Abstract:
The invention is a new system for simplifying the transport, set-up and use of electrically amplified musical instruments such as guitars and electric bases. It is comprised of a combination of components that are normally carried and set-up separately by the performer and thereby saves the performer considerable time and effort in transport and set-up of his equipment. Included in the invention are an integrated accessory case, guitar stand and pedal effects board. Additional features provide the special protection required for effects pedals during transport.

Description:
This application claims benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/350,582 filed Jan. 24, 2002, entitled “Gig Box ” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Be it known that I, Harry Joe Hooper II, a citizen of The United States, residing at 301 Preakness Drive, Antioch, Tenn. 37013; have invented a new and useful “Combination Effects Pedal Board, Instrument Stand and Accessory Case for Electrically Amplified Musical String Instruments ”. 
    
    
     This invention relates to carrying cases, sound effects apparatus, instrument stands and other accessories for musicians to aid in transporting and setting up string instruments including, but not limited to electric guitars and electric basses. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When guitarists and bassists using electrically amplified instrument go to work on location, they almost always require musical instruments, an amplification system, one or more instruments stands, a set of sound effects devices commonly known in the trade as pedals, and the cables required to interconnect and power the amplifier, pedals and instruments. Moving and setting up all the required equipment can require a considerable amount of effort and time. This invention addresses a large part of the transport and set-up problems by integrating a number of the required components into a single container that acts as a storage and transport case and as a musical instrument stand. An additional advantage of this invention is to simplify the musician&#39;s set-up procedure by providing a mounting board for the effects devices, with the devices mounted and connected in a predetermined configuration. 
     Prior art has not yet integrated all of the above said functions into one system and required the transport and set-up of a plurality of components requiring additional effort and time and increasing the probability of cable and/or equipment failure through the additional repeated handling of interconnection cables and increased insertions into the electrical jacks of the various components. In addition to providing storage area for peripherals and accessories, the device provides a safe and secure stand for multiple electric or acoustic instruments. The device of the present invention can also be configured to provide a repair surface option for the repair and maintenance of electric or acoustic instruments, as well as tools for the maintenance of said instruments. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is comprised of a two part carrying case housing a stand for multiple musical instruments, a pedal effects board and provisions for organizing and storing various accessories needed by guitarists and/or bassists to set-up, interconnect and operate a musical performance system. Said accessories include audio cables, tuning devices, power cables, neck straps and spare strings, as well as tools for the maintenance of said instruments. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objects of the invention are to provide a compact, secure and convenient system for storing, transporting and setting up electrically amplified or acoustic string instruments, pedals and accessories. 
     Secondary objects of the invention are to provide safe and secure stands for a plurality of musical instruments and to reduce the time and effort involved in transporting, setting up and stowing accessories needed by the musician. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention disclosed herein includes, in combination, musical instrument stands for guitarists and bassists, along with a system for storing and transporting accessories. 
     The invention is comprised of a two part carrying case having separable hinges and locking devices, an integrated musical instrument stand for holding a plurality of musical instruments, an effects pedal board and storage compartments and areas. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a back view of the device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the device of the present invention showing the top section of the device in dotted lines as the top is being opened. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the top section of the device of the present invention opened and separated from the bottom section of the device. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the top section of the device. 
     FIG. 8A is a side cross-section view of the top section of the device with the guitar stand shown in the collapsed position. 
     FIG. 8B is a side cross-section view of the top section of the device with the guitar stand shown in the expanded position. 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of the top section of the device showing the guitar stand expanded with guitars sitting in the wells of the stand. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective, exploded view of the bottom section of the device with the accessory pedal board shown lifted from the bottom section and rotated to a position to illustrate the underside of the pedal board. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals represent identical parts. It is to be understood however that the description of the preferred embodiment is illustratively only and does not constitute a limitation on the scope of the invention as is set forth more particularly in the claims appended hereto. Further more, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there are various modifications within the scope of the invention described herein. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, the preferred embodiment of the acoustic-amplified music accessory case  10  is illustrated. The case is generally configured in the shape of a box having sides  12 , a top  14 , a bottom  16 , a front  18  and a back  20 . The case is formed in two sections; a top section  30  and a bottom section  32 . A pair of hinges  24  mounted on the back of the case hingedly connects the top and bottom sections  30 ,  32 . The hinges  24  are J shaped so that they will hold the two sections of the case together, but when the two sections are opened and pivoted about the hinges, the open flange of the hinge can be separated from the pivot bar of the hinge to separate the two sections of the case. The hinges are old and well known in the art and are not specifically illustrated in detail in the drawings. 
