Guitar or similar musical instrument comprising a detachable body support

Abstract

musical instrument including a removable guitar body having a front side arranged to bear at least one string, a frame-shaped body support comprising a plurality of supporting elements, and at least one supporting element arranged as a bracing element positionable between two opposite supporting elements of the frame-shaped body support. releasable connection elements are arranged to releasably connect the guitar body to the support body and to the at least one supporting element. The plurality of supporting elements are removably couplable to each other to fold the frame-shaped body support into a space saving unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a with shows supporting elements pushed together, and

FIG. 18 shows the cross section over the linkage point of the linkage point shown in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In FIG. 1, an electrical guitar 1 having a removable body support 2 is illustrated. The electric guitar can be any type of guitar, for example a ukulele, bass guitar etc. The guitar body 3 of the electric guitar 1 is flat and narrow and bears the strings 4 of the electric guitar 1 on its front side. FIG. 2 shows the side view of the electric guitar 1. A tone-detecting device 5 (only indicated roughly in FIG. 2) is accommodated in the interior of the guitar body 3. The strings 4 are secured to the upper end of the electric guitar 1. A tuning and clamping device 6 for each string 4 is situated at the lower end of the electric guitar 1. The tuning and clamping device 6 is not described in greater detail here; any known device can be selected for this purpose.

The guitar body 3 of the electric guitar 1 can be kept relatively short with strings 4 secured to the upper end and by the strings 4 guided at the lower end through a tuning and clamping device 6. In order to be able to play this electric guitar 1 in a manner such that it bears against the body, a body support 2, which is suitable for packing for traveling, is necessary. The body support 2 projects beyond the end of the guitar body 3 so that the plucking position of the guitar lies at the ergonomically correct position with regard to the end of the body support 2 bearing against the body. The assembled body support 2 is an independent, rigid unit. The body support 2 can be detached, for packing for traveling, from the guitar body 3 of the electric guitar 1 (which can be seen in FIG. 2), as FIG. 3 shows. The fastening elements between the guitar body 3 of the electric guitar 1 and the removable body support 2 are described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.

FIG. 4 shows a cut-out of the guitar body 3 of the electric guitar 1 with a screwed-on securing plate 7 which has a keyhole opening.

FIG. 5 illustrates the cross section of this arrangement. The recess 8 in the guitar body 3, which recess lies behind the securing plate 7, is readily visible here. In FIG. 6, the arrangement just described is illustrated together with part of the removable body support 2. The interaction of the fastening elements can be seen in the cross-sectional drawing in FIG. 7. Fastened to the removable body support 2 is a cap screw 9 whose cap grips behind the keyhole opening in the securing plate 7 after being pushed in. A spring pad 10 present under the cap of the screw 9 ensures a snug connection between the securing plate 7 and cap screw 9. The body support 2 can thereby be fastened to the guitar body 3 of the electric guitar 1 in an easily removable manner, as is also indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 8 shows a body support 2 detached from the electric guitar 1, in plan view. This body support 2 is composed of a plurality of rigid, rod-shaped supporting elements 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Releasable plug-in connections are present between the individual supporting elements 11, 12; 12, 13; 13, 14; 11, 14; and 11, 18 which are designed as tubes. The supporting element 15 lies between the two lateral supporting elements 11 and 13 and serves here as a bracing element. This supporting element 15 can be fastened to the guitar body 3 by the releasable connecting elements 7, 9 and thereby ensures that the part of the body support 2 which projects beyond the guitar body 3 has sufficient stability. After release of the plug-in connections, the body support 2 can be folded up into a space-saving unit (illustrated in FIG. 9) for transportation. A carrying strap (not illustrated) for the electric guitar 1 can be connected to the peg 30, which is attached to the body support 2, and to the end 31 of the supporting element 11. The carrying strap, which can be fastened to that part of the body support 2 which projects beyond the guitar body 3, ensures the ergonomically correct position of the plucking position of the guitar 1 when playing while standing up.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show plug-in connections in section. The plug-in connection which can be seen in FIG. 10 lies between two adjacent supporting elements 12 and 13. The plug-in connection is secured by a snug fit. Fastened in the two hollow spaces in the tubular supporting elements 12, 13 are the two ends of a cord 16 which, after the plug-in connection is released, keeps the supporting elements 12, 13 spaced apart next to one another in a non-confusable and captive manner. After release of the plug-in connections, the cords 16 keep those end regions of the tubular supporting elements 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 which go together for a plug-in connection stuck loosely to one another. An elastic cord 16 makes it easier to work with the supporting elements 11 to 15 when detached from one another. By this measure, when the body support 2 is re-assembled it is not necessary to search for the halves of each plug-in connection which go together. In FIG. 11, the plug-in connection between the tubular supporting elements 11 and 14 is illustrated in section. The tube end of the supporting element 14 is provided with a resilient snap-in projection 17. The snap-in projection 17 grips behind the edge of the hole in the supporting element 11 and thereby secures the plug-in connection against slipping apart.

