US3637172A - Music stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A music stand having quick release lock for engaging a tubular support member to a plate base member where the plate base member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the tubular support member comprising, in preferred form, (a) a circular hole in the plate member in which the tubular member is received, the hole being sized to provide slip fit when the plate member and tubular member are assembled and the hole having a first center that establishes a center axis perpendicular to the plate member, (b) at least two pins mounted to the plate on opposite sides of the hole, the pins being disposed on a circle having a second center with that second center being offset a small distance relative to the first center, (c) a lock ring rotatable relative to the plate member having a pair of opposed arcuate slots engaged with the pins, the arcuate slots having a common third center which lies on the same center axis as the second center, and (d) a hole in the lock ring that establishes a fourth center, the fourth center being offset the same small distance relative to the third center as the second center is offset from the first center so that as the lock ring is rotated relative to the plate member the fourth center can move from a release position where the fourth center also lies on the same center axis as the first center to a lock position where the fourth center is offset relative to the center axis of the first center.

Description

United States Patent .Diesbach 1Mn 25, W72

[ 4] MUSIC STAND Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz [72] Inventor: Frederick B. Diesbach, Hamilton, Ohio Attorney wood Herron & Evans [73] Assignee: Krauth & Benninghofen, llnc., Hamilton, [57] ABsTRACT A music stand having quick release lock for engaging a tubular [22] Filed; Jam 29, 1970 support member to a plate base member where the plate base member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the tubular PP 61917 support member comprising, in preferred form, (a) a circular hole in the plate member in which the tubular member is Related Apphcauon Data received, the hole being sized to provide slip fit when the plate [62] Division f 739 1 0 J 6 1963 b member and tubular member are assembled and the hole havdoned. ing a first center that establishes a center axis perpendicular to the plate member, (b) at least two pins mounted to theplate 52 us. ci ..248/460, 287/20 on pp sides of the hole, the P being disposed on a 5 A47b 97/04 cle having a second center with that second center being offset [58] Field of Search ..248/411,413,414,457,460; a m l distance relative to the first center, a lock g 287/20, 23, DIG, 8, 101 rotatable relative to the plate member having a pair of opposed arcuate slots engaged with the pins, the arcuate slots [56] References Cited having a common third center which lies on the same center axis as the second center, and (d) a hole in the lock ring that UNITED STATES PATENTS establishes a fourth center, the fourth center being offset the same small distance relative to the third center as the second I 5 2;; center is offset from the first center so that as the lock ring is ?O90O00 8/1937 Ha er "248/460 rotated relative to the plate member the fourth center can 2"250495 7/1941 Milgler "287/125 move from a release position where the fourth center also lies 225l253 7,194] Miner X on the same center axis as the first center to a lock position 2593244 4/1952 ram/20 X where the fourth center is offset relative to the center axis of the first center.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MUSIC STAND This application is a divisional application of pending U.S. Ser. No. 789,180, filed Jan. 6, 1968 now abandoned.

This invention relates to locks. More particularly, this invention relates to a quick release lock for a music stand adapted to positively engage a tubular support member with a plate base member when the plate base member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the tubular support member.

There are numerous end uses for a quick release lock of the type adapted to join together a tubular member and a plate member wherein the plate member is positioned substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tubular member. One common use of such a lock is in the area of music stands. A music stand generally comprises a desk pivotally connected to a tubular support member at one end and a base connected to the tubular support member at is other end. The tubular support is vertically positioned during use and may be made vertically adjustable in a telescoping type action. The desk usually is capable of being angled relative to the vertical to present the music at the desired attitude preferred by the musician. The base is generally either of the plate type or of the collapsing tripod type. By the plate type is meant a base that is relatively flat even though it may take any number of desired shapes, for example, trifooted, quadrafooted, circular, or the like.

It is most desirable in the case of music stands to provide a structure which is readily collapsible into a sufiiciently small or compact space so that the stand can be easily transported from one location to another. The pivotable desk on the music stand permits the desk to be pivoted into a position where the desks back is substantially parallel to the axis of the tubular support member. Also, the tubular support member, because of its telescoping type construction, can be compressed together into a length almost one-half that of its extended most length.

