阅读说明：本技术 器具支撑件 (Appliance support ) 是由 宫武达郎 于 2018-09-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种器具支撑件,其包括第一伸长部件、第二伸长部件以及桥状部,该桥状部将第一伸长部件连接到第二伸长部件。第一伸长部件相对于桥状部的相对定向是固定的,并且第二伸长部件相对于桥状部的相对定向是固定的。(The invention provides an appliance support comprising a first elongate member, a second elongate member and a bridge portion connecting the first elongate member to the second elongate member. The relative orientation of the first elongate member with respect to the bridge portion is fixed and the relative orientation of the second elongate member with respect to the bridge portion is fixed.)

1. An appliance support, comprising:

a first elongate member and a second elongate member; and

a bridge connecting the first elongate member to the second elongate member, the bridge being integrally formed with each of the first and second elongate members such that the relative orientation between each of the first and second elongate members is substantially fixed relative to the bridge.

2. The appliance support of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elongate members has a first end and a second end, the first and second ends defining a length of each of the first and second elongate members, and each of the first and second elongate members is bent between the first and second ends.

3. The appliance support of claim 1, wherein each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member comprises:

a first outer layer;

a second outer layer; and

a buffer layer between the first outer layer and the second outer layer.

4. The implement support of claim 3, further comprising a first stabilizer positioned at a connection between the bridge portion and the first elongate member and a second stabilizer positioned at a connection between the bridge portion and the second elongate member, wherein the bridge portion is integrally formed with each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member.

5. The implement support of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second stabilizers is rigid and is interposed between the cushioning layer and the second outer layer.

6. The implement support of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elongate members has a first end and a second end, each first end comprising an attachment portion for attaching an implement.

7. The implement support of claim 1, wherein the bridge portion comprises an extension mechanism configured to alter a distance between the first elongate member and the second elongate member.

8. The appliance support of claim 3, wherein each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member further comprises a rigid rod interposed between the second outer layer and the cushioning layer.

9. An appliance support, comprising:

a first elongate member and a second elongate member, each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member comprising:

a first end and a second end defining a length therebetween, an

A protrusion positioned at a point along each of the first and second elongated members between the first and second ends; and

a bridge portion having a first slot configured to receive the first elongate member and a second slot configured to receive the second elongate member.

10. The implement support of claim 9, wherein each of the first elongate member, the second elongate member, and the bridge portion comprises:

a first outer layer;

a second outer layer; and

a buffer layer between the first outer layer and the second outer layer.

11. The instrument support of claim 10, wherein the bridge portion further comprises a first stabilizer positioned on a periphery of the first slot and a second stabilizer positioned on a periphery of the second slot, and each of the first and second stabilizers is rigid and interposed between the cushioning layer and the second outer layer of the bridge portion.

12. The appliance support of claim 10, wherein a third layer is provided so as to cover the first outer layer, each of the first and second slots being defined between the third layer and the first outer layer.

13. The implement support of claim 9, wherein the first end of each of the first and second elongated members comprises an attachment portion configured to attach to an implement.

14. The implement support of claim 9, wherein the bridge portion comprises an extension mechanism configured to alter a distance between the first elongate member and the second elongate member.

15. The implement support of claim 9, wherein the first elongate member, the second elongate member, and the bridge portion are separately formed components.

16. The implement support of claim 9, wherein the protrusion is positioned along each of the respective first and second elongate members such that in an assembled configuration the protrusion abuts the bridge.

17. The implement support of claim 16, wherein the bridge is adjacent a center point between the first end and the second end of each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member.

18. The implement support of claim 9, wherein the first and second slots of the bridge portion open in a direction of elongation of the respective first and second elongated members.

19. The appliance support of claim 10, wherein each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member further comprises a rigid rod interposed between the second outer layer and the cushioning layer.

