US3693492A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Key guide for electronic musical instrument
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1971-02-08
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Granted: 1972-09-26
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Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract For an electronic musical instrument including a keyboard wherein sound can be produced by depressing a key of the keyboard and vibrato or like effect can be produced by vibrating the depressed key to right and left; a key guide which comprises guiding members which are fixed in position and project at their upper ends into recesses formed underside of the keys, respectively, the upper end of each guiding member having a transverse width substantially narrower than that of the recess, and caps of elastic material each fixed around the upper end of the guiding member and having thin wall portions, integrally formed therewith, projecting laterally beyond the both sides of the cap so as to make slidable contact with inside surfaces of the corresponding key, whereby the thin wall portions of each cap permit the lateral vibration of the key, also serving to properly guide the key in vertical direction when the key is depressed downward.
Inventors
- 👤 Junji Ohno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:16
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/04; G10H1/053; G10H1/055; G10C; G10C3/00; G10C3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A key guide for an electronic musical instrument including keys each of which is provided with a pair of laterally spaced side walls defining a recess therein and can be slightly moved reciprocally in a lateral direction thereof to produce a special musical effect, which key guide comprises a frame, guiding members fixed at their lower ends on said frame and projecting at their upper ends into the recesses of the keys said upper end of each of said guiding members having a transverse width substantially narrower than that of the corresponding recess, and caps of elastic material each fixed on the upper end of each guiding member a having both sides located close to the respective side walls of each key, each of said caps being provided with thin wall portions, integrally formed therewith, laterally projecting beyond the both sides of the cap toward the side walls of the key so as to make slidable contact with the side walls of the corresponding key, whereby said thin wall portions permit each of said keys to be moved in the lateral direction of the key.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A key guide for an electronic musical instrument including keys each of which is provided with a pair of laterally spaced side walls defining a recess therein and can be slightly moved reciprocally in a lateral direction thereof to produce a special musical effect, which key guide comprises a frame, guiding members fixed at their lower ends on said frame and projecting at their upper ends into the recesses of the keys said upper end of each of said guiding members having a transverse width substantially narrower than that of the corresponding recess, and caps of elastic material each fixed on the upper end of each guiding member a having both sides located close to the respective side walls of each key, each of said caps being provided with thin wall portions, integrally formed therewith, laterally projecting beyond the both sides of the cap toward the side walls of the key so as to make slidable contact with the side walls of the corresponding key, whereby said thin wall portions permit each of said keys to be moved in the lateral direction of the key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The key guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thin wall portions of each of said caps are lightly in contact with the inner side surfaces of the corresponding key when the key is in an undepressed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The key guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thin wall portions of each of said caps form an oval ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The key guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thin wall portions of each of said caps form a pair of fin-like projections extending laterally from opposite sides of said cap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The key guide as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said fin-like projections is arcuately shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The key guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thin wall portions of each of said caps form a pair of oval rings at both sides of said cap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The key guide as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thin wall portions of each of said caps form an ellipsoid having a pair of voids at opposite sides of said cap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A key guide as in claim 1 wherein the thin wall portions of each of said caps comprise an oval ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A key guide as in claim 1 wherein the thin wall portions of each of said caps comprise a pair of fin-like projections extending laterally from opposite sides of said cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A key guide as in claim 1 wherein the thin wall portions of each of said caps comprise a pair of oval rings at both sides of said cap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A key guide as in claim 1 wherein the thin wall portions of each of said caps comprise an ellipsoid having a pair of voids at opposite sides of said cap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3447414A
Cited
US3499971A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |