Music Stand Wind Screen Apparatus

Abstract

The Invention is a music stand having a wind guard to prevent sheet music from being disturbed by the wind. A substantially transparent wind guard panel is attached generally normal to a base. A spring clamp attached to the base resiliently and releasably attaches the base to the music stand shelf. The spring clamp and base support the wind guard panel generally parallel to the music stand desk. The resilient attachment of the base to the shelf allows a musician to tilt the base and wind guard panel to allow access to sheet music on the music stand desk.

Description

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The Invention is an apparatus to prevent sheet music on a music stand from being disturbed by wind. The apparatus of the Invention allows quick, one-handed page turns and switching of sheet music.

B. Description of the Related Art

Music stands are well known for supporting sheet music for a musician while the musician is playing an instrument. Music stands generally comprise a desk on which sheet music is placed and a shelf generally normal to the desk. The function of the shelf is to retain the sheet music on the desk. Music stands frequently are provided with a tripod base and an upright shaft to support the desk and shelf of the music stand. An adjustment mechanism frequently is provided so that the musician may adjust the elevation and the tilt of the desk and shelf with respect to the musician.

In use, a musician will place sheet music on the desk of the music stand and will read the sheet music while playing an instrument. The sheet music may be in the form of individual sheets of paper or may be bound into a book. When the musician reaches the end of the displayed pages of sheet music, the musician will turn the page for sheet music that is bound in a book or will reverse the page for sheet music appearing on both sides of an individual page.

During a page turn, the musician generally must support the musician's instrument with one hand and turn the page as quickly as possible with the other hand to minimize the time that the musician is not playing. In transitioning from one musical composition to another, the musician must grasp the sheet music for the second composition using one hand and place the sheet music on the stand so that the music is visible to the musician.

A common issue is the effect of wind on sheet music supported by the music stand, particularly when the musician is playing out-of-doors. The usual means to deal with the problem of wind is the use of clips, such as paper clips or clothes pins, A clip can effectively attach individual pages of sheet music to the desk of a stand. The use of a clip has the disadvantage of substantially slowing a one-handed page turn or music change. The musician must remove the clip, manipulate the sheet music and replace the clip, all with one hand.

The present Invention provides for wind protection for sheet music on a music stand while allowing a relatively quick one-handed page turn or music change.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Invention comprises a substantially transparent wind guard panel. A wind guard base is mounted normal to the substantially transparent panel to form an ‘L’ shape in cross section. A first end of the wind guard base is coincident with a bottom end of the wind guard panel. The second end of the wind guard base is distal to the bottom end of the wind guard panel. A pair of spring clamps is mounted to the wind guard base in a spaced-apart relation. The spring clamps are urged into a normally closed position by spring action. Each of the pair of spring clamps has a lower jaw. The lower jaw defines a clamping line. The lower jaw of the spring clamp may be opened by manual pressure and the wind guard inserted onto the shelf of the music stand. Upon releasing the manual pressure maintaining the spring clamp in the open position, the spring clamp will resiliently clamp the music stand shelf between the spring clamp lower jaw and the bottom side of the wind guard base. The clamping line defines the line along which the lower jaw of the spring clamp contacts the music stand shelf when the spring clamp engages the shelf of a music stand.

Each spring clamp also includes a resilient rear portion distal to the clamping line. The resilient rear portion is spaced apart so that lower jaw of the spring clamp will contact the music stand shelf only in the vicinity of the clamping line. Deformation of the resilient, spaced-apart rear portion of the spring clamp provides the spring action urging the clamping edges of the spring clamp together.

The Invention may include a conventional music stand, including a desk for supporting sheet music, a shelf to keep the sheet music on the desk, and a column and base for supporting the desk and shelf at a convenient height and angle with respect to a musician.

In use, each of the spring clamps is opened manually, separating the spring clamp lower jaw from the wind guard base. The music stand shelf is inserted into the open spring clamps and the base of the Invention is placed in contact with the shelf of the music stand. The substantially transparent panel is oriented normal to the shelf and parallel to the desk of the music stand and is located between the musician and the desk of the music stand.

