# US 2021/0241728 A1 · Violin/viola wearable support > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241728 A1 - Document ID: US20210241728A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/781,904 - Filed: 2020-02-04 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-04 - Inventors: Curt Dennis Homan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241728A1 ## CPC - G10G 5/005: {while playing, e.g. cord, strap or harness (rests or guards as part of the instruments, see the particular instruments, e.g. G10D3/18)} - G10D 1/02: Bowed or rubbed string instruments, e.g. violins or hurdy-gurdies - G10D 3/18: Chin-rests, hand-rests, shoulder rests or guards being removable from, or integral with the instrument - G10G: REPRESENTATION OF MUSIC; RECORDING MUSIC IN NOTATION FORM; ACCESSORIES FOR MUSIC OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. SUPPORTS (music stands A47B; non-musical aspects of musical toy instruments A63H5/00; metronomes G04F5/02; teaching music G09B15/00) - G10D: STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H) ## Abstract The wearable support article contains a clamping mechanism, an orienting mechanism, and a support mechanism. These components are combined to support an instrument, such as a viola or violin, when is it being played by a musician. The clamping mechanism attaches the article to the instrument. The orienting mechanism attaches to the clamping mechanism, providing an orientation support platform upon which the clamping mechanism and thus the instrument will be held. The support mechanism of the entire wearable support article provides a loop that is worn by the musician while playing the instrument, and a peg or sleeve attached to the loop allows the instrument to be put up or down at will by the player during a performance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wearable support device for providing hands-free support of an instrument comprising a viola and a violin; the wearable support device comprises: a clamping mechanism comprising: two upper clamp pieces, each with a paddle-like head that forms a slightly acute angle with a tubular and interiorly threaded body, a bend between a head and a body of an upper clamp piece being a neck and thus a back of the neck being an obtuse angle; a lower clamp piece with a flat part whose edges approximate a curve of a lower end of the instrument; a pair of flange-like parts, one on each side of the lower clamp piece, angled slightly upward from the flat part of the lower clamp piece; a pair of holes, one in each of the flange-like parts; a slot running a length of an underside of the lower clamp piece; and a bolt attached by a rectangular head in the slot; a pair of screws that pass upward through the pair of holes of the lower clamp piece and have threads that are mated with the interior threads of tubular bodies of the two upper clamp pieces, permitting the two screws to join the lower clamp piece to the upper clamp pieces; an orienting mechanism comprising: an attachment nut whose threads are mated to threads of a bolt on the underside of the lower clamp piece; a casing fused to the attachment nut and composed of a slightly more than hemispherical part and a semi-cylindrical part; a ball, more than half of which is housed in the more than hemispherical part of the casing; a support mechanism comprising: a rigid loop, fitted with a hinge and clasp, that is worn around a neck of a musician, permitting the wearable support to be worn by the musician playing the instrument; a medallion through which the rigid loop passes allowing the medallion to rotate; a retaining device that fixes the medallion in a selected position, preventing the medallion from rotating; and one or more attachment points on the medallion and the rigid loop that accommodate various means of connection to the musician. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wearable support device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises: a bracket-shaped piece is connected by its ends to the backs of the necks of the upper clamp pieces, the length of the long segment of the bracket being the lateral distance between the connected necks of the upper clamp pieces; a rectangular piece having a slot running a length of an underside surface; a bolt retained by its a rectangular head in the slot; and a lower clamp piece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The wearable support device according to claim 2, wherein one or more parts of the clamping mechanism that come into contact with the instrument comprise an interfacial material enabling traction between the one or more parts of the clamping mechanism and the instrument yet protecting the instrument from damage by the clamping mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The wearable support device according to claim 2, wherein the orienting mechanism further comprises: a ball being held in place by tightening the casing; and the casing comprises two parts: an outer-threaded upper piece that houses the ball and has attached to its top side a nut that mates with the bolt in the clamping mechanism; and a lower piece with a central hole, the central hole having interior threads that mate to the exterior threads of the upper casing piece, and which the lower piece retains a swivel ball in the casing and fixes the swivel ball in place. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wearable support device according to claim 1, wherein the orientating mechanism further comprises: the ball being a radially perforated ball, more than half of which is housed in the more than hemispherical part of the casing; a spring-loaded pin that engages a plurality of perforations in the radially perforated ball and is housed in the cylindrical part of the casing; and a lever on the cylindrical part of the casing controlling the spring-loaded pin; and a sleeve or hollow rod attached radially to the radially perforated ball and projecting away from the attachment nut. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein the swivel ball is held in place by a screw. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein the orienting mechanism utilizes an adjustable friction hinge for a joint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein a peg projects radially from the swivel ball. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein the rigid loop is adjustable in its length by opposing segments that are telescopic. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein the rigid loop comprises one of a plurality of lengths and thicknesses. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein the rigid loop being irregularly shaped in order to prevent its rotation around the player's neck when bearing the weight of the instrument. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein the support mechanism is made of material rigid enough to support the instrument yet shapeable to the contours of the musician's body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein the rigid loop is padded with cushioning material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein the medallion having a rotatable shape, the rotatable shape comprises sleeve and ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The wearable support device according to claim 4, wherein the medallion further comprises a sleeve and hollow rod.