JP2024108100A - Harmonica Holder - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a harmonica holder that has superior durability, increases a durable period of a ratchet mechanism, and facilitates replacement of a harmonica.SOLUTION: In a harmonica holder, a ratchet pawl 20 meshed with teeth of a gear 11 is fitted rotatably so as to be energized to the tooth side by a spring mechanism in a recessed part of a two-pronged component 13 of a coupling part 10 in which a suspension component 3 for suspension from around the neck of a player and a holding component 4 with a holding mechanism for holding a harmonica are rotatably coupled together, and in a state in which the teeth and ratchet pawl 20 are meshed with each other, the movement in such directions that an angle between the suspension component 3 and the holding component 4 increases is blocked. In the ratchet pawl 20, a release lever 24 for releasing meshing of the teeth of the gear 11 and the ratchet pawl 20 is fixed to a rotary shaft 21 rotating integrally with the ratchet pawl 20, and the angle between the suspension component 3 and the holding component 4 increases as a result of release by the release lever 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a harmonica holder. More specifically, the present invention relates to a harmonica holder for holding a harmonica at the mouth of a player who is playing the harmonica while simultaneously playing a piano, guitar, etc.

When a player is playing the harmonica while also playing the guitar or piano, a harmonica holder is used to hold the harmonica and hold it near the player's mouth.

Figure 2 shows a typical conventional harmonica holder (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Figure 2 shows the appearance of a harmonica 51 attached to a harmonica holder 50. The harmonica holder 50 is composed of a hanging bracket 52 for hanging the harmonica holder 50 around the player's neck to prevent it from falling, and a holding bracket 53 for holding the harmonica 51. The hanging bracket 52 and the holding bracket 53 are made of thin metal rods, and small loops for threading screws are formed at both ends of each, and they are connected by a flat-headed screw and a wing nut 57.

The holding bracket 53 has a straight central edge 53a at its top, and a support plate 55, which holds the harmonica 51 between the central edge 53a and the support plate 55. The support plate 55 has two holes at both ends, and the two holes are passed through by the gate legs 53b, which are made of thin metal rods, and the plate is attached so that it can move parallel to the straight central edge 53a. The support plate 55 is biased in the direction of the central edge 53a by the force of the springs 56 attached to the gate legs 53b of the holding bracket 53, so that the harmonica 51 placed on the support plate 55 is held between the support plate 55 and the central edge 53a.

In a conventional harmonica holder 50, when a player plays a harmonica, the connection angle between the hanging bracket 52 and the holding bracket 53 is adjusted, and then the wing nut 57 is firmly tightened to secure the harmonica 51 close to the player's mouth, and this position is maintained even during playing.

However, harmonica 51 is heavy, and when playing, the player's lips apply a force that pushes harmonica 51 forward. This can cause the wing nut 57 to loosen and become unable to withstand the weight of the harmonica and the force from the player. Specifically, when the wing nut 57 loosens, the angle between the hanging bracket 52 and the retaining bracket 53 opens from the adjusted state and shifts forward, causing harmonica 51 to move away from the player's mouth, making it difficult to play.

In response to this, the inventor proposed to use a ratchet mechanism at the connection between the hanging fitting and the holding fitting of the harmonica holder, preventing the angle between the hanging fitting and the holding fitting from widening even if the weight of the harmonica or the player's lips apply a force pushing the harmonica forward, thereby enabling stable harmonica playing (see Patent Document 2).

Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the harmonica holder 1 described in Patent Document 2 has a disk-shaped gear disposed at a connection 10 between the hanging fitting 3 and the holding fitting 4, and is rotatably attached in a state where the ratchet pawl is biased toward the teeth by a spring mechanism using a spring so that the ratchet pawl engages with the teeth of the gear, and in the engaged state, movement in a direction that would increase the angle between the hanging fitting 3 and the holding fitting 4 is prevented. A release lever for releasing the engagement is provided on the ratchet pawl and is fixed to a rotating shaft that rotates integrally with the ratchet pawl, and by pushing and moving the release lever in the direction of the disk-shaped gear, the engagement between the ratchet pawl and the teeth of the gear is released, and the angle between the hanging fitting 3 and the holding fitting 4 can be increased.

More specifically, the ratchet mechanism described in Patent Document 2 has the structure shown in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a plan view of the connecting part 10 that forms the ratchet mechanism when the angle between the hanging fitting 3 and the holding fitting 4 is opened to 180°, and Figure 5 is a side view of the connecting part 10.

The outer surface of most of the disc-shaped gear 11 that forms the ratchet mechanism is formed with triangular teeth that are tilted to one side, which is typical of ratchet mechanisms, and a through hole 12 is formed in the center of the disc-shaped gear 11 to allow the insertion of a screw 15, which will be described later.

