US2447080A

US2447080A - Musical instrument support

Info

Publication number: US2447080A
Application number: US784692A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter H Meier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-11-07
Filing date: 1947-11-07
Publication date: 1948-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1965-08-17

Description

Aug. 7, 1948. w. H. MEIER 2,447,080

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SUPPORT Filed Nov. 7, 1947 /6 W. Meier INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a support for musical instruments, particularly a Violoncello or the like.

In the present invention, I have had in mind as the primary object of the invention to provide a support for a musical instrument of the type stated, which will be of inexpensive and yet unusually durable construction; which has separable parts, to permit easy assembly, disassembly, and replacement of any portion of the device which becomes worn; which will prevent any tendency of the instrument to slip while being played; and which will permit smooth and easy movement of the instrument as it is being played.

Briefly stated, the invention embodies a rod which is connected to the lower end of the instrument; a sleeve on the lower end of the rod, the rod being proportioned to rotate freely in the sleeve; a means for preventing the rod from slipping out of the sleeve, but which will nevertheless permit free swiveling of the rod, this means taking the present form of a set screw threadable through the sleeve and into a circumferential groove on the rod; and a specially formed rubber cup fitting over the bottom of the sleeve.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the lower portion of a musical instrument, with the support attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of the lower end of the support, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character I designates a musical instrument, preferably a Violoncello. However, as will be recognized from the description of the invention to be provided, the invention can be applied as well to other instruments of the same general class.

To the lower end of the instrument I is connected, in any suitable manner, one end of a cylindrical rod 5 of any length desired. Such a rod is generally detachable from the instrument.

Spaced from the other end of the rod 5 is a stop, which in the drawing is shown as a cross pin 6 driven through a transverse opening formed in the rod. It is believed sufficiently obvious as not to require special illustration that a lug or lugs could be :formed as well on the surface of the rod, the .cross pin or stop 6 being solely for the purpose of engaging the inner end of a sleeve "I slipped over the end of rod 5.

Sleeve 1 is closed at its lower end as shown at 8 and preferably has a flat bottom 9 engagin the pointed end I0 of the rod. The sleeve is preferably of metal, although other materials of suitable qualities may as well be used. Adjacent its open end, the sleeve 1 is provided with a threaded opening H in its side wall, receiving knurled thumb screw l2. When sleeve '1 is in engagement at one end with stop 6 and at its other end with the pointed end 10 of the rod, the opening I l is in register with a circumferential groove formed in the rod. Thus, the thumb screw l2 can be threaded inwardly so as to extend into the groove. This keeps the rod and sleeve assembled, the thumb screw serving additionally to provide a guide means permitting free swiveling of the rod in the sleeve.

At I4 I have illustrated a tip, that is preferably of fairly soft rubber material, this being provided at one end with a socket i 5 receiving the sleeve 1. Socket I 5 should be so proportioned as to grip the sleeve tightly, so as to prevent relative rotation between the sleeve and tip.

The other end of the tip l4, that engages the floor, tapers to a centrally disposed fiat bottom I6, the tapered portion being annularly stepped as at IT.

I have found that by constructing the tip H in this manner, firm engagement with the floor is permitted, regardless of the angle of inclination of the instrument relative to the floor.

In use of the device, the parts are first assembled as described, the thumb screw I2 being threaded into groove l3 no more than is necessary to keep the sleeve from slipping off the rod, and to engage lightly the side walls of the groove. It may be noted in this connection that the pointed end IU of the rod, constituting a pintle, permits free swiveling of the rod relative to the sleeve and rubber tip. The cross pin 6 is desirable, in this connection, in that it prevents any tendency of the point of the rod to wear too deep a hole in the bottom 9 of the sleeve.

I have found that by using a device constructed in accordance with the invention, the rubber tip I 4 will firmly and resiliently engage the floor, while the instrument can yet be responsive to any movement imposed thereon by the operator during the normal playing thereof. A great improvement over end pins commonly in (J use is, I believe, thus provided at a minimum of expense.

What is claimed is:

1. A support for a, Violoncello or the like, comprising a rod pointed at one end, a sleeve having one end closed, the pointed end beingextended into, and engaging the closed end of, the sleeve, means adapted to prevent disengagement of the sleeve from the rod, and to permit free swiveling movement of the rod within the sleeve, and a resilient floor-engaging tip tightly fitted over the sleeve.

2-. A support for a Violoncello or the like, including a cylindrical rod pointed at one end, a sleeve closed at one end into which the pointed end of the rod is inserted, a thumb screw threadable through the side Wall of the sleeve, there being a circumferential groove in the rod adapted to receive the thumb screw, and a resilient floorengaging tip tightly fitted over the sleeve, the floor-engaging portion of the tip being tapered and annularly stepped.

3. A support for a Violoncello or the like, including a cylindrical rod pointed at one end, a

4 sleeve closed at one end into which the pointed end of the rod is inserted, a thumb screw threadable through the side wall of the sleeve, there being a, circumferential groove in the rod adapted to receive the thumb screw, a, resilient floorengaging tip tightly fitted over the sleeve, the floor-engaging portion of the tip being tapered and annularly stepped, and stop means carried by the rod adapted to prevent excessive wear of the sleeve by the pointed end of the rod-.

WALTER H. MEIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the