing means 10 at each of its ends. Each of the fixing means comprises clamping means formed as two holding clamps 1 7 which serve to fix the holding device 7 to a rib 4 at a respective edge 3 at the back 2 of the instrument.The clamps 1 7 are formed at either end of a tiltable member 1 6 which is mounted to the relative end of the support member 8 by bracket means comprising a two-part bracket 11, 13. One or both of the fixing means 10 may be axially displaced and locked in the support 8, for example by way of slot-shaped apertures 9 in bracket part 11, so that the supporting device 7 may be adapted to the particular width of the instrument. The curvature of the support 8 may also be formed nonparallel to the back of the instrument, so that the support 8 may be turned over through 180 according to requirements. Therefore the curved support 8 may be used convexly or concavely relative to the back 2 of the instrument thus providing a greater scope for individual adaptation of the instrument position by the player.A universal joint illustrated as a ball and socket joint 1 9 is longitudinally displaceable in a guide slot 1 8 in the centre of the support 8 and may be axially displaced locked at a set distance from support 8 by an adjustable screw 20. The ball and socket joint is connected to a support plate or rest member 22. The support plate 22 consists of a material which may be adapted to the anatomy of the musician and which retains that particular shape, and the surface of the support plate 22 which is adjacent to the body of the player is preferably provided with a resilient, non-slip covering 23. The support plate 22 may for example consist of materials per se which may be readily deformed and are dimensionally stable and which may be adapted in a shape-retaining manner to the individual body curvature of the anatomy of the player.The instrument may be adjusted and locked manually in any desired playing position corresponding to the customary positioning of the instrument by the musician, by setting the ball and socket joint in a simple manner in a very short time, even during very short pauses in playing, without moving the instrument and without putting the bow down. Locking and release of the positioning is preferably carried out by rotating the head of the ball and socket joint 1 9 and locking by way of a locking screw 21 in a set angular orientation. The ball and socket joint 1 9 may also be locked by way of a level clamp.

As illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 at least one of the bracket means is axially displaceable and lockable on the support 8 in the slot 9 in bracket part or elbow joint 11 for example by means of two adjustable screws 1 2. A second bracket part or elbow joint 1 3 has a stop screw 1 4 provided thereon. The elbow joints 11 and 1 3 are connected together for example by a rivet connection in such a way that the elbow joint 1 3 may be tilted by way of the rivet connection and the tilting movement may be confined by the adjustable stop screw 14.At the end of the elbow joint 1 3 opposite to the rivet connection there is provided a screw connection 1 5 which is connection to the tiltable member or element 1 6 which is adjustable in height by means of the screw connection 1 5. The element 1 6 has holding clamps 1 7 at both of its ends.The tiltable holding clamps 1 7 may also be formed to be adjustable in width (not shown) in the tilting component 1 6. The holding clamps 1 7 consist of a slightly deformable material, for example of light metal, and the tilting component 1 6 and the holding clamps 1 7 or at least the holding claims 1 7 are provided with a protective covering 24, for example of rubber, leather or the like, in order to ensure careful attachment to the instrument. The holding clamps 1 7 are formed in such a way that they engage in the region of a rib 3 of the lower frame on the edge 4 of the rib of the back 2 of the instrument and follow its contours.

In the case of an optimal adjustment of the fastening elements to the instrument 1, the position of the support 8 relative to the support plate 22 and the position of the surface of the support plate relative to the body of the player on one hand, and a suitable selection of material which does not impair the tone, in particular for the support 8, on the other hand, it is possible to attain an improved tone of the instrument in respect of known supporting or holding devices.

The supporting device described and shown in the drawing may also be formed as a single constructional unit with a chin rest 6 known per se.

Claims

1. A device for supporting a musical instrument on the body of a musician, the device comprising a support member provided with clamping means at each of opposed ends thereof for clamping said member to respective edges of the musical instrument, said member being shaped to lie adjacent to the back of the instrument when clamped thereto in use, and a rest member adjustably connected to the support member by mans of a lockable universal joint.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each clamping means comprises two holding clamps.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ends of the holding clamps are adapted to engage on a rib at the edge of the instrument, the clamps comprising a deformable material.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the clamping means are mounted on respective bracket means carried by the support member.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the bracket means is arranged so as to be axially displaceable and lockable in the support member.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the bracket means comprise means for adjusting the height of the clamping means and for tilting the clamping means.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support member is arranged to be convex relative to the back of the instrument, in use.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support member is arranged to be concave relative to the back of the instrument, in use.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support member is arranged to be substantially parallel to the back of the instrument, in use.

1 0. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the universal joint is arranged so as to be axially displaceable and lockable in the support member at a set distance from the support member.

11. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rest member is made of a material which is adaptable to the anatomy of a musician and which retains that particular shape.

1 2. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface of the rest member is adapted to lie adjacent to the body of the musician and is provided with a resilient, non-slip covering.

1 3. A device for supporting a musical instrument on the body of a musician substan tially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.