Abstract:
The sound box of a guitar is modified to add a concave shaped pocket that can be placed at various locations along the sound box body in order to be used to rest against the thigh of the instrumentalist while in the sitting position. An optional rubber gripping pad can be attached to the sound box rest pocket to add additional gripping power if desired. The sound box rest pocket can be applied to both electric and acoustic guitars and eliminates the need to wear guitar straps when playing in the sitting position. The sound box rest pocket does not negatively affect the quality of the sound produced from the guitar.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to guitars, and more particularly to a guitar that has a sound box that has been modified to allow for a more stable guitar position on the body while playing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Guitars are traditionally played in a variety of positions including standing and sitting positions. Traditionally straps have been used to help keep the guitar in a stable position on the body while playing. In the standing position, the use of guitar straps is indeed effective in keeping the guitar in a stable position on the body and is still the most frequently used method today. However, in the sitting position, the use of guitar straps is far less effective at keeping the guitar stable for several reasons. One reason is that in the sitting position a strapped guitar is being supported both from the neck and on the thigh of the instrumentalist. While playing the guitar in the sitting position many instrumentalists shift their body weight around which can sometimes cause the guitar to shift out of position. Since the sitting strapped guitar is supported from two independent areas of the body which can move independently during play, this can cause many points during play where the guitar may not be in the optimum playing location for the instrumentalist. 
     Yet another example of why the strapped guitar is not ideal in the sitting position is due to the irritation caused from the guitar strap at the surfaces where it is in contact with the neck of the instrumentalist. This irritation can come from different material properties of the guitar strap such as the amount of friction it has on human skin as well as possible adverse skin reactions with the strap fabric on some instrumentalist. 
     A third example is due to the design of the sound box of the guitar itself. Most guitar manufacturers still use traditional figure eight style shapes with either square edges or only slightly radiused corners. When these corners rest against the curved thigh of the instrumentalist, there is very little surface area to grip to the instrumentalist and frequently the instrumentalist compensates for concerns of the guitar slipping down the thigh by keeping their neck taught against the guitar strap. During extended periods of play this can cause a fair amount of discomfort to the instrumentalist, and over many years of play may even contribute to neck and upper back pain requiring regular chiropractic therapy. 
     Clearly, there is a need to improve the design of the sound box of the guitar itself to provide a better alternative to the old method of using guitar straps. It is the objective of the present invention to improve upon the design of the guitar sound box in order to allow the modern instrumentalist to play the guitar in all common forms of sitting positions without the use of guitar straps. 
     There have been a few limited attempts in the prior art to make ergonomic improvements to the guitar sound box. U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,991 Guitar issued to Ralbovsky in 2007 discloses a contoured concave pocket shape along the upper half of the backside of the guitar sound box to prevent discomfort and unwanted compression of the guitar against the breast of female instrumentalist while playing. Although Ralbovsky&#39;s invention would effectively address this problem with female instrumentalist, it certainly does not provide any extra stability to the guitar while playing in the sitting position and would be of no benefit to male instrumentalists. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,183,473 Ergonomic Stringed Instrument and Ergonomic Roundback Guitar issued to Untermyer et al in 2007 discloses a complex contoured curved three dimensional shape on the entire backside of the guitar sound box. Although Untermyer&#39;s invention does provide ergonomic advantages over the traditional guitar sound box for the instrumentalist, it does not offer any ability to increase stability while resting on the thigh and due to its smooth curvature may actually tend to slip on the thigh even more than the guitar sound box of prior art. 
     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 7,449,624 Ergonomic Classical Guitar issued to Boute in 2008 discloses a sound box with two truncated pockets to help the instrumentalist during playing in both the classical and standard sitting positions. Although Boute&#39;s improvements do offer some degree of improvement over the guitars of prior art, the truncated portions are substantially 45 degree planar chamfered shapes and they do not contour around the convex curvature of the thigh of the instrumentalist. Furthermore, there is no mention of adding any means to increase gripping friction on the planar shapes in Boute&#39;s invention and therefore Boute&#39;s guitar would most likely still require additional supporting means such as the traditional guitar strap to prevent the guitar sound box from slipping down on the thigh during play. 
