US 5,297,771 AGranted

Support assembly for standing musical instruments

OwnerMark Gilbertinventor

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Abstract

The present invention provides a standing instrument support assembly having selectively adjustable elements which substantially reduce the amount of force a musician must exert to support and balance the instrument while playing. The support assembly generally has three basic, interlocking elements which are: 1) an elongated, rigid crossbar having a clamp integrally extending from one end thereof; 2) an elongated endpin holder which pivotally and slidably connects within a longitudinally extending slot formed in the crossbar via a laterally extending screw; and 3) an elongated, rigid endpin which telescopically and slidably engages within a longitudinally extending bore in the end of the endpin holder opposite the end which engages the crossbar. The three elements may be positioned such that the endpin engages the floor at the position which is coincident with the line of action caused by the weight vector) which thereby substantially eliminates the tilting moment caused by the weight of the instrument.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A selectively adjustable support assembly for a musical instrument which rests upon the floor when being played, said instrument including a longitudinal axis extending through a body portion having a bottom wall including an anchoring element substantially centrally positioned thereon, said support assembly comprising:

a) an elongated, rigid crossbar having a longitudinal axis and first and second opposite ends, said crossbar including means at said first end thereof adapted to removably attach said crossbar to said anchoring element on said instrument with said crossbar longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular to said instrument longitudinal axis;
b) an elongated endpin holder having first and second ends, and including means pivotally connecting said endpin holder first end to said crossbar between said crossbar first and second ends, said endpin holder further including a longitudinally elongated endpin having first and second ends, said endpin first end attached to said endpin holder second end and extending colinearly outwardly from said second end thereof, said endpin second end adapted to frictionally engage said floor with said support assembly thereby raising and supporting said instrument above said floor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.