US2057825A - Cushioning device for violins - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1936. s. HARDY CUSHIONING DEVICE FOR VIOLIN Filed Feb. 18, 1935 Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to cushioning means for violins and like instruments, and it has as its primary object to provide such a device which readily may be removably attached to violins and which, when so attached, will not be accidentally displaced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cushioning device which will effectively obviate the discomfort frequently produced by pressure of the violin on the collar-bone of the player.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cushioning device, as above described, which is of relatively small size and which, therefore,

0 when removed from the violin, may be placed within the carrying case of the instrument.

These objects have been attained by the provision of a cushioning device adapted to be attached to and secured upon the support for the chin-rest with which violins are commonly equipped.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a preferred form of my improved cushioning device, showing it attached to the clamping means of one well known form of chin-rest, secured upon a violin.

Fig. 2 is a left end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, detached from the chin-rest.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device, with the padding omitted.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the invention attached to another conventional form of chin-rest.

Fig. 6 is a left end view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the modified construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail end view (on a reduced scale) of a modified form of base member upon which the padding is to be secured.

Fig. 9 is a plan view (on a reduced scale) partly in section, of the base member, shown in Fig. 8.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, and first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, my invention is shown as comprising a cushioning member, or pad, designated generally as C adapted to relieve the pressure of the violin on the collar-bone of the player. This member consists of a supporting base I of any suitable material, such for example as hard wood, and a covering 2 of felt, plush or other material. A suitable padding material is inserted between the bottom surface of the base and the covering 2 to make the underside of the member relatively soft. It is to be noted that only the rearmost edge of the pad engages the violin, the major portion being spaced therefrom, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it does not interfere with the natural vibrations of the violin.

Fitted within a substantially V-shaped channel 3 in the underside of the base I, and held therein by thin metal plates 4 and 5, is a spring member 6 having horizontally disposed spring legs "I and 8, terminating in upstanding portions 1 8*. The portions 1* and 8 are provided, respectively, with shoes 9 and I0 adapted to engage portions of the clamping and supporting means of a chin-rest R, as later will be described. The chin-rest is secured upon the violin V, which is illustrated in dotted lines, by means of a clamp device comprising two downwardly depending right hand threaded rods a and b and a member having a cross-bar 0 provided with a covering strip d engaging the back of the violin, and upstanding left hand threaded rods 6 and complemental to the rods w and b. Turnbuckles y and 'h are threaded upon the rods a and e, and b and respectively, and serve to draw them together, thereby to clamp the chin-rest upon the violin.

, As previously indicated, the legs 1 and 8 of the member 5 are spring pressed outwardly and normally assume the dotted line positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4. To secure the cushion device to the chin-rest it is necessary merely to press the legs I and 8 inwardly, pace the shoes 9 and I0 between the turnbuckles g and h and then release the legs. The tension of the member 6 causes the shoes forcibly to engage the turnbuckles and the cushion member is securely held thereon. Obviously the cushion device subsequently may be removed by compressing the legs 1 and 8 to cause the shoes 9 and 10 to release their grip on the turnbuckles.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate a modified form of the invention secured upon another conventional type of chin-rest in which the clamping of the chin-rest to a violin is effected by a turnbuckle g and h acting on threaded rods a and b as above described but in which the lower clamp comprises buttons 2 and a, secured upon threaded rods and l, and having off-set head portions 70 and Z which engage the back of the violin, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. In this form the base member I l of the cushion member or pad D, and the pad l2 carried by the base are cut away as indicated at at to afford clearance for the collar bone of the player. As will be seen in Fig. 6, this pad D is substantially longer than the pad C of Fig. 1 and it extends downwardly from the back of the violin at a materially greater angle i. e. in the neighborhood of thirty degrees. This causes the pad to rest upon the chest muscles of the player rather than on his collar-bone, the cut out portion affording clearance for his collar-bone, as above stated.

This modified form has a spring member l3, which corresponds generally to the member 6 of Fig. 3, and the spring legs I4 and I5 thereof (which are located in a channel IS in the base member ll) carry shoes I! and I8 adapted to engage the turnbuckles g and h to secure the cushioning member to the chin-rest. The legs l4 and I5 are formed with oil-set portions M and I5, respectively, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, to avoid interference with the clamp buttons k and 1*.

