Abstract:
A device for holding a wind instrument comprises a flexible ring with at least a first configuration in a rest position and a second configuration in a stretched position. A strap may be provided to be worn around the neck of a user providing a way for suspending the associated wind instrument without the use of hands.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to holders for wind instruments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for holding a wind instrument around the neck of the player without the use of the player&#39;s hands. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For players of musical instruments, there is a desire to support the instrument without the use of hands. This ability allows the player to easily turn a page of music or otherwise rest while not playing. 
     A recorder is a type of wind instrument made from various materials such as wood, plastic, and metal. It has a mouthpiece and an elongated body with air holes that are selectively covered by a player&#39;s fingers. Music is produced from a recorder by blowing air through the mouthpiece and adjusting the pitch by covering one or more of the air holes. Such configuration of recorders is well-known to those skilled in the art. 
     As recorders are often employed in the classroom setting for music education, it has become increasingly important to provide a hands-free support for those recorders. Such support is useful for children as it allows them to participate in exercises where hands are needed, such as rhythmic clapping exercises. One effective type of hands-free support is obtained through the use of a neck strap device that is secured to the recorder. Neck straps supports have advantages in that they are simple to use and are inexpensive products. However, various problems exist with prior art neck straps devices for recorders. One problem relates to the structure and operation of the prior art neck strap devices that affects they way that they are connected to the recorder. In particular, a rigid ring has been arranged on the strap. The ring is then placed over a portion of the recorder. While this arrangement is acceptable for certain types of recorders where the recorders have a configuration that accommodates placement within the ring, rigid rings are deficient in that they restrict the types of recorders that can be used with the holding strap device. Typically, rigid rings can only be used on the instrument they were designed for. 
     Another type of neck strap device comprises a continuous cord with a plastic cord lock. The user of this neck strap would place the cord around the body of the recorder and engage the cord lock to take up the slack until the cord was snug against the recorder. The other end of the loop would be worn around the neck. One problem with this device is that the cord lock does not sufficiently engage the recorder to prevent slippage. 
     Another problem with prior art neck strap devices including those discussed above is that the user, typically children, can hurt their neck if the strap gets caught on something or is purposely pulled. 
     Thus, there is a need for an improved neck strap holding device for wind instruments. The present invention addresses this need and the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an improved wind instrument support device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a flexible ring having at least a first configuration in a rest position and a second configuration in an extended position. The flexible ring is adapted to fit around a portion of a wind instrument. A strap is also connected to the flexible ring. The strap is sized and shaped to be worn around the neck of a user and allows the instrument to be suspended without the use of the user&#39;s hands. Preferably, the strap has a first end and a second end that are joined together to form a loop. 
     The ring is preferably sufficiently flexible so as to allow the user to stretch it from its rest configuration to an extended position whereby it can fit over a portion of the wind instrument. The ring can then be released and snugly secured at a portion of the instrument. This allows the flexible ring to be used with a variety of instruments of varying configuration (e.g., shape and dimension). The strap is preferably connected to the flexible ring, and may be placed around the player&#39;s neck allowing hands-free support of the instrument. 
     In one preferred embodiment, a breakaway portion may be provided to connect the first and second ends of the strap. The breakaway portion desirably includes a hook-and-loop type fastener where one part of the fastener is arranged at the first end of the strap and the other part of the fastener is arranged at the second end of the strap. 
     In the preferred embodiment that uses the breakaway safety feature, injuries are prevented to a user&#39;s neck that may be caused by the strap becoming inadvertently entangled or intentionally pulled. In this embodiment, the strap is designed to open when sufficient force is applied thereto. 
     The flexible ring is preferably made from a rubber compound. However, the ring may be made from other flexible materials such as, but not limited to, various polymeric materials other than rubber, nonwoven and woven natural and artificial fibers. The strap portion of the holder is desirably a flaccid cord, although other elongated materials may be used such as leather, polymeric materials, various natural and artificial fabrics, etc. 
     The above features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood with reference to the following written description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial front plan view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a supported wind instrument according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial front plan view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial front plan view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the support device  10 , according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a flexible ring  12  and a strap  14 . The flexible ring  12  is preferably made from a rubber compound, but other flexible materials can be used such as various polymeric materials, and nonwoven and woven natural and artificial fibers. As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible ring  12  may have a generally circular configuration. The flexible ring  12  is shown in its rest configuration, as depicted by solid lines D, and can be expanded to numerous configurations such as the enlarged diametric profile  20  as depicted by broken lines. In alternative embodiments, the flexible ring can have various geometric profiles in its rest position, and is not restricted to a circular profile. For example, the rest position for the flexible ring  12  may be an oval. As most wind instruments have a generally circular or oval profile, a complimentary profile for the flexible ring is most desirable as the ring will have a better fit around the instrument. The ring  12  can have varying rest dimensions which will depend on the general dimension of the instrument. 
     A strap  14  is also provided and is connected to the flexible ring  12 . The strap is preferably made from a flaccid cord, however, other materials such as leather, polymeric materials or a fiber composition may be used. The strap  14  may be padded (not shown) to provide addition comfort from chaffing from prolonged use. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the strap  14  has two ends  18  and  19  that are connected to form a loop, as best shown in FIG.  1 . For this embodiment, the two ends  18  and  19  of the strap can be tied together to form a loop to be worn around a user&#39;s neck. Preferably, the two ends  18  and  19  of the strap contain a breakaway portion  16 . This breakaway portion  16  is a safety feature to prevent neck injury that could be caused by the strap  14  becoming caught on something or if the strap  14  is pulled while being worn. Preferably, the breakaway portion  16  comprises a hook and loop fastener where the hook portion is arranged at one of the two ends  18  or  19  of the strap and the loop portion is arranged at the other end  18  or  19  of the strap. Other types of breakaway portions may be used including but not limited to snap fit arrangements. Alternatively, the strap  14  can be a continuous loop, as shown in FIG.  2 . In this embodiment, the strap is worn by the user by simply placing the strap over the head and around the neck. 
     Another alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 3 where the strap  14  is attached to the flexible ring  12  by a separate connector ring  24  or other clip. In this embodiment, the connector ring  24  secures the strap  14  to the flexible ring  12 . In another embodiment, a portion of the strap  14  may form a connecting loop  26  as shown in FIG.  4 . In this embodiment, two portions of the strap  14  are connected to form a connecting loop  26 . The two portions may be sewn, stitched or glued together to form the connecting loop  26 . Preferably, the size of the connecting loop  26  is relatively small in comparison to the size of the loop formed by connecting ends  18  and  19  that is worn around the user&#39;s neck. The connecting loop  26  ensures that the ring  12  will not slip off the strap  14  at one of the open ends  18  or  19  and prevents the ring  12  from sliding along the strap  14 . 
     In use, the flexible ring  12  is stretched to an extended configuration  20  (see broken lines) so that it can be readily placed over a relatively large portion  23  of a wind instrument  22 . As shown in FIG. 2, after the flexible ring is arranged on the associated wind instrument  22 , its elastic nature will attempt to return it to its rest configuration. The flexible ring  12  will then be secured to a portion of the wind instrument  22 . As noted above the flexible ring  12  can be stretched to any one of numerous possible extended configurations (e.g., second configuration  20 ). Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the flexible ring  12  is attached to the recorder  22  after the ring  12  is stretched to pass over the enlarged bell portion  23  or the enlarged mouthpiece portion  21  of the recorder  22  and then relaxed to the original rest configuration. 
     The flexible ring  12  can also be used with wind instruments other than recorders, by varying the dimensions of the ring. Once the ring  12  is secured to the recorder  22 , the strap  14  will retain the recorder  22  around a user&#39;s neck to allow hands-free support of the instrument. The flexibility of the ring  12 , either alone or in combination with the breakaway aspect of the strap  14 , makes the present invention especially useful in the classroom setting where children are learning to play recorders. 
     The flexible ring  12  provides an advantage over the rigid prior art rings in that the neck strap with the flexible ring can be used on different styles of recorders  22  with varying body profiles or on different types of wind instruments. Where a rigid ring could only be used in conjunction with a particular instrument it was designed for, the present invention allows many types of instruments to be held with a single strap and flexible ring. 
     The above description relates to preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting of the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the claims as set forth below.