It is additionally desirable that the base of the music stand be removable or adjustable so that the plane ofthe base can be positioned parallel to the axis of the tubular support member and parallel to the plane of the desks back. Numerous means have been provided to accomplish this result and, as mentioned above, such means include collapsible tripod-type legs. However, in the case of plate-type bases, as that term is used in this application, the means known to the prior art are relatively complex making them expensive to manufacture or difficult to operate, and/or of questionable service life. One type of such means for plate-type bases involves threading the bottom of the tubular support member and threading the base so the two parts can be assembled for use or disassembled for storage. Another type of such means for plate-type bases includes a trigger-type ratchet mechanism mounted to the base that is adapted to cooperate with teeth on the support post when it is assembled with the base. baseplate cooperating 40.

Therefore, it has been one objective of this invention to provide a quick release lock which permits a tubular member to be positively engaged with a plate member when the plate member is disposed substantially perpendicular to the tubular member.

It has been another objective of this invention to provide a quick release lock that positively relates a tubular member to a plate member, the members being disposed substantially perpendicular to one another, wherein the connection so formed prevents wobbling, wiggling, tipping, slipping, and other undesirable problems which are normally associated with the releasable connection of a tubular member to a plate member.

It has been still another objective of this invention to provide a music stand incorporating the quick release lock of this invention.

These objectives have been attained by providing a quick release lock comprising, in preferred form, (a) a circular hole in the plate member in which the tubular member is received, the hole being sized to provide slip fit when the plate member and tubular member are assembled and the hole having a first center that establishes a center axis perpendicular to the plate member, (b) at least two pins mounted to the plate on opposite sides of the hole, the pins being disposed on a circle having a second center with that second center being offset a small distance relative to the first center, (c) a lockring rotatable relative to the plate member having a pair of opposed arcuate slots engaged with the pins, the arcuate slots having a common third center which lies on the: same center axis as the second center, and (d) a hole in the lockring that establishes a fourth center, the fourth center being offset the same small distance relative to the third center as the second center is offset from the first center so that as the lockring is rotated relative to the plate member the fourth center can move from a release position where the fourth center also lies on the same center axis as the first center to a lock position where the fourth center is offset relative to the center axis of the first center.

Other objectives and advantages oil the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the quick release lock of this invention in conjunction with a music stand;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the lock in the unlocked position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the lock in the locked position;

FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view taken alonglines 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the lock with the relation of the lockring relative to the baseplate and tubular member overemphasized for illustrative purposes.

As is more particularly illustrated in FIG. 1, thequick release lock 10 of this invention has been found to be particularly useful in conjunction with amusic stand 11. Theusual music stand 11 includes amusic desk 12 having aback 13 and a lip 14 disposed at the lower end thereof. The desk sback 13 is provided with angulated reinforcers 15 that cooperate to define achannel 16 within which the top 17 of a tubular support 18 is pivotally mounted by pivot pin 19. The tubular support 18 includes atop half 20 telescopingly received in abottom half 21, the two halves being held at the desired height by thumbscrew 22. The tubular support 18 is retained in fixed engagement with the stands base orplate member 23 by thequick release lock 10. The stands base or plate member is illustrated as one having threefeet 24 and being substantially perpendicular to the axis of thetubular member 21.

Thequick release lock 10 is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 25 with FIG. 2 illustrating the lock in the open or unlocked position whereat thetubular member 21 may be engaged with or disengaged from theplate member 23 by a simple sliding motion exercised by hand, that is a slip fit. FIG. 3 illustrates thelock 10 in the locking position whereat thetubular member 21 is positively engaged with theplate member 23 and cannot be removed therefrom.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 41, thequick release lock 10 intimately involves theplate member 23 which, in the case of themusic stand 11, includes the threefeet 24 emanating from the center of the base. Theplate member 23 includes a raised central orsteppelike portion 31 that is formed out of and is integral with the general plane of the plate member. Thesteppe 31 is supported above theplate member 23 by slopingsidewalls 32. A lockring 33 restson, that is, is supported on, thesteppe 31 and is movable relative to both theplate member 23 and thetubular member 21. Thelockring 33 providesfinger tabs 34 on opposite sides thereof which extend out over thewall 32. Thus, thesteppe 31 of thebaseplate 31 combination with thetabs 34 on thelockring 33 permits the lockring to be easily rotated when grasped by a persons fingers when it is desired to move the lockring from the release position to the lock position and vice versa.

Thebaseplate 23 provides acircular hole 35 into which thetubular member 21 is received. Thecircular hole 35 is of a diameter just a little greater than the diameter of thetubular member 21, for example, on the order of one thirty-second inch, so that an easy slip fit is available between thetubular member 21 and theplate member 23 when the two are either being assembled or disassembled. Also, thefirst center 36 established by thehole 35 gives rise to acenter axis 42 perpendicular to theplate member 23.

Two pins orleaders 37 are positively and immobily mounted to theplate member 23, as at 46, on opposite sides of theplates hole 35, the pins being disposed on the circumference of and on thesame diameter 38 of circle 39 which presents asecond center 40. The leaders orpins 37 are mounted so that thesecond center 40 is offset a small distance from theaxis 42 and thefirst center 36. Thepins 37, because they are in the form of rivets in this embodiment, also function to hold thelockring 33 in operating engagement with theplate member 23 by means ofheads 44 extending over the sides of tracks orarcuate slots 45 provided in the lockring.

Thelockring 33, as noted, is provided with two tracks orarcuate slots 45 positioned on the same circle 39 and located on opposed sides of thatcircles center 40. The width of the tracks orslots 45 is preferably just slightly greater than the diameter of the leaders orpins 37 so thelockring 33 can be easily rotated about and guided by the pins within the slots. Thearcuate slots 45 have a common third center point 48 which, when thelockring 33 is positively engaged with theplate member 23 by means of thepins 37, lies on the same axis as thesecond center 40. Thus, no matter what the point in rotation of thelockring 33 relative to thebase plate 23, as guided by and permitted by the length of thearcuate slots 45 cooperting with thepins 37, the center 48 of thearcuate slots 45 cooperation with thepins 37, the center always remains on the axis of center 40 A hole 49 is also provided in thelockring 33, that hole establishing afourth center 50. The lockring hole 49 is preferably of the same diameter as thebaseplate hole 35, that is, just a little greater than the diameter of the tubular member such as on the order of one thirty-second inch, so that an easy slip fit is also available between thetubular member 21 and thelockring 33 when the tubular member is being assembled with or disassembled from theplate member 23. Acollar 55 is provided around the lockring hole 49 and integral with thelockring 33 for reinforcing purposes. Also, thecollar 55 aids in preventing thelockring 33 from damaging thetubular member 21 when the quick release lock is repeatedly moved to the locking position. However, and most importantly, thecenter 50 of the lockring hole 49 is slightly offset relative to the third center 48 by approximately the same distance as thecenter 36 and 40 are offset so that as thelockring 33 is rotated relative to theplate member 23 the fourth center canmove from atubular member 21 release position, see FIG. 2, whereat thefourth center 50 also lies on thecenter axis 42, to the lock position of FIGS. 3 and 4, whereat thevertical axis 52 on which thefourth center 50 lies is offset relative to thestationary center axis 42 on which thefirst center 36 always lies.

As is particularly illustrated in FIG, 4, when amusic stand 11 is involved it is preferred that atubular socket cup 56 be interconnected with thesteppe 31 by means of thepins 37 on the side thereof opposite to that side on which the lockring 33 rests. The inside diameter of thecup 56 is equal to the diameter of the lockring hole 49 and theplate member hole 35, and the axis of the cup is superimposed on thecenter axis 42. Thus, thetubular member 21 of themusic stand 11 can be easily received with and supported by theplate member 23 so that the tubular member is substantially perpendicular to the plate member when theplate member hole 35 and the lockring hole 49 are superimposed exactly, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In operation, and as is particularly illustrated in FIG. in combination with FIGS. 2-4, as thelockring 33 is rotated and guided from its furthermost counterclockwise position determined by arcuate slots 45 (see FIG. 2), which is the release position, to an intermediate position where thepins 37 are intermediate the length of theslots 45 which is the lock position (see FIG. 3) thecenter 50 of lockring hole 49 is moved relative to thecenter axis 42 of theplate member hole 35 so that the lockring forces thetubular member 21 received within the cup 56 (and, therefore, through the plate member hole 35) against the side of thathole 35 and side of that cup. Thus, thelockring 33 positively grips, by use of frictional force, thetubular member 21 and theplate member 23 together. In the case of music stands, such a quick release lock has been found to provide good support and rigidity to the music desk.

Having described my invention and the preferred embodiment thereof in complete detail, what I desire to claim and protect by Letters Patent is:

1, A music stand comprising:

a music desk having a back and a lip positioned at the bottom of said back;

a vertical support pivotally mounted at the top end to the back of said music desk, said support comprising top half adapted to be telescoped into a bottom half for varying the height of said music desk relative to the bottom end of said support;

height adjustment means mounted to cooperate with said two halves for maintaining the telescoped position of said two halves relative one to the. other as desired;

a base for the music stand including a plate member having structure defining a first hole in said plate member, said first hole being sized to receive the bottom end of said vertical support in easy slip fit when said plate member and said vertical support are assembled, and said first hole having a first center that establishes a center axis perpendicular to said plate member; and

means for locking said vertical support to said base and for vertically locating and orienting said support relative to said base comprising:

a socket cup having a cylindrical wall and mounted to said plate member on the underside thereof, said socket cup having a diameter substantially equal to and being concentric with the hole in said plate member, and said socket cup being adapted to receive the bottom end of said vertical support to locate same vertically and to support same in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the said music stand's base,

a lockring member rotatably mounted to said bases plate member, said lockring having structure defining a second hole that establishes a second center that can lie on the center axis, and said second hole also being sized to receive the bottom end of said vertical support in easy slip fit relation, one of said plate and lockring members having structure defining at least two arcuate slots therein lying on the circumference of a first circle, the other of said plate and locking members having at least two pins fixed thereto and lying on second circle having a diameter equal to the diameter of said first circle, and the centers of the first and second holes being offset from the centers of the first and second circles by approximately the same distance,

said plate and lockring members being interconnected by said pins with said pins being positioned in said slots such that the centers of the first and second circles coincide, and

said lockring member being rotatable on said plate member between a release position where the centers of the first and second holes coincide such that said vertical support can be easily withdrawn from assembly with said base, and a lock position where the centers of the first and second holes are offset from each other such that said vertical support can be easily locked against the walls of said socket cup to vertically locate and orient said support in assembly with said base.

2. A music stand as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a collar integral with said lockring and disposed about the hole in said lockring.

3. A music stand as set forth in claim 1 including:

a steppe mounted to and raised out of the general plane of said plate member, said lockring resting on said steppe, and

at leasa one finger tab integral with said lockring and extending over the walls of said steppe.

Claims (3)

1. A music stand comprising: a music desk having a back and a lip positioned at the bottom of said back; a vertical support pivotally mounted at the top end to the back of said music desk, said support comprising a top half adapted to be telescoped into a bottom half for varying the height of said music desk relative to the bottom end of said support; height adjustment means mounted to cooperate with said two halves for maintaining the telescoped position of said two halves relative one to the other as desired; a base for the music stand including a plate member having structure defining a first hole in said plate member, said first hole being sized to receive the bottom end of said vertical support in easy slip fit when said plate member and said vertical support are assembled, and said first hole having a first center that establishes a center axis perpendicular to said plate member; and means for locking said vertical support to said base and for vertically locating and orienting said support relative to said base comprising: a socket cup having a cylindrical wall and mounted to said plate member on the underside thereof, said socket cup having a diameter substantially equal to and being concentric with the hole in said plate member, and said socket cup being adapted to receive the bottom end of said vertical support to locate same vertically and to support same in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the said music stand''s base, a lockring member rotatably mounted to said base''s plate member, said lockring having structure defining a second hole that establishes a second center that can lie on the center axis, and said second hole also being sized to receive the bottom end of said vertical support in easy slip fit relation, one of said plate and lockring members having structure defining at least two arcuate slots therein lying on the circumference of a first circle, the other of said plate and locking members having at least two pins fixed thereto and lying on second circle having a diameter equal to the diameter of said first circle, and the centers of the first and second holes being offset from the centers of the first and second circles by approximately the same distance, said plate and lockring members being interconnected by said pins with said pins being positioned in said slots such that the centers of the first and second circles coincide, and said lockring member being rotatable on said plate member between a release position where the centers of the first and second holes coincide such that said vertical support can be easily withdrawn from assembly with said base, and a lock position where the centers of the first and second holes are offset from each other such that said vertical support can be easily locked against the walls of said socket cup to vertically locate and orient said support in assembly with said base.

2. A music stand as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a collar integral with said lockring and disposed about the hole in said lockring.

3. A music stand as set forth in claim 1 including: a steppe mounted to and raised out of the general plane of said plate member, said lockring resting on said steppe, and at least one finger tab integral with said lockring and extending over the walls of said steppe.

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