WO2006014104A1

WO2006014104A1 - A combination of a supporting surface for a musical instrument and at least one positioning element

Info

Publication number: WO2006014104A1
Application number: PCT/NL2005/000568
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johannes Antonius Koster
Original assignee: Johannes Antonius Koster
Priority date: 2004-08-06
Filing date: 2005-08-02
Publication date: 2006-02-09
Also published as: NL1026798C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination of a movable, substantially plate-shaped surface for a musical instrument, in particular for a drum set, and at least one positioning element provided with a stop portion against which a part of the musical instrument can abut. The fixing means are provided for detachably connecting said at least one positioning element to the supporting surface, preferably manually.

Description

A combination of a supporting surface for a musical instrument and at least one positioning element.

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a combination of a supporting surface for a musical instrument and at least one positioning element.

Many types of musical instruments, such as in particular drum sets, are placed on a supporting surface, such as a floor, with the attendant risk of the musical instrument tending to move undesirably across the supporting surface because of the contact between the musician and the musical instrument, which may or may not take place by means of a device such as a bow or a drumstick. To reduce this risk, auxiliary devices are frequently used in practice. Thus bass players are known to use a strip of wood or a belt or the like provided with at least two holes. One leg of a chair on which the musician is seated while playing the bass rests on a supporting surface via one of said holes in that case, whilst the leg of the bass rests on the same supporting surface via another hole of said auxiliary device. This achieves that a more or less fixed distance is obtained between the leg of the chair and the leg of the bass while the bass is being played, so that the bass is prevented from moving away from the player. It is furthermore known to provide the strip of wood or the belt with several holes for the leg of the bass, thus rendering it suitable for varying the distance between the leg of the chair and the leg of the bass in dependence on the musician's requirements.

Drummers often use an old piece of carpet, on which the legs of the various components of the drum set are supported, so as to prevent the various components of the drum set from being shifted on the supporting surface. Such components of the drum set are, for example, the bass drum, whose drumhead is beaten by means of a pedal, but also such a pedal itself. Also the so-called "floortoms", which are supported on legs, may be considered in this connection, and the large number of other stands fitted with legs for drums and cymbals. In spite of the fact that rubber caps are used on said legs, it is frequently impossible in practice to prevent the legs from being shifted on the surface on which they are supported, because of the large forces that are exerted on the drum said while they are being played.

Professional drummers are also known to fix the various components of the drum set to the supporting surface by means of adhesive tape. Apart from the fact that the use of such adhesive tape does not make a professional impression (no more so than the use of an old piece of carpet as described above, for that matter), it is moreover fairly labourious to apply the adhesive tape, whilst removing the tape is even more labourious. In addition, this is highly impractical when the goal is to obtain an optimum arrangement of the various components of the drum set, as the use of adhesive tape does not allow any flexibility as regards the positioning of the various components of a drum set relative to each other. Such an optimum arrangement is different for each individual drummer. Another important aspect is the time it takes each time to obtain an optimum arrangement of a drum set when a drum set is to be played at different locations, for example in the course of a tour being made by a drummer. Especially in a professional environment, the time this takes leads to additional expense.

The object of the present invention is to provide a solution or at least an improvement as regards the above problems/drawbacks. In order to accomplish that object, a combination of a movable, substantially plate-shaped surface for a musical instrument, in particular for a drum set, and at least one positioning element provided with a stop member portion against which a part of the musical instrument can abut is provided, wherein fixing means are provided for connecting said at least one positioning element to the supporting surface. The use of a plate-shaped supporting surface provides a stable and univocal base for the musical instrument in question. The use of at least one positioning element, which is fixed to the supporting surface by said fixing means and against a stop member of which a part of the musical instrument, such as a leg, can abut, makes it possible to prevent the musical instrument from moving across the supporting surface.

Quite preferably, the fixing means are adapted for manually detachably connecting said at least one positioning element to the supporting surface. It is possible, for example, to provide the supporting surface with marks that indicate respective relevant positions for the musical instrument, for example the exact locations for the legs of a stand that forms part of a drum set. The fixing means according to the present preferred embodiment moreover make it possible to connect said at least one positioning element to the supporting surface at different positions, so that the position of said at least one positioning element can be optimally geared to a musician's requirements as regards the position of the musical instrument on the supporting surface.

A very convenient embodiment is obtained if the fixing means comprise VeIcro consisting of two interlocking layers of VeIcro material, one layer of VeIcro material forming part of either said supporting surface or said at least one positioning element and the other layer of VeIcro material forming part of the other one of said supporting surface and said at least one positioning element. The use of Velcro makes it possible to connect positioning elements to the supporting surface and remove them again in a very short time. In addition, the Velcro material that forms part of the supporting surface makes it possible to provide marks or other expressions, such as logos, through the use of colours therein. Preferably, the softer layer of the two layers of Velcro material forms part of the supporting surface. This minimizes the inconvenience caused by .dirt, such as dust, adhering to the layer of VeIcro material on the supporting surface, the surface area of which is naturally larger than that of the layer of VeIcro material that forms part of said at least one positioning element. With the present preferred embodiment, dirt that falls on the supporting surface will not adhere, or at least to a significantly smaller extent, to the layer of Velcro material that forms part of the supporting surface, so that it will be easy to remove again, if desired.

