Mountable latching clamp for instrument stands

A mountable latching clamp secures an instrument stand to a mountable structure. The clamp comprises an angle bracket, a keyed receiver connected to the angle bracket for coupling with the instrument stand, and a spring latch for securing the instrument stand in the keyed receiver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention. 
This invention relates in general to clamps, and in particular, to a 
mountable latching clamp for connecting instrument stands to rack systems, 
"combo amp" systems or walls, wherein the clamp has a keyed receiver for 
coupling with the instrument stands. 
2. Description of Related Art 
Musical entertainers utilize audio/video rack systems and/or combination 
amplifier speaker cabinet ("combo amp") systems. An audio/video rack 
system is a rectangularly shaped frame made of metal, plastic, or any 
other material suitable for holding heavy loads. Typically, the frame 
contains a plurality of holes or slots for securely arranging audio and 
video equipment within the rack system. Thus, audio and video equipment 
can be custom fitted within the rack system to suit any design for any 
particular occasion. 
A "combo amp" system includes an adjustable amplifier with a speaker built 
into the amplifier. This allows the "combo amp" to be both convenient and 
portable. Thus, to accommodate portability, the "combo amp" system has a 
handle on the top side of the amplifier attached by at least two screws so 
that the system can be easily moved about. 
Typically, both systems are used in the entertainment industry in both live 
and practice settings. Specifically, entertainers who use electric guitars 
or similar equipment need their systems nearby, because the systems 
contain the amplifiers necessary for performance. Therefore, it is very 
convenient for the entertainer to have their instruments on nearby support 
stands, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,868 and issued to 
the present applicant which is incorporated herein by reference, near the 
system being used. 
However, such stands are usually either bolted directly to or placed 
unsecurely within the rack, "combo amp" or wall in an unstable and 
inconvenient manner. What is needed is a device that allows instrument 
stands to be quickly and conveniently fastened and unfastened to a rack 
system, "combo amp" system, wall or other mountable structure while 
maintaining secure attachment when fastened. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
To overcome the limitations and the prior art described above, and to 
overcome other limitations that would become apparent upon reading and 
understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a 
mountable latching clamp for an instrument stand. The clamp comprises an 
angle bracket, a keyed receiver connected to the angle bracket for 
coupling with the instrument stand, and a spring latch for securing the 
instrument stand in the keyed receiver. The angle bracket further 
comprises one or more mounting holes, so that it can be attached to a 
mountable structure using bolts, screws or the like. The keyed receiver 
has a multi-sided interior to prevent the instrument stand from rotating 
when inserted therein, and includes a square aperture so that the 
instrument stand extends only partially therethrough. The spring latch is 
coiled about a collar attached to the angle bracket and terminates in a 
J-hook that is secured in a notch in the angle bracket. The spring coupler 
is bent or otherwise configured to intersect an axis of the keyed 
receiver, so as to engage a connector bar of the instrument stand that is 
inserted through the keyed receiver. The connector bar has an external 
shape configured to engage the interior of the keyed receiver to prevent 
it from rotating when inserted therein. The connector bar terminates in a 
tip and groove configuration that extends through a square aperture in the 
keyed receiver to engage the spring latch. The square aperture allows only 
the tip and groove of the connector bar to extend through the keyed 
receiver. The spring latch actively engages the groove of the connector 
bar so as to secure it in the keyed receiver. Further, an optional adaptor 
plate may be included for mounting the stand to the additional objects. 
An object of the present invention is to provide a means for directly 
connecting instrument stands to rack, "combo amp" system, a wall, or any 
other mountable structure. A feature of the present invention is that the 
clamp is adaptable for virtually any mountable structure that allows 
attachment through connecting holes. Also, an advantage of the present 
invention is that the instrument stand can be quickly attached to and 
detached from the mountable structure at will. 
The foregoing and still further features and advantages of the present 
invention, as well as a more complete understanding thereof, will be made 
apparent from a study of the following detailed description of the 
invention in connection with the accompanying drawing and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In the following description of the preferred embodiment, reference is made 
to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is 
shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the invention 
may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be 
utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the 
scope of the present invention. 
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the mountable latching clamp 10 of 
the present invention, FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the mountable 
latching clamp 10, FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the mountable 
latching clamp 10, FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an instrument 
stand 12, and FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the mountable latching 
clamp 10 coupled to the instrument stand 12. 
The mountable latching clamp 10 is comprised of an angle bracket 14 having 
several types of mounting holes 16, a keyed receiver 18 for coupling with 
the instrument stand 12, and a spring latch 20 for securing the instrument 
stand 12 in the keyed receiver 18. The angle bracket 14 is preferably 
metal or other similar material, and includes the keyed receiver 18 as an 
integral part thereof, either by welding the keyed receiver 18 to the 
bracket 14 or by forming a single piece unit comprised of both the bracket 
14 and the keyed receiver 18 using some other method. The mounting holes 
16 may comprise simple holes 16, beveled holes 22, or collared holes 24, 
and those skilled in the art will recognize that any number and 
combination of holes 16 could be used with the present invention. 
The keyed receiver 18 has a multi-sided or grooved interior to prevent the 
connecter bar 26 of the instrument stand 12, which has a similar 
multi-sided exterior, from rotating when inserted therein. FIG. 2 
illustrates that one end of the keyed receiver 18 has a square aperture 28 
so that the connecter bar 26 only partially extends through the keyed 
receiver 18. FIG. 5 shows the connector bar 26 inserted into the keyed 
receiver 18. 
The spring latch 20 is preferably coiled about the collared hole 24 and 
terminates in a J-hook 30 that is secured in a notch 32 in the angle 
bracket 14. The spring latch 20 also extends through a slit 34 in the 
angle bracket 14 and is configured to intersect the axis of the keyed 
receiver 18 as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, the spring latch 20 includes a 
protective cap 36 on the end. 
In operation, the connector bar 26 of the instrument stand 12 is inserted 
through the keyed receiver 18. The external shape of the connector bar 26 
is configured to engage the interior of the keyed receiver 18 to prevent 
the connector bar 26 from rotating when inserted in the keyed receiver 18. 
The connector bar 26 terminates in a tip 38 and groove 40 configuration, 
wherein the tip 38 and groove 40 extend through the keyed receiver 18 to 
engage the spring latch 20. However, the square aperture 28 of the keyed 
receiver 18 allows only the tip 38 and groove 40 of the connector bar 26 
to extend through the keyed receiver 18. The spring latch 20 in its 
resting position actively engages the groove 40 of the connector bar 26 so 
as to secure it in the keyed receiver 18. To remove the connector bar 26, 
the spring latch 20 is depressed to disengage it from the groove 40. 
FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the mountable latching clamp of 
the present invention coupled to a rack system. The rack system 42 is a 
rectangularly shaped frame 44 made of metal, plastic, or any other 
material suitable for holding heavy loads. The frame 44 contains a 
plurality of holes or slots 46 for securely arranging audio and video 
equipment 48 within the rack system 42. A guitar 50 held by the instrument 
stand 12 and connector bar 26 can be coupled to the rack system 42. The 
connector bar 26 is connected to the mountable latching clamp 10 as 
described above. In addition, the mountable latching clamp 10 is connected 
to the rack system 42 through the holes or slots 46 via the mounting holes 
16, beveled holes 22, or collared holes 24 of the mountable latching clamp 
10 (shown in FIGS. 1-3). Thus, the guitar 50 can be fastened and 
unfastened to the rack system 42 quickly and conveniently while 
maintaining secure attachment when fastened. 
FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of the mountable latching clamp with an 
optional adaptor plate coupled to a "combo amp" system. The "combo amp" 
system 52 includes an adjustable amplifier 54 with a speaker 56 built into 
the amplifier 54. To accommodate portability, the "combo amp" system 52 
has a handle 56 on the top side 58 of the amplifier attached by at least 
two screws 59 to allow portable movement of the system 52. The mountable 
latching clamp 10 is coupled to the "combo amp" system 52 via an adaptor 
plate 60. The adaptor plate 60 is installed between the handle 56 and the 
top side 58 of the "combo amp" system 52. The screws 59 secure both the 
handle 56 and the adaptor plate to the "combo amp" system 52. Thus, the 
instrument stand 12 and the connector bar 26 are connected to the 
mountable latching clamp 10 (shown in FIG. 5) so that the guitar 50 can be 
fastened and unfastened to the "combo amp" system 52 quickly and 
conveniently while maintaining secure attachment when fastened. 
The ability to connect the guitar 50 to the rack system 42 or "combo amp" 
system 52 quickly and conveniently is important because both the rack 
system 42 and "combo amp" system 52 are used in the entertainment industry 
in both live and practice settings. Specifically, entertainers who use 
electric guitars 50 or similar equipment need their systems 42 or 52 
nearby, because the systems 42 or 52 contain the amplifiers necessary for 
performance. Therefore, it is very convenient for the entertainer to have 
their instruments support stands 12 near the system 42 or 52 being used. 
This concludes the description of the preferred embodiment of the 
invention. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the 
invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and 
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention 
to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are 
possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of 
the invention be limited not by the detailed description, but rather by 
the claims appended hereto.