Adjustable musical instrument stand

Abstract

The invention is a musical instrument stand that can be vertically adjusted while the instrument remains on the stand. Ideally, the mechanism that alters the height of the instrument will be operable by foot, so that the operator will be able to adjust the stand while playing the instrument.

1 . An adjustable musical instrument stand, comprising: 
 a base member;    at least one stand member connected to and extending substantially vertically from said base member, said at least one stand member having a length;    an instrument support vertically adjustably mounted on said at least one stand member;    means for moving said instrument support vertically along said length of said at least one stand member;    whereby an instrument may be supported by said instrument support and may be adjusted to a desired height by adjustment of said instrument support without removing the instrument from the instrument support.    
   
   
       2 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 1 , whereby said means for moving said instrument support is electronic.  
   
   
       3 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 1 , whereby said means for moving said instrument support is hydraulic.  
   
   
       4 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 2 , whereby said means for moving said instrument support comprises a winch mounted on said adjustable music stand, a cable extending from said winch to said instrument support, said winch operative to take in said cable and thereby adjust the height of said instrument support.  
   
   
       5 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 4 , whereby said at least one stand member has a top end and said winch is mounted on said stand member proximal said top end.  
   
   
       6 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 4 , whereby said at least one stand member has a bottom end and a top end and said winch is mounted on said stand member proximal said bottom end, further comprising a pulley mounted proximal said top end and adapted to engage said cable.  
   
   
       7 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 2 , whereby said means for moving said instrument support comprises: a motor, a screw drive having a threaded screw extending parallel to said at least one stand member, said threaded screw being operatively attached to said motor, said instrument support being adapted to receive said threaded screw whereby activation of said motor cases the rotation of the threaded screw and adjusts the height of said instrument support.  
   
   
       8 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 3  whereby said means for moving said instrument support comprises: a pump, a piston having first and second ends, said first end being attached to said instrument support and said second end being attached to said base member or said at least one stand member, said piston being in operative communication with said pump such that activation of said pump varies pressure within said piston and causes said piston to vary its length and adjusts the height of said instrument support.  
   
   
       9 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 1 , whereby said means for moving said instrument support comprises a control that may be manipulated by foot.  
   
   
       10 . An adjustable musical instrument stand comprising: 
 first and second legs pivotally secured together and arranged to define an angle between said first and second legs, each leg having a top end and a bottom end    each said top end being adapted to support a musical instrument support;    each said bottom end adapted to support in a generally upright position the adjustable musical instrument stand and the musical instrument support;    means for adjusting the angle between said first and second legs whereby an instrument may be supported on said musical instrument support and may be adjusted to a desired height by adjustment of said musical instrument support without removing the instrument from the adjustable musical instrument stand.    
   
   
       11 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 10 , whereby said means for adjusting the angle between said first and second legs is electronic.  
   
   
       12 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 10 , whereby said means for adjusting the angle between said first and second legs is hydraulic.  
   
   
       13 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 11 , whereby said first and second legs are pivotally secured together at a midpoint and said means for adjusting the angle between said first and second legs comprises: a motor mounted on said first leg between said midpoint and either of said top or bottom ends, a screw drive having a threaded screw, said threaded screw being operatively attached to said motor, a receiving bracket mounted on said second leg between said midpoint and either of said top or bottom ends, said receiving bracket being adapted to receive said threaded screw whereby activation of said motor cases the rotation of the threaded screw and adjusts the angle between said first and second legs and the height of said top ends of said first and second legs.  
   
   
       14 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 12  whereby said first and second legs are pivotally secured together at a midpoint and whereby said means for adjusting the angle between said first and second legs comprises: a pump, a piston having first and second ends, said first end being attached to said first leg between said midpoint and either of said top or bottom ends, and said second end being attached to said second leg between said midpoint and either of said top or bottom ends, said piston being in operative communication with said pump such that activation of said pump varies pressure within said piston and causes said piston to vary its length and adjusts the angle between said first and second legs and the height of said top ends of said first and second legs.  
   
   
       15 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 10 , whereby said means for adjusting the angle between said first and second legs comprises a control that may be manipulated by foot.  
   
   
       16 . An adjustable musical instrument stand comprising: 
 at least two legs, each leg having an adjustable height, a top end and a bottom end each said top end being adapted to support a musical instrument support, said instrument support being adapted to support a musical instrument;    each said bottom end adapted to support in a generally upright position the adjustable musical instrument stand and the musical instrument support;    means for adjusting the height of said at least two legs whereby an instrument may be supported by said instrument support and may be adjusted to a desired height without removing the instrument from the adjustable musical instrument stand.    
   
   
       17 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 16 , whereby said means for adjusting the height of said at least two legs moves said at least two legs simultaneously.  
   
   
       18 . The adjustable musical instrument stand of  claim 16 , whereby said means for adjusting the height of said at least two legs comprises a control that may be manipulated by foot.  
   
   
       19 . An adjustable musical instrument stand for supporting an instrument, comprising: 
 a base member;    at least one stand member connected to and extending at least generally vertically from the base member, the at least one stand member having a length;    an instrument support vertically adjustably mounted on the at least one stand member for supporting the instrument; and    an adjustment mechanism for moving the instrument support along the length of the at least one stand member;    wherein the adjustment mechanism moves the instrument support along the length of the at least one stand member while the instrument is supported by the instrument support for allowing adjustment of the height of the instrument to a desired height without removal of the instrument from the instrument support.    
   
   
       20 . The adjustable musical instrument stand as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a screw drive.  
   
   
       21 . The adjustable musical instrument stand as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the screw drive comprises a screw member for engaging the instrument support and an electric motor for turning the screw member so that instrument support is moved along the screw member.  
   
   
       22 . The adjustable musical instrument stand as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is hydraulic.  
   
   
       23 . The adjustable musical instrument stand as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a winch and a cable extending from the winch to the instrument support, the winch operative to take in and let out the cable for moving the instrument support along the length of the at least one stand member.  
   
   
       24 . The adjustable musical instrument stand as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the at least one stand member has a top end, the winch being mounted to the stand member proximal the top end.  
   
   
       25 . The adjustable musical instrument stand as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the at least one stand member has a bottom end and a top end, the winch being mounted to the stand member proximal the bottom end, and wherein the adjustment member further comprises a a pulley mounted to the stand member proximal the top end for engaging the cable.  
   
   
       26 . The adjustable musical instrument stand as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a pump, a piston having first and second ends, the first end being attached to the instrument support and the second end being attached to the base member or at least one of the stand member, the piston being in operative communication with the pump for varying the length of the piston for moving instrument support along the length of the at least one stand member.  
   
   
       27 . The adjustable musical instrument stand as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a controller for controlling movement of the instrument support by the adjustment mechanism, the controller being actuated by foot.