Stringed musical instrument and frame therefor

Claim 2

A stringed musical instrument comprising a body, a string support neck extending outward from said body, a support frame for said body, said frame including at least an arm extensible on said frame to vary the length thereof and the center of gravity of said frame, and a shoulder support strap attached at one end to said instrument and at its other end to said extensible arm so that when said arm is selectively varied in its extension on said frame the same changes the location of the center of mass of said frame and the balance of said musical instrument.

Claim 3

A stringed musical instrument as in claim 1, said body having forward and rear portions and opposite sides, said frame extending beyond said rear portion for engagement with a surface at which the rear portion of said body may be supported free of touching engagement with the surface.

Claim 4

A stringed musical instrument as in claim 2, said frame including an arm spaced from and fixed along each of said opposite sides of said body to protect said respective side of said body.

Claim 5

A stringed musical instrument as in claim 3, an extensible member being extensible relative to each of said fixed arms to vary the length thereof and the balance of said musical instrument.

Claim 6

A stringed instrument having a body, a frame to which said body is attached, said frame having an arm, a supporting strap attached between its ends to support the stringed instrument about the neck of the player with one end of said strap being attached to said arm, and said arm being adjustable to vary its length such that the separation between the attachment of said supporting strap between the stringed instrument is varied corresponding to the varied lengthwise adjustment of said arm to thereby vary the support of said strap about the neck of the player.

Claim 7

A stringed instrument having a body, a frame to which said body is attached, said frame having an arm, a supporting strap attached between its ends to support the stringed instrument about the neck of the player with one end of said strap being attached to said arm, and said arm being adjustable to vary its length such that the separation between the attachment of said supporting strap between the stringed instrument is varied corresponding to the varied lengthwise adjustment of said arm to thereby vary the support of said strap about the neck of the player.

Claim 8

A stringed instrument as in claim 5, said frame having two relatively spaced arms on opposite sides of said body when said frame is attached to said body.

Claim 9

A stringed instrument as in claim 6, each of said arms being adjustable in length such that said supporting strap may be attached to either one of said arms for adjustment thereby.

Claim 10

In a stringed instrument that has a frame, a body and string supporting neck, said frame comprising, a pair of side arms in spaced substantially parallel relationship, bracket means connecting said side arms in their spaced relationship and include means for connecting said frame with the body of the stringed instrument such that said side arms extend along the lengths and on opposite sides of the body and neck and spaced laterally therefrom, at least one of said side arms having means selectively movable relative to said frame and the body and the neck connected therewith to selectively vary the center of gravity of the frame such that when said frame is used as a part of the stringed instrument the center of gravity thereof and the balance of the stringed instrument may be selectively varied.

Claim 11

In a stringed instrument that has a frame, a body and string supporting neck, said frame comprising, a pair of side arms in spaced substantially parallel relationship, bracket means connecting said side arms in their spaced relationship and include means for connecting said frame with the body of the stringed instrument such that said side arms extend along the lengths and on opposite sides of the body and neck and spaced laterally therefrom, at least one of said side arms having means selectively movable relative to said frame and the body and the neck connected therewith to selectively vary the center of gravity of the frame such that when said frame is used as a part of the stringed instrument the center of gravity thereof and the balance of the stringed instrument may be selectively varied.

Claim 12

A frame as in claim 8, said selectively movable means being an arm connected with said side arm and being adjustable along said side arm relative to the length of said frame.

Claim 13

A frame as in claim 9, each of said side arms having said selectively movable means.