The spring clamps are allowed to close, clamping the base of the wind guard to the shelf of a music stand, with the base of the Invention against the shelf of the music stand. The first end of the base is proximal to the desk of the music stand and the second end of the base is distal to the desk of the music stand. The distance between the substantially transparent panel and the desk is defined by the depth of the music stand shelf, by the depth of the spring clamps and by the depth of the base of the Invention.

The musician may place sheet music between the desk of the music stand and the substantially transparent wind guard panel. The wind guard panel shields the sheet music from the wind. When the musician desires to turn a page or to select sheet music for a different composition, the musician reaches between the wind guard panel and the desk of the music stand. The wind guard panel acts as a lever arm, allowing the spring clamps to partially open, separating the top of the wind guard panel from the desk of the music stand. The musician removes his or her hand and the spring pressure of the spring clamps urges the wind guard panel back into a position parallel to the desk of the music stand.

The spring clips of the Invention may be formed of any suitable material, such as steel. Alternatively, the spring clips may be formed from the same material as the wind guard panel or the base.

The use of spring clips having a rear portion that is spaced apart allows the spring clip to be opened by pressure applied to the wind guard panel without unduly stressing the spring clip or the other structures of the Invention and without pulling the apparatus out of engagement with the shelf of the music stand.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Invention in use.

FIG. 2 is a detail bottom view of the wind guard base.

FIG. 3 is a detail top view of the wind guard base.

FIG. 4 is side view of the wind guard in a deployed position on a music stand.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the wind guard in a music-handling position.

FIG. 6 is a detail cutaway view of the wind guard base and wind guard panel.

FIG. 7 is a detail side view of the wind guard and music stand with the clamp in the open position.

FIG. 8 is a top view detail of the wind guard in a second orientation.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the wind guard in the second orientation in a deployed position on a music stand.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the wind guard of the second orientation in a music handling position.

FIG. 11 is a perspective detail cutaway view of the wind guard of the second orientation.

FIG. 12 is a detail side view of the wind guard of the second orientation.

FIG. 13 is a detail side view cross section of the wind guard having a two-position clamp.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The invention is a wind guard for use with a music stand. Alternatively, the Invention is a wind guard in combination with a music stand. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Invention in use. A music stand 2 has a desk 4 and a shelf 6. The shelf 6 is attached to the desk 4 at a generally right angle. The music stand 2 also features a shaft 8 to support the desk 4 and shelf 6. A music stand base (not shown) supports the shaft 8. The music stand desk 4 and shelf 6 support sheet music 10. The length of shaft 8 and hence the height of the music stand 2 generally is adjustable for the convenience of a musician. The tilt of the desk 4 and shelf 6 combination also is adjustable for the convenience of the musician.

A wind guard 12 mounts to the shelf 6 of the music stand 2. The wind guard 12 features a substantially transparent wind guard panel 14 and a wind guard base 16. A pair of spring clamps 18 is attached to wind guard base 16 and resiliently clamps wind guard base 16 to music stand shelf 6. The separation between the wind guard 12 and the desk 4 is selected to adequately protect sheet music from being blown from the music stand 2 when the music stand is used in circumstances in which it can be exposed to wind. Wind guard 12 will directly shield sheet music 10 from the wind. Wind guard 12 also serves to trap sheet music 10 and to retain sheet music 10 on music stand 2 even if the wind lifts sheet music 10. Friction between sheet music 10 and wind guard panel 14 serves to keep sheet music 10 on stand even if sheet music is lifted by the wind. The Inventor believes that a static electrical charge on the wind guard panel serves to attract sheet music 10 enhances the effect of friction between the sheet music 10 and the panel 14 to retain sheet music 10.

FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate the construction and operation of the Invention in a first orientation. As shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, wind guard panel 14, which is substantially transparent, has a bottom end 20. Wind guard base 16 has a first end 22 and a second end 24. In the first orientation, bottom end 20 of wind guard panel 14 is attached to base 16 at the first end 22 of base 16. As illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 3, first end 22 of base 16 is oriented toward desk 4 of music stand 2. First orientation with bottom end 20 at first end 22 of base 16 provides for a relatively small separation between wind guard panel 14 and desk 4.

Also from FIGS. 2 and 3, clamp 18 is attached to base 16. Spring clamp 18 has a movable lower jaw 26 that has an open position illustrated by FIG. 3 and a closed position illustrated by FIG. 4. As illustrated by FIG. 3, lower jaw 26 when in the open position defines a jaw opening 28. Lower jaw 26 defines a clamping line 30. Clamping line 30 is parallel to base 16 and defines generally the line along which clamp 18 will contact a music stand shelf 6 placed within jaw opening 28. Spring clamp 18 selectably clamps music stand shelf 6 along clamping line 30 of lower jaw 26 and against bottom 32 of base 16.

Lower jaw 26 of spring clamp 18 is normally closed by spring pressure. Spring clamp 18 may be moved against spring pressure to the open position by force exerted manually to spring clamp handles 34.

For the first orientation, the clamp line is proximal to the first end 22 of base 16 and distal to the second end 24 of base 16. The location of the clamping line 30 proximal to the end of base 16 closest to the desk 4 of music stand 2 allows the wind guard panel 14 to be moved away from desk 4 for the manipulation of sheet music 10, as illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the shelf 6 of music stand 2 clamped between lower jaw 26 of spring clamp 18 and bottom 32 of base 16. In the deployed position illustrated by FIG. 4, the substantially transparent wind guard panel 14 is supported substantially normal to shelf 6 and hence substantially parallel to music stand desk 4. Sheet music 10 may be retained and protected from the wind in the space between desk 4 and panel 14.

Manipulation of sheet music 10 is frequently required during a performance, to either turn pages or to change musical compositions. While a musician may be able to manipulate sheet music 10 extending above the top of the wind guard panel 14, such sheet music 10 is exposed to the wind. Manipulation of sheet music 10 that does not extend above the top of the wind guard panel 14 requires that the musician extend his or her hand between the wind guard panel 14 and the desk 4 of the music stand 2. As shown by FIG. 5, wind guard panel 14 may be moved away from music stand desk 4 by manual force exerted to wind guard panel 14 when the musician extends a hand into the space between wind guard panel 14 and desk 4. The force exerted to the end of wind guard panel 14 by the musician causes the base 16 to tilt against the force of spring clamp 18. When musician removes his or her hand from the space between the wind guard panel 14 and desk 4, the force exerted by spring clamp 18 returns the bottom side of base 16 into engagement with the shelf 6 and thereby returns the wind guard panel 14 to a position substantially parallel to the desk 4, as shown by FIG. 4. Location of the clamping line 30 proximal to the first end 22 of base 16 where first end 22 is proximal to desk 4 allows spring clip 18 to maintain its engagement with the shelf 6 when the wind guard panel 14 and base 16 are tilted by force exerted to wind guard panel 14.

As shown by FIGS. 4 and 5, the portion of the spring clamp 18 distal to clamping line 30 and proximal to handles 34 is spaced-apart. The spaced-apart nature of the distal portion of spring clamp 18 ensures that the lower jaw 26 will contact music stand shelf 6 only in the vicinity of clamping line 30 and allows the wind guard panel 14 to tilt, as shown by FIG. 5, without disengaging spring clamp 18 from music stand shelf 6.

FIG. 6 is a partial detail view of the underside of the wind guard 12. Bottom side 32 of base 16, spring clamp 18 and handle 34 are illustrated. Also shown is the clamping line 30 indicating where the lower jaw 26 of clamp will contact the shelf 6. As shown by FIGS. 6 and 7, the clamping line 30 is proximal to first end 22 and distal to the second end 24 of the base 16.

FIGS. 8 through 12 illustrate a second orientation of the apparatus. In the second orientation illustrated by FIG. 8, the bottom end 20 of the wind guard panel 14 is proximal to the second end 24 of the base and distal to the first end 22 of base 16. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate that in the second orientation, the wind guard panel 14 is located relatively far from the music stand desk 4 compared to the first orientation illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 5. In the second orientation, the space between the wind guard panel 14 and the music stand desk 4 is increased, for example allowing relatively thick sheet music 10 such as a book to be placed between the wind guard panel 14 and desk 4.

