GB2208255A - Plectrum holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A plectrum holder 1 has a plectrum receiving pocket defined by a rear wall 4, converging side walls 6 and 7 and an outer wall 9. The outer wall has a cut-out 11 facilitating access to a plectrum when in the pocket. A leaf spring 12 within the pocket serves to urge a plectrum against the outer wall 9 to retain the plectrum in the pocket. The plectrum holder may be permanently or releasably mounted to or integral with a musical instrument or a case or accessory therefor. <IMAGE>

Description

Plectrum Holder This invention relates to a holder for a plectrum. A plectrum is a small, frequently thin, flat triangular, piece of material such as plastic, ivory or the like for plucking strings of a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar, banjo, mandolin or similar instrument.

A plectrum is not always used by a musician when playing tunes on such instruments. They may be used only for selected tunes, or parts of tunes, for example to achieve a particular effect. Thus a musician may commence a performance without a plectrum but may need to have it available for use later. Similarly, the plectrum may be used and then placed somewhere until needed subsequently for another tune. Under such circumstances it is easy for the plectrum to be mislaid, particularly during the course of a concert. This leads to inconvenience and difficulty. Clearly, the problems are increased if a plectrum has to be used for some parts of a tune and not others, or if the musician changes between instruments during the course of a tune, with one of the instruments requiring a plectrum and the other not.

Musicians have tried many ways to keep a plectrum to hand. Typically they may be laid on a convenient piece of furniture or equipment; taped to a microphone stand; placed in a trouser pocket; in a box; in between the scratch plate and the body of a guitar; or under the strings at the top of an instrument. With these known arrangements it is easy to mislay the plectrum, to put it back in the wrong place, or in the case of "ad hoc" attachment to a guitar lose it - particularly during vigorous play.

It is therefore now proposed to provide a purpose made holder for a plectrum which can be attached permanently or temporarily to a musical instrument or a case or other accessory therefor, or even formed integrally in the design of the instrument. Viewed broadly from one aspect, there is disclosed herein a plectrum holder comprising a pocket for receiving a plectrum, the pocket having an open end into which the plectrum can be inserted, resilient means being arranged so as to provide a retaining force on a plectrum in the pocket, and the pocket having an outer wall configured to allow access to a substantial part of the outer face of the plectrum by a finger or thumb to facilitate removal of the plectrum from the pocket through the open end. Preferably, the resilient means urges a plectrum into engagement with the outer wall of the pocket.

In use, the holder will generally be attached to-a musical instrument or will be made integrally with part of the instrument. The holder could even be attached to a strap or the like for the instrument. In this manner a plectrum in the holder will be conveniently available for use when desired and can easily be replaced after use. However, the holder could be positioned elsewhere such as on an instrument case, a microphone stand, or an article of clothing such as a belt. The resilient means will prevent the plectrum falling, or being shaken, out of the holder, whilst the configuration of the outer wall enables the musician to engage the face of the plectrum with a thumb or finger so that it can be slid out of the holder easily.

Where the holder is a separate item to be attached to an instrument, it can be provided with suitable means for attaching it permanently or releasably to the instrument. This could be in the form of adhesive, double sided adhesive tape or the like applied to a rear wall of the holder.

This rear wall is preferably flat to improve adhesion to the instrument. The adhesive, adhesive tape or the like could be on the holder when supplied to a user, and provided with a protective cover sheet which is removed before attachment. The adhesive means may be releasable and re-usable so that the holder can be repositioned on an instrument or removed to another instrument.

Preferably to match the shape of a conventional plectrum, the sides of the pocket converge from said open end.

The configuration of the outer wall, to provide access to a face of the plectrum, is preferably such that an open-topped cut-out is provided, being widest at the open end of the pocket and narrowing towards the other end. The dimensions of this cut-out, which can be triangular in shape, should be such that when a finger or thumb is placed on the outer wall, there is engagement with the face of the plectrum so that it can be slid out of the pocket. Since the top of the pocket is open, in the preferred arrangement the plectrum - which is generally triangular in shape - will be engaged by the outer wall along regions around at least part of its converging edges. The outer wall of the pocket may then take the shape of a "V", with the converging legs engaging the plectrum and the triangular space between then providing the access to the face of the plectrum.