A bifurcated part 13, the tip of which is split into two, is fixedly attached to the end of the gate leg 4b of the gate-shaped retaining metal fitting 4, and a through hole 16 is provided at each end of the bifurcated part 13, passing through both ends at a right angle. A disk-shaped gear 11 is inserted between the two forks of the bifurcated part 13 with the central through hole 12 of the gear 11 aligned with the two through holes 16 of the bifurcated part 13. A flat-headed screw 15 is inserted from the inside of the gate-shaped retaining metal fitting 4 through the through hole 16 of the inner fork of the bifurcated part 13, the through hole 12 of the disk-shaped gear 11, and the through hole 16 of the outer fork of the bifurcated part 13, in that order. Then, a wing nut 17 is screwed onto the threads of the tip of the screw 15 exposed from the through hole 16 of the outer fork of the bifurcated part 13 and tightened, thereby joining the hanging metal fitting 3 and the retaining metal fitting 4.

In the ratchet mechanism described in Patent Document 2, a ratchet pawl 20 that meshes with the teeth of a disk-shaped gear 11 is attached between the two prongs of a bifurcated part 13, and a rotating shaft 21 is fixedly attached to the ratchet pawl 20, and both ends of the rotating shaft 21 are rotatably supported by the bifurcated part 13.

A spring mechanism 23 is attached between the two prongs of the bifurcated part 13 to bias the tip of the ratchet pawl 20 in a direction that causes it to mesh with the teeth of the disk-shaped gear 11. The bias causes the tip of the ratchet pawl 20 to mesh with the teeth of the disk-shaped gear 11, and when in meshed state, the retaining bracket 4 is prevented from rotating in a direction that opens relative to the hanging bracket 3 (widening the angle between them).

A release lever 24 for releasing the engagement between the ratchet pawl 20 and the gear 11 is fixedly attached to the rotating shaft 21 fixedly attached to the ratchet pawl 20. An operating end 25 is attached to the release lever 24 so as to be exposed to the outside of the gate of the gate-shaped retaining bracket 4. The release lever 24 is attached on the opposite side of the rotating shaft 21 to the ratchet pawl 20, and by pushing and moving the operating end 25 toward the gear 11, it is possible to release the engagement between the tip of the ratchet pawl 20 and the teeth of the gear 11.

In the ratchet mechanism described in Patent Document 2, as shown in Fig. 6, it is also proposed to extend an arc-shaped arm 30 from a disk-shaped gear 11 and fix an end of the hanging hardware 3 to the tip of the arm 30. The degree of curvature of the curved arm 30 is adjusted so that the extensions of both legs of the hanging hardware 3 pass through a position that is off the center of the disk-shaped gear 11. This means that when the holding hardware 4 is folded toward the hanging hardware 3 to store the harmonica holder 1, the bifurcated part 13 of the connecting part 10 and the gate-shaped legs of the holding hardware 4 do not interfere with the hanging hardware 3. Furthermore, the release lever 24 attached to the bifurcated part 13 and its operating end 25 are accommodated inside the curved arm 30, and interference with the curved arm 30 can be avoided.

Utility Model Registration No. 3103381 Utility Model Registration No. 3161659

The inventors have thoroughly studied the harmonica holder described in Patent Document 2 and believe that if the following issues can be overcome, a more functional harmonica holder can be developed.

First, the harmonica holder described in Patent Document 2 has a low durability of the pawls depending on the type of spring used in the spring mechanism that constitutes the ratchet mechanism, and the ratchet mechanism may stop functioning early.

Secondly, the harmonica holder described in Patent Document 2 sometimes had a large force of the spring 6 that urges the support plate 5 in the direction of the central edge 4a of the holding bracket 4 to prevent the harmonica 2 held in the harmonica holder 1 from falling while the performer is playing. This meant that when a performer wanted to use a different harmonica for each piece of music, it took time to change harmonicas, forcing the audience to wait for the change.

Thirdly, the harmonica holder described in Patent Document 2 is formed into a ring by combining the hanging fitting 3 and the holding fitting 4, so when a player is wearing an accessory on his/her head that is larger than the ring, such as a large hat or wig, it is difficult to attach or remove the harmonica holder while wearing the accessory.

Fourth, all parts of the harmonica holder described in Patent Document 2 are made of metal. Iron is a commonly used metal material, but because it is difficult to paint iron, there are few color variations available.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above situation, and aims to provide a harmonica holder with a ratchet mechanism that is durable enough to keep the ratchet mechanism functioning for a long time, allows easy replacement of harmonicas to facilitate smooth performance, can be attached and detached even when the player is wearing an accessory on the head that is larger than the rings of the harmonica holder, and is available in a variety of colors, allowing the player to easily express their individuality in appearance.

The inventors conducted extensive research to solve the above problems. They discovered that the above problems could be solved by changing the structure of the parts used in the ratchet mechanism, changing the strength of the spring used to clamp the harmonica, changing the structure of the part that clamps the harmonica, adding a detachment function to the foot of the holding part, and changing the material of the parts, which led to the completion of this invention.

