Abstract:
The invention provides a protective case for stringed musical instruments, comprising a base part and a top part. A plurality of soft, cushioned support members, located in the base part and the top part, holds the instrument when positioned in the closed case. The position of these support members limits the possible contact of the body of the enclosed instrument with the interior of the case to the lateral rim of the back, the ribs, and the lateral rim of the soundboard. Possible contact between the most vulnerable parts of the instrument (i.e. the center portions of the back and the soundboard) and the interior of the case is eliminated, resulting in a substantially reduced likelihood of damage to the instrument during storage and transportation. Several alternate embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable  
         REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
         [0003]    Not applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0005]    The apparatus of the present invention relates to protective cases for musical instruments, and, in particular, to protective cases for string instruments.  
           [0006]    2. General Background of the Invention  
           [0007]    String instruments such as violins, violas, and violoncellos often increase in value with age. The sound of instruments crafted by the Italian masters of the 17 th  and 18 th  centuries, for example, is unsurpassed by modem imitations, and instruments of that time are priceless and irreplaceable treasures, carefully guarded by those artists fortunate enough to own them. Even contemporary string instruments, hand crafted over several months in an arduous process by an ever-shrinking number of specialized artisans, generally have a high value.  
           [0008]    Obviously, these instruments, made of thin wood at times hundreds of years of age, are quite delicate and prone to damage. Most damage to such instruments occurs during transportation. Accordingly, protective cases have always been used to prevent damage to the instrument during storage or transportation. Usually, these cases consist of a base part and a top part, connected by a hinge mechanism. A typical case features a sturdy exterior and a padded interior space, located in the base part, into which the instrument is placed. The top part of the case is then closed, and the case is locked. Unfortunately, these cases fail to reliably prevent damage to the instrument. While the padding typically used will significantly attenuate any outside forces directed against the case from a lateral direction, forces applied to the case from the front or the back will be directly transmitted to the sound board or the back of the instrument. These areas, however, are the most sensitive parts of string instruments. It is only by virtue of the slightly arched form of the sound board and the back that these structures can support the immense pressure exerted by the strings, and transmitted onto the sound board via the bridge. Any additional sudden force frequently leads to longitudinal cracks in the sound board. While such cracks can be repaired by qualified craftsmen, they may lead to a permanent reduction in the quality of sound of the instrument, and to a reduction of its value.  
           [0009]    A variety of inventors have attempted to limit the possible damage to instruments by offering an improved design for a protective case:  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,909 of Markov, issued May 1, 1979, describes a triangular shape for an instrument carrying case, allowing it to be stored in an erect position. While the triangular design, as the inventor points out, limits possible damage due to snow, rain, or falling objects, it does not offer improved protection against any impact affecting the sound board or the back of the instrument.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,632, issued to Weber on Jul. 30, 1985, offers an adjustable compartment allowing adaptation to the body length of a particular string instrument. Resilient pads selectively support the back of the instrument at its top and its bottom parts. Tie down straps secure the instrument at its neck. While this invention provides some improvement over previous designs, the resilient pads described protect the back, but not the far more delicate front portion of the instrument, which features the sound board and the bridge. Moreover, support of the back only at its top and bottom portions, with the entire middle and the side portions of the back held above the bottom of the case, may render the back quite vulnerable to the indirect transmission of applied forces, especially at its central portion. In addition, the securement of the instrument through tie down straps at its neck will not prevent the body of the instrument from colliding with the interior of the case.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,804 of Flynn, issued Feb. 29, 2000, describes an instrument carrying case featuring a temperature and humidity control system. While this invention will limit damage due to excesses in temperature or humidity, damage due to a sudden outside force acting upon the case will not be affected by the design.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    A new protective transport case for string instruments is suggested. In addition to the usual padded lining surrounding the ribs of the instrument, the invention features a rim of padded material adjacent to the lateral edges of the sound board, and another rim of similar padded material adjacent to the lateral edges of the back of the instrument. This arrangement of three rims of padded material securely fastens the instrument in the case.  
           [0014]    As an additional feature, the invention proposes a securing mechanism comprising padded clamps or securing belts. These padded clamps or securing belts are attached to the interior of the base part of the case, and hold the instrument in its molded area.  
           [0015]    There are numerous advantages of the present invention, as listed below:  
           [0016]    1. Due to the triple rim of padded material, any force applied to the case from the outside will be transmitted to the instrument only in an attenuated form, and, moreover, will be transmitted only to the angulated area formed by the lateral edges of the soundboard, the ribs, and the lateral edges of the back of the instrument. This area is quite sturdy. The sensitive areas of the instrument, most importantly the arched middle portion of the sound board carrying the bridge, and the arched back portion of the instrument, are secured firmly and are unable to collide with any parts of the interior of the protective case.  
           [0017]    2. The triple rim of padded material will not only prevent damage to the instrument due to sudden jolts or forces, it will also prevent damage to the instrument due to the rolling of the case upside down.  
           [0018]    3. The padded clamps or securing belts will prevent the instrument from falling out of an unlocked case which is accidentally picked up, and they will even protect the instrument if an opened case falls to the ground. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 a  is a plan view of the front of a string instrument, outlining parts of the instrument relevant to the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 b  is a plan view of the back of a string instrument, outlining parts of the instrument relevant to the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 a  is a plan view of the base part of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 b  is a plan view of the top part of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 a  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 4 b  and  4   c  are transverse cross sectional views of the proposed protective case, also showing a string instrument in its spatial relation to the invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 d  is a plan view of the base part of the proposed protective case, also showing a string instrument in its spatial relation to the invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 e  is a partial perspective view of one particular embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]    Referring now to the enclosed drawings, FIG. 1 is an overview of the present invention. The suggested protective instrument case, designated generally by the numeral  21 , consists of a base part  22  and an upper part  23 . The interior of base  22  provides a pre-formed space for a stringed instrument such as a violin (hereafter referred to as violin  68 ), divided for clarity into three sections, designated body space  24 , neck space  25 , and peg-box space  26 , in accordance with the parts of the instrument they hold. The interior of upper part  23  provides a pre-formed space overlying the stringed instrument, divided for clarity into two sections, designated space overlying body of instrument  27 , and space overlying head and neck of instrument  28 .  
         [0030]    Case  21  features three rims of cushioned, soft, elastic material (e.g. thick velvet, padded silk), labeled lower cushioned rim  29 , lateral cushioned rim  30  (both located in base  22 ), and upper cushioned rim  31  (located in upper part  23 .) Apart from the designated space for the holding of the instrument, case  21  features several compartments (not depicted in detail) for the storage of small paraphernalia, following a design customary for instrument cases. Depicted are the lids  32  overlying these compartments, as well as the tabs  33  used to open the lids. Also following a design customary for cases for stringed instruments, upper part  23  provides space and attachment facilities for the storage of a plurality of bows, including a head rest  34  for bows, as well as a plurality of customary locking bars  35  for the base area of bows.  
         [0031]    Base part  22  and upper part  23  can be connected by hinges  38 . A special recess rim  36  on base part  22 , and an overlapping rim  37  on upper part  23  provide for a snug fit once case  21  is closed. A sturdy band  39  extends from the interior of base part  22  to the interior of upper part  23 , and limits the angle of the opening between these parts to 90°. A customary snap lock, divided into lower lock part  40  and upper lock part  41 , provides for secure closure of case  21 , a customary handle  42  is used to carry the case.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 a  represents the anterior surface of a violin  68 , a typical string instrument to be protected by the invention. Sound board  50  features two openings, f-holes  58 . Strings  57  are attached with one end to pegs  54 , housed in peg box  53 , extend over finger board  56 , touch down on bridge  59 , pressing it against sound board  50 , and are then attached with their opposite ends to tail piece  60 . Seen also are chin rest  61  and scroll  52 , a conventional decorative element of peg box  53 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 b  represents the posterior surface of violin  68 . Shown are the back  51 , neck  55 , pegs  54 , and the posterior surface of peg box  53  and scroll  52 .  
         [0034]    Both FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  show a shaded area  66 , following the edges of sound board  50  and back  51 . This shaded area  66  represents the area of contact between upper cushioned rim  31  and sound board  50 , and between lower cushioned rim  29  and back  51 , respectively.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 a  shows the various elements of base part  22 . The area used to house the instrument is divided into body space  24 , neck space  25 , and peg box space  26 . Lower cushioned rim  29  follows the lateral rim of body space  24 . Featured are also three compartment lids  32  and corresponding lid tabs  33 , as well as lower hinge parts  44 , handle  42 , and lower lock part  40 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3 b  shows the various elements of upper part  23 . The area overlying the instrument is divided into space  27  overlying the body of the instrument and  28  space overlying the head and neck of the instrument. At the upper end of space  28 , head rest  34  for the storage of bows  62  is seen, at the lower end of space  27 , two conventional locks  35 , securing the frog  65  of bows  62  are shown. The conventional twisting mechanism of these locks is not depicted. Two bows  62  are shown in their stored position.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 4 a - 4   c  are essential to appropriately illustrate the advantages of the present invention. Using cross sectional views (FIGS. 4 a - 4   c ), violin  68  is shown housed in the closed protective case  21 . The view includes bridge  59 , pressed by strings  57  against sound board  50 . The lateral walls of the instrument, separating sound board  50  and back  51 , are formed by ribs  77 . The area enclosed by this structure contains sound post  75  and bass bar  76 . Demonstrated are also the openings in sound board  50  due to f-holes  58 .  
         [0038]    As can clearly be seen, lower, lateral, and upper cushioned rims  29 , 30 , and  31  secure the instrument  68  with gentle but firm attachment to ribs  77 , as well as to sound board  50  and back  51  at their lateral edges (corresponding to shaded area  66  on FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b .) The angulated lateral structure of violin  68 , formed by the edges of sound board  50  and back  51 , as well as ribs  77 , is quite sturdy, and will withstand significant impact transmitted through cushioned rims  29 , 30 ,  31 . FIGS. 4 a - 4   c  feature an internal framework  78  of case  21 , as well as a cross sectional view of two bows  62  and their bow hair  63 . Considering the delicately arched middle structure of sound board  50  and back  51 , further weakened through the presence of f-holes  58  and the enormous pressure exerted through bridge  59  on sound board  50 , it can easily be appreciated that any direct hard impact on bridge  59  or back  51  through sudden violent contact of these parts with the interior of a conventional case would prove quite disastrous to violin  68 . Many an unfortunate owner of a conventional violin case can testify to that. The array of cushioned rims  29 ,  30 , and  31 , preventing instrument  60  from dislodging in any direction, and transmitting any possible sudden impact only in attenuated form, and only to sturdy parts of the instrument, will prevent such damage through anything but the most violent forms of sudden impact.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 4 d  shows the base part  22  of the present invention, with violin  68 . As can be readily appreciated, the molded form of space  24  to house the body of the instrument follows the contours of the instrument, as is customary in instrument cases. Shown are several optional features of this present invention, which will provide additional protection for the instrument.  
         [0040]    Securing belts  80  are fixed with one end to a special attachment area  81  on base part  22 , and feature on their other end a conventional securing mechanism, depicted here as a male snap fastener  82 , to be reversibly attached to a corresponding female snap fastener  83  on the opposing side of base part  22 . Other reversible locking mechanisms could be used, including but not confined to hook and loop mechanisms, nut and bolt mechanisms, and the like. Two securing belts  80  are depicted, one in the closed  86 , and one in the open position  87 . Belts  80 , when in the closed position, extend over sound board  50  at its upper and its lower ends. This feature will protect the instrument&#39;s most vulnerable area, the sound board  50  and bridge  59 , from sudden forward thrusts against the interior of any instrument case, even if such case does not feature the suggested cushioned rims  29 ,  30 , and  31  of this present invention.  
         [0041]    A similar protective effect can be achieved with rotating padded clamps  84 . These clamps, attached with one end rotatably to base part  22 , can be turned with their padded opposite end over the lateral surface of sound board  50  of violin  68 , once again preventing sudden forward movements of the instrument. Any number of rotating padded clamps  84  could be installed, shown here in their closed  85  and their open  86  positions.  
         [0042]    While neither securing belts  80 , nor rotating padded clamps  84 , can provide the degree of protection afforded by cushioned rims  29 ,  30 , and  31 , they both offer significant additional advantages. First, they could be installed easily in conventional protective cases without any of the features of this present invention, and second, they would provide some degree of protection to the instrument, even if an open case were to fall to the ground upside down. They both would also prevent the instrument from falling out if an unlocked case was picked up accidentally by its handle. It is suggested that either securing belts  80 , or rotating padded clamps  84 , are added to instrument case  21 . Without departing from the concept, a variety of other mechanisms could be used to secure violin  68  within base part  22 , by applying reversible closing mechanisms attached to base part  22  which will impede the exit of violin  60  from space  24 , such as shifting bars, flexible bands, and the like.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 e  shows the details of padded clamps  84 . These clamps feature padding  90  on their free end, to be rotated over violin  60 , and are rotatably attached to base part  22 , for example with a nut  91  and bolt  92 , as depicted. Arrows  94  indicate the freedom of rotation.  
         [0044]    If padded clamps  84  are added to the protective case, upper part  23  needs to feature a special recess area  95  for each of these clamps  84 . Finally, depending on its elasticity, upper cushioned rim  31  could either be designed to mold itself around clamps  84  when protective case  21  is in the closed position, or upper cushioned rim  31  could feature small indentations allowing to receive clamps  84  when protective case  21  is closed (indentations not depicted).  
       Parts List  
       [0045]    The following is a list of suitable parts and materials for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0046]    Number Description  
         [0047]    [0047] 21  protective case  
         [0048]    [0048] 22  base part  
         [0049]    [0049] 23  upper part  
         [0050]    [0050] 24  body space  
         [0051]    [0051] 25  neck space  
         [0052]    [0052] 26  peg box space  
         [0053]    [0053] 27  space overlying body of instrument  
         [0054]    [0054] 28  space overlying neck and head of instrument  
         [0055]    [0055] 29  lower cushioned rim  
         [0056]    [0056] 30  lateral cushioned rim  
         [0057]    [0057] 31  upper cushioned rim  
         [0058]    [0058] 32  compartment lid  
         [0059]    [0059] 33  lid tab  
         [0060]    [0060] 34  head rest for bows  
         [0061]    [0061] 35  lock for bows  
         [0062]    [0062] 36  base part recess  
         [0063]    [0063] 37  overlapping rim  
         [0064]    [0064] 38  hinge  
         [0065]    [0065] 39  angle band  
         [0066]    [0066] 40  lower portion of lock  
         [0067]    [0067] 41  upper portion of lock  
         [0068]    [0068] 42  handle  
         [0069]    [0069] 43  upper part of hinge  
         [0070]    [0070] 44  lower part of hinge  
         [0071]    [0071] 50  sound board  
         [0072]    [0072] 51  back  
         [0073]    [0073] 52  scroll  
         [0074]    [0074] 53  peg box  
         [0075]    [0075] 54  peg  
         [0076]    [0076] 55  neck  
         [0077]    [0077] 56  finger board  
         [0078]    [0078] 57  string  
         [0079]    [0079] 58  f-hole  
         [0080]    [0080] 59  bridge  
         [0081]    [0081] 60  tail piece  
         [0082]    [0082] 61  chin rest  
         [0083]    [0083] 62  bow  
         [0084]    [0084] 63  hair of bow  
         [0085]    [0085] 64  head of bow  
         [0086]    [0086] 65  frog of bow  
         [0087]    [0087] 66  shaded support area  
         [0088]    [0088] 67  body of violin  
         [0089]    [0089] 68  violin  
         [0090]    [0090] 69  recess in upper cushioned rim  
         [0091]    [0091] 75  sound post  
         [0092]    [0092] 76  bass bar  
         [0093]    [0093] 77  ribs  
         [0094]    [0094] 78  internal frame work  
         [0095]    [0095] 80  securing belt  
         [0096]    [0096] 81  attachment area  
         [0097]    [0097] 82  male fastener  
         [0098]    [0098] 83  female fastener  
         [0099]    [0099] 84  rotating padded clamp  
         [0100]    [0100] 85  clamp in closed position  
         [0101]    [0101] 86  clamp in opened position  
         [0102]    [0102] 90  clamp padding  
         [0103]    [0103] 91  nut  
         [0104]    [0104] 92  bolt  
         [0105]    [0105] 94  arrows  
         [0106]    [0106] 95  recess area  
         [0107]    The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.