GB2091204A - Plectrum dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

In a plectrum dispenser, plectra (26) are integrally but frangibly connected by tabs to support portions (12) and are protected by a folded covering (18) secured to the support portions (12). The plectra are arranged in staggered formation in a plurality of rows. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Plectrum dispenser The present invention relates to dispensers for plectra.

Most stringed instruments, such as a guitar, used to play contemporary music are plucked by a musician holding a plectrum, often referred to as a pick. The plectrum is a generally triangularly shaped wafer-like element. Usually, the material employed is one of the many man-made plastic compositions formable by any one of many production techniques such as injection moulding, casting, punching or stamping.

The plectra are of small size and may easily be misplaced, lost or otherwise disappear. For this reason, both amateur and professional musicians try to have upon their person or within easy retrieve a plurality of plectra. However, the supply can easily dwindle without the musician having an awareness thereof or retrieval of the plectra, whether from one of his pockets, the case for the instrument or other location may be exasperating.

To relieve some of the frustrations attendant a lost plectrum, various devices have been developed.

United States Patent No. 4,135,431 discloses a spring loaded holder mounted upon a guitar for storing a stack of plectra, each of which is dispensable by a thumbing action. In using the device, a serious problem arises in that the whole stack of plectra may be simultaneously inadvertently withdrawn, resulting in substantial inconvenience to the musician and possible loss of several of the plectra. United States Patent No. 3,678,793 discloses a mounting for plectra used in conjunction with instruments such as harpsichords, spinets and like instruments wherein each plectrum is attached to a mechanical element which element is actuated by the musician. The mounting supports the plectra in opposed rows and provides selective removal of one or more of a plectra.No means are intended nor provided to protect the plectra during transport of the mounting and the plectra are intended to be detached only in conjunction with replacement by a musical instrument repair technician; they are unsuitable for strumming by a musician. United States Design Patent No.205,029 illustrates a holder for removably housing a single plectrum. United States Patent No.

1,645,916 is directed to a box-like container for holding plectra therein and which box is attached to the tailpiece of a stringed instrument. United States Patent No. 1,625,651 describes a multipocket holder for holding individual reeds. A stiff backing precludes bending of the held reeds and a foldable cover minimizes exposure of the reeds to injury from contact with other objects.

The present invention provides a plectrum dispenserfor storing detachably attached plectra, comprising support means for supporting said plectra; tab means for removably retaining said plectra with said support means; and a covering for shielding said plectra while supported by said support means.

The dispenser may be constructed of a thin small size so as to be easily transportable. The dispenser may be inexpensive and discardable.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an isometric representation of a plectra dispenser according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end view thereof; Figure 3 is a detailed view, as depicted in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4, as shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 illustrates the plectra dispenser having several plectra removed therefrom.

The plectra dispenser 10 illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of support members 12 maintained adjacent one another and partially enfolded within fold 14 and back 16 of a protective covering 18. Retaining means, such as rivet 20 illustrated, penetrably engages fold 14, support member 12 and back 16 to retain these elements fixed in place with respect to one another. It is to be understood that staples, such as staple 20a shown in Figure 5, adhesives or other means can be used with equal facility to maintain the support members attached to one another in a removable relationship with a covering, attached to fold 14, only, attached to backing 16 only, or intermediate fold 14 and backing 16, as illustrated.

Covering 18 includes a front 22 having a lower edge 24. By appropriate dimensioning of covering 18 and adequate resiliency of fold 14 or support members 12, edge 24 may be lodged intermediate the fold and the support members to frictionally maintain front 22 in place. Thereby, the covering may be maintained in place by friction and yet easily openable and closable in the manner of a book of matches.

As particularly illustrated in Figure 5, each of support members 12 support one or more plectrums 26 by a frangible tab 28. By selective turning, tearing or pulling of a plectrum away from its support member, the supporting tab will tear, as depicted by the torn remains of tab 30. Necessarily, some roughness may result on the commensurate edge portion of the plectrum, as depicted by edge portion 32 shown in Figure 5. That is, the roughness may be generally in alignment with the normal perimeter of the plectrum or may be somewhat extended therefrom, depending upon the exact location of the tear of the formally attached tab. Any such resulting edge roughness has no bearing upon the use of the plectrum as the wide part of the plectrum, the part commensurate with the point of attachment, is retained intermediate the musician's fingers.The pointed end, depicted by numeral 34, is the end which performs the plucking function upon the strings of the stringed instrument with which it is used.