That is, the present invention includes the following aspects.
[1]
A harmonica holder that is hung around the neck of a player and holds the harmonica close to the player's mouth,
The harmonica is played by a player with a string that is attached to the neck of the player.
the hanging part is substantially U-shaped with two end legs, and when worn, the top of the substantially U-shaped part comes into contact with the player's neck,
the holding component is gate-shaped and includes a linear central side that forms a top of the gate shape and two gate legs extending from the central side, and the clamping mechanism is provided at the top of the gate shape,
The end of the end foot of the hanging part and the end of the gate foot of the holding part are connected to each other so that the hanging part and the holding part can rotate, forming a connecting part;
At the end of at least one of the end legs of the hanging part or at least one of the gate legs of the holding part, a disk-shaped gear having a plurality of teeth on most of the outer circumferential surface and a through hole in the center is fixed so that the disk surface is perpendicular to the plane including both end legs of the hanging part in the case of the end leg, and so that the disk surface is perpendicular to the plane including both gate legs of the holding part in the case of the gate leg,
In the connecting portion, a bifurcated part having a bifurcated tip is fixed to the end of the gate foot of the holding part or the end of the gate foot of the hanging part, which corresponds to the end foot or the gate foot to which the gear is fixed, so that in the case of the gate foot, the bifurcated part is fixed so that it is parallel to a plane including both gate feet of the holding part, and in the case of the end foot, the bifurcated part is fixed so that it is parallel to a plane including both end feet of the hanging part,
the connecting portion is formed by disposing the gear in a recess formed between the two prongs of the bifurcated part, inserting the gear into the through hole, and being rotatably supported by a shaft that reaches from the inner prong to the outer prong of the gate shape of the bifurcated part,
A ratchet pawl that engages with the teeth of the gear is rotatably attached in the recess of the bifurcated part in the connecting part so as to be biased toward the teeth by a spring mechanism, and when the teeth and the ratchet pawl are engaged with each other, movement in a direction that increases the angle between the hanging part and the holding part is prevented,
A release lever for releasing the engagement between the teeth of the gear and the ratchet pawl is fixed to a rotating shaft that rotates integrally with the ratchet pawl, and the angle between the hanging part and the holding part increases when the release lever is used to release the engagement between the teeth of the gear and the ratchet pawl.
The spring mechanism is a leaf spring.
Harmonica holder.
[2]
The harmonica holder according to aspect [1], wherein the gear and the bifurcated part are provided at both ends of the end foot and the front foot, respectively.
[3]
The clamping mechanism includes the central side, a support plate, and two springs.
The support plate has two holes through which the gate legs pass, and the gate legs are inserted into the holes so as to be movable parallel to the central side;
The spring is provided on each of the legs on the opposite side of the support plate from the central side, and the force of the spring urges the support plate toward the central side, thereby sandwiching the harmonica between the central side and the support plate.
At least two rollers having a through hole in the center are provided on the central side, the central side is inserted into the through hole, and the rollers are provided to rotate in the attachment/detachment direction when the harmonica is attached or detached;
The harmonica holder according to aspect [1] or [2], wherein the spring constant of the spring is 55 gf/mm or more and 65 gf/mm or less.
[4]
The harmonica holder according to any one of aspects [1] to [3], wherein the foot has a release mechanism that allows a player to attach and detach the harmonica holder.
[5]
A harmonica holder according to any one of aspects [1] to [4], wherein any of the parts other than the hanging part, the central side, and the gate foot are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
[6]
The harmonica holder according to aspect [1], wherein the shaft passes through the inner prong of the gate-shaped part of the forked part.
[7]
The harmonica holder according to aspect [1], wherein the shaft does not pass through the outer prong of the gate-shaped part of the forked part.
[8]
The harmonica holder according to aspect [1], wherein the shaft passes through the outer prong of the gate-shaped part of the forked part.
[9]
The harmonica holder described in aspect [1], wherein the gear has an area where the teeth are not formed and a protrusion that protrudes further than the teeth in the area, and the release lever can be operated by using the protrusion as a support.
[10]
The gear has an arm curved in an arc from the gear, and an end of the end foot is connected to an end of the arm,
The arm is positioned so that the extension line of the end leg connected to the arm does not pass through the center of the gear, so that when the harmonica holder is folded at the connecting portion and the hanging part and the holding part are stacked, the end leg and the gate leg do not interfere with each other,
A harmonica holder as described in any one of aspects [1] to [5], wherein the arcuate curvature of the arm is sized so that when the harmonica holder is folded at the connecting portion and the hanging part and the holding part are stacked on top of each other, the release lever of the bifurcated part is stored in the internal space of the curvature.

The harmonica holder of the present disclosure allows the ratchet mechanism to function for a long period of time, allows easy replacement of harmonicas, can be attached and detached even when wearing an accessory on the head that is larger than the rings of the harmonica holder, and can be made available in a variety of colors. Therefore, the useful life of the harmonica holder can be extended, while improving the convenience for a player to play the harmonica while simultaneously playing the guitar, piano, etc., and can be adapted to a variety of tastes.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a harmonica holder according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an external view of a conventional harmonica holder. FIG. 1 is an external view of a harmonica holder equipped with a ratchet mechanism. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a connecting portion that serves as a ratchet mechanism. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a connecting portion that serves as a ratchet mechanism. 1 is a side view of the harmonica holder in a folded state.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

<<Harmonica holder configuration>>
The harmonica holder of the present invention is a holder for a harmonica that is hung around the neck of a player and holds the harmonica near the player's mouth. The harmonica holder of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is an external view of a harmonica holder of the present invention having a ratchet mechanism according to one embodiment. Figure 4 is a plan view of the connecting part that forms the ratchet mechanism, and Figure 5 is a side view of the connecting part that forms the ratchet mechanism.

