Abstract:
To provide a musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus and a musical instrument holder including the same, which involve small number of components and which are simply structured. With the musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus, not only the top to bottom tilt angle but also the axial rotation angle can be adjusted, and excellent operability is exhibited. Even more, excellent durability is exhibited without incurring impairment of the function even through a long period of use. Further, the tilt angle and the rotation angle having undergone adjustment and setting can be retained with a strong force.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus suitable for holding percussion instruments such as cymbals, tom-toms, snare drums, and the like, and a musical instrument holder including the same. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0004]    As a holding angle adjusting apparatus of this kind, what is conventionally proposed is, for example, an apparatus including: a fixed member, a movable member, and a plurality of friction plates alternately stacked between the fixed member and the movable member. Pressing members for pressing the nails of corresponding friction plates against the inner face of notches formed at respective members are provided. Each pressing member is fixed to the fixed member and the movable member along a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the rotary shaft. The corresponding friction plates are fixed in a state that the friction plates are interposed under pressure between inside wall surfaces of the notches and the pressing members (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2006-154716). However, with this adjusting apparatus, though the top to bottom tilt angle of the movable member can be adjusted, the axial rotation angle cannot be adjusted. 
         [0005]    On the other hand, particularly in connection with the holding angle adjusting apparatus used as the musical instrument holder such as a tom-holder, what is conventionally proposed is an apparatus including: a ball member held so as to be capable of swivel in a unit body, and a holding bar slidably inserted into a hole of the ball member, in which a side drum is held by the holding bar (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2007-79437, U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,747, and United States Application No. 2005-0172782). With such an adjusting apparatus, the attitude of the holding bar can be adjusted relatively freely. However, the ball member is normally made of synthetic resin so that it can be fixed at a prescribed angle by frictional force. Therefore, through a long period of use, the ball may deform and the initially expected frictional press-attaching force may not be exhibited. Further, though it is possible to allow the holding bar inserted into the ball member to axially rotate, the ball member does not exhibit full attaching force for preventing the rotation moment applied to the holding bar of a relatively small diameter, and the operability is also reduced. Therefore, such an axial rotation is not preferable in terms of design. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, taking into consideration of the circumstances described above, the present invention is directed to provide a musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus and a musical instrument holder including the same, which require smaller number of components and are simply structured. Further, with the musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus and the musical instrument holder including the same, not only the top to bottom tilt angle but also the axial rotation angle can be adjusted and excellent operability is exhibited. Still further, the function is not impaired even through a long period of use, and excellent durability is exhibited. Still further, the adjusted and set tilt angle and the rotation angle can be maintained with strong force. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In order to solve the problems described above, the present invention provides a musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus, including: 
         [0008]    a holding rod; and 
         [0009]    a clamping element that supports the holding rod so as to be axially rotatable and tiltable upward and downward, wherein 
         [0010]    the musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus adjusting a holding angle of a musical instrument held on one of the holding rod side and the clamping element side, and 
         [0011]    an increased diameter portion having an outer circumferential surface greater in diameter than the holding rod is provided at an outer circumferential portion on a base end side of the holding rod, wherein 
         [0012]    the clamping element includes: 
         [0013]    paired movable blocks arranged above and below the increased diameter portion of the holding rod to axially rotatably receive the holding rod; 
         [0014]    a tightening collar including a substantially C-shaped ring portion as seen sideways, the ring portion being externally attached to each of the paired movable blocks to receive the movable blocks rotatably about an axis being perpendicular to the axis of the holding rod; and 
         [0015]    diameter reducing means for reducing a diameter of the ring portion of the tightening collar, wherein 
         [0016]    by the diameter reducing means reducing the diameter of the ring portion, the paired movable blocks become incapable of rotating in a state clamping the increased diameter portion of the holding rod, whereby a top to bottom tilt angle and an axial rotation angle of the holding rod are fixed. 
         [0017]    Here, preferably, the outer circumferential surface of the increased diameter portion is provided with a tapered portion along which a diameter is increased or reduced in an axial direction of the holding rod, and 
         [0018]    a tapered groove being substantially parallel to the tapered portion is provided to each of sites on respective opposing inner side faces of the paired movable blocks, the sites facing the increased diameter portion. 
         [0019]    Further, preferably, the tightening collar is arranged on each of opposite end sides in a rotary axial direction on outer circumferential surfaces of the paired movable blocks. 
         [0020]    Still further, preferably, the diameter reducing means is pressing means that presses other end side of the ring portion in a circumferential direction to reduce the diameter of the ring portion, the ring portion having its one end side fixed or engaging-stopped to prevent rotation. 
         [0021]    Still further, the present invention also provides a musical instrument holder including the musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus described above. 
         [0022]    With the musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus and the musical instrument holder including the holding angle adjusting apparatus of the present invention, in the state where the diameter reducing means is loosened, the top to bottom tilt angle or the rotation angle of the holding rod is adjusted and set. In this state, the diameter reducing means reduces the diameter of the ring portion. Thus, the paired movable blocks become incapable of rotating in the state clamping the increased diameter portion of the holding rod, whereby the top to bottom tilt angle and the axial rotation angle of the holding rod are fixed, and it becomes possible to adjust the holding angle of the musical instrument fixed on the holding rod side or the clamping element side. In this manner, since the top to bottom tilt angle and the axial rotation angle of the holding rod can simultaneously be adjusted and fixed just by operating the diameter reducing means, excellent operability is exhibited. Further, since the increased diameter portion is clamped and fixed by the movable blocks, the clamped contact area becomes great. Therefore, even when great rotation moment acts because of the weight or usage of the musical instrument, the axial rotation of the holding rod can more surely be prevented. When the angles are adjusted, the clamping force preventing the axial rotation mildly changes because of the increased contact area. Hence, the operability is also significantly improved. 
         [0023]    Further, the outer circumferential surface of the increased diameter portion is provided with a tapered portion along which a diameter is increased or reduced in an axial direction of the holding rod, and 
         [0024]    a tapered groove being substantially parallel to the tapered portion is provided to each of sites on respective opposing inner side faces of the paired movable blocks, the sites facing the increased diameter portion. Therefore, when the increased diameter portion of the holding rod is clamped by the movable blocks, the clamping force acting on the movable blocks acts as a force increased by the wedge effect to the outer circumferential surface of the increased diameter portion. By the increased clamping force, the increased diameter portion can strongly be clamped. 
         [0025]    Still further, the tightening collar is arranged on each of opposite end sides in a rotary axial direction on outer circumferential surfaces of the paired movable blocks. Therefore, the concave groove for the tightening collar can be formed while avoiding the position of the holding rod having the increased diameter portion. Thus, an increase in both the thickness and outer dimension of the movable blocks attributed to the provision of the increased diameter portion can be suppressed to a minimum, and a reduction in the weight and size of the apparatus can be achieved. 
         [0026]    Still further, the diameter reducing means is pressing means that presses other end side of the ring portion in a circumferential direction to reduce the diameter of the ring portion, the ring portion having its one end side fixed or engaging-stopped to prevent rotation. Therefore, despite the simple structure, the entire ring portion inner face can be pressed against the movable blocks, and the increased diameter portion can more surely and strongly be clamped by the movable blocks. In addition, the movable blocks can be strongly supported so as to be incapable of rotating. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a musical instrument holder having a holding angle adjusting apparatus according to a representative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the holding angle adjusting apparatus according to the representative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing the holding angle adjusting apparatus according to the representative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the holding angle adjusting apparatus according to the representative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5A  is a plan view showing the holding angle adjusting apparatus according to the representative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5B  is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the holding angle adjusting apparatus taken along A-A in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5C  is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the holding angle adjusting apparatus taken along B-B in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are each an explanatory view showing the manner in which a tilt angle of a holding shaft is varied; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are each a conceptual view for describing the effect of the clamping force of movable blocks; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a conceptual view for describing the effect of the clamping force of the movable blocks; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view showing a variation of the holding angle adjusting apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10A  is a plan view showing the variation of the holding angle adjusting apparatus of the present invention; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 10B  is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the variation of the holding angle adjusting apparatus of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a detailed description will be given of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus  1  of the present invention includes a holding shaft  2  being a holding rod, and a clamping element  3  that supports the holding shaft  2  so as to be axially rotatable and tiltable upward and downward. The musical instrument holding angle adjusting apparatus  1  is an apparatus that adjusts the holding angle of a musical instrument P fixed on the holding shaft  2  side. In the present embodiment, a musical instrument holder H (tom-holder) is structured as follows: the clamping element  3  of the holding angle adjusting apparatus  1  is provided with a holding pipe S extending downward; the holding pipe S is attached to a base on the bass drum side, which is not shown; and the holding shaft  2  is attached to a bracket B on the musical instrument P (tom-tom) side. 
         [0042]    In connection with the musical instrument holder H according to the present embodiment, in addition to the foregoing manner in which the musical instrument P is fixed on the side of the holding shaft  2  of the holding angle adjusting apparatus  1 , it is also possible to fix the musical instrument on the opposite clamping element  3  side, and to fix the holding shaft  2  side to a stand or the like. Further, in addition to the manner in which the holding pipe S is attached to the base on the bass drum side, it is also preferable to attach the holding pipe S to other musical instrument, a stand, and the like. The musical instrument P held by the musical instrument holder H of the present invention preferably includes, in addition to the tom-tom, percussion instruments such as cymbals, a snare drum, and the like. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , in the holding angle adjusting apparatus  1 , the holding shaft  2  includes an increased diameter portion  4  at its outer circumferential portion on the base end side. The increased diameter portion  4  has an outer circumferential surface whose diameter is greater than that of the shaft  2 . Further, the clamping element  3  includes paired movable blocks  5 A and  5 B arranged above and below the increased diameter portion  4  of the holding shaft  2  to receive the holding shaft  2  axially rotatably. The clamping element  3  further includes tightening collars  6  including ring portions  61  which are substantially C-shaped as seen sideways, the ring portions  61  being externally attached to the paired movable blocks  5 A and  5 B, to receive the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B rotatably about an axis being perpendicular to the axis of the holding shaft  2 . The clamping element  3  further includes diameter reducing means  7  which reduces the diameter of the ring portions  61  of the tightening collars  6 . 
         [0044]    In connection with the holding angle adjusting apparatus  1  structured as described above, in the state where the diameter reducing means  7  is loosened, the top to bottom tilt angle and the rotation angle of the holding shaft  2  are set. In this state, the diameter of the ring portions  61  is reduced by the diameter reducing means  7 . Then, the paired movable blocks  5 A and  5 B become incapable of rotating while clamping the increased diameter portion  4  of the holding shaft  2 . Thus, the top to bottom tilt angle and axial rotation angle of the holding shaft  2  are fixed, and the holding angle of the musical instrument P fixed on the holding shaft  2  side or the clamping element  3  side can be adjusted. 
         [0045]    Thus, by the operation of the diameter reducing means  7 , both the top to bottom tilt angle and the axial rotation angle of the holding shaft  2  can simultaneously be adjusted and fixed. Accordingly, excellent operability is obtained. As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , since the increased diameter portion  4  of the holding shaft is clamped and fixed by the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B, the contact area involved with clamping becomes great. Therefore, even when great rotation moment acts because of the weight or use of the musical instrument, the axial rotation of the holding shaft  2  can more surely be prevented. Further, in adjusting the angles, the clamping force stopping the axial rotation mildly varies because of the increase in the contact area. Hence, the operability thereof is also significantly improved. 
         [0046]    Though the holding shaft is a solid metal shaft, the holding rod may be in any other mode such as pipe-like shape. Further, the material may be, in addition to metal, various materials such as resin or ceramics. Further, at the outer circumferential surface  40  of the increased diameter portion  4 , tapered portions  41  and  42  along which the diameter increases or reduces in the axial direction of the holding shaft  2  are provided. At the sites of the inner side faces  50  of the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B facing the tapered portions  41  and  42 , tapered grooves  51  and  52  being substantially parallel to the tapered portions  41  and  42  are provided. Accordingly, as described above, when the increased diameter portion  4  of the holding shaft is clamped by the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the clamping force P1 acting on the movable block  5 A ( 5 B) acts as a force (P2) increased by the wedge effect to the outer circumferential surface  40  of the increased diameter portion  4 , and the increased diameter portion  4  is strongly clamped by the increased clamping force. 
         [0047]    In the present embodiment, the diameter of the outer circumferential surface  40  is the greatest at the axially central position, and the tapered portions  41  and  42  along which the diameter is gradually reduced toward the opposite end portions are provided. However, various structures can be employed for achieving the wedge effect, such as: the structure in which the central position is conversely small in diameter and in which tapered portions along which the diameter is increased toward the opposite end portions are provided; and at least one tapered portion along which the diameter increases from the one end side toward the other end side in the axial direction is provided. Further, a structure in which a straight part is partially formed in the tapered portion may naturally be employed. As to the tapered portions, in addition to the shape in which the diameter is increased or reduced by a constant rate, the structure in which the increase rate or the reduction rate is gradually changed is also a preferable embodiment. 
         [0048]    The increased diameter portion  4  may be structured separately from the holding shaft  2  and caulked or fixed by screws to the base end side of the holding shaft  2 , or it may be molded integrally with the holding shaft  2 . In the present embodiment, the increased diameter portion  4  separately structured by metal softer than the holding shaft  2 , preferably brass, is fixed to the base end side of the holding shaft  2 . By employing the increased diameter portion  4  made of relatively soft metal, the clamping force attributed to friction with the movable block is increased. In place of metal, it is also preferable to employ hard synthetic resin as the material. 
         [0049]    The movable blocks  5 A and  5 B are halved members of substantially identical shape, each having the following at the inner side faces  50  opposing to each other: tapered grooves  51  and  52  receiving and clamping the increased diameter portion  4  of the holding shaft  2 ; and a straight groove  53  receiving the shaft portion of the holding shaft  2  except for the increased diameter portion  4 . The outer shape of the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B is a partially circular columnar shape, obtained by cutting a substantially circular columnar shape along a plane parallel to the axis thereof. It is to be noted that the outer circumferential portion of each movable block is not limited to the partially circular columnar round side face shape. So long as the site to which each tightening collar  6  rotatably receiving the movable block is attached has the round circumferential face, the other site may be structured to be a prism-manner side face shape, or the like, for example. 
         [0050]    The tightening collars  6  are each a metal-made plate-like elastic ring curved in a C-shape. The tightening collars  6  are each arranged at the end portions in the axial direction of the outer circumferential surface  54  in the partially circular columnar shape of the paired movable blocks  5 A and  5 B. On the opposite end portions of the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B, annular concave grooves  55  and  55  are provided. To the annular concave grooves  55  and  55 , the ring portions  61  of the tightening collars  6  are attached. By the two tightening collars  6  in total, the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B are rotatably received. It is to be noted that, the tightening collar  6  may be structured to have wide width and may be one in number in total. Alternatively, three or more tightening collars  6  may naturally be attached. However, employing the structure of the present embodiment in which the tightening collars  6  are arranged on the opposite ends of the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B, the concave grooves  55  and  55  for the tightening collars  6  can be formed at the position except for the position where the holding shaft  2  having the increased diameter portion  4  is located. Thus, the great thickness and outer dimension of the movable blocks attributed to provision of the increased diameter portion  4  can be suppressed to a minimum. 
         [0051]    The increased diameter portion  4  of the holding shaft  2 , the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B, and the tightening collars  6  and  6  are attached in a clamp case  30 . The clamp case  30  is structured by assembling symmetrical separate cases  30 A and  30 B by fixing screws  35  and  36 . The separate cases are each provided with a storage space  31  storing the increased diameter portion  4 , the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B, and the tightening collars  6 , cutout grooves  32  for allowing the holding shaft  2  to extend so as to be tilted upward and downward, and a storage space  33  for storing pressing means  8 , which will be described later, the storage space  33  communicating with the storage space  31 . In the present embodiment, the separate cases are further provided with attachment grooves  34  for attaching the holding pipe S, which extends downward, to the clamping element  3 . It goes without saying that, asymmetric separate cases which form such a space when being combined may be employed. 
         [0052]    Each tightening collar  6  stored in the storage space  31  of the separate cases has its one end side  61   a  screwed with a fixing screw  71  which externally penetrates the inner wall of the space, and thus the tightening collar  6  is fixed to the inner wall. The other end side  61   b  is pressed in the radial direction by the pressing means  8  attached to the storage space  33  communicating with the storage space  31 . Thus, the tightening collars  6  have their diameter reduced, to clamp the movable blocks  5 A and  5 B. That is, the fixing screws  71  and the pressing means  8  structure the diameter reducing means  7  reducing the ring portion  61  of each tightening collar  6 . 
         [0053]    The pressing means  8  is structured by: a joint key  81  having an operational piece on an upper part of a male screw portion; a nut  82  being engaging-stopped to be incapable of rotating in the storage space  33 ; a horizontally elongated substantially cubic shape fix block  83  being pressed down by the tip portion of the male screw portion of the joint key  81 ; and pushpins  84  provided to project at the positions corresponding to the tightening collars  6  on the right and left opposite portions of the fix block. The tip faces of the pushpins  84  are engaging-stopped by engagement grooves  80  formed on other end sides  61   b  of the tightening collars  6 . In this state, by tightening the joint key  81 , the other end sides  61   b  are pressed. It is to be noted that, instead of provision of the nut  82 , a female screw portion may be formed on the case side. Further, the fix block and the pushpins may integrally be molded. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are each an explanatory view showing a variation of the diameter reducing means  7 . In the present embodiment, the tightening collars  6  are each provided with, at the outer surface of the one end side of the ring portion  61 , a projecting engaging-stopper piece  62  which is engaging-stopped by the engagement groove  31   a  formed at the inner circumferential surface of the storage space  31 . The engaging-stopper pieces  62  prevent one end sides of the ring portions  61  from rotating. Similarly, at the other end side of each tightening collar  6 , a projecting press-receiving piece  63  which is directly pressed downward by the fix block  83  is provided. Thus, the pushpins  84  and the fixing screws  71  are eliminated. Because of a reduction in the number of components, the material cost, the assembling cost, and the like are greatly reduced. Further, elimination of the fixing screws  71  contributes toward an improvement in appearance. In addition thereto, in place of the screw type pressing means made up of the joint key  81  and the nut  82 , a lever type mechanism or the like may be employed. 
         [0055]    The holding pipe S is inserted into the attachment grooves  34  of the clamp case in the state where a fix collar  9  provided with screw hole  90  on each of the right and left side walls is inserted. From the outside of the case, a fixing screw  92  penetrating through a through hole  93  and a through hole  91  of the holding pipe S is screwed with the screw hole  90 . Thus, the holding pipe S is fixed to the attachment grooves  34 . It is to be noted that, as to the material of the movable blocks, the tightening collars, the pushpins, the fix block, the clamp case, and the like also, in addition to metal, various materials such as synthetic resin, ceramics, and the like may be employed. 
         [0056]    In the foregoing, a description has been given of the embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. It goes without saying that the present invention can be practiced in various modes within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               1  Holding angle adjusting apparatus 
               2  Holding shaft 
               3  Clamping element 
               4  Increased diameter portion 
               5 A,  5 B Movable block 
               6  Tightening collar 
               7  Diameter reducing means 
               8  Pressing means 
               9  Fix collar 
               30  Clamp case 
               30 A,  30 B Separate case 
               31  Storage space 
               31   a  Engagement groove 
               32  Cutout groove 
               33  Storage space 
               34  Attachment groove 
               35  Fixing screw 
               40  Outer circumferential surface 
               41  Tapered portion 
               50  Inner side face 
               51  Tapered groove 
               53  Groove 
               54  Outer circumferential surface 
               55  Concave groove 
               61  Ring portion 
               61   a  One end side 
               61   b  Other end side 
               62  Engaging-stopper piece 
               63  Press-receiving piece 
               71  Fixing screw 
               80  Engagement groove 
               81  Joint key 
               82  Nut 
               83  Fix block 
               84  Pushpin 
               90  Screw hole 
               91  Through hole 
               92  Fixing screw 
               93  Through hole 
             B Bracket 
             H Musical instrument holder 
             P Musical instrument 
             S Holding pipe