Safe instrument case and protection devices

Abstract

A violin or viola case alleviates potential damage pathways by including one or more protective features. In one aspect, a safety device knocks down the bridge upon the occurrence of crushing contact, impact with the lid of the case or sharp movement. The safety device may be part of the case, or may be provided as an add-on attachment for an existing case. By harnessing the shock or movement to collapse the bridge when trauma to an instrument case occurs, the instrument experiences a low-impact, broad area slap against the top by the face of the bridge as it is knocked down, and collapse of the thin vertical bridge leaves free space between the instrument and the case to prevent damage upon further impact or movement. A well secures the bow in a protected recess away from the instrument. The case in another or further aspect includes parametric monitor, or monitor and control, that detects and records environmental parameters and out-of limit conditions such as temperature, humidity and impact that may affect instrument integrity. The parameters are monitored, values logged, and records displayed, preferably effecting wireless transmission of records and alarm conditions. A method of safe transport includes providing an instrument with a sacrificial bridge and transporting in a case fitted with a bridge knock-down instrument protector.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 194,874 filed on Oct. 1, 2008.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the protection of musical instruments, and more particularly, to a protective case and related features and devices thereof for securing and protecting a stringed instrument, such as a violin.BACKGROUND[0003]Because stringed musical instruments are relatively fragile and often costly, cases designed to protect musical instruments from harm have long been a necessity. Musicians commonly store, and carry, their instruments in such cases. Nevertheless, an instrument may still suffer damage while in its case. This occurs most commonly when the case comes into contact with another object or is improperly handled. In such situations, impact may cause the instrument to make damaging contact with certain portions of the case or with accessories stored therei...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]This is achieved in accordance with the instant invention by a case construction that alleviates potential damage pathways. In one aspect this is accomplished by a safety device that knocks down the bridge upon the occurrence of crushing contact or impact with the lid of the case. The safety device may be part of the case, or may be provided as an add-on attachment for an existing case. In this aspect, the instant invention is of lightweight design and can generally be used in any new or existing instrument case without altering the original shape of the case. By harnessing the shock or movement to collapse the bridge when trauma to an instrument case occurs, the instrument experiences a low-impact, broad area slap against the face of the bridge as it is knocked down, and collapse of the thin vertical bridge leaves free space between the instrument and the case so no damage occurs. Thus, the instrument is protected.

[0014]In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the protective instrument case may be configured with one or more storage wells, each sized to hold a bow, and extending longitudinally along the central body of the case parallel to and in substantially the same plane as the instrument itself, and located adjacent to, rather than above, the instrument. This positions the bows where they cannot possibly dangle or be placed to damage the instrument. It also allows the case to be constructed with a shallower outer height or profile, and permits the lid of the case to accommodate cross-members, such as an arched I-beam or contoured plate for greater crush resistance to substantially prevent collapse or downward deformation of the lid.

Problems solved by technology

Because stringed musical instruments are relatively fragile and often costly, cases designed to protect musical instruments from harm have long been a necessity.

Nevertheless, an instrument may still suffer damage while in its case.

This occurs most commonly when the case comes into contact with another object or is improperly handled.

In such situations, impact may cause the instrument to make damaging contact with certain portions of the case or with accessories stored therein.

Even without damaging contact between the case and the instrument, excessive shock or impact forces may cause cracks to form, particularly when age and / or dryness have already produced brittleness and / or dimensional changes in the wooden components and have placed portions of the instrument under tensile stress.

Some damage may occur to an instrument even when it is in its case.

Violin and viola cases as a rule are of lightweight construction for portability, and the upper surface of the instrument case, is broad and often relatively flat, thus being prone to deflect under a heavy load or strong impact.

In addition to impact or crushing damage, instruments become more susceptible to certain forms of damage from extremes of humidity or temperature, and sudden changes in temperature, and from prolonged dryness and disuse.

The padding and textile lining and / or cover of a commercial case itself affords some protection, for a short while, against changes of temperature or humidity, but this protection is limited by the low thermal mass, moisture capacity and generally small size of an instrument case.

An instrument, or an accessory such as a bow, may also suffer damage when a bow falls from its retaining mechanism and lies transverse to the instrument.

In such event, when the case is closed it may force the bow against the instrument, cracking or breaking the bow, cracking or denting the instrument, or damaging both.

Less extreme forms of contact, such as a poorly-secured bow may lead to other damage, such as scratching or pitting damage to the top surface of the instrument.

The top plate is therefore susceptible to cracking along the grain.

Since the sound post force is exerted against the underside of an arch, any such impact is likely to cause a crack to form directly over the sound post.

Such a sound post crack is among the most serious type of damage an instrument may incur.

It must be repaired with great skill in order for the instrument to play well, and the process of repair, involving a precision grafting of a matched tone wood patch is both expensive and likely to lower the perceived value of the instrument.

In fact, sound post cracks are so serious that their repair may not be worth performing at all unless the instrument is of substantial emotional, historical or monetary value.

While these features provide basic protection for the instrument, such features may still not completely prevent the case from compressing.

Furthermore, cases having these features may impose burdens of weight, awkwardness of shape and handling, or cost (in the case of advanced composites).

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