Gas-Cushioned Musical Instrument Case System

Abstract

A musical instrument case and a guitar case and a drum case with a pliable outer shell (5) and with an inflatable bladder system (22) permit protected storage and transportation of the items. The outer shell (5) may be made of woven ballistic fabric (7) with an inflator (21) and a deflator (38) internal to the outer shell (5) and may have a surface protective liner (34) between the inflatable bladder system (22) and the item for protection.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]Generally, the technology described herein relates to musical instruments, particularly musical instrument cases utilizing protective gas-pressurized chambers. More specifically, the technology involves storing and transporting a guitar, drum, or other musical instrument in a case that inflates such chambers with a gas to alter fit and protection characteristics of the storage case. The technology may be particularly suited for providing storage cases for guitars and drums with accessories included.BACKGROUND[0002]In everyday situations, it often may be desirable to transport a musical instrument from one location to another location in a case. The use of a case may perform a variety of functions, for example perhaps by providing protection of the encased instrument or more generally item from damage during transit or perhaps providing convenient grips or other handling devices to facilitate hand transport of the item.[0003]One particular application in which th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The gas-cushioned storage case system described in this patent addresses various problems faced by musicians when transporting and storing musical instruments. It provides techniques for using gas-pressurized liners to cushion and protect musical instruments, as well as adjusting the fit of the case to match the size and shape of the instrument. Additionally, the system can have multiple individual gas pressure chambers that are linked into a single gas pressure system, providing even more protection and cushioning. Overall, the gas-cushioned storage case system offers a practical solution for safely and securely transporting and storing musical instruments."

Problems solved by technology

For example, musical instruments often may have delicate or intricate construction.

Further, musical instruments often may be very expensive.

However, these kinds of traditional cases may entail certain drawbacks.

For example, the protection afforded by a traditional hard-shell case may come at the cost of a case that may be heavy and unwieldy to move about.

On the other hand, a traditional soft-shell case may be more convenient to move about, but may lack the protection of a traditional hard-shell case.

Moreover, both types of cases may have an upper limit on the ability to withstand shocks, stresses, and the like.

This may result in an effective limit on the protection of a musical instrument held within the case.

In addition, the sizing of traditional hard-shell and soft-shell cases may pose problems.

This may limit the ability to use one case for multiple musical instruments.

For example, a single case may not be able to carry different examples of even the same kind of instrument, such as guitars of different types, drums of different types, and the like.

Further, even a case dimensioned to carry a specific musical instrument may pose problems with fit.

In particular, if the fit of the case is not precisely coordinated to the dimensions of the musical instrument, the musical instrument may tend to slide or shift position within the case.

This may increase the chance of damage to the instrument should the case be subject to shocks, stresses, or the like.

One of the challenges that remains, however, he is the use of a soft case with an inflatable bladder.

This is particularly challenging because the inflatable bladder presses on the soft case which by its very nature, can then become deformed.

This drawback hands to some degree prevented the use of inflatable bladders in conjunction with a soft case for a musical instrument.

While implementing elements may have been available, actual attempts to meet this need may have been lacking to some degree.

This may have been due to a failure of those having ordinary skill in the art to fully appreciate or understand the nature of the problems and challenges involved.

As a result of this lack of understanding, attempts to meet these long-felt needs may have failed to effectively solve one or more of the problems or challenges here identified.

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