Patent ID: 8492629

Claim:
A shoulder rest for a violin or viola said shoulder rest comprising a longitudinal rest member having a first surface adapted for resting against the shoulder of a user and a second surface on the opposing side of said rest member from the first surface and projecting from said second surface at positions separated along the longitudinal axis of said rest member first and second support members themselves attached to first and second gripping members for clamping said shoulder rest to a violin or viola, the shoulder rest characterized in that a longitudinal cross-member is provided adjacent or displaced from the second surface of said rest member, which longitudinal cross-member and first and second support members together form an undercarriage to the rest member and together with the rest member form a substantially rigid box section, which longitudinal cross-member is sufficiently stretch resistant in its longitudinal direction and attached to the support members, whereby on application of pressure to the first surface of the rest member splay of the gripping members is inhibited thereby reducing the likelihood or incidence of disengagement of the shoulder rest from the instrument.