US3603170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Knee-lever device or arrangement for electronic musical instruments
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1970-02-13
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1990-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A knee-lever arrangement for an electronic musical instrument comprises a plurality of knee-operated levers which, in a nonoperable position, rest on the instrument so as not to be obstructive to the player, and which can be simultaneously operated to control various sound effects, in an operable position in which they may be selectively set ready to operate.
Inventors
- 👤 Takao Yamauchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:44
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10B; G10B1/00; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/32; G10H1/34; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20546; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/20744; Y10T74/20756
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A knee-lever device for use in an electronic musical instrument for operating a control element for controlling a musical sound effect, the device comprising a support, a kneelever having an extension rotatably mounted on sAid support, a knee-operated portion and an arm for engagement with the control element, and a spring means for keeping said knee-lever selectively in a nonoperable position in which said lever rests on the support and in an operable position in which said lever is ready to operate, and for returning said lever to said operable position from an operative terminal position in which said arm of the lever is in engagement with the control element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A knee-lever device for use in an electronic musical instrument for operating a control element for controlling a musical sound effect, the device comprising a support, a kneelever having an extension rotatably mounted on sAid support, a knee-operated portion and an arm for engagement with the control element, and a spring means for keeping said knee-lever selectively in a nonoperable position in which said lever rests on the support and in an operable position in which said lever is ready to operate, and for returning said lever to said operable position from an operative terminal position in which said arm of the lever is in engagement with the control element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A knee-lever device for use in an electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 in which said knee-lever has a shoulder engageable with the support to define the operative terminal position of the lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A knee-lever device for use in an electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 in which said spring means comprises a coiled spring acting as a tension spring when the lever is pressed to the operative terminal position and as a compression spring when the lever is in the nonoperable position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A knee-lever arrangement for use in an electronic musical instrument for operating control elements for controlling musical sound effects, the arrangement comprising a support, knee-levers each having an extension rotatably mounted on said support, a knee-operated portion and an arm for engagement with the control element, and spring means for keeping said knee-levers selectively in a nonoperable position in which said levers rest on the support and in an operable position in which said levers are ready to operate, and for returning said levers to said operable position from an operative terminal position in which the arms of the levers are in engagement with the control elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
A knee-lever arrangement for use in an electronic musical instrument for operating control elements for controlling musical sound effects, the arrangement comprising a support, knee-levers each having an extension rotatably mounted on said support, a knee-operated portion and an arm for engagement with the control element, and spring means for keeping said knee-levers selectively in a nonoperable position in which said levers rest on the support and in an operable position in which said levers are ready to operate, and for returning said levers to said operable position from an operative terminal position in which the arms of the levers are in engagement with the control elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A knee-lever arrangement for use in an electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 4 in which the knee-operated portions of said knee-levers are substantially aligned in said operable position so as to be collectively pressed and released.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A knee-lever arrangement for use in an electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 4 in which said knee-levers have shoulders engageable with the support to define the operative terminal position of the levers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A knee-lever arrangement for use in an electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 4 in which said spring means comprise coiled springs corresponding in number to said knee-levers and each acting as a tension spring when the lever is pressed to the operative terminal position and also as a compression spring when the lever is in the nonoperable position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2543812A
Cited
US2288450A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |