us8969690 violin stablizer 2015

8/16/2019 US8969690 Violin Stablizer 2015

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/us8969690-violin-stablizer-2015 1/12

USOO8969690B1

1 2 )

United

States Patent 1 0 ) P a t e n t

N 0 . : U S

8 , 9 6 9 , 6 9 0

B1

I y e r 4 5 ) D a t e o f P a t e n t :

Mar.

3 , 2 0 1 5

( 5 4 ) KNEE-REST FOR

USE

WITH INDIAN ( 5 6 ) R e f e r e n c e s C i t e d

CLASSICAL VIOLIN

U . S . PATENT DOCUMENTS

s Casavant ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ H013/0305897

A1 11/2013

Barnett ......................... .

84/327

( 7 2 )

I n v e n t o r :

Shivram

S .

I y e r ,

Potomac, MD US) _ _

* c 1 t e d by ex mmer

( 7 3 )

A s s i g n e e :

S S I

T e c h n o l o g i e s , P o t o m a c ,

MD U S ) P r i m a r y E x a m i n e r i i m b e r l y Locke“

74 A l l A 2

F'

i ghru M ~ PLLC

*

)

N o t i c e :

S u b j e c t t o

any

d i s c l a i m e r ,

t h e term of h i s

)

omey’

gen 0r

l r m

u e I o n ,

p a t e n t i s

e x t e n d e d

o r a d j u s t e d

u n d e r 3 5 ( 5 7 )

ABSTRACT

U S C 1 5 4 6 ) ) b y

0

d a y s A i o l i n k n e e - r e s t c o m p r i s i n g a s u p p o r t W i t h a

c o n n e c t i n g

_

member

t t a c h e d . A

i g i d

having

an

l o n g a t e d

opening

mem

( 2 1 ) A p p l

NO 1 4 / 5 2 1 ’ 9 8 1 b e r i s

a t t a c h e d

t o t h e c o n n e c t i n g m e m b e r . A l i d i n g member

_ i s attached

t o

a

screW

With a U haped head and a

screW

( 2 2 )

F l l e d i O C t -

2 3 : 2014

t h r e a d . The

s l i d i n g

member s

c o n ? g u r e d t o

s l i d e

a c r o s s

t h e

r i g i d member h r o u g h t h e

? r s t e l o n g a t e d

o p e n i n g .

T h e

s l i d i n g

( 5 1 ) I n t ,

C l ,

member

h a v i n g

a n e l o n g a t e d o p e n i n g i s c o n ? g u r e d t o b e

G10D

/ 1 8

(200601)

f a s t e n e d

a t

a d e s i r e d l o c a t i o n

on

h e s l i d i n g

member

by

? r s t

G10G 5 / 0 0 ( 2 0 0 6 0 1 )

Wing u t

and ? r s t w a s h e r a r r a n g e m e n t .

The

i o l i n r e c e i v i n g

( 5 2 ) U

Cl member a s

a ? r s t end Which

s

t h r e a d e d . The i o l i n r e c e i v i n g

CPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G10G / 0 0 5 ( 2 0 1 3 . 0 1 ) member a s 2 ‘ “Fond end

WhFCh

s C o n c a v e

. S h a p e d

‘ 0 how

b a s e of

t h e

v r o l r n .

The

r e c e r v r n g

member

1 s con?gured t o

USPC

........................ . 84/280 . . . .

_ _ _

s 1 1 d e

acro ss the second elongated open1ng

of

the s11d1ngmem

( 5 8 )

F l e l d

0 f

C l a S S I ? c a t l o n

s e a r C h

b e r . The

i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g member s

c o n ? g u r e d

t o

b e

f a s t e n e d

CPC

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G101) 3/18 a t a desired location o n the

Sliding

memben

USPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84/280

S e e

a p p l i c a t i o n ? l e

f o r c o m p l e t e s e a r c h

h i s t o r y .

1 4 C l a i m s ,

8

Drawing S h e e t s



US. Patent M a r . 3

2 0 1 5

S h e e t 2 0 f 8



US. Patent M a r .

3 , 2 0 1 5

S h e e t

3

0 f 8 US , 9 6 9 , 6 9 0

B1

F I G .

3



US 8 , 9 6 9 , 6 9 0

B1

heet40f8

4 a r . 3 , 2 0 1 5

S.

P a t e n t

F I G .

4



US. Patent M a r .

3 , 2 0 1 5

S h e e t

5

0 f 8 US , 9 6 9 , 6 9 0

B1

F I G .

5



US 8 , 9 6 9 , 6 9 0

B1

heet60f8

4 a r . 3 , 2 0 1 5

S.

P a t e n t



US. Patent M a r .

3 , 2 0 1 5

S h e e t

8

0 f 8 US , 9 6 9 , 6 9 0

B1

F I G . 8



U S

8 , 9 6 9 , 6 9 0 B1

1

KNEE-REST

FOR USE WITH INDIAN

CLASSICAL VIOLIN

BACKGROUND

1 . F i e l d

A . The d i s cl o s e d t e a c h i n g s r e l a t e t o a l e g

k n e e - r e s t

u s e d f o r

a n c h o r i n g

a

v i o l i n

t h a t

i s

u s e d f o r p l a y i n g i n t h e I n d i a n c l a s

s i c a l m u s i c s t y l e .

2 .

D e s c r i p t i o n

o f

t h e R e l a t e d A r t

T w o

t y p e s o f c l a s s i c a l music

s t y l e s

a r e i n vogue i n I n d i a .

They a r e named H i n d u s t a n i a n d C a r n a t i c s t y l e s o f m u s i c . I n

b o t h s t y l e s

o f m u s i c ,

v i o l i n

i s

p l a y e d b o t h

a s

a l e a d

i n s t r u m e n t

i n a chamber

music s t y l e

o r a s

an accompanying

i n s t r u m e n t .

A y p i c a l v o c a l chamber music c o n c e r t i n c l ud e s

a

l e a d

s i n g e r

a n d

p o s s i b l y

o n e

o r

t w o a c c o m p a n y i n g s i n g e r s s q u a t t i n g

c r o s s - l e g g e d

on

t h e ? o o r . One o r two accompanying v i o l i n

i s t s a l s o s i t on t h e

?oor

next t o t h e

v o c a l i s t s .

One o r two

p e r c u s s i o n i s t s a l s o s i t on t h e

?oor

on t h e

o t h e r

s i d e o f t h e

v o c a l i s t . I n

some chamber music c o n c e r t s ,

t h e r e

may e l e a d

i n s t r u m e n t a l i s t r e p l a c i n g

t h e

l e a d v o c a l i s t .

I n some c a s e s , t h e

v i o l i n i s t

h i m s e l f / h e r s e l f would

be

t h e l e a d i n s t r u m e n t a l i s t .

However,

i n

most

c a s e s

i n

t h e

C a r n a t i c

s t y l e

of

music

a

v i o l i n i s t a c c o m p a n i e s t h e l e a d

s i n g e r .

As n o t e d a b o v e ,

a l l t h e s i n g e r s

s i t

on h e ? o o r . T h e r e f o r e ,

t h e v i o l i n i s t i s

r e q u i r e d

t o s i t on t h e ? o o r . I n

w e s t e r n

v i o l i n ,

t h e v i o l i n i s t

h o l d s

t h e

bow

i n o n e

h a n d . Using

h e o t h e r

h a n d ,

t h e

v i o l i n i s t

h o l d s

down

t h e

s t r i n g on t h e

?ngerboard

a t an

a p p r o p r i a t e

l o c a t i o n

d e p e n d i n g

o n t h e

d e s i r e d f r e q u e n c y .

The

sam e hand

h a t

i s

used

o h o l d

down

h e s t r i n g i s a l s o

used o

h o l d t h e v i o l i n . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e

non-bow

hand s e r v e s t h e

d u a l p u r p o s e

o f

h o l d i n g

t h e v i o l i n

a s w e l l a s h o l d i n g down

h e

s t r i n g o n t o

t h e

? n g e r b o a r d .

H o w e v e r ,

a v i o l i n i s t p l a y s t h e I n d i a n v i o l i n w h i l e s i t t i n g

down r o s s

l e g g e d

on

h e

? o o r .

F I G .

1

shows

a v i o l i n i s t s i t t i n g

c r o s s - l e g g e d on h e ? o o r

i n

t h e

t r a d i t i o n a l

s t y l e .

F o r

a

r i g h t

handed

e r s o n , t h e r i g h t l e g i s e x t e n d e d f o r w a r d a

b i t

and h e

v i o l i n

i s anchored

between

h e

l e f t c h i n

and

h e

concave

i n n e r

p o r t i o n o f

t h e h e e l a s shown i n

F I G .

1 . As can be s e e n , i n

t h e

I n d i a n c l a s s i c a l s t y l e

o f

p l a y i n g

v i o l i n ,

t h e s t r i n g i n g

h a n d o r

t h e

non-bow

hand s u s e d o n l y t o

h o l d

down t h e s t r i n g

o n t o

t h e ? n g e r b o a r d t o g e n e r a t e t h e r i g h t n o t e .

T h i s

hand s

n o t

u s e d t o

h o l d

t h e

w e i g h t

o f t h e v i o l i n . A l s o ,

b y

h a v i n g

t h e

a b i l i t y t o move t h e f e e t

and t h e

c h i n

i n u n i s o n ,

t h e

v i o l i n i s t

d e v e l o p s a

f e e l f o r

p o s i t i o n i n g t h e v i o l in

t o g i v e

t h e maximum

e f f e c t t o h i s / h e r u n i q u e

s t y l e

o f

p l a y i n g .

A l s o ,

t h e

I n d i a n

v i o l i n i s t e n j o y s

a g r e a t e r

? e x i b i l i t y

i n t h e

u s e o f

t h e s t r i n g in g

o r non-bow

hand b e c a u s e i t i s

n o t r e q u i r e d

t o h o l d

t h e w e i g h t

o f t h e v i o l i n .

I t i s c l e a r h a t f o r p l a y i n g i n

t h e

I n d i a n s t y l e o f m u s i c

s i t t i n g

c r o s s - l e g g e d i s n e c e s s a r y . T h i s p o s e s a p r o b l e m f o r p e o p l e

who o r

some medical

reaso n cannot

s i t c r o s s

legged on

t h e

? o o r .

Such

c o n d i t i o n i s

very o f t e n seen

s

people gr o w l d e r

and have knee

r o b l e m .

I n some a s e s ,

because of

r e p l a c e

ment n e e , i t

may

o t

b e p o s s i b l e t o bend h e k n e e f o r s i t t i n g


on t h e ? o o r .

A f t e r

becoming c o m f o r t a b l e

w i t h

a n c h o r i n g t h e

v i o l i n

i n a s p e c i ? c way a c c o r d i n g t o t h e t r a d i

t i o n a l I n d i a n s t y l e o f s i t t i n g c r o s s - l e g g e d

o n t h e ? o o r ,

t h e y

w i l l

?nd t d i f ? c u l t t o p l a y v i o l i n s i t t i n g on c h a i r and

b e i n g

f o r c e d

t o h o l d

t h e

v i o l i n w i t h

t h e

s t r i n g i n g o r non-bow

h a n d .

T h i s does n o t g i v e t h e

same f e e l a s

what t h e y

a r e

used

o

and

w i l l

a f f e c t

t h e way n w h i c h t h e y

p l a y

t h e v i o l i n . T h e y w i l l

f e e l t h e n e e d t o r e l e a r n

p l a y i n g

t h e

v i o l i n

w h i l e h o l d i n g t h e

w e i g h t o f t h e v i o l i n . F o r a p r o f e s s i o n a l m u s i c i a n , t h i s c o u l d

l e a d t o a s e v e r e

undermining

of h e i r c a r e e r i f t h e y a r e unable

t o d e l i v e r

t h e

same q u a l i t y

of

music a s t h e y were

used

t o

d e l i v e r i n g b e c a u s e

o f h e

n e e d

o

h o l d

t h e

w e i g h t o f

h e v i o l i n .

2 0

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

6 5

2

F u r t h e r m o r e ,

t h e y

may a l s o

n e e d t o d e v e l o p a d d i t i o n a l

s t r e n g t h t o h o l d

t h e

w e i g h t o f

t h e v i o l i n f o r

p e r i o d s

e x t e n d i n g

i n some c a s e s

t o

t h r e e

hours

a s t h e t y p i c a l c o n c e r t s

could be

t h a t l o n g .

The d i s cl o s e d t e a c h i n g s

a r e aimed

a t overcoming t h e s e

d i s a d v a n t a g e a n d p r o v i d i n g a t e c h n i q u e

f o r

p l a y i n g t h e

v i o l i n

I n d i a n

s t y l e

w h i l e

s e a t e d

on a c h a i r and w i t h o u t t h e

need t o

h o l d

up t h e

v i o l i n u s i n g

t h e

non-bow o r s t r i n g i n g h a n d .

SUMMARY

To

overcome some

of

t h e

d i s a d v a n t a g e s

and r e a l i z e t h e

a d v a n t a g e s , t h e r e

i s p r o v i d e d

a

v i o l i n

k n e e - r e s t

f o r u s e w i t h

an I n d i a n

c l a s s i c a l

v i o l i n , t h e v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t c o m p r i s i n g a

s u p p o r t

con?gured o be s e c u r e d a r o u n d a

t h i g h

o f a v i o l i n i s t

above a k n e e . A o n n e c t i n g member s a t t a c h e d

t o

t h e ? r s t

s u p p o r t . A

i g i d member

s

a t t a c h e d t o t h e

c o n n e c t i n g mem

b e r . T h e

r i g i d m e m b e r

h a s a ? r s t

e l o n g a t e d

o p e n i n g

e x t e n d i n g

s u b s t a n t i a l l y a c r o s s a l e n g t h

o f

t h e r i g i d m e m b e r , t h e r i g i d

member b e i n g s u b s t a n t i a l l y

t r a n s v e r s e t o t h e t h i g h

o f t h e

v i o l i n i s t

when t h e

s u p p o r t i s a t t a c h e d

t o t h e t h i g h o f t h e

v i o l i n i s t . A

l i d i n g member s a t t a c h e d t o a scr ew with a

U

shaped

head and

a

screw

t h r e a d .

The

s l i d i n g

member

s

con

? g u r e d t o

s l i d e

a c r o s s t h e r i g i d

member

t h r o u g h t h e ? r s t

e l o n g a t e d o p e n i n g . T h e

s l i d i n g member s c o n ? g u r e d t o b e

f a s t e n e d a t a

d e s i r e d

l o c a t i o n on

h e s l i d i n g member by ? r s t

wing u t a n d

a ? r s t

w a s h e r a r r a n g e m e n t . The

s l i d i n g

member

h a s a

s e c o n d

e l o n g a t e d

o p e n i n g

e x t e n d i n g

s u b s t a n t i a l l y

a c r o s s a

l e n g t h o f t h e

s l i d i n g member.

The v i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g

member a s a ? r s t

end

which s t h r e a d e d .

The i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g

member has a

second

end

which

s concave shap ed o hold a

b a s e o f t h e

v i o l i n .

The r e c e i v i n g

member s


s l i d e

a c r o s s t h e s e c o n d

e l o n g a t e d o p e n i n g

o f h e s l i d i n g

mem

b e r . The

i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g

member

s

c o n ? g u r e d

t o

b e

f a s t e n e d

a t a d e s i r e d

l o c a t i o n

on t h e s l i d i n g member u s i n g a

second

wing

n u t

and

s e c o n d

washer

a r r a n g e m e n t . The c o n c a v e

s h a p e d second end a s

a

c u s h i o n i n t e r i o r t o r e s t

t h e

v i o l i n ,

t h e

c u s h i o n

b e i n g

s h a p e d

t o

h o l d a n

end

o f

t h e

v i o l i n .

I n a s p e c i ? c e n h a n c e m e n t ,

w h e r e i n

t h e

r i g i d member

s

made o f

p l a s t i c .

I n a n o t h e r s p e c i? c e n h a n c e m e n t , t h e s l i d i n g member i s

made o f

p l a s t i c .

I n a n o t h e r s p e c i ? c e n h a n c e m e n t , t h e r i g i d s l i d e r

h a s

s m o o t h

e d g e s .

I n y e t

a n o t h e r s p e c i ?c

e n h a n c e m e n t

t h e s l i d i n g member

h a s s m o o t h e d g e s .

I n

t i l l

a n o t h e r s p e c i ? c e n h a n c e m e n t , t h e c o n n e c t i n g mem

b e r i s

i n t e g r a t e d

w i t h

t h e s u p p o r t .

I n s t i l l a n o t h e r

e n h a n c e m e n t t h e s l i d i n g

member

s

i n t e

g r a t e d w i t h t h e

U

h a p e d h e a d .

I n

s t i l l

a n o t h e r

s p e c i ? c

e n h a n c e m e n t , t h e r e c e i v i n g

mem

b e r i s

made

o f l a s t i c .

I n s t i l l a n o t h e r e n h a n c e m e n t , t h e c u s h i o n i s made f

v e l v e t

m a t e r i a l .

I n s t i l l

a n o t h e r

e n h a n c e m e n t , t h e s u p p o r t i s

made

o f ?ex

i b l e

p l a s t i c

w i t h

s m o o t h s u r f a c e

c o n ? g u r e d t o b e i n g

s l i d

o n t o

t h e t h i g h o f t h e v i o l i n i s t .

I n

s t i l l

a n o t h e r

e n h a n c e m e n t , t h e

s u p p o r t c o m p r i s e s

a b e l t

c o n ? g u r e t o b e f a s t e n e d a r o u n d

t h e

t h i g h .

I n s t i l l

a n o t h e r

e n h a n c e m e n t , t h e

s u p p o r t

c o m p r i s e s a v e l

c r o

a r r a n g e m e n t

c o n ? g u r e t o b e f a s t e n e d a r o u n d t h e t h i g h .

I n

s t i l l a n o t h e r

e n h a n c e m e n t ,

a

h e i g h t a t which

h e r e c e i v

i n g

member

s p o s i t i o n i s c o n ? g u r e d t o

b e

c h a n g e d u s i n g

s p a c e r s .

Another

a s p e c t

o f

t h e d i sc l o s e d t e a c h i n g s

i s

a

method o f

h o l d i n g and

e s t i n g a v i o l i n f o r

u s e i n I n d i a n c l a s s i c a l m u s i c ,

t h e method

c o m p r i s i n g

s l i d i n g a

? e x i bl e s u p p o r t

h a v i n g a



U S

8 , 9 6 9 , 6 9 0 B1

3

r i g i d

member

t t a c h e d

t o

t h e ? e x i b l e s u p p o r t

o n t o

a t h i g h

o f

t h e

v i o l i n i s t a t

a

? r s t a p p r o p r i a t e

s p o t

s l i g h t l y

above

k n e e . A

s l i d i n g member s s l i d a c r o s s a ? r s t e l o n g a t e d

o p e n i n g

on h e

r i g i d

member o

a

s e c o n d

a p p r o p r i a t e s p o t on h e r i g i d mem

b e r .

The

s l i d i n g member s f a s t e n e d

o n t o

t h e r i g i d member t

t h e

s e c o n d a p p r o p r i a t e

s p o t .

A i o l i n r e c e i v i n g member s s l i d

a c r o s s

a

second e l o n g a t e d opening

on

h e

s l i d i n g

member

o

a t h i r d a p p r o p r i a t e s p o t

i n

t h e

s l i d i n g

member. T he v i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g member

s

f a s t e n e d a t

t h e

t h i r d a p p r o p r i a t e s p o t .

The

v i o l i n

i s

anchored on

a

concave pouch a t

an end of h e

v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g m e m b e r .

BRIEF

DESCRIPTION

OFTHE

DRAWINGS

The

above

n d / r o t h e r a s p e c t s o f h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n

w i l l

b e more a p p a r e n t b y d e s c r i b i n g

i n d e t a i l

e x e m p l a r y

e m b o d i

m e n t s t h e r e o f , w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a w i n g s

i n w h i c h :

F I G .

1 shows an I n d i a n c l a s s i c a l

v i o l i n i s t

i n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l

p o s t u r e s i t t i n g


o n

t h e

g r o u n d .

FIG.

2

shows h e I n d i a n c l a s s i c a l v i o l i n i s t s e a t e d on c h a i r

u s i n g

an

embodiment

o f

t h e

d i s c l o s e d

v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t

f o r

a n c h o r i n g t h e

v i o l i n

w h i l e

s i t t i n g

on a c h a i r .

F I G . 3 shows v a r i o u s p a r t s

and comp onents

o f an embodi

ment

of

h e d i s c l o s e d v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t .

F I G .

4

shows

t h e embodiment

o f v i o l i n

k n e e - r e s t i n an

a s s e m b l e d

f o r m .

F I G . 5

shows

an

assembled

e r s i o n o f a n o t h e r

embodiment

o f t h e v i o l in k n e e - r e s t where t h e

e d g e s

a r e

s m o o t h .

F I G . 6 shows

an embodiment

o f t h e v i o l in k n e e - r e s t with

s p a c e r s t o

a d j u s t

t h e h e i g h t o f t h e

v i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g m e m b e r .

F I G . 7 shows

an embodiment

o f t h e v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t where

t h e s u p p o r t

i s

a b e l t

con?gured

t o b e f a s t e n e d a r o u n d t h e

t h i g h .

