Foldable and storable instrument stand

Abstract

We offer a foldable and storable instrument stand that is easy to operate, has a firm and secure lock, and folds down into a compact and neat shape for easy portability. [Solution] The foldable instrument stand comprises an instrument stand body 1 and at least two support legs 2 rotatably connected to both ends of the instrument stand body. Guide grooves 11 are provided in the side walls of the instrument stand body, and a locking positioning part is provided at one end of the guide groove. Each support leg is provided with a corresponding support leg adjustment mechanism 3, and the support leg adjustment mechanism is equipped with a handle, which is movably inserted through the corresponding guide groove and connected to the support leg. As a result, the handle can slide along the guide groove, and when the support leg rotates to the unfolded state, the handle and the positioning part lock into place to restrict the rotation of the support leg. When the handle is pressed inward to release the lock, the handle slides along the guide groove, guiding and restricting the support leg to rotate along a predetermined path to the folded state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of musical instrument support devices, and specifically relates to a foldable and retractable musical instrument stand for supporting musical instruments such as electronic pianos and keyboards.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, most of the commercially available foldable musical instrument stands achieve the fixation and folding of the support legs by combining a simple hinge structure with spring balls or independent fasteners. This structure mainly has the following defects.

[0003] The operation is cumbersome and lacks intuitiveness: When folding and unfolding, it is always necessary to operate the fasteners or knobs step by step. The process is complex and it is difficult for users to use it quickly.

[0004] The reliability of the lock is low and there are safety problems: The generally used lock method of fitting the spring ball into the recess has low locking performance. Due to wear caused by long-term use, unexpected vibrations, or incorrect operations, the lock may be unintentionally released, and there is a risk that the musical instrument stand may fall.

[0005] The structure after storage is loose and the packing volume is large: Since there is no accurate guide for the folding trajectory of the support legs and no strong position regulation at the end, the extension of each support leg after folding is different, and the overall shape becomes irregular. Therefore, it is difficult to design a minimal packing, and it occupies a large amount of transportation and storage space.

[0006] It is inconvenient to carry: Most musical instrument stands do not have a dedicated handle installed or the handle is designed to protrude, which affects the stability when placing the musical instrument and is easy to get caught during storage and transportation.

[0007] Furthermore, most instrument stands lack a dedicated storage design for temporarily storing accessories such as headphones. This often leads to problems where musicians have no place to put their headphones or other accessories while practicing or performing, resulting in them being lost or getting in the way of their playing. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] In contrast to the shortcomings of conventional technology, this invention aims to solve the technical problems of conventional instrument stands, such as the complicated folding operation, unreliable locking mechanism, large and irregular volume after folding, and difficulty in carrying, by providing a foldable and storable instrument stand. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The technical solution of the present invention is a foldable and storable instrument stand comprising an instrument stand body and at least two support legs rotatably connected to both ends of the instrument stand body, wherein a guide groove is provided in the side wall of the instrument stand body, a locking positioning part is provided at one end of the guide groove, each support leg is provided with a corresponding support leg adjustment mechanism, the support leg adjustment mechanism is equipped with a handle, the handle is movably inserted through the corresponding guide groove and connected to the support leg, thereby the handle can slide along the guide groove, when the support leg rotates to an unfolded state the handle and the positioning part lock into place to restrict the rotation of the support leg, and when the handle is pressed inward to release the lock, the handle slides along the guide groove, guiding and restricting the support leg to rotate along a predetermined path to a folded state.

[0010] Preferably, the positioning portion is a positioning hole communicating with one end of the guide groove, the diameter of the positioning hole being larger than the width of the guide groove, the handle comprising a small diameter portion that is gap-fitted with the guide groove and a large diameter portion that can form a tight fit with the positioning hole, and the support leg adjustment mechanism further comprising an elastic return member that biases the handle so as to engage the large diameter portion with the positioning hole.

[0011] Preferably, the elastic return member comprises a pin rod and a return spring, the pin rod being connected to the larger diameter portion of the handle, the return spring being fitted onto the pin rod, one end of the return spring acting on the support leg or a member fixedly connected to the support leg, and the other end acting on the larger diameter portion to provide an elastic force that moves the larger diameter portion outward.

[0012] Preferably, an annular locking groove is provided in the larger diameter portion of the handle, and the position regulating member is locked in the annular locking groove and positioned inside the support leg, and is used to prevent the handle from coming outwards.

[0013] Preferably, there are four support legs, which are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the bottom of the instrument stand body.

[0014] Preferably, U-shaped body brackets are fixedly connected to both ends of the bottom of the instrument stand body, and the body brackets and the side wall of the instrument stand body form an assembly space for accommodating the ends of the support legs.

[0015] Preferably, the support legs are provided with support leg brackets fixed to their ends, the support leg brackets are housed within the assembly space and are rotatably connected to the instrument stand body and the body bracket, respectively, via hinge axes.

[0016] Preferably, the bottom of the instrument stand body is provided with a support leg storage groove for storing the support legs in a folded state.

[0017] Preferably, a handle mounting groove is provided on the upper surface of the instrument stand body, a handle belt is attached within the handle mounting groove, the handle belt is an elastic stretchable belt, and in its natural state, the handle belt is housed within the handle mounting groove and its upper surface is not higher than the upper surface of the instrument stand body.

[0018] Preferably, a headphone hook for hanging accessories such as headphones is attached to the bottom of the instrument stand body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] Compared to conventional technology, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0020] (1) In response to the problem of "complex and cumbersome folding / unfolding operations," a consistent single operation logic of "press to unlock - then rotate" and forced guidance along the movement path by guide grooves simplify the operation to a one-step intuitive action, achieving the beneficial effect of being very simple to operate and easy to use.

[0021] (2) In response to the problem of "low reliability of the lock and easy unintentional unlocking," a locking mechanism using an interlocking fit between the thicker diameter section of the handle and the positioning hole is used, combined with a continuous pressing force from a return spring. This achieves the beneficial effects of a robust lock, a clear and reliable feel, and high resistance to vibration and shock, significantly improving safety during use.

[0022] (3) To address the problem of "loose structure after storage and large packing volume," guide grooves are used to firmly restrict the position of the end of the folding trajectory of the support legs, and by coordinating with the support leg storage grooves installed at the bottom of the instrument stand body, it is ensured that all support legs are folded and stored in the designated support leg storage grooves each time, the support legs and the instrument stand body are integrated, the folded state becomes very compact and orderly, and the overall thickness is minimized and uniform, achieving beneficial effects that greatly facilitate packing, transport, and storage.

[0023] (4) In response to the problem of "complex mechanisms, numerous components, and susceptibility to damage," the locking, guiding, and unlocking functions are highly integrated into a simple module of "guide groove + stepped handle + elastic member" instead of the conventional complex multi-connecting rods and independent fasteners. This achieves beneficial effects such as a compact structure, fewer components, easy assembly, high durability, and low maintenance costs.

[0024] (5) To address the problem of "insufficient strength or complex assembly of the hinge structure of the support legs," the main bracket and the instrument stand body are made to form an assembly space, and the support leg bracket, welded to the top of the support legs, is installed in this assembly space. By connecting the hinges at two points using the hinge axis, the rigidity and stability of the hinge section are improved, rotation becomes smoother, load-bearing capacity is improved, and assembly becomes easier.

[0025] (6) In response to the problem that "it is inconvenient to carry and the handle affects the stability of the placement," an embedded elastic handle belt is installed on the top surface of the instrument stand body. When in use, it is pulled up, and when not in use, it is stored in the handle mounting groove so that it is flush with the top surface of the mounting groove. This makes it easy and convenient to carry, and achieves the beneficial effect of not affecting the flatness or stability of the support surface at all.