     On the front of the case is a handle  22  mounted on the top section  30 . A musician using the device uses the handle  22  to carry the case from one venue to another. 
     On the front of the case, there are lock clasps  26  of the type often found on flight-road cases and which are well known in the industry. For protection, the corners of the case are covered by hard plastic or rigid steel corner caps  28 , which can also serve as feet for the two sections of the case when the case is opened to an operable position. 
     Looking now at FIGS. 5 and 6, the case is illustrated in transition from a closed configuration to a separated configuration. In FIG. 5, the case is shown in full lines with the foot pedals, guitar stand and accessory cavity (all of which will described in more detail later) shown in phantom lines. Also FIG. 5 shows the top section  30  of the case itself in phantom lines as the case is being opened by pivoting the top section against the hinges  24 . 
     Once the top section has been opened about the hinges  24 , each hinge is configured so that it will separate and will allow the top portion of the case to be removed and set in a “upside down ” position as is shown in FIG.  6 . FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the top section of the case in the upside down position. 
     After the top section  30  of the case is separated from the bottom section  32 , the top section will appear as is illustrated in FIG.  7 . The top section  32  has a top chamber  56  formed between the inside surface of the top  14 , the sides  12 ″, the inside surfaces of the front  18 ″ and the back  20 ″. 
     Fitted within the top chamber  56  is a guitar stand as is shown in the FIGS. 8A and 8B. The guitar stand is constructed with a front panel  58  and a back panel  60 . The front panel  58  is hingedly connected to the inside of the front  18 ″. Generally, there are two hinges  62  connecting the panel  58  to the inside of the front  18 ″ of the top section  30 . The two panels  58  and  60  each have sawed tooth like profiles that generally mirror each other and when the device is opened to its operable configuration, form wells  66  to serve as stands for multiple musical instruments. The back panel  60  is hinged to the front panel  58  along the panel edge opposite the edge where the front hinges  62  are attached to the inside of the top section of the case. The hinges  64  generally connect each one of the teeth like protrusions of the panels that are created by the gaps that form the wells  66 . 
     When the guitar stand is in the stored position for transportation, the back panel  60  pivots about the hinges  64  and folds underneath the front panel  58  and the two panels lay flat against each other and against the inside surface of the top  14 . The panels are held in place by a clasp C that fits over one of the teeth-like sections of the panels and can be released either by a snap, button, hook and loop fabric connection, or other industry standard connection device. 
     When the musician reaches the music venue and the case is open and separated, the top section is separated as shown in FIG.  7 . The guitar stand is then opened by releasing the clasp C and the front panel  58  is rotated about the hinges  62  to an angle as is illustrated in FIG.  8 B. The back panel  60  is then rotated about the hinge  64  to spread the two panels into an angled configuration as is shown in FIG.  8 B. The edge of the panel  60  opposite the edge that is hinged to panel  58  is then fitted into the corner of the top section of the case formed between the back  20 ″ and the top  14  so that the two panels form a pyramidal support structure when viewed from the back of the case. 
     Looking from the back to the front of the case, as can be seen in FIG. 9, when the guitar stand is in an operable position, the wells  66  are formed from the support backs  68  in the saw tooth cut in the panels and the support base  70 . There are multiple wells  66  so that multiple musical instruments can be placed in the wells and made readily accessible to the musician during the course of his or her performance. As each musical instrument or guitar G is used for performance, it is removed from the well  66 , plugged into the outlet in the pedal board  42  (discussed in greater detail hereinafter) and is ready to be played with all the benefits of the amplified music accessory pedals  50  that are mounted and wired onto the pedal board  42 . 
     Looking next at FIG. 10, there is shown an exploded view of the bottom section  32  of the case with the top section removed to another location. The bottom section  32  includes a bottom chamber  34  in the space between the bottom  16 , sides  12 ′, front  18 ′ and back  20 ′. Within the top chamber  34  there are spacers  36  mounted against the inside of the bottom  16  and the inside of the back  20 ′. In addition there is a front spacer  48  that is fitted against the inside of the bottom  16  and the inside of the front  18 ′. The spacers  36  are separated by a slot  46 , the purpose of which will become apparent later in the description of the preferred embodiment. 
     The spacers  36  and  48  have hook fabric glued or otherwise attached thereto adjacent the sides  12 ′ and on the surfaces of the spacers opposite the inside of the bottom  16 . 