FIG.

8

shows

an embodiment of h e v i o l i n knee e s t where

t h e s u p p o r t

i s

a v e l c r o


con?gured o b e f a s t e n e d

a r o u n d

t h e

t h i g h .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

C e r t a i n e x e m p l a r y

embodiments

a r e d e s c r i b e d i n

g r e a t e r

d e t a i l

w i t h r e f e r e n c e

t o

t h e

a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a w i n g s .

F I G . 3

shows

an exempla ry embodiment

o f

t h e d i s c l o s e d

t e a c h i n g s .

A

i o l i n k n e e - r e s t f o r use w ith an I n d i a n c l a s s i c a l

v i o l i n i s shown w i t h

t h e p a r t s

d i s a s s e m b l e d f o r

p u r p o s e s

o f

i l l u s t r a t i o n .

A u p p o r t 3 0 1

i s p r o v i d e d . The

s u p p o r t 3 0 1

i s

con?gured o be s e c u r e d around t h i g h

of

v i o l i n i s t above

a

k n e e . F I G . 2 shows a v i o l i n i s t where h e s u p p o r t

301 s

shown

t o be s e c u r e around

t h e t h i g h 201

of

t h e

v i o l i n i s t . I n t h i s

embodiment,

t h e s u p p o r t i s made f a m a t e r i a l t h a t i s ?rm

u t

? e x i b l e .

I t

c a n be expa nded t o i n s e r t

a b o v e

t h e

t h i g h b u t i t

s e c u r e s r e a s o n a b l e t i g h t l y aron h e t h i g h .

I t i s

c o n t e m p l a t e d

t h a t

t h e m a t e r i a l u s e d

and

t h e ? e x u r a l

o r b e n d i n g s t r e n g t h

s h o u l d

n o t be

t o o

high t h a t i t

i s

p a i n f u l

t o

wear

and

c a u s e s

s t o p p a g e o f t h e

b l o o d

? o w n t h e t h i g h .

A

o n n e c t i n g

member 302

s a t t a c h e d

t o

t h e s u p p o r t

301 A

r i g i d member

0 3

i s a t t a c h e d

t o t h e

c o n n e c t i n g member 0 2 .

The i g i d member a s a ? r s t


3

0 4

e x t e n d i n g

s u b s t a n t i a l l y a c r o s s t h e

l e n g t h

o f t h e r i g i d

m e m b e r . The

? r s t

e l o n g a t e d o p e n i n g 3 0 4 c a n b e

l o n g

e n o u g h

t o

p r o v i d e t h e

maximum

a n g e o f m o t i o n f o r t h e s l i d i n g member d e s c r i b e d

i n g r e a t e r d e t a i l b e l o w . H o w e v e r , t h e s t r u c t u r a l i n t e g r i t y o f h e

r i g i d member

0 3 s h o u l d

n o t

b e c o m p r o m i s e d b y

h a v i n g t o o

l a r g e a n

o p e n i n g . The

i g i d member 0 3 i s s u b st a n t i a l l y t r a n s

v e r s e

t o

t h e t h i g h

201

o f

t h e v i o l i n i s t when t h e

s u p p o r t i s

a t t a c h e d t o t h e t h i g h 201 of h e v i o l i n i s t a s

shown

i n

F I G .

2 .

2 0

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

6 5

4

A

l i d i n g member 305 i s a t t a c h e d

t o

a screw with a

U-shaped

head

307

and

screw h r e a d 3 0 6 . The

s l i d i n g

mem

b e r 305

i s

con?gured t o s l i d e a c r o s s t h e r i g i d

member 3 0 3

t h r o u g h t h e ? r s t


3 0 4 ,

T h e

s l i d i n g member

i s con?gured

o be

f a s t e n e d

a t

a d e s i r e d l o c a t i o n on h e

r i g i d

member 303 by

a

? r s t

wing

n u t

309 and a ? r s t washer 310

a r r a n g e m e n t .

The c o n n e c t i n g member 3 0 2 i s

U

h a p e d s uc h t h a t t h e

s p a c e 308

i n between

t h e

U-shape

w i l l e n a b l e t h e

s c r e w 306

a t t a c h e d t o

t h e s l i d i n g member 0 5

( d e s c r i b e d

i n

d e t a i l

l a t e r

o n ) t o

e a s i l y b e f a s t e n e d a t a n y p o s i t i o n i n

t h e

e l o n g a t e d

o p e n i n g

3 0 4

w i t h o u t f a c i n g a n y

o b s t r u c t i o n .

The l i d i n g member 3 0 5 h a s

a

s e c o n d e l o n g a t e d o p e n i n g

3 1 1 e x t e n d i n g


a c r o s s t h e

l e n g t h o f

t h e

s l i d i n g

member

0 5 . The


3 1 1

c a n b e l o n g

enough

t o

p r o v i d e

t h e maximum

r a n g e o f

m o t i o n f o r t h e

v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g

member

3 1 2 d e s c r i b e d i n g r e a t e r

d e t a i l

b e l o w . H o w e v e r , t h e s t r u c t u r a l i n t e g r i t y o f t h e s l i d i n g mem

b e r 3 0 5

s h o u l d

n o t b e

compromised

b y h a v i n g

t o o

l a r g e a n

o p e n i n g .

A

i o l i n r e c e i v i n g

member

312

s p r o v i d e d t o

h o l d

a b a s e

o f t h e v i o l i n .

The

v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g member a s a ? r s t end 317

which

i s

t h r e a d e d .

The


member

312

h a s

a

second end 316 which s concave shap ed o

h o l d

a

b a s e

of h e

v i o l i n . The

i o l i n r e c e i v i n g member

1 2 i s


s l i d e

a c r o s s

t h e

s e c o n d e l o n g a t e d o p e n i n g 311 o f

t h e

s l i d i n g mem

b e r

3 0 5 .

The

i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g member 312

s

c o n ? g u r e d

t o b e

f a s t e n e d

a t

a d e s i r e d l o c a t i o n on t h e s l i d i n g member u s i n g a

s e c o n d

wing

u t

3 1 3

a n d s e c o n d w a s h e r a r r a n g e m e n t 3 1 4 a n d

t h e s c r e w t h r e a d s a t t h e ? r s t end 317 of h e v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g

member 3 1 2 .

The

c o n c a v e s h a p e d

s e c o n d e n d 3 1 6 o f h e v i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g

member a s c u s h i o n

i n t e r i o r

315 t o r e s t t h e v i o l i n , t h e

c u s h

i o n

b e i n g

shaped

o h o l d an end of

h e

v i o l i n a s

shown

n F I G .

2. The cushion can be made

of

e l v e t o r o t h e r

s u i t a b l e

mate

r i a l t h a t

c a n p r o v i d e

c u s h i o n i n g .

T h i s i s i n t e n d e d t o

l e s s e n t h e

i m p a c t

o f t h e

v i o l i n w i t h

a n y

r i g i d s u r f a c e .

The i n v e n t o r

b e l i e v e s

t h a t

t h e

t o n a l q u a l i t y

o f

t h e

s o u n d

w i l l

b e

a f f e c t e d

i f

t h e

v i o l i n i s anchored t o

a r i g i d

s u r f a c e .

F I G .

4 shows t h e embodiment d e s c r i b e d

above w i t h a l l

t h e

p a r t s a s s e m b l e d . As can

be s e e n ,

t h e assembled s t r u c t u r e i s

s i m p l e

b u t p r o v i d e s

s u f ? c i e n t a n d c o m f o r t a b l e p o s i t i o n i n g

f o r

t h e b a s e o f t h e v i o l i n w i t h o u t

u n d u l y

a f f e c t i n g t h e t o n a l

q u a l i t y

o r

t h e

o f

t h e v i o l i n i s t . F I G . 4 a l s o

shows

t h e d i r e c t i o n

and r a n g e o f motion r o v i d e d by h e v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t .

As c a n

be s e e n i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h F I G .

2 ,

a v i o l i n i s t

i s p r o v i d e w i t h

i m m e n s e ? e x i b i l i t y i n

While

t h e embodiment

shown

i n F I G . 3 i s s i m p l e and c a n

b e

made by c a r p e n t e r i n a w o r k s h o p u s i n g

wood

n d s i m p l e

commonly

f o u n d

a n d a f f o r d a b l e

m a t e r i a l s ,

t h e s u r fa c e s

c o u l d

be

r o u g h .

F I G .

5

shows an

assembled v e r s i o n

o f

a n o t h e r

embodiment

o f

t h e v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t where t h e

e d g e s

a r e

s m o o t h . S i n c e

i t

i s

c o n t e m p l a t e d t h a t

t h e

k n e e r e s t

i s u s e d

i n

c l o se c o n t a c t

t o

t h e

b o d y , t h e r e i s a n a d v a n t a g e t o a v o i d i n g

r o u g h

s u r f a c e s .

I n

t h e

embodiment shown i n F I G . 5 , most o f

t h e p a r t s a r e

made o f p l a s t i c w i t h

smooth s u r f a c e s .

S i n c e

t h e

s t r u c t u r e i s

made

o f l a s t i c , p a r t s

c a n

b e i n t e g r a t e d w i t h

e a c h

o t h e r

a n d molded o g e t h e r .

I n

t h e

embodiment shown i n F I G . 5 , t h e s u p p o r t 3 0 1 a n d

t h e c o n n e c t i n g member 0 2 and h e r i g i d member

0 3

o f

F I G .

3

a r e

i n t e g r a t e d

i n i n t o

a

s i n g l e

s u p p o r t

s t r u c t u r e 5 0 1 . O t h e r

w i s e , t h e s e p a r t s f u n c t i o n

i n t h e

same f a s h i o n a s i n

t h e

embodiment

f

F I G . 3 . L i k e w i s e , t h e


0 5 , t h e

screw with a

U-shaped

head

307

and a screw thread 306 a r e

i n t e g r a t e d

t o g e t h e r

i n t o a

s l i d i n g s t r u c t u r e 5 0 2 .

Both 5 0 1 a n d

502 have smooth s u r f a c e s and a r e made o f molded

l a s t i c

i n

t h e embodiment

o f

F I G . 5 .



U S

8 , 9 6 9 , 6 9 0 B1

5

As

can

be

s e e n , b e c a u s e

of

h e r a n g e

of mo tions

p r o v i d e d

b y

t h e


0 5

a n d

t h e v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g e n d

3 1 2 i n

t h e

d i r e c t i o n s

t r a n s v e r s e

a n d

p a r a l l e l

t o

t h e t h i g h o f t h e v i o

l i n i s t , t h e v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g

member 312

c a n

be

o s i t i o n e d a t a

wide

r a n g e

o f l o c a t i o n s . I n

a d d i t i o n

t o

t h e s e

p o s i t i o n s , i t

w i l l

b e a d v a n t a g e o u s t o b e a b l e t o

a d j u s t

t h e h e i g h t a t which h e

v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g member s p o s i t io n e d . I n t h e embodiment

shown on

FIG.