[0026] (7) With respect to the problem of "there is no place to put accessories such as headphones during performance", by installing a headphone hook at the bottom of the instrument stand body, it becomes easier to temporarily place accessories such as headphones during performance, and the user experience is further optimized.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] It is a three-dimensional structure schematic diagram in the deployed state of the foldable and storable instrument stand according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a side structure schematic diagram of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a bottom structure schematic diagram of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of part A (support leg adjustment mechanism) in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is an exploded schematic diagram of the instrument stand body and the support leg bracket. [Figure 6] It is a partial enlarged exploded view of part B (support leg adjustment mechanism assembly) in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] It is a single structure schematic diagram of the handle. [Figure 8] It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram in the fully folded state of the foldable and storable instrument stand according to the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a schematic diagram from another angle of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the connection state between the headphone hook according to the present invention and the instrument stand body. [Figure 11] It is a side view of FIG. 10.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0028] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 to 9, the present invention provides a foldable and storable instrument stand comprising an instrument stand body 1 and at least two support legs 2 rotatably connected to both ends of the instrument stand body 1, a guide groove 111 is provided in the side wall 11 of the instrument stand body 1, a locking positioning part is provided at one end of the guide groove 111, each support leg 2 is provided with a corresponding support leg adjustment mechanism 3, the support leg adjustment mechanism 3 comprises a handle 31, the handle 31 is movably inserted through the corresponding guide groove 111 and connected to the corresponding support leg 2, thereby allowing the handle 31 to slide along the guide groove 111. As shown in Figure 1, when the support leg 2 rotates to the unfolded state, the handle 31 and the positioning part lock into place to restrict the rotation of the support leg 2, and when the handle 31 is pressed inward to release the lock, the handle 31 slides along the guide groove 111, guiding and restricting the support leg 2 to rotate along a predetermined path to the folded state (see Figure 8). The core of the foldable instrument stand according to this invention lies in a highly integrated set of support leg adjustment mechanisms 3 that simplifies the folding and unfolding of the support legs 2, ensures secure locking, and achieves a compact storage state. By creating a specific guide groove 111 in the side wall 11 of the instrument stand body 1 and movably inserting the handle 31 of the support leg adjustment mechanism 3 into the guide groove 111, the folding operation is simplified to a consistent single action: "press to unlock - then rotate." As the handle 31 slides within the guide groove 111, the support legs 2 are forced to move along a single predetermined path, enabling an intuitive operation of "unlock with a single touch and fold," significantly improving usability.

[0030] Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the foldable instrument stand comprises a long, slender instrument stand body 1 with four support legs 2 symmetrically arranged at both ends of its base. This structure allows for stable support of instruments such as electronic pianos or keyboards. Each support leg 2 is connected to the instrument stand body 1 by a hinge and can rotate relative to it, enabling folding and unfolding.

[0031] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, U-shaped body brackets 12 are welded to both ends of the bottom of the instrument stand body 1 to provide a robust and stable hinge point. The body brackets 12 and the side walls 11 of the instrument stand body 1 itself form a U-shaped assembly space 13, and as shown in Figure 2, a total of four assembly spaces 13 are formed at the bottom of the instrument stand body 1 for attaching four support legs 2. One support leg bracket 21 is welded to the top of each support leg 2. When attaching, the support leg bracket 21 is placed in the corresponding assembly space 13. Next, by passing two hinge shafts 4 (for example, rivets) through the instrument stand body 1, the support leg bracket 21, the main bracket 12, and the support leg bracket 21 respectively, a two-point rotational connection is achieved between the support leg 2 to which the support leg bracket 21 is welded and the instrument stand body 1 and the main bracket 12. This improves the rigidity and stability of the hinge, makes rotation smoother, improves load-bearing capacity, simplifies assembly, and ensures smoothness and load-bearing strength during rotation.

[0032] The handle 31 of the support leg adjustment mechanism 3 is movably inserted into the corresponding guide groove 111, and its inner end is connected to a support leg bracket 21 welded to the uppermost part of the support leg 2. This connection method allows the handle 31 to move axially to a certain extent relative to the support leg 2 (pressing action), to rotate together with the support leg 2 around the hinge point, and the portion that is inserted into the guide groove 111 is strictly limited, so that it can only slide along the trajectory of the guide groove 111.

[0033] As shown in Figure 6, in this preferred embodiment, the positioning portion installed at one end of the guide groove 111 is specifically a positioning hole 112 communicating with one end of the guide groove 111, and the diameter of the positioning hole 112 is larger than the width of the guide groove 111.

[0034] As shown in Figure 7, the handle 31 is equipped with a narrow diameter section 311 and a wide diameter section 312, and employs a special design to achieve a locking function. The diameter of the narrow diameter section 311 is fitted to the width of the guide groove 111, allowing it to slide smoothly within the guide groove. The diameter of the wide diameter section 312 is slightly larger than the diameter of the positioning hole 112, and is designed to interlock with the positioning hole 112. The interlock between the positioning hole 112 and the wide diameter section 312 of the handle, along with the continuous locking force provided by the return spring 33, achieve a robust mechanical lock, providing a clear indication of the locked state, high resistance to interference, and improved safety and user confidence.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, to enable automatic locking, the support leg adjustment mechanism 3 further includes an elastic return member. In a specific embodiment, the elastic return member consists of a pin rod 32 and a return spring 33. The pin rod 32 is connected to the inside of the large diameter portion 312 of the handle 31. The return spring 33 is fitted onto the pin rod 32, with one end acting on the support leg bracket 21 fixedly connected to the support leg 2, and the other end acting on the large diameter portion 312 of the handle 31. The return spring 33 is always compressed or pre-loaded, providing a continuous elastic force that causes the large diameter portion 312 of the handle 31 to move outward (i.e., in the direction of the positioning hole 112). By employing a locking mechanism that involves an interlocking fit between the large-diameter portion 312 and the positioning hole 112, and combining this with a continuous pressing force provided by the return spring 33, beneficial effects such as a robust lock, a clear and reliable feel, and high resistance to vibration and shock are achieved, significantly improving safety during use.

