Abstract:
A device and method of supporting a stringed musical instrument such as a ukulele or guitar in a stable hands-free playing position on the user by means of a shoulder strap comprising a single adjustable closed loop including a one-half twist which follows a specific novel path under the strings and about the instrument and the user&#39;s body.

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/750,907 filed on Jan. 10, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The ukulele has traditionally been played without the use of a strap by cradling the instrument against the players body with the strumming forearm while supporting the neck of the instrument with the fretting hand. Many players of the ukulele would prefer to have their instruments fully supported while playing, which would allow free use of either hand for any playing technique. 
     Traditionally, ukuleles are constructed without end pins or strap buttons with which to attach a strap. Many players do not wish to modify their instruments with screw-mounted end pins or strap buttons, which have drawbacks such as the possibility of damaging the instruments in their installation, or of devaluing them by altering their originality. 
     Other devices intended to support the instrument which do not require its modification, such as peg head attachment straps or sound hole hook straps, do not fully support the ukulele in playing position and require the use of at least one hand or arm to restrain the instrument. 
     The present invention supports a ukulele in playing position without the use of hands or arms and without the need for modification of the instrument. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention follows a specific novel path when in use unlike that of other supporting methods. In use, the present invention comprises an adjustable single closed strap loop which encircles the ukulele body beneath the strings and cradles it beneath the narrow waist area, proceeds up across the back of the ukulele and the player&#39;s chest and encircles the player&#39;s body over the shoulder to the same side as the neck of the ukulele. It then continues diagonally down and across the player&#39;s back and underneath the opposite armpit, emerging to pass over the top of the ukulele&#39;s lower bout and completing the loop at the face of the instrument. The present invention following this specific novel path has the effect of holding the body of the ukulele up on the bottom at the waist and down on the top at the lower bout, counterbalancing the weight of the ukulele neck to achieve a stable configuration. 
     This specific novel path results in an apparent one-half twist in the strap due to the relationship between the strap, the ukulele and the player&#39;s body. By positioning the hook and loop fastener strips to make their mutual attachment to close the loop possible only when the strap includes a one-half twist, the apparent twist in use can be cancelled out by use of a countervailing one-half twist. 
     These two concepts, the specific novel path of the strap about the instrument and player and the one-half twisting adjustable closed loop configuration of the strap are the basic elements of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       All drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention and the components thereof. 
         FIG. 2  is a detail view of the mounting and the sewn attachment of the main strap to the length adjustment slide. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention threaded underneath the strings of the ukulele to form a loop with the two ends being held in opposition and with the mating hook and loop fastener strips aligned in the same orientation. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention showing the end of the strap having been turned over to engage the hook and loop fastener strips, resulting in a closed loop incorporating a one-half twist. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation view of the player supporting the ukulele with the left hand while lifting the present invention with the right hand and putting the right elbow through the opening above the ukulele body. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view of the present invention having been lifted over the player&#39;s head to be placed on the left shoulder. 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the present invention in use supporting the ukulele on the player. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevation view of the present invention in use supporting the ukulele on the player. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The components of the preferred embodiment of the present invention  1  are assembled as follows: 
     In reference to  FIG. 1 , The connection loop  15  and the hook fastener strip  13  are affixed to the secondary strap  12 . This assembly will hereinafter be referred to as the connection tab  17 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 1-2 , the length adjustment slide  16  is affixed to one end of the main strap  11  at location  18  and the loop fastener strip  14  is affixed to the opposite end. 
     In reference to  FIG. 1 , the main strap  11  is threaded through the connection loop  15  of the connection tab  17  and through the length adjustment slide  16 , connecting the main strap  11  and the connection tab  17  such that the hook fastener strip  14  and the loop fastener strip  13  are aligned in the same orientation. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention  1  is used and operated as follows: 
     In reference to  FIG. 3-8 , the descriptions below use a right-handed player as an example. 
     In reference to  FIG. 3 , the ukulele  2  is placed on its back with its neck  21  to the left of its body. The end of the main strap  11  with the loop fastener strip  14  attached is fed away from the player under the strings of the ukulele  2  to circle underneath the ukulele body and to then be brought up to meet the trailing connection tab  17  to complete a loop, with no twists in the main strap  11 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 4 , the end of the main strap  11  with the loop fastener strip  14  attached is then turned over to the right so that the hook fastener strip  13  and the loop fastener strip  14  are facing each other and then overlapped and pressed together so they engage and adhere to each other. The present invention  1  now comprises a loop encircling the ukulele  2  underneath its strings with a one-half twist  19  in the main strap  11 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 5 , the ukulele  2  is held in the left hand of the player  3  with the present invention  1  encircling the body of the instrument under the strings at the waist  22 . The present invention  1  is raised with the player&#39;s right hand and the player&#39;s right elbow  31  is placed toward the instrument&#39;s neck  21  through the opening formed by the present invention  1  above the ukulele body. 
     In reference to  FIG. 6 , the present invention  1  is continued to be raised with the player&#39;s right hand, brought over the player&#39;s head and lowered to rest on the left shoulder  32 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 7-8 , the loop formed by the present invention  1  has thus been placed on the torso of the player  3  following a specific novel path which proceeds from a starting point under the strings down across the front surface of the ukulele  2 ; across its lower side surface at the waist  22 ; up across its back surface; up the player&#39;s chest and over the left shoulder  32 ; diagonally down across the player&#39;s back to go under the right armpit  33 ; forward over the top side surface of the instrument at the lower bout  23  and down across its front surface to the starting point. When properly adjusted by use of the length adjustment slide  16 , the present invention  1  leverages the lower waist  22  of the instrument up and holds the upper side of the lower bout  23  down, counterbalancing the weight of the instrument&#39;s neck  21 . The present invention thus supports a ukulele in playing position without the use of hands or arms and without the need for modification of the instrument. 
     In reference to  FIG. 7-8 , the specific novel path of the present invention  1  when worn requires an opposite one-half twist  19  in order to lay flat across the ukulele  2  and player  3 . This can be illustrated by tracing an imaginary line along the center of the flat surface of the present invention  1 : Beginning under the strings on the front of the instrument  2 , said line runs on the outside surface of the present invention  1  down over the waist  22  and up the back of the instrument  2 . Continuing up, the line transitions to run on the underside of the present invention  1  over the player&#39;s shoulder  32 , diagonally down across the player&#39;s back and under the player&#39;s other armpit  33  and, still underneath, runs over the side of the instrument&#39;s lower bout  23 . The line continues to run underneath down across the face of the instrument  2  to its starting point under the strings, but now on the opposite surface of the present invention  1 . If the present invention  1  were constructed without the one-half twist  19  it would still securely support the instrument  2  in playing position, but there would appear to be a half-twist when worn by the player  3 . By adding an opposite half-twist  19 , this effect is neutralized and the present invention  1  will lay flat across all surfaces of the instrument  2  and the body of the player  3  when in use. 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention may be constructed in alternate ways as follows: 
     The straps of the present invention could be made in different lengths to accommodate different instrument sizes or player body sizes. 
     The straps of the present invention could be made in different widths for strength or player comfort. 
     The straps of the present invention could be made of other materials such as leather, nylon webbing or fabric. 
     The hook and loop fastener strips of the present invention could be made in different sizes sufficient to securely support the instrument. 
     The positions of the hook fastener strip and of the loop fastener strip could be reversed with each other. 
     The connection made by the hook and loop fastener strips could be made by other means such as quick-release plastic buckles, snaps or laces. 
     The present invention may be used in alternate ways as follows: 
     The present invention could also be used on tenor, classical or flamenco guitars. 
     The present invention can be used by left-handed players by mirror-image reversal of the instructions for right-handed players given above. 
     If the strap of the present invention is twisted one-half turn in the incorrect direction the strap will still securely support the instrument, but will appear to have a full twist in it when worn.