6 ,

one

or more spacers

601

can be

added o

the

t h r e a d a t

t h e ? r s t

end

317

o f

t h e

v i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g

member.

While i n t h e embodiment

o f

F I G . 3 , t h e s u p p o r t

i s

a r i g i d

b u t ? e x i b l e

m a t e r i a l

w i t h

a

good ? e x u r a l

o r b e n d i n g s t r e n g t h ,

i n t h e

embodiment

shown n F I G . 7 , a b e l t


701 s

shown which

can be

u s e d . The

v i o l i n i s t

would

s t r a p

t h e s u p

p o r t t h e b e l t a r r a n g e m e n t u s i n g t h e b u c k l e 7 0 2 a n d t h e a p p r o

p r i a t e h o l e 7 0 3 .

I n t h e

embodiment

of

I G . 8

a

s t r a p 801 w i t h v e l c r o 802

s

u s e d

t o f a s t e n t h e v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t o n t o t h e t h i g h o f t h e v i o

l i n i s t .

I n

o p e r a t i o n ,

a

v i o l i n i s t would ? r s t be s e a t e d

a

on

h e c h a i r

and

e t a

f e e l

o f t h e

p o s i t i o n

and o c a t i o n

on

h e

t h i g h

t h a t

t h e

v i o l i n i s t

would

l i k e t h e knee r e s t t o be p o s i t i o n e d . The

v i o

l i n i s t would

t h e n

f a s t e n t h e s u p p o r t 3 0 1

o n t o

t h e p o s i t i o n i n

t h e

t h i g h .

The

i o l i n i s t

would

h e n

s l i d e

t h e


305

a c r o s s

t h e ? r s t e l o n g a t e d

o p e n i n g 304 and

?nd

a n a p p r o

p r i a t e

s p o t

t o f a s t e n

t h e

s l i d i n g member 3 0 5 o n t o

t h e

r i g i d

member 3 0 3 . The v i o l i n i s t would

t h e n f a s t e n t h e s l i d i n g

member

3 0 5

o n t o t h e r i g i d member

a t

t h e a p p r o p r i a t e s p o t

u s i n g

t h e s c r e w 3 0 6 , t h e ? r s t wing

u t

309 and h e ? r s t w a s h e r

3 1 0 .

The

i o l i n i s t w i l l t h e n s l i d e t h e v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g member

312

a c r o s s t h e


311

on

t h e s l i d i n g

member 305 t o d e t e r m i n e

a s e c o n d

a p p r o p r i a t e s p o t .

The

v i o l i n i s t

w i l l

t h e n

f a s t e n t h e v i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g

member 3 1 2 a t

t h e s e c o n d a p p r o p r i a t e s p o t u s i n g t h e t h r e a d a t t h e

? r s t

e n d

317

o f t h e v i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g m e m b e r ,

t h e s e c o n d wing u t 3 1 3

and

h e s e c o n d

washer

1 4 . A f t e r t h a t t h e

v i o l i n i s t

w i l l

a n c h o r

t h e

end of

h e

v i o l i n

on h e

cushion

315

t

t h e

second conca ve

e n d

316 o f

t h e v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g member 1 2 .

Although

a

few

embodiments

have

been

shown

and

d e s c r i b e d ,

i t

would

b e a p p r e c i a t e d

by

t h o s e s k i l l e d i n

t h e

a r t

t h a t c h a n g e s

may

b e made i n

t h i s

embodiment w i t h o u t

d e p a r t i n g f r o m t h e

p r i n c i p l e s

a n d s p i r i t o f t h e i n v e n t i o n , t h e

s c o p e

o f which

s

de?ned

i n

t h e

c l a i m s

and

h e i r e q u i v a l e n t s .

What s

c l a i m e d i s :

1 .

A i o l i n

k n e e - r e s t f o r

u s e

with an n d i a n

c l a s s i c a l

v i o l i n ,

t h e v i o l i n

k n e e - r e s t c o m p r i s i n g :

a s u p p o r t con?gured

t o

be s e c u r e d aron t h i g h o f a

v i o l i n i s t

above a

k n e e ;

a c o n n e c t i n g member

a t t a c h e d

t o

t h e

? r s t

s u p p o r t ;

a r i g i d

member t t a c h e d t o

t h e

c o n n e c t i n g member;

t h e

r i g i d member

a v i n g a

? r s t


e x t e n d

i n g


a c r o s s

a

l e n g t h o f

h e

r i g i d m e m b e r ,

t h e

r i g i d member

e i n g

s u b s t a n t i a l l y t r a n s v e r s e

t o

t h e t h i g h

o f

t h e v i o l i n i s t

when h e

s u p p o r t i s a t t a c h e d t o

t h e

t h i g h

o f t h e

v i o l i n i s t ;

a s l i d i n g member

t t a c h e d

t o a scr ew with

U haped

head

and a

s c r e w

t h r e a d , t h e s l i d i n g

member

con?gured t o

s l i d e

a c r o s s t h e

r i g i d member h r o u g h

t h e

? r s t

e l o n g a t e d

o p e n i n g ,

t h e

s l i i n g member o n ? g u r e d o b e f a s t e n e d

a t

a d e s i r e d l o c a t i o n on h e r i g i d member by ? r s t wing u t

and a

? r s t

washer

a r r a n g e m e n t ;

