Universal, portable sheet reading stand

A sheet music holder having a golpe board with a non-porous surface for gluing into a guitar body with a porous surface, a twist lock power-assisted suction device, a clamp with a single tightening nut, and a sheet tray to hold the sheet music. The twist lock power-assisted suction device allows a user to easily create a strong vacuum attachment that will last fro hours so a complete performance will not be interrupted. The golpe board is included where the guitar body has a porous surface that would otherwise frustrate the suction attachment. The double-ball-and-socket clamp and arm allows a variety of positioning possibilities for the user to best read the sheet music in the tray.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to musical instruments and in particular to methods, systems, and devices for holding sheet music on an instrument where an artist can read it during a musical performance.

2. Related Art

Sheet music is rather awkward to hold and read while trying to play a musical instrument like a guitar. But being able to read the music while playing the instrument is a critical necessity. Sheet music stands are very familiar to most people, but such take up floor space, are top heavy, easily knocked over, and restrict the movements of the performer.

Attempts have been made to attach holders to guitars before, but the kind that clamp-on are heavy and can mar the instrument, and other devices that use suction cups don't really attach in a satisfactory fashion or remain in place for an acceptable period of time. Often the surfaces of the guitar are a little porous, and defeat any suction device applied. Other suction devices are cheap and flimsy, and just don't apply a high enough vacuum to really keep the attachment firmly in place. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,476 to Shiniti Kunyosi.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, a sheet music holder embodiment of the present invention comprises a golpe board of non-porous material for gluing onto a guitar body should the surface be porous, a twist lock suction device that is power-assisted for maximum consistent suction, a clamp with a single tightening nut, and a sheet tray to hold the sheet music. The twist lock power-assisted suction device allows a user to easily create a strong vacuum attachment that will last for hours.

The non-porous golpe board is included where the guitar body has a porous surface that would otherwise frustrate the suction attachment. In some embodiments, a substantially non-porous or non-porous mounting board, which is not attached to the instrument, can be included, such that the suction mechanism and associated sheet music tray can be selectively coupled with the mounting board and the mounting board can be located in any convenient location. The double-ball and socket clamp and arm allows a variety of positioning possibilities for the user to best read the sheet music in the tray.

An advantage of the present invention is that a sheet music holder is provided that is easy to use.

Another advantage of the present invention is that a sheet music holder is provided that will not mar a musical instrument even after repeated uses.

A further advantage of the present invention is that a sheet music holder is provided that will stay fastened for many hours and not slip off accidentally thanks to a twist-lock action in the power-assisted suction device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1represents a sheet music holder embodiment of the present invention, and is referred to herein by the general reference numeral100. The sheet music holder100attaches, for example, to an acoustic guitar102comprising a body104, a fret board106, a key head108, a bridge110, and a sounding hole112. WhileFIG. 1depicts use of the sheet music holder100being used in connection with an acoustic guitar102, in alternate embodiments, the sheet music holder100can be used in connection with any item, instrumental or otherwise.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the sheet music holder100itself comprises a sheet holding tray120with a tray clamp ball122joined by a clamp assembly124to a base clamp ball126and tightened with a handle128. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, a power-assisted suction base can be comprised of an activation lever130inside a base housing132that draws the base tight onto the guitar102. In some embodiments, the suction base can include a release tab134allows a quick release of suction cup136from a non-porous or substantially non-porous surface.

In some embodiments, a substantially non-porous or a non-porous surfaced golpe board138can be used if the instrument itself has a porous surface. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, the clamp assembly124allows a user to position the sheet holding tray120in substantially any convenient position relative to the instrument and/or golpe board138and or mounting surface. In operation, the tray clamp ball122and base clamp ball126can be loosely coupled with the clamp assembly124, the sheet holding tray120can be positioned as desired, and then the clamp can be fully tightened to fix geometric relation between the mounting surface and the sheet holding tray120.

In some embodiments, the golpe board138can be attached to the body104, e.g., with adhesive or via any other known and/or convenient apparatus, mechanism or compound, and provides a high quality, non-porous or substantially non-porous surface for vacuum cup attachment. Traditionally, golpe boards are attached to guitars for flamenco music performances where the guitar body is subject to heavy tapping that could damage the soft wood and finishes. If the guitar body104already has a suitable surface, the golpe board138may not be needed and can be omitted. In alternate embodiments, the golpe board138can be comprised of any known and/or convenient material and can have any known and/or convenient shape and can be attached to any convenient manner to the body. In still further alternate embodiments, the golpe board138may not be a traditional golpe board, but can be comprised of any known and/or convenient material and can have any known and/or convenient shape and can be attached to any convenient manner to any surface of any item, instrument and/or object.

In some embodiments, the suction base and clamp assembly may be a National Products, Inc., type RAM 101-2241U, RAM-MOUNT with twist lock cup. The twist lock power-assisted suction device is described by Jeffrey Carnevali in U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,420, issued Dec. 23, 2003, the complete contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, in alternate embodiments, any known and/or convenient non-power-assisted and/or power-assisted suction mechanism can be used.

