Abstract:
An accessory pack for a musical instrument case comprises a sleeve dimensioned to fit on the exterior of the musical instrument case body first and second openings at either end of the sleeve through which the case is inserted, and a third opening defined in the wall of the sleeve. Additionally, one or more pockets can be located on the outer surface of said sleeve.

Description:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
         [0002]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary musical instrument case exterior accessory pack and a musical instrument case; 
         [0003]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the exemplary exterior accessory pack of  FIG. 1  being placed around the musical instrument case. 
         [0004]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the exemplary exterior accessory pack of  FIG. 1  properly positioned upon the musical instrument case. 
         [0005]      FIG. 4  is a front view of another embodiment of an exemplary exterior accessory pack properly positioned upon a musical instrument case. 
         [0006]      FIG. 5  is a front view of another embodiment of an exemplary exterior accessory pack. 
         [0007]      FIG. 6  is a front view of another embodiment of an exemplary exterior accessory pack. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The various embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6  of the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Throughout the drawings, like numerals are used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. 
         [0009]    The drawings represent and illustrate examples of the various embodiments of the disclosure, and not a limitation thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure as described herein. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be included in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Moreover, variations in selection of materials and/or characteristics may be practiced to satisfy particular desired user criteria. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications as come within the scope of the features and their equivalents. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “various embodiments,” or any variant thereof means that a particular feature or aspect of the disclosure described in conjunction with the particular embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in another embodiment,” or variations thereof in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to its respective embodiment. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary musical instrument case exterior accessory pack, and a musical instrument case. The exterior accessory pack  101  is configured to be placed around the outside of the musical instrument case  102 , such as, for example, a guitar case. The accessory pack  101  has one or more pockets  103  located on its outer surface for storing various musical instrument accessories such as sheet music, straps, picks, cleaning materials and other essential items. It will be appreciated that the pack contemplated herein can be used with nearly any type of case for a musical instrument, including without limitation, cases for stringed instruments, e.g., cello, violin, mandolin, etc., cases for electronic keyboards, or even cases for drums. A guitar case is only used in this description as an illustrative example. In one embodiment, the exterior accessory pack  101  comprises a single piece of lightweight material uniformly woven into a sleeve  104  having an upper opening  105  and a lower opening  106 . Typical guitar musical instrument cases  102  comprise a neck  107 , a lower body portion  108 , and a handle  110 . The lower opening  106  receives the musical instrument case  102  in order to allow the pack  101  to fit over the outside of the case  102 , while the upper opening  105  receives the neck  107  of the case  102  such that the pack  101  fits snugly around the lower portion  108  of the case  102 . The pack  101  also has an aperture  109  for receiving the handle  110  of the case  102 . While the present embodiment discloses a sleeve  104  uniformly woven into a single piece of material, other embodiments utilizing multiple pieces of material are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0012]    When utilized properly, the exterior accessory pack  101  fits snugly around the body  108  of the musical instrument case  102  while allowing the neck  107  and the handle  110  of the case  102  to extend through the upper opening  105  and the aperture  109 , respectively, and remain exposed. In this orientation, the pockets  103  are located on the outer surface of the pack  101  in order to allow easy access to the accessories while the pack  101  is positioned upon the case  102 . When positioned upon the case  102 , the exterior accessory pack  101  stores essential items and allows a user to carry the case  102  and pack  101  as a single lightweight unit, eliminating the need for additional bags or carrying cases. Notably, the pack  101  is dimensioned according to the size of the case  102 , and packs  101  of varying dimensions may be utilized with cases  102  of different sizes. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts the exemplary musical instrument case exterior accessory pack  101  of  FIG. 1  in the process of engaging with a musical instrument case  102 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the exterior accessory pack  101  is positioned upon the musical instrument case  102  by placing the lower opening  106  around the neck  107  and sliding the pack  101  over the case  102  until the neck  107  extends through the upper opening  105  and the pack  101  is positioned over the body  108  of the case  102 . Notably, the upper opening  105  is smaller than the lower opening  106  such that the upper opening  105  will not fit around the body  108  of the case  102 . Thus, when the pack  101  is pulled down over the body  108  of the case  102 , the upper opening  105  rests at the top of the body  108  near where the neck  107  and body  108  meet. The handle  110  then extends up through the aperture  109 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , to allow optimum portability of the case  102  while the pack  101  is positioned upon it. Thus, when the pack  101  is properly positioned upon the case  102 , the pack  101  covers the body  108  of the case  102  but not the neck  107  or the handle  110 . Such an exposed handle  110  allows a user to transport the case  102  normally while the pack  101  is positioned upon the case  102 . Although the pack  101  of the embodiment is shown to substantially cover the body  108  of the case  102 , other embodiments which cover larger or smaller portions of the case  102  are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0014]    The pack  101  may be made from a flexible, lightweight material, either knitted, or woven, with sufficient elasticity to easily stretch around the case  102  while also fitting snugly to the case  102 . Non-limiting examples of suitable materials include cotton-based knitted fabrics, synthetic or blended fabrics, Lycra®, and even neoprene. Additionally, those skilled in the art will recognize that a relatively non-elastic material may be used as long as it is dimensioned to receive the case  102  body  108 . The pocket  103  is positioned on the outer surface of the pack  101  such that musical instrument accessories may be stored and easily accessed when the pack  101  is properly positioned around the body  108  of the case  102 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts another embodiment of an exterior accessory pack positioned upon a musical instrument case. The pack  401  comprises a sleeve  404  made of flexible, lightweight material and a pocket  403  positioned upon the outer surface of the sleeve  404 . The sleeve  404  has an upper opening  405 , a lower opening  406 , and an aperture  409 . The lower opening  406  is larger than the upper opening  405  such that the lower opening  406  fits around the body  108  of the musical instrument case  102 , but the upper opening  405  does not. The aperture  409  receives the handle  110  of the musical instrument case  102  in order to facilitate normal transportation of the case  102  when the pack  401  is positioned upon the case. 
         [0016]    In this embodiment, the pack  401  further comprises a drawstring  410  positioned around the rim of the lower opening  406  such that the lower opening  406  may be drawn tightly around the bottom of the case  102 . The drawstring  410  allows the pack  401  to fit snugly to the outer surface of the case  102  on all sides of the case  102 , and be restrained from sliding back toward the neck  107 , and potentially disengaging from the case  102 . Although a drawstring  210  is disclosed, it will be recognized that other means for adjusting the circumference of the lower opening  406  of the pack  401 , such as, for example, an elastic band sewn in or attached to the pack  401  about the circumference of the lower opening  406 , may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0017]      FIG. 5  depicts another embodiment of an exterior accessory pack. The exterior accessory pack  501  of  FIG. 5  comprises a single sheet of material formed into a somewhat conical-shaped sleeve  504  by coupling opposite edges of the sheet along a seam  502 . Again, the pack  501  has a pocket  503  positioned on its outer surface, and an upper opening  505  and a lower opening  506  for receiving the musical instrument case  102  ( FIG. 1 ). The pack  501  also has an aperture  509  for receiving the handle  110  ( FIG. 1 ) of the case  102  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0018]      FIG. 6  depicts another embodiment of an exterior accessory pack. The exterior accessory pack  601  of  FIG. 6  comprises a front panel  602 , a back panel  603 , and two side panels  604 ,  605 . One edge of the front panel  602  is coupled to the side panel  604  and the other edge of the front panel  602  is coupled to the side panel  605 . The side panels  604 ,  605  are also coupled to opposite edges of the back panel  603 , forming a somewhat box-shaped pack  601  having an upper opening  606  and a lower opening  607 . The side panel  604  has an aperture  608  for receiving the handle  110  ( FIG. 1 ) of the musical instrument case  102  ( FIG. 1 ), and the front panel  602  has a pocket  609  for storing musical instrument accessories (not shown). 
         [0019]    Notably, the pack  601  is formed by sewing the panels  602 - 605  together at their edges, but other means for coupling the panels to one another may be utilized. Although the pack  601  discloses only one pocket  609  located on the front panel  602 , more pockets  609  may be located at various positions on the pack  601  without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.