WO2016001675A1

WO2016001675A1 - Instrument holder

Info

Publication number: WO2016001675A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/051936
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malcolm Reade
Original assignee: Malcolm Reade
Priority date: 2014-07-03
Filing date: 2015-07-02
Publication date: 2016-01-07
Also published as: GB201411864D0; GB2527814A; GB2527814B

Abstract

An instrument holder comprising: speaker means; instrument support means for supporting the instrument on the holder, and a switch for the speaker means, wherein when said instrument is on said support means said speaker means is off and when said instrument is lifted off said support means said speaker is turned on. Typically, the holder is used to support a guitar.

Description

INSTRUMENT HOLDER

This invention relates to a holder for an instrument with built-in loudspeaker and amplification.

Generally, in order to use an electric or electro-acoustic instrument (a guitar for example) it is necessary to use additional amplification equipment. This additional equipment (and all associated power cabling) has to be stored when the guitar is not being played and is therefore inconvenient for the player for casual use. Generally amplification devices are large items, and are not generally perceived to be attractive pieces of furniture.

According to the invention there is provided an instrument holder comprising:

speaker means; instrument supporting means for supporting the instrument on the holder, and a switch for the speaker means, wherein when said instrument is on said support means said switch is off and when said instrument is lifted off said support means said switch turns said speaker on.

Preferably, the instrument holder further comprises an amplification device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the switch means is a micro switch that is activated as the instrument is removed from the support means. Alternatively, the switch may be activated by a proximity sensor, a magnetic sensor, an optical or pressure sensor as the instrument is removed from the support means. In an embodiment of the invention the instrument holder may further comprise additional instrument support means for supporting additional instruments, preferably the additional instrument support means are arranged on different walls of the instrument holder. Said instrument holder may further comprise additional speaker means, located on different walls of said support means.

Preferably the instrument is a stringed instrument, and said support means supports the base of the instrument. Alternatively, the support means may support the neck of the instrument. Further preferably, the instrument holder may also be provided with carrying means for carrying said instrument holder. Additionally, the instrument holder may further comprise power supply means for powering said instrument and/or said speaker means. Preferably, the instrument holder is used for supporting a guitar, although it may be used to support other stringed instruments such as violins, cellos etc., or any other electric instrument that requires use of an amplifier or speaker.

This invention is advantageous in the following situations. Firstly, in a domestic environment, guitar amplification equipment is typically considered to be out of place in family rooms; whereas guitars may be more likely to be considered as ornamental and displayed accordingly. This invention allows the amplification to form part of the ornamental holder for the guitar and therefore remain on permanent display, with the guitar. Alternatively, the invention may be advantageous in a retail point of sale

environment where full instrument set up is necessary to allow instruments that are on display for sale to be played and tested by potential purchasers. By using the holder of this invention, potential customers would be able to pick up and test various guitars in a retail outlet without needing specific assistance each time.

The built in amplifier and loud speaker will remove the need for storage of additional amplification devices, and the need to set up such devices each time the guitar is used, whether in a domestic or a retail environment. This additional convenience provides the player with the ability to pick up and play for very short periods - equalling the convenience of an acoustic guitar requiring no additional devices.

Preferably the device appearance is that of a display holder with design aesthetics tailored for home family rooms. The design maybe such that the holder is shaped to match the void left if a guitar was simply rested against a wall or in a corner. The holder may also be decorated to match the decor of the room it is to be located in.

The present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the instrument holder; Figure 2 shows an interior cross sectional view of the instrument holder; Figure 3 shows the holder of figure 1 holding an electric guitar; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of instrument holder configured to hold two instruments; Figure 5 shows an alternative instrument holder as wall mounted option; Figure 6 shows the wall mounted holder of figure 5 with a guitar in position.

Referring to figure 1 , this shows a perspective view of the instrument holder 10. The holder has front panel 3, two side panels 1 1 and two back panels 14. The holder also has triangular top panel 12 and base panel 13. Preferably, the front panel is at an angle of 80° to the base panel, so that when the instrument is in position it rests against and is supported by the front panel 3 of holder 10. Preferably, the holder 10 tapers inwardly from base panel 13 to top panel 12, although other shapes may be possible for holder 10. For example, the base panel 13 may have a curved edge to match a back panel 14 that is curved, or they may be shaped to fit into a particular area in a domestic or retail setting. Typically, the holder 10 is made of wood, but it may also be made of other materials such as MDF, metal or plastic. It may also be finished with paint or vanish for example. The front panel 3 is provided with loud speaker 6 located approximately in the centre of front panel 3. Instrument base support 1 extends outwardly through hole 8 in the front panel 3 below loudspeaker 6. In this embodiment of the invention holder 10 is powered by mains electricity, and will typically be connected to the mains via a cable through back panel 14 (not shown). Alternatively, the holder may be powered by an internal battery (rechargeable or otherwise), or if the holder is to be used in an outdoor environment, the holder may be provided with integrated solar panels for power (not shown).

As shown in figure 2, base support 1 is connected to the base panel 13 via a micro switch 20. Instrument base support 1 passes through hole 8 in front panel 3. An amplifier unit 5 is mounted towards the rear of the interior of holder 10, and connected to

loudspeaker 6 mounted on the front panel 3.

