5 Scope of the invention

The present invention relates to the technical field of cases for musical instruments.

In particular, the invention relates to an innovative case which enables to protect the instrument in a more 10 efficient way than known cases.

Brief outline of prior art

Musical instruments are objects that may be of high economic value as well as high sentimental value.

15 For example, one may think to guitars, such as electric guitars or percussion instruments.

These instruments may be of high economic value and thus it is fundamental to protect them at best while carrying them.

20 It may be necessary to carry them for example when a musician has to play in a predetermined place.

It is evident that a careless transport without the necessary cautions may damage the instrument.

The damage to the instrument is not only an economic 25 loss but it also causes great inconveniences since, if for example the damage occurred while carrying the instrument to a concert place, the musician will not be able to play his instrument anymore.

In the present state of the art there are rigid cases

30 with such a size as to house and protect the instrument inside it.

For example, there are cases for guitars, bass guitars, keyboards and the like.

Cases can be covered inside by a foam rubber layer to try to absorb impacts as much as possible.

Nevertheless, there are various technical drawbacks with these current solutions.

A first technical drawback concerns the fact that a foam rubber cover is attached to the inner wall delimiting the containment volume of the case and suitable for containing the instrument and this obviously complicates the productive process of such cases.

Moreover, foam rubber wears out and flakes off over time thereby causing a considerable reduction in protection.

In addition, current cases are generally rigid and not foldable. This entails problems of encumbrances, above all if the instrument inside the case must be carried in an airplane and the lodgment space in overhead compartments or other compartments is not sufficient.

A particularly rigid case creates a solid body thereby strong impacts are rigidly transmitted inside it and fractures of the case may be caused.

Eventually, the weight of current cases is relatively high.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide an innovative case for musical instruments, which resolves said technical disadvantages.

In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide a case for musical instruments, in particular those with circular plan shape, such as percussion instruments, among which in particular Handpan or Tongue drums Gong, Frame drums, Shaman Frame drums, Crystal bowl, Tibetan bowl, Singing Bowl, Snare Drums, percussion tambourine or instruments such as flute or the like or Didgeridoo etc., which can be readily realized, with low costs and which provides an efficient protection for the instrument. A further aim of the present invention is to provide a case which is light and structurally flexible and/or deformable or such as to be able to reduce the overall volumetry thereof and to be positioned in more narrow storage areas than its original volume.

Lastly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a case which absorbs well impacts.

These and other aims are therefore achieved with the present case system for a musical instrument, according to claim 1.

In accordance with the invention, such case system is characterized by the fact of being at least in part inflatable.

In particular, advantageously, the case structure is at least in part configured to be able to be inflated/deflated.

In this way, all the aforesaid technical drawbacks are readily resolved.

First of all, having an inflatable case system enables to vary the height thereof or anyway the overall volume thereof, by simply adjusting the inflation value.

This ensures that the overall size of the case system can have a certain variability range according to the inflation degree thus enabling to put the system in places where a traditional rigid case cannot fit into, even if exceeding few millimeters. By slightly deflating the inflatable part of the case system in question, it is then possible to decrease one or more sizes thereof as a whole in order to fit it into provided places.

Moreover, an inflatable case system is very functional since it creates a protective air cushion whose protection effectiveness is remarkably better than rigid cases.

Moreover, such case system is certainly lighter than conventional rigid cases, since air is much lighter than rigid or semi-rigid materials currently used to realize cases .

In addition, such solution is constructively simple and enables to avoid the gluing process of foam rubbers and other soft materials inside the case.

Advantageously, the case system in question is conformed to house a musical instrument with circular plan shape, preferably percussion instruments with circular plan shape, such as a handpan.

Advantageously, the said case system (1) can comprise:

A bag (2, 3) (or case, in other words) configured to contain the instrument, the said bag being of flexible and/or deformable sheet material and forming at least one pocket inside which a protective inflatable cushion can be inserted;

At least one protective inflatable cushion (51) insertable in a removable way inside the said pocket.

Advantageously, the bag can be of a fabric of any origin or of artificial material or leather (real or artificial leather).

Thus, the bag is not rigid and it is sewed like many regular bags and cases.

Nevertheless, the said inflatable cushion is provided inside it and, when inflated, it gives the final shape to the bag and it protects the instrument contained inside it.

Advantageously, the bag has circular plan shape and it is configured to contain an instrument with circular plan shape.

Suitable instruments may be:

Handpan or Tongue drums Gong, Frame drums, Shaman Frame drums, Crystal bowl, Tibetan bowl, Singing Bowl, Snare Drums, percussion tambourine.

Advantageously, the bag can comprise a front half shell (2) and a rear half-shell of flexible and/or deformable sheet material, such as fabric or sheet material of plastic origin or any other type of fabric (even non-woven fabric).

Advantageously, the said two half-shells are connected to each other in such a way as to be able to be opened/closed like a book.

Advantageously, both front and rear half-shell form a pocket for the insertion of a protective inflatable cushion inside each pocket.

Advantageously, the said protective inflatable cushion has a circular plan shape when inflated, preferably with concave formation with circular base.

Advantageously, the said pockets are such that the said two half-shells assume the same conformation of the protective cushion when the respective cushion is inserted into the respective pocket of the said half-shell and it is inflated.

Advantageously, thus, the said two front and rear half-shells can be with circular plan shape.

Advantageously, a hinge is provided to connect the two half-shells to each other in the closed position.

Advantageously, in a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, a linear protective strip of the flexible type may be further comprised comprising closing means to close it in annular shape in such a way as to be able to perimetrically surround the musical instrument in use.

This solution protects the perimetric edge of the instrument and it is particularly useful for instruments with circular plan shape, such as a handpan.

Exactly in case of a handpan, as well as other circular instruments, the said strip protects the circular edge, which, in addition, can be sharp and could damage inflatable cushions. This solution protects cushions and the circular edge of the instrument.

Since the strip can be closed like a ring through closing means, it can be put around the instrument with the suitable tension degree in order to avoid removing it by accident .

Advantageously, the said closing means are quick closing means, such as Velcro.

Advantageously, the said strip can be realized of foamable material.

Advantageously, the said foamable material is a plastic material of the EVA type and rubber.

It is also described here a method to realize a case system for a musical instrument, preferably a musical instrument with circular plan shape, such as a percussion instrument like a handpan, the method comprising the realization of the said case system in such a way as to be at least in part inflatable.

Advantageously, a preferred embodiment of invention comprises a method to realize a case system for a musical instrument, the method comprising:

The realization of a bag (2, 3) configured to contain the instrument, the said bag being of flexible and/or deformable sheet material and forming at least one pocket inside which a protective inflatable cushion (51) can be inserted;

The realization of least one protective inflatable cushion (51) insertable in a removable way inside the said pocket.

Advantageously, the bag can be realized in such a way as to form a front half-shell (2) and a rear half-shell of the said sheet of flexible and/or deformable material, such as fabric or sheet material of plastic origin.

Advantageously, both front and rear half-shell form a pocket for the insertion of the said protective inflatable cushion.

Advantageously, there may be comprised the realization of a protective strip of the flexible and/or foldable type and comprising closing means to close it in annular shape in such a way as to be able to perimetrically surround the musical instrument in use.

Advantageously, the said closing means can be for example quick closing means.

Advantageously, the said strip can be of foamable material .

Advantageously, the bag is suitable for containing a musical instrument with circular plan shape, such as a handpan .

Brief description of the drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present case system for a musical instrument will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given only by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 depicts a view of a case according to the invention, for example leaning on the ground and destined to contain a handpan;

Figure 2 depicts a view of the same case arranged in carrying position through the handle in two different lateral views;

Figure 3 depicts an axonometric view to highlight suspenders which enable the user to carry the case slung over the user's shoulder like a regular backpack;

Figure 4 depicts a section of the case to depict the structure thereof and wherein the handpan 100 is positioned inside it;

Figure 5 depicts a further section; Figure 6 depicts a further view of the case to depict the way of opening like a book into two parts while figure 7 depicts, in a view from above, a sequence of insertion of the inflatable cushion into a suitable inner pocket of the case;

Figure 8 depicts a possible conformation of a protective inflatable cushion insertable into the case pocket and it is depicted according to lateral view, view from above and axonometric view;

Figure 9 is a further view which depicts the cushion in the inflated and deflated configuration;

Figure 10 depicts a protective ring 80 applicable in a removable way to the instrument and such as to surround the circumference of the instrument and thus to protect the circumferential perimeter thereof;

Figure 11 depicts a further lateral view to depict the cushion in the deflated configuration and thus it can be rolled up and consequently the bag with the deflated cushion inside and thus it can also be rolled up.

Description of some preferred embodiments

The preferred embodiment of the invention described hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, refers to a case system for a handpan .

The handpan 100 is an idiophone musical instrument of steel and developed on the basis of the Hang.

As inferable from figures 4 and 5, it has a conformation with circular plan shape and it derives from overlapping two concave circular shells.

Therefore, on the whole, it is formed by an upper concave shell and a lower concave shell overlapped each other in such a way that concavities face each other and with overall circular shape.

The case system 1 subject of the invention is thus described in figure 1 for example.g

The case system is mainly composed by:

A case (2, 3) or bag in other words;

An inflatable element 51, for example in the form of an inflatable cushion 51, insertable inside the case and preferably insertable into a suitable pocket obtained in the case (or bag in other words).

Thanks to the inflatable element, for example to the said inflatable cushion, the musical instrument is positioned inside the case in contact with a soft cushioning element which prevents it from transmitting a mechanical impulse to the instrument placed inside, in the event of impacts .

Thus, with reference to figure 1, it depicts a case which is formed by a front half-shell 2 and a rear halfshell 3.

The two half-shells are made of flexible and/or deformable material and thus sheet material which can be for example normally sewed and/or glued to each other and also possibly fully obtained by sewing.

Various sheet materials can be used, such as natural and/or artificial fabric (thus man-made fabric), natural or artificial leather, sheets of plastic origin (such as neoprene).

As explained hereinafter, rigid materials and thus rigid shells are excluded for the aims of the invention.

The case is made of a sheet material which can be folded onto itself even many times and thus deformable (flexible, for example), exactly like fabric bags or the like.

Moving to figure 1, it still depicts the front half shell 2 having a concave shape and with its concavity facing the rear half-shell 3.

The present description describes as the front half- shell 2, in a non-limiting way, the one which is visible when the case is applied on the user's shoulders through the suspenders 4 highlighted in figure 1 and 2. The rear half-shell 3 is the one to which the suspenders 4 are applied and thus facing the user's shoulders in use when worn with the suspenders.

Figure 3 further depicts an overall axonometric view shoving the suspenders 4, fastened to the rear half-shell.

Usable suspenders of any material and possibly length- adjustable are known art.

Moreover, figure 3 still depicts a handle 5 to enable to manually carry the case.

Through the handle, the case can be manually carried like a traditional suitcase or bag or, alternatively, it can be worn on shoulders thanks to the suspenders 4.

By describing the invention in greater detail, both figure 4 and figure 5 depict a section to better highlight the structure of the present case.

Thus, the section of figure 4 depicts the instrument 100 when it is put inside the closed case.

The final shape assumed by the case, as indicated in figures from 1 to 3 and also in figure 4 for example, is obtained when, as explained below, inflatable cushions are inserted inside it, that give the final shape once they have been inflated.

In fact, figure 7 depicts the presence of a pocket in both half-shells and which is present on the side facing the inner containment volume formed by the case.

Inside the pocket, as depicted in figure 7, an inflatable cushion 51 is inserted.

In fact, figure 7 depicts the access 60 to the pocket and depicts the cushion partially inserted into the pocket (the part of inflatable cushion with dotted line).

When it is inflated, the cushion assumes a final concave shape like in figure 8 thereby giving such final concave shape to the two half-shells of the case in which it is inserted.

Thus, as described above, figure 4 depicts in section the two inflatable cushions 51, each inserted in a respective case of the half-shell.

The pocket preferably extends over the whole surface of the half-shell and the whole cushion occupies almost the whole area of the half-shell, as inferable from the section of figure 4 and 5.

Figure 4 and figure 5 depict each half-shell formed by an outer shell (30, 40) and by an inner shell (31, 41).

The inner shell (31, 41) is the one which delimits the containment volume for the instrument when the two half shells are closed facing each other.

The two sheets forming each half-shell are thus connected to each other (for example folded or sewed or glued to each other) in an overlapping way such as to form the containment pocket in which the inflatable cushion is inserted through an opening 60 and 61 as per figure 7.

For the sake of simplicity, figure 7 just depicts a single inflatable cushion inserted through the opening 60 into only one of the two half-shells. However, the same occurs for the other half-shell with the insertion through the incision 61.

The opening 60 and 61 can be closed via Velcro, hinge and similar systems.

The inflatable cushion is known per se.

According to the invention, it is preferably made of foamy material having open cells like a sponge which fill with air. By folding it onto itself, air is expelled and by releasing it, it unfolds thus assuming the final shape. A valve 50 can be connected to the cushion in such a way that in open position it enables the cushion to automatically inflate thus assuming the final shape. With the open valve, it is possible to push onto the cushions to make air escape at least in part and such that, closing the valve, the cushion maintains its assumed conformation with less air inside.

The cushion can be folded onto itself by fully expelling air and it maintains such shape (rolled-up for example) by closing the valve.

By opening the valve, it automatically absorbs air again and it assumes its final inflated shape.

Such kind of inflatable cushion is known art.

Other types of inflatable cushions such as in the form of inner tube can be used.

Since the two half-shells are made of deformable/flexible sheet, they assume the final shape of the inner cushion, exactly like a wheel with its own inner tube.

If cushions are deflated, the case becomes a flat, foldable element and/or an element which can be rolled up onto itself and readily transportable, as depicted in figure 11 .

If cushions are inflated, the case assumes its final shape with an overall space volume which is adjustable depending on the inflation value of the inner cushions.

Thus, the whole case assumes the solidity of an inner tube inflated with air.

Moving back to figure 4 and 5, the two half-shells are joined to each other by a first junction strip 91 in such a way as to be able to be opened/closed like a book towards each other.

Moreover, the whole remaining part of the perimeter is provided with a hinge 91 (see figure 6 and 7) in such a way as to be able to connect the two half-shells to each other in closed position. Although the preferred embodiment of the invention provides an air cushion insertable into the pocket obtained in the half-shell, however a further solution would provide the realization of the pocket directly as an inflatable air tube, thus realizing de facto a half-shell which forms an inner tube per se.

The opening 60 and 61 would not be present in this case.

However, a solution where the inner tube (or inflatable cushion in other words) is insertable in an interchangeable way is much more advantageous even and above all in order to replace/repair it in the event of puncture.

Thus, to that aim, as schematized in figure 7, the opening (60, 61) is highlighted that is obtained in both half-shells and preferably arranged on the side of each half-shell which delimits in use the inner containment volume of the case.

The opening can provide a closure system thereof in the form of a hinge or equivalent systems such as Velcro or buttons for example snap-like or pressure buttons.

In any case, one can access to this sort of pocket in which the air tube can be inserted, as depicted in figure 7.

As depicted in figures, the air tube is thus provided with the inflation/deflation valve (50) and, once the inner tube (or inflatable cushion in other words) has been inserted into the pocket, the valve must protrude from the suitable opening provided in the outer layer (30, 40) forming the half-shell.

As depicted in figure 9, when the inner tube (or inflatable cushion in other words) is inflated in the operating condition, it assumes the concave shape retracing the final shape that the half-shell of the case must assume thereby giving its concave shape to the half-shell. When it is deflated, it becomes a flat element which can be rolled-up and thereby enabling the whole bag to be rolled up, as depicted in figure 11.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is described with reference to figure 10.

Without prejudice to what has been described above, such embodiment adds a flexible strip which can be in the form of a single strip or two or more strips (81, 82) connectable to each other in such a way as to form anyway a single continuous strip.

The strip provides connection means, preferably of the quick type, to close it onto itself in annular shape.

In this way, as well depicted in figure 10, a ring which can surround the most outer diameter of the instrument, in particular the handpan, is obtained.

In fact, the latter has a circular sharp edge which represents the junction of the two half-shells, as well depicted in figure 5.

In fact, figure 5 depicts the circular edge 101 which inserts into the annular element 80 depicted in section and that can provide a perimetrical incision 80' in which such edge is inserted.

In this way, this creates a protection for that part of instrument which can hardly be covered by inflatable cushions, besides preventing the sharp edge 101 from damaging cushions.

Such ring is generally made of foamable material such as EVA and/or rubber.

To close it like a ring and/or join more strips together, a fabric strip 90 fitted with Velcro can be used that fastens to a Velcro 91 arranged in two point of two disjointed strips to join them together and/or close them like a ring.

The so-described ring, as a separated element which can be applied along the instrument's circumference, is advantageous even because it is possible to adjust the correct dimension thereof.

In a further embodiment of the invention, such circular protection element can be integrated to the structure of the case itself, for example integral with a half-shell.

However, although possible, such solution is less preferred since, besides the difficulty to insert the instrument in the correct position, such solution would require the realization of bags with several measures for all the instrument's measures.

The removable ring in the form of a linear strip which folds like a ring is readily adaptable to any diameter and measure and the case must not necessarily be of a precise size with respect to the instrument, as instead in the case of protective annular element integrated with one of the two half-shells.

Although what has been described with reference to figures refers to the specific example of a case for hadpan, it is clear that what has been described is applicable to any musical instrument by simply adjusting the case shape to the specific instrument, in particular for instruments with circular plan shape and even more particularly percussion instruments in general with circular plan shape.