US950873A - Violin-supporter. - Google Patents

Description

H. A. SMITH.

VIOLIN SUPPORTER.

APPLICATION FILED oemes, 1909.

950,873. Patented Mar. 1,1910.

31" B Y v 1; MP w ATTORNE rs WITNESSES HENRY ALLEN SMITH, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

VIOLIN-SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

Application filed October 23, 1909. Serial No. 524,100.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ALLEN SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Danbury, in the county of Fair-field and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Violin-Supporter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to means for affording support to the body of a violin while in use, and obviating the strain usually imposed upon the chin and the tendons of the neck of the player.

The purpose of the invention is to provide novel features of construction for a violin support, which are extremely simple, light, convenient in service, afford perfect freedom in handling the instrument, permit the quick, easy connection of the violin with the supporting device, and its release therefrom as may be desired.

The invention consists in the novel c011- struction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and defined in the appendedv claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the violin supporter, in position on the person of the player, the violin being removed; Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the heel port-ion of a violin, a chin rest thereon removably se cured on the violin body, and the improved supporting device detachably connected with the chin rest; and Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the improvement.

In the drawings, 5 indicates the heel end of a violin shell or body, 6 a tail-piece, E? a flexible connection, and 8 a stud that projects from the body 5, whereon the flexible connection is secured by one end thereof, the other end of said connection being attached to the tail-piece 6. A chin rest 9, of any preferred form and material, is removably secured on the body 5 by means of a clamp that consists of two sections 10 and 11. The section 10 extends downward from the rear end of the chin rest 9, passing through a sleeve 11 on the upper end of the section 11, wherein it is detachably secured by a set screw 10 From the sleeve 11 the section 11 extends down to a point a, where it is bent at a right angle, providing a clamping flange 11", that bears upon the lower side of the violin body and clamps the chin rest 9 on the upper side of said body.

The device that has been described is well-known, and is presented as one means for connectino a violin with the improved support therefor, that, as shown, comprises the following details: A preferably continuous rubber band 12 of proper length and strength is connected at one doubled end thereof, by a split ring 13 with one end of a spring-latching pin 14. At the opposite doubled end of the rubber band 12, a circular ring 15 is introduced, said ring of suitable diameter having a preferably rubber casing 15 thereon which provides a noiseless cover for the metal ring, or said ring may be entirely of rubber. On the clamping flange 11 a hook 16 is secured by one end thereof, it consisting of a wire rod pointed at its free end 6, the body of said hook being bent at 0 so as to project the end 5 forwardly on the lower side of the violin body. It is to be understood that an elastic cord, or a flat strip of elastic material may be substituted for the continuous rubber band 12.

In arranging the improved supporting device for service, the pin 14 is connected with the collar of the players vest at a proper point rearward thereon, which will permitthe disposal of the band 12- and circular ring 15, at the left side of the players neck, as shown in Fig. l. Preparatory to the use of the violin, it is manually held in position with the chin rest plate or block 9 beneath the chin of the player, toward his left check, or above the ring 15. Now with his left hand, the player engages the ring 15 with the hook 16, thus connecting the violin body 5 at its heel with the supporting device.

It Will be seen that the described connection, while secure, is sufliciently elastic to permit a free handling of the violin, so that its inclination in any direction to enable a proper execution of the musical score is freely permitted, while the weight of the instrument is mainly supported from the person of the player, the engagement of the chin of the player therewith being such that all nervous strain is avoided.

It should be understood that the described means for connecting the improved supporting means for a violin with such an instrument, may be varied, and if preferred, the flange l1 may be separate from the vertical member of the section 11. and be secured firmly upon the lower wall of the body 5 of a Violin, thus disposing the hook member 16 in proper position for the reception of the ring 15.

It will be noted that the improved means for supporting a violin is very flexible, yields to every movement involuntarily et' fected in the rendition. of music on the instrument, does not restrict the execution, but rather facilitates it, as the care required and nervous strain usually incurred in holding the violin gripped on the chest of the player by depression of the chin, are completely avoided. This release of the neck from nervous strain permits the player to devote all his efforts to a perfect rendition of the music, and results in a more perfect execution ot' the same. I

Obviously. at any time it is desired, the violin may be readily detached from the person of the player, by imhooking the hook 16 from the ring 15. and if desired, the de vice may be concealed by disposing it beneath the vest. collar.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A violin supporting device, comprising a secnrable pin, an elastic member, means for connecting the pin with said member, and means for connecting a portion of the elastic member with the heel of a violin body.

2. A violin supporting device, comprising a secnrable pin, an elongated, fiat, elastic member, means for connecting the pin with one end of said member, and means for connecting the other end thereof with the heel. of a violin body.

A violin supporting device, comprising a spring-latching pin, an endless, elastic band, means for connecting a doubled portion of the band with the spring-latching pin, and means for detachably connecting another doubled portion of the elastic band with the heel of a violin body.

4. A violin supporting device, con'iprising a springlatching pin, an endless, elastic band, a split ring connecting a doubled portion of the elastic band with the springlatching pin, a ring on another doubled portion of the elastic band, and means tor dctachably connecting said ring with the heel of a violin body.

A violin supporting device, comprising a spring-latching pin, an endless, elastic band, a split ring connecting a doubled portion ot the elastic band with the springlatching pin, a ring on another doubled portion of the elastic band, and a hook on a violin body detachably engaged with said ring.

(3. A violin supporting device, comprising a spring-latching pin, an elastic, endless band, a. split ring connecting a doubled portion of the band with the spring-latching pin, an elastically-covered ring engaging another doubled portion of the elastic band, a flat flange on the heel of a violin body, and a hook on said flange engaged with the covered ring.

7. A violin su1i porting device, eon'iprising a springlatching pin, an endless, elastic band, a split ring connecting a donbl ed portion of said band with the spring-latching pin, an elastically-covered ring connected with another doubled portion of the elastic band, a chin rest clamped on a violin body. and a hook on the chin rest clamp engaged with the covered ring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence oi two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY ALLEN HMt'lll.

\Vitnesses:

SAMUEL A. DAVIS, Finn) D. l\IILLs.

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