2 0

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

6

t h e s l i d i n g member h a v i n g a s e c o n d

e l o n g a t e d

o p e n i n g

e x t e n d i n g s u b s t a n t i a l l y

a c r o s s a

l e n g t h o f

t h e

s l i d i n g

m e m b e r ;

a

v i o l i n r e c e i v i n g member h a v i n g

a

? r s t

end

which

i s

t h r e a d e d ;

t h e

v i o l i n

r e c e i v i n g member a v i n g a s e c o n d e n d which s

concave shaped o

hold

a

b a s e

of h e

v i o l i n ;

t h e r e c e i v i n g

member

e i n g

c o n ? g u r e d

t o

s l i d e

a c r o s s t h e


o f

t h e s l i d i n g

m e m b e r ;

t h e


member

con?gured

o be

f a s t e n e d a t

a

d e s i r e d

l o c a t i o n on t h e

s l i d i n g member u s i n g

a s e c o n d

wing n u t

a n d

s e c o n d

w a s h e r

a r r a n g e m e n t ;

a n d

t h e

concave shap ed secondend a v i n g

a c u s h i o n

i n t e r i o r

t o

r e s t

t h e

v i o l i n ,

t h e

c u s h i o n

b e i n g

s h a p e d t o h o l d a n end

o f t h e

v i o l i n .

2 . The v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t o f

c l a i m

1 ,

w h e r e i n

t h e

r i g i d mem

b e r i s made o f

l a s t i c .

3 .

The

v i o l i n

k n e e - r e s t o f c l a i m 1 , w h e r e i n t h e s l i d i n g i s

made o f

p l a s t i c .

4 .

The

v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t

o f c l a i m 1 , w h e r e i n

t h e r i g i d

mem

b e r h a s

s m o o t h e d g e s .

5 .

The

v i o l i n

k n e e - r e s t o f c l a i m 1 , w h e r e i n t h e s l i d i n g

member

a s

s m o o t h

e d g e s .

6 .

The

v i o l i n

k n e e - r e s t

o f

c l a i m

1 , where t h e c o n n e c t i n g

member

s

i n t e g r a t e d

w i t h

t h e

s u p p o r t a n d

t h e

r i g i d m e m b e r .

7 . The v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t

o f c l a i m

1 , w h e r e i n t h e s l i d i n g

member s

i n t e g r a t e d

w i t h

t h e

U h a p e d head a n d

t h e

s c r e w

t h r e a d .

8 . The v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t

o f c l a i m

1 , where h e v i o l i n r e c e i v

i n g member

s

made

o f

l a s t i c .

9 . The v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t o f

c l a i m

1 , w h e r e i n

t h e

c u s h i o n i s

made o f v e l v e t

m a t e r i a l .

1 0 .

The v i o l i n

k n e e - r e s t

o f c l a i m 1 w h e r e i n t h e s u p p o r t i s

made

o f a

? e x i b l e p l a s t i c w i t h

smooth s u r f a c e and

c o n ? g u r e d

t o b e i n g

s l i d

o n t o

t h e

t h i g h a n d

c l a m p

t i g h t l y o n

t h e

t h i g h .

1 1 .

The

v i o l i n k n e e - r e s t o f c l a i m 1 , w h e r e i n t h e

s u p p o r t

c o m p r i s e s

a b e l t c o n ? g u r e d

t o

b e

f a s t e n e d a r o u n d t h e t h i g h .

1 2 . The

v i o l i n

k n e e - r e s t o f c l a i m 1 , w h e r e i n t h e s u p p o r t

c o m p r i s e s a v e l c r o


c o n ? g u r e t o b e f a s t e n e d

a r o u n d t h e t h i g h .

1 3 .

The

v i o l in k n e e - r e s t o f c l a i m 1 , wherein a

h e i g h t

a t

w h i c h t h e r e c e i v i n g

member s p o s i t i o n i s

c o n ? g u r e d t o b e

c h a n g e d

u s i n g

s p a c e r s .

1 4 . A

method

o f h o l d i n g

and

r e s t i n g

a

v i o l i n f o r u s e

i n

I n d i a n c l a s s i c a l m u s i c , t h e m e t h o d c o m p r i s i n g :

s l i d i n g

a

? e x i b l e s u p p o r t h a v i n g

a

r i g i d member t t a c h e d t o

t h e ? e x i bl e s u p p o r t o n t o a t h i g h of t h e

v i o l i n i s t

a t an

a p p r o p r i a t e s p o t s l i g h t l y

a b o v e

a k n e e ;

s l i d i n g

a s l i d i n g

member

a c r o s s a

? r s t e l o n g a t e d o p e n i n g

on t h e r i g i d member o a ? r s t a p p r o p r i a t e

s p o t ;

f a s t e n i n g t h e s l i d i n g member n t o t h e

r i g i d

member t

t h e

a p p r o p r i a t e s p o t ;

s l i d i n g a r e c e i v i n g

member

a c r o s s a second e l o n g a t e d

o p e n i n g

on

t h e

s l i d i n g

member

o

a

s e c o n d


s p o t ;

f a s t e n i n g t h e

r e c e i v i n g

member t t h e s e c o n d


s p o t ;

anchoring

t h e

v i o l i n

on a

concave

pouch

a t an end of

h e

r e c e i v i n g m e m b e r .

us8969690 violin stablizer 2015

Documents