The harmonica holder of the present invention comprises a hanging part for hanging the harmonica around the player's neck and a holding part with a clamping mechanism for clamping the harmonica.

<Hanging parts>
The hanging part is an approximately U-shaped part with two end legs, and when the harmonica holder is attached, the top of the approximately U-shaped part comes into contact with the player's neck, and this contact point becomes the part that hangs the harmonica holder around the player's neck.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, the hanging part 3 has two end legs 3a and is U-shaped with curved and straight lines.

<Approximately U-shaped>
In the hanging parts constituting the harmonica holder of the present invention, the magnitude of the curvature of the approximately U-shape and the size of the U-shaped portion are not particularly limited. It does not have to be a curve with a constant rate, and for example, it may be a U-shape with a curved apex.

＜End leg＞
The two end feet are arranged in the same plane. By arranging them in the same plane, when the harmonica holder is folded, it can be carried compactly without being bulky. The two end feet may or may not be parallel as long as they are arranged in the same plane. In other words, the two end feet may be angled toward the connection part with the holding part in the same plane, or may be angled toward the connection part with the holding part in the same plane. Furthermore, as long as they are in the same plane, the two end feet may be composed of only straight lines, or may include bends, arcs, etc., including curves.

<Size>
The size of the entire hanging part and the size of the approximately U-shaped portion can be set appropriately depending on the size of the performer's neck and the shape of the costume worn by the performer.

<Ingredients>
The material of the hanging part is not particularly limited. From the viewpoint of ease of processing, it may be a metal such as iron. Also, from the viewpoint of weight reduction, it may be a plastic or the like.

In the harmonica holder of the present invention, any of the parts other than the hanging parts, the central edge of the holding parts described below, and the gate legs are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, which makes it easy to color these parts by anodizing (anodizing), resulting in a harmonica holder with a wide variety of colors. This allows you to select the color of the harmonica holder to match, for example, the performer's costume, the stage set, or the mood of the piece.

In addition, by forming the hanging parts, the central edge of the holding parts described below, and any parts other than the gate legs from aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the harmonica holder can be made lighter and more durable than plastic, etc.

Parts made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy may be, for example, at least any of the support plates, rollers, springs, and disconnecting mechanisms in the holding parts described below, as well as gears, bifurcated parts, release levers, hollow sets, and wing nuts that constitute the connecting parts described below.

<Retention parts>
The holding part is a gate-shaped part that has a straight central side that forms the top of the gate shape and two gate legs extending from the central side, and has a clamping mechanism at the top of the gate shape for clamping the harmonica.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, the holding part 4 is gate-shaped, has a straight central side 4a that forms the top of the gate shape, and two gate legs 4b extending from the central side 4a, and has a clamping mechanism at the top of the gate shape.

<Clamping mechanism>
The clamping mechanism for holding the harmonica is composed of a straight central edge that forms the top of the gate shape, the peripheral portions of the central edge of the two gate legs that are connected to the central edge, a support plate, and two springs.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in Figure 1, the clamping mechanism is composed of a straight central edge 4a that forms the top of the gate shape, the periphery of the central edge 4a of two gate legs 4b that are connected to the central edge 4a, a support plate 5, and two springs 6.

The support plate has two holes through which the legs pass, allowing the legs to pass and move parallel to the central edge. A spring is provided on each leg on the side of the support plate opposite the central edge, and the force of the spring urges the support plate toward the central edge, allowing the harmonica to be clamped between the central edge and the support plate.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, the support plate 5 has two holes through which the gate legs 4b pass, and the gate legs 4b are inserted into the holes so that they can move parallel to the central edge 4a. The springs 6 are provided on each of the gate legs 4b on the side opposite the central edge 4a of the support plate 5.

[Centre side]
The straight central side, which forms the top of the gate, clamps the harmonica together with a support plate biased by two springs in the clamping mechanism. In the harmonica holder of the present invention, the central side may be only a straight part.

(material)
The material of the linear center side of the top of the gate-shaped structure that serves as the holding part is not particularly limited. From the viewpoint of ease of processing, it may be a metal such as iron. Also, from the viewpoint of weight reduction, it may be a plastic or the like.

[Spring]
As mentioned above, some harmonica holders have a large spring force for biasing the support plate toward the center side of the metal holder to prevent the harmonica held in the harmonica holder from falling while the player is playing. Therefore, in the harmonica holder of the present invention, it is preferable that the spring constant of the spring is 55 gf/mm or more and 65 gf/mm or less.

If the spring constant of the spring for biasing the support plate toward the center side of the holding metal fitting is in the range of 55 gf/mm to 65 gf/mm, the force with which the harmonica is clamped will be appropriate,
Harmonicas can be attached and detached smoothly. This allows performers to quickly change harmonicas when they want to use multiple harmonicas for different pieces of music, and shortens the time the audience has to wait while the harmonicas are changed.

