Patent Publication Number: US-11651756-B2

Title: Musical instrument case

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to carrying cases for stringed instruments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Stringed instruments are typically carried in a case. The instrument is then removed for playing, but the case must be stored or set away during play. This can be difficult when show venues are small. 
     To remedy this problem and to provide a stand further advantageously for setting the instrument in, U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,280 provides for a musical instrument case having a hinge on the top, such that the case can stand up. However, the design requires a large bracket to encompass the thickness of the case, which necessarily sets a large minimum distance required for standing up the musical instrument case. This can present a problem when the stage or playing area is small. Therefore, a case design having a small minimum distance would be advantageous. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In some respects the invention is directed to a case for a musical instrument having a receptacle defining an cavity dimensioned for receipt of an instrument, a lid sized and shaped to enclose the cavity of the receptacle, and a hinge for hingedly connecting the lid to the receptacle, the hinge having two plates connected by a hinge axle, wherein each plate is free to rotate relative to the free axle and to the receptacle and lid, and further wherein said free axle is permitted to rotate over 270 degrees. 
     In additional respects the invention is directed to a case for a musical instrument having a receptacle defining an cavity dimensioned for receipt of an instrument, a lid sized and shaped to enclose the cavity of the receptacle; and a hinge for hingedly connecting the cover to the case body, the hinge having a receptacle plate secured to the receptacle and having an axle end, a receptacle axle attached to the receptacle plate at the axle end, a first free plate having a first end and a second end, the first free plate attached at a first end to the receptacle axle, the receptacle axle capable of rotating in excess of 180 degrees, a free axle attached to the second end of the first free plate, the free axle capable of rotating in excess of 270 degrees a second free plate having a first end and a second end, the second free plate attached at the first end to the free axle, a lid axle attached to the second end of the second free plate, the lid axle capable of rotating in excess of 180 degrees, and a lid plate secured to the receptacle and having an axle end attached to the lid axle. 
    
    
     
       SUMMARY OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    is an isometric front view of a guitar carrying case constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an isometric back view of the guitar carrying case shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the guitar carrying case shown in  FIG.  1    in the closed position. 
         FIG.  4    is a side view of the guitar carrying case shown in  FIG.  1    in an open position. 
         FIG.  5    is an isometric view of the guitar carrying case shown in  FIG.  3     
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, a case  10  for a musical instrument is shown in  FIGS.  1 - 5   . For the following description of the invention, “top” and “bottom” are indicated with reference to the orientation depicted in  FIG.  1   . The case  10  may be dimensioned and used for carrying or protecting any stringed musical instrument, such as a banjo, mandolin, double bass, bass guitar, guitar, cello, fiddle, violin, viola, etc. As depicted in  FIG.  1   , the case  10  is sized for use with a guitar or bass guitar. 
     An instrument case typically has a receptacle  12  defining a cavity  16  for receiving the instrument and a lid  14  for enclosing the instrument within the case. The receptacle  12  has a back  20  and one or more raised sides  22 . The side  22  and back  20  define a receptacle edge  24 . The lid  14  has a front  26  and sides  28  dimensionally aligned with the sides  22  of the receptacle  12 , such that when closed the lid  14  and receptacle  12  substantially or fully enclose the cavity  16 . The front  26  and sides  28  define a lid edge  30 . The lid  14  may be secured to the receptacle for travel or carrying the instrument. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the lid  14  is secured to the receptacle  12  by one or more buckles or clasps  18  attached to the outside of the receptacle  12  and/or lid  14 . Other nonlimiting examples of mechanisms for securing the lid  14  to the receptacle  12  include ties or locks. 
     A hinge  32  permanently secures the lid  14  to the receptacle  12 . Referring to Figure A, the hinge  32  is shown on the “top” of the case  10 , that is, where the headstock of the stringed instrument is enclosed. While this is the preferred location of the hinge,  32 , the hinge  32  may be placed at other desired locations around the case  10 . As shown in Figure B, the hinge  32  is a triple hinge having four plates and three axles. 
     In some embodiments, the first plate or lid plate  34  is permanently secured to the front  26  of the lid  14 . A first axle or lid axle  36  is located along or near the lid edge  30 . Alternatively, the lid plate  34  may be secured to the side  28  of the lid, with the lid axle  36  located along the side  26 . In either case, the lid plate  34  is fixed to the lid  14 . 
     In a similar manner, the fourth plate or receptacle plate  38  may be permanently secured to the back  20  or the side  22  of the of the receptacle  12 . The third axle or receptacle axle  40  is located along the receptacle edge  24  or the side  22 , respectively, depending on where the receptacle plate  38  is located. 
     The second plate  42  and the third plate  44  are connected by the second axle or free axle  46 . The second plate  42  connects on its other end to the lid axle  36 . The third plate  44  connects on its other end to the receptacle axle  40 . The free axle  46  preferably has a wide range of motion. For example, the free axle  46  may be rotatable through 340 degrees, such that the second and third plates  42 ,  44  are separated by 20 degrees at its maximum rotation. Other degrees of rotation (e.g., between 270-350 degrees may also be used depending on the design of the hinge and axle. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  4 - 5   , the case  10  may be placed in a standing position by opening the lid  14  and rotating it around the hinge  32  until it is positioned behind the receptacle  12 . The free axle  46  may be rotated into a completely open position, such that the second and third plates  42 ,  44  are positioned next to each other with the minimal angle of separation permitted by the free axle  46 . In this manner, the two plates are situated adjacent to each other and draw the top end of the lid  14  substantially level or nearly level with the top end of the receptacle  12 . 
     By drawing the top of the lid  14  higher, the bottom of the lid  14  is brought closer to the bottom of the receptacle  12 , such that less space is required for standing up the case  10  in the open position than is required in prior known configurations. 
     Rubber stops  48  may be placed at the opposite end of the case  10  to increase friction and reduce the chances of sliding. However, as described above, the free axle  46  between the second and third plates  42 ,  44  allows an additional axis of rotation that draws the lid  14  closer to the receptacle  12  when in an open position. This reduces the angle between the lid and/or receptacle and the floor, such that the case  10  has a reduced tendency to slide. In some embodiments the lid  14  and receptacle  12  may be drawn together sufficiently to eliminate the need for rubber stops  48 . Alternatively buckles or clasps  18  on the bottom end of the case  10  may also be used as stops for preventing sliding. 
     A case  10  may be manufactured to open in the manner described herein. Alternatively, a preexisting case may be retrofitted to open in this manner using a kit. The kit may include a hinge  36  of the kind described herein with four plates and three axles; and a plurality of screws, bolts, or other fastening elements for securing the receptacle plate to the receptacle and the lid plate to the lid. Existing hinges on the existing case are first removed from the case. The hinge  36  is then attached to the top of the case  10  using the fastening mechanisms. 
     It should be understood that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting and that obvious modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the accompanying claims, rather than the foregoing specification, to determine the scope of the invention.