Safe instrument case and protection devices

Abstract

A violin or viola case alleviates potential damage pathways by including one or more protective features. In one aspect, a safety device knocks down the bridge upon the occurrence of crushing contact, impact with the lid of the case or sharp movement. The safety device may be part of the case, or may be provided as an add-on attachment for an existing case. By harnessing the shock or movement to collapse the bridge when trauma to an instrument case occurs, the instrument experiences a low-impact, broad area slap against the top by the face of the bridge as it is knocked down, and collapse of the thin vertical bridge leaves free space between the instrument and the case to prevent damage upon further impact or movement. A well secures the bow in a protected recess away from the instrument. The case in another or further aspect includes parametric monitor, or monitor and control, that detects and records environmental parameters and out-of limit conditions such as temperature, humidity and impact that may affect instrument integrity. The parameters are monitored, values logged, and records displayed, preferably effecting wireless transmission of records and alarm conditions. A method of safe transport includes providing an instrument with a sacrificial bridge and transporting in a case fitted with a bridge knock-down instrument protector.

1 . An instrument protection device for mounting to or incorporation in a lid of a case of a stringed instrument such as a violin, viola, cello or the like wherein the instrument has a bridge, wherein the protection device comprises a safety contact member configured to knock down the bridge when urged into contact therewith such that forces of impact and/or string tension are not transmitted to the instrument through the feet of the bridge, thereby protecting the instrument from damage. 
     
     
         2 . An instrument protection device according to  claim 1 , having an angled edge and being positioned above a bridge position of an instrument to be housed in the case, such that application of force to said stringed instrument housing causes said edge to contact and collapse the bridge thereby averting damage to the instrument. 
     
     
         3 . An instrument protection device according to  claim 2 , having a substantially block shaped member comprising at least one angled edge, said substantially block shaped member being detachably secured to an inner lid of a stringed instrument housing, and positioned substantially above a bridge of an instrument to be housed such that when force is applied to a plurality of areas on said stringed instrument housing, said substantially block shaped member forces said bridge to collapse along said at least one angled edge of said substantially block shaped member. 
     
     
         4 . The instrument protection device of  claim 3 , wherein said substantially block shaped member comprises one or more substantially trapezoidal shaped members configured to form said substantially block shaped member. 
     
     
         5 . The instrument protection device of  claim 3 , wherein said substantially block shaped member comprises a plurality of projections positioned to tip the bridge of the instrument. 
     
     
         6 . The instrument protection device of  claim 2 , configured for being removably attachable to an inner lid of a stringed instrument case in a region substantially proximate to a bridge position of a respective instrument to be placed within said stringed instrument case. 
     
     
         7 . The instrument protection device of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one angled edge is positioned in substantial vertical proximity to but not contacting, said bridge member of a respective instrument to be placed within said stringed instrument case. 
     
     
         8 . The instrument protection device of  claim 7 , wherein at least one portion of said angled edge moves downwardly and engages a top portion of said bridge member of a respective instrument to be placed within said stringed instrument case upon application of a force to said stringed instrument case, thereby collapsing said bridge member of a respective instrument to be placed within said stringed instrument case along the angled edge. 
     
     
         9 . The instrument protection device of  claim 7 , wherein said top portion of said bridge member of a respective instrument to be placed within said stringed instrument case engages at least one portion of said angled edge upon application of a force to a region of said stringed instrument case that causes relative movement of the instrument and case so as to collapse said bridge along the angled edge. 
     
     
         10 . The instrument protection device of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one angled edge is laminated with a thin layer of hard or slideable material, such as acetate, PTFE or other stiff low friction polymer, to prevent said bridge from piercing or catching on said angled edge when collapsing along said angled edge. 
     
     
         11 . The instrument protection device of  claim 5 , wherein each of said plurality of projections comprises a soft material or releasable structure that allows said device to crumble, collapse or release if pressed down against the surface of said instrument. 
     
     
         12 . A method of readying a stringed instrument for transport comprising the steps of:
 providing a sacrificial bridge member to a stringed instrument;   placing said stringed instrument into a stringed instrument retaining mechanism;   securing a protection member to an inner lid of a stringed instrument retaining mechanism, said protection member being effective to knock down the bridge upon impact thereby avoiding damage to the instrument during transport.   
     
     
         13 . A protective case for carrying or storing a stringed instrument, the case comprising a case top and a bottom, and being configured to secure the instrument therein while protecting the instrument from damage. 
     
     
         14 . A protective case according to  claim 13 , wherein the case protects the instrument against crushing or impact damage, and includes at least one protective device selected from among
 a bridge knock-down assembly; and   a bow storage well effective to isolate a bow carried in the case from contact with the instrument.   
     
     
         15 . A protective case according to  claim 13 , wherein the case includes therein at least one sensor of an environmental parameter affecting instrument integrity, said at least parameter being selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, relative humidity, shock, acceleration and impact; and further including means for recording and/or communicating detected values of said at least one sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A case according to  claim 15 , wherein the means for recording and/or communicating includes a data logger and optionally a display. 
     
     
         17 . A case according to  claim 15 , including means for communicating detected data via wireless transmission. 
     
     
         18 . A case according to  claim 15 , further including means for identifying an alarm condition or dangerous threshold of an environmental parameter. 
     
     
         19 . A case according to  claim 15  further including a controller effective to perform analysis and reporting of sensed parameter values. 
     
     
         20 . A protective case according to  claim 14 , having a bow storage well extending longitudinally within the case and located adjacent to and in the plane of an instrument-holding recess.