Quick Release Harmonica Holder

Abstract

The invention relates to improvements to harmonica holders, designed to allow a musician to play a harmonica and another instrument at the same time. The inventor's control arm and extender tubes allow a musician to adjust the position of a harmonica (in the horizontal and vertical plains) to their personal preference. After adjustment, the control arm allows a musician to quickly raise a harmonica up to their preferred position, which locks a harmonic in place and eliminates the need to re-set it each time it is used. To unlock a harmonica and drop it completely out of the way for singing or to remove it from their head area, they would simply tap the end of the control arm up, to disengage it. The neck support is also adjustable for best fit, while a pull down loop (attached to a harmonica cross member) allows a musician to quickly change harmonicas.

Claims

1. A harmonica holder adapted to be placed over the head of a musician and supported by their neck and chest area and be worn to facilitate hands free playing of a harmonica, said harmonica holder comprising: a control arm, which controls the position of a harmonica for singing or playing a harmonica and also facilitates the adjustment of a harmonica in a horizontal plane, adjacent to a musician's mouth area.

2. A harmonica holder as in claim 1: wherein said control arm bridges the gap between a neck support structure and a harmonica support structure of said harmonica holder and a) has a plurality of holes at its upper end, to facilitate said adjustment of a harmonica in a desired horizontal position, adjacent to a musician's mouth area, b) has a notch on its underside which holds a harmonica in said desired horizontal position for playing a harmonica, c) has an elongated slot on its underside, at its lower end, to prevent said control arm from disengaging from a lower support bolt, when releasing a harmonica from said slot, in order to sing or to remove said harmonica holder from a musician's head area.

3. A harmonica holder as in claim 1: wherein said control arm is held in place by an upper support bolt, which also connects a neck support tube and a neck support together, by the use of a nylock nut, (and other fasteners) and said upper support bolt protrudes out beyond said nylock nut and is inserted into one of the pluralities of openings in said control arm, as desired for said horizontal adjustment, and a nylock wingnut is then screwed onto said upper support bolt, to secure said control arm, as a pivotal connection.

4. A harmonica holder as in claim 3: wherein said control arm retains the desired horizontal position as set, unless readjustment is desired.

5. A harmonica holder as in claim 2: wherein the lower end of said control arm is supported by said lower support bolt, (and other fasteners) which protrudes out beyond where it is attached to a harmonica support frame, (the upper part of said harmonica support structure) and the protruding part of said lower support bolt is inserted into said slot of said control arm, wherein a nylock nut is screwed onto the end of said lower support bolt, as a pivotal connection, to prevent said control arm from sliding sideways.

6. A harmonica holder as in claim 2: wherein as a harmonica is raised up to play, said lower support bolt slides up said slot of said control arm until it engages in said notch, which holds a harmonica in place.

7. A harmonica holder as in claim 6: wherein a tap up on the end of said control arm will release said lower support bolt from said notch of said control arm, whereupon said lower support bolt disengages from said notch and slides back down to the bottom of said slot, resulting in a harmonica being completely out of the way for singing or to remove said harmonica holder from a musician's head area.

8. A harmonica holder as in claim 1: further comprising two extender tube assemblies to provide for vertical adjustment of a harmonica, adjacent to a musician's mouth area

9. A harmonica holder as in claims 2, 3, 5 & 8: wherein each said extender tube assembly (the lower parts of said harmonica support structure), is comprised of an extender tube (which is hollow), with a collar slipped over its open end and a setscrew/knob screwed into said collar, to secure each said extender tube assembly to each end of said harmonica support frame, while the other end of each said extender tube assembly has been pressed flat and a hole drilled in each for attachment, to said neck support structure, by fasteners, as a pivotal connection, however said extender tube assemblies could (as an alternative or in conjunction with) replace said neck support tubes (the lower part of said neck support structure) by attaching a rod to each side of the neck support, to facilitate adjustment of said extender tube assemblies.

10. A harmonica holder as in claim 9: wherein said harmonica support frame is a necessary cooperative whereas its ends, that protrude down from its cross section, which is holding the top of a harmonica in place, have been modified to allow each said extender tube assembly to slip over each end of said harmonica support frame, for adjustment purposes, by being able to slide said extender tube assemblies to a desired position.

11. A harmonica holder as in claim 9: wherein each said extender tube has a hole (that is the same size as the inside diameter of said extender tubes) drilled into the top part of each (at its open end), to facilitate the attachment of each said extender tube assembly, to each end of said harmonica support frame.

12. A harmonica holder as in claim 9: wherein each said collar is round with flat ends, with a hole drilled through the center of said flat ends, (said hole being the same diameter as the outside diameter of said extender tube), and there is also a threaded hole, perpendicular to the hole drilled through the center of said collar which extends down to the opening of said hole drilled through the center of said collar, and said setscrew/knob is screwed into said threaded hole, to secure each said extender tube assembly to each end of said harmonica support frame, after adjustments.

13. A harmonica holder as in claim 12: wherein said hole drilled through the center of each said collar has glue applied to it (for attachment purposes) and then said threaded hole in said collar is lined up with the drilled hole in said extender tube, to allow said setscrew/knob to pass through said extender tube and bear up against said harmonica support frame, to hold each said extender tube assembly in place, after adjustment.

14. A harmonica holder as in claim 1: further comprising a pull down loop, attached to the underside of a harmonica cross member, to facilitate the removable of a harmonica.

15. A harmonica holder as in claims 13 and 14: wherein said harmonica cross member and two springs (which are supported by said harmonica support frame) are a necessary cooperatives, whereas said harmonica cross member has been modified by having two countersunk holes drilled into it, from the top, whereupon flathead pop rivets are inserted into said holes, to secure said pull down loop to said harmonica cross member and said springs are positioned under each end of said harmonica cross member, to support said harmonica cross member.

16. A harmonica holder as in claim 15: wherein said pull down loop is designed to be angled back from the plane of its attachment area, so as not to interfere with playing a harmonica.

17. A harmonica holder as in claim 1: further comprising a said neck support which is adjustable.

18. A harmonica holder as in claims 9 and 17: wherein said neck support is flat and curved, with bent down ends for attachment purposes to said neck support tubes, (by fasteners) both of which are the parts of said neck support structure.

19. A harmonica holder as in claim 18: wherein said neck support has a rounded molding attached to its underside, to better conform to the anatomy of a musician's neck area.

20. A harmonica holder as in claims 8 and 18: wherein said neck support tubes are hollow to facilitate their ends being pressed flat and a hole drilled in each end, for attachment purposes, by fasteners, to said neck support on their upper ends and to said extender tube assemblies on their lower ends, with said lower ends being a pivotal connection.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1: Drawing showing part numbers related to the present invention, with the harmonica holder shown in the open position for singing or to remove a harmonica holder from a musician's head area.

[0042] FIG. 2: are sectional views of the control arm 21.

[0043] FIG. 3: are sectional views of the neck support 14.

[0044] FIG. 4: are sectional views of the pull down loop 7.

[0045] FIG. 5: are sectional views of the neck support tube 12.

[0046] FIG. 6: are sectional views of the harmonica cross member 6.

[0047] FIG. 7: are sectional views of the harmonica support frame 2.

[0048] FIG. 8: are sectional views of the extender tube assembly.

[0049] FIG. 9: are sectional views of the extender tube 3.

[0050] FIG. 10: are sectional views of the collar 9.

[0051] FIG. 11: are sectional views of the spacer.

[0052] FIG. 12: Picture showing the present invention with the harmonica holder in the closed position, for playing a harmonica.

[0053] FIG. 13: Picture showing the present invention with the harmonica holder in the folded position, for storage or travel.

[0054] FIG. 14: Picture of an over your head prior art harmonica holder.

[0055] FIG. 15: Picture showing the names and part numbers related to the present invention, with the harmonica holder shown in the open position for singing or to remove a harmonica holder from a musician's head area.

[0056] FIG. 16: Picture showing an operational overview of the present invention, with the harmonica holder shown in the open position for singing or to remove a harmonica holder from a musician's head area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF INVENTION

[0057] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to pictures and drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples. Notably, the figures and examples are not meant to limit the scope to a single embodiment, but other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements. In the present specification, an embodiment showing or referring to a single component should not be considered limiting, rather the scope is intended to encompass other embodiments including but not limited to a plurality of the same component and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Further, the scope encompasses present and future known equivalents to the components referred to herein by the way of illustration.

[0058] Definition of a nylock nut or a nylock wingnut: both are self-tensioning nuts which have a nylon insert to prevent them from coming loose. These type of nuts are, among other things, used for pivotal connections, whereas they retain their set position.

[0059] Definition in reference to the right or left side of a harmonica holder: describes something located toward or in the direction of a person's right or left hand, when a harmonica holder is resting on a musician's neck and shoulder area, with a harmonica positioned in front of their head area. As an example the control arm 21 is considered to be on the left side of the harmonica holder, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0060] There are four embodiments of the present invention that distinguish it from all prior art that has been documented herein: 1) the control arm 21 and its simplicity of use, for multiple positioning of a harmonica, for singing, playing or horizontal adjustment, 2) the sophisticated design and ease of use of extender tube assemblies FIG. 8, for vertical adjustment, 3) a simple pull down loop 7, to quickly remove a harmonica and 4) the adjustable neck support 14, for maximum comfort.

[0061] Harmonica Holder Overview: The harmonica holder is designed to be placed over the head of a musician and be supported by their neck and chest area, in order to play a harmonica without having to use their hands and is comprised of a harmonica support structure and a neck support structure, both of which are attached together at their lower ends, as a pivotal connection by fasteners 4 & 19 and spacers FIG. 11. The spacers FIG. 11 keep the neck support structure and the harmonica support structure from interfering with each other, when the harmonica holder is folded down FIG. 13, for storage or travel.

[0062] Harmonica Support Structure: The upper part of the harmonica support structure is comprised of a round rod harmonica support frame 2, wherein its cross section supports the upper side of a harmonica and its bent down sides support a harmonica cross member 6 which in turn supports the lower side of a harmonica. The harmonica cross member FIG. 6 has slots at each end to engage with the bent down sides of the harmonica support frame 2 and in turn the harmonica cross member 6 is supported at each end by springs 1, which puts pressure on the slotted ends of the harmonica cross member 6, to hold a harmonica in place. The harmonica cross member 6 and springs 1 are a necessary cooperative, whereas the harmonica cross member 6 has been modified to accommodate the pull down loop 7, which is attached to the underside of the harmonica cross member 6. Said modification involves drilling two countersunk holes into the harmonica cross member 6, from the top, to accept flathead pop rivets which are used to hold the pull down loop 7 in place. The pull down loop 7 is used to quickly remove a harmonica, by pulling down on the pull down loop 7, with one finger, and is designed with a tilt FIG. 4, to angle it back, to allow more room for a musician's lips. The harmonica support frame 2 is also a necessary cooperative, as it is used to allow hollow extender tube assemblies FIG. 8 to slid over the ends of the bent down sides of the harmonica support frame 2.

[0063] The lower part of the harmonica support structure is comprised of two extender tube assemblies FIG. 8 (one for each end of the harmonica support frame 2), each being comprised of an extender tube 3, a collar 9 and a setscrew/knob 8. Each collar has a hole drilled through its center FIG. 10, equal to the outside diameter of the extender tube 3 and a threaded hole in its top part, (perpendicular to the hole through its center), to except the setscrew/knob 8. With regards to the extender tubes 3, each has a hole drilled into its top part FIG. 9, equal to the inside diameter of the extender tube 3, whereupon the collars 9, are slipped over the open ends of each extender tubes 3, until the threaded hole in the collar FIG. 10, lines up with the hole in each extender tube FIG. 9. Before the collars 9 are mounted, glue is applied to the inside of each, to hold them in place. The setscrew/knob 8 is then screwed into each collar 9 after which the extender tube assemblies FIG. 8 are adjusted, (by being able to slide them back and forth), and the setscrew/knobs 8 are tightened up against the harmonica support frame 2, to secure the adjustment. The other ends of the extender tubes FIG. 9 are pressed flat and a hole drilled in each for attachment purposes to the neck support structure by fasteners 4 & 19, as a pivotal connection.

[0064] Neck Support Structure: The upper part of the neck support structure is comprised of a flat curved neck support 14 which has a rounded molding 13 attached to its underside. The ends of the neck support 14 are bent down to lineup with each neck support tube 12 and a hole drilled in each bent down end of the neck support 14, for attachment purposes to the neck support tubes 12, by fasteners 5 & 11. Whereas the neck support structure is a two piece unit, this allows the neck support 14 to be adjusted, at the connection between the neck support tubes 12 and the neck support 14, to better conform with the anatomy of a musician's neck area.

[0065] The lower part of the neck support structure is comprised of two hollow neck support tubes 12, (one for each side of the neck support 14) wherein both ends of the neck support tubes FIG. 5 are pressed flat and a hole drilled in each end, for attachment purposes. The lower ends of the neck support tubes 12 are attached to the lower ends of the extender tube assemblies FIG. 8 (part of the harmonica support structure) by fasteners 4 & 19, as a pivotal connection.

[0066] The extender tube assemblies FIG. 8 could (as an alternative or in conjunction with) replace the neck support tubes 12, by attaching a rod to each side of the neck support 14 to facilitate adjustment of the extender tube assemblies.

[0067] Control Arm: The upper end of the control arm 21 is attached to the left side of the neck support structure (although it could be placed on the right side if desired), by an upper support bolt 22, that extends out beyond a nylock nut, (both of which are parts of the fasteners 11) that are holding the neck support tube 12 and the neck support 14 together. There are a plurality of horizontal adjustment holes 10 on the upper end of the control arm 21, to provide for alternate positions for the upper support bolt 22. After adjustment a nylock wingnut 23 is then screwed onto the upper support bolt 22, as a pivotal connection.

