Support apparatus for a musical instrument

A support apparatus (10) for supporting the weight of a musical instrument such as a saxophone (S) on the back and hips of a musician (M) is provided. A clip (12) engages a rear portion of a musician's belt (B) or pants (P). A pair of substantially rigid members (30a,30b) extend from the clip (12) and contact the musician's back (MB). The substantially rigid members (30a,30b) each include a curved portion (34a,34b), opposite the clip (12), that extends over and at least partially around the shoulders (S1,S2) of a musician (M). The distal end (36a,36b) of each member (30a,30b) lies adjacent a front portion (FP) of the musician (M). A strap assembly (50) is connected to the distal ends (36a,36b) of the substantially rigid members (30a,30b). A musical instrument clip (56) is connected to the strap assembly (50) and releasably attaches an instrument such as a saxophone (S) to the apparatus (10).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to a device that supports a musical 
instrument while the instrument is in use. It finds particular application 
in conjunction with saxophones of all varieties. 
Saxophones are well known and in use around the world. One of the problems 
encountered by musicians who play the saxophone is the need to both 
support the weight of the instrument and play the instrument for extended 
periods of time. Saxophones, depending upon the variety, can weigh from 
five to ten pounds or more. Often a player will be required to support the 
instrument for several hours or more during practice or a performance. 
This leads to discomfort, pain, poor posture, fatigue, and loss of 
concentration on the part of the saxophone player. 
Known saxophone support devices cause and/or aggravate these problems. 
Known devices are generally provided in the form of one or more straps 
that the musician wears about his or her neck and shoulders. These straps, 
even if padded, eventually cause discomfort due to the concentration of 
the saxophones weight on the neck and/or shoulders of the musician. 
Further, these devices can cause a musician to assume an unnatural posture 
during play and can impede natural head movement. 
The lack of an effective apparatus for supporting a saxophone during the 
play thereof has decreased the popularity of the saxophone and other 
similar instruments. Further, some musicians have been forced to reduce 
the amount of practice and/or playing time to avoid neck and shoulder 
strain. Also, the above-noted problems are especially apparent for young 
and old players with less physical strength. 
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a new and improved support device 
for saxophones and other musical instruments which would overcome the 
foregoing deficiencies and others while meeting the above-stated needs and 
providing better and more advantageous overall results. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention, a new and improved support apparatus 
for a musical instrument is provided. 
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a support 
apparatus for supporting the weight of a musical instrument at least 
substantially on the back and hips of a musician includes a clip for 
engaging a rear portion of a musician's belt. At least one substantially 
rigid member extends from the clip and contacts the musician's back. The 
substantially rigid member includes a curved portion, opposite the clip, 
that extends over and at least partially around the shoulder of a 
musician. The distal end of the at least one member lies adjacent a front 
portion of the musician. At least one flexible strap is connected to a 
distal end of the at least one substantially rigid member. A clip is 
connected to the at least one flexible strap and releasably attaches a 
saxophone or other instrument to the apparatus. 
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a support 
apparatus includes means for engaging clothing of a musician adjacent a 
lower back region of the musician. At least one substantially rigid member 
extends from the clothing engagement means. The at least one member 
includes a first region proximate the clothing engagement means which lies 
generally adjacent the lower back region of the musician. The at least one 
member also includes a second region curved to conform generally to the 
contour of the musician's shoulders. The distal end of the at least one 
member is positioned adjacent a front region of the musician and below the 
musician's neck. Means for releasably attaching a musical instrument to 
the apparatus is also provided. 
One advantage of the present invention is that it provides a new and 
improved musical instrument support apparatus. 
Another advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates neck and 
shoulder strain and fatigue of a musician. 
Still another advantage of the present invention is that it supports the 
weight of a musical instrument at least substantially on the back and the 
hips, rather than on the shoulders, of a musician. 
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it improves the 
posture of a musician and allows unimpeded head and neck movement. 
A further advantage of the present invention is that it is adjustable to 
accommodate differently sized musicians, different instruments, and 
different playing positions. 
A still further advantage of the present invention is that it allows a 
musician to more easily and effectively play the musical instrument 
supported thereby. 
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to 
those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the 
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the FIGURES, a support apparatus for a musical instrument 
in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at 10. The 
apparatus 10 includes means for releasably engaging the clothing of a 
musician M adjacent a lower region R of the musician's back MB. Preferably 
a belt clip 12 is provided as the clothing engagement means and releasably 
engages a belt B worn about the waist and hips of the musician M. The belt 
clip 12 includes a body 14 having a tongue 16 depending therefrom. The 
tongue 16 passes between the belt B and the lower back region R of the 
musician M. Upon insertion of the tongue 16 as described, the belt B is 
engaged with the surfaces 18, 20 of the tongue 16 and the body 14, 
respectively. The clip 12 is thus restrained from further downward 
movement or outward movement away from the musician M. Alternatively, the 
clip 12 can be engaged with the waistband of the pants P worn by the 
musician M. Also, as is shown in FIG. 5, a rigid member, such as a 
metallic or plastic bar 22 can be utilized adjacent a portion of the belt 
B to stiffen the belt B and distribute the weight of the saxophone S or 
other instrument connected to the apparatus 10 across several belt loops 
of the pants P. The tongue 16 preferably includes a deep notch 19 formed 
therein to accommodate the middle or other belt loop BL of a pair of pants 
P. 
At least one, and preferably first and second substantially rigid support 
members 30a,30b are connected to and extend upward from the clip 12. The 
support members 30a,30b are preferably made from a strong, light-weight, 
and selectively bendable material such as aluminum rods or the like. The 
support members 30a,30b are selectively bendable such that each can be 
adjusted to properly fit a particular musician M while still being 
sufficiently rigid to support the weight of a saxophone S or other 
instrument without more than minimal flexing. 
Each member 30a,30b respectively includes a first, lower portion 32a,32b 
that is connected to the clip 12 and an upper curved portion 34a,34b, 
opposite the clip 12, which passes respectively over first and second 
shoulders S1,S2 of the musician M, preferably in a non-contacting 
relationship with the relevant shoulder S1,S2. The upper curved regions 
34a,34b terminate at the distal ends 36a,36b of each member 30a,30b, 
respectively. The first, lower portions 32a,32b of each member 30a,30b 
extend upward from the clip 12 adjacent the musicians back MB. As is seen 
in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper, curved regions 34a,34b of each member 30a,30b 
curve respectively over the shoulders S1,S2 of the musician M and 
generally follow the contour of the shoulders S1,S2 such that the distal 
end 36a,36b of each member is in front of the musician M, adjacent the 
collarbone, upper chest, or other front portion FP of the musician M, 
preferably in a non-contacting relationship with the front portion FP. The 
distal ends 36a,36b are thus preferably positioned beneath the elevation 
of the musician's neck N. The position of the ends 36a,36b beneath the 
elevation of the musician's neck N reduces neck strain, increases the 
freedom of movement of the musician's head and neck, and helps to position 
the saxophone S or other musical instrument in its natural playing 
position in front of the musician M. At least a portion of each member 
30a,30b contacts the musician's back MB such that the musician's back MB 
supports at least a portion of the weight of the instrument such as the 
saxophone S. 
With more particular reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that the 
lower regions 32a,32b of the support members 30a,30b are preferably 
generally parallel to each other and positioned closely together. In this 
manner, the lower regions 32a,32b lie generally adjacent the spine or 
central portion of the musician's back MB and such that the weight of the 
saxophone S or other instrument does not adversely affect the balance or 
movement of the musician M. The curved portions 34a,34b pass on opposite 
sides of the musicians neck N. Although the curved portions 34a,34b 
conform generally to the contour of the shoulders S1,S2, respectively, it 
is preferable that the curved portions 34a,34b do not physically contact 
the shoulders S1,S2 and that the distal ends 36a,36b do not contact the 
front portion FP of the musician M. 
Thus, as is shown in FIG. 4, at least substantially all of the weight of 
the saxophone S or other instrument is borne on the hips of the musician M 
through the belt B and on the musician's back MB through the support 
members 30a,30b. The surface 18 of the tongue 16 exerts an outward force 
on the belt B, away from the lower region R of the musicians back MB. The 
surface 20 of the clip body 14 prevents downward movement of the clip body 
14 relative to the musicians belt B. The space between the shoulders S1,S2 
and the curved portion 34a,34b of each member 30a,30b allows each curved 
region 34a,34b to flex slightly toward and away from the shoulders S1,S2 
of the musician M for increased comfort and shock absorption while playing 
the saxophone S or other instrument. 
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, the connection of the support 
members 30a,30b to the clip 12 is shown in further detail. The body 14 of 
the clip 12 includes a first half 14a and a second half 14b. The lower 
portion 32a,32b of each member 30a,30b passes between the first and second 
halves 14a,14b. Screws 40, 42 or the like secure the halves 14a,14b 
together and, when tightened, releasably retain the members 30a,30b 
therebetween. The proximal end 38a,38b of each member 30a,30b preferably 
extends from the clip 12. These proximal ends 38a,38b facilitate the 
releasable engagement of the clip 12 with the belt B of the musician M. 
Therefore, when the screws 40,42 are loosened, the position of the clip 12 
relative to the members 30a,30b can be varied as indicated by the arrow 
A1, depending upon the size of the musician M, to lengthen and shorten the 
members 30a,30b. The proximal ends 38a,38b of the members 30a,30b can be 
trimmed accordingly once the apparatus 10 is fitted to a particular 
musician M. The adjustability of the clip 12 relative to the members 
30a,30b, and the ability to selectively bend the support members 30a,30b 
to conform to the back MB and shoulders S1,S2 of the musician M allows the 
apparatus 10 to be customized to fit a wide variety of musicians. 
The apparatus 10 also includes means for selectively connecting a saxophone 
S or other instrument thereto. Preferably, a strap assembly 50 is utilized 
as the instrument connection means. With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, 
the strap assembly 50 includes first and second straps 52a,52b connected 
respectively at one end thereof to the distal ends 36a,36b with a 
fastener, adhesive or any other suitable fastening means. These straps 
52a,52b are preferably resilient "bungee" cords or similar resilient cords 
for increased comfort and shock absorption. The strap assembly 50 is 
preferably adjustable in length. Therefore, an adjustable cord lock 54 is 
provided. The cords 52a,52b pass through the cord lock 54 and the free 
ends thereof are connected to the cord lock 54 such that a loop L is 
formed. The cord lock 54 frictionally engages the straps 52a,52b but is 
slidable along the straps 52a,52b as indicated by the arrow A2 to adjust 
the size of the loop L, and consequently the length of the strap assembly 
50. A musical instrument attachment hook or clip 56 is connected to the 
loop L and releasably connects a musical instrument such as the saxophone 
S to the strap assembly 50. In this manner, different size saxophones, 
different size musicians, different types of instruments, and different 
playing positions can be accommodated by the apparatus 10. 
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative clothing clip 12'. The clip 12' does not 
include a tongue. Instead, the proximal ends 38a,38b of the support 
members 30a,30b are extended and are inserted behind a belt B or into the 
waistband of the pants P in place of the tongue. The base 14 of the clip 
12' includes a rear lip 21. The belt B or pants P of the musician M is 
retained against the surface 20 of the base 14, between the ends 38a,38b 
and the lip 21. 
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred 
embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others 
upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is 
intended that the invention be construed as including all such 
modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the 
appended claims or equivalents thereof.