Patent Publication Number: US-7900881-B2

Title: Musical instrument support stand

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to a musical instrument support stand. In particular, some embodiments relate to a readily transportable support stand for storing and displaying instruments, such as guitars, violins, violas, basses, banjos and the like. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Musicians are often faced with the challenge of temporarily supporting their instrument when it is not being played. Instruments such as guitars are subject to potential damage if simply laid flat on the floor, so it is common practice to lean the neck or head of the instrument against a piece of furniture or a wall. 
     Leaning the neck of such an instrument against a piece of furniture or the like often results in the upper part of the instrument sliding laterally, causing the entire instrument to fall to the floor, again resulting in damage to the instrument. Leaning the head of such an instrument against a wall or a piece of furniture has the added disadvantage of potentially putting the instrument out of tune due to the tuners in the head coming in contact with the wall or furniture. 
     Conventional musical instrument stands serve simply to sustain the musical instrument. Therefore, no provision for convenience in storing and carrying the musical instrument is made in the conventional stands. Additionally, the stands cannot even sustain the musical instruments stably. 
     That is, the conventional musical instrument stands are inconvenient in storing and carrying musical instruments because of the weights and sizes of the stands, and cannot sustain musical instruments stably due to the insufficient holding structures of the stands. In addition, many conventional stands tend to be bulky and not collapsible; consequently, they tend to be difficult to store and transport. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention have been made to overcome the problems associated with conventional stands. In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, a musical instrument stand is provided that can be easily assembled, disassembled and stored. In addition, these stands can also be readily transportable and sturdy. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a stand configured to hold a musical instrument has a base and a support neck. The base includes a front support member and a back support member spaced apart from the front support member and extending substantially parallel to the front support member. A first side support member is located on one side of the base and connects the front support member to the back support member. In addition, a second side support member is located on the other side of the base, which also connects the front support member to the back support member. The support neck has a first end configured to be fastened to the base and a latch configured to detachably engage a musical instrument held in the stand. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a stand for a musical instrument supports a musical instrument, such as a guitar, in a substantially upright, readily accessible manner, yet the stand is easy to disassemble for ready transport or store in a low volume configuration. 
     According to a further embodiment, a stand for a musical instrument includes a base for supporting a lower section of a musical instrument and a detachable neck that engages an upper section of the musical instrument. The base includes a front support rod, a back support rod spaced apart and extending parallel to the front support rod and a pair of side support rods extending between and connecting the front support rod and the back support rod. A plurality of legs extend from the base to provide stability. The neck support can be magnetically secured to the base in a substantially upright position when the stand is in an assembled configuration. The neck support can be secured to the base in a horizontal position when the base is in a storage configuration. In one embodiment, the neck support is magnetically secured to base in the storage configuration. 
     Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1  is a front view of a support stand in an assembled configuration in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the support stand of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an elevated front view of the support stand of  FIG. 1  in an unassembled configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the support stand of  FIG. 1  holding a guitar. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the support stand of  FIG. 1  holding a guitar. 
         FIG. 6  is a back view of an embodiment of a support stand holding a guitar without the use of a support neck in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the support stand of  FIG. 1  in a storage configuration. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the above exemplary Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. The figures are intended to illustrate various embodiments of the invention that can be understood and appropriately carried out by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  are respective front and side views of an embodiment of a stand  100  in an assembled configuration, and  FIG. 3  is an elevated front view of the stand  100  in an unassembled configuration. The components of the stand  100  include a base  102  and a detachable support neck  104 . The base  102  can include a front support  106  spaced apart and extending parallel to a rear support  108 . First side support  110  and second side support  112  can connect the front support  106  and the rear support  108 . The side supports  110  and  112  can also extend parallel to one another as well as be recessed relative to the top surfaces of the front and rear supports  106  and  108 . In one embodiment, the side supports  110  and  112  are sufficiently recessed relative to the front and rear supports  106  and  108  so as to permit a guitar to be recessed with in the stand, but not recessed to the extent that knobs or other components of a guitar hit against the front support  106  or rear support  108  when the guitar is placed in the stand  100 . The base  102  can also include a pair of front legs  114  and  116  ( FIG. 1 ) and a pair of rear legs  118  and  120  ( FIG. 2 ). Advantageously, the base  102  can have a low profile, yet also have a wide enough base for providing stability to the stand  100 . A low profile can be beneficial in that the stand  100  does not unnecessarily consume space on a music store floor or stage, for example. 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the front support  106  and the pair of front legs  114  and  116  can be a single, curved rod. Similarly, the first side support  110  and the rear leg  118  can be a single curved rod and the second support  112  and the rear leg  120  can be a single curved rod, with each of the curved rods fastened at one end to the front support  106 . The back support  108  can also be a single curved rod fastened at its ends to the first and second side supports  112  and  118 . In one embodiment, the various sections of the base  100  are metal and welded together, but other known methods of fastening can also be used to either fasten the various sections together in a permanent or non-permanent fashion. 
