Contoured Resilient Shoulder Rest for Stringed Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoulder rests for violins and violas often fail to provide comfortable and secure support, are difficult to attach without damaging the instrument, and do not accommodate various physical variations of musicians effectively.
Innovation Solution
A shoulder rest made from resilient materials like expanded polymer foam, with a semi-circular configuration conforming to the instrument's shape, featuring a planar surface for the instrument and a contoured surface for the shoulder, detachably secured by an elastic band, and optionally laminated for additional stability, allowing for easy attachment and adjustment to fit different musicians and instrument sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a shoulder rest is made from resilient materials with contoured surfaces to conform to the instrument and musician's shoulder, then comfort and support are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulder rest employs contoured surfaces with curved geometries that conform to both the instrument's back and the musician's shoulder anatomy. The resilient material is molded into ergonomic shapes that provide natural support without requiring additional mechanical components, thus improving comfort while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes variations in material density and firmness within the resilient foam structure to create different support zones. By changing the physical parameters of the material itself rather than adding mechanical components, the design achieves enhanced comfort and adaptability without increasing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If an elastic band is used to detachably secure the shoulder rest to the instrument, then ease of attachment and removal is improved, but the reliability of secure attachment may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic band functions as a flexible constraint element that wraps around the instrument's body to secure the shoulder rest. This flexible film approach allows for easy attachment and removal while maintaining sufficient holding force through the elastic tension, balancing ease of operation with reliable attachment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the shoulder rest is designed to accommodate various physical variations of musicians through adjustable features, then adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulder rest is designed as a universal device that accommodates various musician sizes and instrument types through its contoured resilient body and elastic band attachment system. The same basic structure serves multiple functions and adapts to different users without requiring additional components or complex adjustment mechanisms.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the shoulder rest uses a larger elastic loop to secure the back of the instrument, then the instrument is better protected from damage, but the device complexity and difficulty of attachment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The large elastic loop functions as a flexible protective element that distributes attachment forces across a broader area of the instrument's body. This flexible film approach protects the instrument from damage by avoiding concentrated stress points while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece construction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The shoulder rest provides comfortable support, secure attachment without damaging the instrument, and accommodates various musician sizes, ensuring proper instrument positioning and stability during play, while being easy to install and remove.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic band which is attached to the end button of the instrument and stretched across the bottom points of the C-bouts on the back of the instrument
Implementation Method 2
a soft, flexible, resilient body having gradually rounded sides
Data Source
AI summary
An improved shoulder rest for a stringed instrument such as a violin or a viola. The rest has a curved edge conforming to the shape of the tail piece of the instrument. One surface of the rest is planar and is positioned against the bottom of the tail piece. The opposite surface has a first region and a second region of increased thickness. An intermediate region transitions between the first and second region. The rest is formed from a resilient foam material and is detachably secured to the instrument by an elastic band extending between the C-bouts and the end button. In a playing position, the thicker second region is placed over the collar bone area of the musician and the thinner first region extends forwardly along the shoulder so as to not raise the instrument.