Keyboard stand

A stand for a musical keyboard is both stable in a deployed configuration and conveniently compact and portable in a collapsed configuration. The separation of the arms and legs may not change in width as the height of the stand is adjusted. The stand has two “floating” V's, one for the arms and one for the legs. These components slide vertically in slots in a central column and are locked in place with clamps that wrap around the column. To adjust the height of the stand, a user loosens either or both the top and/or bottom clamp (arm clamp or leg clamp) and slides the associated floating V up or down along the center column, then re-tightening the clamp when adjustments are finished. For transport and storage, the user loosens each clamp and rotates the arms or legs in, towards the column.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a stand for supporting electronic piano type keyboard boxes, commonly referred to as keyboards, and cased equipment used by disc jockeys or DJ's (commonly referred to as DJ coffins) in different vertical positions in a horizontal orientation to facilitate a variety of users operating the keyboard from either a standing or sitting position.

The desire to support items has been known in some industries for many years. In a basic form, the concept may involve a readily deployable and collapsible support stand that is able to accommodate and support anticipated loads. In general, an electronic instrument type of keyboard and DJ coffins comprise a relatively long, narrow and low box-like configuration. The keyboards and coffins are portable and generally are moved about from place to place for use at different places or for storage. Thus, a suitable, lightweight, portable and foldable stand is needed to support the keyboard and coffin when desired. Different stand constructions have been made available in the past, but generally, these are relatively expensive, complicated or cumbersome in construction.

In the musical instrument support stand industry, particular attention has been paid to the development of apparatus that are collapsible into a storage or transport configuration and later deployable into an operational configuration, perhaps compatible with a variety of differently sized items (e.g., a variety of differently sized keyboards) and different user requirements. The collapsibility feature has evolved, at least in part, from the need for musicians to set up and stage their instruments, perhaps at a different venue each evening. Because compatibility may be a desired feature of some stands, the music industry has developed several stands that have adjustable support structures.

Particularly where a supported item (e.g., a keyboard) is used while it is supported by the stand, adjustability of a stand may be a desired feature (e.g., to accommodate different users' heights). Additionally, it may even be that a keyboard player, musician, performer or DJ who plans to aggressively play a high pitched percussive piece would want a broader support base than a similarly sized player playing a less aggressive piece substantially at the center of the keyboard, DJ coffin or other equipment. These and other factors relative to musicians and the instruments they play make an ability to change certain features of a deployed stand to accommodate different users, styles and instruments a desired stand feature.

One type of prior keyboard support stand has been formed of two H-shaped units, with elongated center bars pivotally connected together and arranged in an upright position. Thus, the legs of the H-shaped stand, being horizontally arranged, act as upper supports upon which a keyboard may be rested, and lower feet engage the ground. This type of support stand may be folded to place the two upright legs closely adjacent, or alternatively the legs may be spread apart at different angles for providing the desired height location of the keyboard. Straps, which interconnect the upper supports and the lower feet, have been used to set the distances between the respective supports or feet and, consequently, the resulting height of the supported keyboard.

Another type of known musical keyboard stand is often referred to as an X-type stand. This stand may be the simplest and least expensive design, and the most popular of all keyboard stands. The design is simple and includes two symmetrical cross members pivotally joined in the center. The height of the stand is adjusted by changing the angle of the cross members, thereby raising or lowering the keyboard mounting height.

The most common method of locking the height of this type of stand is by a pin being inserted into a plate with holes at the pivot. Other methods include a “saw-tooth” bar extending from one cross member to another and an enclosed ratchet housed about the center pivot.

One drawback of X-type stands is that the stability of the stand is compromised as the height of the keyboard or DJ coffin is raised since the lateral distance between the opposing arms and legs decreases as the height increases. A secondary defect is that at lower positions the width of the arms is too great to be used with smaller keyboards or coffins.

Another known type of musical keyboard stand is a Z-type. Even though this type of stand is portable, Z-type stands are much less portable than X-type stands. This design includes two Z-shaped end frames connected by horizontal crossbars for lateral stability. Z-type stands have the advantage of independent width and height adjustment. The disadvantage of this type of stand is its size, especially when folded for storage. Even when it is collapsed, this type of stand is not very compact. An additional drawback of the design is difficulty in folding. There are several knobs to be loosened to achieve the smallest size for transport and the frames have to be removed from the cross members. The required effort and time to collapse this type of stand is significant.

Another type of known stand is a T-type. These stands are like a folding table; four legs, locking leg-supports and a flat, table-like top. Width and height are independently adjustable. While these stands fold to a relatively flat form for transport, they, like the Z-type, take a significant amount of effort to get them as small as possible.

C-type stands are the most expensive of all the common stand types. Their design is based on an extruded aluminum column with blind slots for holding the support arms and legs. The arms are pivoted and locked in place with either player-facing or side-facing clamps. The advantages are infinite height adjustment along the column that is independent of the support arm width and a distinctive, identifiable look. Disadvantages are that the stand is no more stable than an X-type stand, and often less stable. The column limits horizontal adjustment of the keyboard and is bulky to transport, being typically 48 inches long. Some models do not have storage for the arms and legs within the column, while some do.

Therefore, a need exists for a musical equipment stand that does not suffer from these identified problems while still providing for a stable support for a variety of different configurations while still being easily and efficiently collapsible to a compact configuration

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various embodiments, a stand according to this invention is portable and stable while providing the advantage of the spacing between the arms and between the legs do not change in width as the height of the stand is adjusted.

In various embodiments, a stand of this invention has two “floating” V's, one for the arms and one for the legs. These components slide vertically in slots in an extruded aluminum column and are locked in place with clamps that wrap around the column. To adjust the height of the stand, a user loosens either the top or bottom clamp (arm clamp or leg clamp) and slides the associated floating V up or down along the center column, then re-tightening the clamp when adjustments are finished.

For transport and storage, the user loosens each clamp and rotates the arms or legs in, towards the column. If desired, the height location of each clamp can remain in the operational location so that the user can easily return to the previous stand height. When folded in its smallest position, the stand is very compact.

The clamps interleave into each other on the sides to provide compliance for dimensional difference and to allow for tightening of the clamps. This feature also provides for “locking” the front and back parts of the clamp so they do not bind when the arms and legs are moved along the column.

The clamps may also have guide pins on their internal face. The guide pins engage the slots in the column and provide guidance for the clamps, thereby reducing the likelihood of the clamps locking when the arms and legs are being slid along the column.

The backside (player facing side) of the bottom clamp has a lip or hand-grip. When adjusting the height location of the legs, a user may loosen the clamp knobs, holding the clamp by the hand-grip and move the column rather than holding the column and moving the leg assembly.

The column may be a modified I-beam with the arms and legs located between the flanges of the I-beam. The flanges of the column are flexible to allow for dimensional differences and clamping force. The expanded center section of the I-beam provides torsional stability and a force-carrying surface.

The arms and legs may have angled end pieces that bear against the center section of the column when in use. The arms and legs pivotally move within the flange of the column about a bolt that passes from one side of the clamp, through a slot in the column, through the arm/leg tubing, through the end pieces, through the slot in the opposing column flange and through the opposite clamp member. The bolt is held in place by a tension knob.

In use, part of the downward force of the keyboard and the player's actions are carried as a side load through the bolts which exert force against the outer edge of the slots while the angled end pieces carry part of the force into the expanded center of the column.

The tension knob is used to secure the arms and/or legs in location between the clamps and column flanges. When the tension knob is loosened, the arms and/or legs can be slideably adjusted up or down to adjust height or rotated in or out for storage or performance positioning. Advantageously, the width between the arms and/or between the legs does not change during height adjustment so that a variety of keyboard sizes (lengths) can be securely supported on the stand over a range of heights.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-7C, one embodiment of a stand10adapted to support a musical electronic keyboard12according to this invention is shown. The invention herein is described for use with a keyboard12, but any musical item or other work piece may be used on the stand10. The stand10includes a central, generally vertically extending member or column14. Coupled to a lower portion of the column14is a leg assembly16adapted to support the stand10on a floor surface or the like. An arm assembly18is coupled to the upper portion of the column14. The column14includes a central post20which, in various embodiments, has two pairs of flanges22extending on opposite lateral sides of the post20. Each flange22has an upper and a lower slot24,26generally vertically oriented. The leg assembly16includes a pair of oppositely extending legs28. A foot30extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of each leg28at a distal end of each leg and may include a rubber footer32or grommet at each end of the foot30. A proximal end of each leg28is captured between the flanges22of one of a pair of lateral extending flanges on the central column14.

Similarly, the arm assembly18includes a pair of oppositely extending arms34with the proximal end of each arm positioned between each flange of one of the pairs of flanges. A supporting mount36extends generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of each arm34and is mounted to the distal end of the arm. A rubber support38may be added to each end of the support arm.

While the multiple slots are shown and described herein, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that fewer or more slots could be utilized within the scope of this invention. For example, a single slot could be utilized for all of the arms and legs, a slot24aon each side of the central column22as shown inFIG. 8could be utilized to couple the arm and the leg on that side of the central column, a pair of slots on each side of the central column could be utilized with one of the arms or legs being pivotally coupled to each slot, or another arrangement and number of slots could be provided within the scope of this invention. Additionally, while slots are shown and described to pivotally couple the legs and arms to the central column and to guide their longitudinal movement relative to the central column, another arrangement could be utilized. For example, a square, rectangular or other shaped column with no flanges or slots in which the ends of the arms and the legs still bear against the column, transferring part of the force to the column, but the horizontal and vertical forces would be carried by the clamps alone, not by the flange(s). Moreover, a channel, a groove, a series of holes or pockets or another arrangement or member could be utilized within the scope of this invention and the term “slot” is intended to encompass all such arrangements to facilitate pivotal and/or longitudinal movement of the arm or leg relative to the central column.

As shown most clearly inFIG. 4, the leg assembly and arm assembly are each adjustably coupled to the central column14by a clamp assembly40. Each clamp assembly40includes a saddle bracket42which is adapted to receive a guide pin assembly44to selectively secure the associated leg or arm of the stand10to the central column14. The saddle bracket42includes a pair of holes46, each of which is aligned with one of the slots24,26in one of the pairs of laterally extending flanges22. A guide pin or bolt48extends through a hole50in the associated arm34or leg28and pivotally couples the associated arm or leg to the central column14and extends through one of the holes46in the saddle bracket42. A retainer52is also coupled to each end of the saddle bracket42on the front of the column14and cooperates with the guide pin assembly44. Each retainer52includes an outwardly open channel53extending toward the bracket42. Each guide pin assembly44includes the pin48which extends through a hole56in the retainer52and the hole46in saddle bracket42as well as the hole50adjacent the proximal end of the associated foot or arm. One end of the pin48includes a head58which secures the retainer52to the saddle bracket42. The pin48is threaded and the distal end of the pin48receives a knob60for rotation on the pin48. Rotation of the knob60in a first direction tightens the clamp assembly40to secure the associated foot or arm in a desired position relative to the central column14; whereas, opposite rotation of the knob60loosens the clamp assembly40for adjustment of the associated foot or arm relative to the central column14.

Each saddle bracket24includes a pair of forwardly extending tabs54which are seated within one of the channels53of the associated retainer52(seeFIGS. 7A-7C). The saddle bracket42for the leg assembly16may include a lip or hand grip62(FIGS. 5 and 7C) for a user to reposition the saddle bracket42and associated clamp assembly40relative to the central column14as will be described herein below.

According to various embodiments of the stand10of this invention, the vertical positions of the leg assembly16and of the arm assembly18may be independently adjusted by a user relative to the central column14(FIG. 7A). Moreover, an angular position of each leg28and of each arm34relative to the central column14may be independently adjusted relative to the remaining arms or legs (FIG. 7B). With the knobs60rotated to an adjustment or loosened position, the angular orientation of the associated leg28or arm34may be adjusted relative to the central column14. Likewise, when both the knobs60on the clamp assembly for the leg or arm assembly16,18are loosened, the entire assembly16,18may be slidably adjusted within the slots24,26relative to the central column14. The hand grip62on the saddle bracket42of the leg assembly16may assist a user in positioning the saddle bracket42and associated leg assembly16relative to the central column14when the associated knobs60are loosened. The proximal end of each leg28and of each arm34may include a rubber face or grommet64for frictional engagement with the post20of the central column14to minimize any noise which may be generated by movement of the adjacent components of the stand10and increase frictional interaction with the post20.

The entire height of the stand10may be adjusted in a variety of manners. For example, the angular position of the legs28may be adjusted to adjust the overall height of the stand10; the angular position of the arms34may be adjusted to adjust the overall height of the stand10; the leg assembly16may be vertically adjusted relative to the central column14to adjust the overall height of the stand10and/or the arm assembly18may be vertically adjusted relative to the central column14to adjust the overall height of the stand10. Unlike past keyboard and DJ Coffin stands, the spatial separation of the arms34relative to one another may be adjusted, but is not required to be adjusted, when the height of the stand is adjusted to a desired position and to accommodate different heights and styles of players. Similarly, the spatial separation of the legs28may be adjusted, but is not required to be adjusted, when adjusting the overall height of the stand10. Under most operating conditions, the arms34and legs28are pivoted outwardly to fully seat the associated face64against the post20for a stable and secure support (seeFIG. 7B). In this angular orientation of the arms34and of the legs28, the overall height of the stand10may be adjusted without changing the arms34or legs28angular orientation.

To convert the stand10according to various embodiments of this invention to a collapsed configuration for storage and/or transport, one or more of the knobs60may be loosened to collapse the associated leg28or arm34toward the central column14so that it is seated between the pair of the flanges22to which it is connected (seeFIGS. 7B-7C). The longitudinal axis of each leg28or arm34may be generally parallel with the central column14in the collapsed configuration (seeFIGS. 6 and 7C).

An additional advantage of various embodiments of the stand10according to this invention is that the vertical position of the clamp assembly40and/or the associated arm assembly18or leg assembly16does not need to be adjusted relative to the central column14to convert the stand10into a collapsed configuration; however, movement of the clamp assembly40vertically toward one another may provide for the most compact configuration of the stand10, if desired.

One alternative embodiment of this invention is shown inFIG. 9in which a single flange22aextends laterally from each side of the central column14. Each flange22amay have upper and lower slots24,26as shown inFIG. 9or may have a single slot similar to the embodiment inFIG. 8or another arrangement. The respective arms34and legs28are each adjustably coupled to the associated flange22avia a clamp assembly including a knob60threadably mounted on a bolt or similar fastener for tightening and loosening engagement with the flange22a.A slot34amay be provided in each arm34and a similar slot (not shown) may be provided in each leg28in which the flange22ais positioned. The length of the respective slot34amay allow for at least partial or full collapse of the arms34and legs28relative to the central column14, similar to the arrangement shown inFIG. 7Cfor an alternative embodiment.

From the above disclosure of the general principles of this invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.