Patent Publication Number: US-6667430-B1

Title: Chin rest for a violin

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a violin chin rest, and more particularly, to a chin rest which height and angle are adjustable to make a user more comfortable. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A chin rest has been widely used by a musician to assist in holding a violin during performance. As shown in FIG. 6, the most common chin rest comprises a chin rest pad A in an arcuate shape plate, a fixture B, and a pair of adjusting devices C. The adjusting devices C are adjustable to move upward or downward with respect to the chin rest pad A. The fixture B comprises a pair of feet B 11  at one end to be inserted into the chin rest pad A, and a pair of rods B 1  at the other end of the fixture B being secured to a blocking plate B 2 . The blocking plate B 2  will engage with the bottom of a violin D to support the chin rest pad A on the violin D firmly whereas the adjusting devices C are able to move upward or downward thereat. 
     However, the conventional chin rest can only be adjusted the height and not the angle, thus a user&#39;s chin can only touch a portion of the rest pad A, which causes uncomfortable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a violin chin rest, which height and angle are both adjustable. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a violin chin rest, which is easy to operate and more comfortable to a performer. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a violin chin rest, which pad can be replaced separately, therefore is cost effectiveness. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention, showing adjustment of the height of a chin rest pad of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the present invention, showing adjustment of the angle of the chin rest pad of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a prior art. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A violin chin rest of the present invention comprises a chin rest pad  1 , an adjusting device  2  and a fixture  3 . 
     The chin rest pad  1  has an arcuate surface attached with a soft pad  11  to provide a user a soft and comfortable touching feeling. A threaded blind hole  12  is formed at the bottom of the chin rest pad  1  for the adjusting device  2  to be secured thereat. A buffer pad  13  made of foam is secured to one side of the bottom of the chin rest pad  1  to prevent scratches on the surface of a violin  4  and also functions as an anti-skid device. 
     The adjusting device  2  comprises an adjusting rod  21 , a connecting base  22 , a spring  23 , a block  24  and a sleeve  25 . The adjusting rod  21  comprises a threaded section  2111  at the upper end and a bolt  212  at the lower end thereof. The connecting base  22  has a hollow body with an arcuate surface  221  at the top inner end, and comprises male threads  223  around the outer surface and female threads  222  around the inner wall thereon. The male threads  223  are formed with a vertical stop line  224 . The block  24  is also formed with male threads  241  around the outer surface. The sleeve  25  comprises female threads  251  around the inner wall, a position bolt  252  inserted into the sleeve  25 , and a boss  253  at the bottom end thereof. 
     The fixture  3  comprises a pair of supporting plates  31  and  32  at the top and the bottom end respectively. Each of the supporting plates  31  and  32  has a pair of rods  311  and  321  extending from respective sides thereon. Both the rods  311  and  321  comprise threads  3111  and  3211  at the endmost. A pair of sleeves  33  provides with female threads  332  therein to be connected with the threads  3111  and  3211  of the rods  311  and  321  in a threaded manner to adjust the distance between the two rods  311  and  321  with respect to each other by threading the sleeves  33 . The sleeves  33  further provide a plurality of holes  331  adapted to insertion of a wrench. The supporting plate  31  extends a portion to form a lug  313  thereat with a hole  312  thereon. A pair of soft pads  34  and  34 ′ is adapted to use with the supporting plates  31  and  32  to prevent scratches on the violin surface. 
     To assemble the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the adjusting rod  21  of the adjusting device  2  is inserted into the connecting base  22  with the bolt  212  engaging with the arcuate surface  221 , and the spring  23  is inserted into the connecting base  22  underneath the bolt  212 , and then the block  24  is threaded into the connecting base  22  so as to secure the adjusting rod  21  in the connecting base  22 . The threaded section  211  of the adjusting rod  21  is threaded into the threaded blind hole  12  and locked thereat, then the sleeve  25  is threaded onto the connecting base  22  with the female threads  251  threading onto the male threads  223  of the connecting base  22 . The boss  253  of the sleeve  25  is secured to the hole  312  of the plate  31  of the fixture  3 . The sleeves  33  are rotated to adjust the rods  311  and  312  up and down, which may be adjusted the tightness of the plates  31  and  32  with respect to the violin  4 . 
     To operate the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the connecting base  22  of the adjusting device  2  is rotated, the male threads  223  mesh with the female threads  251  of the sleeve  25  to move the chin rest pad  1  upward or downward. Upon the chin rest pad  1  has adjusted to the most appropriate position, the position bolt  252  is tightened to engage with the stop line  224  of the connecting base  22  to prevent the connecting base  22  from moving upward or downward. 
     FIG. 5 shows the angle adjustment of the chin rest pad  1 . As the bolt  212  of the adjusting device  2  is a ball shape, it engages with the arcuate surface  221  of the connecting base  22  and is able to spin to any direction, which brings the chin rest pad  1  in different angle to make a performer comfortable. 
     Further, as the chin rest pad  1  is secured to the threaded blind hole  12  by the adjusting rod  21 , it may be replaced solely when the chin rest pad  1  is worn or broken.