GUITAR SUPPORT

Abstract: A device (1) for supporting a guitar (3) whilst it is being played, comprising: an elongate track member (2), removably attachable (4) to that side wall of a guitar's body which with the guitar in its normal ready-to-play orientation is lowermost; an arm (5), contoured along at least part of its length so as to fit a player's leg (6), one end of said arm being adapted to engage in said track member and to be slidable therealong whereby, in use, the arm projects substantially perpendicularly from the track member and the non-track-engaging end of said arm contacts the player's leg so as to maintain a desired distance and angle of support between the player's leg and the guitar; the arrangement being such that said desired distance and angle of support is readily selectable and adjustable by sliding said arm to a selected position along the length of said track member; and with means retaining the arm in the selected position during play.

Description: GUITAR SUPPORT Field of the Invention This invention relates to devices for supporting guitars, and most especially, but not necessarily exclusively, classical guitars, whilst they are being played. Background to the Invention A classical guitar is usually played in a sitting position with the guitar resting on a knee. For correct posture and technique, the instrument needs to be held at a particular angle from the horizontal and height from the ground. This height and angle varies considerably from player to player and a number of proprietary devices exist to facilitate support of the guitar in the correct position. Simplest of these are the various types of footstool which are commonly unsatisfactory since they can be bad for the player's posture. Various other devices exist which seek to maintain a correct distance between the player's leg and the lowermost side of the guitar while the player has both feet flat on the ground. The simplest is a cushion, situated between knee and lowermost side of guitar - no adjustment is possible. Typical of the more complex devices is the so-called "Classica" guitar support and also the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, the "A frame". These devices generally have a thigh-straddling portion which resists movement on the player's clothes and a number of "legs" which maintain the height and angle of the instrument with respect to the player's body. These devices are generally adjustable in height and angle so that they may be used by players of various sizes. However, adjustment for very small players with very small guitars is usually not possible with such prior art devices. Furthermore, owing to their construction, it can take considerable time and effort to find the ideal "set-up" for a particular player and, obviously, this "set¬ up" will be different for each person and hence the device is not easily transferable from one player to another. There can also be problems in the way in which existing devices are fixed to the instrument. Those which employ clamps to grip the instrument are not satisfactory because of the risk of damage to either the edge of the instrument or its soundboard (i.e its upper resonating surface). Any contact with the soundboard itself is undesirable, since this could affect the overall quality of sound produced by the instrument. Some of the prior art devices are affixed to the instrument using one or more suction caps. This avoids the need to interfere with the soundboard but, particularly in those devices where only one suction cap is employed for ease of use, the device has a tendency to move or become detached from the instrument. A further problem is that many of the prior art devices are relatively expensive when compared to the cost of the guitar itself. This is especially true in the case of beginners' guitars at the lower end of the price range. Players are reluctant to buy a device which represents a large percentage of the cost of the instrument itself. It seems that, at present, prior art devices offer a choice between (i) simplicity and cheapness, with very limited stability and adjustment, and (ii) expensive devices that offer considerably better stability and adjustment but cannot be easily transferred from one player to another. In addition, many more experienced players would be reluctant to use some of the prior art devices in a concert environment because of their relative bulk and obtrusiveness. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a guitar support which seeks to overcome the problems outlined above. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for supporting a guitar whilst it is being played, comprising: an elongate track member, removably attachable to that side wall of a guitar's body which with the guitar in its normal ready-to-play orientation is lowermost; an arm, contoured along at least part of its length so as to fit a player's leg, one end of said arm being adapted to engage in said track member and to be slidable therealong whereby, in use, the arm projects substantially perpendicularly from the track member and the non-track-engaging end of said arm contacts the player's leg so as to maintain a desired distance and angle of support between the player's leg and the guitar the arrangement being such that said desired distance and angle of support is readily selectable and adjustable by sliding said arm to a selected position along the length of said track member; and with means retaining the arm in the selected position during play. Preferably, said arm is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the body of the guitar, as well as slidable along the length of said track member. In a preferred form, the track-engaging end of the arm is provided with an abutment member which, in use, abuts against one or more surfaces of said track member so as to form the said means retaining the arm in the desired position along the length of the track member. Ideally, the