US3665092A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Mechanically balanced keyboard and reed chamber assembly for musical instruments
Assignee: PROLL PRODUCTS CO
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Filing: 1970-09-18
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-09-18
Abstract
Abstract An air-operated musical instrument utilizing a unique keyboard and reed chamber assembly fabricated from relatively few, readily molded plastic components. The keyboard and reed chamber assembly are designed so that the keyboard, when secured to the reed chamber, is in mechanical balance or in equilibrium, therewith. Each key in the keyboard includes a forwardly extending finger pad, a rearwardly extending key stop, an intermediate pivot bar, a locking notch and an alignment notch. The reed chamber assembly includes a reed plate having a plurality of tuned reeds, a like plurality of resonance chambers having a port at the upper end of each chamber, a plurality of pivot posts, and a plurality of forwardly extending anchored springs. Each key is individually joined to the reed chamber assembly by snapping the pivot bar into locking engagement with a pivot post. The key stop then seals the port of the resonance chamber to block the passage of air therethrough. Depression of the finger pad of the selected key causes the key to pivot about the pivot bar and permits the passage of air through the selected resonance chamber, thus producing a musical tone.
Inventors
- 👤 Udo G Heiman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:17
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10C; G10C3/00; G10C3/12; G10B; G10B1/00; G10B1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A portable musical instrument comprising: a. a housing having openings therein for the passage of air into and out of said housing, b. means for forcing air through the openings in said housing, c. a reed chamber assembly disposed within said housing in operative relationship to said openings, d. said assembly including a reed plate having a series of tuned vibratable reeds secured thereto and a series of resonance chambers operatively associated with said reeds, e. each of said resonance chambers having an upwardly opening port at its upper end, f. a keyboard including a plurality of manually operable keys, g. each of said plurality of keys including a finger pad and a key stop, h. said key stops normally sealing said ports in said resonance chambers and being operable, when depressed, for opening said ports to allow the air to be forced past said reed to produce a tone, the invention being characterized by: i. individual key locking means formed on said reed chamber assembly, said key locking means comprising a plurality of upstruck posts spaced along the upper wall of said reed chamber assembly, said posts and said keys being equal in number, j. each of said keys further including pivot means located intermediate said finger pad and said key stop, and k. the pivot means on each key being snapped into engagement with its locking means for individually securing each one of said keys in mechanical equilibrium to said reed chamber assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A portable musical instrument comprising: a. a housing having openings therein for the passage of air into and out of said housing, b. means for forcing air through the openings in said housing, c. a reed chamber assembly disposed within said housing in operative relationship to said openings, d. said assembly including a reed plate having a series of tuned vibratable reeds secured thereto and a series of resonance chambers operatively associated with said reeds, e. each of said resonance chambers having an upwardly opening port at its upper end, f. a keyboard including a plurality of manually operable keys, g. each of said plurality of keys including a finger pad and a key stop, h. said key stops normally sealing said ports in said resonance chambers and being operable, when depressed, for opening said ports to allow the air to be forced past said reed to produce a tone, the invention being characterized by: i. individual key locking means formed on said reed chamber assembly, said key locking means comprising a plurality of upstruck posts spaced along the upper wall of said reed chamber assembly, said posts and said keys being equal in number, j. each of said keys further including pivot means located intermediate said finger pad and said key stop, and k. the pivot means on each key being snapped into engagement with its locking means for individually securing each one of said keys in mechanical equilibrium to said reed chamber assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A portable musical instrument as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that each of said posts includes a vertical arm and a horizontal arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A portable musical instrument as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that the underside of each of said posts includes a tapered section with a groove formed adjacent thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A portable musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means assumes the form of a laterally extending bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A portable musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot means assumes the form of a pair of spaced longitudinally extending rods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A portable musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said key is further characterized by an alignment slot located in the key stop adjacent to said pivot means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A portable musical instrument as defined in claim 2 wherein said key is further characterized by a locking notch formed in the rear face of said finger pad, said notch being of sufficient size to enable one of said posts to pass therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A portable musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said reed chamber assembly is further characterized by a plurality of integrally formed, laterally spaced anchor springs, said springs being equal in number to said posts and said keys, each of said springs individually biasing one of said keys.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A portable musical instrument as defined in claim 8 wherein the underside of the finger pad of each key includes a pair of lugs and a bridging member, said lugs being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the lateral dimension of said anchored springs so that said springs can rest upon said bridging member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
A portable musical instrument as defined in claim 8 wherein said reed chamber assembly is further characterized by a horizontally expanding plate which supports said assembly within said casing, said plate having at least one laterally extending strut formed thereon, said strut providing support for all of said anchored springs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A molded plastic key adapted to be used in a portable musical instrument, said key comprising: a. a forwardly extending finger pad and a rearwardly extending key stop, said pad having a rear face, b. pivot means formed between said finger pad and said key stop, and c. a locking notch formed in said rear face of said finger pad.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A molded plastic key adapted to be used in a portable musical instrument, said key comprising: a. a forwardly extending finger pad and a rearwardly extending key stop, said pad having a rear face, b. pivot means formed between said finger pad and said key stop, and c. a locking notch formed in said rear face of said finger pad.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A key as defined in claim 11 wherein each key further comprises an alignment slot situated in said key stop behind said pivot means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A key as defined in claim 11 wherein the finger pad of each of said keys is hollow, and each key further comprises a pair of spaced lugs and a bridging member formed on the underside of finger pad.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
A molded plastic reed chamber assembly adapted to be used in a portable musical instrument, said reed chamber assembly comprising: a. a reed plate having a plurality of tuned vibratable reeds formed thereon, b. a like plurality of resonance chambers disposed in operative relationship to said reeds, and c. a like plurality of individual, laterally spaced key locking means adapted to receive and engage keys of a keyboard, each of said key locking means comprising an upstruck post laterally spaced along the upper wall of said reed chamber assembly, said reeds, resonance chambers and key locking means being equal in number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
101 words
A molded plastic reed chamber assembly adapted to be used in a portable musical instrument, said reed chamber assembly comprising: a. a reed plate having a plurality of tuned vibratable reeds formed thereon, b. a like plurality of resonance chambers disposed in operative relationship to said reeds, and c. a like plurality of individual, laterally spaced key locking means adapted to receive and engage keys of a keyboard, each of said key locking means comprising an upstruck post laterally spaced along the upper wall of said reed chamber assembly, said reeds, resonance chambers and key locking means being equal in number.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A reed chamber assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein each post comprises a vertical arm, a horizontal arm, and a tapered section with a groove formed adjacent thereto on the underside of each post.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of individually securing each molded plastic key of a plurality of keys on a keyboard to a molded plastic reed chamber assembly of a portable musical instrument, each key having an integrally formed pivot means, the reed chamber assembly including a plurality of upstruck posts laterally spaced along its upper wall, said method comprising the steps of: a. individually positioning each key adjacent to its upstruck post with its locking means abutting thereagainst, and b. sliding each key along the contour of its post until its pivot means snaps into separate locking engagement therewith.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of individually securing each molded plastic key of a plurality of keys on a keyboard to a molded plastic reed chamber assembly of a portable musical instrument, each key having an integrally formed pivot means, the reed chamber assembly including a plurality of upstruck posts laterally spaced along its upper wall, said method comprising the steps of: a. individually positioning each key adjacent to its upstruck post with its locking means abutting thereagainst, and b. sliding each key along the contour of its post until its pivot means snaps into separate locking engagement therewith.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of individually securing each molded plastic key of a plurality of keys on a keyboard to a molded plastic reed chamber assembly of a portable musical instrument, each key having an integrally formed pivot means, the reed chamber assembly including a plurality of upstruck posts and anchor springs laterally spaced along its upper wall, the keys, posts and springs being equal in number, said method comprising the steps of: a. individually positioning each key adjacent to its upstruck post with its locking means abutting thereagainst, and b. sliding each key along the contour of its post until its pivot means snaps into separate locking engagement therewith and its anchor spring biases each key upwardly.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of individually securing each molded plastic key of a plurality of keys on a keyboard to a molded plastic reed chamber assembly of a portable musical instrument, each key having an integrally formed pivot means, the reed chamber assembly including a plurality of upstruck posts and anchor springs laterally spaced along its upper wall, the keys, posts and springs being equal in number, said method comprising the steps of: a. individually positioning each key adjacent to its upstruck post with its locking means abutting thereagainst, and b. sliding each key along the contour of its post until its pivot means snaps into separate locking engagement therewith and its anchor spring biases each key upwardly.
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) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |