GB2431768A

GB2431768A - Protective case for a stringed musical instrument headstock

Info

Publication number: GB2431768A
Application number: GB0602610A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lawrence Adeokun
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-25
Filing date: 2006-02-09
Publication date: 2007-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-09
Also published as: GB0517412D0; GB0602610D0; GB2431768A8; GB2431768B

Abstract

A protective case for the headstock of a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, violin or cello, has a rigid rectangular shell 20 and a front cover 6 which is hingedly attached 7 to the shell. The case is attached to the headstock of the instrument by means of bolts 1 which can be screwed through holes 2 provided in the two side walls and end wall of the shell to engage the sides and end of the headstock. An under nut support mechanism 8 extends under the nut of the instrument and allows the case to be attached by means of bolts (10, fig 8) to the end of the instrument's neck. Further support for the headstock and protection against shock may be provided by rubber knobs 5 screwed to the base of the shell 20 and a padded claw mechanism 3. The knobs 5 may be slidable within grooves (12, fig 6.3) to accommodate different headstock shapes. Use of the case allows the instrument to be stored and transported in a soft carry case without the risk of accidentally displacing the tuning machines.

Description

2431768

Protective Case

The invention relates to a Head Stock Protective Case. The Head Stock (illustrated in Figures A and B below) is the part of the instrument that bears the tuning machines to which the strings are connected. The guitar is used as the instrument of choice for illustration. Hard Cases and Carry cases for guitars are practically required accessories for any guitar owner.

There are various causes for a guitar going out of tune. Old strings, rusty strings or oxidized strings or dirty strings won't stay in proper tune. Once the string-related tuning problems have been eradicated, the hard case is often a safe enough bet for guitar storage. Unfortunately, due to size, ergonomics and weight, the hard case is not as popular as the slim carry cases (made from padded synthetic fabric in most cases). These cases, however, leaves the pins prone to being displaced. For example, leaning the guitar against the wall or in a position where the tuning machines can be displaced.

An object of the invention is to provide a protective case for the (guitar) headstock that allows the instrument to be stored and transported in the soft carry case without the risk of tuning machines' displacement.

Accordingly, this invention provides a case that comprises a hard protective case with a front cover for the headstock and a support/attachment mechanism for the purpose of securing the protective case under the nut on the fret board.

Preferably, the invention should be made from metal sheets or a rigid material with equal flexibility that will not break, crack or snap under extreme usage.

It employs the use of specially designed parts to ensure the headstock is "suspended" in the protective case with no risk of tuning machine displacement.

The preferred embodiment of the headstock case described uses the classic 6/0 (left -and right-handed) and 3/3 shape headstocks for the purpose of illustration and to demonstrate the essential features of the invention. The classic 6/0 and 3/3 shape headstocks are shown in figure A and B respectively.

NOTE: As many manufacturers produce guitars with non-classic headstocks, the invention is not designed as a one size fits all and thus can be custom-made according to requirement. The GUITAR is used for the purpose of illustration but the HEADSTOCK CASE is designed for use with instruments with a HEADSTOCK and TUNNING MACHINES, e.g., Bass Guitar, Violin, Cello, Double Bass, etc. The dimensions would have to be varied accordingly

I.

Various guitar makers follow a variation of these two shapes but the general outline is the same.

The actual invention can be varied in dimensions, material or implementation depending on the headstock it's designed for. The manufacturer can also decide on an appropriate outer covering for the invention. Please note that the diagrams are not to scale and are for illustrative purposes only.

There will now proceed a detailed explanation of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the following graphical illustrations.

FIGURE 1 shows the side view of the invention.

FIGURE 2 shows a front view of the invention. The illustration is drawn as if the constructing material is transparent in nature.

FIGURE 3 shows the Octagonal Bolt 2. These are fitted to the required sides of the case to allow the Snap-Lock-Tipped Screw/Nut l and the Padded-Claw 3 grip to suspend the headstock inside the case.

FIGURE 4 shows the Snap-Lock-Tipped Screw/Nut 1.

FIGURE 4.1 shows a magnified illustration of the Snap-Lock Tip 11.

FIGURE 5 shows the Padded-Claw 3 (headstock "grip").

FIGURE 6 shows the Headstock Rest Knob 5, (See Figure 1 and also Figure 12, item labelled B for an illustration of the headstock "resting" on the Knobs).

FIGURE 6.1 shows the Square-Head Screw 13 used in securing the Headstock Knob 12

(Figure 6.2) in place and also for sliding the rest-knobs in to different positions (Figure 6.3).

FIGURE 6.2 shows the Headstock Knob 12 of the Headstock Rest Knob 5.

FIGURE 6.3 shows the Headstock Rest Knob Slide Groove 14. This is located on the bottom of the case (see Figure 1).