surface of said abutment member is stippled or coated so as to provide a relatively high coefficient of friction. In a preferred form, the distance of said abutment member from the track- engaging end of said arm is selectable and adjustable so as to facilitate sliding of the arm in the track member (when selecting the desired distance and angle of support between the player's legs and the guitar) and to facilitate the fixing of the arm when the desired distance and angle of support is reached. Advantageously, the guitar-engaging face of said track member is contoured so as to substantially follow the contours of the guitar surface to which it is attached. Preferably, the arm-engaging face of said track member is similarly contoured. Ideally, one or both ends of said track member is/are provided with a protective or padded layer. In a further preferred form (second embodiment), said arm is rotatable when located in said track member (as described above) so as to provide two alternative leg-contacting surfaces. Ideally, at least one of said leg-contacting surfaces is stippled or coated so as to provide a relatively high coefficient of friction. More preferably still, said track member is attachable to a guitar by means of a plurality of suction caps situated on its guitar-engaging face. Ideally, each of said suction caps is provided with a lifting tag to facilitate removal of said suction caps from the surface of a guitar. In a preferred form, the elongate track member is integral with or is otherwise permanently attached to the lowermost side wall of a guitar's body (with the guitar in its normal ready-to-play orientation); and one end of said arm is hinged to said track member and adapted to be slidable therealong, whereby said arm is movable between a first position wherein said arm is stored in a position substantially parallel to said track member and a second position wherein said arm projects substantially perpendicularly from the track member enabling the non-track-engaging end of said arm to contact a player's leg so as to maintain a desired distance and angle of support between the player's leg and the guitar. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of supporting a guitar whilst it is being played, comprising the steps of: i) attaching a device substantially as described in any of the preceding claims to the lowermost side wall of a guitar's body (with the guitar in its normal ready-to-play orientation). ii) selecting the desired distance and angle of support by sliding the arm to a selected position along the length of the track member; and iii) engaging one of the leg-contacting surfaces of said arm with the player's leg so that the guitar is supported and ready to play. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of rotating said arm about an axis substantially peφendicular to the body of the guitar until the desired orientation is reached. Advantageously, the method further comprises the step of increasing the distance of said abutment member from the track-engaging end of said arm so as to facilitate sliding of the arm in the track member. In a preferred form, the method further comprises the step of reducing the ditance of said abutment member from the track-engaging end of said arm so as to fix the arm in position when the desired distance and angle of support is reached. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a front view of a prior art device known as the "A frame"; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the Figure 1 prior art device. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 3 shows the generally-intended arrangement of the device of the present invention in use; Figure 4 shows rear, front and side views of the arm; Figure 5 shows a top view and an end view of the track member; Figure 6 shows a side view of the track member; Figure 7 is a side view of the arm and track member, showing the arm's sliding action; Figure 8 shows an alternative (second) embodiment of the track member; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the first or second embodiment of the track member; Figure 10 shows cross-sectional views of a third embodiment of the track member; Figure 11 is a plan view of the third embodiment of the track member; Figure 12 shows the relative thicknesses of the first and third embodiments of the track member; Figure 13 shows a second embodiment of the arm in use; Figure 14 is a further view of the second embodiment of the arm in use; Figure 15 shows a fourth embodiment of the arm in use; and Figure 16 shows a further embodiment of the device, in use. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figure 3 shows the generally-intended arrangement of the device 1 of the present invention. The device 1 comprises a track member 2 attached to the lowermost side wall of a guitar 3 by means of a number of suction caps 4. An arm 5 projects substantially perpendicularly from the track member 2 and contacts the player's leg 6 so as to provide support for the instrument. Referring to Figure 4, wooden or moulded plastics arm 5 has, at its track- engaging end, an abutment member 7 comprising a rubber pad 8 and rubber disc 9. Disc 9 is so sized and shaped as to slide within the track member (see below). The main part of arm 5 is gently contoured to maximise the area of contact between the arm 5 and player's leg 6. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the wooden or moulded plastics track member 2 comprises a base plate 10 to which is fixed top plate 11. A slot 12 is cut into top plate 11 which is adapted to receive the rubber disc 9 of arm 5. Four suction cups 4 are attached to the underside of base plate 10 to enable the device 1 to be attached to a guitar. In the embodiments shown in Figure 5 and 6, both base plate 10 and top plate 11 are contoured so as to generally follow the shape of the guitar surface to which the device 1 will be attached. As can be seen from Figure 7, when rubber disc 9 is fitted into slot 12, arm 5 is able to slide along the length of track member 2. Arm 5 is also able to rotate about axis X. In this way, both the height and angle of support of the guitar can be easily selected according to the size and preference of the player concerned. Once the desired position for arm 5 has been selected, the weight of the guitar against arm 5 and, in turn, against the player's leg causes abutment member 7 to abut against the surface of top plate 11 and/or the surfaces of slot 12. This ensures that arm 5 remains in its selected position and orientation whilst the instrument is being played. Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of track member 2. The difference between this track member 2 and that of Figures 5 and 6 is that top plate 11 is no longer contoured but substantially planar. Base plate 10 remains contoured in order to ensure that suction caps 4 approach the guitar's surface at the optimum angle for good adhesion. The top plate 11 is flat to maximise and evenly maintain contact between the base of arm 5 and the top surface of the top plate 11. Figure 9 shows how arm 5 engages with track member 2. The leg-contacting surface 13 of arm 5 is stippled to improve its grip on the player's leg. Alternatively, leg-contacting surface 13 could be provided with a rubber coating or the like. The stippling may cover the entire leg-contacting surface 13, or may be concentrated at the non-track-engaging end of arm 5 only. Figures 10 and 11 show a third embodiment of track member 2. This is particularly appropriate for use on small-sized guitars where the above- described track member may be too wide to fit satisfactorily on the side wall of the guitar. The track member 2 of Figures 10 and 11 is narrower, with suction caps 4 situated much closer together. Since the suction caps 4 are, of necessity, located directly below slot 12, a suction-cap-holding layer 14 has been added; this causes track member 2 to be thicker than normal overall. Figure 12 is a relative size comparison of the ordinary track member 2 and "narrow" track member 2 shown in Figures 10 and 11. It can be seen that this sliding arm and track member arrangement means that the device 1 is easily adaptable for use by players of all ages and sizes. A second embodiment of the arm (shown in Figures 13 and 14) facilitates adjustment even further. In this embodiment, arm 5 is designed to be reversible i.e both sides of the arm are usable for supporting the instrument. In this embodiment, both sides of arm 5 are stippled or rubber-coated to improve grip. Referring specifically to Figure 13, the two leg-contacting surfaces are designated 13A and 13B. In the case where the player is particularly young and/or small, arm 5 is orientated as shown in Figure 13 i.e with surface 13A contacting the player's leg 6. Note that the track-engaging end 15 of arm 5 is widened to facilitate this - the combination of this widened end and flat track top surface improves evenness of load bearing at the base of the arm. When the device is to be used by a larger player, arm 5 may be rotated through 180° about an axis substantially perpendicular to track member 2. As can be seen in Figure 14, the leg-contacting surface in use is now surface 13B. This "reversibility" enables a wide range of players to use the same design of device 1. Figure 15 shows a further embodiment of the abutment arrangement at the base of the arm 5. T-shaped metal or plastic bolt la is threaded to screw into female threaded arm 5. Bolt la has a head knurled at the rim 2A for fingertip tightening or loosening. At the point where the thread of bolt IA meets its head, raised radial undulations 6A are provided for friction against cylindrical rubber or plastic washer 7A Washer 7A has raised undulations at both ends. The base of arm 5 also has raised undulations for friction against those on washer 7A A soft rubber or plastic cushion 4A is sandwiched between arm 5A and a wooden or plastic base plate 3A. The functioning of this embodiment is as follows. Bolt IA can be tightened against washer 7A without loosening due to the radial undulations, to attain a setting such that when the arm is inserted into the track, the combination of cushion 4A and base plate 3A provides pressure on the track that holds firm the arm in any set location. A range of differently-sized and/or shaped track members 2 and arms 5 can be envisaged, each embodying the same general principle of operation. Embodiments of this general inventive concept can thus be applied to guitars and players of virtually every shape and size. Minor adjustments to the contouring and/or numbers and positioning of suction caps, for example, may be necessary. The suction caps may be provided with lifting tags 16 (see, for example, Figure 8) to facilitate removal of the device 1 from the guitar. A further embodiment of the present invention (not shown) comprises a track member which is integrally-formed as part of the side wall of a guitar. In this way the track member is, effectively, flush with the surface of the instrument. An arm is hinged to this track so that it (the arm) is movable between a first "storage" position, whereby the arm lies flat against (or flush with) the side wall of the guitar and a second "in-use" position where the arm projects substantially perpendicularly to the track member, for use as described above. Figure 16 shows a further embodiment of the device of the present invention. In this version, track 2 is provided with a rubber pad 17 at the end nearest (in use) the hip of the guitar. A particularly smaller player will need to position device 1 relatively "high" on the guitar ie, with rubber pad 17 close to and perhaps touching the side wall of the instrument beyond the hip. Rubber pad 17 thus reduces the likelihood of damage arising through contact of the track member 2 with the wall of the guitar. Ann 5 is relatively short, compared to previously-described embodiments and, as previously mentioned several arms of differing lengths could be supplied. As an alternative to the mechanism shown in Figure 15, the screwing mechanism (not shown) comprises a solid metal cylinder, the end of which is covered by plastics cap 18. A threaded hole is bored transversly through the cylinder which hole in use, receives a threaded bolt or screw which, in turn, is attached to abutment member IA or 9. The cylinder is sunounded by a rubber layer which, in use, facilitates a tight fit of the bolt within arm 5 and ensures smooth travel of the bolt as it is screwed up or down. The device of the present invention thus provides a versatile guitar support which is universally adjustable for all sizes of guitar and player. The desired height and angle of support may be very easily selected and maintained and the device is thus suitable for easy transfer between players. This may be particularly useful in, say, a school environment where many different players may need to use the same type of device. Equally, more experienced and professional players may prefer this device, not only for its ease of use, but its aesthetic appearance which is more discreet than many prior art devices and thus particularly suitable for use in concert performances. Unlike some prior art devices, the device of the present invention makes no contact with the sensitive soundboard of the guitar; this would be of particular importance in not affecting the quality of the instrument's sound.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for supporting a guitar whilst it is being played, comprising: an elongate track member, removably attachable to that side wall of a guitar's body which with the guitar in its normal ready-to-play orientation is lowermost; an arm, contoured along at least part of its length so as to fit a player's leg, one end of said arm being adapted to engage in said track member and to be slidable therealong whereby, in use, the arm projects substantially perpendicularly from the track member and the non-track-engaging end of said arm contacts the player's leg so as to maintain a desired distance and angle of support between the player's leg and the guitar; the arrangement being such that said desired distance and angle of support is readily selectable and adjustable by sliding said arm to a selected position along the length of said track member; and with means retaining the arm in the selected position during play. 2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said arm is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the body of the guitar, as well as slidable along the length of said track member. 3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the track-engaging end of the arm is provided with an abutment member which, in use, abuts against one or more surfaces of said track member so as to form the said means retaining the arm in the desired position along the length of the track member. 4. A device is claimed in Claim 3 wherein the distance of said abutment member from the track-engaging end of said arm is selectable and adjustable so as to facilitate sliding of the arm in the track member (when selecting the desired distance and angle of support between the player's leg and the guitar) and to facilitate the fixing of the arm when the desired distance and angle of support is reached. 5. A device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the surface of said abutment member is stippled or coated so as to provide relatively high coefficient of friction. 6. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the guitar- engaging face of said track member is contoured so as to substantially follow the contours of the guitar surface to which it is attached. 7. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the arm- engaging face of the track member is contoured so as to substantially follow the contours of the guitar surface to which the device is attached. 8. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein one or both ends of said track member is or are provided with a protective or padded layer. 9. A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said arm is rotatable when located in said track member so as to provide two alternative leg-contacting surfaces. 10. A device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein at least one of said leg contacting surfaces is stippled or coated so as to provide relatively high coefficient of friction. 11. A device according to any of the preceding claims in which: the elongate track member is integral with or is otherwise permanently attached to the lowermost side wall of a guitar's body (with the guitar in its normal ready-to-play orientation); and in which one end of said arm is hinged to said track member and adapted to be slidable therealong, whereby said arm is movable between a first position wherein said arm is stored in a position substantially parallel to said track member and a second position wherein said arm projects substantially perpendicularly from the track member enabling the non-track-engaging end of said arm to contact a player's leg so as to maintain a desired distance and angle of support between the player's leg and the guitar, 12. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 wherein said track member is attachable to a guitar by means of a plurality of suction caps situated on its guitar-engaging face. 13. A device as claimed in Claim 12 wherein each of said suction caps is provided with a lifting tag to facilitate removal of said suction caps from the surface of a guitar. 14. A device for supporting a guitar whilst it is being played substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of Figures 3-16.

Inventors: CARMAN ROBERT DELWYN, CARMAN, ROBERT, DELWYN
Applicants: CARMAN ROBERT DELWYN, CARMAN, ROBERT, DELWYN
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G10D3
IPC codes: G10G5