     The case includes a pedal board  42  which includes loop fabric  40  adhesively, or otherwise attached to the four corners thereof in a position to mate with the hook fabric  38  contained on the spacers  36  and  48 . FIG. 10 shows the board inverted to illustrate the placement of the loop fabric. In place of the hook and loop fabric, other known fastener devices could be use, for example and not by way of limitation, snaps, clips, and the like. The pedal board  42  has a cutout  44  so that it can be grasped by the musician at the cutout  44  with the slot  46  leaving room for the hand to pass beneath the pedal board and raise it so that it can be removed for access to the accessory storage space beneath the pedal board. 
     Amplified music accessory pedals  50  are mounted on one side of the pedal board  42  and are wired by wires  52  to connect the various pedals, either to each other in series, or parallel and ultimately to an external plug so that the amplified musical instrument can be connected, through one or more plugs  54 , to the pedals  50 . The wires  52  are sandwiched inside the outer surfaces of the pedal board  42  for protection. Alternatively, the wires can be mounted to the opposite side of the board or to the pedal side of the board so that pedals can be added or removed with greater convenience. In addition, a power cord plug similar to plug  54  is wired into one of the surfaces of the pedal board so that a power supply wire can be hooked to the board to provide power to all the pedals  50 . 
     The pedal board  42  is placed inside the four walls of the bottom section  32  when the device is packed for transportation from one venue to another. In the preferred embodiment, the spacers provide room for accessories in the cavity between the pedal board  42  and the bottom  16 . During set-up, the musician can storage cavity by placing his/her hand down through the cutout  44  and slot  46  to grip the pedal board and raise it from the bottom section of the case. A pulling force on the pedal board  42  will cause the hook and loop fabric to disengage and allow the pedal board  42  to be removed from the top section of the case. 
     In an alternate configuration, the pedals can be fit between the pedal board and the inside surface of the bottom  16  so that the pedals will be protected from damage during transportation. In the preferred embodiment, however, the pedals face upwardly and the board sits on the spacers  36 ,  48 . The loop fabric  40  on the pedal board  42  will attach to the hook fabric  38  on the spacers to hold the pedal board in place and protect the pedals from damage during transportation. 
     When the musician reaches the music venue and begins set-up, he/she can open the case, remove the top section  30  from the bottom section  32  and set the top section to the side. The pedal board  42  is then exposed and ready for use. If stored accessories are needed, they can be removed from the storage cavity as described above. 
     As can be seen from the various figures, the edges of the sides  12  of the top and bottom sections are at an upwardly inclined angle from front to back when viewing the device from the side. That angle and the height of the spacers  36 ,  48 , cause the pedal board  42  to sit at an incline so that when the musician places the bottom section of the device in front of him/her with the front positioned toward the musician and the back furthest from him/her, the higher back of the bottom section  32  of the device will hide the pedals from the audience but be readily accessible to the musician. The pedal board  42  can then be employed immediately after the musical instrument are plugged into the plug  54 , a separate electric source is plugged into the pedal board to provide power to the pedals  50 . With minimal time and effort, the musician is set to proceed with a performance. The pedals are readily available for access by the musician. The pedals normally being foot pedals that can be operated by the musician during the course of performance. In addition, some of the pedals may be knobs that must be adjusted by hand, but they are also conveniently accessible and can be readily adjusted during the course of performance without fear of damage to the pedal board. 
     In the preferred embodiment, all interior and exterior case walls and the instrument stand panels are finished with a urethane base spray or coating for protective and cosmetic purposes. The edges of the wells, which hold the instruments, are, preferable, lined with soft foam of felt, or a custom extruded rubber, to protect the instrument finishes. The shapes of the wells can be modified to accommodate different instruments. The primary use of the invention is anticipated to be in conjunction with guitars but the device may be modified for use with other instruments such as, but not limited to, mandolins, banjos, electric/acoustical bases, violins and other instruments as well as amplified wind instruments that might require musical pedal accessories. The case can also be used for repair technicians for guitars (“luthiers”) using diagnostic and repair devices attached to the pedal effects board and storing tools in the chamber  34 . As a tech table, the pedal board is covered with a fabric or other soft material so that the board can serve as a worktable for the luthier. 
     The storage cavity  34  is for accessories such as spare strings, picks, cords, microphones, maintenance equipment; and even other small musical instruments such as tambourines, harmonicas and the like. 
     The hinges  24  can be replaced with releasable clasps, which can be either on the rear or the two sides of the sections of the case. The device can be provided with wheels and a telescoping handle as is known in the industry and other various modifications of the invention may be made by those ordinarily skilled in the art without varying from the scope of the invention as is more particularly set forth in the following claims.