20. An appliance support, comprising:

a first elongate member and a second elongate member;

a bridge connecting the first elongate member to the second elongate member; and

a first rigid stabilizer positioned at a connection between the bridge portion and the first elongate member and a second rigid stabilizer positioned at a connection between the bridge portion and the second elongate member.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a support for maintaining the orientation of an appliance relative to the body of a user. The related art includes body supports, straps, attachments for musical instruments, and more particularly, body straps for suspending a saxophone or similar musical instrument from the body of a user.

Background

Various musical instruments require a musical player (i.e., a user) performing to hold or hold the instrument while playing the instrument. An instrument support (instrument support) helps a user to hold or hold the instrument while playing the instrument or even when not playing the instrument.

Depending on the position of the appliance relative to the user's body while playing the appliance, the appliance support is designed to distribute the weight of the appliance over the user's body. For example, an implement support from which an implement to be played on the side of a user (such as a guitar) is suspended may be designed to distribute the weight of the implement in such a way as to facilitate the performance of the implement on the side of the user. Likewise, an instrument played in front of the user (such as a saxophone) may be designed such that the weight of the instrument is distributed in such a way as to facilitate the performance of the instrument in front of the user.

With regard to the saxophone support, the weight distribution of the saxophone along the shoulder and neck portions of the user is critical, as improper weight distribution can cause discomfort to the user. The saxophone support varies in design and weight distribution of the saxophone on the user's body. Some saxophone support designs unevenly distribute the weight of the saxophone over the user's neck, thereby contributing to neck strain. Alternative saxophone support designs distribute the weight of the saxophone over the user's shoulders. However, due to the natural movement of the appliance caused by the user during performance and/or regular use, alternative designs are susceptible to undesirable repositioning on the shoulders, thereby causing uneven weight distribution on the user's shoulders and contributing to user discomfort.

Disclosure of Invention

In an exemplary embodiment, an implement support includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member, and a bridge portion connecting the first elongate member to the second elongate member. The bridge portion is integrally formed with each of the first and second elongate members. Thus, the first elongate member is substantially fixed relative to the bridge portion and the second elongate member is substantially fixed relative to the bridge portion. Likewise, the relative orientation of the first elongate member with respect to the bridge portion is substantially fixed, and the relative orientation of the second elongate member with respect to the bridge portion is substantially fixed.

The appliance support will rest on the user's shoulders whereby each elongate member bends around the corresponding shoulder of the user. Extending from one shoulder to the other, the bridge is contoured around the rear heel-base of the user's neck.

When the appliance support is worn by a user and the appliance is attached to the appliance support, the weight of the appliance is widely distributed over the upper body of the user. In particular, the elongate member distributes a portion of the weight of the attached appliance over the shoulders and the portion of the user's body adjacent to the shoulders that are in contact with the appliance support. In addition, the bridge support distributes the remainder of the weight of the attached appliance around the root of the user's neck.

The arrangement of the elongate member and the bridge minimises the load on the neck of the appliance and distributes the weight of the appliance securely over the upper body of the user. Further, the implement support maintains the orientation of the implement relative to the user's body.

Drawings

Exemplary embodiments can be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top front view of an exemplary implement support;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of an exemplary implement support;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an exemplary implement support;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an exemplary implement support;

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of an exemplary implement support;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary instrument support;

FIG. 7 illustrates a user wearing an appliance support with an appliance attachment mechanism and an attached appliance;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the elongated member of the instrument support along line 8 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bridge portion of the instrument support along line 9 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of the connection portion of the implement support;

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the connection portion of the implement support along line 11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of the stabilizer;

FIG. 13 illustrates a rear view of the stabilizer;

FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of an exemplary detachable instrument support;

FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of an exemplary detachable instrument support;

FIG. 16 illustrates a top view of a bridge portion of an exemplary detachable instrument support;

FIG. 17 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bridge portion of the instrument support along line 17 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 illustrates a top view of an exemplary extendable implement support;

FIG. 19 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative connection of an implement support;

FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary instrument support with a fastening mechanism.

Detailed Description

In one embodiment, the implement support has a bridge portion integrally formed with each of the first and second elongate members.

The implement support is configured to rest on the shoulders of the user and distribute the weight of the implement evenly across the upper body of the user. The two elongated members (i.e., the first elongated member and the second elongated member) are configured to rest on the user's shoulders and to bend at the curvature of the user's shoulders. A bridge portion connects the first elongate member to the second elongate member and is integrally formed with each of the elongate members. As such, the relative orientation between the first elongate member and the bridge portion is substantially fixed. Likewise, the relative orientation between the second elongate member and the bridge portion is substantially fixed. By maintaining the relative orientation of each elongate member and the bridge substantially fixed, the elongate members remain securely in position despite natural instrument movement that may occur during performance by a user or daily playing of the instrument.

In fig. 1 and 2, an exemplary instrument support 100 is depicted in top and front views, respectively. Implement support 100 includes a first elongate member 110, a second elongate member 120, and a bridge portion 130, bridge portion 130 connecting first elongate member 110 to second elongate member 120. First elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120 are bent at the bottom of appliance support 100 with a concavity. The curvature of each of the first elongate member 110 and the second elongate member 120 allows the first elongate member 110 and the second elongate member 120 to rest on the shoulders of a user 600 wearing the appliance support 100 (see figure 7).

First elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120 each have two ends. First elongate member 110 has a first end 112 at the front of appliance support 100 and a second end 114 at the rear of appliance support 100. Second elongate member 120 has a first end 122 at the front of implement support 100 and a second end 124 at the rear of implement support 100. At the front ends 112, 122 of first elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120 are attachment portions 118, 128 configured to receive an implement attachment mechanism 500 (as shown in figure 7). In the embodiment depicted in figures 1 and 2, attachment portions 118, 128 are loops formed into the elongate members, wherein a string or set of strings (which are part of instrument attachment mechanism 500) may be inserted and tied into attachment portions 118, 128 to facilitate attachment to first elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120. In this configuration, the string or set of strings is a component of implement attachment mechanism 500 and connects implement attachment mechanism 500 to implement support 100. Of course, this is just one form that implement attachment mechanism 500 can take, and the attachment portion may be configured to receive a wide variety of implement attachment mechanisms 500.

Bridge portion 130 may be integrally formed with each of first elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120. Specifically, first elongate member 110 communicates with bridge portion 130 via connecting portion 116. Likewise, on the opposite side of bridge portion 130, second elongate member 120 communicates with bridge portion 130 via connecting portion 126. Thus, first elongate member 110 is substantially fixed relative to bridge portion 130, and second elongate member 120 is substantially fixed relative to bridge portion 130. The bridge is adjacent a center point between the first end 112, 122 and the second end 114, 124 of each of the respective first and second elongate members 110, 120. Additionally, the relative orientation of first elongate member 110 with respect to bridge portion 130 is substantially fixed by connecting portion 116, and the relative orientation of second elongate member 120 with respect to bridge portion 130 is substantially fixed by connecting portion 126.

As used herein, "substantially fixed" is made with respect to the constraint of movement of one member relative to another member. For purposes of this disclosure, two members are "substantially stationary" if the members cannot rotationally move more than 20 degrees relative to each other in any plane. In addition, two members that are "substantially fixed" cannot move in translation in any plane relative to each other by more than 2 centimeters. Thus, in both rotational and translational movements, the members that are substantially fixed in relative orientation or with respect to each other are limited in the respective degrees of freedom.

As shown in figures 2-7, first elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120 may extend further towards the rear of implement support 100 than towards the front of implement support 100. An exemplary positioning of the implement support 100 on a user 600 is depicted in fig. 7. With first and second elongate members 110, 120 extending further towards the rear of the appliance support 100, the appliance support 100 is configured to rest on the shoulder of a user 600 wearing the appliance support 100 in such a way that the appliance support 100 is in contact with the scapula of the user 600 wearing the appliance support 100. By contacting the scapula of user 600, appliance support 100 has leverage over the upper back of user 600 and the weight of an attached appliance can be spread across a larger area of the upper back of user 600 wearing appliance support 100. In addition, the bridge portion 130 is disposed toward the rear of the appliance support 100. The positioning and angle of the bridge 130 allows the bridge to rest on the posterior root of the neck of the user 600.

The cushioning layers 144, 134 are disposed at various locations within the appliance support 100 so as to provide padding in which the appliance support 100 contacts the body of a user 600 wearing the appliance support 100. In one embodiment, cushioning layer 144 may be thicker toward the rear of elongate members 110, 120 than toward the front of the elongate members. This allows for a specific positioning of the pad, wherein the weight of the appliance will be most heavily transferred on the upper body of the user 600 wearing the appliance support 100.

With respect to fig. 8, a cross-section of the elongated member 120 along line 8 in fig. 3 is depicted. As discussed above, first elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120 each extend from first end 112, 122 to second end 114, 124, respectively. Each elongate member has a first outer layer 140 and a second outer layer 142, and a rod 146 is located within each elongate member, the rod 146 extending from generally the first end 112, 122 to generally the second end 114, 124 of each elongate member. The rod 146 is rigid and maintains the curved form of the elongate member. The rod 146 is made of a rigid material including, but not limited to, aluminum, steel, copper, iron, plastic, acrylic, carbon fiber, and wood. The cushioning layer 144 is adjacent to the rod, the cushioning layer 144 providing comfort to the user 600 wearing the appliance support 100 by cushioning the weight transferred from the appliance support 100 to the body of the user 600. For example, as shown in fig. 8, cushioning layer 144 may be positioned between rod 146 and first outer layer 140 to maintain the cushioning effect of cushioning layer 144 against the body of user 600 while minimizing the use of excess material. Alternatively, another cushioning layer may be placed on the opposite side of rod 146 from cushioning layer 144 (i.e., between rod 146 and second outer layer 142) so as to provide cushioning with cushioning layer 144 on both sides of second elongate member 120. The first and second outer layers 140, 142 are attached to each other on the outer edges 148 of each of the elongate members. The first and second outer layers 140, 142 may be attached to each other by adhesives, stitches, stitching, staples, rivets, or any other suitable attachment means. The outer layers of the appliance support (first outer layers 140, 136 and second outer layers 142, 132 comprising elongate members 110, 120 and bridge portion 130, respectively) are made of materials including, but not limited to, leather, synthetic leather, polyester, cotton, cloth, nylon, and polyethylene plastic.

With respect to fig. 9, a cross-sectional view of bridge portion 130 taken along line 9 of fig. 3 is depicted. The bridge portion 130 may be formed from a buffer layer 134, the buffer layer 134 being sandwiched by a first outer layer 136 and a second outer layer 132. The absence of a rod in the bridge 130 allows the bridge 130 to be comfortably formed around the posterior root of the neck of the user 600. Similar to the outer layers of the elongate members, the first and second outer layers 136, 132 are attached to each other on the outer edges 138 of the bridge portion 130, and the outer layers may be attached to each other by adhesive, stitching, sewing, staples, rivets or any other suitable attachment means. Although the bridge portion 130 is depicted with the cushioning layer 134 in fig. 9, the bridge portion 130 may also be formed without a cushioning layer. In this configuration, no layers would be disposed between the first and second outer layers 136, 132.