As particularly depicted in Figures 1 and 5, each of support members 12 supports one or more detachably attached plectra. The points of attachment are deliberately overlapped and staggered to provide an essentially overall uniform density of plectra and prevent bulging. Thereby, the minimum thinness of the dispenser is maintained commensurate with the number of plectra stored therein. The resulting overlapped staggered relationship of the supported plectra tends also to provide more facile access to a plectrum by a user. Thereby, danger of inadvertent removal of more than one plectrum is minimized.

Most plectra are made of one of several manmade plastics because of expense, the ability to obtain a wafer-like plectrum having a satisfactory degree of elasticity, wear characteristics and stability of configuration. These piectra may be made by injection moulding techniques, casting, stamping or the like.

The very same techniques for manufacturing conventional plectra may be empioyed to manufacture support members 12 supporting one or more plectrum by means of interconnecting tabs. The combination of support member, tab and plectra may be manufactured as a unit. The material costs of small articles made of man-made plastics are essentially inconsequential with the real costs associated therewith being a function of the manufacturing process, packaging and handling. Thus, the additional material required by support members 12fora given number of plectra is essentially inconsequential. Any additional costs in manufacturing the plectra with attached support members are most of minor significance.The further costs associated with covering 18 and attachment thereof to a plurality of support members is essentially commensurate with that of any other packaging costs associated with plectra. Accordingly, the cost on a per plectrum basis of the plectra dispenser is essentially commensurate with and may be less than the cost of presently available individual plectra.

Covering 18 shields the enfolded supported plectra against inadvertent detachment or damage. The resulting package configuration bears a strong resemblance to that of a book of matches. Like a book of matches, dispenser 18 can be readiiy carried in any one of the musician's pockets without binding of bulging; and, it may be discarded when empty.

Furthermore, the dispenser is readily locatable by the musician and easily retrievable. After retrieval of the dispenser detachment of a plectrum is easily performable. Should the dispenser be dropped or fall off a stand, the plectra will not scatter. Instead, they will still remain attached to the dispenser for easy pickup.

Claims (11)

1. Aplectrum dispenserforstoring detachably attached plectra, comprising support means for supporting said plectra; tab means for removably retaining said plectra with said support means; and a covering for shielding said plectra while supported by said support means.

2. A dispenser according to Claim 1 including a plurality of said support means, each of which supports at least one plectrum.

3. A dispenser according to Claim 2, wherein each of said support means, the associated ones of said tab means and the associated ones of said plectra comprise a monolithic unit.

4. A dispenser according to Claim 3, wherein said monolithic unit is of synthetic plastics material.

5. A dispenser according to Claim 2,3 or 4 wherein said plurality of support means supports said plectra in an overlapped and staggered relationship to one another.

6. A dispenser according to any preceding claim wherein the covering includes one end fixedly attached to the support means and another end removably attached to the support means to provide selective access to the plectra.

7. A dispenser according to Claim 6 as appendant to any of Claims 2 to 5 wherein said one end of said covering enfolds said plurality of support means.

8. A dispenser according to Claim 7 wherein said other end of the covering is removably retainable intermediate said one end of the covering and the plurality of support means.

9. A dispenser according to any preceding claim wherein said tab means comprises a frangible tab.

10. A dispenser for plectra, comprising a plurality of support members located adjacent one another; a plurality of frangible tabs extending in a common direction from each of said support members and in spaced relationship therealong; a plectrum attached to each of said tabs; a covering for enfolding and protecting said plectra, the covering including one end secured to said plurality of support members and another end selectively securable adjacent said plurality of support members for maintaining the covering in enfolded relationship to the plectra; and retaining means for attaching said plurality of support members and said one end of the covering to one another.

11. A dispenser and plectra combination substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.