The pocket does not have to contain the entire plectrum, and some of it may remain outside of the open end. This can assist removal from the holder.

In terms of the general shape of the holder, which may be moulded from plastics material or fabricated from metal or any other suitable material, the preferred construction disclosed herein comprises a flat rear wall, a pair of side walls which extend perpendicularly from the rear wall and which converqe from an open, plectrum receiving end, to a closed end, and an outer wall spaced from the rear wall and extending Perpendicularly to the side walls.

It will be appreciated that, quite apart from being configured to provide access to the plectrum face, the outer wall need not be continuous and could consist of separate portions. For example, in some cases it may be sufficient to have one outer wall portion along part of one side wall, and another portion along part of the other side wall. Furthermore, the outer wall could be in the form of a narrow ridge extending around part or all of the side walls. Preferably, the wall is wider so that there will be a reduced chance of a plectrum escaping past the wall, particularly if it is of slightly smaller dimensions than originally intended.

The resilient means in the pocket could be a pad of resilient material such as rubber, a coil spring, a movable plate of e.g. plastic with a spring or the like disposed between it and the rear wall of the pocket, and so forth. Preferably, however, the resilient means is in the form of a leaf spring. This could be a separate spring of metal or plastic but preferably is integrally formed with the holder. Thus, the spring could be in the form of a strip of plastic integrally fixed at one end to the rear wall of the pocket, in the case of a moulded plastic holder. Insertion of a plectrum into the holder will stress the resilient means so that the required retaining force is provided.

The arrangement may also permit a number of plectra to be held in the holder at the same time, one on top of the other. This will be of use if a plectrum is broken or dropped during a performance.

An embodiment of a plectrum holder embodying the above and cther principles will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fiq. 1 is a front view of the plectrum holder; Fig. 2 is a front view of a conventional plectrum; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the holder; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the holder with the plectrum in position; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a stringed musical instrument with the holder according to the invention in position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is shown a plectrum holder 1 for a plectrum 2, the holder being adapted to be positioned on a musical instrument such as a guitar 3 as shown in Figure 5, with the plectrum easily accessible to the player. The plectrum 2 is of a conventional type, being of flat slightly flexible plastic material, and being generally triangular in shape although the edges and the corners are somewhat curved.

The holder 1 is moulded in one piece from a suitable plastic material. It comprises a generally triangular rear wall 4, slightly larger than the dimensions of the plectrum 2, having a flat surface on which is provided a strip 5 of adhesive material for attaching the holder to the guitar 3. From the rear wall extend perpendicularly a pair of side walls 6 and 7 around the periphery of the rear wall. These side walls thus converge to a junction 8 at the lower apex of the rear wall 4.

Between the side walls 6 and 7 extends perpendicularly an outer wall 9 which is spaced from the rear wall 4.

There is thus defined a pocket which is adapted to receive the plectrum 2, through the top, open end 10. The rear wall extends beyond the open end 10 of the pocket.

The outer wall 9 has a triangular cut-out 11 in its upper edge, to provide access to a plectrum 2 when in the holder. The outer wall thus has itself the general shape of a "V".

Within the holder is provided an integrally moulded plastic leaf spring 12. This is in the form of a strip attached at its lower end 13 to the rear wall 4. The leaf spring is not uniformly bowed but comprises two relatively flat portions meeting each other at an angle at an apex 14 which engages the plectrum. There is a first relatively long flat portion 15 extending up from the base of the pocket, away from the rear wall, and a second relatively short portion 16 extending back towards the rear wall. When a plectrum is inserted into the holder, it passes between the spring 12 and the outer wall 9. The bowed shape of the spring 12 facilitates insertion. The spring flattens slightly as shown in Figure 4, with the free end of portion 16 moving slightly up the rear wall 4.This flattening results in a restoring force acting on the rear face of plectrum 2, which is thus urged against the outer wall 9. The holding force is sufficient to avoid accidental shaking of the plectrum out of the holder but does not present excessive resistance to intentional removal.

It has been found desirable if the leaf spring, or other resilient means, engages the plectrum in the region of the cut-out. In the preferred arrangement the area of engagement by the apex 14 is approximately at the open end of the pocket.

With preferred arrangements, this provides balanced support for a plectrum within the pocket.

As can be seen, the plectrum is not contained entirely within the pocket and part of its upper region is outside the limits of the outer wall 9 and side walls 6 and 7.

In use, removal of the plectrum is easily achieved by positioning a thumb on the outer wall 9 so that part of the thumb engages the face of the plectrum through cut-out 11, and then sliding the plectrum out.

As will be appreciated, the nature of the spring 12 is such that a number of plectra can be positioned in the holder and removed sequentially, the one nearest the outer wall being removed by the thumb, and the one underneath being then urged against the outer wall 9 by the spring 12.

There is thus provided a simple, effective and versatile holder for one or more plectra, which can be attached where desired on a musical instrument such as a guitar. Both insertion and removal of a plectrum are convenient, whilst secure holding is ensured.

The plectrum holder particularly described and illustrated herein is specifically designed to accommodate a conventional plectrum and to be attached to an instrument in an unobstrusive manner which will not interfere with playing of the instrument.

Thus, it is relatively flat, with the depth of the side walls being substantially less than the other main dimensions, and in overall size is not much greater than a plectrum itself, being generally triangular or heart-shaped to match the shape of a conventional plectrum.

Whilst the above broad principles and specific constructional details are concerned particularly with a holder having resilient means and other features, there is disclosed broadly herein a holder for a plectrum comprising a receiving means for receiving a plectrum, the receiving means being permanently mounted to, integral with or releasably mounted to a musical instrument or a case or accessory therefor, the receiving means preferably comprising a pocket forming member. Although spring means are preferred for retaining the plectrum in position, this is not essential. The holder may include a closeable top, for example a top closeable by means of strips of "Velcro" (Trade Mark) or similar material, a zipper or any suitable releasable fastening.

Protection is sought for these broader and modified concepts also, and for their use with other specific features described earlier.

In general, protection is sought for all of the novel features disclosed herein, alone or in any workable combination, and for modifications of these features, whether within the broad definitions set forth above and earlier, or outside of them.

For example, protection may be sought for a holder with the resilient means for retaining the plectrum but without the cut-out or the like allowing access to the plectrum, or vice versa, both in broad terms or in more restricted terms.

Claims (13)

1. A plectrum holder comprising a pocket for receiving a plectrum, the pocket having an open end into which the plectrum can be inserted, resilient means being arranged so as to provide a retaining force on a plectrum in the pocket, and the pocket having an outer wall configured to allow access to a substantial part of the outer face of the plectrum by a finger or thumb to facilitate removal of the plectrum from the pocket through the open end.

2. A plectrum holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer wall, adacent the open end of the pocket, is formed with an open topped cut-out allowing said access to a plectrum when contained in the pocket.

3. A plectrum holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cut-out is relatively wide adjacent the open end of the pocket and narrows towards the other end.

4. A plectrum holder as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sides of the pocket converge from said open end.

5. A plectrum holder as claimed in claim 4, comprising a flat rear wall defining the rear of the pocket, and a pair of side walls, defining the sides of the pocket, which extend perpendicularly from the rear wall and which converge from the open end of the pocket to a closed end, the outer wall being spaced from the rear wall and extending perpendicularly to the side walls.

6. A plectrum holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein the outer wall is of generally "V" shape.

7. A plectrum holder as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the resilient means is arranged to engage the plectrum in the region of the cut-out in the outer wall.

8. A plectrum holder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the resilient means comprises a leaf spring within the pocket.

9. A plectrum holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein the leaf spring is integrally moulded with the remainder of the holder from a plastic material.

10. A plectrum holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A plectrum holder as claimed in any preceding claim, having at least one plectrum held therein.

12. A musical instrument having thereon a plectrum holder as claimed in any preceding claim.

13. A holder for a plectrum, comprising a receiving means for receiving a plectrum, the receiving means being permanently mounted to, integral with or releasably mounted to a musical instrument or a case or accessory therefor.