초록 ▼

Hybrid cases for musical instruments are disclosed. The cases have a semi-rigid back, a semi-rigid sidewall, a semi-rigid cover hingedly connected to selectively enclose a region of space when releaseably fastened closed, and a multi-part neck-brace. The neck-brace has a semi-rigid neck-support with

Hybrid cases for musical instruments are disclosed. The cases have a semi-rigid back, a semi-rigid sidewall, a semi-rigid cover hingedly connected to selectively enclose a region of space when releaseably fastened closed, and a multi-part neck-brace. The neck-brace has a semi-rigid neck-support with a top surface that supports the instrument neck and a neck-clamp opposing the neck-support and affixed to the cover such that the instrument neck is automatically secured between the top surface of the neck-support and the neck-clamp upon fastening the cover closed and without the use of a neck-brace retaining band.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hybrid protective case for a musical instrument having a contoured neck with a free end at one end, a body attachment region at an opposite end and an intermediate region therebetween, the case comprising: a semi-rigid back;a semi-rigid sidewall of a predetermined height extending from the back

1. A hybrid protective case for a musical instrument having a contoured neck with a free end at one end, a body attachment region at an opposite end and an intermediate region therebetween, the case comprising: a semi-rigid back;a semi-rigid sidewall of a predetermined height extending from the back;a semi-rigid hinged cover to selectively enclose a region of space between the back, sidewall and cover upon closure of the cover, wherein the cover may be selectively fastened closed with a releasable fastener when the case is in a closed condition; anda multi-part neck-brace comprising one elongated and oval-shaped semi-rigid neck-support with a top surface and inwardly tapered shoulders, the neck-support being affixed to the back and having a height equal to or less than the height of the sidewall such that the top surface of the neck-support supports the intermediate region of the instrument neck whereby the free end of the neck is suspended in the space enclosed between the back and the cover, the multi-part neck-brace further comprising one elongated and linear neck-clamp opposing the neck-support and affixed to the cover such that the instrument neck is automatically secured between the top surface of the neck-support and the neck-clamp upon fastening the cover closed, the-neck-clamp having outwardly sloping walls that mate with the inwardly tapered shoulders of the oval-shaped neck-support upon fastening the cover closed, and no neck retaining band to secure the neck to the top surface of the oval-shaped neck-support. 2. The hybrid case of claim 1, wherein the multi-part neck-brace consists essentially of one elongated and oval-shaped semi-rigid neck-support with inwardly tapered shoulders and one elongated and linear neck-clamp with outwardly sloping walls that mate with the inwardly tapered shoulders of the oval-shaped neck-support upon fastening the cover closed. 3. The hybrid case of claim 1, wherein the multi-part neck-brace consists of one elongated and oval-shaped semi-rigid neck support with inwardly tapered shoulders and one elongated and linear neck-clamp with outwardly sloping walls that mate with the inwardly tapered shoulders of the oval-shaped neck-support upon fastening the cover closed. 4. The hybrid case of claim 1, wherein the neck-support consists essentially of deformable material that conforms to the contour of the instrument neck and the neck-clamp is formed of material that is more rigid than the semi-rigid material from which the neck-support is formed. 5. The hybrid case of claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid neck-support is fixedly attached to the back of the hybrid case, the neck-clamp is formed of rigid material, and the neck-clamp is fixedly attached to an interior surface of the case cover. 6. The hybrid case of claim 1, wherein each of the neck-clamp walls is at least substantially triangular in cross-section perpendicular to the axis. 7. The hybrid case of claim 1, wherein the semi-rigid neck-support consists essentially of an oval-shaped body that is elongated along an axis, that has a neck-contour-recess that is elongated along the axis and that has a pair of converging shoulders that are elongated parallel to and on opposites sides of the axis relative to one another; andthe neck-clamp comprises a pair of linear and diverging rigid walls that are elongated parallel to and on opposites sides of the axis relative to one another such that the diverging rigid walls mate with the converging shoulders of the neck-support to thereby secure the intermediate region of the instrument neck between the elongated neck-support and the elongated neck-clamp upon fastening the cover. 8. A hybrid case for the protection of at least one musical instrument with an elongated neck and a body in which insertion of and removal of the musical instrument occurs with the case in an upright orientation on a surface, the case comprising: a semi-rigid body having an elongated upper access portion for receiving the instrument neck and a lower enveloping portion for receiving the instrument body, wherein a far end of the lower enveloping portion rests on the surface with the case in the upright orientation, and wherein the upper access portion of the body comprises a semi-rigid back, at least one semi-rigid sidewall, and a semi-rigid cover hingedly attached to the case body to thereby permit the musical instrument to be inserted into and removed from the case through the upper access portion with the case in the upright orientation on the surface; and a multi-part neck-brace consisting essentially of one elongated and oval-shaped semi-rigid neck support with a top surface and inwardly tapered shoulders, the neck-support being affixed to the semi-rigid back and having a height equal to or less than the height of the at least one semi-rigid sidewall such that the top surface of the first neck-support supports the instrument neck the multi-part neck-brace further consisting essentially of one elongated and linear neck-clamp opposing the first neck-support and affixed to the cover such that the instrument neck is automatically secured between the top surface of the first neck-support and the neck-clamp upon fastening the cover closed, the neck-clamp having outwardly sloping walls that automatically mate with the inwardly tapered shoulders of the oval-shaped neck-support upon fastening the cover closed. 9. The hybrid case of claim 8, wherein each of the neck-clamp walls is at least substantially triangular in cross-section perpendicular to the axis. 10. The hybrid case of claim 8, wherein the neck-clamp automatically mates with the neck-support upon fastening the cover closed. 11. The hybrid case of claim 8, wherein the neck-support consists essentially of deformable material that conforms to the contour of the instrument neck and the neck-clamp is formed of material that is more rigid than the semi-rigid material from which the neck-support is formed. 12. The hybrid case of claim 8, wherein the semi-rigid neck-support is fixedly attached to the back of the hybrid case, the neck-clamp is formed of rigid material, and the neck-clamp is fixedly attached to an interior surface of the case cover. 13. A hybrid case for the protection of at least one musical instrument with an elongated neck and a body in which insertion of and removal of the musical instrument occurs with the case in an upright orientation on a surface, the case comprising: a semi-rigid body having an elongated upper access portion for receiving the instrument neck and a lower enveloping portion for receiving the instrument body, wherein a far end of the lower enveloping portion rests on the surface with the case in the upright orientation, and wherein the upper access portion of the body comprises a semi-rigid back, at least one semi-rigid sidewall, and a semi-rigid cover hingedly attached to the case body to thereby permit the musical instrument to be inserted into and removed from the case through the upper access portion with the case in the upright orientation on the surface; anda multi-part neck-brace comprising: one elongated and oval-shaped semi-rigid neck-support with a top surface and inwardly tapered shoulders, the neck-support being affixed to the semi-rigid back and having a height equal to or less than the height of the at least one semi-rigid sidewall such that the top surface of the first neck-support supports the instrument neck;one elongated and linear neck-clamp opposing the first neck-support and affixed to the cover, the neck clamp having outwardly sloping walls that mate with the inwardly tapered shoulders of the neck-support upon fastening the cover closed such that the instrument neck is automatically secured between the top surface of the neck-support and the neck-clamp upon fastening the cover closed, wherein each of the neck-clamp walls is at least substantially triangular in cross-section perpendicular to the axis; andno neck retaining band to secure the neck to the top surface of the oval-shaped neck-support.