With respect to fig. 10, a portion of an instrument support 100 is depicted, wherein a bridge portion 130 is integrally connected with a second elongate member 120. Appliance support 100 is symmetrical across bridge 130 and so the portion of appliance support 100 with first elongate member 110 is a mirror image of the portion with second elongate member 120, as shown in figure 10. In one embodiment, bridge portion 130 is connected to each of first elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120. Rigid stabilizers are embedded between first outer layer 140 and second outer layer 142 at connecting portions 116, 126 between bridge portion 130 and elongated members 110, 120, respectively. First stabilizer 200 extends from bridge portion 130 and across connecting portion 116 to first elongate member 110. Second stabilizer 202 extends from bridge portion 130 and across connecting portion 126 to second elongate member 120. Each of first and second stabilizers 200, 202 is formed from a single piece of integrally formed rigid material having a rigidity greater than the rigidity of first and second outer layers 140, 142 of first and second elongate members 110, 120 and the rigidity of first and second outer layers 136, 132 of bridge portion 130. The rigidity of first and second stabilizers 200, 202 maintains the orientation of respective first and second elongate members 110, 120 substantially fixed relative to bridge portion 130. For example, second stabilizer 202 maintains angle 510 between first end 122 of second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130 substantially fixed. Second stabilizer 202 also maintains angle 520 between second end 124 of second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130 substantially fixed. The first stabilizer 200 performs the same function as the second stabilizer 202, but on the opposite side of the implement support 100. The stabilizers 200, 202 may be made of any rigid material including, but not limited to, aluminum, steel, copper, iron, plastic, acrylic, carbon fiber, and wood. The stabilizer 200 may also be made of a semi-rigid material, such as Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), that is rigid enough to keep the relative orientation of the elongate member relative to the bridge portion fixed, but soft enough to provide comfort to a user wearing the appliance support.

Figure 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the integral connecting portion 126 between the second elongate member 120 and the bridge portion 130. As shown in figure 11, second stabilizer 202 extends across connecting portion 126 between second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130. Within second elongate member 120, a second stabilizer 202 is interposed between second outer layer 142 and buffer layer 144. The second stabilizer 202 rests between the rod 146 and the second outer layer 142. Within the connection 126, a second stabilizer 202 is positioned between the first and second outer layers 140, 142. Within the bridge portion 130, a second stabilizer 202 is positioned between the buffer layer 134 and the second outer layer 132. Because second stabilizer 202 is rigid, the profile of connecting portion 126 and the relative orientation between second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130 is maintained. Alternatively, if the second elongate member has a buffer layer on both sides of the rod 146, the second stabilizer 202 may be disposed between the second outer layer 142 and the buffer layer of the rod 146 opposite the buffer layer 144. The rigidity of first and second stabilisers 200, 202 maintains the orientation of the respective first and second elongate members 110, 120 substantially fixed relative to bridge portion 130 in all three dimensions. For example, as described above with reference to fig. 10, the second stabilizer maintenance angles 510 and 520 are substantially fixed. In addition, second stabilizer 202 maintains substantially fixed angle 530 between second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130 as shown in fig. 11.

First stabilizer 200 (which extends from bridge portion 130 and across connecting portion 116 to first elongate member 110) is similarly positioned within first elongate member 110 and bridge portion 130 as second stabilizer 202 is positioned relative to second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130. Similar to second stabilizer 202, on the opposite side of implement support 100, first stabilizer 200 maintains the angle between first elongate member 110 and bridge 130.

With respect to fig. 12 and 13, the first stabilizer 200 is depicted in top and rear views, respectively. First stabilizer 200 has a forward extension 210 and a rearward extension 220, forward extension 210 and rearward extension 220 extending toward respective first end 112 and second end 114 of first elongate member 110. The side extension portions 230 of the first stabilizer 200 extend toward the center of the bridge portion 130. First stabilizer 200 is curved in a manner to follow the contour of first elongate member 110 and the contour of the left shoulder of user 600. While the second stabilizer 202 is curved in a similar manner as the first stabilizer 200, the configuration and curvature of the second stabilizer is in an opposing fashion so as to contour the right shoulder of the user 600. Although a mirror image of the second stabilizer 202 is not shown, the second stabilizer 202 includes the same features as the first stabilizer 200, but in an opposite orientation.

First stabilizer 200 and second stabilizer 202 maintain the orientation of first elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120 relative to bridge portion 130. Thus, first elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120 do not rotate relative to bridge portion 130. Additionally, the relative angles formed at the connecting portions 116, 126 with respect to the bridge portion 130 are unchanged by the first elongate member 110 and the second elongate member 120, respectively. The angle 222 indicated in fig. 12 formed between the rear extension 220 and the side extension 230 is maintained by the rigidity of the stabilizer 200 such that the angle and orientation made between the elongate member 110 and the bridge 130 is maintained. Likewise, the angle 224 formed between the front extension 210 and the side extension 230 is also maintained by the rigidity of the stabilizer 200. Thus, twisting and bending of the tool support 100 is inhibited by the positioning of the stabilizers 200, 202 within the tool support 100.

In another embodiment, the implement support is configured for disassembly. In other words, the first elongate member, the second elongate member and the bridge portion are separately formed members. As depicted in fig. 14 and 15, the implement support 300 is depicted in front and top views, respectively. Implement support 300 includes a first elongate member 310, a second elongate member 320, and a bridge portion 330, bridge portion 330 being connected to first elongate member 310 and second elongate member 320. First elongate member 310 and second elongate member 320 are bent at the bottom of implement support 300 with a concavity. The curvature of each of the first and second elongate members 310, 320 allows the first and second elongate members 310, 320 to rest on the shoulders of a user 600 wearing the appliance support 300.

Similar to the other embodiments, first elongate member 310 and second elongate member 320 each have two ends. First elongate member 310 has a first end 312 at the front of implement support 300 and a second end 314 at the rear of implement support 300. Second elongate member 320 has a first end 322 at the front of implement support 300 and a second end 324 at the rear of implement support 300. Attachment portions 318, 328, which are configured to receive an implement attachment, such as implement attachment mechanism 500, are located at front ends 312, 322 of first elongate member 310 and second elongate member 320.

The bridge portion 330 includes a first slot 350 and a second slot 352, each formed by a third layer 354, the third layer 354 surrounding the first outer layer 340 of the bridge portion 330. First slot 350 and second slot 352 of bridge portion 330 open in the direction of elongation of respective first elongate member 310 and second elongate member 320. For assembly, first elongate member 310 is slid lengthwise into slot 350 of bridge portion 330 at connection 316. First elongate member 310 has a projection 360, projection 360 preventing first elongate member 310 from sliding completely through slot 350. Likewise, on the opposite side of bridge portion 330, second elongate member 320 is slid lengthwise into second slot 352 of bridge portion 330 at connecting portion 326. Second elongate member 320 has a projection 362, and projection 362 prevents second elongate member 320 from sliding completely through second slot 352. Extensions 360, 362 are positioned at points along the length of first elongate member 310 and second elongate member 320, respectively, and when first elongate member 310 and second elongate member 320 are assembled with the bridge, extensions 360, 362 abut bridge 330. Thus, after first and second elongate members 310, 320 are assembled with bridge portion 330, first elongate member 310 is substantially fixed relative to bridge portion 330, second elongate member 320 is substantially fixed relative to bridge portion 330, and bridge portion 330 is adjacent a center point between first and second ends 312, 322, 314, 324 of each of respective first and second elongate members 310, 320. Additionally, the relative orientation of first elongate member 310 with respect to bridge portion 330 is substantially fixed, and the relative orientation of second elongate member 320 with respect to bridge portion 330 is substantially fixed.