     Clearly, the ergonomic guitar inventions of prior art as evidenced by these examples do not provide a fully stabilized guitar while playing in the sitting positions and would all require the use of guitar straps to prevent slippage on the thigh during play. It is the object of the present invention to disclose several embodiments of a novel guitar sound box that has a contoured concave pocket shape to provide ergonomic improvements in various sitting positions as well as an optional capability to increase gripping power against the thigh by using an attached gripping pad. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an ergonomic guitar with a contoured rest pocket available in various configurations that will allow the instrumentalist to play in the sitting position without the need for wearing a guitar strap. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an optional gripping pad that has a contoured shape to fit into the contoured rest pocket to provide additional gripping power to further increase stability while playing in any sitting position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the ergonomic guitar with a sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the classic sitting position. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the ergonomic guitar with a sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the classic sitting position. 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the ergonomic guitar with a sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the classic sitting position. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the ergonomic guitar with a sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the classic sitting position. 
         FIG. 4 a    is a detailed perspective view of the ergonomic guitar classical sound box rest pocket with an optional gripping pad. 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing the use of the ergonomic guitar with a classical sound box rest pocket. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the ergonomic guitar with a sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the ergonomic guitar with a sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the ergonomic guitar with a sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the ergonomic guitar with a sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 9 a    is a detailed perspective view of the ergonomic guitar standard sound box rest pocket with an optional gripping pad. 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing the use of the ergonomic guitar with a standard sound box rest pocket. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the ergonomic guitar showing a half standard sound box rest pocket that is located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing in the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the ergonomic guitar with a half standard sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 13  is a back view of the ergonomic guitar with a half standard sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the ergonomic guitar with a half standard sound box rest pocket located to provide better stability to the instrumentalist while playing the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 14 a    is a detailed perspective view of the ergonomic guitar alternative half standard sound box rest pocket with an optional gripping pad. 
         FIG. 15  is a view showing the use of the ergonomic guitar with a half standard sound box rest pocket. 
         FIG. 16 a    is a perspective top view of an electric guitar with a half standard sound box rest pocket located for use in the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 16 b    is a perspective underside view of an electric guitar with a half standard sound box rest pocket located for use in the standard sitting position. 
         FIG. 16 c    is a detailed perspective view of the half standard position sound box rest pocket for an electric guitar with an optional gripping pad. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 5 , an acoustic guitar is designated by reference number  10 . In a primary embodiment, a concave shaped pocket  15  is located on the sound box at the location shown. In this first embodiment, the location of the pocket  15  as shown in  FIG. 1  is intended for the instrumentalist to rest said pocket  15  against his thigh while playing in the classical sitting position. It should be noted that all of the drawings shown in this specification are drawn for right-handed guitar players. For left-handed players, the sound box rest pockets would be located on the opposite side as shown in these drawings. Referring next to  FIG. 2 , the full shape of the classical sound box rest pocket  15  is shown as looking at the guitar  10  on the right side. 
     It is intended that a variety of curved concave shapes are possible to create said classical rest pocket  15  such as parabolic or arcuate geometries. The top apex of the curve in the preferred embodiment is located below the front face of the sound box by approximately ¼ to ½ inch. Referring next to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the classical sound box pocket  15  is shown in the back and perspective views so that the concave curvature shape can be seen. This concave shape of the pocket provides a contoured fit on the upper thigh of the instrumentalist and keeps the guitar in a stable position without the need for wearing guitar straps. An alternative embodiment of the classical rest pocket  15  is shown in  FIG. 4 a    where a thin gripping pad  20  is shown attached to said rest pocket  15 . In the preferred embodiment, the gripping pad is made of a resilient material such as neoprene rubber and may have a textured surface as shown in order to increase the gripping power of the pad. Various means are possible to attach the gripping pad to the sound box rest pocket such as pressure sensitive adhesives. The thickness of the gripping pad in the preferred embodiment may be between 1/32 and 3/16 of an inch. The gripping pad  20  would be cut such that it fits inside the perimeter of the sound box rest pocket as shown in  FIG. 4   a.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the intended use of the guitar with classical sound box rest pocket  15  is shown in the classical sitting position as represented by a right-handed instrumentalist  100 . The concave shape of the rest pocket  15  fits over the upper right thigh  105  and creates a comfortable yet stable playing position. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 6 through 10 , an acoustic guitar is again designated by reference number  10 . In a secondary embodiment, a concave shaped pocket  25  is located on the sound box at a position further up along the sound box as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this second embodiment, the location of the pocket  25  is intended for the instrumentalist to rest said pocket  25  against his thigh while playing in the standard sitting position. Referring next to  FIG. 7 , the full shape of the standard sound box rest pocket  25  is shown as looking at the guitar  10  on the right side. 
     It is intended that a variety of curved concave shapes are possible to create said standard rest pocket  25  such as parabolic or arcuate geometries. The top apex of the curve in the preferred embodiment is located below the front face of the sound box by approximately ¼ to ½ inch. Referring next to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the standard position sound box pocket  25  is shown in the back and perspective views so that the concave curvature shape can be seen. This concave shape of the pocket provides a contoured fit on the upper thigh of the instrumentalist and keeps the guitar in a stable position without the need for wearing guitar straps. An alternative embodiment of the standard rest pocket  25  is shown in  FIG. 9 a    where a thin gripping pad  20  is shown attached to said rest pocket  25 . In the preferred embodiment, the gripping pad is made of a resilient material such as neoprene rubber and may have a textured surface as shown in order to increase the gripping power of the pad. Various means are possible to attach the gripping pad to the sound box rest pocket such as pressure sensitive adhesives. The thickness of the gripping pad in the preferred embodiment may be between 1/32 and 3/16 of an inch. The gripping pad  20  would be cut such that it fits inside the perimeter of the standard sound box rest pocket as shown in  FIG. 9   a.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the intended use of the guitar with standard sound box rest pocket  25  is shown in the standard sitting position as represented by a right-handed instrumentalist  100 . The concave shape of the rest pocket  25  fits over the upper right thigh  105  and creates a comfortable yet stable playing position. In the standard playing position, the orientation of the guitar is approximately parallel with the ground, and this is why the location of said standard sound box pocket  25  has shifted higher up on the guitar  10  as compared with the aforementioned classical playing position. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 11 through 15 , an acoustic guitar is again designated by reference number  10 . In this third embodiment, a concave shaped pocket  35  is also provided for use in the standard sitting position and the location on the sound box is shown in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 12  shows the side view of the guitar  10  and in this view it can be seen that the apex of the pocket curvature starts at approximately half of the thickness of the guitar sound box. This allows the instrumentalist to not only further tilt the guitar sound box towards his chest while sitting in the standard position, but also allows the instrumentalist a greater degree of flexibility in playing positions by allowing movement of the guitar further forward on the thigh towards the knee without losing gripping surface. 
     It is intended that a variety of curved concave shapes are possible to create said standard rest pocket  35  such as parabolic or circular geometries. Referring next to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the half standard position sound box pocket  35  is shown in the back and perspective views so that the concave curvature shape can be seen. This concave shape of the pocket provides a contoured fit on the curved upper thigh of the instrumentalist and keeps the guitar in a stable position without the need for wearing guitar straps. An alternative embodiment of the half standard rest pocket  35  is shown in  FIG. 14 a    where a thin gripping pad  20  is shown attached to said half standard rest pocket  35 . In the preferred embodiment, the gripping pad is made of a resilient material such as neoprene rubber and may have a textured surface as shown in order to increase the gripping power of the pad. Various means are possible to attach the gripping pad to the sound box rest pocket such as pressure sensitive adhesives. The thickness of the gripping pad in the preferred embodiment may be between 1/32 and 3/16 of an inch. The gripping pad  20  would be cut such that it fits inside the perimeter of the sound box rest pocket as shown in  FIG. 14   a.    
     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , the intended use of the guitar with the half standard sound box rest pocket  35  is shown in the standard sitting position as represented by a right-handed instrumentalist  100 . The concave shape of the rest pocket  35  fits over the upper right thigh  105  and creates a comfortable yet stable playing position. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the orientation of the guitar  10  is still approximately parallel with the ground except the sound box of the guitar has been tilted slightly upwards towards the face of the instrumentalist. The movement of the apex of the curvature to start at approximately half of the distance of the sound box provides this additional degree of tilt while still creating a stable guitar playing position for the instrumentalist. Furthermore, the movement of the apex in the half standard rest pocket position provides a greater degree of flexibility in playing positions by allowing movement of the guitar further forward on the thigh towards the knee without losing gripping surface. 
     Although the embodiments of the present invention have thus far been shown only in acoustic guitar applications, the contoured rest pocket can be applied to other stringed instruments including electric guitars.  FIGS. 16 a  and 16 b    show a fourth embodiment of the present invention where the sound box of an electric guitar  12  is modified to include a half standard sound box rest pocket  35 . In yet another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 16 c   , an optional gripping pad  20  is shown attached to the half standard sound box pocket  35  of said electric guitar  12 . 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that the modifications to the sound box as discussed in these aforementioned embodiments do not have any adverse effects on the quality of the sound produced since the sound board itself is not compromised in any of the aforementioned sound box pocket embodiments. During future production of ergonomic guitars having any combination of stabilized sound box rest pockets  15 ,  25  or  35 , the sound quality of the guitar can be measured using current sound measurement techniques as part of quality control release testing to verify that the ergonomic guitar meets quality control specifications based on the sound from a reference guitar without sound box rest pockets.