US3559526A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Musical instruments, especially of the percussion type
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-09-20
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1988-09-20
Abstract
Abstract In application of the invention to a keyboard musical instrument such as a piano, the key is guided by a deformable parallelogram linkage, so that during its actuated displacement, the key remains parallel to its original orientation; between each key and the associated hammer is interposed a transmission which, when the key is depressed, gives the hammer an accelerated movement with respect to the movement of depression of the said key; the release of the transmission for the free return of the hammer after striking, is effected after the full depression of the key during the sole inertia movement of the hammer towards the wire; the effect of the soft pedal is obtained by continuous modification of the active length of an intermediate lever of the transmission.
Inventors
- 👤 Andre Raffali
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:06
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10C; G10C3/00; G10C3/16; G10C3/22; G10C3/18; G10C3/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A keyboard musical instrument comprising a frame, a series of keys forming a horizontal keyboard, like independent suspensions for mounting each of said keys, each of said suspensions being referenced to said frame and independently guiding each key for substantially purely vertical and nonrotating displacement, sound-producing action mechanism carried by said frame and including a separate hammer and fixed-pivot lever for each of said keys, and a separate transmission connection from each key into actuating relation with the lever associated with each hammer, said connection including elongated horizontally extending parts carried by each key and each lever in partially overlapping vertical registration, contact means carried by one of said parts for engagement with the other of said parts and horizontally adjustably positionable to determine selection of the operative lever radius for key actuation thereof, and selectively operable means simultaneously engaging the corresponding adjustably positionable parts associated with a plurality of keys for selecting in unison the operative lever.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A keyboard musical instrument comprising a frame, a series of keys forming a horizontal keyboard, like independent suspensions for mounting each of said keys, each of said suspensions being referenced to said frame and independently guiding each key for substantially purely vertical and nonrotating displacement, sound-producing action mechanism carried by said frame and including a separate hammer and fixed-pivot lever for each of said keys, and a separate transmission connection from each key into actuating relation with the lever associated with each hammer, said connection including elongated horizontally extending parts carried by each key and each lever in partially overlapping vertical registration, contact means carried by one of said parts for engagement with the other of said parts and horizontally adjustably positionable to determine selection of the operative lever radius for key actuation thereof, and selectively operable means simultaneously engaging the corresponding adjustably positionable parts associated with a plurality of keys for selecting in unison the operative lever.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
141 words
A keyboard musical instrument comprising a frame and a series of keys forming a keyboard, and like independent suspensions for mounting each of said keys; each suspension comprising a deformable parallelogram linkage for which one side link is fixed to said frame, a movable side link in opposed and spaced relation to said fixed side link and carrying one of said keys, and spaced parallel third and fourth links connecting correspondingly spaced locations of said fixed and movable links, whereby said key is constrained to maintain its orientation to said linkage throughout a range of displacement of said movable side link with respect to said frame; sound-producing action mechanism carried by said frame; and means including a driving member secured to and carried by one of said second, third and fourth links and connected in actuating relation with said action mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
141 words
A keyboard musical instrument comprising a frame and a series of keys forming a keyboard, and like independent suspensions for mounting each of said keys; each suspension comprising a deformable parallelogram linkage for which one side link is fixed to said frame, a movable side link in opposed and spaced relation to said fixed side link and carrying one of said keys, and spaced parallel third and fourth links connecting correspondingly spaced locations of said fixed and movable links, whereby said key is constrained to maintain its orientation to said linkage throughout a range of displacement of said movable side link with respect to said frame; sound-producing action mechanism carried by said frame; and means including a driving member secured to and carried by one of said second, third and fourth links and connected in actuating relation with said action mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An instrument according to claim 2, in which said driving arm is rigidly carried by said movable link and extends substantially at 90* to the elongation axis of said movable link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An instrument according to claim 2, in which said driving arm is rigidly carried by one of said third and fourth links at a location between connection thereof to said fixed and movable links and extends at substantially 90* to the link by which it is carried.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An instrument according to claim 2, in which said action mechanism includes a hammer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
An instrument according to claim 2, in which at least one of said third and fourth links is a blade extending between two pointed extremities, said fixed and movable side links having corresponding opposed grooves within which the respective extremities of said blade are received and supported.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An instrument according to claim 2, in which said third and fourth links are each flexible blades clamped at their respective ends to said fixed and movable links.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument according to claim 7, in which at least one of said third and fourth links includes stiffening means intermediate the clamped locations thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
A musical instrument as claimed in claim 2, in wHich said action mechanism comprises in association with each key, a hammer mounted pivotally between a position of rest and a striking position, a transmission interposed between said key and said hammer, said transmission comprising a fixedly pivoted acceleration lever having a driven arm and a driving arm on each side of the pivot of a fixedly pivoted intermediate lever, a driving link connecting said intermediate lever to said driven arm, said intermediate lever being movable between a position of rest and a striking position, elastic restoring means urging said intermediate lever to its rest position, a supporting surface on said intermediate lever and positioned to receive driving actuation by said driving member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A musical instrument as claimed in claim 9, comprising a soft pedal, in which each of said driving members comprises axially extendable telescoping elements one of which is carried by said movable link and the other of which extends into driving engagement with said supporting surface, said supporting surface of said intermediate lever being substantially parallel to said telescoping elements, and an axially shifting actuating connection from said ''''soft-pedal'''' to said other telescoping element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A musical instrument as claimed in claim 10, in which said actuating connection includes a comb coextensive with the keyboard and in which each of said other telescoping elements is provided transversely with a heel in tracking engagement with said comb.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
A musical instrument according to claim 2, in which said keyboard comprises a first plurality of keys longer than but partially longitudinally overlapping a second plurality of keys and in interlaced relation therewith, the keys of said first plurality including a first elongated portion that is depressed below the level of adjacent parts of the keys of said second plurality, and the keys of said first plurality including a second elongated portion that is raised to the level of adjacent parts of the keys of said second plurality.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A musical instrument according to claim 12, in which said first plurality of keys corresponds to the conventional white keys of a standard keyboard array and said second plurality of keys corresponds to the conventional black keys of such an array; whereby each white key is provided, between adjacent black keys, with a raised portion level with said black keys.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A musical instrument according to claim 13, in which said raised portion comprises an extension spreading behind the black keys and level with said black keys, offering a striking surface located at a level at least equal to the level of the striking surface of said black keys.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
An instrument according to claim 2, and including frame-based stop means for limiting the range of displacement of said movable link, the range of said displacement between stop-limited positions being small compared to the length of said third and fourth links between their connection to said fixed and movable links.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
An instrument according to claim 15, in which the corner angles of said linkage are substantially pi *for the range of movable-link displacement between stop-limited positions thereof, said one key being rigidly carried by said movable link and extending at substantially 90* from the elongation axis of said movable link.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An instrument according to claim 15, in which said one key is rigidly carried by said movable link.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
An instrument according to claim 17, in which the rigid connection of said key to said movable link is such as to position said key in overstanding substantial registration with said parallelogram linkage and in clearance therewith throughout the range of key-operated actuation of said sound-producing action mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |