GB2365199A

GB2365199A - Musical instrument support sling

Info

Publication number: GB2365199A
Application number: GB0017902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glynis Anne Langley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-20
Filing date: 2000-07-20
Publication date: 2002-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-20
Also published as: GB2365199B; GB0017902D0

Abstract

A support sling for a musical instrument, comprises a hook 12 for releasably attaching the sling to the musical instrument. Two shoulder loops 14, 16 of webbing are each attached to the hook and in use extend around a user's shoulder. An elasticated web extends 28 between and is attached to each of the two loops for disposition across the user's back. The elasticated web is under tension when an instrument is attached to and supported by the sling, thereby bearing the load evenly across the users back and shoulders and reducing neck strain to the user.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> Musical Instrument Support Sling This invention relates to support slings for musical instruments and in particular, but not exclusively, to support slings for saxophones.

Most existing saxophone support slings comprise a webbed material loop worn around the players neck. A cord extending from the loop has means to attach the sling to instrument; the cord is generally adjustable in length. The support sling hook is attached to the saxophone at a grommet on the main body of the instrument. Such an arrangement allows the majority of the weight of the instrument to be taken on the player's neck rather than their arms. Padding on the loop may help to cushion the weight. Similar slings are used by players of other large woodwind instruments including bassoons, bass clarinets and cors anglais.

This type of sling can cause neck strain for players who use the instrument for long periods. Also, children are often unable to cope with the relatively large weight borne by their necks when playing the instrument leading to discomfort and a loss of posture.

Accordingly the present invention provides a support sling for a musical instrument, comprising; a hook for releasably attaching the sling to the musical instrument; two shoulder loops of webbing, each attached to the hook and each for extending around a user's shoulder; and an elasticated web extending between and attached to each of the two loops for disposition across the user's back.

Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that the weight may be reasonably evenly distributed across the shoulders and back of the player. The elasticated web will stretch across the back bearing a significant part of the load across the users shoulder blades and back: the remaining load is borne by the shoulders of the player. The sling has been found to reduce neck strain in players.

Embodiments of the invention also have the advantage that they provides a sling that can be used by a child and will reduce strain on the neck and body of the child.

Adjustments to the length of the sling may easily be made as the child grows.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the support sling embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a front right perspective view of the support sling of figure 1 being worn by a player and supporting a saxophone; and Figure 3 is a rear view of the support sling of figure 1 being worn by a player.

Referring to figure 1, the support sling 10 comprises a hook 12 for attachment to a musical instrument and two adjustable loops 14 and 16. The loops 14 and 16 are made from lengths of suitable material such as strong fabric webbing formed into a loop. A buckle 18,20 is provided on each loop to enable the length of the loop to be adjusted.

The buckles 18,20 comprise a spaced frame with preferably two parallel members or bars extending across the frame. The spacing in the frame should be sufficient to enable the loop fabric to pass through the buckle and around the bars. The end of the loop that terminates at the buckle passes over a bar at one end of the buckle and is folded back onto itself where it is stitched into position. The other free end of the fabric is passed through the buckle, around another bar of the buckle, and out of the buckle frame to form an adjustable loop with a free end of fabric.

The length of the loop is adjusted by varying the length of the free end of the fabric that extends from the buckle. The bar of the buckle that the free end of the loop passes around should be close to the buckle frame such that the fabric of the loop rubs against the frame of

the buckle. The friction between the fabric and frame prevents the free end of the fabric from slipping in the buckle when tension is applied to the loop. The size of each loop can be adjusted independently from the other loop. Preferably the end of the loop that passes from the hook, under the user's arm and over the shoulder terminates at the buckle. The free end of the loop extends from the hook to the buckle. Preferably loops of material positioned around the each loop 18, 20 and close to the buckle provide means to allow any loose ends of each loop to be tucked away and kept in position. This helps to prevent loose ends from flapping and getting caught or disrupting the player.

The two loops are preferably stitched together at their bottoms 21 such that the front portions of the loops are generally V-shaped as shown in the figures. The stitching of the two loops defines a loop 23 for the hook harness 22. The harness is preferably made with a suitable eyelet or slot so that the loop fabric can pass through it. Preferably the hook and the hook harness are rotatably connected so that the hook can rotate with respect to the hook harness and support sling. The hook preferably has an outwardly resilient clip 24 impinging against the inside of the mouth of the hook thereby forming a closed loop. When an instrument is to be placed on the hook the resilient clip can be pushed away from the inside of the hook to open the hook mouth and the instrument grommet clipped onto the hook. Once the instrument is in place, the clip can be released to return to its original position and closing the hook. This will prevent the musical instrument from falling off the hook during use.

The stitching of the loops together has the added function of preventing the hook harness from sliding along the sling. The stitching 26 can be arranged so that it passes through both loops and attaches each loop to the other, forming a bond that prevents each loop moving relative to the other.

A web 28 made from a length of elasticated material, is attached at its ends to the two loops at a position away from the hook in a manner which allows it to slide up and down the loops. In the embodiment illustrated, each end of the web is formed into a loop 30 and 31 each around the fabric of the sling. This arrangement allows the web to move freely along the sling. The web can easily be removed from the sling by unbuckling each loop and pulling the web free from the sling. The length of the web is chosen so that it stretches by a significant amount across the back of the user during use. The amount of stretch during use and length of the web is dependant on the size and preferences of the user. By a significant amount of stretching it is meant that, in use, the web is in tension Figure 2 shows a player 40 wearing the sling 10. The instrument 42 is attached to the sling hook 12 by clipping the instrument eye 44 over the hook; such eyes are commonly used on musical instruments which require slings. The player puts the sling on by passing his head between the web and the hook and then passing each arm into a loop. Thus each loop of the sling passes from the front of the player, over a shoulder, down the back of the shoulder, under the arm and back to the front of the player. As can be seen in figure 3, the web 28 is positioned under tension across the player's back. The buckles 18 and 20 are positioned on the portion of the loop passing over the shoulder to facilitate easy adjustment of the length of each loop.

The position of the instrument relative to the user can be adjusted by changing the length of the loops. If the instrument is required in a low position and/or relatively distant from the player, the length of the loops is increased. Likewise, if a player requires the instrument to be supported in a position towards one side of their body, the loop on the side the instrument is to be positioned can be shortened and the opposite loop lengthened. This may be particularly useful if the player

is changing from one saxophone to another, for example from an alto to a tenor.

Figure 3 is a rear view of a player 40 wearing the sling 10. The instrument supported by the sling is obscured from view. The elasticated web 28 is positioned between the sling loops and across the player's back. The web is made of a length of elasticated material formed into loops 30 and 31 at either end, each loop passing around one loop of the sling. Stitching 46 secures the web loops 30 and 31. Different lengths of webbing 28 can be supplied so that players of different proportions can use the same loops making the sling more versatile. Also, webs with different elastic properties can be supplied to suit the user's requirements.

The web 28 serves two main purposes. When positioned and adjusted correctly it will maintain the two slings in a comfortable position on the user's shoulders close to the user's neck and it will take a substantial portion of the load on the hook by virtue of the elasticated nature of the material and the fact that it is held in tension on the user's back. The length of material is chosen so that, when the sling and player are bearing the weight of an instrument, the web 28 stretches sufficiently to bear a substantial proportion of the load, but does not over stretch so that the loops can slide away from the neck to the ends of the shoulders. Ideally the loops should be maintained in a comfortable position on the shoulders. Strain to the user's back or neck can result if the loops are positioned too far from the neck.

Furthermore, the elasticated web 28 takes the greatest load when it is positioned on the user's back opposite and level with the hook 12. The more load that is borne by the web 28, the greater the reduction of any neck and/or shoulder strain felt by the player. The web 28 is slidable along the loops 18, 20 so that a user can adjust the web's position on their back to best suit their personal preferences with the instrument being played.

The support sling has the advantage of providing a fully adjustable arrangement so that a single sling could be sold with a variety of elasticated webs to suit user's needs. By making appropriate adjustments to the loops and web, a single sling could fit the majority of players, and could be used for instruments of different weights and sizes. It is, however, likely that two sizes will have to be produced. One would be suitable for small adults or children up to teenage years, and the other for teenagers to adult sizes.

Nylon webbing with a 2.5cm width is a suitable material for the loops 14 and 16, and elasticated webbing of 5cm width is suitable for the web 28. These materials and the buckles and hook arrangement are a11 commercially available. The buckles must provide enough friction to prevent the loops from sliding through them when a load is applied to the sling.

To provide a full range of adjustments for a teenager to adult size harness to fit the majority users, the following approximate dimensions for the sling are suitable. The overall length of each loop should measure 1300mm. The length of loop passing under the arm from the hook terminating at the buckle should measure 800mm. The portion of the loop extending from the hook, terminating at the free end and passing through the buckle should therefore measure 500mm. This will provide almost 500mm of adjustment to the length of each loop. A child size sling will be preferably proportionately smaller in dimension.

The relaxed length of the web, that is the distance each loop 30, 31 can be held apart without stretching the web in any way, should be made between 100mm and 300mm depending on the size of the person the sling is intended to fit.

It will be appreciated that different buckle arrangements and adjustable webs can be used in further embodiments of the present invention. Other modifications

within the scope of the invention are possible and will occur to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A support sling for a musical instrument, comprising; a hook for releasably attaching the sling to the musical instrument; two shoulder loops of webbing, each attached to the hook and each for extending around a user's shoulder; and an elasticated web extending between and attached to each of the two loops for disposition across the user's back.
2. A support sling according to claim 1 wherein, the elasticated web is movably attached to each of the shoulder loops.
3. A support sling according to claim 2, wherein the elasticated web is slidably attached to each of the shoulder loops.
4. A support sling according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the elasticated web is removable from the shoulder loops.
5. A support sling according to any preceding claim, further comprising means to adjust the length of each of the shoulder loops.
6. A support sling according to claim 5, further comprising a buckle on each of the shoulder loops for adjusting the length of each shoulder loop.
7. A support sling according to any preceding claim, wherein the two shoulder loops are stitched to each other to form a V shape.
8. A support sling according to any preceding claim, wherein each shoulder loop comprises a buckle for adjusting the length of the shoulder loop and wherein

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the hook is movable along at least a portion of the loop.
9. A support sling according to any preceding claim, wherein the hook is attached to an eyelet arranged on both shoulder loops.
10. A support sling according to any preceding claim, wherein the elasticated web is positioned across the back of the user, substantially opposite to and level with the hook.
11. A support sling substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.