Violin Shoulder Rest Movable Pad Bridge Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoulder rests for violins and violas lack sufficient adjustability and ergonomics to accommodate instruments of different sizes and musicians' body structures and posture preferences, limiting comfort and playability.
Innovation Solution
The shoulder rest features a bridge beam with a length-adjusting mechanism and independently adjustable shoulder-engaging pads, allowing for decoupled adjustment of the pad position relative to the bridge beam, and includes modular pads connected to arm carriages that translate within a groove, along with a freeform inelastically deformable material for conforming to the shoulder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the shoulder rest uses a fixed bridge beam structure, then the manufacturing is simple, but the adaptability to different instrument sizes and musician body structures is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge beam is segmented into multiple sections with adjustable lengths, allowing the shoulder rest to be customized for different instrument sizes and musician body structures. The bridge beam can be divided into adjustable segments that can be reconfigured to match various shoulder widths and instrument dimensions, thereby improving adaptability without requiring a completely new design for each case.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoulder rest incorporates movable and adjustable components in the bridge beam structure, transforming it from a static fixed structure to a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the bridge beam to be reconfigured in real-time to accommodate different musicians and instruments, enhancing versatility while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through modular design.
2Ease of operation
If the shoulder rest uses an integrated pad structure fixed to the bridge, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation for adjusting pad position is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The pad structure is separated from the bridge beam into independent adjustable components. The pad can be positioned at different locations along the bridge beam and secured at desired positions, allowing easy adjustment of pad position relative to the bridge without requiring complex integrated mechanisms. This segmentation enables independent adjustment of pad position while maintaining simple individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary adjustment mechanism is introduced between the pad and the bridge beam, allowing the pad to be easily repositioned along the bridge beam. This intermediary component facilitates smooth adjustment of pad position while keeping both the pad and bridge beam structures relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the shoulder rest allows independent adjustment of pad position relative to the bridge, then the ergonomics are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment system is segmented into independent modules: bridge beam length adjustment, pad position adjustment along the bridge, and pad angle adjustment. Each module can be adjusted independently to achieve optimal ergonomics for different musicians. This modular segmentation allows comprehensive ergonomic customization while keeping each adjustment mechanism relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanisms are designed with universal features that can accommodate multiple adjustment needs through a single system. The bridge beam adjustment system serves multiple functions: adjusting overall length, positioning the pad, and setting the angle. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized mechanisms, thereby improving ergonomics while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A shoulder rest for a violin or viola comprises a bridge beam having a first end and a second end and a shoulder-engaging pad mounted to a block having a beam-engaging portion that is shaped to slide over the bridge beam. The shoulder rest includes a first foot disposed at the first end for gripping the violin or viola and a second foot disposed at the second end for gripping the violin or viola. In another implementation, the shoulder rest includes a first shoulder-engaging pad mounted to a first arm that is connected to an arm carriage disposed within a groove in the bridge beam and a second shoulder-engaging pad mounted to a second arm that is connected to the arm carriage.