Holding device, in particular wall holding device

Abstract

The invention relates to a mount, in particular a wall mount, for a musical instrument (1), especially a stringed instrument. This mount has an adjustable base (4) for receiving an instrument body (1a) and at least two pivotable support arms (5) relative to an anchor element (3) for releasably fixing an instrument neck (1b) held between the support arms (5). The base (4) and the two support arms (5) are coupled to each other via at least one connecting element (6). A spring (7) is also provided, which biases the base (4) into a rest position and the two support arms (5) into an open position. The connecting element (6) is a cable (6) that couples the base (4) to the two support arms (5). According to the invention, the cable (6) is guided wholly or partially inside the anchor element (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a holder, in particular a wall holder, for a musical instrument, in particular a stringed instrument, with an adjustable base for receiving an instrument body, and with at least two holding arms pivotable relative to an anchor element for releasably fixing an instrument neck received between the holding arms, wherein the base and the two holding arms are coupled to one another via at least one connecting member, wherein at least one spring is further provided which pretensions the base into a rest position and the two holding arms into an open position, and wherein the connecting member is designed as a cable pull coupling the base to the two holding arms.

[0002] Mounts, and in particular wall mounts, for musical instruments can be designed as wall mounts or floor stands. If a wall mount is used, the anchor element is usually attached to a wall. With a floor stand, the anchor element is typically a frame that can be placed on the floor. In principle, the anchor element can also be connected to such a frame. In any case, the anchor element as a whole functions as a fixed point or fixed element for the two pivoting support arms. The base can also be adjusted relative to the anchor element, namely between a resting position when unloaded and a working position when loaded (with the musical instrument placed on or attached to it).

[0003] In the base's resting position, the two holding arms are in their open position. This allows the musical instrument to be placed on the base. The weight of the musical instrument causes the base to move from its resting position to its working position. At the same time, the two holding arms pivot from their open position to their closed position. This all occurs against the force of the spring.

[0004] Such a mount, and in particular a wall mount, is described in CN 205 564 263 U. In fact, the instrument body is placed on supports. As a result, the two articulated arms supporting the supports move apart against the force of a spring. Two holding arms on the head side, connected to the two articulated arms, are closed, ensuring that the instrument neck is releasably secured. For this purpose, the two articulated arms are connected to the holding arms via respective cables.

[0005] In addition, a guide is provided that encloses the preloaded spring. Within the guide, the two articulated arms are mounted at their ends for adjustment. The other end of each articulated arm is coupled to each other. In conjunction with the exposed cables from the articulated arms to the head-end support arms, this results in not only a relatively complex mechanical structure but also one that is prone to failure. For example, the guide used at this point can become dirty, impairing the adjustability and thus functionality. Furthermore, damage to the exposed cables is possible.

[0006] A comparable mount for a musical instrument with a cable pull is described in US Pat. No. 8,490,942 B1. This mount also features pivoting arms for releasably securing the neck of an instrument. The two arms can be pivoted relative to an anchor element connected to a foot or floor stand. The base for holding the instrument body performs a pivoting movement when the instrument body is placed down.

[0007] The pivoting movement of the base is transmitted to an angle lever via an adjusting rod that acts as a connecting link. The pivoting movement of the angle lever, caused by the adjusting rod, in turn ensures, against the force of a spring, that the two holding arms for securing the instrument neck can be opened and closed. This mechanism, too, is prone to failure when dirty and tends or can tend to impair functionality. The movement of the base is redirected several times, which can lead to malfunctions if the joints are impaired, for example, by dust.

[0008] Finally, WO 2020 / 161023 A1, which originates from the applicant, is part of the prior art. The mounting device, and in particular the wall mounting device, described therein is designed as a connecting rod that rigidly couples the base to the two support arms and is preloaded by a spring. Furthermore, the spring follows the longitudinal extension of the connecting rod. In this case, the connecting rod replaces the cable pull provided for the generic type as the connecting link.

[0009] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a holder and in particular a wall holder in such a way that, taking into account a simple structure and low operating forces, not only a perfect functionality is ensured, but adaptations to different variants are also easily achieved.

