Carrying-strap arrangement for wind instruments

Abstract

 The carrying-strap arrangement is in particular useful for wind instruments. The straps (3, 12, 13, 18) foreseen to be worn on the back are arranged in a trapezoidal configuration, the lower transversal strap (18) being extended by an encircling strap (20) coming to run just beneath the armpit and being provided by a closure means (21,25), the vertical straps (12, 13) of said configuration extending into two shoulder straps (1, 2) which are attached to a wire ring (23) receiving a band (24) with at its two ends parts (25) of said closure means.
Such an arrangement allows a highly fatigue-free carrying of several in particular heavy instruments without hindering breathing, and also suitable for women players.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrying-strap arrangement, in particular for wind instruments like saxophones. There exist a plurality of carrying straps for such instruments, in particular a single strap where the whole weight of the instrument is supported by the neck, which can be very tiring, especially in the case of heavy instruments. On the other hand, if the musician plays two or more instruments of different size, this requires wearing a plurality of straps. Other supports are not suited for women or too complicated or expensive.

[0002] On the base of the prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide a carrying-strap arrangement which is as well suited for women as for men, and which once adjusted to the body remains always in the same position, and offers the possibility to carry and to change more than one instrument with ease.

[0003] This object is attained by an arrangement as defined in the patentclaims. The invention will be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings of an embodiment.

Figure 1

shows an example of the back side of the arrangement according to the invention,

Figure 2

shows the arrangement of Figure 1 from the front side,

Figs. 3 and 4

show two details of the embodiment of Figure 1.

[0004] The carrying-strap arrangement of the invention as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 comprises two shoulder straps 1 and 2, an upper transversal strap 3, and a lower encircling strap 4. At the back, see Figure 1, the four straps form a trapezoidal configuration. The two ends 5 and 6 of the upper transversal strap 3 as well as the backward ends 7 and 8 of the shoulder straps 1 and 2 are invariably fixed to respective rhomboidal wire rings 9 and 10 to which the upper ends 11 and 12 of the connecting straps 13 are fixed. The other ends 14 and 15 of said connecting straps are invariably fixed to another pair of rhomboidal wire rings 16 and 17. The fourth side of the trapezoidal configuration is formed by the lower transversal strap 18, fixed to the wire rings 16 and 17.

[0005] The upper transversal strap is preferably provided with an adjustable clasp 19.

[0006] On the other side of the rhomboidal wire rings 16 and 17, in line with the lower transversal strap 18, the two encircling straps 4 are fixed. Both ends of said encircling straps are provided with an adjustable clasp 20 and a receiving part 21 of a closure means.

[0007] Each front section of the shoulder straps 1 and 2 according to Figure 2 is provided with an adjustable clasp 31 and is fixed to the rooflike part 22 of a house-shaped wire ring 23 at the center. An elastic band 24 is attached to said center ring 23, said band having at both ends an inserting, clipping part 25 cooperating with the receiving part 21 of the closure means, which is formed to be opened and closed with one hand each.

[0008] It follows from the description and the Figures 1 and 2 that the arrangement can easily be adjusted in length and width, and easily closed and opened. The dimensions of said arrangement are chosen such that the encircling straps 4 pass just beneath the armpits and thus enables free breathing whilst playing.

[0009] The house-shaped center ring 23 is provided with an almost closed hook 26, see Figure 4, to which several, generally up to three, vertical instrument straps 27 can be attached by eyes 28. Alternatively, a single instrument strap having a plurality of adjustable spring hooks (30) could be provided. As follows from Figure 4, the plane of hook 26 is perpendicular to the plane of the house-shaped wire ring 23, and the weight of the instruments is supported by the center of the front side of the arrangement. This allows an optimal distribution of the forces and thereby an effortless carrying and playing of wind instruments.

[0010] The instrument strap has an adjusting clasp 29 and at its other end a snaphook 30 or the like for attaching the instrument, a saxophone or a bassoon or the like.

[0011] Since the encircling and instrument supporting straps 4 come to rest just under the armpit this arrangement is also suited for women players without any hindrance. This arrangement is also suitable to be worn under the shirt, only the instrument straps appearing.

[0012] Having described the preferred embodiment it is possible to alter some details, like the shape of the wire rings, or to introduce more adjustable clasps, or to provide for other closure means 21 and 25.

Claims

1. Carrying-strap arrangement, in particular for wind instruments, characterized in that the straps (3,12,13, 18) foreseen to be worn on the back are arranged in a trapezoidal configuration, the lower transversal strap (18) being extended by an encircling strap (20) coming to run just beneath the armpit and being provided with a closure means (21,25), and the vertical straps (12,13) of said configuration extending into two shoulder straps (1, 2) which are attached to a wire ring (23) receiving a band (24) with parts (25) of said closure means at its two ends.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the four straps (3,12,13,18) forming the trapezoidal configuration and the two shoulder straps (1,2) and the two parts of the encircling strap (20) are attached in an invariable manner to four rhomboidal wire rings (9,10,16,17).

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said wire ring (23) is shaped like a house where the roof-like parts serve to attach the two shoulder straps (1, 2), the band (24) carrying said parts (25) of the closure means being made of an elastic material and being received in said wire ring (23).

4. Arrangement according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said parts (25) of the closure means are clips (25) to be inserted into the receiving parts (21) at the ends of the encircling strap (4).

5. Arrangement according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the house-shaped wire ring (23) is provided with a hook (26) for receiving one or several instrument straps (27), said hook being fixed to the roof-like part (22) such that its plane is perpendicular to the plane of the house-like wire ring and is directed away from the body (Fig. 4).

6. Arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that either several adjustable instrument straps (27) with a snaphook (30) each are attached to said house-like wire ring (23) or one instrument strap is attached to said wire ring, said instrument strap having several adjustable spring hooks.

7. Arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the two shoulder straps (1, 2) as well as the two parts of the encircling strap (4) and the upper transversal strap (3) are provided with an adjustable clasp (31,20,19) each.

Drawing