REUSABLE AND REPOSITIONABLE ARTICLE

An article for retaining an object against a musical instrument including a mat of a material that extends from a first surface to a second surface. The first surface contacts a contoured surface of the musical instrument and the second surface contacting the object. The mat flexes to match the contoured surface of the musical instrument. The static coefficient of friction of the first surface is greater than the static coefficient of friction of the contoured surface of the musical instrument. As a result, the mat removably retains the object on the contoured surface of the musical instrument.

BACKGROUND

Guitar players must use both hands while playing the guitar. When playing music that the guitarist has not memorized, the musician uses sheet music or tablature to guide their playing. In the past, this sheet music and tablature was printed on paper and placed on a music stand in front of the guitarist. Recently, the popularity of mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets has brought about the creation of applications that provide musicians with music directly from their device. These devices are often smaller than a sheet of music and thus must be held closer to the musician to be at a comfortable reading distance. While playing guitar seated, one convenient location to place your phone is on top of the side of the guitar. In this position, the device is easily accessible and read from. Since guitars typically have smooth surfaces and mobile devices are made out of hard materials, the devices slide around and often fall off of the guitar.

There is a need in the art for an article that improves retention of devices made of hard, smooth materials and the smooth surfaces of guitars or the like. There is specifically a need for an article that is reusable and repositionable without damaging the surface of the guitars or the like or the mobile devices.

SUMMARY

There is disclosed herein an article for retaining an object against a musical instrument. The article includes a mat of a material having a first static coefficient of friction. The mat extends from a first surface to a second surface. The first surface contacts a contoured surface of the musical instrument. The second surface contacts the object. The material of the mat flexes to match the contoured surface of the musical instrument. The first static coefficient of friction is greater than a second static coefficient of friction of the contoured surface of the musical instrument. The mat removably retains the object on the contoured surface of the musical instrument.

In one embodiment, the first surface has the first static coefficient of friction and the second surface has a third static coefficient of friction that is less than the first static coefficient of friction.

In one embodiment, the third static coefficient of friction is greater than the second static coefficient of friction.

In one embodiment, the first surface of the mat is removable from the contoured surface of the musical instrument without damaging or staining the contoured surface.

In one embodiment, the first static coefficient of friction of the mat remains the same following removal and reattachment of the first surface of the mat to the contoured surface of the musical instrument.

In one embodiment, the first surface and the second surface of the mat each have a mat surface area that is smaller than a surface area of the contoured surface of the musical instrument.

In one embodiment, the material of the mat is translucent.

In one embodiment, the material of the mat is nontoxic.

In one embodiment, the mat extends a mat thickness from the first surface to the second surface. Compression of the mat thickness improves retention of the object to the contoured surface of the musical instrument.

In one embodiment, the musical instrument is fully functional when the first surface contacts the contoured surface of the musical instrument and the second surface contacts the object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, an article for retaining an object110A (depicted inFIG. 3) against a musical instrument100is generally designated by the numeral10. While a guitar is shown in the figures, it is contemplated that other instruments100may be used in connection with the invention, such as, e.g. a violin, a viola, a cello, a string bass, and the like.

Referring toFIG. 3, the article10includes a mat12of a material having a first static coefficient of friction μ1. The mat12extends from a first surface14to a second surface16. The first surface14contacts a contoured surface102of the musical instrument100. The second surface16contacts the object110A and the material of the mat12allows the mat12to flex to match the contoured surface102of the musical instrument100. The contoured surface102of the musical instrument100has a second static coefficient of friction μ2. The first static coefficient of friction μ1is greater than a second static coefficient of friction μ2. The mat12removably retains the object110A on the contoured surface102of the musical instrument100.

Referring toFIG. 2, the first surface14has the first static coefficient of friction μ1and the second surface16has a third static coefficient of friction μ3. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2, the third static coefficient of friction μ3is less than the first static coefficient of friction μ1. This relationship of the first static coefficient of friction μ1and the third static coefficient of friction μ3prevents the object110A from becoming detached from the second surface16while also allowing the object110A to be detached from the second surface16without removing the mat12from the contoured surface102. The first static coefficient of friction μ1and the third static coefficient of friction μ3are both larger than the second static coefficient of friction μ2, ensuring that the mat12provides the necessary increased friction over that provided by the contoured surface102. In one embodiment, the first static coefficient of friction μ1and the third static coefficient of friction μ3are equal to one another. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2, the first surface14and the second surface16of the mat12are each defined by a mat surface area A1, A2that is smaller than a surface area Ac of the contoured surface102of the musical instrument100. In the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 1-7, the first surface14and the second surface16of the mat12are defined by a substantially rectangular shape. Other shapes for the first surface14and/or the second surface16, including but not limited to, a polygon, a circle, an oval, etc. do not depart from the invention disclosed herein.

Referring toFIG. 3, installing the mat12between the musical instrument100and the object110A increases the friction between the musical instrument and the object110A (e.g., a mobile device) by adding a soft rubberized interface in the form of the mat12that sits atop of the musical instrument (e.g., a guitar or other similar instrument).

In the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 1-7, the first static coefficient of friction μ1of the mat12remains the same following removal and reattachment of the first surface14of the mat12to the contoured surface102of the musical instrument100. As a result, the mat12is reusable on the same or different musical instruments. The first surface14of the mat12is removable from the contoured surface102of the musical instrument100without damaging or staining the contoured surface102. The material of the mat12is translucent, transparent, opaque and/or nontoxic. In one embodiment, the first surface14and/or the second surface16of the mat12has an additional design, including but not limited to a logo, a brand or additional coloring. In one embodiment, the first surface14and/or the second surface16of the mat12has a surface finish, including but not limited to a checkerboard pattern, spaced bumps, grooves, or other physical extensions of the surface14,16.

Referring toFIG. 5, the mat surface area A2of the second surface16is larger than a surface area of the object110A allowing the second surface16to retain a second object110B simultaneously with the object110A. The mat12is compatible with numerous objects. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 6, the second surface16retains the second object110B and a third object110C. Examples of the object110A, the second object110B and the third object110C include, but are not limited to, a cellular phone, a guitar pick, a capo, etc.

Referring toFIG. 7, the musical instrument100is fully functional when the first surface14contacts the contoured surface102of the musical instrument100and the second surface16contacts the object110A. The mat12does not create any noises or otherwise impede the use of the musical instrument100during normal movement of the musical instrument100or object110A.

Referring toFIG. 4, the mat12extends a mat thickness T1from the first surface14to the second surface16. Compression of the mat thickness T1improves retention of the object110A to the contoured surface102of the musical instrument100by increasing the contact surface area between a flat surface of the object110A and the curve of the contoured surface102.

In some embodiments, the first surface14of the mat12is fixed to the contoured surface102of the musical instrument by other attachment means (e.g., magnets, hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, etc.). In some embodiments, the other attachment means are integrated into the musical instrument100itself by the original manufacturer of the musical instrument100or as a customization added to an existing musical instrument100.

Although the disclosed subject matter has been described and illustrated with respect to embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined, rearranged, etc., to produce additional embodiments within the scope of the invention, and that various other changes, omissions, and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.