     The base  102  can also include a notch  122  formed in one of the side supports  110  or  112 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the notch  122  is formed in the first side support  110 , but in other embodiments, the notch can be formed in the second side support  112  or the notch  112  can be omitted. As described in more detail below, the notch  122  can serve to accept a cord attached to a guitar as well as serve to accept a section of the support neck  108  when the stand  110  is in a storage configuration. As also shown in  FIG. 2 , the front support  106  includes a cut-out section near the center portion of the front support  106 , which is designed to accommodate the bridge of some guitars, for example, when placed into the stand. 
     In various embodiments, the support neck  104  can be detachably secured to the base  100 . In other embodiments, the support neck  104  is permanently affixed to the base  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support neck  104  extends not quite vertically from the base  100  in a slightly reclined stance. In this manner, a guitar held in the stand  100  can also have a slightly reclined stance. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support neck  104  can include a latch  128  located at an upper end of the support neck  104 . The latch  128  can serve to fasten a portion of a guitar to the support neck  104 . In accordance with various embodiments, the latch  128  has magnetic properties capable of having a strong engagement with, for example, a ferrous metal neck plate affixed to a guitar, as is explained in greater detail below. The latch  128  can include neodymium other known materials having suitable magnetic properties. 
     In various embodiments, the latch  128  can also include glow-in-the-dark material applied to its surface so that the latch  128  can be seen on a dark stage, for example. In addition, the glow-in-the-dark material can be in the form of a design or logo for advertising purposes. 
     In other embodiments, the latch  128  need not be magnetic. Instead, the latch  128  can be any other suitable type of latching mechanism configured to releasably secure a guitar to the support neck  104 . In further embodiments, the latch  128  can be omitted so that a guitar held in the stand  100  merely rests against the support neck  104 . In such embodiments, an abutment may be provided on the support neck  104  configured to support an upper portion of a guitar held in the stand  100 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the stand  100  holding a guitar  400  and  FIG. 5  is a back view of the stand  100  holding the guitar  400  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the base  102  can support a lower portion of the guitar  400  and the support neck  104  can support an upper portion of the guitar  400 . Specifically, the first side support  110  and second side support  112  support respective lower sides of the guitar  400 . In addition, the rear support  108  supports a lower back portion of the guitar  400  and the front support  106  supports a lower front portion of the guitar  400 . The latch  128  can be fastened to a metal neck plate  402  ( FIG. 5 ) that is affixed to the back of the guitar  400 . Also, when a cord  404  is attached to the guitar  400 , a portion of the cord  404  can sit in the notch  122 . Accordingly, the stand  100  can securely hold the guitar  400  in place in the above-described manner. 
     As is known, some guitars are manufactured with a metal neck plate affixed to the back of the guitar, such as the neck plate  402  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . However, for guitars that do not have a metal neck plate, a neck plate can be affixed to the guitar. Alternatively, a ferrous sticker can be applied to the guitar for providing a section for magnetically fastening the guitar to the latch  128 . Such magnetic stickers are well known. Of course, other methods of affixing a suitable surface to the guitar for engagement with a magnetic latch can also be used. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the support neck  104  can be disengaged from the base  102 . As can be seen, the support neck  104  includes a pin  126  at an end of the support neck  104 . The pin  126  can be a reduced diameter section of the support neck  104  configured to fit inside a hole  130  formed in an upper surface of the rear support  108 . The pin  126  can have a friction fit with the hole  130 . In one embodiment, the pin  126  also has magnetic properties, which further secures the support neck  104  to the base  102 . To assemble the stand  100 , the support neck  104  can be secured to the base  102  by positioning the latch  128  facing forward and placing the pin  126  in the hole  130 . 
     In one embodiment, magnetic materials used in the pin  126  and the base  100  are selected such that a user need only grip the guitar neck with one hand to pick up and move the stand  100  and the guitar  400  together. This can be advantageous when it is desired to move the stand  100  and guitar  400  together, such as when vacuuming under the stand  100  or when moving the stand to a different location on a stage, for example. Furthermore, since a user need use only one hand to move the stand  100  and guitar  400 , the other hand is free to carry other objects, such as a vacuum or an additional musical instrument. Suitable magnetic materials to be used in the pin  126  can include neodymium or other known materials having suitable magnetic properties. 
     In one embodiment, to remove the support neck  104  from the base  102 , a user can place his or her foot on the base  102  and pull the support neck  104  in a generally upward direction. As is understood, the amount of force required to remove the support neck  104  from the base  102  can depend upon the magnetic attraction between the pin  126  and the base  100 . 
     Placing the guitar  400  in the stand  100  and removing the guitar  400  from the stand is described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . A user can place the guitar  400  in the stand  100  by placing a bottom portion of the guitar  400  between the front support  106  and rear support  108 . The user can then recline the back of the guitar  400  against the latch  128  so that the latch  128  engages the neck plate located on the back of the guitar  400 . To remove the guitar  400  from the stand, a user can place a foot on the base  102  and pull the guitar  400  away from the latch  128 . Once the guitar  400  is released from the latch  128 , the user lifts the guitar  400  out of the base  102  in a generally upward direction. 
     In one embodiment, the base  102  can hold the guitar  400  without the use of the detachable support neck  104 .  FIG. 6  is a back view of the base  102  supporting the guitar  400  without the use of a neck support  104  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the first side support  110  and second side support  112  support respective sides of the guitar  400 . In addition, the rear support  108  supports a back portion of the guitar  400  and the front support  106  supports a front portion of the guitar  400 . When a user positions the guitar  400  into the base  102 , the user can recline the guitar  400  towards the rear of the base  102  so that the front portion of the guitar  400  is leveraged against the front support  106  and the back portion of the guitar  400  is leveraged against the back support  108 . In this manner, the base  102  can securely hold the guitar  400  in a slightly reclined, upright stance. 
       FIG. 7  shows the stand  100  in a storage configuration in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In the storage configuration, the stand  100  can be easily transportable and can be conveniently stacked on top of other stands. To place the stand  100  in the storage configuration, the support neck  104  can be positioned across the base  102 , between the front support  106  and rear support  108 , with the latch  128  contacting the second side support  112  and the pin  126  contacting the first side support  110 . Advantageously, the latch  128  is magnetically fastened to the second side support  112  and the pin  126  is magnetically fastened to the first side support  110 . In addition, the pin  126  can be located in the notch  122  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In one embodiment, the support neck  104  has sufficient magnetic attraction to the base  102  so that a user need only grasp the support neck  104  to carry the stand  100  while in its storage configuration. 
     In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, the non-magnetic sections of the base  102  and support neck  104  can be made of a wide variety of materials, including plastic, metal, wood, or the like. In addition, all or a portion of the base  102  and support neck  104 , including any magnetic portions, can be encapsulated with a dampening material. The dampening material can serve to cushion a guitar held in the stand  100 , as well as reduce the likelihood of damaging a guitar when the guitar is placed in the stand  100 . The dampening material can also provide durability to the stand  100  and can reduce the likelihood of damage caused by the stand  100  hitting other objects (e.g. cars, upholstery, walls and flooring) during transport. The dampening material can be a plastic or rubberized material. In one embodiment, the stand  100  is encapsulated with a lining supplied by Rhino Linings USA Inc. It is understood, however, that any suitable rubber, plastic, cloth or other type of material, or combination of materials, capable of providing a cushion and/or protective layer completely or at least partially covering the stand may be utilized in accordance with the present invention. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not of limitation. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. Additionally, the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations. It should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. 
     For example, although much of this disclosure describes use of the stand  100  in terms of holding the guitar  400 , other types of guitars, including both electric and acoustic guitars, can be used with embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, as should be understood, guitars vary in size. Accordingly, the dimensions of the stand  100  can be varied according to the size of the particular guitar that is to be held in the stand  100 . The scope of the present invention is also not limited to the various embodiments of stands being used with guitars. For example, embodiments of the present invention can be sized to hold other string instruments, such as violins, banjos, ukuleles, violas and basses. Embodiments of the present invention can also be sized to hold other types of musical instruments, as well as other objects, including various consumer products. Thus, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the illustrated size, but, instead, the embodiments of the present invention can have various dimensions, depending upon the desired application.