[roller]
On the other hand, the harmonica holder of the present invention may be provided with at least two rollers with a through hole in the center on the central side. The rollers with the straight central side inserted into the central through hole rotate in the direction of attachment and detachment when the player attaches or detaches the harmonica from the clamping mechanism. The rotation of the rollers allows the player to easily attach or detach the harmonica.

The harmonica holder 1 shown in Figure 1 has two rollers 7a on the central edge 4a of the holding bracket 4.

Harmonica holders may have a large spring force that biases the support plate toward the center edge of the retaining metal fitting to prevent the harmonica held in the harmonica holder from falling while the performer is playing. Therefore, in the harmonica holder of the present invention, at least two rollers are provided on the center edge of the retaining metal fitting, allowing the harmonica to be attached and detached smoothly. This allows the performer to quickly change harmonicas when using multiple different harmonicas depending on the piece being played, shortening the time the audience has to wait for the change.

The number of rollers on the center edge should be at least two for balance and stability of the clamping, but three or more may be provided.

<Kadoashi>
The two gate legs are arranged in the same plane. By arranging them in the same plane, when the harmonica holder is folded, it can be carried compactly without taking up too much space. The two gate legs may or may not be parallel as long as they are arranged in the same plane. In other words, the two gate legs may be angled toward the connection part with the hanging part in the same plane, or may be angled toward the connection part with the hanging part in the same plane. Furthermore, as long as they are in the same plane, the two gate legs may be composed of only straight lines, or may include bends, arcs, etc., including curves.

The two gate legs 4b of the harmonica holder 1 shown in Figure 1 have a total of two bends, one below the spring 6 and one near the separation mechanism 8a described below.

[Disconnection mechanism]
In the harmonica holder of the present invention, at least one of the legs preferably has at least one release mechanism for allowing the player to attach and detach the harmonica holder. The release mechanism separates the relevant part of the leg and breaks the ring formed by connecting the hanging metal fitting and the holding metal fitting. The release mechanism allows the player to attach and detach the harmonica holder while wearing a large accessory such as a large hat or wig.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, each of the two legs 4b is provided with a disconnecting mechanism 8a adjacent to the bifurcated part 13 described below. By disconnecting one of the disconnecting mechanisms 8a, for example the disconnecting mechanism 8a on the dominant hand side, the ring formed by the hanging metal fitting 3 and the holding metal fitting 4 is broken, making it possible to wear the harmonica holder 1 from the side of the neck.

The structure of the separation mechanism is not particularly limited, as long as it has the function of separating and reconnecting a portion of the gate leg. There is also no particular limit to the number of mechanisms, as long as at least one gate leg has at least one separation mechanism.

[material]
The material of the gate leg is not particularly limited. From the viewpoint of ease of processing, it may be a metal such as iron. Moreover, from the viewpoint of weight reduction, it may be a plastic or the like.

<Size of holding parts>
The size of the entire holding part and the size of the clamping mechanism can be set appropriately depending on the size of the harmonica, the size of the player's head, the shape of the costume worn by the player, etc.

<Connection>
The harmonica holder has a connecting portion formed by rotatably connecting an end of the end leg of the hanging part and an end of the gate leg of the holding part.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, the end of the end leg 3a of the hanging part 3 and the end of the gate leg 4b of the holding part 4 are connected so that the hanging part 3 and the holding part 4 can rotate, forming a connecting part 10.

<Ratchet mechanism>
The harmonica holder of the present invention is provided with a ratchet mechanism at least on one of the joints between the end of the end leg of the hanging part and the end of the gate leg of the holding part. The ratchet mechanism may be provided on both of the two connecting parts. If only one connecting part is provided with the ratchet mechanism, it is preferable to position it on the side of the player's dominant hand. In that case, the connecting method of the connecting part that does not have the ratchet mechanism is not particularly limited, and any conventionally known connecting method can be used.

The ratchet mechanism of the harmonica holder of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1, 4, and 5. Figures 4 and 5 are a plan view and a side view of the harmonica holder 1 shown in Figure 1 with the connecting part 10 opened 180 degrees.

The ratchet mechanism of the harmonica holder of the present invention is composed of a gear and a bifurcated part with a ratchet pawl.

The harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a ratchet mechanism on one side of the connecting part 10. The ratchet mechanism of the harmonica holder 1 is composed of a gear 11 and a bifurcated part 13 with a ratchet pawl 20.

The harmonica holder of the present invention has a disk-shaped gear with multiple teeth on most of its outer circumferential surface and a through hole in the center, which is fixed to the end of at least one end foot of the hanging part or the end of at least one gate foot of the holding part, so that in the case of the end foot, the disk surface is perpendicular to the plane including both end feet of the hanging part, and in the case of the gate foot, the disk surface is perpendicular to the plane including both gate feet of the holding part.

