Bowed stringed instrument protector and method for using same

A protector device and method for using the same that prevents a bow from striking the edge of the stringed instrument in a waist region of the instrument, substantially eliminating potential harm to the instrument, such as nicks, dents, scratches, cracks and the like due to inadvertent bow strikes. A crescent-shaped device constructed and arranged to be detachably secured to a waist portion of a bowed stringed instrument sound box. The device is dimensioned such that, when installed on the stringed instrument, it prevents a bow from contacting the edge of the instrument in the belly region during normal use of the instrument. The apparatus may be a unitary member or may be a multi-layered device. In one embodiment, the protector device includes a flexible elongate outer shell and an elongate inner cushion attached to the outer shell. The apparatus is configured to be installed within the stringed instrument waist adjacent to the edge of the belly. The outer shell has a spring force urging the apparatus towards a linear configuration. This urging causes the apparatus to be retained within the waist against the edge of the belly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the invention
 The present invention relates generally to musical instruments and, more
 particularly, to devices for use with bowed stringed instruments.
 2. Related Art
 Bowed stringed instruments such as the violin, viola, cello and double bass
 produce tones when a bow is drawn across the strings (arco) or when they
 are finger-plucked (pizzicato). The construction of bowed stringed
 instruments are quite similar. The violin, for example, includes a belly,
 top or soundboard defining the front of the violin, typically constructed
 of well-seasoned spruce; a back, usually made of well-seasoned maple; and
 ribs. The front, back and ribs are joined together to form a hollow sound
 box. Additional components of the violin include a neck, fingerboard,
 pegbox, scroll, bridge, tailpiece, and f-holes or soundholes.
 The sound box contains a sound post and bass-bar to assist in the
 transmission of sound while providing additional support to the sound box
 construction. The sound post is a thin, dowel-like length of wood secured
 inside the sound box below the right side of the bridge, connecting the
 front and back of the violin. The bass-bar is a long strip of wood glued
 to the inside of the front under the left side of the bridge.
 The strings of the violin are fastened to the tailpiece and pegbox. The
 strings rest on the bridge and are suspended over the fingerboard. At the
 pegbox the strings are attached to tuning pegs that can be turned to
 change the pitch of the string. The strings are set in vibration and
 produce sound when the player draws the bow across them at a right angle
 near the bridge. The violin has four strings tuned a fifth apart, to the
 notes g', d', a', e'. The bow is a narrow, slightly incurved stick of
 pernambuco approximately 70-75 cm long, with a band, typically horsehair,
 stretched from end to end of the bow stick. Sympathetic vibrations
 produced between the stringed instrument's top and back plates add
 resonance and volume to the sound.
 The duration of a bowed stringed instrument's useful life and its condition
 during that time are directly related to the care taken to maintain and
 preserve the instrument. There are many conditions and circumstances to be
 aware of and guard against. For example, the critical effects of
 atmospheric changes must be considered to maintain a bowed stringed
 instrument in optimal condition. Various other dangers such as shocks and
 blows constantly threaten a bowed instrument's health.
 With regard to the latter threat, of particular concern are the edges of
 bowed stringed instruments. The thin, fragile edges of bowed stringed
 instruments extend beyond the ribs and wear through the years due to
 constant use and damage. Cracks eventually form at the edges and travel
 along the top and bottom plates, degrading the performance of the
 instrument.
 Traditionally, a purfling is inlayed into the edge of the stringed
 instruments to protect the edges. Because it is inlayed to approximately
 half the thickness of the edge, the purfling prevents further continuation
 of cracks that often begin at the vulnerable end grain of the plates.
 Although purfling tends to hinder the process of edge wear, it does not
 prevent initial damage to the edges themselves. Such damage may be caused
 by contact with the fingers and hands of the players. However, of
 particular concern is damage caused by the inadvertent striking of the
 edge with the bow during use of the instrument. For violins and violas,
 such contact usually occurs during vigorous up-bow strokes, while for
 cellos and basses, such contact usually occurs during vigorous down-bow
 strokes. Such contacts often nick, scratch, dent or otherwise cause
 permanent damage to the edges of the bowed stringed instrument.
 Accordingly, there is a great risk of damage to the edge of the top plate
 in the narrower waist region of the stringed instrument sound box between
 the upper and lower bouts.
 Violinists, for example, often use surprising speed and force when playing
 the violin. A noted characteristic of the violin is its singing tone and
 potential to play rapid, brilliant figurations as well as lyrical
 melodies. For example, arco techniques such as the sul ponticello, in
 which the violin is played with the bow extremely close to the bridge to
 produce a thin, glassy sound; and the col legno, in which the violin is
 played with the wooded part of the bow instead of with the hair, all
 expose the violin to potential damage from the inadvertent striking of the
 instrument with the bow. To create special effects, even greater speed and
 force are often used, exposing the violin to even greater risks.
 What is needed, therefore, is an apparatus for protecting a violin and
 other bowed stringed instruments from damage due to inadvertent striking
 of the sound box with the bow during normal use of the instrument.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention is a stringed instrument protector and method for
 making and using the same that is detachably secured to the instrument to
 protect at least an edge of a top or bottom plate of the instrument.
 Specifically, the present invention protects an edge of a top plate of a
 bowed stringed instrument, particularly in a waist region of the bowed
 stringed instrument sound box. More specifically, the present invention
 prevents a bow from striking an edge of a top plate of a bowed stringed
 instrument in the sound box waist region thereby preventing nicks, dents,
 scratches, cracks and the like which may be caused during use, storage or
 transportation and, in particular, caused by inadvertent bow strikes
 during vigorous up- and down-bow strokes during use of the instrument.
 Thus, the present invention substantially eliminates a significant and
 potential harm to bowed stringed instruments.
 In one aspect of the invention, a crescent-shaped device is disclosed. The
 device is constructed and arranged to be detachably secured to a bowed
 stringed instrument so as to prevent a bow from contacting the instrument
 during normal use of the instrument.
 In another aspect of the invention, a crescent-shaped protector is
 disclosed. The protector is constructed and arranged to be detachably
 secured to a waist region of a bowed stringed instrument sound box, the
 sound box being formed by opposing top and bottom plates separated by
 ribs. The protector is dimensioned such that, when installed on the bowed
 stringed instrument, it covers at least the edge of the top plate in the
 waist region of the sound box.
 In one embodiment, the protector is a flexible elongate member have a
 spring force urging the device towards a substantially straight or planar
 configuration. The protector includes a flexible elongate outer shell and
 an elongate inner cushion attached to the outer shell. The protector is
 configured to be installed within the stringed instrument waist region
 adjacent to the edge of the top plate. In one embodiment, the spring force
 is supplied by a shape memory retrained by the flexible outer shell and
 causes the apparatus to be retained within the waist region against the
 edge of the top plate. The outer shell has an interior surface and an
 exterior surface configured to deflect bow forces applied during normal
 use. The elongate inner cushion is attached to the outer shell interior
 surface, preventing the outer shell from contacting directly the stringed
 instrument when the protector is installed on the stringed instrument.
 In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a flexible elongate outer
 shell having interior and exterior surfaces and an elongate inner cushion
 attached to the outer shell interior surface. The cushion prevents the
 outer shell from contacting directly the stringed instrument when the
 device is installed on the instrument. An attachment device constructed
 and arranged to detachably secure the apparatus against the edge of the
 top plate in the waist region of the instrument is also provided. The
 attachment device may be any one of a plurality of known devices now or
 later developed. In one embodiment, the attachment device is an elongate
 flat spring interposed between and secured to the outer shell and inner
 cushion. The flat spring applies a spring force that urges the apparatus
 to a substantially linear configuration. This causes the apparatus to
 apply a force against the portion of the waist region that also forms part
 of the upper and lower bouts. In an alternative embodiment, the attachment
 device includes a "U"-shaped clamp on which this protector is mounted. The
 clamp has substantially parallel sides that contact the top plate and
 bottom plate and are secured by adjustment screws. Such a clamp may of
 similar construction to those often used to secure chin rests to a violin.
 "L"-shaped clamps similar to those used with chin rests may also be used.
 This clamp is adapted to apply a force to a bottom plate of the sound box
 thereby retaining securely the apparatus against the edge of the top plate
 within the waist of the instrument. In a still further embodiment, the
 attachment device includes one or more continuous elastic bands attached
 to the outer shell. The elastic loops are constructed and arranged so as
 to be stretched from an un-stretched circumference to a stretched
 circumference greater than the un-stretched circumference to wrap around
 the sound box. This enables elastics to retain the apparatus against the
 edge of the top plate within the waist region of the instrument under a
 contraction force of the elastic loop(s) to return to their un-stretched
 state.
 The outer shell and cushion may be constructed of any materials now or
 later developed. The outer shell must be sufficiently flexible to enable a
 person to flex the apparatus using hand force. For example, in one
 embodiment, the outer shell is substantially comprised of a plastic
 material. In alternative embodiments, other elastomeric materials are
 used. The cushion may be any material capable of preventing the outer
 shell from contacting the instrument. For example, in one embodiment, the
 cushion includes foam rubber, while in other embodiments a fabric or felt
 material is used.
 In an alternative embodiment, the protector is a substantially rigid device
 having a radius of curvature corresponding to that of the waist region of
 the desired bowed stringed instrument in which the device is to be
 installed. In such an embodiment, the device includes attachment means
 other than an outwardly urging spring force to maintain the protector
 secured to the instrument during use of the instrument.
 In another embodiment, the protector device is formed from a unitary
 member. In this embodiment the protector has an interior surface that
 contacts the stringed instrument and an exterior surface that is visible
 when the device is installed on the stringed instrument. Preferably the
 interior surface is a non-scratch surface while the exterior surface is
 sufficiently hard to deflect blows from the bow without substantially
 interfering with the overall motion of the bow during normal use. The
 projector may be comprised of a silicon or urethane or other material that
 does not scratch or otherwise mark the sound box.
 In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for attachment to a
 stringed instrument top plate to cover an edge of the top plate from a
 bowing motion is disclosed. The apparatus includes a flexible elongate
 outer shell and an elongate inner cushion layer. The outer shell may
 assume a substantially planar uninstalled position as well as a curved
 installed position, having a shape memory that urges it to the uninstalled
 position. The outer shell further has an interior surface and an exterior
 surface for deflecting forces applied by a bow during normal use. The
 elongate inner cushion layer is applied to the outer shell interior
 surface so as to prevent the outer shell from marking the stringed
 instrument when the apparatus is installed on the instrument. Due to the
 shape memory of the outer shell, a force applied by the outer shell is
 sufficient to detachably secure the apparatus in the waist region of the
 instrument. The outer shell is preferably constructed of an elastomeric
 material while the cushion is preferably comprised of a foam rubber,
 fabric or felt material.
 In a still further aspect of the invention an apparatus for attachment to a
 stringed instrument waist between a top plate and ribs to protect the
 string instrument is disclosed. The apparatus includes a flexible elongate
 outer shell having an interior surface and an exterior surface. An
 elongate inner cushion is attached to the outer shell interior surface so
 as to substantially prevent the outer shell from contacting the string
 instrument when the apparatus is installed on the upper edge of the
 instrument waist. An attachment means for detachably securing the
 apparatus against the upper edge of the instrument waist is also included
 in this aspect of the invention. In one embodiment, the attachment means
 is an elongate flat spring interposed between the outer shell and inner
 cushion. The flat spring has a spring force urging the apparatus towards a
 substantially linear configuration. In another embodiment, the attachment
 means includes a bracket. The bracket is adapted to apply a force to a
 bottom plate of the stringed instrument, thereby retaining the apparatus
 to the upper edge of the waist.
 In yet another aspect of the invention, a method for protecting a waist
 region of a bowed stringed instrument from inadvertent contact with a bow
 during normal use of the instrument is disclosed. The method includes the
 steps of: (a) flexing opposing ends of a flexible elongate protector
 having a non-marking surface and an opposing protective surface toward
 each other to curve the protector such that the non-marking surface is
 curved at a larger radius around an exterior of the curve and the
 protective surface is curved at a smaller radius around an interior of the
 curve. The protector has a shape memory urging it toward a substantially
 planar unflexed configuration. In a step (b) placing the cushion surface
 of the curved protector against an edge of a top plate in the waist region
 of the bowed stringed instrument; and (c) releasing the curved protector,
 enabling the shape memory to cause the protector to be retained against
 the top plate edge within the waist region of the instrument.
 Various embodiments of the present invention provide certain advantages and
 overcome certain drawbacks of the conventional techniques. Not all
 embodiments of the invention share the same advantages and those that do
 may not share them under all circumstances. This being said, the present
 invention provides numerous advantages including the noted advantage of
 protecting other bowed stringed instruments from damage due to inadvertent
 striking of the sound box with the bow during normal use of the
 instrument. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention prevent a
 bow from striking a protected edge of the stringed instrument in a waist
 region of the instrument sound box. This substantially eliminates
 potential harm to the instrument, such as nicks, dents, scratches, cracks
 and the like to the edge of the instrument due to inadvertent bow strikes.
 Another advantage provided by certain embodiments of the present invention
 is that the protector apparatus is very light and small. This enables the
 protector to provide the requisite protection while not interfering with
 the aesthetic beauty of the instrument or the quality of sound produced by
 the instrument. The size of the protector apparatus is dependent on a
 number of factors including, for example, the size of the stringed
 instrument, experience level of the player and the anticipated technique
 with which the instrument will be played. Smaller protectors are available
 for smaller instruments; larger protectors for larger instruments. For a
 given instrument, a small protector may be provided for experienced users
 while larger protectors are available for inexperienced users. Likewise,
 for a given user, a small protector may be provided for less active
 techniques while larger protectors are available for when the instrument
 is to be used with great speed and force, such as, for example, when the
 sul ponticello, col legno or other technique that includes vigorous up-bow
 or down-bow strokes are to be used to play the instrument.
 A related advantage provided by certain embodiments of the invention is
 that the protector is a relatively small and light device that may be
 carried anywhere and easily stored in the carrying case of the instrument.
 It is anticipated that the cost of the protector would be minimal relative
 to the instrument itself as well as other accessories. As such, the
 protector is a device that may be provided by instrument makers,
 wholesalers, retailers, and others with the instrument to insure potential
 buyers, particularly novice players, do not damage the instrument.
 Further features and advantages of the present invention as well as the
 structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention
 are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
 In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate identical or
 functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most one or two
 digits of a reference numeral identifies the drawing in which the
 reference numeral first appears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
 The present invention includes an apparatus that prevents a bow or other
 object from striking at least an edge of a top plate of a bowed stringed
 instrument, preferably in a waist region of the instrument. The present
 invention prevents nicks, dents, scratches, cracks and the like caused by
 inadvertent bow strikes during normal use of the instrument, substantially
 eliminating a significant potential harm to the bowed stringed instrument.
 The present invention may be constructed and arranged to be implemented
 with any bowed stringed instrument. For example, the present invention may
 be implemented in a violin, viola, cello and double bass as well as other
 bowed stringed instruments. For simplicity the structure and operation of
 the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to
 a violin. Also for simplicity, all components, elements, regions,
 operations, etc., of bowed stringed instruments provided below are those
 of the violin only. As those skilled in the relevant art would find
 apparent, similar components, elements, regions, operations, etc. are
 generally provided in other bowed stringed instruments which may or may
 not be referred to by the same name. The skilled artisan should be capable
 of making the necessary correlations to implement the present invention
 with bowed stringed instruments beyond the violin based on the following
 description.
 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a violin suitable for implementing the
 present invention. A hollow sound box 102 of violin 100 is formed from a
 top plate 104, bottom plate 106 and ribs 108. Top plate 104, also referred
 to as a belly, top or soundboard, defines the front of violin 100 and is
 typically constructed of spruce, although other materials are also
 popular. Back plate 106 (not shown in FIG. 1) is substantially parallel
 with and opposes top plate 104. Back plate 106 is usually made of maple
 although, again, other materials may be and are sometimes used. Ribs 108
 define the sides of the sound box 102, attached to and separating top
 plate 104 an bottom plate 106. Sound box 102 has an upper bout 130 and
 lower bout 132 separated by a narrower waist region 136.
 Additional components of the violin not pertinent to the present invention
 include a neck 110, fingerboard 112, pegbox 114, scroll 116, bridge 118,
 tailpiece 120, and f-holes (or soundholes) 122. The strings are set in
 vibration and produce sound when the player draws the bow across them at a
 right angle near the bridge. Strings 124 of violin 100 are fastened to
 tailpiece 120 and pegs 126 on pegbox 114. Strings 124 rest on bridge 118
 and are suspended over fingerboard 112. To change the pitch of a string
 124, a tuning peg 126 to which it is attached is turned to tighten or
 loosen the string 124.
 FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of sound box 102 showing the
 relationship between ribs 108 and edge 128 of top plate 104 as well as
 edge 202 of bottom plate 106. As noted, the condition of a bowed stringed
 instrument is primarily determined by the care taken to maintain and
 preserve the instrument over time. A particular threat to bowed stringed
 instruments that is substantially eliminated by the present invention is
 damage to edges 128 of violin 100. As shown, the thin, fragile edges 128,
 202 of violin 100 extend laterally beyond ribs 108 forming a ridge that
 overhangs above and below ribs 108.
 Edges 128 and 202 wear through the years due to constant use and damage,
 eventually causing cracks to form at the edges 128 and travel along the
 top plate 104 and bottom plate 106. To prevent migration of cracks that
 have already been formed at the edge 128, purfling 134 is formed into top
 plate 104 and bottom plate 106 near respective edges 128, 202. Although
 purfling tends to hinder the process of edge wear, it does not prevent
 initial damage to the vulnerable end grain of the edges.
 Edge damage is often caused by contact with a player's fingers and hands
 over time. However, the greatest risk of damage is due to inadvertent
 striking of edge 128 of top plate 104 with the bow during normal use. The
 greatest risk is to top plate edge 128 in the narrower waist region 136 of
 violin 100 as that is the region over which the bow passes during use.
 Such contacts often nick, scratch, dent or otherwise cause permanent
 damage to edge 128, diminishing the appearance and value and, eventually,
 potentially adversely affecting the quality of sound produced by violin
 100.
 Importantly, the present invention not only protects the edges of bowed
 stringed instruments from damage due to handling of the instrument, it
 also protects the edges of the instrument from damage due to other sources
 of harm such as being struck by a bow during use of the instrument. The
 structure and operation of certain embodiments of the present invention,
 referred to hereinbelow as a protector, are described below. Since top
 plate edge 128 is of greatest risk and since its greatest threat is the
 bow and not the hand, embodiments of the present invention address
 protecting top edge 128 in waist region 136 on the side of the instrument
 over which the bow travels. However, it should be understood that
 alternative embodiments of the present invention may be constructed and
 arranged to protect top edge 128 at other location or regions of a bowed
 stringed instrument, such as around portions of upper bout 130 and lower
 bout 132. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may also be
 constructed and arranged to protect edge 202 of bottom plate 106 in the
 same or different regions. As will become apparent from the following
 description, embodiments of the protector of the present invention provide
 such protection by detachably securing to the bowed stringed instrument
 covering the desired edge portion to be protected. The protector, however,
 may also be configured to cover adjacent portions of the bowed stringed
 instrument. For example, embodiments of the protector may also protect a
 portion of top plate 104 and/or a portion of ribs 108 adjacent to edge
 128.
 Embodiments of the protector will now be described with reference to FIGS.
 3A-6. FIGS. 3A-3B are cross-sectional views of various embodiments of a
 protector 300 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view
 of violin 100 with protector 300 installed over top plate 104 to protect
 edge 128. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of protector 300 installed on
 violin 100. FIG. 6 is an illustration of how a flexible protector may be
 flexed prior to insertion into waist region 136 of violin 100.
 Referring to FIGS. 3A-3B, two illustrative embodiments of a protector 300
 are shown. In FIGS. 3A-3B protector 300 is oriented generally as it would
 be when installed on violin 100. Generally, protector 300 includes an
 upper extension 312 and a lower extension 314 joined by a curved region
 306. Upper extension 312 contacts a surface of top plate 104, extending a
 predetermined distance over top plate 104. Likewise, lower extension 314
 extends a predetermined distance from curved region 306 to cover a portion
 of ribs 108. Curved region 306 is shaped in the form of a "C" or "U" to
 define a curved recess 310 adapted to receive edge 128. As such, when
 installed as shown in FIG. 4, protector 300 wraps around edge 128 to cover
 completely edge 128 as well as a portion of top plate 104 and a portion of
 ribs 108, thereby protecting the covered portion of edge 128. As shown in
 FIG. 5, when installed, the illustrative embodiment of protector 300 is a
 substantially crescent-shaped protector detachably secured to the sound
 box 102 to cover a top plate edge 128 in a waist region 136 of sound box
 102. Protector 300 prevents a bow from contacting the covered top plate
 edge 128 during normal use of the instrument.
 Referring again to FIGS. 3A and 3B, protector 300 may be formed from a
 single, unitary member as shown in FIG. 3A or may be formed as a
 multi-layered device a shown in FIG. 3B. In addition, protector 300 may be
 a substantially rigid device, having a length and radius of curvature
 corresponding to that of waist region 136 of violin 100. Preferably,
 however, protector 300 is flexible, yielding under the finger strength of
 a player so that it may be easily installed within waist region 136 and,
 when released, conform to the curvature of waist region 136.
 In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A wherein protector 300 is a single,
 unitary member, the interior surface of protector 300 that contacts violin
 100 when protector 300 is installed on the instrument 100 has a
 non-scratch surface to prevent protector 300 from scratching or otherwise
 marking or damaging violin 100. The exterior surface of protector 300 is
 sufficiently hard to deflect the bow without substantially interfering
 with the overall motion of the bow.
 In one preferred embodiment, protector 300 is a multi-layered device.
 Referring to FIG. 3B, this embodiment includes two layers: an elongate
 outer shell 302 and an elongate inner cushion 304. Outer shell 302 has an
 exterior surface configured to deflect bow forces applied during normal
 use. The inner cushion 304 is attached to an interior surface of outer
 shell 302, preventing outer shell 302 from marking violin 100 when
 protector 300 is installed on violin 100.
 As shown in FIGS. 3A-5, protector 300 preferably has a minimal
 cross-section. This minimizes the degree to which protector 300 interferes
 with the normal use of violin 100. In addition, it is preferable that
 protector 300 is comprised of light-weight materials. This will not only
 assist in the reducing the cost of manufacturing and shipping, but also
 reduce any potential adverse effects of protector 300 on the performance
 of violin 100.
 The present invention also includes a means (not shown) for attaching the
 protector to violin 100. In the embodiment in which protector 300 is a
 flexible device, protector 300 is detachably secured to violin 100 due to
 a shape memory retained by outer shell 302. This shape memory causes outer
 shell 302 to urge protector 300 towards a substantially planar,
 uninstalled position. This causes the protector 300 to secure itself
 within waist region 136 against edge 128.
 In alternative embodiments, other devices in addition to or instead of the
 shape memory of the flexible outer shell may be used. For example, in one
 embodiment an attachment device that maintains the protector detachably
 secured to the instrument during normal use is an elongate flat spring
 interposed between and secured to outer shell 302 and said inner cushion
 304. The flat spring has a spring force that urges protector 300 to a
 substantially linear configuration; that is, to its uninstalled position.
 This causes protector 300 to confirm to the edge 128 in waist region 136,
 thereby assuming a substantially crescent-like shape.
 In an alternative embodiment, protector 300 may be detachably secured to
 violin 100 through use of a clamp. Numerous types of clamps may be used.
 In one particular embodiment, the clamp is an "L"- or "U"-shaped bracket
 with barrels similar to those commonly used to secure a chin rest to a
 violin. Once the protector is placed adjacent to edge 128, screws are
 rotated so that the lower arm extend below sound box 102 and contacts back
 plate 106. The clamp or bracket applies a force to bottom plate 106 of
 sound box 102 thereby retaining protector 300 against top plate edge 128
 within waist region 136 of violin 100.
 In another embodiment, the attachment means includes one or more elastic
 loops attached to protector 100. The elastic loops are configured to be
 stretched to a circumference greater than their unstretched circumference
 larger than the diameter of sound box 102. The elastics can then be
 wrapped around sound box 102 to retain protector 100 to top plate edge 128
 under a contraction force of the elastic loops. Numerous other devices and
 techniques may be used to detachably secure protector 300 to violin 100.
 Protector 300 maybe manufactured from any combination of materials. In the
 embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A, for example, protector 300 may be
 comprised of silicon or urethane or other material or composite that is
 not sufficiently hard or rough to scratch or otherwise mark violin 100. It
 should be understood that different woods are often used for top plate 104
 and ribs 108; accordingly, protector 300 must be of a material that would
 not mark any of such materials.
 In the multi-layered embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3B, outer shell 302 may
 be constructed of an elastomeric material such as a plastic. Many other
 materials may be used in addition to or instead of plastic. Inner cushion
 304 may be any material that protects violin 100 from outer shell 302. For
 example, in one preferred embodiment, outer shell 304 is a plastic having
 a hardness that is sufficient to deflect forces applied by a bow. In such
 embodiments, cushion layer 304 is a foam rubber or felt. The foam rubber
 may be glued or otherwise secured to the inner surface of outer shell 302.
 In one embodiment, the foam rubber is sprayed on sheets of plastic prior
 to stamping or cutting the plastic into lengths of strips. As one skilled
 in the relevant art would find apparent, cushion layer 304 may be
 comprised of other materials in addition to or instead of foam rubber. For
 example, cushion layer 304 may include a fabric, styrofoam, etc. It should
 also be understood that the thickness of cushion layer 304 is to be
 selected based on the materials used in outer shell 302, type of wood of
 the instrument in which it will be implemented, the manner in which the
 instrument is to be played, etc.
 In use, the protector 300 is flexed by the player as shown in FIG. 6 and
 inserted into waist region 136 so that served region 310 receives edge 128
 and upper extension 312 contacts top plate 104 and lower extension 314
 contacts ribs 108. The protector is then released, enabling it to return
 towards the unflexed position due to its shape memory. The protector 300
 is securely held within the waist region 136. In embodiments where other
 attachment devices are implemented, then such devices are operated to
 secure the protector 300 to the violin 100.
 While various embodiments of the present invention have been described
 above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of
 example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and the scope of the
 present invention are not limited by any of the above exemplary
 embodiments, but are defined only in accordance with the following claims
 and their equivalents.