COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE STAND FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a collapsible portable stand for musical instruments which folds into a flat, compact configuration and erects with spread support legs and a horn support to securely support a musical instrument.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most musical instruments are contained in protective cases for storage and transportation. These musical instruments are taken out of their cases, in some cases are assembled, and are then played. However, there is an intermediate condition wherein the instrument is not held in the hands for immediate play, and yet accessibility is required because the instrument is soon to be played. A stand is necessary to support the musical instrument in a position convenient to the musician so that he has quick access to the instrument. Such a support should not only be available to the instrumentalist at his base, but should also be available to him when he plays his instrument away from his base. Thus, the support should be readily foldable, transportable, and deployable so that convenience iε achieved. In the folded condition, the support should be aε light and flat as possible for convenience in transportation from one site to another. Many of these needs are met by my prior U.S. Patent No. 5,165,634, but there is room for still further advancement in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a collapsible portable stand for musical instruments. The stand has a body into which the other parts pivot to define a small, compact stand when in the closed position. The stand has a base bar which pivotally receives two legs. The pivots are angularly arranged so that the legs swing laterally out from their pockets in the base bar. The main frame is pivotally mounted with respect to the base bar. A support bracket iε pivotally mounted on the base bar and locks in a slot in the main frame to hold
the main frame up in the unfolded supporting position.
It is thus one aspect of this invention to provide a collapsible portable stand for musical instruments wherein the support folds into a substantially flat structure for convenient storage and transportation and erects for the support of various musical instruments.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide a collapsible portable stand for musical instruments which can be inexpensively produced so as to be widely available to provide support for various types and sizes of musical instruments.
It is a further aspect of this invention to provide a collapsible portable stand for musical instruments which, in the folded position, lies in a flat, rectangular package and which, in the erected poεition, provides for the εupport of a musical instrument.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a side-elevation of the collapsible portable stand for musical instruments in accordance with this invention shown in the erected unfolded position, and showing in dashed lines a saxophone being supported thereby.
FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the collapsible portable stand in the raised position.
FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the upper side of the collapsible portable stand of this invention in the folded position.
FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the underside of the collapsible portable stand of this invention.
FIGURE 5 is a plan view thereof in the folded position with parts broken away to show the nesting of the various parts with respect to each other.
FIGURE 6a is an enlarged side view of the main frame showing the interengagement between the support bracket and the
main frame, in the closed position, with parts broken away.
FIGURE 6b is a view thereof in the partially raised position.
FIGURE 6c is a view thereof with the collapsible portable stand in the fully raised position.
FIGURE 7 is a section taken generally along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6a, with parts broken away.
FIGURE 8 is an exploded isometric view of the end of one of the support legs, showing how an auxiliary device can be detachably mounted on the end of the support leg.
FIGURE 9 is an exploded side-elevational view of the end of a support leg, with parts broken away and parts taken in section, showing an auxiliary device ready for attachment to the end of the extended leg of the collapsible portable stand. FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9, showing the attachment inserted into the end of the leg of the collapsible portable stand.
FIGURE 11 is a section taken generally along line 11-11 of FIGURE 10. FIGURE 12 is an isometric view of a portion of the collapsible portable stand of this invention as seen generally from the underside of the base bar, with the stand positioned as if raised and held in the hand during the unfolding operation, showing the stand partly unfolded. FIGURE 13 is an enlarged view of the horn support as seen generally along line 13-13 of FIGURE 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The collapsible portable stand for musical instruments in accordance with this invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 12. The stand 10 comprises three principal parts which are foldable with respect to each other, as well as other related parts. The main frame 12 forms the external portion of the stand when it is in its folded, closed position, as seen in FIGURE 3. The main frame has left and right side rails 14 and 16. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the side rails are joined by cross rails 18, 20 and 22. The cross rails have recesses in them to provide clearance for a musical instrument supported thereon. The upper cross rail 18 is set
slightly down from the top of the main frame 12 for purposes described below. The side rails are generally L-shaped, with the front panel 24 in an outside wall panel 26, see FIGURE 12, to define the structure of the device. As seen in FIGURE 12, the back of lower cross rail 22 is contiguous with the front panel 24. In addition to this structure, about midway along the length of each of the side rails there is a bottom wall. These bottom walls are seen in FIGURE 4 and identified as bottom wall 28 and bottom wall 30 respectively on side rails 14 and 16. These bottom walls thus define recesses 32 and 34 respectively. These recesses are respectively seen in FIGURES 4 and 2. Recess 34 is also seen in FIGURES 3, 6a, 6b, 6c and 7.
Horn support 36 is shown in FIGURES 2 and 13 as being located between and pivoted between left and right side rails 14 and 16, see FIGURES 2 and 13. The horn support is configured so that, when it is in its unfolded position seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, it rests against the top of the upper cross rail 18. This forms a stop for the horn support. Horn support pads 38 and 40 face each other to define a yoke, see FIGURE 13. These pads are pivoted on the horn support so as to be able to engage behind the bell of a horn, as seen in FIGURE 1. In FIGURE 1, saxophone 41 is shown in dashed lines and is shown as having its bell engaged between the horn support pads. The curved recesses on the top of cross rails 18, 20 and 22 help provide clearance for the horn.
When not in use, the horn support and the pads pivoted thereon swing from the unfolded position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 to the folded position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. The horn support pads are pivoted on the horn support to accommodate different horn sizes as well as to fit within the limited space provided, as seen in FIGURE 4.
Base bar 42 is the portion of stand 10 which engages directly on the supporting surface 44, see FIGURES 1 and 2. The shape of the base bar 42 is best seen in FIGURE 12, which figure represents the partial unfolding of the stand 10 while it is being held in the hands. Base bar 12 is pivoted on bracket 46, which has two ears which are formed as part of the main frame 12. The base bar is pivoted thereon and on a lateral axis so that it can swing out from the plane of the main frame 12. The
base bar has a top panel 48 which carries a downwardly directed central flange 50. Outer flanges 52 and 54 define channels 56 and 58.
Opposite the end at which it is pivoted to main frame 12, base bar 42 has a head 60. The head 60 is formed continuously with top panel 48, and central flange 50 is joined thereto. The head 60 has angular faces 62 and 64 which lie at about 25 degrees away from the center line defined by central flange 50. Legs 66 and 68 are respectively pivoted against these faces. As seen in FIGURE 4, these legs have angular portions adjacent the pivot points so that, when in the folded position, the legs lie in the channels 56 and 58. Furthermore, the outer portions 70 and 72 of the legs, see FIGURE 4, have similar bends so that, in the folded position, they embrace the end of the base bar which is pivoted to main frame, see FIGURE 4. The angle of the legs adjacent the pivots is the same as the angle of faces 62 and 64 so that the legs lie in their channels in the folded position. This means that, when folded out, the central portions of the legs are about 100 degrees with respect to each other. This is a desirable spread to provide stability to the stand 10. The outer portion of the legs lies at about a 50 degree angle with respect to the central portion. This means that the outer portions of the legs are spread about 200 degrees to achieve the desired stability. The legs fold in and have a stop in the folded position against the inside of the channels in which they lie. In the open position, they engage under the top panel 48, which serves as a εtop in the opening direction. In this poεition, the underside of the legs lies in the same plane as the underside of base bar 42 so that they provide proper support and stability to the stand.
The structure thus described provides a main frame which carries the horn support and describes a base bar with legs which pivot out to provide stability in the erected position. Support bracket 74 is a U-shaped bracket with arms 76 and 78 which lie just inside the bottom walls defining recesses 32 and 34, respectively, see FIGURE 4. The juncture 80 of these arms joins them around head 60. They are pivoted to head 60 on pivot pin 82, see FIGURE 12. The arms are separate from each other at the end opposite their juncture 80 because they are separated by
the legs, as seen in FIGURE 4.
The recesses 32 and 34 have slots in the bottom, with the slot 84 shown in side rail 16 in FIGURES 6a, 6b and 6c. The slot 84 has a hook 86 in its right end. Arm 78 of support bracket 74 has a lock pin 88 thereon which engages in the slot. There is a similar structure in recess 32. In the folded position of FIGURE 6a, the lock pin is in the left end of the slot. As the base bar 42 is pivoted out of the underside of main frame 12, the pin 88 slides to the right along the slot. FIGURE 6b shows an intermediate position of unfolding. As the base bar 42 moves to its unfolded position, the support bracket 74 moves up with its pins in the slots, and in the top position, the pin engages in the hook 86. In this position, the stand 10 is locked in its unfolded position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. As soon as the base bar is pivoted out of the main frame, the legs 66 and 68 can be swung to the unfolded position shown in FIGURE 2. Also, the horn support can be pivoted up to its horn- supporting position and the stand is ready to use. It must be noted that the arms 76 and 78 extend out between the left and right side rails 14 and 16 and are curved inwardly to present end bosses which partially engage around the instrument to aid in its support.
Folding to the closed position is easily achieved by rotating in the horn support and the legs. The lock pin is then disengaged from hook 86 so that the main frame 12, the base bar 42 and support bracket 74 swing into the closed, folded position of FIGURE 4, which is very compact. The structure is light and compact for convenient storage and transport.
As an additional feature of the invention, bushings 90 and 92 are respectively mounted on the ends of the legs 66 and 68. The bushing 90 is seen in more detail in FIGURES 8, 9, 10 and 11. 'x'he bushing 90 has a cylindrical bore 94 therethrough and a larger, eccentric cylindrical bore 96 partway therethrough. As seen in FIGURE 9, at one side the bores may lie in line with each other. Accessory 98 has a pin extending downwardly therefrom. The pin has a cylindrical lower portion which slip- fits into the bore 94 and an upper eccentric portion 102 which slip-fits into the eccentric bore 96. When the eccentric portions are properly in line, the pin on the accessory device
slips into the bushing. When the accesεory device is rotated in either direction, the eccentric causes it to lock in place. The accessory device may be any convenient structure such as a mute or a mounting for a mute. Furthermore, the accessory device may be sized to fit the bell of a straight horn, so a clarinet or trumpet may be placed thereon, while not in use. A convenient collapsible portable stand for musical instruments is thus achieved.
This invention has been deεcribed in itε preεently contemplated best modes, and it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications, modes and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.