US1495131A - Street-music rack - Google Patents

Description

May 20 W. B. GRIFFITH STRE ran-.med May zo, 1924.1

UNITED STATES `PATENT F Flor.. y

WILLIAM B. GRIFFITH, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB/ TO CHRISTEN- SEN n COMPANY, INC., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- STREET-MUSIC RACK.

Application filed December 14, 1922.

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. GRIFFITH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at `West Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Street-Music Racks, of which the following is a speciication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. f

This invention relates to a music rack for street use in connection with such musical instruments as the flute, piccolo and fife.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a music rack of the foregoing character which is simple in construction and convenient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rack which is capable of adjustment to suit the particular range of vision of the user.

A further object is to secure a rack which when not in use may be folded up or collapsed into a small compass to permit it to be carried in the pocket of the user..

Other objects ofthe invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

In its preferred embodiment my invention contemplates a music rack adapted to be held between the arm pit and the forearm of the user when the forearm is in its usual raised position for manipulating the flute or other instrument. The rack may be made in one piece but is preferably made in two parts relatively adjustable to each other to permit of folding in a small com' pass. One of said parts is formed to lit the arm pit of the user and the other part is shaped to engage the inner side and to extend forwardly over the top of the forearm so that the rack may be firmly in position between the arm pit'and the forearm of the user when walking or marching; the adjustable feature permitting the rack to be adapted to persons of different size. Upon the forward part may be adj ustably mounted a lyre of ordinary and usual construction for holding the sheets of music.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating the method of using the preferred form of my music rack in which a musician is shown in dotted outline in playing position with a rack constructed in accordance with my invention shown in full lines in operative position;

serial No. 606,771.

for use; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rack ready same folded up for insertion in a pocket; j

Fig. 4 is a detailed view on an enlarged scale of the adjustable connection of the two parts of the rack; and Fig. 5 is a similar view also on anA enlarged scale of the lyre standard and mounting.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one form of my invention, there is shown a rack made in two parts, one of said parts having a curved portion 10 adapted to'fit the arm pit and front of the shoulder of the user and a reversed straight portion 12 andthe other of said parts being substantially rightangled with straight portions 14 and 16 connected by a curved portion 18. These two parts may be adjustably connected by any suitable means, one of which is shown consisting of a split collar 2O adapted to encircle the portion 12 and having wings 22 bored to receive a headed screw 24. A butterfly nut 26 mounted onthe screw may be used to draw the wings 22 together and thereby cause the collar 20 to grip the portion 12 tightly in any adjusted position. The collar may be provided with a bored extension 28 to receive the arm 14 of the second part or the collar 2O may be integral therewith.

Any suitable music holding means may be mounted on the arm 16 of the second part such as a lyre of well known construction having a harp-shaped back 30 and a front fork 32 pivotally mounted and held against the back by a spring 34. A finger piece 36 is carried by the fork 32 to facilitate its operation to permit the insertion of sheets of music between the back and fork. The lyre is mounted upon a standard 38 having its lower end provided with a flange 40 and a threaded portion 42 adapted to be inserted in the bored wings 44 of a collar 46 mounted on the arm 16. A buttery nut 48 may be used for drawing the wings 44 together to cause the collar to grip tightly the arm 16.

In use, my rack` is adjusted-:asshown in Figure 1 with the curved portion 10 mounted in engage-ment with the arm pit and front of the shoulder and the second part arranged over the forearm near the elbow, the portion 14 being in engagement with the inner side of the forearm and the curved portion 18 in engagement with the top of theV forearm and portion 16 project-ing is mounted is in'a raised position as shown in Fig. l. rlhis requires that the second part be adjusted upon the straight portion l2 of the first part, which adjustment is accomplished by loosening the butterfly nut 2G, moving the second part into proper position upon the straight portion l2 and then securing it in that location by tightenf ing the nut Q6. At the same time the lyre should be adjusted upon the portion i6 of the second part according to the range of vision of the user, the adjustment in this case being similar to the former adjustment by manipulation of the butterfly vnut 48.

When the raolis not in use, it may be reduced into a compass Vsufficiently small to permit its insertion ina pocket ofthe user by merely loosening the nuts 26 and 4S, sliding` Vthe second part yalong the straight `portion l2 and turning the lyre downwardly, Vall as shown in Fig. 3, the nuts being tightened after this hasV been 'accomplished in order to hold the rack in folded condition in the pocket. v

It will be observed that my rack is of extreme simplicity b oth in construction and operation and may be made at a low cost. Furthermore, it is easily adjustable to suit the size of the user. It is further to be observed that the music is held jat the proper distance from the eyes of the user and at the most convenient level, thereby avoiding eye strain or unusual mental ef# fort in following the music while marching. The rack being held naturalyI between the arm p-it and the forearm when the latter is in the playing position, imposes no strain upon the user and preserves themusic in a steady unwavering position, imposing no burden upon they eyes to follow it; It is to be understood that my invention is not to be 'limited to` the exact form' 'of construction herein shown and described, since it is capable of embodiment in other forms, all within the scope of the following claims.

lVhat I claim is: l 1. A street music raclmade in two parts relatively adjustable, one of said parts havto ride over thetop of the forearm when in playing position; said, rack being hcld in fixed position between the shoulder and the forearm by the normal pressure exerted upon it: in a. direction toward the shoulder by the forearm when in playing positioin Y 2. A street music rack made in two parts relatively adjustable, one of said partshaving a curved portion, adapted to fit the armpit and the front of the shoulder, and a forwardly extending straight portion and the other of said vparts being movably mounted upon the straight portion of said first part in approximately perpendicular relation thereto in position to vengage the inner side of theforearm when in playing position, said secondpart having its forward end4 bent over tor engage the top of the vforearm' for carrying music holding means. Y j

3. In a street music rack, the combination of a part havingya curved portion for litting the frontrof the shoulderV and a forward-ly projecting straight portion, a second part slidably mounted on the said straight portion of said iirstpart, the longitudinal axis of said second part being substantially right angled, and means for holding said two parts in adjustedrelation.

Y 4l. In a street music rack, the combination of two parts made of tubular material and relatively adjustable, one of said parts having its rear portion curved for engaging andA fitting the front of the shoulder' and its forward portion straight and the other of said parts having its longitudinal a-Xi's substantially right angled for engaging the inner side and top of the forearm, whereby the rack is held against movement bythe normal pressure. of the 'forearm toward the shoulder when in playing position.

' 5. In a street musicgrack, the combination of a part having a curved portion, adapted to project into 'the armpit and to fit the front of the shoulder, and a straight por-k tion, a second part adjustably mounted on the straight portion of said first part, the longitudinal axis Vof said second part being substantially right-angled forlenga'ging the inner side and top of the forearm, means for holding said two'parts in adjusted position and music-holding means adjustably mounted adjacent the forward end of saidsecond part.

In witnesswhereof, I hereunto set hand this 2nd day of December, 1922.

VVILLAM B. VGRIFF

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