As shown by FIG. 10, the wind guard panel 14 and base 16 may be tilted under manual force exerted by the hand of the musician, allowing the musician to turn a page of sheet music 10 or change from one composition to another using only one hand.

FIG. 11 is a detail top view of the wind guard 12, including the base 16 and wind guard panel 14. The wind guard panel 14 is illustrated in the second orientation proximal to the second end 24 of base 16 and distal to first end 22 of base 16.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are detail side views of the wind guard 12 in the second orientation. As shown by FIG. 12, the clamping line 30 is proximal to the first end 22 and distal to the second end 24 while the bottom end 20 of the wind guard panel 14 is proximal to the second end 24 and distal to the first end 22. The location of the clamping line 30 proximal to the first end 22 allows the clamping line 30 of lower jaw 26 to remain in engagement with the shelf 6 of the music stand 2 when the wind guard panel 14 and base 16 are deflected by the musician, as shown by FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 illustrates an alternative embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, spring clamp 18 is retained on base 16 by swivel bearing 36. Swivel bearing 36 may comprise a rivet. Swivel bearing 36 allows spring clamp 18 to rotate selectably between the first orientation (with the clamping line 30 proximal to the first end 22 of base 16), and the second orientation (with the clamping line 30 proximal to the second end 24 of base 16). Inclusion of swivel bearing 36 allows additional flexibility in the use of the wind guard 12. The spring clamp 18 may be placed in the first orientation shown by FIGS. 1 through 7 for use with relatively small quantities of sheet music 10. Alternately, the spring clamp 18 may be rotated and to the second orientation shown by FIGS. 8 through 12 for use with relatively thick quantities of sheet music 10.

In describing the above embodiments of the invention, specific terminology was selected for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

Claims

1. A music stand apparatus for supporting sheet music and protecting the sheet music from the wind, the apparatus comprising:

a. a music stand desk;

b. a music stand shelf connected to said music stand desk substantially normal to said music stand desk, said music stand desk and said music stand shelf in combination being configured to support the sheet music;

c. a music stand column attached to said music stand desk, said music stand column supporting said music stand desk and said music stand shelf;

d. a ground-engaging music stand base, said music stand base being attached to said music stand column, said music stand base supporting said music stand column in a generally upright position:

e. a wind guard panel, said wind guard panel being substantially transparent, said wind guard panel having a wind guard panel bottom end;

f. a wind guard base, said wind guard base being attached to said wind guard panel bottom end, said wind guard base being substantially normal to said wind guard panel, said wind guard base having a bottom side, said wind guard base bottom side being in a movable engagement with said music stand shelf, said wind guard panel being in a spaced-apart relation to said music stand desk, said wind guard panel being in a position generally parallel to said music stand desk.

2. The music stand apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wind guard panel is composed of a material capable of supporting an electrical charge relative to the sheet music.

3. The music stand apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable engagement of said wind guard base with said music stand shelf is a resilient movable engagement.

4. The music stand apparatus of claim 3, the apparatus further comprising a spring clamp, said sprint clamp being attached to said wind guard base, said spring clamp having a spring clamp jaw, said spring clamp jaw releasably attaching said wind guard base to said music stand shelf, said spring clamp jaw has an open position and a closed position, said spring clamp jaw when in said open position being configured to receive said music stand shelf, said spring clamp jaw when in said closed position being configured to resiliently clamp said wind guard base to said music stand shelf, whereby said spring clamp urges said wind guard base into said movable resilient engagement with said music stand shelf.

5. The music stand apparatus of claim 4 wherein said spring clamp jaw when in said closed position resiliently urges said wind guard panel into said position substantially parallel to said music stand desk and in said spaced-apart relation to said music stand desk.

6. The music stand apparatus of claim 5 wherein said wind guard base is elongated and has, a first end and a second end, said first end being generally parallel to said second end, said wind guard panel bottom end being attached to said first end, said spring clamp defining a clamping line, said clamping line being substantially parallel to said bottom side of said wind guard base.

