Violin Support Sling Using Body-Encircling Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing violin supports for the violin family often cause muscular and dermatological problems, require installation of hardware on the instrument, and can result in damage or affect tonal quality, while also needing specific clothing like trousers for use.
Innovation Solution
A flexible support sling made of materials like fabric or plastic that encircles the musician's body, securing the violin without using the chin, neck, or shoulder, allowing for adjustable and stable playing positions without hardware installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional chin and shoulder rests are used to hold the violin, then the instrument can be supported in playing position, but muscular and dermatological problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the support function from the chin and shoulder areas and relocates it to the waist/belt area. The strap attaches to the violin at the tailpiece and extends around the musician's body to secure at the waist, completely removing the need for chin rests and shoulder rests that cause muscular and dermatological problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a belt or waist support as an intermediary element between the violin and the musician's body. Instead of direct contact at the chin and shoulder, the belt acts as a mediator to distribute the support force, eliminating harmful pressure points while maintaining instrument stability.
2Reliability
If hardware is installed on the violin to attach supports, then the instrument can be securely held, but the tonal quality is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes all hardware installation requirements from the violin body. The support system attaches to the tailpiece using existing structural elements rather than installing new hardware, thereby preserving the instrument's original tonal quality while maintaining secure support.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a removable strap system that can be attached and detached without permanent modification to the violin. This disposable-like approach allows secure attachment during use without leaving permanent hardware that would affect tonal quality.
3Ease of operation
If a strap attaches to the violin by a hook on the face, then the instrument can be supported, but permanent hardware installation is required affecting tonal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the attachment point from the face of the violin and relocates it to the tailpiece area. The strap attaches to the tailpiece structure rather than requiring hooks or hardware on the face, eliminating the need for permanent installation while maintaining ease of operation.
4Ease of operation
If a chin rest is used with a strap system, then the instrument can be positioned, but tension may disengage the chin rest causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention completely removes the chin rest from the support system. By attaching the strap to the tailpiece and routing it around the body to the waist, the design eliminates the chin rest entirely, removing the risk of tension-induced disengagement and potential damage to the instrument.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved support for stringed musical instruments of the violin family, allowing the musician to play the instrument in a wide range of stable and adjustable playing positions without using pressure from the chin, jaw, neck, left hand, or shoulder resulting in comfortable playing positions and a relaxed body posture, the support sling consisting of one or more narrow lengths of flexible material slipped under the tailpiece of the instrument, over the adjacent shoulder of the musician, down diagonally across the musician's back, under the opposite underarm, and upwardly across the musician's chest until the opposite ends of the sling are adjacent to each other, whereby they may be connected to each other to form a continuous loop that extends around the body of the musician making a close and secure fit.