Musical instrument stand
View Patent ↗A musical instrument stand capable of adjusting its height by operation of at least one linear actuator controlled by a control box element that is directed by a control pad element used by a performer to adjust the height of the musical support stand to a height desired by the performer.
1 . A musical instrument stand comprising:
a support stand comprising an upper frame configured to support a marimba or vibraphone in a stable horizontal orientation;
at least two actuators disposed on the support stand wherein the at least two actuators are one of either an electrical linear actuator, an alternating current linear electric actuator, a direct current linear electric actuator, an inline actuator, a right-angle actuator, a vertical lift actuator, and a gear motor actuator;
at least two telescoping systems operatively connected respectively to each of the two actuators, configured to increase or decrease a height of the support stand by synchronized operation of the at least two actuators;
a control box element for configured to communicate signals to the at least two actuators; and
a control pad element operatively connected to the control box element wherein the control pad element communicates signals to the control box element to one of either select the height of the support stand or to select at least one of a preprogrammed height for the support stand.
2 . The musical instrument stand of claim 1 wherein the support stand includes a support leg located at each end of an upper frame.
3 . The musical instrument stand of claim 2 wherein the control box element routes power and control to the at least two actuators.
4 . The musical instrument stand of claim 3 wherein the control box element is configured to provide protection against overheating of any component of the musical instrument stand.
5 . The musical instrument stand of claim 3 wherein the control box element is configured to receive signals from a control pad element comprising one of either an external remote pad or a smart phone for general control of the overall operations of the musical instrument stand.
6 . The musical instrument stand of claim 3 wherein the control box element includes programmability of one of either an upper dimensional limit for the at least two actuators or a lower dimensional limit of the operation for the at least two actuators.
7 . The musical instrument stand of claim 6 further comprising a set of limiting operational elements positioned to provide signals to the control box element when one of either the upper dimensional limit and the lower dimensional limit for each of the at least two actuators is reached.
8 . The musical instrument stand of claim 7 wherein the set of limiting operational elements includes limit switches.
9 . The musical instrument stand of claim 8 wherein the operation of the telescoping system and each of the at least two synchronized actuators can repeatably adjust the musical instrument stand to a horizontal orientation at a previous height to within about 0.1 inch.
10 . The musical instrument stand of claim 9 wherein the control pad element further comprises a first height switch operatively connected to the control pad element wherein the first switch manually controls dimensional height of the musical instrument stand.
11 . The musical instrument stand of claim 10 wherein the control pad element further comprises a second height switch operatively connected to the control pad element wherein the second switch to signal the control box element to adjust the dimensional height of the musical instrument stand to at least one preset height.
12 . The musical instrument stand of claim 11 wherein one of either the first height switch or the second height switch is one of either membrane switches, mechanical pressure switches, toggle switches, lever switches, or slide switches.
13 . The musical instrument stand of claim 12 wherein the at least two actuators are configured to have a functional dimensional operating range of about 23.0 inches.
14 . The musical instrument stand of claim 13 wherein a preset height of the musical instrument stand stored within the control box element can be set and changed through communications with an application installed on a smart phone.
15 . The musical instrument stand of claim 14 wherein each of the two support legs of the support stand has an actuator.
16 . A method of operating a musical instrument stand, comprising the steps of:
placing a musical percussion instrument in a horizontal orientation on the upper frame of a musical instrument stand recited in claim 3 ,
generating a signal to the control box element so as to select a first height for the upper frame on which the musical percussion instrument has been placed, said first height being chosen to fit the particular height desired by a first musician playing the musical percussion instrument,
the first musician performing on the musical percussion instrument for a desired period of time, and thereafter
generating a signal to the control box element so as to select a second height for the upper frame, said second height being chosen to fit a particular height thereupon desired by the first musician or by a second musician about to play the musical percussion instrument.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein signals to the control box element are generated by a control pad element comprising one of either an external remote pad or a smart phone.
18 . A musical instrument stand comprising:
a support stand comprising an upper frame configured to support a marimba or vibraphone in a stable horizontal orientation;
at least two actuators disposed on the support stand wherein the at least two actuators are respectively one of either an electrical linear actuator, an alternating current linear electric actuator, a direct current linear electric actuator, an inline actuator, a right-angle actuator, a vertical lift actuator, and a gear motor actuator;
at least one telescoping system is operatively connected to one of the at least two actuators to increase or decrease a height of the support stand upon operation of the actuators;
a control box element for communication of signals to each of the actuators;
a control pad element operatively connected to the control box element wherein the control pad element communicates signals to the control box element to one of either select the height of the support stand or to select at least one of a preprogrammed height for the support stand; and,
wherein each of the actuators is operatively connected to synchronize operation of the telescoping system disposed on each respective support leg via at least one of either a system of rotating drive rods, a set of bevel gears, ball screws, a chain system, or a cable system.