Patent Application
20110107896
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a harp stand or support, and more particularly, not by way of limitation, to an improved harp stand or harp support assembly for maintaining a harp in a playable position.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
When playing a harp, a harpist is seated behind the body/soundboard of the harp. The harp body is leaned or angled back toward the harpist and rested against the harpist's shoulder. Typically, conventional harps can weigh between 75 and 90 pounds. The weight of the harp against the shoulder of the harpist over a period of years, when practicing and performing, can take a toll on the body of the harpist by causing muscle and/or nerve damage to the shoulder or damage to other body parts of the harpist.
To this end, to alleviate the weight of the harp from the shoulder of the harpist, a harp support assembly is provided which functions to enhance the use of the harp and to maintain and improve the health of the body of a harpist over years of playing the harp. It is to such a harp support assembly that the present invention is directed.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
It is contemplated that the harp support assembly 10 is constructed from various components, however, it should be understood that the harp support assembly 10 may be constructed from various components or from one solid piece of material. The harp support assembly 10 is preferably made of a durable and rigid material which is strong enough to support the weight of a harp. Suitable materials for construction of the harp support assembly 10 and components thereof include polymeric materials, plastics, metals such as aluminum, steel, titanium, magnesium or alloys containing these metals, composite materials, various wood(s) and the like which are capable of providing the desired strength and durability for the harp support assembly 10.
Referring now to
The post assembly 30 includes a post 36 having a first end 38 and a second end 40. An extension member 41 is telescopingly connected to the post 36 at the first end 38, however, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the extension member 41 may be connected to the post 36 by any means known in the art for connecting one item to another. The extension member 41 is telescopically received by the post 36 and is telescopically extended to the desired length selected by the harpist 11 by a connector 42. The extension member 41 is adjustable to various heights as desired by the harpist 11.
The base assembly 32 is positioned near the second end 40 of the post 36 of the post assembly 30. The base assembly 32 is positioned on a support surface, such as the ground, a stage, etc. The base assembly 32 includes a plurality of legs 50 (50a, 50b, and 50c), a plurality of arms 52 (52a, 52b and 52c), a first attachment member 54 and a second attachment member 56. Each of the plurality of legs 50 has a first end 58, a second end 60, and a first portion 62 and a second portion 64 provided in a substantially eight-shaped configuration. Each first end 58 of each of the plurality of legs 50 are connected to the first attachment member 54 in a tripod configuration. Although it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the plurality of legs 50 may be provided in any number and any variety of configurations, such as square, rectangular, circular, and the like, so long as the plurality of legs 50 functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The base assembly 32 is adjustable to various heights as desired by the harpist 11. The first attachment member 54 is disposed about the post 36 and axially positions and simultaneously attaches each of the plurality of legs 50 to the post 36.
The first attachment member 54 is joined with the first end 58 of each of the plurality of legs 50 by respective pivot pins, such that each of plurality of legs 50 can pivot freely inwardly and outwardly with respect to the post 36. The first attachment member 54 is disposed about the post 36 and is capable of being moved along and about the post 36 allowing the spread of each of the plurality of legs 50 and also enables the plurality of legs 50 to be folded inward after use of the harp support assembly 10. A connector is provided between the first attachment member 54 and the post 36 for adjusting and fixing the first attachment member 54 to the post 36.
One end 70 (70a, 70b and 70c) of each of the plurality of arms 52 is pivotally connected to a portion of a corresponding leg 50 of the plurality of legs 50. The other end 72 (72a, 72b, 72c) of each of the plurality of arms 52 is pivotally connected to the second attachment member 56 with a pin. The second attachment member 56 which is disposed about the post 36 axially positions each of the plurality of arms 52 to the post 36 with the first attachment member 54 and each of the plurality of legs 50 which corresponds to each of the plurality of arms 52. The second attachment member 56 is capable of being slid along the post 36.
Referring to
Referring now to
In
Referring to
The base assembly 124 is positioned near the second end 132 of the rod 128 of the post assembly 122. The base assembly 124 includes a plurality of legs 134 (134a, 134b, and 134c), a plurality of arms 136 (136a, 136b and 136c), a first attachment member 138 and a second attachment member 140. Each of the plurality of legs 134 has a first end 142, a second end 144, and a first portion 146 and a second portion 148 provided in a substantially eight-shaped configuration. Each first end 142 of each of the plurality of legs 134 are connected to the first attachment member 138 in a tripod configuration. Although it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the plurality of legs 134 may be provided in any number and any variety of configurations, such as square, rectangular, circular, and the like, so long as the plurality of legs 134 functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. Further, it should be understood that although the harp support assembly 120 is discussed having first and second attachment member 134 and 136, the harp support assembly 120 may be configured to have at least one attachment member. The first attachment member 138 is disposed about the rod 128 and axially positions and simultaneously attaches each of the plurality of legs 134 to the rod 128. The base assembly 124 is adjustable to position the harp support assembly 120 at various heights as desired by a harpist.
The first attachment member 138 is joined with the first end 142 of each of the plurality of legs 134 by respective pivot pins, such that each of plurality of legs 134 can pivot freely inwardly and outwardly with respect to the rod 128. The first attachment member 138 is disposed about the rod 128 and is capable of being moved along and about the rod 128 allowing the spread of each of the plurality of legs 134 and also enables the plurality of legs 134 to be folded inward after use of the harp support assembly 120. The plurality of legs 134 are selectively movable between an open position in which the plurality of legs 134 are spaced apart and a closed position in which the plurality of legs 134 are adjacent one another. A set screw is provided between the first attachment member 138 and the rod 128 for axial adjustment and fixing purposes.
One end 150 (150a, 150b and 150c) of each of the plurality of arms 136 is pivotally connected to a portion of a corresponding leg 134 of the plurality of legs 134. The other end 152 (152a, 152b, 152c) of each of the plurality of arms 136 is pivotally connected to the second attachment member 140 with a pin. The second attachment member 140 which is disposed about the rod 128 axially positions each of the plurality of arms 136 to the rod 128 with the first attachment member 138 and each of the plurality of legs 134 which corresponds to each of the plurality of arms 136. The second attachment member 140 is capable of being slid along the rod 128.
The harp support member 126 includes an extension member 158, a first support arm 160, a second support arm 162 and a stabilizing member 164. The extension member 158 has a first end 166 and a second end 168 such that the first end 166 of the extension member 158 is rotatably connected to the first end 130 of the rod 128. The extension member 158 of the harp support member 126 is shown rotatably connected to the rod 128 with a connector 170, however, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the extension member 158 may be connected to the rod 128 by any method known in the art for connecting one thing to another. The harp support member 126 is rotatably movable between a first direction in which the harp support member 126 is moved toward the surface and an opposing second direction in which the harp support member 126 is moved away from the surface. The connector 170 fixes the harp support member 126 in the selected position. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that although the harp support member 126 is shown herein to be connected to a post assembly 122 and a base assembly 124, the harp support member 126 may be configured to be mounted alone to a bench, chair or some other such support apparatus so as to be used by a harpist for supporting a harp as described herein.
The first and second support arms 160 and 162 are substantially spaced apart in a semi-circular-shaped configuration which provides a harp receiving space 166. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that although the harp support member 126 is shown in a semi-circular shape, any shape may be utilized for receiving the harp 12, such as u-shaped, v-shaped, semi-spherical, semi-triangular, semi-square and the like, so long as the configuration of the harp support member 126 functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The first and second support arms 160 and 162 of the harp support member 126 may be coated or made from rubber or some other elastomeric material which allows the harp support member 126 to come in contact with the harp 12 without damaging the harp 12.
The stabilizing member 164 extends into the harp receiving space 166 from a portion of the first and second support arms 160 and 162 or the extension member 158 so as to stabilize the harp 12 when the harp 12 is positioned in the harp receiving space 166. The stabilizing member 164 may vary in length depending on the size of harp 12. The stabilizing member 164 of the harp support member 126 may be coated or made from rubber or some other elastomeric material which allows the harp support member 126 to come in contact with the harp 12 without damaging the harp 12.
Referring now to
In use of the harp support assembly 10, the post 36 of the post assembly 30 is positioned perpendicular to the ground between the legs of the harpist 11. The first and second attachment members 54 and 56 are moved along the post 36 which moves each of the plurality of legs 50 and pivots each corresponding arm 52 to a position and desired height below the height of the knee of the harpist 11. A screw is then tightened for fixing the first and second attachment members 54 and 56 to provide the desired height of the harp support member 80. The harpist 11 tilts the harp 12 and pivots the harp support member 80 such that a portion of the body 22 of the harp 12 is positioned in the harp receiving space 88 and the harp support member 80 is fixed in the desired playable position.
In use of the harp support assembly 120, each of the plurality of legs 134 is opened in an expanded position. The harp support assembly 120 is positioned in between the legs of the harpist 11. The rod 128 is positioned to the desired height by the harpist 11 and fixed. The harp support member 126 is rotated to the desired positioned. The harp 12 is tilted toward the harpist 11 in a playable position such that the harp 12 is positioned in the harp receiving space 166 and the stabilizing member 164 is disposed into one of the openings 23 of the harp 12. The harp support assembly 120 may be moved into a collapsible position. In the collapsible position, the first and second attachment members 138 and 140 are slid along the rod 128 in a position so that the plurality of legs 134 are collapsed. Each component of the harp support assembly 120 may be detachable connected if so desired by the harpist. The collapsed harp support assembly 120 is easier for the harpist 11 to carry. A bag may be provided for storing and transporting the harp support assembly 120.
From the above description, it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed.