An optimum utilization of the area of the supporting surface is obtained if the supporting surface is at least substantially completely lined with a layer of Velcro material.

Furthermore preferably, the layer of Velcro material that forms part of the supporting surface is present in a recessed part of the supporting surface. The circumferential edge of said layer of Velcro material is protected in this manner, so that the adhesion of the layer of Velcro material to the remaining part of the supporting surface is optimally ensured.

To facilitate the transportation of the plate-shaped supporting surface, which might present a problem, in particular in the case of a plate-shaped supporting surface having a substantial surface area, for example 6 square metres, the plate-shaped supporting surface is quite preferably made up of a number of plate elements that are interconnected via connecting means. The dimensions of said plate elements can be geared to the requirements that are made thereof for transport reasons. In addition, it is possible, by using plate elements that can be interconnected, to vary the size of the plate-shaped supporting surface in dependence on, for example, the available space and/or the musician's requirements.

For reasons of ease of use it is furthermore preferable for the connecting means to comprise a hinge that enables two plate elements to hinge relative to each other. Two plate elements folded against one another are very easy to transport, whilst it is ensured that the two plate elements are correctly positioned relative to each other in the unfolded condition, in which the two plate elements are aligned.

Alternatively, or even in combination therewith, the connecting means preferably comprise a groove formed in one plate element and an edge formed on another plate element, which edge projects into said groove in a form-locked manner. Plate elements configured in this manner can be coupled in a simple manner by sliding the projecting edge into the groove. Likewise for reasons of enhanced ease of use, it is generally preferable if the connecting means are so arranged that the two plate elements can be manually disconnected from each other.

A further preferred embodiment is obtained if the connecting means comprise a lock, such as (preferably) a butterfly lock, preferably in a recess formed therein. Such connecting means are characterized by the reliable and strong connection they are capable of effecting.

To obtain an optimum effect of said at least one positioning element, the stop member preferably encloses part of the area of the supporting surface. Thus the stop member is by definition not rectilinear, and the part of the musical instrument that abuts against the stop member can be "trapped", as it were, within the part of the area of the supporting surface that is enclosed by the stop member.

It will be very effective in this connection if the stop member forms part of a U-shaped recess that is open at the outer side of the associated positioning element. The part of the musical instrument that is present within the space of the U-shaped recess will thus be retained therein. In practice this will imply that the open side of the U-shaped recess is mainly directed towards the side from which the forces are exerted on the musical instrument.

Alternatively, the stop member may also form part of a closed recess. In this way, part of the musical instrument can abut against the stop member in all directions parallel to the supporting surface, providing that the part of the musical instrument is present within said recess. To make it easier to place and detach said at least one positioning element, the positioning element is preferably provided with an engagement portion by which the positioning element can be manually engaged.

Such an engagement portion preferably comprises an at least slightly downwardly extending free area of the positioning element, so that on the one hand the engagement element can be realised in a simple, inexpensive manner whilst on the other hand an adequate engagement is possible.

More specifically, it is advantageous in that case if the engagement portion comprises an area of the positioning element that extends obliquely outwards from the bottom side of the positioning element.

The present invention also relates to a positioning element as such for use in a combination according to the invention as described above.

The invention further relates to a container for accommodating plate elements that form part of a combination according to the invention as described above, the plate-shaped supporting surface being made up of a number of plates that can be interconnected by connecting means, wherein the container is provided with an opening and as well as with guide means for sliding the plate elements into the container via said opening, said guide means being positioned in the container in such a manner that positioning elements that are connected to the plate elements will neither touch a wall of the container nor any adjacent plate element or any positioning elements connected thereto upon being slid into the container. A container that is configured in this manner makes it possible to keep the positioning elements and the plate elements interconnected during transport of the plate elements, so that the positioning elements will directly be positioned at the correct location when the plate elements are assembled again to form the plate- shaped supporting surface for a musical instrument.

The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of a description of a number of preferred embodiments of the invention, in which reference is made to the following figures:

Figure Ia is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a supporting surface for a musical instrument;

Figure Ib is a cross-sectional view along the line Ib-Ib in figure Ia;

Figure Ic is a cross-sectional view along the line Ic-Ic in figure Ia; Figure 2a shows a second embodiment of a supporting surface;

Figure 2b shows a supporting surface module that forms part of the supporting surface that is shown in figure 2a;

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a supporting surface; Figures 4a-4e show five different embodiments of positioning elements to be connected to a supporting surface;

Figure 5 shows a case for accommodating a combination according to the invention;

Figure 6 shows the case of figure 5 in the open position thereof.