7. The music stand apparatus of claim 6 wherein said spring clamp comprises an upper spring clamp jaw and a lower spring clamp jaw, said bottom side of said wind guard base defining said upper spring clamp jaw, said clamping line being defined by said lower spring clamp jaw.

8. The music stand of claim 7 wherein said music stand shelf has an upper surface and said spring clamp when in said closed position resiliently urges said bottom side of said wind guard base into engagement with said upper surface of said music stand shelf.

9. The music stand apparatus of claim 8 wherein said clamping line is proximal to said first end and distal to said second end, said first end being proximal to said music stand desk when said spring clamp jaw is in said closed position and said spring clamp jaw is resiliently urging said wind guard panel into said position substantially parallel to said music stand desk.

10. The music stand apparatus of claim 9 wherein said clamping line is proximal to said second end and distal to said first end, said second end being proximal to said music stand desk when said spring clamp jaw is in said closed position and said spring clamp jaw is resiliently urging said wind guard panel into said position substantially parallel to said music stand desk.

11. The music stand apparatus of claim 10 wherein said spring clamp has a selectable first position and a selectable second position with respect to said wind guard base, when said spring clamp is in said first position said clamping line is proximal to said first end and distal to said second end, when said spring clamp is in said second position said clamping line is proximal to said second end and distal to said first end.

12. The music stand apparatus of claim 11 wherein said spring clamp is rotatable between said first and said second positions.

13. The music stand apparatus of claim 12 wherein said spring clamp comprises a pair of spring clamps, said clamping line being defined by said pair of said spring clamps.

14. A music stand apparatus for protecting sheet music from the wind when the sheet music is supported on the desk of a music stand having a music stand shelf mounted substantially normal to the music stand desk, the apparatus comprising:

a. a wind guard panel, said wind guard panel being substantially transparent, said wind guard panel having a wind guard panel bottom end;

b. a wind guard base, said wind guard base being attached to said wind guard panel bottom end, said wind guard base being substantially normal to said substantially transparent panel;

c. a spring clamp, said spring claim being attached to said wind guard base, said spring clamp having a spring clamp jaw, said spring clamp jaw releasably attaching said wind guard base to said music stand shelf.

15. The music stand apparatus of claim 14 wherein said spring clamp jaw has an open position and a closed position, said spring clamp jaw when in said open position being configured to receive the music stand shelf, said spring clamp jaw when in said closed position being configured to resiliently clamp said wind guard base to the music stand shelf,

said spring clamp jaw when in said closed position resiliently urging said wind guard panel into a position substantially parallel to the music stand desk and in a spaced-apart relation to the music stand desk.

16. The music stand apparatus of claim 15 wherein said wind guard base is elongated and has a bottom side, a first end and a second end, said first end being generally parallel to said second end, said wind guard panel bottom end being attached to said first end, said spring clamp defining a clamping line, said clamping line being substantially parallel to said bottom side of said wind guard base.

17. The music stand apparatus of claim 16 wherein said spring clamp comprises an upper spring clamp jaw and a lower spring clamp jaw, said bottom side of said wind guard base defining said upper spring clamp jaw, said clamping line being defined by said lower spring clamp jaw, said spring clamp when in said closed position resiliently urging said bottom side of said wind guard base into engagement with an upper surface of the music stand shelf.

18. The music stand apparatus of claim 17 wherein said clamping line is proximal to said first end and distal to said second end, said first end being proximal to said music stand desk when said spring clamp jaw is in said closed position and said spring clamp jaw is resiliently urging said wind guard panel into said position substantially parallel to said music stand desk.

19. The music stand apparatus of claim 17 wherein said clamping line is proximal to said second end and distal to said first end, said second end being proximal to said music stand desk when said spring clamp jaw is in said closed position and said spring clamp jaw is resiliently urging said wind guard panel into said position substantially parallel to said music stand desk.

20. The music stand apparatus of claim 17 wherein said spring clamp is rotatable between a first selectable position and a selectable second position with respect to said wind guard base, when said spring clamp is in said first position said clamping line is proximal to said first end and distal to said second end, when said spring clamp is in said second position said clamping line is proximal to said second end and distal to said first end.