As hereinbefore stated, the base member which supports the cushioning pad may be of any suitable material. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate such member as made of mouldable material, such for ex ample as hard rubber, aluminum or Bakelite which is a phenolic condensation product. In this form, the cavity m for the clamping spring member 20 (corresponding to spring members 6 and I3) is molded between the upper and lower walls of the base plate. To assemble, the spring member is merely inserted in the cavity m and a screw or rivet 2| is placed through the walls of the base plate and through the loop of the member 20, as shown in Fig. 9 to prevent withdrawal of the spring member.

From the foregoing, it will be perceived that I have provided several forms of cushioning devices each of which readily may be attached to a violin and which, when so attached, will effectively protect the user against pressure of the violin against his collar-bone and will thereby obviate the discomfort which heretofore has been produced by that pressure.

It is to be understood that the present device is adaptable to musical instruments other than violins, such for example as violas, and that, therefore, the term violin as used herein is intended to be interpreted to mean all musical instruments of that general nature. Likewise the device is capable of being attached to various conventional forms of chin-rests which have clamping means to secure them to the instrument. Therefore, it is to be understood that the illustrations of the chin-rests shown in the drawing are merely representative and that other forms readily may be employed.

It has been described above that the device may be cut out as shown in Fig. 7, to afford clearance for the collar bone. This cut out may take various other forms, the essential feature being that it is so shaped as to prevent pressure on the collar-bone.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a violin, a chin-rest, at the front thereof, and means to secure said chin-rest to said violin, comprising spaced clamps each including oppositely threaded elements and a turnbuckle connecting said threaded elements, of a cushioning device at the back of said violin; spring legs carried by said cushioning device; and

oppositely disposed U-shaped shoes secured to said legs and adapted to engage said turnbuckles thereby to secure said cushioning device to said violin with said shoes out of contact with the violin.

2. The combination with a violin, a chin-rest, and means to secure the chin-rest to the violin including spaced clamping elements, of a cushioning device comprising a base member; a relatively soft pad secured thereto at the lower side thereof; spring legs secured to said base member and having upstanding portions located between said clamping elements; and oppositely disposed U-shaped shoes carried by said upstanding portions and adapted, under the influence of said spring legs, to engage said clamping elements thereby to secure said cushioning device to said violin.

3. A cushioning device for a violin comprising a base member having a substantially U-shaped channel therein; a padding element secured to said base member; a spring element located partly within said channel and provided with upwardly projecting portions; and U-shaped shoes carried by said portions adapted to grip the turnbuckles of a violin chin-rest clamping rods.

4. A cushioning device for a violin, adapted to be secured to adjacent spaced clamping elements of a violin chin-rest; comprising a base member; a padding element secured thereto; a substantially U-shaped self-expanding spring element carried by said base and provided with a pair of leg portions; and a substantially U-shaped gripping shoe, carried by each of said leg-portions and located between said clamping elements each shoe to engage one of said spaced clamping elements thereby to secure said cushioning device to said chin-rest.

5. A cushioning device for a violin comprising a base member, formed in its periphery with a cut-out portion affording clearance for the collar-bone of the player; a pad secured to said base member and conforming to the shape thereof a substantially U-shaped spring member secured to said basemember and having outwardly extending leg portions; and gripping means carried by said leg portions resiliently to engage the securing means of a chin-rest attached to the violin.

6. A cushion device adapted to be attached to 'a conventional chin-rest secured to a violin by clamps,comprising a base member having a substantially U-shaped channel therein; a pad secured thereto; a substantially U-shaped spring element carried by said base member and having projecting leg portions; and oppositely disposed gripping shoes secured to said leg portions adapted to engage intermediate'portions of said clamps, said leg portions being deflected laterally intermediate their endsto afford clearance for projecting portions of said clamping means.

'7. A base member fora violin cushioning device comprising a mouldedplate having, between its upper and lower walls, an open-ended cavity adaptedto receive "the closed portion of asubstantially U-shaped spring clamping means; and a pin extending through said walls and passing through said cavity forwardly of a portion of said clamping means to prevent removal of said clamping means from said cavity.

STEVEN HARDY.

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