Figure Ia shows a supporting surface 1 that is built up of two plate-shaped, substantially square elements 2a, 2b. The main dimensions of each of the plate elements 2a, 2b are 1.0 by 1.0 m. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is also possible within the framework of the present invention to use different dimensions and/or a rectangular main shape. The plate elements 2a, 2b may be made of, for example, wood or plastic material.

The plate element 2a has circumferential edges 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and the plate element 2b has circumferential edges 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d. The plate elements 2a, 2b are positioned in abutment with each other at the location of the circumferential edges 3d, 4d. As appears from figure Ib, the circumferential edge 3d has a dovetailed groove 5, which extends along the length of the circumferential side 3d, whilst the circumferential side 4d has a dovetailed projecting edge 6 having a shape complementary to that of the groove 5, which edge is inserted into the groove 5 by moving the two plate elements 2a, 2b past each other in the longitudinal direction of the circumferential edges 3d, 4d. In this way a rigid connection is formed between the plate elements 2a, 2b that jointly form the supporting surface 1.

The plate elements 2a, 2b are provided with an upright edge 7, 8 at the circumferential edges 3a, 3b, 3c and 4a, 4b, 4c, respectively, to the inner side of which edges a layer of VeIcro material 9, 10 is affixed. Said Velcro material 9, 10 is the soft or velours-like part of the Velcro material. The hard, hook-like Velcro material, which is capable of effecting a connection in combination with the soft, velours-like Velcro material, is affixed to the bottom side of the positioning elements that are yet to be discussed with reference to figures 4a-4e. The Velcro material 9, 10 is glued to the upper side of the bottom of the plate elements 2a , 2b insofar as it extends within the upright edges 7, 8, as can also be concluded from figure Ic. Slotted holes 11, 12 are provided at the circumferential edges 3b, of 4b of the plates 2a, 2b, which holes can function as handles, especially when the plate elements 2a, 2b are not interconnected.

Figure 2a shows a second embodiment of a supporting surface 21 according to the invention. The supporting surface 21 is built up of two supporting surface modules 22, 23, each in turn consisting of two plate elements 24, 25 and 26, 27, which are interconnected by means of a piano hinge at their facing circumferential sides. Figure 2b shows the module 23 in folded-together condition, in which the piano hinge 28 that is operative between the plate elements 26 and 27 is exposed to view. Two of the four circumferential edges of each plate element 24-27 are provided with an elevated circumferential edge 29, with a handle 30 being provided in the elevated circumferential edge 29 at the circumferential side opposite the associated piano hinge. In the folded-together condition that is shown in figure 2b, the handles 30 of the plate elements associated with a module 22, 23 are aligned, so that they form one (joint) handle, as it were. So-called recessed butterfly locks 31, 32 are present between the two abutting plate elements 24, 26 and 25, 27 of the respective modules 22, 23. Said butterfly locks 31, 32 are known per se to those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail herein. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that an operative part of the butterfly lock 31, 32 is fixed to one plate element, whilst the other part of the butterfly lock is fixed to the other plate element. Each plate element 24-27 is lined with VeIcro material, so that the entire surface area of the supporting surface 21 is lined with the VeIcro material, with the exception of the elevated edge 29 and the butterfly locks 31, 32.

Figure 3 shows a supporting surface 41 that is built up of six plate elements 42-47 arranged in a pattern of two by three plate elements abutting against each other. The plate elements 42-45 located on the corners are identical to each other, whilst also the plate elements 46, 47 are identical to each other. Each of the plate elements 42-47 is provided with an elevated edge 49 along one or two circumferential sides thereof, which edge completely surrounds the supporting surface 41, with VeIcro material being present within said edge.

Marks may be provided on the VeIcro material of the supporting surfaces 1, 21, 41 to indicate where particular positioning elements are to be placed. On the other hand, the Velcro material makes it possible to use various colours, for example for forming a logo or the like therein.

Figures 4a-4e show five different positioning elements 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, which each have a flat bottom side lined with VeIcro material 66 of the hard, hook-like type. As a result of the interlocking engagement between the VeIcro material 66 associated with the positioning elements 61-65 and the VeIcro material present on the supporting surfaces 1, 21 and 41, it is possible to position and fix each of the positioning elements 61-65 at random positions on the supporting surfaces 1, 21, 41. Each of the positioning elements 61-65 has an upright stop wall, against which part of a musical instrument can abut. The stop wall of the positioning elements 61-63 is not rectilinear, seen in top plan view, so that it encloses part of the area of the supporting surface in question. The stop wall 67 consists of three right-angled wall portions, which jointly define a U-shape. The stop wall 68 of the positioning elements 62 consists of two wall portions arranged at right angles with respect to each other, whilst the stop wall 69 is the inner wall of a vertical through hole 70 in the positioning element 63.

