Abstract:
A portable music stand is disclosed for securely holding a plurality of music performance equipment components. The stand includes a base for supporting the stand on a surface. An elongated shaft is releasably engaged with and extends vertically upwardly from the base, and a plurality of adjustable attachment members are disposed for selective mounting along the shaft. Each attachment member is adapted to support at least one music performance equipment component. Finally, a plurality of adjustment elements are provided, with each interconnecting one attachment member with the shaft. The adjustment elements are adapted to permit one-handed vertical repositioning of the associated attachment member along the length of the shaft.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to music stands and, more particularly, to portable music stands utilized in stage performances. Specifically, the present invention relates to music stands which are adapted to also carry at least one additional piece of equipment required by a performer during a performance while eliminating stage floor congestion.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Bands, church praise teams, combination vocal/instrument ensembles, and many other types of entertainment groups and organizations all require a wide variety of pieces of musical and electronic equipment in order to perform properly on stage. Such equipment can include vocal and instrument microphones, microphone booms, sheet music racks and holders, monitor speakers and the like. Previously, these various pieces and components of musical performance equipment generally stood alone, each on its own stand or on the floor in the case of some monitors. Thus, a single performer who is both a vocalist as well as an instrumentalist, such as playing a guitar, required a vocal microphone stand, a music rack stand, a guitar microphone stand and a floor monitor speaker. When this combination of equipment is then multiplied by a plurality of vocal/instrumental performers, the performing stage or floor becomes quite crowded with dozens of individual stands and equipment. This situation is compounded by the various electrical cables leading from monitor speakers and instruments to wall outlets for power. If performers attempt to share microphone or music rack stands in order to reduce the sheer number of pieces of equipment on the stage, this unfortunately places all the remaining pieces of equipment for the two performers in very close proximity to each other. This still results in an unacceptable situation.  
           [0005]    Various types of stands for providing positioning and support of multiple pieces of equipment have been devised in the past. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,799,919 and 5,6300,566 illustrate attempts at these types of stands for computers and the like. However, none of these illustrated devices are applicable to the situation discussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,344 illustrates a collapsible tripod stand which meets the portability need for performing groups. However, it too is unsatisfactory in meeting the above stated needs for reducing the clutter on a performing stage. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,383,487, 5,611,508 and D256,754 all illustrate music stands which attempt to combine functions of at least two musical equipment components, in particular a music sheet rack and a microphone stand. However, these devices also fall far short of the requirements for a portable music stand capable of supporting a plurality of different types of musical equipment components required by a single vocal and instrumental performer.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,631 is directed to a music stand adapted for supporting various pieces of music paraphernalia which are from time to time associated with music playing. However, this particular device is intended for music practice and for the storage of sheet music and various pieces of musical equipment that might be needed during music practice. It does not address the aforementioned problem of various pieces of music performance equipment and paraphernalia required for use simultaneously by a performer on a stage. Thus, there remains a need for a music stand which is adapted to support a plurality of different types of pieces of musical equipment and components simultaneously in support of a vocal and instrumental performer. Moreover, such performers frequently need to make positional adjustments of the various pieces of equipment during performance. When such pieces of equipment are supported on a single stand, it is paramount that the various pieces of equipment be capable of being moved vertically along the stand quickly and easily by the performer while the performer is actually singing and or playing his or her instrument. Thus, one-handed adjustment of the position of such musical equipment components on the stand becomes very desirable if not in fact necessary.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide an improved music stand.  
           [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a music stand which is capable of supporting a plurality of different music performance equipment components simultaneously.  
           [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a music/microphone stand which reduces the needed stage floor space while still providing easy access to a plurality of music equipment components by a performer.  
           [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a music stand which will simultaneously support a voice microphone, a guitar or other music instrument microphone, a sheet music rack holder, and a monitor speaker for the performer.  
           [0011]    A further object of the present invention is to provide such a music stand wherein the positioning of the various equipment components on the stand may be easily adjusted with one hand during actual performance and use of the stand.  
           [0012]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment member for supporting equipment components on a music stand and which is adapted to permit one-handed vertical repositioning of the associated attachment member and supported equipment along the length of the stand.  
           [0013]    To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a portable music stand is disclosed for securely holding a plurality of music performance equipment components. The stand includes a base for supporting the stand on a surface. An elongated shaft is releasably engaged with and extends vertically upwardly from the base, and a plurality of adjustable attachment members are disposed for selective mounting along the shaft. Each attachment member is adapted to support at least one music performance equipment component. Finally, a plurality of adjustment elements are provided, with each interconnecting one attachment member with the shaft. The adjustment elements are adapted to permit one-handed vertical repositioning of the associated attachment member along the length of the shaft.  
           [0014]    The music stand of the invention is designed to support music performance equipment components that may be selected from the group consisting of microphones, microphone clamps, microphone booms, monitor speakers and sheet music rack holders. In one preferred form, the music stand includes at least two of the adjustable attachment members, one for supporting a monitor speaker and one for supporting a sheet music rack holder. In yet another preferred form, the music stand includes a third adjustable attachment member for supporting a microphone clamp and microphone secured thereto. The music stand of the invention may also further include a microphone boom attachment clamp disposed at the uppermost distal end of the shaft.  
           [0015]    The adjustable attachment member of the invention may be configured to include an outer sleeve sized to readily slide over the elongated shaft, and a bracket arm extending radially outwardly from the sleeve adapted to mount and carry at least one music performance equipment component. In one form of the invention, the bracket arm is detachably secured to the sleeve, while in another form the bracket arm is an integral portion of the sleeve. The bracket arm may be configured to include at least two portions aligned no more than about 1500 relative to each other. Preferably, the bracket arm portions include a first portion aligned approximately perpendicular to the sleeve, and a second portion aligned at approximately 900 relative to the first bracket arm portion.  
           [0016]    The adjustment element of the music stand may be configured to include an inner tubular element disposed radially inwardly of the outer sleeve for positioning between the outer sleeve and the shaft, the inner tubular element having an elongated slot defined in its length to permit adjustment of the diameter thereof. Preferably, the tubular element is in the form of a flexible split bushing.  
           [0017]    The present invention also concerns itself with an attachment element for adjustably securing music performance equipment to a substantially vertically aligned, tubular shaft member for support thereon, the attachment element being adapted to permit one-handed position adjustment thereof along the length of the shaft. Preferably, the attachment element includes an outer tubular sleeve sized to readily slide over the tubular shaft member. A bracket arm extends radially outwardly from the sleeve and is adapted to mount and carry at least one component of music performance equipment. Finally, an inner tubular element is disposed radially inwardly of the outer sleeve for positioning between the outer sleeve and the shaft member. The inner tubular element has an elongated slot defined in its length to permit adjustment of the diameter thereof. Preferably, the inner tubular element is adapted to leverage against the shaft member to maintain the vertical position of the attachment element relative to the shaft member resulting from weight imposed thereon by the bracket arm and any music performance equipment supported thereby. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one music stand embodiment constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of another music stand embodiment constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded side schematic of an adjustable attachment member constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the adjustment element taken substantially along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is an exploded side schematic of an adjustable attachment member constructed in accordance with the present invention and arranged for positioning along a vertical music stand shaft;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the adjustable attachment member taken substantially along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the adjustable attachment member of FIG. 5 positioned on a vertical music stand shaft;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is an enlarged, exploded side schematic of an adjustable attachment member constructed in accordance with the present invention and arranged for supporting a music performance equipment component; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the bracket end of an adjustable attachment member taken substantially along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a music stand  10  is illustrated and constructed in accordance with the present invention. It should be understood, however, that while specific embodiments are illustrated and discussed in detail herein, the present invention is not be specifically limited to these examples and embodiments but is to be interpreted and limited only by the claims appended hereto.  
         [0029]    The music stand  10  includes a base portion  12  which is designed to support the stand  10  on a surface  14  such as a stage floor or the like. An elongated shaft  16  extends vertically upwardly from and is supported by the base  12 . A plurality of music performance components  18  are secured to and supported by the shaft  16  utilizing a plurality of adjustable attachment members  20 . While the shaft  16  may support any type of music performance component  18 , examples as illustrated include a vocal microphone  22 , a sheet music rack  24 , a monitor speaker  26 , and a guitar or other instrument microphone  28 . The adjustable attachment members  20  are constructed to enable the performance components  18  to be positioned in any desired location along the shaft  16 , such as illustrated by the two different positions of the monitor  26  in FIGS. 1 and 2. Moreover, the vertical position of any adjustment member  20  along the shaft  16 , along with its associated music performance component  18 , may be readily adjusted utilizing only one hand as described in greater detail below.  
         [0030]    The base  12  may be of any known and desired construction. The illustrated embodiment is a tripod arrangement wherein the legs  30 ,  32  and  34  may be readily folded. Moreover, the base  12  may be detached from the shaft  16  at the juncture  36 . As described below, the remaining components secured to the shaft  16  by the adjustable attachment members  20  may also be easily removed from the shaft  16 , thereby making the entire music stand device  10  easily disassembled and transported. The music stand  10  may also include a microphone boom  38  secured to the distal end  40  of the shaft  16  by a boom mounting element  42 , which is known in the art.  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIGS.  3 - 7 , the adjustable attachment member  20  in preferred form includes an outer tubular sleeve  44  which is sized to readily fit over the elongated shaft  16 . A mounting bracket  46  extends radially outwardly from the sleeve  44  and is shaped to hold and support a music performance equipment component  18  as described in greater detail below. The bracket  46  can be in the form of a detachable bracket  48  or it may be an integrally formed bracket  50  as a part of the sleeve  44 . While the sleeve  44  and brackets  46  may be constructed from any desired type of material, plastic or other type of flexible material may be utilized, although metal may also be used.  
         [0032]    The adjustable attachment member  20  is mounted to the shaft  16  utilizing an adjustment element  52 . In preferred form, the adjustment element  52  is in the form of a tubular member  54  having a longitudinal slot  56  formed therein. Preferably, the element  52  is made from a flexible material such as plastic, and the slot  56  allows the outer diameter of the element  52  to be adjusted as it is snugly fit within the sleeve  44 . The outer diameter of the element  52  is sized and shaped in order to fit within the sleeve  44  so as to be interposed between the sleeve  44  and the shaft  16  in a manner that permits the sleeve  44  with its associated element  52  to be moved along the length of the shaft  16 . In preferred form, the adjustment element  52  is in the form of a split bushing to secure sleeve  44  about the shaft  16 .  
         [0033]    Referring particularly to FIG. 7, the inner and outer diameters of the adjustment element  52  and the sleeve  44  are sized so that the weight from the bracket  46 , either alone or particularly when it supports a music performance equipment component  18 , leverages the member  20  against the shaft  16  by creating a radially inwardly force at the lowermost corner  58  of the member  20 . In other words, the weight tilts the member  20  relative to the shaft  16 . This radially inwardly force presses the adjustment element  52  within the sleeve  44  at the juncture  58  against the outer surface of the shaft  16 . Moreover, the same weight also creates a radially inwardly force at the diagonally opposite upper corner  60 , which in turn presses the diagonally opposite upper corner of the member  20  at the juncture  60  against the shaft  16 . The radial inward forces at the junctures  58 , 60  will hold the adjustable attachment member  20  at any desired position along the length of the shaft  16 .  
         [0034]    When it is desired to move or adjust this position, an individual performer can simply impose an opposite radial force at the junctures  62 , 64  until both the adjustment element  52  and the sleeve  44  are substantially coaxially aligned with the shaft  16 . At this particular point, the member  20  may then be moved by a sliding motion along the length of the shaft  16  until a new location or position is reached. At this point, the individual performer moving the member  20  can release the member  20 , and the weight imposed by the bracket  46  tilts the member  20  again so as to create radially inward forces at junctures  58 , 60  to maintain the member  20  at its new location or position. The greater the weight imposed on the bracket  46 , the more securely the attachment member  20  is maintained at any particular position along the shaft  16 . In any event, however, the weight of the bracket  46  alone is sufficient to maintain the adjustment member  20  at any position along the shaft  16 .  
         [0035]    Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2,  8  and  9 , an adjustable attachment member  20  is illustrated having a sleeve  44  and an integrally molded bracket  50  associated therewith. Music performance equipment component  18 , such as a monitor  26 , is secured to the distal end  66  of the bracket  50 . In one form of the invention, the component  18  may be directly secured to the bracket  50 . In this form, the component  18  may include a mounting base  68  which is sized and shaped to directly receive the distal end  66  therein. Once the distal end  66  has been inserted within the mounting base  68 , a thumbscrew  70  or other suitable securing element is utilized to firmly secure the distal end  66  within the base  68 .  
         [0036]    In the illustrated embodiment, the base  68  has a diameter greater than that of the distal end  66 . In this instance, an adapter element  72  is provided having a first diameter end  74  sized to snugly fit within the base  68 , and a second reduced diameter end  76  sized to snugly fit within the distal end  66 . In order to assist in firm attachment between the monitor  26  and the bracket  50 , the distal end  66  may include a tooth element  78  which is sized and shaped to fit within a slot  80  formed in the adapter end  76 . To further ensure a snug and firm attachment between the adapter  72  and the distal end  66 , a pair of apertures  82 ,  84  are provided, respectively, in the distal end  66  and the reduced diameter end  76 . A mounting wire or clip  86  is provided for insertion within the apertures  82  and  84  in order to interconnect the distal end  66  with the adapter  72 . The adapter  72  may be threadingly engaged within the base  68  utilizing threaded members  88 , or it may be securely fastened within the base  68  using the thumb screw  70  as in the previously described embodiment.  
         [0037]    The brackets  46  are each preferably formed from two portions. A first portion  90  extends generally radially outwardly from the sleeve  44  of the member  20 , while the second portion  92  extends angularly from the end of the first portion  90 . In preferred form, the angle between the two portions  90 ,  92  is about 150° or less as illustrated by the angle “X” of FIG. 1, while the preferred angle is a right angle of about 90° as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8. The preferred angle of 90° provides the maximum support for the weight of the component  18  and also provides the maximum radial force against the junctures  58 ,  60  as discussed above. In this manner, the equipment components  18  are given maximum support while enabling their position along the shaft  16  to be most easily maintained.  
         [0038]    As can be seen from the above, the present invention provides a novel music stand device which is portable for easy assembly and disassembly as well as for easy transportation between locations. Moreover, the stand of the invention allows a performer to assemble all of his or her required music performance equipment components on one stand proximate to his or her playing position on a stage. This greatly reduces the clutter and congestion previously associated with stage performances when the performers are providing both vocal as well as instrumental performing. In addition, the stand of the present invention provides a novel adjustable attachment member for the equipment components which enables both easy assembly and disassembly as well as one-handed positional adjustment during a performance. Prior connection devices generally required both hands to effect any vertical positional adjustment, if at all possible, in a music stand during a performance, and this required the performer to cease playing any musical instrument to free up both hands, a requirement which is now obviated by the present invention.  
         [0039]    The foregoing description and the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in varying modifications and alternate embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the foregoing description of the present invention is exemplary only, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited to the claims as interpreted in view of the prior art. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.