[0068] The lower end of the control arm 21 is supported by a lower support bolt 16, (part of fasteners 17) which is attached to the left side of the bent down harmonica support frame 2. Whereas the lower support bolt 16 extends out beyond a hex nut (part of the fasteners 17) this facilitates the control arm 21 to be positioned on the lower support bolt 16, whereupon a nylock nut (part of the fasteners 17) is then screwed onto the end of the lower support bolt 16, as a pivotal connection to prevent the control arm 21 from slipping sideways, but at the same time allowing the lower support bolt 16 to slid back and forth along a slot 18, wherein the slot 18 is cut into the underside of the control arm 21.

[0069] List of Part Materials: Without limiting the scope of other materials that could be used, the following represents the materials that are used.

[0070] All fasteners are stainless steel, although, among other possible materials, aluminum could be considered to save weight.

[0071] The harmonica support frame FIG. 7, harmonica cross member FIG. 6 and pull down loop FIG. 4 are made of nickel, although, among other possible materials, chrome plated steel or aluminum (to save weight) could be considered.

[0072] The extender tubes FIG. 9 and neck support tubes FIG. 5 are stainless steel hollow tubes.

[0073] The neck support FIG. 3 and control arm FIG. 2 are made of aluminum for saving weight, although, among other possible materials, chrome plated steel or nickel could be considered.

[0074] The collar FIG. 10 is made of aluminum, although, among other possible materials, chrome plated steel or nickel could be considered.

[0075] The spacers FIG. 11 are made of a polymeric material, although, among other possible materials, aluminum could be considered.

[0076] The setscrew/knobs FIG. 8 consist of, a polymeric knob, holding a pressed in steel hex head setscrew, although, among other possible materials, these could be replaced by a one piece unit.

[0077] The rounded molding 13 is made of a flexible polymeric material.

[0078] Neck Support Adjustment: After a musician puts the harmonica holder over their head, they can adjust the angle of the neck support 14, if necessary, to ensure it lays flat against the back of their neck area. To do so they would 1) loosen the fasteners holding the neck support in place, 2) make the desired adjustments, and 3) retighten the fasteners.

[0079] Vertical Position Adjustment: Next a musician would adjust the vertical position of a harmonica, relative to their mouth area, to their personal preference. To do so they would loosen the setscrew/knobs 8, attached to the extender tube assemblies FIG. 8, and adjust the extender tube assemblies FIG. 8 evenly on both sides, by sliding the extender tube assemblies FIG. 8 to a desired position. After adjustment they would retighten both setscrew/knobs 8. The vertical plane refers to the height of a harmonica, relative to a musician's mouth area.

[0080] Horizontal Position Adjustment: A musician would then adjust the horizontal position of a harmonica to their personal preference by inserting the upper support bolt 22 into one of the preferred horizontal adjustment holes 10, on the upper part of the control arm 21, which will move a harmonica either closer to or further from a musician's mouth area. The horizontal plane refers to the distance between a harmonica and the area directly in front of a musician's mouth.

[0081] Harmonica Position Options: When doing the vertical and horizontal adjustments a musician has the option to adjust the position of a harmonica to the traditional hands free position, by positioning a harmonica below their mouth, which means they would have to bend their head down to play it, but would not have to use their hands, when they would switch from playing a harmonica to singing. With the second option they can position a harmonica, level with their mouth and use one hand to drop a harmonica completely out of the away for singing. In either case a harmonica can be dropped away to remove the harmonica holder from their head area. Once a harmonica is adjusted it never has to be readjusted unless a musician wants to do so.

[0082] Operational Details: With a harmonica adjusted to the personal preference of a musician, the musician would place the harmonica holder over their head while in the open position FIG. 1 and raise a harmonica up toward their mouth area to play. As it is raised up, the lower support bolt 16, slides up along the slot 18, until it engages in a notch 20, which locks a harmonica firmly in place (the closed position FIG. 12) for playing a harmonica. When a musician wants to drop a harmonica completely out of the way for singing, or to remove the harmonica holder from their head area, they would simply tap up on the lower end 15 of the control arm 21, which would disengage the lower support bolt 16 from the notch 20, whereupon the lower support bolt 16 would slide back down to the end of the slot 18, which would result in the harmonica holder being back in the open position FIG. 1. The slot 18 prevents the control arm 21 from disengaging from the lower support bolt 16, when the lower end 15 of the control arm 21 is tapped up, to release it from the notch 20. There is also the pull down loop 7, attached to the underside of the harmonica cross member 6, which allows a musician to place a finger in the pull down loop 7 and pull down, in order to quickly remove or change a harmonica from one key to another, without having to remove the harmonica holder from their head area to do so.