FIG. 12 shows a further design variant of the body support 18. This body support 18 is composed of the supporting elements 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. The supporting element 23 serves again as a bracing element between the two opposite, lateral supporting elements 19, 21 of the body support 18. This stable body support 18 is fastened to the guitar body 3 by the releasable connections 7, 9. FIG. 13 shows this body support 18 in the folded-up state ready for transportation. The rigid, rod-shaped supporting elements 19 to 23 are fastened to one another partly by link joints 24, 25 which can be folded in the plane of the frame-shaped body support 18 and, partly by plug-in connections 26, 27, 28, 29. The plug-in connections 26, 27, 28, 29 are designed similarly to the way illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 and also described there with reference to these figures. A carrying strap (not illustrated) for the electric guitar 1 can be connected to the peg 32, attached to the supporting element 20, and to the end 33 of the supporting element 19. The peg 32, which is attached to the body support 18 and is used for the carrying-strap fastening, does not bear against the guitar body 3 and therefore, when the guitar body 3 is comparatively short, can fulfil the ergonomic conditions for the carrying strap. The link joint 24 is shown in longitudinal section in FIG. 14 and in cross section in FIG. 15. The link joint 25 is of similar design. The rod-shaped supporting elements 19 and 20 (shown in FIG. 14) are formed such that they overlap and are held together in an articulated manner by a rivet 28.

In FIGS. 16, 17, and 18, a further, releasable connection between two supporting elements 26, 27 is illustrated. A link joint having the linkage point 28 is arranged between the supporting elements 26, 27. The supporting element 26 contained a closely fitting peg 29 which constitutes an extension of the supporting element 26. The other supporting element 27 is extended as far as the linkage point 28 by the slide 30 which can be displaced longitudinally in the supporting element 27. The stop 31, which is fastened in the supporting element 27, prevents the supporting elements 26 and 27 from unintentionally sliding apart.

After being pulled part, the supporting elements 26 and 27 can, as is illustrated in FIG. 16, be folded in a plane about the linkage point 28. A body support (not illustrated in greater detail) having releasable connections of this type between the supporting elements 26, 27 can be folded up in a plane in a simple manner. When the body support is used, the supporting elements 26, 27 are pushed together until they come into contact, as is shown in FIG. 17. In this state, the linkage point 28 is concealed in the supporting element 27. The tubular supporting elements 26 and 27 butt against one another in an infinitely variable manner, guided by the slide 30 and stop 31 lying within them, and give a visually advantageous impression. The peg 29 lying in the tubular supporting element 26 and the slide 30 which is connected thereto confer an advantageous flexural strength on the butt-jointed connecting point. This arrangement is a favorable combination of a plug-in connection with a link connection.

Claims

1. A musical instrument comprising:

a removable guitar body having a front side arranged to bear at least one string;

a frame-shaped body support comprising a plurality of supporting elements;

at least one supporting element arranged as a bracing element positionable between two opposite supporting elements of said frame-shaped body support;

releasable connection elements arranged to releasably connect said guitar body to said body support and to said at least one supporting element,

wherein said plurality of supporting elements are removably couplable to each other to fold said frame-shaped body support into a space saving unit; and

wherein, when said musical instrument is in use, said plurality of supporting elements are arranged to form an ergonomic shape connected to said guitar body.

2. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, said removable guitar body comprising a substantially flat shape and being more narrow than a width of said frame-shaped body support body when said removable guitar body is coupled to said frame-shaped body support body , and said plurality of support supporting elements comprising a plurality of molded, substantially rigid, rod-shaped elements.

3. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of supporting elements comprising tubes which can be fitted into one another.

4. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of said plurality of supporting elements are fastened to one another by link joints which can be folded in a plane of said frame-shaped body support and another portion of said support plurality of supporting elements are fastened to each other by plug-in connections.

5. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one cord which runs through said frame-shaped support body so that, when the coupling between said support plurality of supporting elements are is removed, a connection between the support said plurality of supporting elements remains via said at least one cord.

6. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 5, wherein said at least one cord is fastened in two hollow spaces in end regions of support, said plurality of supporting elements which can be fitted into one another, and wherein said removable coupling is a plug-in connection.

7. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 5, wherein said cords are at least one cord is elastic.

8. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a link joint positioned between two supporting elements, said link joint having a linkage point, such that, when said frame-shaped body support body is opened arranged to support said removable guitar body, said link joint is pushed into end regions of said two supporting elements, and, when said frame-shaped body support body is being folded up, said two supporting elements are pulled apart until said link joint is exposed between said end regions.

9. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a stop provided in at least one of two mutually facing support supporting elements,

wherein, when said frame-shaped body support body is folded up, said stop permits said linkage point to be pulled out, but prevents said two mutually facing supporting elements from sliding apart.

10. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, said at least one releasable connection comprising connection elements, one of the connection elements comprising a screw cap coupled to said frame-shaped body support and another of the connection elements comprising a recess coupled to said resonance box removable guitar body and adapted to receive a said screw cap coupled to said frame-shaped body support body .

11. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, said at least one releasable connection elements comprising a recess coupled to said removable guitar body and adapted to receive a screw cap coupled to said at least one supporting element.

12. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 1, said musical instrument being a guitar having a plurality of guitar strings.

13. A musical instrument comprising:

a guitar body having a front side arranged to bear at least one string;

a frame-shaped body support comprising a plurality of supporting elements;

said guitar body being removably connectable to said frame-shaped body support;

at least one of said plurality of supporting elements arranged as a bracing element positionable between two opposite supporting elements of said frame-shaped body support, said bracing element being releasably connected to said two opposite supporting elements;

said guitar body being releasably connected to the bracing element of said frame-shaped body support via at least one releasable connection,

wherein said plurality of supporting elements are removably couplable to each other, whereby said frame-shaped body support is capable of assuming a space saving arrangement; and

wherein, when said musical instrument is in use, said plurality of supporting elements are arranged to form an ergonomic shape connected to said guitar body.

14. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 13, said guitar body comprising a substantially flat shape and being more narrow than a width of said frame-shaped body support when said guitar body is coupled to said frame-shaped body support, and said plurality of supporting elements comprising a plurality of substantially rigid elements.

15. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 13, further comprising a link joint positioned between two supporting elements, said link joint having a linkage point, such that, when said frame-shaped body support is arranged to support said guitar body, said link joint is pushed into end regions of said two supporting elements, and, when said frame-shaped body support assumes the space saving arrangement, said two supporting elements are pulled apart until said link joint is exposed between said end regions.

16. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 13, wherein said frame-shaped body support comprises a connecting arrangement for connecting a carrying strap to said frame-shaped body support, whereby an ergonomically correct position of the plucking position of the musical instrument is ensured when played while standing up.

17. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 16, wherein said connecting arrangement comprises a first connection for connecting the carrying strap to one part of said frame-shaped body support and a second connection for connecting the carrying strap to another part of the frame-shaped body support.

18. The musical instrument in accordance with claim 13, said frame-shaped body support projecting beyond one end of said guitar body.

19. A musical instrument comprising:

a guitar body having a front side arranged to bear at least one string;

a frame-shaped body support comprising a plurality of supporting elements;

said guitar body being removably connectable to said frame-shaped body support;

at least one of said plurality of supporting elements arranged as a bracing element positionable between two opposite supporting elements of said frame-shaped body support;

said guitar body being releasably connected to said frame-shaped body support via at least one releasable connection;

a link joint positioned between two supporting elements, said link joint having a linkage point, such that, when said frame-shaped body support is arranged to support said guitar body, said link joint is pushed into end regions of said two supporting elements, and, when said frame-shaped body support assumes the space saving arrangement, said two supporting elements are pulled apart until said link joint is exposed between said end regions; and

a stop provided in at least one of two mutually facing supporting elements,

wherein said plurality of supporting elements are removably couplable to each other, whereby said frame-shaped body support is capable of assuming a space saving arrangement;

wherein, when said musical instrument is in use, said plurality of supporting elements are arranged to form an ergonomic shape connected to said guitar body, and

wherein, when said frame-shaped body support assumes the space saving arrangement, said stop permits said linkage point to be pulled out, but prevents said two mutually facing supporting elements from sliding apart.

20. A guitar comprising:

a guitar body having a front side arranged to bear guitar strings;

a frame-shaped body support comprising a plurality of removably connected support elements; and

said guitar body being removably connected to said frame-shaped body support,

wherein, when said guitar is not in use, said frame-shaped body support is capable of assuming a space saving arrangement, and

wherein, when said guitar is in use, said plurality of support elements are arranged to form an ergonomic shape connected to said guitar body,

wherein at least one of the plurality of support elements is arranged as a bracing element positionable between opposite sides of said frame-shaped body support, said bracing element being removably connected to said guitar body via the at least one releasable connection.

21. A guitar comprising:

a guitar body having a front side arranged to bear guitar strings;

a frame-shaped body support comprising a plurality of removably connected support elements;

said guitar body being removably connected to a bracing element that is removably connected to two oppositely arranged support elements of said frame-shaped body support;

said guitar body contacting said frame-shaped body support at different locations; and

wherein, when said guitar is not in use, said frame-shaped body support is capable of assuming a space saving arrangement, and

wherein, when said guitar is in use, said plurality of support elements are arranged to form an ergonomic shape connected to said guitar body.

22. The guitar in accordance with claim 21, wherein said frame-shaped body support contacts said guitar body at different locations.

23. A guitar comprising:

a guitar body having a front side arranged to bear guitar strings;

a frame-shaped body support comprising a plurality of support elements removably connected to each other;

one of the plurality of support elements comprising a bracing element positionable between two opposite support elements of said frame-shaped body support;

said guitar body being removably connected to said frame-shaped body support via at least one releasable connection; and

said at least one releasable connection being arranged to connect said bracing element and said guitar body;

wherein, when said guitar is not in use, said frame-shaped body support is capable of assuming a space saving arrangement, and

wherein, when said guitar is in use, said plurality of support elements are arranged to form an ergonomic shape connected to said guitar body.

24. The guitar in accordance with claim 23, wherein said guitar body contacts said frame-shaped body support at different locations.

25. The guitar in accordance with claim 23, wherein said frame-shaped body support contacts said guitar body at different locations.