FIG. 2represents a sheet music holder assembly, and is referred to herein by the general reference numeral200. The sheet music holder200can attach to a musical instrument or nearby surface. If the musical instrument or nearby surface is an acoustic guitar202, such can comprise a body204, a fret board206, a key head208, a bridge210, and a sounding hole212. In some embodiments, the sheet music holder200itself can comprise a sheet holding tray220coupled with a tray clamp ball222. In operation, a pair of clamp shells224and225, with ball sockets, can capture tray clamp ball222and a similar base clamp ball226. They can then be simultaneously tightened around both balls222and226with a single T-handle tightening nut228on a bolt and/or via any other known and/or convenient mechanism. A suction base has an activation lever230inside a base housing232that draws the base tight onto a non-porous and/or substantially non-porous surface. In some embodiments, a release tab234allows a quick release of suction cup236, e.g., against a golpe board238that was coupled with the guitar body204. The clamp assembly224allows a user to position the sheet holding tray220relative to the instruction or nearby surface in any known and/or convenient geometric relation.

FIG. 3shows a music sheet tray300with a particular25decorative design that provides maximum surface area and strength with a minimum of weight. Of course, other designs could be used. The tray300comprises a tray clamp ball302to fit into a clamp as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. A lip304provides a bottom support for sheets of paper, e.g., sheet music. The tray clamp ball302and base clamp ball are preferably about the same size diameter. A back308would be visible to an audience, and a backbone306provides added strength such as would be needed in a plastic injection molded implementation.

FIG. 4adepicts a mounting board400that can be used in conjunction with the sheet music holder100. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4a, the mounting board400is comprised of a first region402and a second region404and a transition region406. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4a, the first region402can have any known and/or convenient texture and/or porosity and/or image and/or geometric properties. In some embodiments, the first region can be substantially planar and can be comprised of a substantially non-porous material. However, in alternate embodiments, the first region can have a non-uniform surface. In still further alternate embodiments, the first region402can include any convenient decoration and/or image408.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4a, the second region can be substantially planar and can be comprised of a substantially non-porous material and/or any material capable of substantially maintaining a vacuum bond with the suction cup of the sheet music holder100. In some embodiments, the first region402and second region404can be comprised of the same and/or similar material and can be of unitary construction. However, in alternate embodiments, the first region402and the second region404can be comprised of different materials and can be coupled with each other.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4a, the mounting board400can include a transition region406. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4a, the transition region can server to, at least partially, separate the first region402and the second region404. In some embodiments, the first region402, second region404and the transition region406can be comprised of the same material and can be of unitary construction. In alternate embodiments, the transition region406can be comprised of any known and/or convenient material and/or can be comprised of the same material as the first region402and/or the second region404. In some embodiments, the transition region406can bear any known and or convenient geometric relation to the first region402and the second region404.

In some embodiments, the underside410of the mounting board400can have any known and/or convenient geometry properties. In some embodiments, the underside410of the mounting board400can include a temporary bonding material such that the underside410of the mounting board400can be selectively coupled with any known and/or convenient surface and/or material. In some embodiments, the underside410of the mounting board410can include a surface that has a substantially high coefficient of static and/or kinetic friction relative to any selected material.

FIG. 4bdepicts an embodiment of the mounting board400depicted inFIG. 4ain use with the sheet music holder100. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4b, the mounting board400is substantially planar and the sheet music holder100is selectively coupled with the second region404of the mounting board400via the suction base. In some embodiments, the mounting board400can have any known and/or convenient geometric and/or inertial and/or section modulus properties such that when the mounting board400and the sheet music holder100are coupled that the combination is statically and/or dynamically stable.

In some embodiments, in operation, the sheet music holder100can be used with or without the mounting board400and can, in some embodiments, be used by a computer operator or typist to support paper, documents, books and/or other items.

In some embodiments, in operation, the sheet music holder100can be used with or without the mounting board400and can, in some embodiments, be used by a chef and/or to support recipes, paper, documents, books and/or other items.

In some embodiments, in operation, the sheet music holder100can be used with or without the mounting board400and can be supported on any convenient surface, such as, over a table cloth, on a couch, on a floor and/or any other surface capable of supporting the base and/or capable of being attached by the suction mechanism.

In some embodiments, in some embodiments, the sheet music holder100can be removably mounted, via the suction mechanism, directly on an instrument, such as, a guitar, bass, ukulele, keyboard and/or any other instrument having a non-porous and/or substantially non-porous surface. In alternate embodiments, the sheet music holder100can be removably mounted, via the suction mechanism, directly on an instrument, such as, a guitar, bass, ukulele, keyboard and/or any other instrument which has been coupled and/or removably coupled with a non-porous and/or substantially non-porous surface.