[0036] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, an annular locking groove 3121 is provided in the larger diameter portion 312 of the handle 31 to prevent it from coming off completely due to spring force. The position regulating member 34 (opening locking ring) is locked into the annular locking groove 3121 and is located inside the support leg bracket 21, thereby reliably restraining the handle assembly.

[0037] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, in order to achieve optimal folding and storage, a support leg storage groove 14 is installed at the bottom of the instrument stand body 1, corresponding to the position of the folded support legs 2. As shown in Figure 8, when the support legs 2 are folded, their main body can be fitted into this support leg storage groove 14, and the guide groove 111 firmly restricts the position of the end of the folding trajectory of the support legs 2. By coordinating with the support leg storage groove 14 installed at the bottom of the instrument stand body 1, it is ensured that all support legs 2 are folded and stored in the predetermined support leg storage groove 14 each time, the support legs 2 and the instrument stand body 1 become integrated, the folded state becomes very compact and orderly, the overall thickness is minimized and uniform, and beneficial effects are achieved, making packing, transport, and storage much easier.

[0038] As shown in Figure 9, a handle mounting groove 15 is provided on the top surface of the instrument stand body 1 to facilitate transport and avoid affecting the stability of the arrangement. A handle belt 5 is attached to this handle mounting groove 15. The handle belt 5 is preferably an elastic, expandable belt. In its natural state, the handle belt 5 is retracted and fully housed within the handle mounting groove 15, with its top surface not higher than the top surface of the instrument stand body 1, ensuring the integrity and flatness of the support surface. When transport is needed, the handle belt 5 can be easily extended, providing a comfortable gripping point and achieving a balance between portability and the flatness of the arrangement.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1, 10, and 11, to further improve ease of use, a headphone hook 6 is fixedly or detachably attached to the bottom of the instrument stand body 1, for example, inside the body bracket 12 or at an appropriate position on the underside of the instrument stand body 1. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the headphone hook 6 is locked and secured to the underside of the instrument stand body 1 by a fastener 7 (for example, a screw). The headphone hook 6 may be made of bent wire, integrally molded plastic, or other known structures. During performance or practice, the performer can temporarily hang headphones and other accessories here, making them easily accessible and greatly improving usability, while keeping the table tidy.

[0040] The operation process of the foldable and storable instrument stand according to this invention is as follows:

[0041] Deployment and Locking State: When the instrument stand needs to be deployed, the support legs 2 are rotated outward. During this process, the narrow portion 311 of the handle 31 slides along the guide groove 111. When the support legs 2 have rotated to the limit position of full deployment, the guide groove 111 guides the wide portion 312 of the handle 31 to a position where it is aligned with the positioning hole 112. At this point, when the handle 31 is released, the elastic force of the return spring 33 quickly pushes the wide portion 312 into the positioning hole 112. Because the wide portion 312 and the positioning hole 112 are tightly fitted together, a large frictional resistance is created, and the support legs 2 are firmly locked in the deployed position, preventing them from rotating freely and ensuring a safe and secure state.

[0042] Unlocking and Folding Process: When it is necessary to fold and store the instrument stand, the user presses the tip of the handle 31 inward towards the inside of the instrument stand. The handle 31 moves the pin rod 32 inward and compresses the return spring 33. The lock is released when the large diameter portion 312 is completely out of the positioning hole 112 and only the small diameter portion 311 is positioned in that area. At this time, the user continues to press and simultaneously manually rotates the support leg 2 toward the instrument stand body 1. Because the small diameter portion 311 of the handle 31 is always confined within the guide groove 111, the rotation of the support leg 2 is forced to follow a single predetermined path (i.e., the trajectory of the guide groove 111) until the support leg 2 is parallel to the instrument stand body 1, and its body portion is fitted into the support leg storage groove 14 at the bottom. At this point, releasing the handle 31 completes the folding of one support leg 2. The remaining three support legs are operated in a similar step, causing the instrument stand to fold into a compact, flat structure.

[0043] Carrying: When transporting, simply hook your fingers into the center of the handle belt 5 within the handle mounting groove 15 and lift upwards. The handle belt 5 is an elastic belt and can be stretched to a comfortable length. After use, the handle belt 5 automatically retracts into the handle mounting groove 15, returning to a hidden state and not affecting the placement of the instrument.

[0044] This invention, through the specific structure described above, cleverly integrates the guide, lock, and reset functions, achieving the overall effects of easy operation, reliable locking, compact storage, and convenient portability, thereby effectively improving the user experience and practical value of the product.

[0045] The above describes only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and equivalent modifications and alterations made based on the claims of the present invention should be covered by the claims of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] Instrument stand body 1, side wall 11, guide groove 111, positioning hole 112, main body bracket 12, assembly space 13, support leg storage groove 14, handle mounting groove 15, support legs 2, support leg bracket 21, support leg adjustment mechanism 3, handle 31, thin diameter section 311, thick diameter section 312, annular locking groove 3121, pin rod 32, return spring 33, position regulating member 34, hinge shaft 4, handle belt 5, headphone hook 6, fastener 7.

Claims

1. A foldable and storable instrument stand comprising an instrument stand body and at least two support legs rotatably connected to both ends of the instrument stand body, wherein a guide groove is provided in the side wall of the instrument stand body, a locking positioning part is provided at one end of the guide groove, each support leg is provided with a corresponding support leg adjustment mechanism, the support leg adjustment mechanism is equipped with a handle, the handle is movably inserted through the corresponding guide groove and connected to the support leg, thereby allowing the handle to slide along the guide groove, when the support leg rotates to an unfolded state, the handle and the positioning part lock into place to restrict the rotation of the support leg, and when the handle is pressed inward to release the lock, the handle slides along the guide groove, guiding and restricting the support leg to rotate along a predetermined path to a folded state.

2. The positioning portion is a positioning hole that communicates with one end of the guide groove, and the diameter of the positioning hole is larger than the width of the guide groove. The handle comprises a small diameter portion that is fitted into the guide groove, and a large diameter portion that can form a tight fit with the positioning hole. The foldable and storable instrument stand according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic return member that biases the handle so as to engage the large diameter portion with the positioning hole, wherein the support leg adjustment mechanism further comprises an elastic return member.

3. The foldable and storable instrument stand according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastic return member comprises a pin rod and a return spring, the pin rod is connected to the large diameter portion of the handle, the return spring is fitted onto the pin rod, one end of the return spring acts on the support leg or a member fixedly connected to the support leg, and the other end acts on the large diameter portion to provide an elastic force that moves the large diameter portion outward.

4. The foldable and storable instrument stand according to claim 3, characterized in that an annular locking groove is provided in the larger diameter portion of the handle, and the position regulating member is locked in the annular locking groove and positioned on the inside of the support leg, and is used to prevent the handle from coming outwards.

5. The foldable and storable instrument stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the support legs are four in number and are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the bottom of the instrument stand body.

6. The foldable and storable instrument stand according to claim 5, characterized in that U-shaped body brackets are fixedly connected to both ends of the bottom of the instrument stand body, and the body brackets and the side wall of the instrument stand body form an assembly space for accommodating the ends of the support legs.

7. The foldable and storable instrument stand according to claim 6, characterized in that the support legs are provided with support leg brackets fixed to their ends, the support leg brackets are housed within the assembly space and are rotatably connected to the instrument stand body and the body bracket, respectively, via hinge axes.

8. The foldable and storable instrument stand according to claim 1, characterized in that a support leg storage groove for storing the support legs in a folded state is provided at the bottom of the instrument stand body.

9. The foldable and storable instrument stand according to claim 8, characterized in that a handle mounting groove is provided on the upper surface of the instrument stand body, a handle belt is attached to the handle mounting groove, the handle belt is an elastic and expandable belt, and in its natural state, the handle belt is housed in the handle mounting groove and its upper surface is not higher than the upper surface of the instrument stand body.

10. The foldable and storable instrument stand according to claim 1, characterized in that a headphone hook for hanging accessories such as headphones is attached to the bottom of the instrument stand body.

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