Support for a stringed instrument and support cushions and methods for making such

Abstract

Support (10) for a stringed instrument, which is to be attached to the bottom of the stringed instrument, with a support body (14) and a suction cup device (16), wherein the support body (14) has a bottom (18) which, when attached, faces the base of the stringed instrument, and a top (20) which is intended to rest on the shoulder of the person playing the stringed instrument, wherein the suction cup device (16) is pivotably mounted in the underside (18) of the support body (14) such that the support body (14) can be tilted relative to the base of the stringed instrument, and wherein the suction cup device (16) projects from the underside of the support body by a vertical offset (36), wherein the underside (18) of the support body (14) is shaped such that when the support (10) is attached to a flat surface (12) and assumes a horizontal basic position, a radially outer section (32) of the underside (18) with respect to the suction cup device (16) as its center is further away from the flat surface (12) than a radially inner section (34), and wherein the shape of the underside (18) and the vertical offset (36) are coordinated such that the support body can be tilted by an angle of at least 20° and preferably at least 30° with respect to the flat surface (12) without the support body (14) abutting the flat surface (12), wherein the top surface (20) of the support body (14) has a length L and a width B in vertical projection, where the length L corresponds to the maximum extent of the vertical projection of the top surface (20) and the width B is the maximum extent of the vertical projection of the top surface (20) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the length, and where the ratio of length to width is: L / B ≤ 1.5, and wherein the upper surface (20) is convex over at least 60% of its area when unloaded.

Claims

[1] Support (10) for a string instrument, which is to be attached to the bottom of the string instrument, with a support body (14) and a suction cup device (16), wherein the support body (14) has a lower side (18) which, in the attached state, faces the bottom of the string instrument, and a top side (20) which is intended to rest in the region of the shoulder of the person playing the string instrument, wherein the suction cup device (16) is pivotally mounted in the underside (18) of the support body (14) such that the support body (14) can be tilted relative to the bottom of the string instrument, and wherein the suction cup device (16) protrudes from the underside of the support body by a vertical offset (36), wherein the underside (18) of the support body (14) is shaped such that, when the support (10) is fastened to a flat surface (12) and assumes a horizontal basic position, a radially outer section (32) of the underside (18) which is the center of the suction cup device (16) is further away from the flat surface (12) than a radially inner section (34), and wherein the shape of the underside (18) and the vertical offset (36) are coordinated such that the support body can be tilted by an angular range of at least 20° and preferably at least 30° relative to the flat surface (12) without the support body (14) striking the flat surface (12), wherein the upper side (20) of the support body (14) has a length L and a width B in vertical projection, wherein the length L corresponds to the maximum extent of the vertical projection of the upper side (20) and the width B is the maximum extent of the vertical projection of the upper side (20) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the length, and wherein the ratio of length to width is: L / B ≤ 1.5, and wherein the upper side (20) is convex in at least 60% of its area in the unloaded state. [2] Support (10) according to claim 1, wherein the underside (18) of the support body (14) is at least partially convex, in particular at least partially frustoconical or spherical. [3] Support (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suction cup device (16) defines a vertical axis (22) which is perpendicular to a surface (12) on which the suction cup device (16) is to be attached, and wherein the suction cup device (16) is rotatably mounted in the underside (18) of the support body (14) such that the support body (14) is rotatable about the vertical axis (22) with respect to the suction cup device (16). [4] Support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical offset (36) is between 6 and 35 mm, preferably between 10 and 22 mm. [5] Support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of length to width is: L / B ≤ 1.3, and preferably L / B ≤ 1.

