Expandable stringed instrument case

Abstract

An instrument case including a bottom wall, a top wall, and a primary side wall forming a first compartment. The primary side wall has a lower wall portion joined to the bottom wall and an upper wall portion joined to the top wall. Together, the upper and bottom walls have a substantially uniform width w to establish for the first compartment a first volume for accommodating an instrument having a maximum width no greater than the uniform width w. A flexible auxiliary side wall is contractible within the primary side wall and joins the bottom wall and the top wall. The auxiliary side wall has a substantially uniform width W greater than the width w of the primary side wall and is expandable to establish a second compartment with a second volume for accommodating an instrument having a maximum width greater than the uniform width w.

1 . A stringed instrument case comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a top wall;   a primary side wall with a lower wall portion joined to said bottom wall and an upper wall portion joined to said top wall to form a first compartment, said primary side wall having a substantially uniform width w to establish for said first compartment a first volume for accommodating an instrument having a maximum width no greater than said uniform width w; and   a flexible auxiliary side wall contractible within said primary side wall and joining said bottom wall and said top wall, said auxiliary side wall having a substantially uniform width W greater than said width w of said primary side wall and expandable to establish a second compartment with a second volume for accommodating an instrument having a maximum width greater than said uniform width w.   
   
   
       2 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 1  including expansion means for accommodating separation between said upper and lower wall portions of said primary side wall and separation between said bottom wall and said top wall and thereby expand said auxiliary side wall to establish said second compartment. 
   
   
       3 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 2  wherein each of said upper and lower wall portions have extensive length sections of said uniform width w and substantially shorter end sections with outwardly tapered edges forming triangular protrusions with apices joined establishing at their juncture a combined width of said upper and lower wall portions substantially equal to said width W of said auxiliary side wall. 
   
   
       4 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 3  wherein said expansion means comprises a zipper forming outer edges of said upper and lower wall portions, and said joined apices form the origin end of said zipper. 
   
   
       5 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 4  wherein end portions of said upper and lower wall portions opposite to said tapered end sections overlap said tapered end sections. 
   
   
       6 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 5  wherein said case has the overall shape of a stringed instrument with a narrow neck portion and a wider body portion, and further comprises a cinch mechanism secured to said neck portion and operable to exert a circumferential force thereto. 
   
   
       7 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 6  wherein said case is elongated with said body and neck portions defining opposite ends of said case, and said origin end of said zipper is located at an end of said case defined by said body portion. 
   
   
       8 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 1  wherein said case has the overall shape of a stringed instrument with a narrow neck portion and a wider body portion, and farther comprises a cinch mechanism secured to said neck portion and operable to exert a circumferential force thereto. 
   
   
       9 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 8  including expansion means for accommodating separation between said upper and lower wall portions of said primary side wall and separation between said bottom wall and said top wall and thereby expand said auxiliary side wall to establish said second compartment. 
   
   
       10 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 9  wherein each of said upper and lower wall portions have extensive length sections of said uniform width w and substantially shorter end sections with outwardly tapered edges forming triangular protrusions with apices joined establishing at their juncture a combined width of said upper and lower wall portions substantially equal to said width W of said auxiliary side wall. 
   
   
       11 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 10  wherein said expansion means comprises a zipper forming outer edges of said upper and lower wall portions, and said joined apices form the origin end of said zipper. 
   
   
       12 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 1  wherein said upper wall portions have an inner edge joined to an outer edge of said top wall and co-extensive therewith, and said lower wall portion has an inner edge joined to an outer edge of said bottom wall and co-extensive therewith. 
   
   
       13 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 12  including expansion means for accommodating separation between said upper and lower wall portions of said primary side wall and separation between said bottom wall and said top wall and thereby expand said auxiliary side wall to establish said second compartment. 
   
   
       14 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 13  wherein each of said upper and lower wall portions have extensive length sections of said uniform width w and substantially shorter end sections with outwardly tapered edges forming triangular protrusions with apices joined establishing at their juncture a combined width of said upper and lower wall portions substantially equal to said width W of said auxiliary side wall. 
   
   
       15 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 14  wherein said expansion means comprises a zipper forming outer edges of said upper and lower wall portions, and said joined apices form the origin end of said zipper. 
   
   
       16 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 15  wherein end portions of said upper and lower wall portions opposite to said tapered end sections overlap said tapered end sections. 
   
   
       17 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 16  wherein said case has the overall shape of a stringed instrument with a narrow neck portion and a wider body portion, and further comprises a cinch mechanism secured to said neck portion and operable to exert a circumferential force thereto. 
   
   
       18 . A stringed instrument case according to  claim 17  wherein said case is elongated with said body and neck portions defining opposite ends of said case, and said origin end of said zipper is located at an end of said case defined by said body portion.