As depicted in fig. 16, the bridge portion 330 includes connecting portions 316, 326. First and second slots 350 and 352 extend from the connecting portions 316 and 326, respectively. With respect to fig. 17, a cross-section of the bridge portion 330 along line 17 of fig. 16 is depicted. As shown in fig. 17, the second slot 352 is formed by the third layer 354 and the first outer layer 340. The third layer 354 is provided so as to cover the first outer layer 340, and the second slot 352 is defined between the third layer 354 and the first outer layer 340. Stabilizer 202 is disposed between first outer layer 340 and second outer layer 342 and extends across second slot 352. The orientation of the second slot 352 relative to the bridge portion 330 is maintained by the rigid stabilizer 202. As a result, the orientation of the elongated members 310, 320 relative to the bridge portion 330 is maintained after assembly.

As shown in fig. 17, the implement support 300 is symmetrical across the bridge 330, and thus the portion of the implement support 300 with the first slot 350 is a mirror image of the portion with the second slot 352. Thus, similar to the second stabilizer 202 depicted in fig. 17, the first stabilizer 200 (which extends from the bridge portion 330 and across the connection portion 316 over the first slot 350) is positioned between the first and second outer layers 340, 342.

With respect to the instrument support 100 depicted in fig. 1-6 and 18, the angle formed between the elongated members 110, 120 and the bridge portion 130 may vary. For example, the elongated members 110, 120 may be angled perpendicularly to the bridge 130. Alternatively, the elongated members 110, 120 may have an angle that is greater toward the front of the implement support 100 and smaller toward the rear of the implement support 100.

With respect to the instrument support 300 depicted in fig. 14-17, the angle formed between the first and second slots 350, 352 and the bridge 330 may be altered such that when the elongated members 310, 320 are assembled, a desired angle between each elongated member 310, 320 and the bridge 330 is achieved. For example, first slot 350 and second slot 352 may be configured such that elongate members 310, 320 are angled perpendicularly to bridge portion 330. Alternatively, first slot 350 and second slot 352 may be configured such that elongate members 310, 320 have an angle that is greater toward the front of implement support 300 and smaller toward the rear of implement support 300.

In another embodiment, as shown in fig. 18, the bridge portion may include an extension mechanism 400. Extension mechanism 400 is configured to alter the distance between first elongate member 110 and second elongate member 120. As depicted in fig. 18, the extension mechanism 400 may be in the form of a buckle 410 that allows the user 600 to vary the length of the bridge. Alternatively, the extension mechanism 400 may be in the form of a hook and loop fastener that is attachable and detachable to alter the length of the bridge. A stabilizer (not shown) may be disposed within the appliance support 100 in a similar manner as described above with respect to fig. 10 and 11. Although the length may vary, the relative orientation between first elongate member 110 and the bridge and the relative orientation between second elongate member 120 and the bridge remain substantially fixed. As in the previously described embodiments, the stabilizer maintains the orientation of the elongated members 110, 120 relative to the bridge portion 130.

In yet another embodiment, as shown in fig. 19, the bridge portion may not include a buffer layer. Similar to figure 11, figure 19 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the integral connecting portion 126 between the second elongate member 120 and the bridge portion 130. Second stabilizer 204 extends across connecting portion 126 between second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130. Within second elongate member 120, a second stabilizer 204 is interposed between first outer layer 140 and buffer layer 144. The first and second outer layers 140, 142 are attached to each other on the outer edges 148 of each of the elongate members. Within the connecting portion 126, a second stabilizer 204 is positioned between the first and second outer layers 140, 142. The second stabilizer 204 partially extends inside the bridge portion 130 toward the center of the bridge portion 130. The center of the bridge portion 130 may be formed only by the first and second outer layers 136, 132, wherein the first and second outer layers 136, 132 are attached to each other. Second stabilizer 204 maintains the shape of connecting portion 126 and the relative orientation between second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130. A first stabilizer (not shown) is positioned similarly to the second stabilizer 204, but on the opposite side of the implement support. Stabilizer 204 as shown in figure 19 may be made of a semi-rigid material (e.g., EVA) and only allows minimal relative movement between second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130 at connection portion 126. Of course, the stabilizer 204 may be made of a more rigid material (such as the materials used for the first and second stabilizers 200, 204 as described above in other embodiments).

