US3644656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tone generator with vibratory bars
Assignee: CBS Broadcasting Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-04
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1990-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A tone generator for an electrical piano is formed of a circular cross section vibratory tine of relatively low mass and a high mass twisted inertia bar of oblong cross section, both cantilevered from a common base. When the tine is struck by the hammer of a piano action, its vibration is amplified by the resonant high mass inertia bar. A transducer associated with the tine produces an electrical signal representing a particular piano tone that is simulated by the individual tine. A number of advantages accrue from making the main body portion of the twisted high mass inertia bar of a cross section that is elongated in the plane of vibration of the tine of the tuning fork. Primarily, vibrations of the high mass inertia bar at overtones of the fundamental of the tine are substantially reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence L Fender
- 👤 Harold B Rhodes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:46
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H3/00; G10H3/12; G10H3/14; G10H3/20; G10D; G10D13/00; G10D13/01; G10D13/08; G10D13/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
An electric piano, which comprises: an elongated and substantially cylindrical metal tine having a low mass and a small diameter, an elongated metal bar having a high mass much greater than that of said tine, said bar being a strip the cross-sectional shape of which is oblong, said bar being twisted about the longitudinal axis thereof and at one point along the length thereof to form a first section on one side of the twist region and a second section on the other side of the twist region, the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said first bar section being transverse to a plane containing the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said second bar section, a common base, connector means to rigidly connect one portion of said base to said second bar section, connector means to rigidly connect another portion of said base to one end of said tine, said tine extending from said base in a direction generally parallel to said first bar section and in overlapping relationship to said first bar section, said tine forming one prong of a two-pronged tone generator, the other prong of said tone generator being formed by said first bar section, by said twist region, and by the portion of said second bar section between said twist region and said first-mentioned connector means, said tine lying in a plane which extends through at least a large portion of said first bar section, said last-mentioned plane being substantially parallel to the major dimension of the oblong cross section of aid first bar section, means to mount said tone generator to a support, a piano action having a key and also having a hammer adapted to strike said tine in response to pressing of said key, and mechanicalelectrical transducer means to sense the resulting vibrations of said tine and generate a corresponding electrical signal for amplification and conversion into sound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
320 words
An electric piano, which comprises: an elongated and substantially cylindrical metal tine having a low mass and a small diameter, an elongated metal bar having a high mass much greater than that of said tine, said bar being a strip the cross-sectional shape of which is oblong, said bar being twisted about the longitudinal axis thereof and at one point along the length thereof to form a first section on one side of the twist region and a second section on the other side of the twist region, the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said first bar section being transverse to a plane containing the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said second bar section, a common base, connector means to rigidly connect one portion of said base to said second bar section, connector means to rigidly connect another portion of said base to one end of said tine, said tine extending from said base in a direction generally parallel to said first bar section and in overlapping relationship to said first bar section, said tine forming one prong of a two-pronged tone generator, the other prong of said tone generator being formed by said first bar section, by said twist region, and by the portion of said second bar section between said twist region and said first-mentioned connector means, said tine lying in a plane which extends through at least a large portion of said first bar section, said last-mentioned plane being substantially parallel to the major dimension of the oblong cross section of aid first bar section, means to mount said tone generator to a support, a piano action having a key and also having a hammer adapted to strike said tine in response to pressing of said key, and mechanicalelectrical transducer means to sense the resulting vibrations of said tine and generate a corresponding electrical signal for amplification and conversion into sound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which the mass of said metal bar is at least ten times the mass of said tine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said means to mount said tone generator to a support effects a loose coupling therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said second bar section is extended in a direction away from said first bar section to form a mounting arm integral with said bar, said mounting arm forming part of said means to mount said tone generator to a support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
The invention as claimed in claim 4, in which the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said first bar section is perpendicular to a plane containing both the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said second bar section and the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said mounting arm, in which said mounting arm has opening means therethrough, and in which said mounting means further comprises two elongated elements extending through said opening means and anchored to said support, there being resilient means seated between said support and said mounting arm to create a floating relationship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said second bar section has a hole therethrough, in which said base comprises an elongated rigid metal element, in which said first-mentioned connector means comprises a fastener extended through said hole to rigidly connect one end of said elongated element to said second bar section, and in which said second-mentioned connector means comprises a hole in the other end of said elongated element and in which said one end of said tine is fixed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said portion of said bar between said twist region and said first-mentioned connector means is elongated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as claimed in claim 7, in which said elongated portion has an opening therethrough to increase the compliance thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said opening is a slot which extends longitudinally of said bar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which a portion of said first bar section is offset to insure that there will be no contacting of said tine with said first bar section when said tine is struck by said hammer, the direction of offset being generally perpendicular to said last-mentioned plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said tine and said bar are substantially tuned to each other to provide a tuning fork relationship therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention as claimed in claim 11, in which said means to mount said tone generator to a support is connected to said tone generator adjacent the junction between said base and said second bar section, whereby said tone generator is cantilevered from said support, said mounting means effecting a loose coupling between said tone generator and said support.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which large numbers of said tone generators are disposed in generally horizontal, closely spaced relationship with the bar of each tone generator above the tine thereof, and in which the piano action for each tone generator is disposed below the tine thereof, and in which the minor dimension of the oblong cross section of each of said first bar sections is sufficiently small that substantial gaps are formed between adjacent ones of said first bar sections, said gaps Serving to provide visual and mechanical access to said tines and to said piano actions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as claimed in claim 13, in which said transducer means for each tone generator is an electromagnetic transducer adjustably mounted adjacent the distal end of an associated tine, and in which weights are adjustably mounted on said tines, whereby said transducers and said weights may be adjusted by means of tools extended through said gaps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which the twist in said bar is 90* twist.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
211 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which the mass of said metal bar is at least 10 times the mass of said tine, in which said metal bar is generally tuned to said tine in tuning fork relationship, in which said second bar section is extended in the direction away from said first bar section to form a mounting arm integral with said bar, said mounting arm forming part of said means to mount said tone generator to a support, in which the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said first bar section is perpendicular to a plane containing both the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said second bar section and the major dimension of the oblong cross section of said mounting arm, in which said mounting arm has opening means therethrough and which receive fastener means, said fastener means cooperating with resilient means to mount said mounting arm on said support in floating relationship and with the tone generator cantilevered from said support, in which said second bar section has a hole therethrough, and in which said base comprises an elongated rigid metal element which is rigidly secured at one end to said second bar section by fastener means extended through said hole.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as claimed in claim 16, in which said bar is a steel bar which is about one-half inch wide and about one-eighth inch thick.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |