Elastomeric device that reduces instrument movement
A homogeneous elastomeric fermata molding that can be used with an instrument that reduces the potential sliding movement of an elongated tool, part or instrument when the tool, part or instrument is resting against a wall, desk or edge. The fermata is used to hold a musical instrument, tool such as a broom or other item that may be unstable if placed against a wall, desk, ledge or similar surface. When the fermata is placed between the instrument and a wall, desk, ledge or similar surface the fermata holds the instrument in place. The fermata increases the coefficient of friction between the guitar and the wall to reduce the possibility of damage to the instrument and possible damage to the wall and or ground. The fermata can be used external to the instrument or tool. The fermata can be bonded, wrapped around, interference or frictionally attached to the instrument.
The present invention relates generally to a homogeneous cast or molded part that reduces the movement of an elongated tool, part or instrument from sliding when the tool, part or instrument is resting against a surface such as a wall, desk or ledge.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany instrument-clamping inventions are available today that clamp or hold an instrument in place. Most of these inventions are made from multiple pieces or are fixed or attached to a desk, wall, edge, amplifier or loudspeaker. Some of the major problems with these devices are that they are not portable nor do that allow for easy transportation of the holding mechanism. Another problem is the cost to manufacture or produce the product because of the number of components they are made from.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,633 issued to Caudill on Oct. 16, 1973, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,809 issued to Harkey on Feb. 12, 1991 both discloses a musical instrument stand or support that attaches to a guitar amplifier or loudspeaker. These inventions both span the area on top of a guitar amplifier of loudspeaker and wrap around the front and backsides to essentially clamp the invention onto the top of the amplifier or loudspeaker. The inventions also have a fork, “U”, “C”, or yoke shaped member that clamp hold or retain the musical instrument to prevent movement. Both of these inventions require mounting the invention onto an amplifier or loudspeaker, and are made from multiple pieces. They are difficult to transport and are not made from a homogeneous material. In addition, these inventions will not work with vertical surfaces or where there is not a back edge to clamp around.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,732 issued to Gallegos Aug. 24, 1982 discloses a supporting bracket for musical instruments. The bracket is attached to the side of a box, desk or ledge using screws. The bracket is a “J” shaped piece of rod material that is attached to a holder. The holder is then attached to the top of an amplifier or speaker. While this invention performs the function of holding a guitar, the invention is made from multiple pieces, and is not easily transported.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,688 issued to Cuccio Oct. 15, 1985 discloses a holder for musical instruments. The holder is a “U” shaped member that is integrated onto a plug for a musical instrument amplifier. The plug is connected to a guitar amplifier where the guitar would plug into. When the person playing the guitar is finished, they unplug the guitar, and plug the holder into the amplifier. They can then set the body of the guitar onto the ground and rest the neck of the guitar into a “U” shaped member that is connect to the end of the exposed portion of the plug. This invention requires the user to unplug the instrument and then plug the holder into the amplifier. The holder is made from multiple components, and requires the amplifier to connect onto the amplifier.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,073 issued to Broerma et al. on Sep. 13, 1994 disclose a portable guitar holders that wrap around a guitar amplifier or speaker. These inventions are made from multiple components, and require a front and back surface to clamp on. These inventions are intended only for guitars or other amplified musical instruments. They are not easily transported, and are not made from a homogeneous material.
What is needed is a simple invention that can be easily transported, is simple to manufacture, cost effective, and maintains an instrument, or tool in positions while in use. The ideal invention would be made from a single homogeneous material and could easily be used on multiple instruments or locations. The proposed invention provides a solution to these needs that is not currently being filled by products that are available today.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an objective of the present invention to provide a homogeneous or insert molded cast or formed part that reduces the movement of an elongated tool, part or instrument when the tool, part or instrument is resting against a wall, desk or edge. The invention is called a fermata which is a musical term meaning to sustain or hold a note. For the invention, fermata is used because it holds a musical instrument, tool or other item that may be unstable if placed against a wall, desk, ledge or similar surface.
The need for such a fermata can be found in a number of areas. One use is with musical instruments such as a guitar where the guitar is placed on the ground where the body is placed on the ground, and the neck of the guitar is in vertical orientation. The head or neck of the guitar is rested against a wall, desk or guitar amplifier. In this configuration, the guitar is susceptible to movement or sliding because the coefficient of friction between the neck of the guitar and the wall is low and the guitar is not stable. Slight disruption of the guitar balanced against the wall may cause the guitar to slide down the wall, and may cause damage to the guitar when the side of the guitar makes contact with the ground. A device that can increase the coefficient of friction between the guitar and the wall reduce the possibility of damage to the instrument and possible damage to the wall and or ground. The ideal device would not change the sound from the instrument, or interfere with playing the instrument. One fermata can be placed over the edge of a desk or musical instrument amplifier, when the musician is finished playing or is resting the musician can place the musical instrument against the fermata, and the instrument will be held in position.
The invention can be attached to an in instrument such as a guitar where the invention is bonded, attached or wrapped around a portion of the instrument. When the fermata is attached to the instrument the musician simply needs to rest the instrument against a wall, desk, table, ledge or other similar surface. The musician will not have to look for a non-attached fermata, and the fermata attached to the instrument will keep the instrument in place.
Another example where this invention is useful is with tools such as a broom or other device that has an elongated handle. The fermata can be manufactured in a shape that reduces rotation of the handle of the tool, and a hole that the handle can be placed. In this usage, the broom can rest against a wall and the possibility of the broom sliding down the wall is reduced.
Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent form the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring first to the fermata shown in
The fermata is intended to reduce the possibility of the guitar sliding when the guitar is placed against the edge of a desk, ledge, amplifier, speaker or similar surface. Because the fermata is not attached to the desk, ledge, amplifier, speaker or similar surface the fermata can be easily placed or moved. Because of the portability of the fermata, the fermata can be placed in a guitar case or easily moved. In
The material used can be homogeneous such as natural or synthetic rubber. The fermata can be made of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, polyethylene, polyamide, polyurethane, latex rubber, foam rubber, nitride, butyl, epichlorohydrin, ethylene-propylene-diene-methylene, hypalon, neoprene, santoprene, silicone, sorbothane, viton, pure gum rubber or other material that increases the coefficient of friction between the instrument of tool and the desk wall or other surface the fermata is placed against. The material can be open or closed cell material. The firmness and flexibility of the fermata is such that the fermata is not permanently deformed by the surface the fermata is placed. The firmness and flexibility of the fermata can be such that the fermata conforms or shapes around the surface and or the instrument. The color of fermata can be any variety including a solid white, black or a variety of colors. The hardness of the fermata can be soft from a shore 20 when measured in the shore 00 scale to shore 70 in the shore A scale. In the preferred embodiment, the hardness is between 25 and 95 when measured in the shore 00 scale.
Refer now to the fermata shown in
While the musical instrument in this embodiment is a guitar, the musical instrument and the shape of the fermata can change. As an example, the fermata can be semi-circular in shape and wrap around a saxophone. A number of other instruments and configurations of the fermata have been contemplated that provide the function of reducing the possibility of an elongated instrument from moving or sliding when the instrument is placed against a surface or edge.
Refer now to the fermata shown in
Thus, specific embodiments and applications for a fermata have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A movement reduction device comprising:
- a elastomeric musical instrument neck rest that is formed in an egg shape;
- has a first squared recess for placement on the edge of a desk, ledge, amplifier, speaker or similar surface;
- a second curved recess to hold the elongated neck of a musical instrument where;
- the elastomeric musical instrument rest increases the coefficient of friction between the neck of the musical instrument and the edge of the desk, ledge, amplifier, speaker or similar surface.
2. The movement reduction device from claim 1 wherein the elastomeric musical instrument neck rest is made from a material selected from a group consisting of rubber, latex and neoprene.
3. The elastomeric musical instrument neck rest from claim 2 wherein the elastomeric material has a hardness of 20 in the shore 00 scale to 70 in the shore A scale.
4. The movement reduction device from claim 1 wherein the first squared recess is essentially square in cross-section, and may contain at least one suction cup.
5. The movement reduction device from claim 1 wherein the second curved recess is “V”, square, rectangular, round ellipse, or oblong, in cross section.
6. (canceled)
7. A movement reduction device comprising:
- an elastomeric musical instrument protection device that is formed to attach to a musical instrument; such that
- when the musical instrument protection device is attached to the neck or head of a musical instrument; and
- the musical instrument protection device placed against a vertical surface, the musical instrument protection device reduces potential motion between the instrument and the vertical surface.
8. The movement reduction device from claim 7 wherein the musical instrument protection device is attached to the instrument with using an adhesive.
9. The movement reduction device from claim 7 wherein the musical instrument protection device is attached to the instrument with an interference fit.
10. The movement reduction device from claim 7 wherein the musical instrument protection device wraps around the instrument.
11. The movement reduction device from claim 7 wherein the elastomeric material has a hardness of 20 in the shore 00 scale to 70 in the shore A scale.
12-20. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 28, 2004
Publication Date: Dec 29, 2005
Inventor: Charles Craw (Redlands, CA)
Application Number: 10/877,177