[0010] To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes, based on the generic prior art, that the cable pull is guided entirely or partially inside the anchor element in a correspondingly designed holder.

[0011] As already explained in the introduction, the anchor element serves as a fixed point or a fixed element for the two pivoting support arms. This also applies to the base, which is adjustable relative to the anchor element. According to the invention, the anchor element also performs a third function, namely, it acts as at least partial protection for the cable housed inside. This design prevents any functional impairments due to damage to the cable from the outset.

[0012] In addition, such a cable pull as a connecting link between the two holding arms and the base offers particular advantages with regard to a flexible design of the holder. In fact, such a cable pull can easily be changed in terms of its effective length if necessary and, for example, adapted to a different size of the holder. This allows a wide variety of musical instruments to be attached to or on the holder according to the invention. This also makes it possible to replace the adjustable base with a differently shaped base, as well as to replace the pivoting holding arms. Both of these operations merely require the cable pulling that connects the holding arms to the base to be attached or detached. Any size adjustments can also be easily achieved by using a cable pull with a different length.

[0013] This enormously increases both flexibility and functional reliability. Such cable pulls can be operated easily and with little effort, for example, by guiding and deflecting them via rollers. This eliminates the need for intermediate bell cranks and their mounting, which can become stiff after years of disuse. Furthermore, cable pulls can be optimized in terms of weight, meaning they typically weigh significantly less than a connecting rod, making it easy to design the bracket according to the invention as a wall bracket and attach it to a wall. Handling the bracket as a floor bracket or floor stand is also simplified. These are the key advantages.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, the anchor element is equipped with at least one guide sleeve for the cable pull. In fact, the guide sleeve and the anchor element can coincide and be designed together. However, it is also possible for the guide sleeve to be provided in addition to the anchor element and connected to it. In most cases, the guide sleeve and anchor element coincide (completely).

[0015] A further and advantageous approach is to have the base engage with the guide sleeve in question via an extension. The extension can be designed to be telescopic, either fully or partially, inside the guide sleeve. This allows the base to be easily moved back and forth between its resting position in the unloaded state and its working position in the loaded state, counter to the force of the spring.

[0016] In this context, the cable pull is generally connected to the extension on one side and to the holding arms on the other. This means that the base's extension engages telescopically in the guide sleeve. The telescopic movements correspond to the resting position and the working position of the base on the other. The telescopic movements are transferred from the extension to the holding arms via the interposed cable pull. For this purpose, the cable pull is connected to the extension on the one side and to the holding arms on the other.

[0017] A particularly reliable and low-force implementation can be achieved by designing the extension and the guide sleeve as cylindrical on the one hand and correspondingly hollow-cylindrical on the other. This means that the cylindrical extension advantageously engages with the corresponding hollow-cylindrical guide sleeve. This allows the telescopic movement of the base relative to the anchor element or the guide sleeve to be implemented.

[0018] To support the instrument body on or at the base, the base is generally equipped with two support fingers. Each support finger may be L-shaped when viewed from the side.

[0019] In this way, the instrument body can typically be placed on the largely horizontally extending L-leg, whereas the vertically or predominantly vertically extending L-leg of the L-shaped support finger ultimately ends in or is connected to the extension, which in turn is guided telescopically in the guide sleeve.

[0020] The support fingers are generally cylindrical in cross-section. Furthermore, the support fingers each telescopically engage with corresponding receiving sleeves to adjust the size to the musical instrument being supported. This additional telescoping of the support fingers relative to the corresponding receiving sleeves allows for permanent adjustment to the musical instrument or instrument body in question. This must be distinguished from the fundamental telescoping of the base relative to the anchor element between the resting position and the working position.

[0021] In any case, the two receiving sleeves are connected to the extension or merge into the extension. The extension that joins the two receiving sleeves engages telescopically with the guide sleeve or anchor element, counteracting the force of the spring. This allows the base to assume the described rest position when unloaded and the working position when loaded with the musical instrument and with the spring applied.

[0022] The two holding arms, which releasably enclose the instrument neck, generally define a common holding plane. This holding plane is advantageously oriented perpendicular to a positioning plane. The positioning plane is defined by the base, which is adjustable relative to the anchor element or the guide sleeve. This means that the base's movement from the rest position to the working position defines the positioning plane, whereas the holding plane is defined by the two holding arms, which can be pivoted into the open and closed positions. The holding plane and the positioning plane are predominantly oriented perpendicular to each other.

[0023] According to the invention, the cable pull passes through the spring that surrounds it. This spring is typically a helical coil spring. Furthermore, the spring is generally designed as a compression spring, which is clamped between the support arms and a stop in the anchor element. This results in the spring or compression spring in question being compressed when the base moves from its resting position to the working position. This is because moving the base from the resting position to the working position is generally accompanied by a downward movement of the base – due to the gravity of the musical instrument placed upon it.

[0024] The base can be moved from its resting position to its working position immediately when the musical instrument is placed on the base or the holding fingers. However, this movement can also be coupled with the release of a lock, which releasably secures the base in the resting position. Only when the lock is released can the base move from its resting position to its working position, thereby applying force to the holding arms via the cable.

[0025] This downward movement of the base results in a tensile force being exerted via the cable on the holding arms connected to the ends of the cable. At the same time, this compresses the compression spring. The tensile force exerted on the two holding arms ensures that the holding arms are moved from their previously open position to the closed position, counteracting the force of the spring in question.

[0026] All this is achieved in conjunction with a particularly flexible, functional, and mechanically simple design. This is also characterized by a particularly low weight, which makes it easier to handle. These are the key advantages.

[0027] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in the drawings: Fig. 1 the holder according to the invention in the form of a wall holder together with a musical instrument in the form of a guitar placed thereon in the example case, Fig. 2 the holder without a musical instrument schematically in an overview when changing the holding arms from the open position to the closed position and corresponding to the transition of the base from its rest position to the working position, Fig. 3 the holder in the area of the holding arms in the open position and Fig. 4 the object according to Fig. 3 in the closed position of the lever arms.

[0028] The figures depict a mount for a musical instrument 1, which, in the exemplary embodiment and not by way of limitation, is configured and intended as a wall mount for attachment to a wall 2. In principle, and alternatively, the mount could also be designed as a component of a floor stand. In this case, an anchor element 3 is not attached to the wall 2, but rather to a floor frame (not shown). In principle, the anchor element 3 can also be a component of the floor frame, although this is also not explicitly shown.

[0029] The holder according to the invention, in its basic design, comprises, in addition to the previously mentioned anchor element 3, an adjustable base 4, which is designed and configured to receive an instrument body 1a of the musical instrument 1. In fact, the musical instrument 1 within the scope of the exemplary embodiment and not by way of limitation is a guitar, in particular an electric guitar, i.e., generally a stringed instrument. In addition to the previously mentioned instrument body 1a placed on the base 4, this instrument also generally and additionally comprises an instrument neck 1b, which is also releasably secured by means of the holder.

[0030] For this purpose, at least two holding arms 5 are provided, which can pivot relative to the anchor element 3 and serve to releasably fix the instrument neck 1b of the musical instrument 1, which is received between the holding arms 5. The base 4 and the two holding arms 5 are coupled to one another via at least one connecting link 6. A spring 7 is also provided. According to the exemplary embodiment and according to the invention, the connecting link 6 is a cable pull 6.

[0031] The design is chosen so that the spring 7 pushes the base 4 into a Fig. 2 The two retaining arms 5 are also pre-tensioned into the open position, also shown in dash-dotted lines, by means of the spring 7. It can be seen that in the Fig. 2 The two holding arms 5 extend at different heights and, in their closed state, wrap around the instrument neck 1b in a helical manner, whereas the remaining figures depict holding arms 5 in one plane. This is, of course, only an example.

[0032] In the rest position of the base 4 and corresponding to the open position of the two holding arms 5 according to the dash-dotted representation in the Fig. 2 The musical instrument 1 can now be placed on the base 4. For this purpose, the instrument body 1a is placed on at least two supporting fingers 8 of the base 4, as can best be seen by comparing the Fig. 1 and 2can be understood. The support fingers 8, as part of the base 4, are each L-shaped in the side view according to the exemplary embodiment. In fact, the support fingers 8 have predominantly horizontal L-legs 8a and, in contrast, predominantly vertical L-legs 8b. This allows the instrument body 1a to be placed on the predominantly horizontal L-legs 8a of the support fingers 8.

[0033] The support fingers 8 are cylindrical in cross-section. These can be bent tubes made of, for example, steel or a suitable metal, or even plastic. The same applies to the anchor element 3. Furthermore, the support fingers 8 each telescopically engage in corresponding receiving sleeves 9 for size adjustment to the musical instrument, specifically the instrument body 1a. In fact, the vertically extending L-legs 8b can be adjusted relative to the corresponding receiving sleeve 9 in terms of their insertion length. For this purpose, the respective vertically extending L-leg 8b is clamped into the respective receiving sleeve 9, which is ensured by an associated clamping screw in the example shown.

[0034] A comparative examination of the figures shows that the two receiving sleeves 9 are connected to or open into an extension 10. The extension 10 also connects the two spaced-apart receiving sleeves 9. In fact, in the exemplary embodiment and in front view, the two receiving sleeves 9 describe an inverted U-shaped fastening bracket in which the two receiving sleeves 9 meet in the region of a U-base of the U-shaped fastening bracket and open into the common extension 10. By possibly additionally inclining the receiving sleeves 9 to one another as well as the support fingers 8 accommodated therein, an arcuate design of the instrument body 1a at its base and when resting on the L-shaped legs 8a of the support fingers 8 can be accommodated.

[0035] The weight of the musical instrument 1 with the instrument body 1a resting on the support fingers 8 now ensures that during the transition from the rest position of the base 4 in the dash-dotted representation after the Fig. 2 to the working position, as shown in the Fig. 2 shown, the spring 7 is compressed. This is because the transition from the rest position to the working position of the base 4 is accompanied by a Fig. 2 by an arrow indicated downward movement of the base 4 relative to the anchor element 3, as a result of the Fig. 2 also shown weight force FG of the musical instrument 1. Previously, a lock not shown and described in the introduction may have been released.

[0036] The compression of the spring 7 is associated with an adjusting movement T of the base 4, namely during the transition from its rest position shown in dot-dashed lines to the working position shown in solid lines. As a result of this adjusting movement T of the base 4, the two holding arms 5 are also pivoted, starting from their Fig. 2 from the open position shown in dotted lines to the closed position shown in solid lines. This is accompanied by a further adjustment movement S of the holding arms 5.

[0037] The adjusting movement S of the holding arms 5 corresponds to a holding plane SE described here. This holding plane SE, as it is described and spanned by the two holding arms 5, is now largely oriented perpendicular to an adjusting plane TE, which is defined and spanned by the base 4 when the base 4 performs the adjusting movement T during the transition from its rest position shown in dotted lines to the working position shown in solid lines, as shown in the Fig. 2 The musical instrument 1 is now secured because the holding arms 5 assume their closed position due to the weight force FG and thereby captively grip the instrument neck 1b.

[0038] To remove the musical instrument 1 from the holder, it is merely necessary to lift the musical instrument 1 from the base 4 against the weight force FG. As a result, the previously compressed and then relaxing spring 7 ensures that the holding arms 5 are moved from their closed position (shown in solid lines) to the open position (shown in dash-dotted lines), releasing the instrument neck 1b. This allows the musical instrument 1 to be lifted from the base 4 and removed from the holder. At the same time, the base 4 moves from its solid working position to the dash-dotted rest position due to the force of the spring 7. Furthermore, the releasable lock may be closed.

[0039] As already explained and according to the invention, the connecting link 6 is designed as a cable 6 coupling the base 4 to the two holding arms 5. This cable 6 is now guided entirely or partially inside the anchor element 3 to protect it from possible damage and contamination. For this purpose, the anchor element 3 according to the exemplary embodiment is designed as a guide sleeve for the cable 6. It can be seen that the anchor element or guide sleeve 3 completely accommodates the cable 6 within its interior, which of course is only an example and is by no means mandatory. The spring 7 is also located inside the anchor element or guide sleeve 3.

