String cleaning system

Abstract

An apparatus may include a first support and a second support integrally coupled to the first support. A first side of the first support and a first side of the second support are movable relative to one another so as to dispose the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support on substantially opposite sides of a string.

1 . An apparatus to clean one or more strings, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first support; and    a second support integrally coupled to the first support,    wherein a first side of the first support and a first side of the second support are movable relative to one another so as to dispose the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support on substantially opposite sides of a string.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a hinge integrally coupled to the first support and to the second support, the hinge operable to move the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support toward and away from each other.    
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the hinge is operable to rotate the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support toward and away from each other.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the hinge comprises a living hinge.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 the first support comprising: 
 a first beveled edge and a second beveled edge opposite the first beveled edge, and  
   the second support comprising: 
 a third beveled edge and a fourth beveled edge opposite the third beveled edge,  
   wherein the first beveled edge and the third beveled edge face substantially in a first direction, and    wherein the second beveled edge and the fourth beveled edge face substantially in a second direction.    
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first cleaning material coupled to the first side of the first support; and    a second cleaning material coupled to the first side of the second support.    
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first cleaning material and the second cleaning material are composed of a substantially identical material.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first cleaning material and the second cleaning material are composed of microfiber material.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a hinge integrally coupled to the first support and to the second support, the hinge operable to move the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support toward and away from each other; and    one or more securing elements to maintain the first side of the first support in a substantially fixed relationship with respect to the first side of the second support,    wherein, in a case that the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support are in the substantially fixed relationship, a compressive force between the first cleaning material and the second cleaning material varies based on distance from the hinge.    
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an element integrally coupled to the second support, extending substantially normal to the first side of the second support, and comprising a protrusion extending in a direction non-normal to the second side of the support; and    a receiving portion integrally coupled to the first support, the receiving portion comprising structure to receive the element and to thereby maintain the first side of the second support in a substantially fixed relationship with respect to the first side of the first support.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 one or more extensions integrally coupled to the second support and extending substantially normal to the first side of the second support, each of the one or more extensions to engage an edge of the first support or the receiving portion in a case that the receiving portion receives the element of the second support.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support are movable relative to one another so as to dispose the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support on substantially opposite sides of two or more strings.    
   
   
       13 . A method comprising: 
 placing first cleaning material adjacent to a first side of a string, the cleaning material coupled to a first support; and    moving the first support and a second support integrally coupled to the first support relative to one another so as to press the first cleaning material against the first side of the string and to press second cleaning material coupled to the second support against a second side of the string.    
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein moving the first support and the second support relative to one another comprises: 
 rotating the first support and/or the second support around a pivot point of a hinge integrally coupled to the first support and the second support.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein placing the first cleaning material adjacent to the first side of a string comprises: 
 moving a first beveled of the first support between the string and an instrument to which the string is attached.    
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 moving the first support and the second support lengthwise across the string.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein placing the first cleaning material adjacent to the first side of a string comprises placing the first cleaning material adjacent to a first side of two or more strings, and    wherein moving the first support and the second support comprises moving the first support and the second support relative to one another so as to press the first cleaning material against the first side of the two or more strings and to press the second cleaning material against a second side of the two or more strings.    
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 applying a cleaning solution to the first cleaning material and/or the second cleaning material prior to placing the first cleaning material adjacent to the first side of the string.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 securing the first support in a substantially fixed relationship with respect to the second support; and    moving the first support and the second support lengthwise across the string.    
   
   
       20 . A method comprising: 
 manufacturing a first support and a second support integrally coupled to the first support,    wherein a first side of the first support and a first side of the second support are movable relative to one another so as to dispose the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support on substantially opposite sides of a string.    
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein manufacturing the first support and the second support comprises: 
 manufacturing a hinge integrally coupled to the first support and to the second support, the hinge operable to move the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support toward and away from each other.    
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 20 , 
 the first support comprising: 
 a first beveled edge and a second beveled edge opposite the first beveled edge, and  
   the second support comprising: 
 a third beveled edge and a fourth beveled edge opposite the third beveled edge,  
   wherein the first beveled edge and the third beveled edge face substantially in a first direction, and    wherein the second beveled edge and the fourth beveled edge face substantially in a second direction.    
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 coupling a first cleaning material to the first side of the first support; and    coupling a second cleaning material to the first side of the second support.    
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the first cleaning material and the second cleaning material are composed of microfiber material.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein manufacturing the first support and the second support further comprises: 
 manufacturing a hinge integrally coupled to the first support and to the second support, the hinge operable to move the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support toward and away from each other; and    manufacturing one or more securing elements to maintain the first side of the first support in a substantially fixed relationship with respect to the first side of the second support,    wherein, in a case that the first side of the first support and the first side of the second support are in the substantially fixed relationship, a compressive force between the first cleaning material and the second cleaning material varies based on distance from the hinge.    
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein manufacturing the first support and the second support further comprises: 
 manufacturing an element integrally coupled to the second support, extending substantially normal to the first side of the second support, and comprising a protrusion extending in a direction non-normal to the second side of the support; and    manufacturing a receiving portion integrally coupled to the first support, the receiving portion comprising structure to receive the element and to thereby maintain the first side of the second support in a substantially fixed relationship with respect to the first side of the first support.    
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein manufacturing the first support and the second support further comprises: 
 manufacturing one or more extensions integrally coupled to the second support and extending substantially normal to the first side of the second support, each of the one or more extensions to engage an edge of the first support or the receiving portion in a case that the receiving portion receives the element of the second support.