In addition, in the formed connecting portion, a bifurcated part with a bifurcated tip is fixed to the end of the gate foot of the holding part or the end of the gate foot of the hanging part, which corresponds to the end foot or gate foot to which the gear is fixed, so that in the case of a gate foot, the bifurcated part is parallel to the plane including both gate feet of the holding part, and in the case of an end foot, the bifurcated part is parallel to the plane including both end feet of the hanging part.

[gear]
In the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, a disk-shaped gear 11 having a plurality of teeth on most of its outer circumferential surface and a through hole 12 in its center is fixed to the end of each of the end feet 3a of the hanging part 3 so that the disk surface is perpendicular to the plane including both end feet 3b of the hanging part 3.

In the harmonica holder of the present invention, the number of teeth of the gears that make up the ratchet mechanism, the size and material of the gears, etc. can be set appropriately depending on the size of the bifurcated parts that make up the ratchet mechanism, the size and material of the ratchet pawl, etc.

In the harmonica holder of the present invention, the gear that constitutes the ratchet mechanism may be provided with a protrusion for support and finger pressure. Specifically, the gear is provided with an area where no teeth are formed, and this area is provided with a protrusion that protrudes beyond the teeth. This allows the player to operate the release lever of the ratchet mechanism by using the protrusion as support, and to adjust the angle of the connecting part while holding down the protrusion with a finger. Furthermore, when the harmonica holder is open before attachment, the protrusion allows the harmonica holder to be placed stably.

The harmonica holder 1 shown in Figure 1 has a protrusion 11a on the gear 11, as shown in the enlarged side view in Figure 5.

[Two-pronged parts]
In the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, a bifurcated part 13 having a bifurcated tip and a through hole 16 in each of the two prongs is fixed to the ends of both gate legs 4b of the holding part 4 so that the bifurcated parts are parallel to the plane including both gate legs 4b of the holding part 4.

In the harmonica holder of the present invention, the shape, size, etc. of the bifurcated parts that make up the ratchet mechanism can be set appropriately depending on the size and material of the gears that make up the ratchet mechanism, the size and material of the ratchet pawl, etc.

[Consolidated structure]
The connecting portion formed by connecting the gear and the bifurcated part is formed by placing the gear in a recess formed between the two prongs of the bifurcated part, inserting it into the gear's through hole, and being supported so as to be freely rotatable by an axis that reaches from the inner prong of the gate-shaped bifurcated part to the outer prong.

As described above, the ratchet mechanism may be provided in both of the two connecting parts, or in only one of the connecting parts. The connecting part without the ratchet mechanism may be formed using the above-mentioned gear and bifurcated part, or may use any other conventionally known connecting method.

A conventionally known connection method is, for example, a method in which the end leg of the hanging part and the gate leg of the holding part are directly connected using a flat-headed screw and a wing nut, as shown in Patent Document 1.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in Figure 1, the ratchet mechanism is provided only on one of the connecting parts, and the other connecting part is formed only by connecting a gear and a bifurcated part.

In a connecting part having a ratchet mechanism, the method of pivotally supporting the gear and the bifurcated part so that they can rotate freely is not particularly limited, as long as it is a method using a shaft that is inserted into a through hole in the center of the gear and reaches from the inner tine of the gate shape of the bifurcated part to the outer tine. For example, a method of pivotally supporting the gear and the bifurcated part using a screw and a wing nut can be used. In this case, a through hole can be provided in each of the two forks of the bifurcated part, and a screw can be inserted from the inside of the gate shape through the through hole located on the inside of the gate shape of the bifurcated part, the through hole of the gear, and the through hole located on the outside of the gate shape of the bifurcated part in that order, and a wing nut can be screwed onto the tip of the screw exposed on the outside of the gate shape of the bifurcated part.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in Figure 1, the connecting parts 10 are formed by connecting the end of the end foot 3a of the hanging part 3 and the end of the gate foot 4b of the holding part 4, and one connecting part 10 has a ratchet mechanism and the other connecting part 10 does not have a ratchet mechanism. Note that enlarged views of the connecting part 10 with a ratchet mechanism are shown in Figures 4 and 5.

In the harmonica holder 1, in each of the connecting parts 10, a disk-shaped gear 11 is disposed in a recess formed between the two prongs of the bifurcated part 13. A through hole 16 is provided in the prong located on the inside of the gate shape of the bifurcated part 13, and a recess for fitting an axle is provided on the inside of the prong located on the outside of the gate shape of the bifurcated part 13.

The connecting part 10 of the harmonica holder 1 is supported by a pin 15 that is inserted from the inside of the gate of the holding part 4 through a through hole 16 provided in the crotch located inside the gate of the bifurcated part 13, a through hole 12 in the disk-shaped gear 11, and a recess for fitting the shaft provided in the crotch located outside the gate of the bifurcated part. The through hole 16 provided in the crotch located inside the gate of the bifurcated part 13, which is the inside of the gate of the holding part 4, is sealed with, for example, a hexagonal socket set screw. The pin 15 is fitted into the recess of the crotch located outside the gate of the bifurcated part 13. This allows the connecting part 10 of the harmonica holder 1 to be pivotally supported.