FIGURE 7 shows the Bolt Bay 4 (see Figure 1).

FIGURE 7.1 shows a three dimensional view of the Bolt Bay 4

FIGURE 8 shows the Under-Nut Support 8.

FIGURE 8.1 shows the Retaining Bolt 16 (see Figure 8). This bolt has a "lip" round one end and is sealed on the other end. It allows the Under-Nut Support 8 to be tightened firmly around the guitar neck.

FIGURE 8.2 shows the Under-Nut Support Screw 10. This is assumed to be the same thread as the Snap-Lock-Tipped Screw/Nut 1 since the same Octagonal Bolt 2 is used in the construction of the Under-Nut Support 8.

FIGURE 8.3 shows a side view of the section, labelled N in Figure 8. The Under-Nut Support Joining Arm 9 is not included to simplify the illustration

FIGURE 9 shows the assembled invention.

2

FIGURE 10 shows the assembled invention and how the headstock would be inserted. FIGURE 11 shows the constituent parts of the Under-Nut Support 8.

FIGURE 12 shows the invention with a 6/o shape headstock secured in place.

FIGURE 13 shows the invention from the front view with a 6/0 headstock secured in place.

As shown in Figure 1 and 2, the case comprises of the Rectangular Shell 20, which is the main body; a Front Cover 6; an Under-Nut Support 8 and a pair of Under-Nut Support Joining Arm 9 to attach the Under-Nut Support 8 to the Rectangular Shell 20. The Rectangular Shell 20 could be made from two sheets of metal or a thick sheet of metal or similar material.

On both sides and top of the Rectangular Shell 20, there is a number of Bolt Bays 4. This consists of a number of Octagonal Bolts 2 (see Figure 1). Ideally, the octagonal bolts should be welded in place by making octagonal holes in the sides and top of the case. The metal strips, labelled A in Figure 7 are added for further re-enforcement. These strips could be welded at the four joints, labelled Bi, B2, B3 and B4. Alternatively, slits could be made at the four points to allow the strips to be fed through to the other side so as to provide outer re-enforcement and inner re-enforcement. Each strip is then welded to for a band round the upper part and lower part of the bay of bolts. Hence, the illustration should be deemed accurate from the outer view and the inner view of the case.

Once the Bolt Bay 4 is successfully created, the Snap-Lock-Tipped Screw/Nut 1 can be screwed in place as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. The Padded-Claw 3 can then be attached. This is fitted to the Snap-Lock Tip 11 of the Snap-Lock-Tipped Screw/Nut 1. The diameter of the hole in the center of the Padded-Claw 3 must be bigger than the diameter of the Snap-Lock Tip 11. This is essential to allow the Padded-Claw 3 a rotating movement to keep it in position whilst tightening the Snap-Lock-Tipped Screw/Nut 1. The Snap-Lock-Tipped Screw/Nut 1, the Padded-Claw 3 and the Octagonal Bolt 2 are also referred to as the Suspension Support.

In Figure 2, there is a set of Headstock Rest Knob 5 and accompanying Headstock Rest Knob Slide Groove 12 at the bottom of the Rectangular Shell 20. The Headstock Rest Knob 5 comprises two parts illustrated in Figure 6.1: Square-Head Screw 13 and Figure 6.2: Headstock Knob 12.

The Headstock Knob 12 consists of an embedded bolt, labelled A in figure 6.2 and an outer casing made from a firm rubbeiy material to minimize sliding. This outer casing should also provide some shock absorption by being compressible in nature. The embedded bolt should be located a few millimetres' recess from the surface labelled B in Figure 6.2. For illustrative purposes, the embedded bolt is drawn in a circular shape.

The Front Cover 6 is attached to the Rectangular Shell 20 using a pair of Front Cover Hinges 7 on either side (see figure 2)

The Under-Nut Support 8 is made primarily from two strips, an Outer-Strip 17 and an Inner-Strip 18. Both are bent to achieve a curve similar to the rear of a guitar neck/fret board and attached together at the Strips-Joining Point 21 in Figure 8. The Inner-Strip 18 has a padding material, Inner-Strip Padding 19, attached to provide protection and shock absorption for the guitar neck. NOTE that this padding could be attached to an encasing material if one is used. The strips should be rigid enough to maintain shape but also with

3

enough flexibility to allow the Under-Nut Support 8 to be pulled in the directions, labelled I and J (Figure 8) so the guitar neck/fret board can be put in place in the direction, labelled K. Figure 10 and 12 helps to understand this better. An Octagonal Bolt 2 fixed to the Outer-Strip 17 allows the Under-Nut Support 8 to be tightened round the guitar neck in the directions, labelled L and M (Figure 8).

