Support apparatus and methods for one or more items
AssigneeUltimate Support Systems, Inc.
InventorJonathan Workman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Inventive musical instrument support apparatus and methods relative to independently inventive aspects of support technology. One aspect of the inventive technology may be directed to a collapsible musical instrument stand such as a guitar stand that includes a support element that exhibits an enhanced low profile in a retracted mode. Another aspect of the invention may focus on provision of the capability of simultaneous deployment and retraction of an assembly of multiple musical instrument supports upon reconfiguration of only one of the supports. Inventive musical instrument support stands may include either or both of the individually inventive aspects.
Claims59
A musical instrument support apparatus, comprising:
- a first support element;
- and
- at least one second support element that is:
- pivotally movable relative to said first support element;
- reconfigurable from a deployed, support mode to a retracted mode;
- and
- adapted to contact a musical instrument
- wherein said at least one second support element comprises two second support element members that define a first angle when said at least one second support element is in said deployed, support mode and a second angle when said second support element is in said retracted mode,
- wherein said second angle is less than said first angle;
- and
- further comprising:
- an angle change element that effects a change in the angle defined by said two second support element members between said first angle and second angle when said second support element is moved between said deployed, support mode and said retracted mode;
- and
- a deployed, support mode lock element that locks said at least two support elements in said deployed, support mode.
A musical instrument support method, comprising the steps of:
- grasping a musical instrument supported by a collapsible musical instrument support apparatus having a first support element and at least one second support element, each of which itself:
- is reconfigurable from a deployed, support mode to a retracted mode, and
- comprises two second support element members;
- removing said musical instrument from said musical instrument support apparatus while said at least one second support element is in said deployed, support mode;
- reconfiguring said at least one second support element from said deployed, support mode to said retracted mode,
- reducing an angle defined by said two second support element members while performing said step of reconfiguring.
59-104. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.