In the harmonica holder of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1, by providing a recess in the prong located on the outer side of the gate shape of the forked part and fitting a shaft such as a wing pin into the recess, there will be no protrusions such as wing nuts on the outside of the forked part. This can prevent accidents such as damage to the player's costume or accessories caused by protrusions.

[Spring mechanism]
A ratchet pawl that meshes with the teeth of the gear is rotatably attached in the recess of the bifurcated part that forms the ratchet mechanism so that it is biased toward the teeth by a spring mechanism. This prevents movement in the direction that would open the angle between the hanging part and the holding part when the teeth and the ratchet pawl are in mesh.

The harmonica holder of the present invention uses a leaf spring in the spring mechanism for biasing the ratchet pawl toward the gear teeth in the ratchet mechanism. By using a leaf spring, durability is superior compared to when a spring is used, and the service life of the ratchet mechanism can be extended. In addition, the shape of the leaf spring can be made to match the shape of the ratchet pawl, which allows the spring mechanism to be made smaller.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, the ratchet mechanism is attached to the connecting part 10, which has a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet pawl 20 that engages with the teeth of the gear 11 is attached to the recess of the bifurcated part 13 so that it can rotate freely and is biased toward the teeth by the leaf spring 23, which acts as a spring mechanism.

(material)
In the harmonica holder of the present invention, the material of the leaf spring that constitutes the spring mechanism is not particularly limited. Any material with good durability can be selected appropriately.

[Ratchet claw]
The ratchet pawl, which is rotatably mounted so as to be biased toward the teeth by a spring mechanism, is disposed in a recess of the bifurcated part forming the ratchet mechanism so as to mesh with the teeth of the gear.

A release lever for releasing the engagement between the gear teeth and the ratchet pawl is fixed to a pivot shaft that rotates together with the ratchet pawl, and when released by the release lever, the angle between the hanging part and the holding part increases.

In the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 1, the ratchet pawl 20 has a release lever 24 for releasing the engagement between the gear teeth and the ratchet pawl 20, which is fixed to a pivot shaft 21 that rotates together with the ratchet pawl 20. By releasing the release lever 24, the angle between the hanging part 3 and the holding part 4 can be opened.

(shape)
In the harmonica holder of the present invention, the shape of the ratchet pawl is not particularly limited. For example, it may be a thick plate having approximately the same width as the gear constituting the ratchet mechanism described above. By making the ratchet pawl a thick plate and having approximately the same width as the gear, the durability of the ratchet pawl can be improved.

(material)
In the harmonica holder of the present invention, the material of the ratchet pawl that constitutes the ratchet mechanism is not particularly limited. Any material with good durability can be appropriately selected.

<How to fold the harmonica holder>
The harmonica holder of the present invention can be folded into a compact size for easy carrying. In order to make the harmonica holder not bulky when folded, it is preferable that the harmonica holder of the present invention has the following configuration.

The gear that constitutes the ratchet mechanism has an arm that curves in an arc from the gear, and the end of the end foot of the hanging part is connected to the end of the arm. At this time, the arm extending from the gear is positioned so that the extension line of the end foot connected to the arm does not pass through the center of the gear. This means that when the harmonica holder is folded at the connection part and the hanging part and the holding part are stacked on top of each other, the end foot of the hanging part and the opening foot of the holding part do not interfere with each other.

Figure 6 is a side view of the connecting part 10 having the ratchet mechanism when the harmonica holder 1 shown in Figure 1 is folded. In the connecting part 10 of the harmonica holder 1 shown in Figure 6, the gear 11 constituting the ratchet mechanism has an arm 30 that is curved in an arc from the gear 11. The end of the end foot of the hanging part 3 is connected to the end of the curved arm 30, and the curved arm 30 extending from the gear 11 is positioned so that the extension line of the end foot of the hanging part 3 connected to the curved arm 30 does not pass through the center of the gear 11. This prevents interference between the end foot of the hanging part 3 and the foot of the holding part 4.

The arcuate curve of the arm extending from the gear is sized so that when the harmonica holder is folded at the connecting part and the hanging part and the holding part are stacked, the release lever of the bifurcated part can be stored in the internal space of the curve. This means that when the harmonica holder is folded at the connecting part and the hanging part and the holding part are stacked, the release lever of the bifurcated part does not interfere.

In the connecting part 10 having a ratchet mechanism of the harmonica holder 1 shown in FIG. 6, the release lever 24 of the bifurcated part 13 is stored in the internal space of the arc-shaped curve of the curved arm 30 extending from the gear 11. In this way, by setting the size of the curve of the curved arm 30 to a size that allows the release lever 24 of the bifurcated part 13 to be stored in the internal space of the curve, when the harmonica holder 1 is folded at the connecting part 10 and the hanging part 3 and the holding part 4 are stacked on top of each other, the release lever 24 provided on the bifurcated part 13 does not interfere, making it possible to fold it compactly.