Figure 11 shows the constituent parts of the Under-Nut Support 8. In addition to the explanation of how the Outer-Strip 17 and the Inner-Strip 18 are joined together, it illustrates other steps in constructing the Under-Nut Support 8. The Inner-Strip Lips 20 are bent in the directions, labelled by arrows 1 and 2 respectively. The Under-Nut Support Joining Arm 9 is joined to the part, labelled E in Figure 11. It then joins the Under-Nut Support 8 to the Rectangular Shell 20.

4

Kev to Drawings

1 = Snap-Lock-Tipped Screw/Nut

2 = Octagonal Bolt

3 = Padded-Claw

4 = Bolt-Bay

5 = Headstock Rest Knob

6 = Front Cover

7 = Front Cover Hinge

8 = Under-Nut Support

9 = Under-Nut Support Joining Arm

10 = Under-Nut Support Screw

11 = Snap-Lock Tip

12 = Headstock Knob

13 = Square-Head Screw

14 = Headstock Rest Knob Slide Groove

15 = Square-Head Screw Guide: Grooves to allow square-head screw 13 to slide in to various positions as required. Typical usage would be when switching from a right-hand guitar to a left-hand guitar. (See also Fig 6)

16 = Retaining Bolt

17 = Outer-Strip

18 = Inner-Strip

19 = Inner-Strip Padding

20 = Inner-Strip Lip

21 = Strips Joining Point

22 = Rectangular Shell

23 = Top of case

24 = Back/Bottom of case/shell

25 = Side of Case/Shell

26 = Snap Lock Mechanism

27 = Groove on Padded Claw 3 used to attach the Padded Claw 3 to the Snap-Lock-Tipped

Screw/Nut 1 using the Snap Lock Mechanism 26

28 = Embedded Bolt in Headstock Knob 12

29 = Front Cover Lip

Claims

1. A case that comprises a hard protective case with a front cover for the instrument (e.g. guitar) headstock and a support/attachment mechanism for the purpose of securing the protective case under the nut on the fret board.

2. A case as claimed in Claim l where the protective case is rectangular or any other shape that's more fitting to the guitar headstock its designed for

3. A case as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where the guitar headstock is suspended in the protective case through the use of combinations of padded claws, bolts and screws (referred to as a Suspension Support).

4. A case as claimed in Claim 3 with one Suspension Support on the top of the case and two on the right/left side for a 6/0 shape headstock, two Suspension Support on the top of the case for a 3/0 shape headstock or a similar variation.

5. A case as claimed in any preceding claim where the headstock rests on shock-absorption knobs/pads to add further stability to that provided by the Suspension Support.

6. A case as claimed in any preceding claim where the knobs/pad may slide along a grove cut in the back/bottom of the protective case to allow adjustment to fit different headstocks or both right-handed and left-handed headstock.

7. A Case as claimed in any preceding claim where the dimensions and/or shape differ to accommodate different instrument Tuning Machine sizes, for example a Bass Guitar, violin, cello.

8. A case as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made from metal, plastics material, or a rigid material with similar durability and flexibility, or a combination of these materials, with an outer protective layer for aesthetics or other reasons.

9. A case substantially as described above and in the accompanying drawings.

1

9. A case as claimed in any preceding claim where the constituent parts may be detachable or each constituent part may vary in actual implementation from the designs illustrated in the drawings but with the same or similar functionality.

10. A case substantially as herein described above and in the accompanying drawings.

C,

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

Claims

1. A case, for a stringed musical instrument (e.g. guitar) headstock, that comprises a hard protective case with a front cover, support and suspension constituent parts, holding the head stock firmly in place by the use of padded claws, nuts and bolts, ensuring the tuning machines/pegs are not in contact with anything whilst the case is further secured to the instrument neck/fret board at a point under the nut (or the point where the instrument neck/fret board fuses with the headstock).

2. A case as claimed in Claim 1 where the protective case shaped to fit around the headstock of the instrument for which it is designed.

3. A case as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 where the headstock is suspended in the protective case using at least one padded claw at the top of the case and a number of headstock rest knobs, securing the headstock in the case by bolts threaded through octagonal nuts (on the sides and the top of the case) and through the padded claw(s).

4. A case as claimed in Claim 3 where the positions of the support and suspension constituent parts may be configured to suit the tuning machines/pegs on the instrument headstock.

5. A case as claimed in any preceding claim where the headstock rests on shock-absorbent knobs to add further stability to that provided by the padded claws and bolts.

6. A case as claimed in any preceding claim where the knobs/pad may slide along a grove cut in the back/bottom 24 of the protective case to allow adjustment to fit different headstocks and optimum support for the instrument headstock.

7. A case as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made from metal, plastic, or a rigid material with similar durability and flexibility, or a combination of these materials, with an outer protective layer for aesthetics.

8. A case as claimed in any preceding claim where the constituent parts may be detachable.