Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A storage and transport unit for a musical instrument
with a keyboard
The present invention relates to a storage and transport
unit for a musical instrument with a keyboard, said unit
comprising a first portion for receiving the musical in-
strument in its entirety and at least one second portion
which may, during use of the musical instrument when the
unit delimits a first volume, form a substantially out-
wardly delimited space. The unit is intended for use inparticular in connection with electronic musical instru-
ments.
FR 2 644 682 features a furniture element for the storage
of an electronic musical instrument with a keyboard. This
furniture element comprises a storage cavity for the mu-
sical instrument and a socket and a superstructure pro-
vided with shelves on which miscellaneous hi-fi equipment
or the like may be arranged. The disclosure describes
that the lateral elements of the furniture element are to
be adapted to the lateral elements of the musical instru-
ment. At its front, the furniture element further com-
prises a number of doors. When said doors are closed, the
furniture is identical in appearance with an upright pi-
ano.
Moreover a cabinet is known under the trade name "Roland"intended for an electronic musical instrument with a key-
board. The shape of this cabinet is identical with that
of a conventional grand piano, the musical instrument it-
self with the keyboard being incorporated into a front-
most and readily accessible part of the cabinet while the
rearmost portion of the cabinet, seen from above, is
curved whereby the appearance of a conventional grand-
piano is imparted to the cabinet. The cabinet is providedwith legs that are mounted with screws following delivery
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from the production site. The legs are provided with
wheels that allow the cabinet to be moved about in the
room in which it is arranged.
It applies to all of the prior art disclosures that they
relate to substantially stationary storage units intended
for use at a specific location. However, a unit that may
readily be transported from one location to another, e.g.
between two concert halls, is very much in demand among
the intended users which unit simultaneously allows the
unit to impart the impression of being an actual conven-
tional musical instrument and/or may be for containing
accessories during use of the musical instrument.
It is a particular object of the invention to provide a
unit of the type described in the introductory part, said
unit being easier to transport between different loca-
tions of use. Thus, according to the invention a unit of
this type is provided which is characterised in that at
least one portion of the two portions of the unit is ar-
ranged for completely or partially receiving at least one
of the remaining portions in order to provide a transport
position for the unit, in which transport position the
unit delimits a second volume which is reduced compared
to the first volume. In this manner a volume is provided
which has a transport position in which the unit may
readily be handled, e.g. by one single person. According
to an advantageous embodiment, a number of the construc-
tive elements that constitute the unit may moreover be
hollow to provide a unit of reduced weight.
According to the invention it is possible that at least
the one second part of the unit is configured to be able
to contain accessories, e.g. loudspeakers, which, when
necessary, need only be rotated or in any other way ar-
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ranged in its correct position in the unit when the musi-
cal instrument is to be used.
According to a particularly convenient embodiment of the
invention which relates in particular to those particular
cabinets for musical instruments whose appearances are to
convey the impression of being a conventional instrument,
e.g. an ordinary piano, the first and the minimum of one
second portion are so provided that, when delimiting the
first volume, the unit has the appearance of a conven-
tional piano, in particular a grand piano or a pianette.
This is preferably obtained by the first part of the unit
having rectilinear delimiting walls with dimensions that
correspond substantially to the corresponding parts of a
conventional instrument. Thus it has been found that by
imitation of an actual, conventional grand piano it is
important to maintain the dimensions of this part of the
instrument in order to keep up the illusion of the audi-
ence that this is an actual, conventional string instru-
ment. Observance of the exact dimensions of the grand pi-
ano curve compared to that of a conventional grand piano,
however, has proven not to be absolutely necessary.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment the unit
thus consists of two portions, one of the second portions
having a contour which corresponds to the curved portion
of a grand piano. According to the invention this portion
may be displaced into the first portion by means of a
number of grooves with matching protruding profile ele-
ments arranged interiorly of the first portion and exte-
riorly of the second portion, respectively.
According to a further particularly advantageous embodi-
ment, the unit may be provided with a transversal tubular
member or a transversal bore, the extremities of the lat-
ter being provided with wheels to allow the unit to be
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transported from one locality to another when in its up-
right position.
The invention also relates to a particularly advanta-
geously configured, rigid and box-shaped protective pack-
aging for containing the unit, wherein said transport
wheels may also serve as a lock to secure the unit ar-
ranged in the protective packaging when mounted on the
protective packaging via the tubular member or the bore.
The invention will now be described in further detail
with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings.
In the drawings -
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodi-
ment of a unit according to the invention,
Figure 2 is an adaptor portion for the unit shown in
Figure 1,
Figure 3 illustrates the unit shown in Figure 1 delimit-
ing a smaller volume,
Figure 4 is a perspective view, seen from below, of the
unit shown in Figure 3 along the arrow IV and
wherein the support legs abut on the bottom
plate and the transport wheels are tightly se-
cured below the bottom plate,
~0 Figure 5 illustrates the unit shown in Figures 1-4 in
its transport position,
Figure 6 is a rear view of the unit shown in Figure 5,
and~5
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Figure 7 illustrates a transport packaging for the unit
shown in Figures 1-6.
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a unit 1
according to the invention, the unit 1 being depicted in
the state in which the musical instrument is usually
used. The unit shown 1 is intended for receiving and se-
curing a musical instrument with a keyboard which is,
however, omitted for the sake of clarity. The unit 1 com-
prises a frontmost or first portion 6 with two lateralwalls 10 and 12, respectively, that extend from the front
A of the unit 1 to the rear B, and a rearmost or second
portion 4 with a rounded or curved wall 45 at the rear B
of the unit. The rearmost or second portion 4 is config-
ured for being displaceable into the frontmost or firstportion 6 as will be described below with reference to
Figure 3.
Additionally the unit 1 comprises a supporting bottom
plate 20 to which the lateral walls 10 and 12 are secured
and moreover serving to support the remaining structural
parts of the unit 1, including a number of support legs
25 and 27 that are hingedly connected to the bottom side
of the bottom plate 20 and may be provided with driving
wheels 28. The support legs 25 and 27 may alternatively
be releasably connected to the bottom plate 20. As will
appear, the unit 1 has the general appearance of a small,
conventional grand piano, the front dimensions H, D and L
of the unit 1 corresponding to the corresponding dimen-
sions of a corresponding grand piano, wherein the dimen-
sion D preferably corresponds to the dimension of the
rectilinear lateral wall of a grand piano. The fact that
these dimensions have been maintained has proved to be of
significance whey conveying to the audience the illusion
that this is an actual, conventional string instrument.
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As will appear more specifically from Figure 1 the lat-
eral walls 10 and 12 are made with recesses 13 at the
front A of the unit, very much like a conventional piano.
Preferably the unit l moreover comprises a longitudinal
partition wall 15 that extends completely or partially
between the lateral walls 10 and 12 in a predetermined
distance from the recesses 13. The recesses 13 are made
to fluctuate with recesses 13' in the lateral walls 32
and 34 in a separately formed adapter element 30 which is
shown in further detail in Figure 2 and which is, pref-
erably on the location of sale and in accordance with the
wishes of the consumer, mounted securely on the bottom
plate 20 of the unit 1 for abutment on the lateral walls
10 and 12 and the longitudinal partition wall 15. Said
lateral walls 32 and 34 of the adapter element 30 are
connected to each other by means of a plate element 38.
By means of hinges or in any other way, a front plate 40
is secured to the lateral elements 32 and 34 or the plate
element 38. As will appear, the adapter element 30 hereby
delimits an open front space in which an electronic musi-
cal instrument with a keyboard may be received, the
thickness of the lateral walls 32, 34 or the remaining
dimensions of the adapter element 30 may be selected so
as to permit said space to be in exact correspondence
with the dimensions of the instrument. During use of the
unit 1, the front plate 40 may be caused to occupy a po-
sition in which the front plate 40 is pivoted rearwards
and thereby reveals that part of the musical instrument
which is behind the keyboard and which may comprise tun-
ing buttons for the remaining functions of the instru-
ment, whereby access to said front room is obtained. In
addition the front plate 90 may comprise a cover which
may cover the entire keyboard.
It should be noted that the lateral wall is also provided
with fitting elements or with a vertical through-going
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bore whereby the unit 1 may be provided with transport
wheels 64 and 66 as will be described in further detail
with reference to Figure 3.
The rearmost portion 4 of the unit 1 is, as will appear
from Figure 1, provided with a curved wall 45 which ex-
tends at its edges into vertical lateral walls 47 and 49,
and a horizontal bottom plate 70 shown in Figure 4. The
lateral walls 47 and 49 as well as the bottom plate 70
extend parallel with the corresponding portions of the
frontmost portion 6 but is displaced inwardly in order to
be able to extend into the interior of the frontmost part
6. The bottom plate 70 of the rearmost portion 4 is, like
the bottom plate 20, preferably provided with a number,
preferably one, of hinged or removable support legs 75.
In the illustrated service position for the unit 1, the
curved wall 45 extends evenly into the lateral walls 10
and 12 of the frontmost portion 6.
Interiorly of the frontmost portion 6 of the unit 1, the
lateral walls 10 and 12 are provided with elongated and
horizontally extending grooves 55 that form an engaging
connection with associated elongated profiles or rails 50
arranged on the outside of each of the vertical lateral
walls 47 and 49 of the rearmost portion 4. A correspond-
ing engaging connection may be provided between the upper
side of the bottom plate 20 and the underside of the bot-
tom plate 70 of the rearmost part 4. The engagement con-
nections 50 and 55 allow unimpeded displacement of the
rearmost portion 4 into the frontmost portion 6 whereby
the unit 1 may be caused to occupy the transport position
described in further detail below. It should be noted
that in the service position, i.e. when the rearmost por-
tion is conveyed out through the frontmost portion 6,
the weight of the rearmost portion 4 will preferably be
received by the engagement connections 50 and 55 and by
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the aforementioned support leg(s) 75 that are connected
to the rearmost portion 4. Thereby resonance problems
with loudspeakers located in the frontmost portion 6 are
avoided.
In Figure 3 the unit 1 is shown ln an interposed position
with a view to transport in which position the unit 1 de-
limits a smaller volume. As will appear the rearmost por-
tion 4 is conveyed partially into the frontmost portion 6
until abutment on e.g. the longitudinal partition wall 15
interiorly of the unit 1, any support legs 75 for the
portion 4 being removed or in abutment on the bottom
plate 20. In the Figure a cover 60 for the unit 1 is also
shown. This cover is preferably connected via a hinge
connection 61 to one of the lateral walls 10 or 12 and
forms a superstructure during use of the unit that may
delimit the frontmost portion 6 and upwardly the rearmost
portion 4, since the cover 60 may, like a conventional
grand piano, by means of said hinge connection 61 be con-
veyed to a lifted position. The cover 60 is also prefera-
bly divided by a transversal hinge connection 62, whereby
the rearmost, protruding portion of the cover 60 may be
pivoted to the position shown in Figure 3 in which this
portion overlays the remainder of the cover 60 in order
to hereby form an even more compact transport unit.
The unit 1 is now caused to occupy the transport position
shown in Figure 5 by being set endwise following which
the support legs 25 and 27 are pivoted to a position in
which they abut on the underside of the bottom plate 20,
as shown in Figure 4 that illustrates the bottom plane 20
seen in a direction along the arrow IV in Figure 3. Prior
to this, the position of the portion 4 is conveniently
locked by means of not shown lock fittings. As shown in
Figure 4, the bottom plate is moreover provided with at-
tachment means for the transport wheels 64 and 66.
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Thereby the transport wheels may be secured to be releas-
able and hidden on the unit 1 during use of the latter as
a musical instrument, and they may be removed for mount-
ing along with an axle in a driving position in the
transport position of the unit, as shown in Figure 5 in
which the axle extends through said tubular member or
through said transversal bore in the lateral wall 12.
Figure 5 also outlines the keyboard 100 of the musical
instrument, the musical instrument being safely secured
in the unit 1 by means of the adapter element 30, Figure
2.
Figure 6 is a rear view of an embodiment of the unit 1 on
which a separate support leg 75 is releasably mounted or
hinged in order to be pivoted out below or secured to the
rearmost portion 4 of the unit 1 in its in-use position.
Figure ~ also illustrates a particularly suitable trans-
port packaging 105 for the unit 1. The packaging 105 com-
prises a box-shaped portion 110 and a lid 120. The walls
of the box-shaped portion 110 and the lid 120 are pro-
vided with corresponding apertures through which said
axle for the transport wheels may be conveyed, said
transport wheels 64 and 66 being secured at the ends of
the axle as shown. The axle may thus also serve as a lock
to keep the box-shaped element 110 and 120 together.
It should be noted that it is comprised within the scope
of the invention to configure the rearmost portion 4 in
the form of a plurality of separate sections which may
optionally also be displaced into each other. Thereby it
is possible to provide a transport position for the unit
1 in which e.g. a circular-arch element 45 does not pro-
trude from the back of the unit, as shown in Figure 3.
This is of particular importance when the first portion 6
of the unit 1 has such depth D that the portion 4 cannot
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be conveyed completely into the frontmost portion 6 of
the unit 1.
It is noted that particularly advantageously the unit 1
is, when it leaves its site of production, provided with
the electric cables and connectors that are necessary for
the functioning of the musical instrument. It is particu-
larly preferred that the support legs 25,27,75 are hollow
which allow connectors for the power supply and e.g. ex-
ternal loudspeakers, microphones, etc., to be providedwhile simultaneously bringing about a considerable reduc-
tion in the weight of the unit 1.
It should also be noted that advantageously the unit 1
may be arranged for receiving further accessories for the
musical instrument, such as amplifiers and loudspeakers.
These accessories may as desired be permanently arranged
in the space delimited by the longitudinal partition wall
15, the lateral walls 10 and 12, 47 and 49 and the curved
wall 45 whereby they remain in the unit 1 during its
transport. It should also be stressed that it is within
the scope of the invention to interhinge the constructive
elements 10,12,20,45,47,49 of the elements 4,6 that may
also be hinged to each other in order to provide an even
more collapsible construction. It will also be understood
that even though it is, of course, usually preferable to
use a musical instrument with the unit delimiting said
first volume, it is also possible, although usually unde-
sirable, to use the musical instrument in the transport
position of the unit.