The harmonica holder of the present invention allows the ratchet mechanism to function for a long period of time, allows easy replacement of harmonicas, can be attached and detached even when wearing an accessory on the head that is larger than the rings of the harmonica holder, and can be made available in a variety of colors. Therefore, it is possible to extend the useful life of the harmonica holder while improving the convenience for a player to play the harmonica while simultaneously playing the guitar, piano, etc., and it is also possible to meet a variety of tastes, making it highly useful for musicians.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 harmonica holder 3 hanging part 4 holding part 3a end leg 4a, 53a central side 4b, 53b gate leg 5, 55 support plate 6, 56 spring 7a roller 8a release mechanism 10 connecting part 11 gear 11a projection 12 through hole 13 bifurcated part 15 retractable pin 16 through hole 20 ratchet pawl 21 pivot shaft 23 leaf spring 24 release lever 25 operating end 30 curved arm 50 harmonica holder 51 harmonica 52 hanging fitting 53 holding fitting 57 wing nut

Claims (10)

A harmonica holder that is hung around the neck of a player and holds the harmonica close to the player's mouth,
The harmonica is played by a player with a string that is attached to the neck of the player.
the hanging part is substantially U-shaped with two end legs, and when worn, the top of the substantially U-shaped part comes into contact with the player's neck,
the holding component is gate-shaped and includes a linear central side that forms a top of the gate shape and two gate legs extending from the central side, and the clamping mechanism is provided at the top of the gate shape,
The end of the end foot of the hanging part and the end of the gate foot of the holding part are connected to each other so that the hanging part and the holding part can rotate, forming a connecting part;
At the end of at least one of the end legs of the hanging part or at least one of the gate legs of the holding part, a disk-shaped gear having a plurality of teeth on most of the outer circumferential surface and a through hole in the center is fixed so that the disk surface is perpendicular to the plane including both end legs of the hanging part in the case of the end leg, and so that the disk surface is perpendicular to the plane including both gate legs of the holding part in the case of the gate leg,
In the connecting portion, a bifurcated part having a bifurcated tip is fixed to the end of the gate foot of the holding part or the end of the gate foot of the hanging part, which corresponds to the end foot or the gate foot to which the gear is fixed, so that in the case of the gate foot, the bifurcated part is fixed so that it is parallel to a plane including both gate feet of the holding part, and in the case of the end foot, the bifurcated part is fixed so that it is parallel to a plane including both end feet of the hanging part,
the connecting portion is formed by disposing the gear in a recess formed between the two prongs of the bifurcated part, inserting the gear into the through hole, and being rotatably supported by a shaft that reaches from the inner prong to the outer prong of the gate shape of the bifurcated part,
A ratchet pawl that engages with the teeth of the gear is rotatably attached in the recess of the bifurcated part in the connecting part so as to be biased toward the teeth by a spring mechanism, and when the teeth and the ratchet pawl are engaged with each other, movement in a direction that increases the angle between the hanging part and the holding part is prevented,
A release lever for releasing the engagement between the teeth of the gear and the ratchet pawl is fixed to a rotating shaft that rotates integrally with the ratchet pawl, and the angle between the hanging part and the holding part increases when the release lever is used to release the engagement between the teeth of the gear and the ratchet pawl.
The spring mechanism is a leaf spring.
Harmonica holder. The harmonica holder according to claim 1, wherein the gear and the bifurcated part are provided on both ends of the end leg and the front leg. The clamping mechanism includes the central side, a support plate, and two springs.
The support plate has two holes through which the gate legs pass, and the gate legs are inserted into the holes so as to be movable parallel to the central side;
The spring is provided on each of the legs on the opposite side of the support plate from the central side, and the force of the spring urges the support plate toward the central side, thereby sandwiching the harmonica between the central side and the support plate.
At least two rollers having a through hole in the center are provided on the central side, the central side is inserted into the through hole, and the rollers are provided to rotate in the attachment/detachment direction when the harmonica is attached or detached;
2. The harmonica holder according to claim 1, wherein the spring constant of the spring is 55 gf/mm or more and 65 gf/mm or less. The harmonica holder according to claim 1, wherein the foot has a release mechanism that allows the player to attach and detach the harmonica holder. The harmonica holder according to claim 1, wherein any of the parts other than the hanging part, the central side, and the gate foot are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The harmonica holder according to claim 1, wherein the shaft passes through the inner tine of the gate-shaped part. The harmonica holder according to claim 1, wherein the shaft does not pass through the outer prong of the gate-shaped part. The harmonica holder according to claim 1, wherein the shaft passes through the outer prong of the gate-shaped part of the forked part. The harmonica holder according to claim 1, wherein the gear has an area where the teeth are not formed, and a protrusion protruding from the area beyond the teeth is provided, and the release lever can be operated by using the protrusion as a support. The gear has an arm curved in an arc from the gear, and an end of the end foot is connected to an end of the arm,
The arm is positioned so that the extension line of the end leg connected to the arm does not pass through the center of the gear, so that when the harmonica holder is folded at the connecting portion and the hanging part and the holding part are stacked, the end leg and the gate leg do not interfere with each other,
2. The harmonica holder of claim 1, wherein the arcuate curvature of the arm is sized so that when the harmonica holder is folded at the connecting portion and the hanging part and the holding part are stacked on top of each other, the release lever of the bifurcated part is stored in the internal space of the curvature.