Patent Publication Number: US-2002011389-A1

Title: Method for forming a protective case for a musical instrument

Description:
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/226,401 filed Jan. 6, 1999. 
    
    
     
       [0002] The present invention relates to a protective case and more particularly, relates to a protective case for musical instruments such as a violin, viola, cello, etc.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] There are many types of protective cases known in the art for protecting musical instruments. Generally, these cases comprise an outer shell which is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material and having a lined interior into which the instrument is placed. The principle behind the construction of such cases is that the shell will protect the instrument from most minor knocks and the like while the inner lining will provide protection against scratching.  
       [0004] It is also known in the art, to provide cases which can include a wrapper to encase the musical instrument. However, again the protection is not obtained.  
       [0005] While such cases do perform the required function, it needs to be remembered that fine musical instruments such as violins, violas and cellos are made of selected woods which need to be protected from temperature extremes.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a soft insulation case cover which is designed to be placed within a conventional harder musical instrument case to help protect the instrument and keep a more even temperature.  
       [0007] To the best of Applicant&#39;s knowledge, the only soft case cover which presently exists which could possibly be utilized for insertion into a rigid case is a cover of a rectangular shape having a drawstring at the top—i.e. an arrangement which resembles that of a general purpose sack.  
       [0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a soft insulation case cover suitable for a violin or a viola and which may be utilized in conjunction with a hard case to protect the instrument from damage and from temperature extremes.  
       [0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for the manufacture of a soft protective case for a musical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:  
       [0010] a) placing a first layer and a second layer of fabric substantially in registry, each of the layers having first and second side marginal edges and first and second end marginal edges, the first and second layers having respective first faces in a face to face relationship;  
       [0011] b) securing together the first and second layers proximate the first end marginal edges;  
       [0012] c) inverting the first and second layers such that the first faces face outwardly, the first and second layers thereby forming a first section;  
       [0013] d) placing third and fourth layers of a fabric substantially in registry, each of the third and fourth layers having first and second side marginal edges and first and second end marginal edges and with first faces facing one another;  
       [0014] e) placing the first section intermediate the third and fourth layers with the first end marginal edges of all the layers being substantially in registry;  
       [0015] f) securing together the first and second side marginal edges and the first end marginal edges of each of the first, second, third and fourth layers and the second end marginal edges of the first and fourth layers while leaving a relatively small unsecured portion along one of the marginal edges;  
       [0016] g) inverting the product from step (f); and  
       [0017] h) securing together the unsecured portion.  
       [0018] According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protective case which comprises an upper section having an upper section first layer and an upper section second layer of a fabric, a first insulation layer between the upper section first layer and the upper section second layer, a lower section having a lower section first layer and a lower section second layer of a fabric, a second insulation layer intermediate the lower section first layer and the lower section second layer, the upper section and lower section being joined at side marginal edges thereof.  
       [0019] The soft protective case of the present invention may be utilized alone or in conjunction with a traditional hard case. It is specifically designed to cushion the instrument to protect the instrument from blows and also to insulate the instrument from temperature extremes.  
       [0020] The protective case of the present invention may be used with any instrument and would be sized accordingly. In particular, in the preferred embodiments, it is designed for stringed instruments such as violins, violas, cellos, etc.  
       [0021] The layers of the fabric forming the protective case may be any suitable and many such materials are known to those knowledgeable in the art. Such materials can include silks, polyesters, etc. The cushioning material likewise may be selected from those well known in the art and can include various quilted materials.  
       [0022] The means for attaching the various layers together, in the preferred embodiment, is by means of sewing. However, other attachment means may likewise be employed either alone or in conjunction with the sewing. In particular, one or more portions may utilize the hook and loop type fasteners such as those marketed under the trademark Velcro.  
       [0023] In one embodiment of the invention, one end of the protective case remains open for insertion of the instrument. Naturally, this will be the larger end. However, in certain embodiments, the other end may be left at least partially open to permit the passage of the neck of the instrument therethrough when it is desired to have the case only about the main body portion of the instrument.  
       [0024] In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the protective case is utilized in conjunction with a rigid case. The rigid case may be any suitable such as is known in the prior art. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0025] Embodiments of the cover according to the present invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:  
     [0026]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a portion of a cover according to one embodiment of the invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the complete cover of FIG. 1;  
     [0028]FIG. 3 is an exploded view similar to FIG. 1 of a further embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0029]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the complete cover of FIG. 3;  
     [0030]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a portion of a cover according to a further embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0031]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the complete cover of FIG. 5; and  
     [0032]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a cover according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0033] Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 a first embodiment of a soft insulated case cover and which is generally designated by reference numeral  10 .  
     [0034] Case cover  10  includes a first section shown in FIG. 1 and generally designated by reference numeral  12 . First section  12  includes a first fabric layer  14  which has a first face  16  and an opposed second face  18 . First layer  14  has a first side marginal edge  20 , an opposed second side marginal edge  22 , a first end marginal edge  24  and a second end marginal edge  26 .  
     [0035] A second layer  28  is located adjacent first layer  14  and having a first face  30  lying in a facing relationship with first face  16  of first layer  14 . On the other side of second layer  28 , there is a second face  32 . Second layer  28  has a first side marginal edge  34 , a second side marginal edge  36 , a first end marginal edge  38  and a second end marginal edge  40 .  
     [0036] In the exploded view of FIG. 1, there is illustrated a first insulation layer  42  which has a first side marginal edge  44 , an opposed second side marginal edge  46 , a first end marginal edge  48  and a second end marginal edge  50 .  
     [0037] First layer  14 , second layer  28  and first insulation layer  42  are of substantially identical dimensions and are arranged to be substantially in registry with one another. In this arrangement, the layers are secured together proximate first end marginal edges  24 ,  38  and  48 . In the illustrated embodiment, the three layers are stitched together from point A to point B. Subsequently, the first section  12  is inverted such that second face  18  of first layer  14  and second face  32  of second layer  28  lie in a facing relationship with first insulation layer  42  therebetween.  
     [0038] The protective case  10  is then assembled in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. In this arrangement, there is provided a third fabric layer  52  having a first face  54  and an opposed second face  56  along with a first side marginal edge  58 , a second side marginal edge  60 , a first end marginal edge  62  and a second end marginal edge  64 .  
     [0039] There is also provided a fourth layer  66  having a first planar face  68 , a second face  70 , a first side marginal edge  72 , a second side marginal edge  74 , a first end marginal edge  76  and a second end marginal edge  78 . Placed between face  68  of fourth layer  66  and first face  54  of third layer  52  is first section  12 . A second insulation layer  80  is supplied adjacent to face  56  of third layer  52 . Second insulation layer  80  has a first side marginal edge  82 , a second side marginal edge  84 , a first end marginal edge  86  and a second end marginal edge  88 .  
     [0040] The protective case is then assembled by stitching together the different layers by stitching from point C to point D. In this respect, all of first side marginal edges  20 ,  34 ,  44 ,  58 ,  72  and  82  are secured together except for a small space therebetween. In a similar fashion, the second end marginal edges and the second side marginal edges are secured together. At the first end, end marginal edges  62 ,  76  and  86  are secured together.  
     [0041] Subsequently, the assembled case is then inverted by reaching through the opening D-C such that the assembled case will then have first section  12  forming one portion of the protective cover and the combination of third layer  52  and fourth layer  66  forming the other section of the cover. Second insulation layer  80  lies between third layer  52  and fourth layer  66 . In this arrangement, it will be noted that the “first faces” form the outwardly formed faces of each of the layers—they lie adjacent to the instrument and to the exterior.  
     [0042]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a slightly modified version wherein similar reference numerals in the 100&#39;s are used for similar components and first insulation layer  142  is sized to be slightly smaller which is suitable for certain instruments. Otherwise, similar components are utilized.  
     [0043] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, reference numerals in the 200&#39;s are used for an arrangement wherein both first insulation layer  242  and second insulation layer  280  are sized to be smaller than their corresponding layers within which they are enclosed.  
     [0044]FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment wherein both of the first and second ends are left open to accommodate an instrument wherein the neck may slide through the second end of the case. Thus, arrow  92  illustrates an open first end and arrow  94  an open second end.  
     [0045] It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.