Method of Protecting A Stringed Musical Instrument

Abstract

A method of protecting a stringed musical instrument is accomplished by providing a stringed musical instrument of the type having a body and an elongated neck extending from the body. The stringed musical instrument is provided on a stand so that the instrument is supported by the stand in a generally upright position, with the neck extending upward from the body. An instrument cover is provided and is formed from a flexible fabric material having a neck portion and a body portion configured as a continuous sleeve that is open at the end of the body portion for receiving and generally conforming to the stringed instrument supported on the stand without binding to facilitate removal of the instrument cover from the instrument. The instrument cover is positioned over the musical instrument and the stand as the stringed instrument is supported on the stand so that the cover generally conforms to the musical instrument when in a fully covered position. The instrument cover is optionally removed from the instrument and stand after the cover has been positioned thereon.

1 . A method of protecting a stringed musical instrument comprising:
 providing a stringed musical instrument of the type having a body and an elongated neck extending from the body, the stringed musical instrument being provided on a stand so that the instrument is supported by the stand in a generally upright position with the neck extending upward from the body;   providing an instrument cover formed from a flexible fabric material having a neck portion and a body portion configured as a continuous sleeve that is open at the end of the body portion for receiving and generally conforming to the stringed instrument supported on the stand without binding to facilitate removal of the instrument cover from the instrument;   positioning the instrument cover over the musical instrument and the stand as the stringed instrument is supported on the stand so that the cover generally conforms to the musical instrument when in a fully covered position; and optionally removing the instrument cover from the instrument and stand after the cover has been positioned thereon.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stand has a base and a generally upright arm that extends from the base that supports the neck portion, and wherein the instrument cover receives at least a portion of the upright arm.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the instrument cover is formed from front and rear panels that are joined together by side panels and wherein the rear panel of the body portion has lateral dimensions that are greater than the longitudinally corresponding lateral dimensions of the front panel.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the instrument cover is provided with a handle at the upper end to facilitate grasping of the cover.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sides of the body portion taper downwardly outwards from about 3° to about 10° from a longitudinal axis of the cover.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 shoulder portions are defined where the neck portion joins the body portion, the shoulder portions tapering downwardly outward at an angle of from about 15° to about 35° from a longitudinal axis of the cover.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the instrument cover covers the entire length of the instrument.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stringed musical instrument is selected from at least one of a guitar, a banjo, a bass, a cello, a violin, a viola, a ukulele and a mandolin.   
   
   
       9 . A method of protecting a stringed musical instrument comprising:
 providing a stringed musical instrument of the type having a body and an elongated neck extending from the body, the body have lateral dimensions that are greater than those of the neck, the stringed musical instrument being provided on a stand so that the instrument is supported by the stand in a generally upright position with the neck extending upward from the body;   providing an instrument cover formed from a flexible fabric material having a neck portion and a body portion configured as a continuous sleeve that is open at the end of the body portion for closely receiving and generally conforming to the stringed instrument supported on the stand without binding to facilitate removal of the instrument cover from the instrument, and wherein shoulder portions are defined where the neck portion joins the body portion, the shoulder portions tapering downwardly outward at an angle of from about 15° to about 35° from a longitudinal axis of the cover and the sides of the body portion tapering downwardly outwards from about 3° to about 10° from a longitudinal axis of the cover;   positioning the instrument cover over the musical instrument and the stand as the stringed instrument is supported thereon so that the cover generally conforms to the musical instrument when in a fully covered position; and optionally removing the instrument cover from the instrument and stand after the cover has been positioned thereon.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the stand has a base and a generally upright arm that extends from the base that supports the neck portion, and wherein the instrument cover receives at least a portion of the upright arm.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the instrument cover is formed from front and rear panels that are joined together by side panels and wherein the rear panel of the body portion has lateral dimensions that are greater than the longitudinally corresponding lateral dimensions of the front panel.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the instrument cover is provided with a handle at the upper end to facilitate grasping of the cover.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the instrument cover covers the entire length of the instrument.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the stringed musical instrument is selected from at least one of a guitar, a banjo, a bass, a cello, a violin, a viola, a ukulele and a mandolin.