Music stand

Abstract

There is provided a music stand which comprises a telescopic stem, a sheet music holder at one end of the stem and a supporting base at the other end of the stem, wherein the stem provides a retracted position and at least one extended position, the holder being pivotally attached to the stem so as to be rotatable between an angled position relative to the stem and a closed position against the stem.

1 . A music stand which comprises a telescopic stem, a sheet music holder at one end of the stem and a supporting base at the other end of the stem, wherein the stem provides a retracted position and at least one extended position, the sheet music holder being pivotally attached to the stem so as to be rotatable between an angled position relative to the stem and a folded position against the stem, wherein the sheet music holder includes one or more transverse ledges and, in which on moving from the angled position to the folded position the one or more transverse ledges of the sheet music holder are directed towards rather than away from the stem.  
     
     
         2 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the sheet music holder includes two transverse ledges one above the other.  
     
     
         3 . A music stand as claimed in either of claims  1  or  2 , in which the sheet music holder is in the form of a flat plate.  
     
     
         4 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the flat plate comprises a planar tray like structure.  
     
     
         5 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 2 , in which a gap is provided in the ledge or ledges to permit the music-supporting side of the holder plate to fit snugly against the stem when in the folded position.  
     
     
         6 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the holder is attached to the stem by a pivot whose axis runs transversely some way up the ledge and on the far side of it from the sheet music.  
     
     
         7 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the underside of the music holder is shaped to match the folded configuration of other stands according to the invention so that when one folded stand is placed on another the stands engage with each other so as to assist orderly stacking.  
     
     
         8 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the music holder is pivotally attached to the stem by a pivot member which comprises a pivot pin having an axis parallel to the plane defined by the sheet music holder.  
     
     
         9 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the pivot member presents a level of friction to relative movement of the stem and holder such that the holder can be rotated to a desired angle and left there without the need for a locking device.  
     
     
         10 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the pivot member comprises a slotted spring pin such as to torsionally provide said level of friction.  
     
     
         11 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the pivot member is attached to a point on the centre line of the holder.  
     
     
         12 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the stem consists of a number of telescopic elements having friction joints between adjacent telescopic elements.  
     
     
         13 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the telescopic elements are of successively smaller cross-sectional size such that each one fits inside the next with a sufficient clearance to receive bearing elements which provide the desired friction joints.  
     
     
         14 . A music stand as claimed in any  claim 13 , in which at least some of the bearing elements are spring-loaded.  
     
     
         15 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the telescopic elements are of non-circular cross-section.  
     
     
         16 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the telescopic elements have a hexagonal shape with two opposing sides of greater length than the other sides.  
     
     
         17 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the telescopic elements are all of substantially the same length.  
     
     
         18 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the retracted length of the stem relative to the height of the music holder and the fore and aft dimension of the base are such that the retracted stem fits within the envelope formed by the folded holder and base.  
     
     
         19 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the thicknesses of the stem and base are less than the depth of the transverse ledge(s) such that in the folded position they are within the envelope formed by the folded holder and base.  
     
     
         20 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the base is in the form of an inverted box.  
     
     
         21 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the base is formed of two elongated legs, one either side of the stand and fixedly joined to each other by a cross member which supports the stem.  
     
     
         22 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 21 , in which the legs and the cross member are joined in the shape of the lower part of a capital A.  
     
     
         23 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the base comprises two legs which are each pivotally and independently attached to the said cross member.  
     
     
         24 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the two legs are coupled through a coupling member such that the legs are movable in coupled fashion relative to each other.  
     
     
         25 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the stem in the erect position slopes towards a user.  
     
     
         26 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 1 , having retention means between the base and stem which includes one or more of friction means, a spring mechanism or stops to retain the stand in the respective folded and erect positions.  
     
     
         27 . A music stand as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the retention means comprises a pivot member which includes one or more of friction means, a spring mechanism or stops.