In a further embodiment of the appliance support 100, as illustrated in figure 20, the second ends 114, 124 of the first and second elongate members 110, 120, respectively, are fastened together by a fastening mechanism 150. The fastening mechanism 150 may be a mechanism that ties, hooks, or otherwise fastens the second ends 114, 124 together. In the embodiment depicted in figure 20, the fastening mechanism 150 has a cord 152, the cord 152 passing through apertures 154, 156 in the first elongate member 110 and the second elongate member 120, respectively. The cord 152 passes through the fastening mechanism 150 and is locked in place by a locking feature 158 or unlocked by the locking feature 158. The securing mechanism 150 secures the first and second elongate members 110, 120 in a secured position by locking the cord 152 with the locking feature 158, wherein the second ends 114, 124 are closer to each other and the first ends 112, 122 are further apart. In the secured position, the relative positions of the elongate members 110, 120 allow the implement support 100 to shift the distribution of weight on the user to the elongate members 110, 120 and away from the bridge portion 130. In the unsecured position, the cord 152 is released, thereby allowing the second ends 114, 124 of the elongate members 110, 120 to move farther apart and the first ends 112, 122 to become closer together. In the unsecured position, the less restrained movement of the second ends 114, 124 of the elongate members 110, 120 allows the implement support 100 to be folded for storage or transport. It should be appreciated that the fastening mechanism 150 may take a variety of forms other than the cord stop shown in fig. 20 (such as a hook or any such suitable fastening mechanism configured to fasten the second ends 114, 124 using the apertures 154, 156).

The dimensions of the implement support 100 may vary, but one embodiment may have the following approximate dimensions. The bridge portion may be in the range of 4 to 8 inches (e.g., 6 inches) in length (from the connection portion 116 to the connection portion 126), may be in the range of 1 to 3 inches (e.g., 1.75 inches) in width (from the front of the bridge portion to the back of the bridge portion), and may be in the range of 0.1 to 1 inch (e.g., 0.4 inches) in thickness (from the first outer layer 136 to the second outer layer 132). Each elongate member may be in the range of 6 to 12 inches (e.g., 8.5 inches) in length (from the respective elongate member's first end 112, 122 to second end 114, 124, and along the curvature of the elongate member), may have a width in the range of 1 to 3 inches (e.g., 1.5 inches), and may have a thickness (from first outer layer 140 to second outer layer 142, and at the point with the thickest buffer layer 144) in the range of 0.1 to 1 inch (e.g., 0.5 inches). Angle 510 between first end 122 of second elongate member 120 and bridge portion 130 may be in the range of 90 to 150 degrees (e.g., 135 degrees). The angle 520 between the second end 124 of the second elongate member 120 and the bridge portion 130 may be in the range of 35 to 60 degrees (e.g., 45 degrees). The curvature of the elongated members 110, 120 may have a radius of a circular arc in the range of 2 to 4 inches (e.g., 3 inches). The stabilizer may have a thickness in the range of 0.02 to 0.3 inches (e.g., 0.1 inches). Implement support 300 may have similar dimensions as implement support 100. The dimensions mentioned above are approximate and may vary based on the size selection for different sized persons or the type of appliance to be attached.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide an appliance support that distributes the weight of an attached appliance along the upper body of a user. The implement support maintains the respective orientation of its subcomponents such that the weight of the attached implement is evenly distributed along the upper body of the user and, despite movement of the user, is maintained evenly distributed. During the expected movement of an attached instrument (e.g., a saxophone) to the instrument support, movement of the instrument support on the user's body is expected. However, by maintaining the relative orientation of the elongate member and the bridge substantially fixed, the appliance support does not alter the positioning of the elongate member and the bridge, thereby achieving a consistent distribution of the weight of the appliance.

While various features are described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements in those features and/or examples may also be possible. Accordingly, the examples as set forth above are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying inventive principles.