A transformer 4 is mounted at the interior end of the instrument base support 1 just above the micro switch 20. When an instrument (typically a guitar) is placed in base support 1 to be held by holder 10, the part of base support 1 extending outwardly through hole 8 will move downwardly towards the ground. Typically the base support 1 will then be

substantially vertical with respect to the base 13, and the micro switch is off, there is no power to the amplifier 5 or the loudspeaker 6. When the instrument is lifted off the base support 1 by a user, the outwardly extending part of base support 1 will move upwards, and the interior part of base support 1 , holding the transformer 4 will move downwards towards base panel 13.The weight of the transformer will be sufficient that when the instrument is removed from the base support the rear end of base support 1 moves downwardly causing micro switch 20 to activate the power to the amplifier device 5 and loudspeaker 6.

In the above embodiment switching the holder on or off is linked to the movement of the base support 1 as an instrument is inserted or removed from the holder 10. However, alternative sensing devises may also be used to provide the switching facility. These may include proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, pressure switches, or optical sensors. The sensing devices could be triggered using the body or neck of the instrument, but in each case the amplifier and loud speaker will be switched on when the instrument is removed from the base support 1 , and then switched off when the instrument is returned to the holder 10. In this case, the switch does not have to be a micro switch, but may be any type of switch that is activated by the specific sensor that is being used.

As shown in figures 1 and 2, the two side panels 1 1 maybe mounted to the base at approximately 90 degrees allowing the holder 10 to be positioned in corners for example. A carrying handle 7 is also incorporated into each side panel, although the holder may also be provided with a carrying strap attached to the top panel 12 for example. On a square based unit as shown in figure 4 Side panels will be mounted to the base and a carrying handle 7a mounted to the top face.

Figure 3 shows the holder 10 with a guitar held by base support 1 . When the guitar is in this position the guitar and holder are turned off.

Figure 4 shows an alternative version of the holder 10a provided with two base supports 1 on adjacent walls of holder 10a. Of course, it is possible to provide holders with a plurality of base supports 1 , the holder 10a merely needs to be sized and shaped appropriately for the number of instruments to be held. Typically, in a holder for multiple instruments it would only be possible to play one instrument at a time; however, it would be possible to configure the internal elements so that 2 or more instruments on the same holder 10a can be played independently at the same time. This embodiment may also have a carrying handle 7a attached to top panel 12. Figure 5 shows a further alternative embodiment of the instrument holder 10b. This embodiment of the invention is a wall mounted option, rather than the free-standing version described above, however common features have been given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment of the invention the instrument is held at the neck in the instrument support 1 , rather than by the base (as shown in figure 6). The holder 10b is provided with two loudspeakers 6 positioned one below the other, under the support means 1 in front panel 3. However, the holder 10b will operate in the same way as the previous embodiments, so that the holder is switched off when the instrument is positioned in the holder 10b, and the holder 10b will be switched on to allow the instrument to be played when the instrument is removed from the holder 10b. Again, as before the switching means may be a micro switch, or controlled by proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, pressure switches, or optical sensors.

In all embodiments of the invention the holder 10, 10a, 10b may be provided with additional processing means that normally require additional pieces of equipment, for particular sound effects etc. The holders may also be provided with an input socket for headphones if the user wishes to use the instrument with minimal disruption to others in the area. Preferably the device will be available with various levels of sound quality according to the type and quality of loudspeaker 6 and amplifier 5 that are used. This means the holders can be produced across a range of price points for the market.

Alternative configurations of the loud speaker may also be used to optimise enclosure space and sound quality for all embodiments of the invention. This could include rear, side and downward facing loudspeaker mounting, and multiple loud speaker configurations.

As illustrated, this invention is used for guitars, however it may be used for an electric instrument, for example string instruments such as violins, violas, cellos, double bass, electro-acoustic harps etc.

Claims

Claims:

1 . An instrument holder comprising: speaker means; instrument support means for supporting the instrument on the holder , and a switch for the speaker means, wherein when said instrument is on said support means said speaker means is off and when said instrument is lifted off said support means said speaker is turned on.

2. An instrument holder according to claim 1 further comprising an internal amplification device.

3. An instrument holder according to any preceding claim wherein said switch is a micro switch that is activated as the instrument is removed from the support means.

4. An instrument holder according to any of claims 1 -2 wherein the switch is activated via a proximity sensor as the instrument is removed from the support means.

5. An instrument holder according to any of claims 1 -2 wherein the switch is activated via a magnetic sensor as the instrument is removed from the support means.

6. An instrument holder according to any of claims 1 -2 wherein the switch is activated via an optical or pressure sensor as the instrument is removed from the support means.

7. An instrument holder according to any preceding claim further comprising additional instrument support means for supporting additional instruments.

8. An instrument holder according to claim 7 wherein said additional instrument support means are arranged on different walls of said instrument holder.

9. An instrument support means according to any preceding claim further comprising additional speaker means.

10. An instrument holder according to any preceding claim wherein said instrument is a stringed instrument and said support means supports the base of said instrument.

1 1 . An instrument holder according to any of claims 1 -9 wherein said instrument is a stringed instrument and said support means supports the neck of said instrument.

12. An instrument holder according to any preceding claim further comprising carrying means for carrying said instrument holder .

13. An instrument holder according to any preceding claim further comprising power supply means for powering said instrument and/or said speaker means.

14. An instrument holder according to any preceding claim suitable for supporting a guitar.

15. An instrument holder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.