[0040] As already explained, the base 4 engages with its head-end extension 10 into the guide sleeve or anchor element 3. The extension 10 is thus telescopically received inside the guide sleeve 3. The cable pull 6 is connected to the extension 10 on the one hand and to the holding arms 5 on the other. According to the exemplary embodiment, the cable pull 7 is guided over a plastic deflection pulley 11.

[0041] According to the exemplary embodiment, the extension 10 is cylindrical. In contrast, the guide sleeve 3 has a corresponding hollow-cylindrical design, allowing the extension 10 to telescope within the guide sleeve 3. It can be seen that the spring 7 is designed as a helical coil spring according to the exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the design is such that the cable 6 extends through the spring 7.

[0042] Additionally, a damper 12 is provided inside the guide sleeve 3. This dampens the movement of the base 4 relative to the anchor element 3 and, in particular, prevents hard stops, for example when the musical instrument 1 is removed from the base 4, so that as a result the base 4 is abruptly moved towards its rest position by the force of the spring 7. According to the exemplary embodiment, the spring 7 is designed as a compression spring. In this way, the spring 7 ensures that it can be clamped between the two holding arms 5 and a stop 13 in the anchor element 3. Appropriate pressure on the spring 7 ensures that the holding arms 5 pivot into their open position shown in dash-dotted lines, provided the holding arms 5 are not subjected to tension by the cable 6 as soon as a musical instrument 1 with its instrument body 1a is placed on the base 4.This is because the holding arms 5 then assume their closed position against the force of the spring 7.

Claims

1. A bracket, particularly a wall bracket, for a musical instrument (1), especially a string instrument, with an adjustable base (4) for receiving an instrument body (1a) and with at least two retaining arms (5) that can be pivoted relative to an anchor element (3) in order to detachably secure an instrument neck (1b) received between the retaining arms (5), wherein the base (4) and the two retaining arms (5) are coupled to one another by at least one connecting member (6), wherein at least one spring (7) furthermore is provided, with said spring prestressing the base (4) into a rest position and the two retaining arms (5) into an open position, wherein the connecting member (6) is realized in the form of a cable pull (6) that couples the base (4) to the two retaining arms (5), and wherein the cable pull (6) is entirely or partially routed in the interior of the anchor element (3), characterized in that the cable pull (6) extends through the spring (7).

2. The bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that the anchor element (3) has at least one guide sleeve (3) for the cable pull (6).

3. The bracket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base (4) engages into the guide sleeve (3) with an extension (10).

4. The bracket according to claim 3, characterized in that the extension (10) is received in the interior of the guide sleeve (3) in a telescoping manner.

5. The bracket according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the cable pull (6) is on the one hand connected to the extension (10) and on the other hand connected to the retaining arms (5).

6. The bracket according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the extension (10) and the guide sleeve (3) are on the one hand realized cylindrically and on the other hand realized in a corresponding hollow-cylindrical manner.

7. The bracket according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the base (4) has two support fingers (8).

8. The bracket according to claim 7, characterized in that the support fingers (8) are respectively realized in an L-shaped manner in a side view.

9. The bracket according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the support fingers (8) are realized cylindrically in cross section.

10. The bracket according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the support fingers (8) respectively engage into associated receptacle sleeves (9) in a telescoping manner in order to be adapted to the size of the musical instrument (1).

11. The bracket according to claim 10, characterized in that the two receptacle sleeves (9) are connected to the extension (10).

12. The bracket according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the two retaining arms (5) define a common retaining plane (SE).

13. The bracket according to claim 12, characterized in that the retaining plane (SE) is arranged perpendicular to a placement plane (TE), which is defined by the base (4) that is adjustable relative to the anchor element (3).

14. The bracket according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the spring (7) is realized in the form of a compression spring that is fixed between the two retaining arms (5) and a stop (13) in the anchor element (3).

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