1. [6] Support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the upper side (20) in the unloaded state is convex in at least 70% of its area, preferably at least 80% of its area and particularly preferably as a whole. [7] Support (10) according to claim 6, wherein the upper side (20) is spherical. [8] Support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support body (14) comprises an upper shell (38) and a lower shell (40) between which an at least partially hollow space is formed. [9] Support (10) according to claim 8, wherein the upper shell (38) is elastically deformable. [10] Support (10) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the lower shell (40) is stiffer than the upper shell (38), wherein the lower shell (40) is preferably stiffened by an intermediate shell (42) which is connected to the lower shell (40) at a radially outer and a radially inner portion thereof. [11] Support (10) according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein at least one of said upper shell (38), lower shell (40) or intermediate shell (42) has a perforated structure with openings (46), wherein the openings (46) make up at least 10%, preferably at least 15% and particularly preferably at least 25% of the area of ​​the respective shell (38, 40, 42). [12] Support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said upper shell (38), lower shell (40) or intermediate shell (42) has elongated web-shaped sections (44) extending between a radially inner and a radially outer region, said shell (38, 40, 42) preferably having between 12 and 30, more preferably between 15 and 25 web-shaped sections (44). [13] Support (10) according to claim 12, wherein the web-shaped sections (44) are spirally curved such that the radially inner and the radially outer end are offset in the circumferential direction by 10° to 90°, preferably by 20° to 70° and particularly preferably by 30° to 60°. [14] Support (10) according to claims 12 and 13, wherein both the upper shell (38) and the lower shell (40) comprise said web-shaped portions (44) which are curved in opposite directions. [15] Support (10) according to one of claims 12 to 14, in which the web-shaped sections (44) are separated by elongated intermediate spaces (46), and / or in which the width of the web-shaped sections (44) increases radially outwards and / or the width of the intermediate spaces (46) increases radially outwards, wherein preferably the ratio of the widths of the web-shaped section (44) and the intermediate space (46) at the radially inner end of a web-shaped section (44) differs from the ratio of the widths of the web-shaped section (44) and the intermediate space (46) at the radially outer end of a web-shaped section (44) by less than 50%, preferably less than 30%. [16] Support (10) according to one of claims 7 to 15, wherein the upper shell (38) and / or the lower shell (40) consists of plastic, in particular a thermoplastic plastic, and / or wherein the material from which the upper and / or lower shell consists, - a flexural strength according to ASTM D790 of at least 1.0 GPa, preferably of at least 1.3 GPa and particularly preferably of at least 1.5 GPa and / or - has a modulus of elasticity according to ASTM D638 of at least 1.0 GPa, preferably of at least 1.3 GPa and particularly preferably of at least 1.5 GPA, and / or wherein the upper shell (38) and the lower shell (40) are formed in one piece. [17] Support (10) for a string instrument, which is to be attached to the bottom of the string instrument, with a support body (14) and a suction cup device (16), wherein the support body (14) has a lower side (18) which, in the attached state, faces the bottom of the string instrument, and a top side (20) which is intended to rest in the area of ​​the shoulder of the person playing the string instrument, wherein the support body (14) comprises an upper shell (38) and a lower shell (40), between which an at least partially hollow space is formed, wherein the upper shell (38) is elastically deformable, and in which at least the upper shell (38) has a perforated structure with openings (46), wherein the openings (46) make up at least 10%, preferably at least 15% and particularly preferably at least 25% of the area of ​​the shell in question. [18] Support (10) according to claim 17, wherein the lower shell (40) is stiffer than the upper shell (38), the lower shell (40) preferably being stiffened by an intermediate shell (42) which is connected to the lower shell (40) at a radially outer and a radially inner portion thereof. [19] Support (10) according to one of claims 17 or 18, wherein at least one of said upper shell (38), lower shell (40) or intermediate shell (42) has elongated web-shaped sections (44) extending between a radially inner and a radially outer region, said shell (38, 40, 42) preferably having between 12 and 30, more preferably between 15 and 25 web-shaped sections (44). [20] Support (10) according to one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the web-shaped sections (44) are spirally curved such that the radially inner and the radially outer end are offset in the circumferential direction by 10° to 90°, preferably by 20° to 70° and particularly preferably by 30° to 60°, wherein preferably both the upper shell (38) and the lower shell (40) comprise said web-shaped sections (44) which are curved in opposite directions. [21] Support according to one of claims 17 to 20 with the features of one of claims 2 to 7, 15 or 16. [22] Support cushions for padding an object to be worn on the body, in particular an orthopaedic object or a helmet, wherein the support cushion has a bottom side (18) which, in use, faces the object to be worn on the body, and a top side (20) which is intended to rest on the body, wherein the support cushion comprises an upper shell (38) and a lower shell (40) between which an at least partially hollow space is formed, wherein the upper shell (38) is elastically deformable, and in which at least the upper shell (38) has a perforated structure with openings (46), wherein the openings (46) make up at least 10%, preferably at least 15% and particularly preferably at least 25% of the area of ​​the shell in question. [23] Support cushion according to claim 22, wherein the lower shell (40) is stiffer than the upper shell (38), the lower shell (40) preferably being stiffened by an intermediate shell (42) which is connected to the lower shell (40) at a radially outer and a radially inner portion thereof. [24] A support cushion according to any one of claims 22 or 23, wherein at least one of said upper shell (38), lower shell (40) or, if present, intermediate shell (42) has elongated web-shaped sections (44) extending between a radially inner and a radially outer region, said shell (38, 40, 42) preferably having between 12 and 30, more preferably between 15 and 25 web-shaped sections (44). [25] Support cushion according to one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the web-shaped sections (44) are spirally curved such that the radially inner and the radially outer end are offset in the circumferential direction by 10° to 90°, preferably by 20° to 70° and particularly preferably by 30° to 60°, wherein preferably both the upper shell (38) and the lower shell (40) comprise said web-shaped sections (44) which are curved in opposite directions. [26] Method for producing a support (10) for a string instrument, which is to be attached to the bottom of the string instrument, with a support body (14) and a suction cup device (16), wherein the support body (14) has a lower side (18) which, in the attached state, faces the bottom of the string instrument, and a top side (20) which is intended to rest in the region of the shoulder of the person playing the string instrument, wherein the suction cup device (16) is pivotally mounted in the underside (18) of the support body (14) such that the support body (14) can be tilted relative to the bottom of the string instrument, and wherein the suction cup device (16) protrudes from the underside of the support body by a vertical offset (36), wherein the underside (18) of the support body (14) is shaped such that, when the support (10) is fastened to a flat surface (12) and assumes a horizontal basic position, a radially outer section (32) of the underside (18) which is the center with respect to the suction cup device (16) is further away from the flat surface (12) than a radially inner section (34), and wherein the shape of the underside (18) and the vertical offset (36) are coordinated with one another such that the support body can be tilted by an angular range of at least 10°, preferably at least 20°, and particularly preferably at least 30° relative to the flat surface (12) without the support body (14) abutting the flat surface (12), in which the support body (14) is produced by 3D printing. [27] Method for producing a support (10) for a string instrument, which is to be attached to the bottom of the string instrument, with a support body (14) and a suction cup device (16), wherein the support body (14) has a lower side (18) which, in the attached state, faces the bottom of the string instrument, and a top side (20) which is intended to rest in the area of ​​the shoulder of the person playing the string instrument, wherein the support body (14) comprises an upper shell (38) and a lower shell (40), between which an at least partially hollow space is formed, wherein the upper shell (38) is elastically deformable, and in which at least one of said upper shell (38) and lower shell (40) has a perforated structure with openings (46), wherein the openings (46) make up at least 10%, preferably at least 15% and particularly preferably at least 25% of the area of ​​the respective shell, in which the support body (14) is produced by 3D printing. [28] Method for producing a support cushion for padding an object to be worn on the body, in particular an orthopaedic object or a helmet, wherein the support cushion has a bottom side (18) which, in use, faces the object to be worn on the body, and a top side (20) which is intended to rest on the body, wherein the support cushion comprises an upper shell (38) and a lower shell (40) between which an at least partially hollow space is formed, wherein the upper shell (38) is elastically deformable, and in which at least the upper shell (38) has a perforated structure with openings (46), wherein the openings (46) make up at least 10%, preferably at least 15% and particularly preferably at least 25% of the area of ​​the shell in question, and in which the support cushion is produced by 3D printing.

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