Patent Application
20230005456
The present invention relates to supports for wind instruments.
Generally, a wind instrument is a wind instrument in which generates sound by vibrating air in a tube by a player blowing into (or over) a mouthpiece. Clarinets, oboes, and English horns are examples of wind instruments.
Supporting the weight of the wind instrument by hand, e.g. by musician's thumb, is burdensome and may cause physical issues and trouble over time. Pain and physical conditions may be caused for musicians over time when the weight of the instrument is on the thumb. Such continued strain is problematic particularly for younger musicians, and may lead to reduced playing time or incorrect playing positions. Breathing and blowing may suffer from inappropriate playing position or undue strain. Neck supports have been developed, but they can reduce the weight only to some extent. Wind instrument supports leaning against floor or chair have also been developed. However, there is a need for improvements in supporting wind instruments, which cause minimal effects or limitations when playing the instrument.
According to some aspects, there is provided the subject-matter of the independent claims. Some embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
According to an aspect, there is provided a wind instrument apparatus, comprising: an attachment element configured to attach the apparatus to a wind instrument, a spring structure attached to or comprised by the attachment element, and a support bar. The support bar is partially insertable into the elastic structure and the apparatus comprises a fastening mechanism configured to selectively fasten the support bar in relation to the elastic structure, so that the flexibility of the attachment element is adjustable in relation to the support bar.
There is now provided a wind instrument support apparatus, which allows further freedom of movement for a user playing a wind instrument attached to the support. This is achieved by an elastic or flexible portion in the support, in some embodiments a spring structure, enabling the user to change the orientation of the wind instrument in relation to a rigid portion of the support, which may be against a chair, floor, further support portion, or musician's leg, for example. For example, the musician may move in various ways, e.g. lean forward, backwards, or sidewards, perform back and forth movement, perform circular movement, etc. The flexibility level is adjustable according to the musician's personal preference. The wind instrument support apparatus may be designed for, and adapted to be attached to, at least one of a clarinet, an oboe, an English horn, a saxophone, a recorder/fipple flute, or an electronic wind instrument (EWI), for example.
The support bar 30 is substantially rigid and partially insertable into the spring structure 10. The apparatus 1 comprises a fastening mechanism to selectively fasten the support bar 30 in relation to the spring structure 10, to selectively adapt the flexibility of the attachment element 20 in relation to the support bar 30 according to the musician's preference. In other words, the musician may, by adjusting the position of the bar in relation to the spring structure, configure or adapt the flexibility of the support apparatus 1.
The spring structure may comprise or be connected to a sleeve 12 via which the bar 30 may be moved into the spring structure. The spring of the spring structure 10 is mounted on the sleeve 12. The sleeve may provide support for fastening the bar in relation to the spring structure. In the present example embodiment, the fastening mechanism comprises a clamping screw 11 arranged in the sleeve 12. The musician may set and secure upper portion of the flexibility of the support apparatus 1 by fastening the bar 30 at a desired position in relation to the spring structure 10 by engaging the clamping screw onto the bar.
In
The present wind instrument support apparatus 1 facilitates in a beneficial manner that the instrument can better and genuinely move with upper body movement of the musician. The apparatus provides improved freedom of movement without or with reduced restraint or weight. This enables to substantially reduce limiting effect and feeling of the support to the musician in comparison to a conventional support, while still reducing burden on the musician's musculature and facilitating relaxed playing. Hence, improved ergonomics are provided, which reduces the risk of injury due to e.g. long-term repetitive strain.
The attachment element 20 may comprise a channel 23, illustrated by broken line, for receiving the support bar through the spring structure to suppress the flexibility of the attachment element in relation to the support bar. In
The at least one spring of the spring structure 10 may be of metal, e.g. steel, or another appropriate material of thickness facilitating to achieve desired flexibility, and capable of maintaining its properties during use of the apparatus 1 supporting the weight of the instrument and continued bending of the instrument in relation to the bar 30. Some examples of spring types are coiled springs, helical springs, cantilever springs, volute springs, and cushion-type springs. Leaf springs may be elliptic, semi-elliptic, parabolic or other types of leaf spring. For example, a coiled spring of steel wire having diameter between 1-3 mm, such as 2 mm, may be applied. The spring may be attached to the attachment element 20 and/or the sleeve 12 by adhesive bonding, soldering, welding, or another suitable joining method.
The bar 30, sleeve 12, and/or the clamping screw 11 may be of steel or plastic, for example. The bar may have diameter between 0.5-1.0 cm, such as 0.6, 0.7, or 0.8 mm, for example. The spring structure 10 may have length (B direction) in the range of 25-75 mm, in some further embodiments between 60-75 mm, such as 70 mm, for example. Outside diameter of the spring structure 10 may be between 12-25 mm, in some embodiments between 15-21 mm, such as 18 mm, for example. The number of coils may be between 5-10, such as 7, for example. The B direction length of the sleeve 12 may be e.g. in the range of 0.5-3 cm. For example, when in the position of
It will be understood that different lengths of the apparatus and the bar 30 can be used to provide instrument stands adapted for players of different heights or having different playing styles. In some embodiments, the length of apparatus 1 is adjustable, by the length of the bar being adjustable, or by having a further leg portion with adjustable length. A telescopic leg portion or sliding shafts with a twist locking mechanism for selecting a desired length can be utilized.
The apparatus 1 may further comprise a flexible tube at or within the elastic portion. As illustrated in the example of
In the example of
The attachment element 20 can be considered as penguin-shape, but it will be appreciated that various other shapes may be applied. The attachment element may be made of plastic, and the clamping device may comprise steel, for example.
The apparatus 1 may further comprise a fastener to fasten a neck strap or other type of further support (not shown). The fastener may be attached to the sleeve 12 and may comprise a ring, for example. A neck support may be preferred by some musicians, to provide further stability and touch for controlling the instrument. Such further fastener does not affect functioning of the upper spring structure as such.
The apparatus 1 and the bar 30 thereof may further comprise or be connected to a further support unit. The further support unit may form other end of the complete wind instrument support structure and be held against chair or musician leg(s) during a playing position. Various structures are available for the further support unit and for engaging the bar 30 to the further support unit. In an example embodiment, the further support unit comprises a hollow portion into which the other end of the bar 30 is inserted, and a fastening mechanism, e.g. a thumb wheel, to engage the bar to the support unit at desired position. The overall desired height position of the instrument may be thus adjusted by the further support, and the spring structure 10 next to the attachment element 20 and close to the instrument provides the flexibility and freedom of movement for musician at upper portion of the entire support structure. An end portion of rubber of other non-slip, high friction material may be included to enable non-slipping support.
In another example embodiment, the further support unit comprises a (male/female) threaded portion at one end and the bar 30 comprises a (female/male) threaded portion in a hollow portion at the end of the bar 30, which allows the further support unit to be inserted into the end of the bar 30 and fastened therein by tightening the further support unit to the bar 30.
The apparatus may further comprise a further elastic portion, or suspension element, to provide flexibility in vertical direction (illustrated by arrow B in
In a still further example, the spring structure 10 may comprise a conical spring, and/or a spring with coils having at least two different distances between coils distances, i.e. differing coil density.
It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.
Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Where reference is made to a numerical value using a term such as, for example, about or substantially, the exact numerical value is also disclosed.
As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the preceding description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, that is, a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.