Like the positioning elements 61-63, the positioning elements 64 and 65 have a vertical stop wall, in this case the stop wall is rectilinear, however, and consequently it does not enclose part of the area of the supporting surface. More specifically, the positioning element 64 has a stop wall 71 and the positioning element 65 has a stop wall 72, which is located at the rear side of the positioning element 65 in figure 4, and which is not visible very well, therefore.

It will be understood that it is also possible within the framework of the invention to use positioning elements having different shapes, for example positioning elements that have a K-shape, seen in top plan view. Such a positioning element may be useful, for example, for positioning the second pedal of a double-bass drum pedal therein.

To make it easier to pull the positioning elements 61, 62, 63 and 64 loose, said positioning elements are provided with an engagement wall at the location indicated by numerals 73-76, which engagement wall slopes upwards towards the outside from the bottom of the respective positioning elements, and which can be engaged more easily by a user's fingers than a wall that extends perpendicularly to the bottom. Alternatively, other types of engagement elements can be formed, of course, such as eyes into which a user can insert his fingers.

Finally, figures 5 and 6 show a case 81 in closed and open condition, respectively, for plate elements forming part of the supporting surfaces 1, 21, 41 as explained with reference to figures 1-3 and for positioning elements as explained with reference to figures 4a- 4e. The case 81 comprises a lower case portion 83 having a closed bottom, which is supported on four wheels 82, and an open upper side, and an upper case portion 84 having an open bottom side, which can join the open upper side of the lower case portion 83, and a hinged lid 85. Vertical guide screws are present in the lower case portion 83, into which pairs of plate elements 86 as shown in figure 6 can be slid. The VeIcro material 87 is present on the outer sides of the pairs of plate elements 86, so that it is possible to keep the positioning elements fixed thereto. The spacing between the guides grooves has been selected so that when plate elements 86, to which positioning elements are connected by means of VeIcro, move past each other, said positioning elements cannot come into contact with positioning elements on plate elements 86 in an adjacent guide screw. A major advantage of this is that the positioning elements will be directly located at the correct position when a supporting surface is being assembled. The lower case portion 83 and the upper case portion 84 can be interconnected by means of butterfly locks 88, whilst the lid 85 can be locked in position on the remaining part of the upper case portion 84 by means of butterfly locks 89.

Claims

1. A combination of a movable, substantially plate-shaped surface for a musical instrument, in particular for a drum set, and at least one positioning element provided with a stop portion against which a part of the musical instrument can abut, wherein fixing means are provided for connecting said at least one positioning element to the supporting surface.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means are adapted for manually detachably connecting said at least one positioning element to the supporting surface.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the fixing means comprise VeIcro consisting of two interlocking layers of VeIcro material, one layer of VeIcro material forming part of either said supporting surface or said at least one positioning element and the other layer of VeIcro material forming part of the other one of said supporting surface and said at least one positioning element.

4. A combination according to claim 3, wherein the softer layer of the two layers of VeIcro material forms part of the supporting surface.

5. A combination according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the supporting surface is at least substantially completely lined with a layer of VeIcro material.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein said layer of Velcro material is present in a recessed part of the supporting surface.

7. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate-shaped supporting surface is made up of a number of plate elements that are interconnected via connecting means.

8. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the connecting means comprise a hinge that enables two plate elements to hinge relative to each other.

9. A combination according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the connecting means comprise a groove formed in one plate element and an edge formed on another plate element, which edge projects into said groove in a form-locked manner.

10. A combination according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the connecting means are so arranged that the two plate elements can be manually disconnected from each other.

11. A combination according to claim 10, wherein the connecting means comprise a lock, preferably in a recess formed therein.

12. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop member encloses part of the area of the supporting surface.

13. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop member forms part of a U-shaped recess that is open at the outer side of the associated positioning element.

14. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop member forms part of a closed recess.

15. A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning element is provided with an engagement portion by which the positioning element can be manually engaged.

16. A combination according to claim 15, wherein said engagement portion comprises an at least slightly downwardly extending free area of the positioning element.

17. A combination according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said engagement portion comprises an area of the positioning element that extends obliquely outwards from the bottom side of the positioning element.

18. A positioning element for use in a combination according to any one of the preceding claims.

19. A container for accommodating a combination according to claim 7 or a dependent claim thereof, wherein the container is provided with an opening and as well as with guide means for sliding the plate elements into the container via said opening, said guide means being positioned in the container in such a manner that positioning elements that are connected to the plate elements will neither touch a wall of the container nor any adjacent plate element or any positioning elements connected thereto upon being slid into the container.