Abstract:
A sheet music holder having a golpe board with a non-porous surface for gluing into a guitar body with a porous surface, a twist lock power-assisted suction device, a clamp with a single tightening nut, and a sheet tray to hold the sheet music. The twist lock power-assisted suction device allows a user to easily create a strong vacuum attachment that will last fro hours so a complete performance will not be interrupted. The golpe board is included where the guitar body has a porous surface that would otherwise frustrate the suction attachment. The double-ball-and-socket clamp and arm allows a variety of positioning possibilities for the user to best read the sheet music in the tray.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to musical instruments and in particular to methods, systems, and devices for holding sheet music on an instrument where an artist can read it during a musical performance. 
   2. Related Art 
   Sheet music is rather awkward to hold and read while trying to play a musical instrument like a guitar. But being able to read the music while playing the instrument is a critical necessity. Sheet music stands are very familiar to most people, but such take up floor space, are top heavy, easily knocked over, and restrict the movements of the performer. 
   Attempts have been made to attach holders to guitars before, but the kind that clamp-on are heavy and can mar the instrument, and other devices that use suction cups don&#39;t really attach in a satisfactory fashion or remain in place for an acceptable period of time. Often the surfaces of the guitar are a little porous, and defeat any suction device applied. Other suction devices are cheap and flimsy, and just don&#39;t apply a high enough vacuum to really keep the attachment firmly in place. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,476 to Shiniti Kunyosi. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, a sheet music holder embodiment of the present invention comprises a golpe board of non-porous material for gluing onto a guitar body should the surface be porous, a twist lock suction device that is power-assisted for maximum consistent suction, a clamp with a single tightening nut, and a sheet tray to hold the sheet music. The twist lock power-assisted suction device allows a user to easily create a strong vacuum attachment that will last for hours. 
   The non-porous golpe board is included where the guitar body has a porous surface that would otherwise frustrate the suction attachment. In some embodiments, a substantially non-porous or non-porous mounting board, which is not attached to the instrument, can be included, such that the suction mechanism and associated sheet music tray can be selectively coupled with the mounting board and the mounting board can be located in any convenient location. The double-ball and socket clamp and arm allows a variety of positioning possibilities for the user to best read the sheet music in the tray. 
   An advantage of the present invention is that a sheet music holder is provided that is easy to use. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is that a sheet music holder is provided that will not mar a musical instrument even after repeated uses. 
   A further advantage of the present invention is that a sheet music holder is provided that will stay fastened for many hours and not slip off accidentally thanks to a twist-lock action in the power-assisted suction device. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments which are illustrated in the various drawing figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram of a sheet music holder embodiment of the present invention that is attached, as an example, to an acoustic guitar; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded assembly diagram of the sheet music holder of  FIG. 1  showing how the pieces come together and attach to the acoustic guitar; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view diagram of a decorative  10  type of sheet music tray that could be included in the holders illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4   a  depicts a plan view of a mounting board that can be selectively coupled with the sheet music tray via a suction mechanism. 
       FIG. 4   b  depicts an elevation view of the sheet music tray coupled with the mounting board via the suction mechanism. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  represents a sheet music holder embodiment of the present invention, and is referred to herein by the general reference numeral  100 . The sheet music holder  100  attaches, for example, to an acoustic guitar  102  comprising a body  104 , a fret board  106 , a key head  108 , a bridge  110 , and a sounding hole  112 . While  FIG. 1  depicts use of the sheet music holder  100  being used in connection with an acoustic guitar  102 , in alternate embodiments, the sheet music holder  100  can be used in connection with any item, instrumental or otherwise. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the sheet music holder  100  itself comprises a sheet holding tray  120  with a tray clamp ball  122  joined by a clamp assembly  124  to a base clamp ball  126  and tightened with a handle  128 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a power-assisted suction base can be comprised of an activation lever  130  inside a base housing  132  that draws the base tight onto the guitar  102 . In some embodiments, the suction base can include a release tab  134  allows a quick release of suction cup  136  from a non-porous or substantially non-porous surface. 
   In some embodiments, a substantially non-porous or a non-porous surfaced golpe board  138  can be used if the instrument itself has a porous surface. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the clamp assembly  124  allows a user to position the sheet holding tray  120  in substantially any convenient position relative to the instrument and/or golpe board  138  and or mounting surface. In operation, the tray clamp ball  122  and base clamp ball  126  can be loosely coupled with the clamp assembly  124 , the sheet holding tray  120  can be positioned as desired, and then the clamp can be fully tightened to fix geometric relation between the mounting surface and the sheet holding tray  120 . 
   In some embodiments, the golpe board  138  can be attached to the body  104 , e.g., with adhesive or via any other known and/or convenient apparatus, mechanism or compound, and provides a high quality, non-porous or substantially non-porous surface for vacuum cup attachment. Traditionally, golpe boards are attached to guitars for flamenco music performances where the guitar body is subject to heavy tapping that could damage the soft wood and finishes. If the guitar body  104  already has a suitable surface, the golpe board  138  may not be needed and can be omitted. In alternate embodiments, the golpe board  138  can be comprised of any known and/or convenient material and can have any known and/or convenient shape and can be attached to any convenient manner to the body. In still further alternate embodiments, the golpe board  138  may not be a traditional golpe board, but can be comprised of any known and/or convenient material and can have any known and/or convenient shape and can be attached to any convenient manner to any surface of any item, instrument and/or object. 
   In some embodiments, the suction base and clamp assembly may be a National Products, Inc., type RAM 101-2241U, RAM-MOUNT with twist lock cup. The twist lock power-assisted suction device is described by Jeffrey Carnevali in U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,420, issued Dec. 23, 2003, the complete contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, in alternate embodiments, any known and/or convenient non-power-assisted and/or power-assisted suction mechanism can be used. 
     FIG. 2  represents a sheet music holder assembly, and is referred to herein by the general reference numeral  200 . The sheet music holder  200  can attach to a musical instrument or nearby surface. If the musical instrument or nearby surface is an acoustic guitar  202 , such can comprise a body  204 , a fret board  206 , a key head  208 , a bridge  210 , and a sounding hole  212 . In some embodiments, the sheet music holder  200  itself can comprise a sheet holding tray  220  coupled with a tray clamp ball  222 . In operation, a pair of clamp shells  224  and  225 , with ball sockets, can capture tray clamp ball  222  and a similar base clamp ball  226 . They can then be simultaneously tightened around both balls  222  and  226  with a single T-handle tightening nut  228  on a bolt and/or via any other known and/or convenient mechanism. A suction base has an activation lever  230  inside a base housing  232  that draws the base tight onto a non-porous and/or substantially non-porous surface. In some embodiments, a release tab  234  allows a quick release of suction cup  236 , e.g., against a golpe board  238  that was coupled with the guitar body  204 . The clamp assembly  224  allows a user to position the sheet holding tray  220  relative to the instruction or nearby surface in any known and/or convenient geometric relation. 
     FIG. 3  shows a music sheet tray  300  with a particular  25  decorative design that provides maximum surface area and strength with a minimum of weight. Of course, other designs could be used. The tray  300  comprises a tray clamp ball  302  to fit into a clamp as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A lip  304  provides a bottom support for sheets of paper, e.g., sheet music. The tray clamp ball  302  and base clamp ball are preferably about the same size diameter. A back  308  would be visible to an audience, and a backbone  306  provides added strength such as would be needed in a plastic injection molded implementation. 
     FIG. 4   a  depicts a mounting board  400  that can be used in conjunction with the sheet music holder  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   a , the mounting board  400  is comprised of a first region  402  and a second region  404  and a transition region  406 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   a , the first region  402  can have any known and/or convenient texture and/or porosity and/or image and/or geometric properties. In some embodiments, the first region can be substantially planar and can be comprised of a substantially non-porous material. However, in alternate embodiments, the first region can have a non-uniform surface. In still further alternate embodiments, the first region  402  can include any convenient decoration and/or image  408 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   a , the second region can be substantially planar and can be comprised of a substantially non-porous material and/or any material capable of substantially maintaining a vacuum bond with the suction cup of the sheet music holder  100 . In some embodiments, the first region  402  and second region  404  can be comprised of the same and/or similar material and can be of unitary construction. However, in alternate embodiments, the first region  402  and the second region  404  can be comprised of different materials and can be coupled with each other. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   a , the mounting board  400  can include a transition region  406 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   a , the transition region can server to, at least partially, separate the first region  402  and the second region  404 . In some embodiments, the first region  402 , second region  404  and the transition region  406  can be comprised of the same material and can be of unitary construction. In alternate embodiments, the transition region  406  can be comprised of any known and/or convenient material and/or can be comprised of the same material as the first region  402  and/or the second region  404 . In some embodiments, the transition region  406  can bear any known and or convenient geometric relation to the first region  402  and the second region  404 . 
   In some embodiments, the underside  410  of the mounting board  400  can have any known and/or convenient geometry properties. In some embodiments, the underside  410  of the mounting board  400  can include a temporary bonding material such that the underside  410  of the mounting board  400  can be selectively coupled with any known and/or convenient surface and/or material. In some embodiments, the underside  410  of the mounting board  410  can include a surface that has a substantially high coefficient of static and/or kinetic friction relative to any selected material. 
     FIG. 4   b  depicts an embodiment of the mounting board  400  depicted in  FIG. 4   a  in use with the sheet music holder  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4   b , the mounting board  400  is substantially planar and the sheet music holder  100  is selectively coupled with the second region  404  of the mounting board  400  via the suction base. In some embodiments, the mounting board  400  can have any known and/or convenient geometric and/or inertial and/or section modulus properties such that when the mounting board  400  and the sheet music holder  100  are coupled that the combination is statically and/or dynamically stable. 
   In some embodiments, in operation, the sheet music holder  100  can be used with or without the mounting board  400  and can, in some embodiments, be used by a computer operator or typist to support paper, documents, books and/or other items. 
   In some embodiments, in operation, the sheet music holder  100  can be used with or without the mounting board  400  and can, in some embodiments, be used by a chef and/or to support recipes, paper, documents, books and/or other items. 
   In some embodiments, in operation, the sheet music holder  100  can be used with or without the mounting board  400  and can be supported on any convenient surface, such as, over a table cloth, on a couch, on a floor and/or any other surface capable of supporting the base and/or capable of being attached by the suction mechanism. 
   In some embodiments, in some embodiments, the sheet music holder  100  can be removably mounted, via the suction mechanism, directly on an instrument, such as, a guitar, bass, ukulele, keyboard and/or any other instrument having a non-porous and/or substantially non-porous surface. In alternate embodiments, the sheet music holder  100  can be removably mounted, via the suction mechanism, directly on an instrument, such as, a guitar, bass, ukulele, keyboard and/or any other instrument which has been coupled and/or removably coupled with a non-porous and/or substantially non-porous surface. 
   Although the present invention has been described in terms of the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alterations and modifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art after having read the above disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alterations and modifications as fall within the “true” spirit and scope of the invention.