Neck cover for a stringed musical instrument

A utility article for protecting and covering the strings of a musical instrument, while providing options for visibility and display. The utility article, including a covering member made of flexible material and having a front side and a rear side. Four flaps extend from the left edge and the right edge of the covering member, wherein two flaps extend outwards to form a sleeve and the two flaps extend rearwards wrapping the neck of the musical instrument. The two pockets will serve for holding the users common accessories and tools, while an attachable flap will allow the device to second as a guitar strap when not in its primary use.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protective neck cover for a musical instrument, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a utility article for covering strings of a stringed musical instrument.

BACKGROUND

Stringed musical instruments, such as a guitar, generally include an elongated neck and a continuous body. Multiple strings extend along the length of the stringed instrument. It is desirable to cover the strings to protect against both physical and environmental damage

Covers for musical instruments are known in the art including stringed musical instruments. Such covers can protect musical instruments from both physical and environmental damage, including but not limited to dust and rust. Also, such covers can have a handle to pick and carry the musical instrument. However, the known instrument covers completely cover the musical instrument, and are bulky. A user may desire to only cover the parts of the musical instrument that are prone to damage and rust, such as the strings and display the aesthetic body of the instrument.

Thus, a long-term desire is there for a utility article for stringed musical instruments that can selectively cover and protect the strings.

Hereinafter the stringed musical instrument is interchangeably referred to as musical instrument, stringed instrument and includes guitars, electric guitars, acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, violins, violas, and cellos.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention directed to a utility article for protecting strings of a musical instrument.

It is still another object of the present invention that the utility article selectively covers the strings.

It is a further object of the present invention that the utility article is made of a soft microfiber material that prevents any scratches on the musical instrument but protects from the elements, such as sunlight, dust buildup, and rust and the users can enjoy the protection of fresh strings.

It is yet another object of the present invention that the utility article can be used to store small objects and double as a guitar strap.

It is still a further object of the present invention that the utility article is compact and light in weight.

It is an additional object of the present invention that the utility article can be rolled for storage.

It is still an additional object of the present invention that the utility article is economic to manufacture.

It is yet another object of the present invention that the utility of it seconding as a guitar strap through use of an added-on connector flap included with the product.

In one aspect, disclosed is a utility article for protecting and covering a string portion of a musical instrument. It can fold to cover half the fret board or the entire length of the guitar, depending on the users display preferences. The disclosed utility article including a covering member made of flexible material and having a front side and opposite rear side. The length of the covering member can be proportional to the length of the string portion of the musical instrument. The width of the covering member can be proportional to the width of the string portion or neck of the musical instrument. The covering member can have a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge. The covering member can have a neck portion adapt to cover the string portion along the neck of the musical instrument and a body portion adapted to cover the string portion along the body of the musical instrument. The bottom surface of the covering member can be made of microfiber or similar soft material that may not cause scratch the surface of the musical instrument.

In one aspect, the disclosed utility article further includes a pair of flaps i.e., the first flap and the second flap. The first flap extends from the left edge and the second flap extends from the right edge of the covering member. The length of the first flap and the second flap can be proportional to the length of the neck portion of the covering member. The first flap is configured to couple with the second flap to form a sleeve.

In one aspect, the disclosed utility article further includes a second pair of flaps that extends rearward i.e., towards the rear side of the covering member. The second pair of flaps including the third flap and the fourth flap extends from the left edge and the right edge of the neck portion and configured to wrap around the neck of the musical instrument. The third flap and the fourth flap can couple using a hook and loop fastener.

In one aspect, the first flap or the second flap are having one or more pockets for storing small objects.

In one aspect, the first flap or the second flap are having two pockets of which at least one pocket is having a zipper.

In one aspect, the body portion of the covering member can fold over the neck portion and retain by the first flap coupled with the second flap.

These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein and the summary will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a utility article for covering a string portion of a musical instrument. The stringed instrument having a neck and a body, wherein the strings extend from the neck to the body along the length of the musical instrument. Referring toFIG. 1which shows an exemplary embodiment of the utility article100. The disclosed utility article100having a covering member110. The covering member can be made of flexible material such as fabric, polyester, plastics, and like. The covering member having a front side and a rear side. The rear side115of the covering member110is shown inFIG. 2, wherein the stippling shows the microfiber cloth. The rear side of the covering member juxtaposes the strings and the portions of the stringed instrument. The rear side of the covering member can have a layer of a soft material that may not scratch the surface of the musical instrument. The covering member can have a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge. The left edge and the right edge are along the length of the covering member. The covering member can be assumed to be divided into two portions i.e., the neck portion120and the body portion125. The neck portion covers the neck of the musical instrument while the body portion covers the body.FIG. 3shows the guitar200having a neck (covered by the utility article) and a body210.

The utility article100having four flaps including a first flap130, a second flap135, a third flap140, and a fourth flap145. The length of the four flaps can be the same or less than the length of the neck portion120of the covering member110or the neck of the stringed instrument. The first flap and the second flap form the first pair of flaps that extends upwards towards the front side of the covering member. The first flap extends from the left edge and the second flap extends from the right side of the covering member. The first flap and the second flap can have a fastening member that allows the first flap to couple with the second flap to form a sleeve. The first flap and the second flap folds over the front side of the covering member as shown inFIG. 3. Only the first flap130is visible which is covering the second flap135. An additional, detachable flap will connect to the underbelly of flap visible in130to attach the device to the neck's guitar strap button. The first flap is having a first member150of the hook and loop fastener. The second member155of the hook and loop fastener can be provided on the second flap (shown inFIG. 2). The second member155of the hook and loop fastener is along the inner edge while the first member of the hook and loop fastener is on the outer edge.

The body portion of the covering member can fold over its neck portion. The body portion can be folded upwards to rest against the front side of the neck portion. Thereafter, the first flap can be coupled to the second flap to retain the body portion of the covering member folded over its neck member.FIG. 4shows the covering member110applied over the string portion of the guitar. The covering member can be seen extended from the start of the neck portion upwards to the bottom edge of the body of the guitar and thereafter folds inwards. The bottom edge of the covering member can have two cords160that can be fastened to the bottom of the guitar for securing the covering member to the guitar. This will also serve as the second attachment to the guitar for the body strap button. The first pair of flaps are shown folded inFIG. 3andFIG. 4.FIG. 5shows the body portion of the covering member folded over the neck portion and retained by the first pair of flaps.

Referring again toFIG. 1, the third flap140and the fourth flap145forms a second pair of flaps that can be wrapped around the neck of the guitar. The third flap and the fourth flap can fold over the neck of the guitar as shown inFIG. 6. The third flap extends from the right edge while the fourth flap extends from the left edge of the covering member. The third flap and the second flap extend rearwards and opposite to the first pair of flaps. The third flap and the fourth flap can also have suitable fasteners for coupling the third flap with the fourth flap. The fastener can be a hook and loop fastener.FIG. 1shows the third flap140having the first part165of the hook and loop fastener whileFIG. 2shows the fourth flap145having the second part of the hook and loop fastener.

Referring toFIG. 3can be seen a first pocket175and a second pocket180. The pockets can be provided for storing small objects, such as guitar pick or plectrum and capo, which can be stored in the second pocket180.FIG. 3shows the pockets made in the first flap130that opens at the inner edge of the first flap. The first pocket can have a closure such as a zipper.