Electronic musical instrument keyboard

Claim 2

A key cluster for a musical instrument keyboard comprising a thin sheet of resilient material slit to define a plurality of spaced, parallel, relatively wide spring fingers, said fingers having black and white keys secured thereto to extend axially therefrom in chromatic order, the spring fingers associated with the black keys being formed with a smaller cross section over at least a portion of their length relative to that of the spring fingers associated with the white keys to equalize operating pressure as between the white and black keys, and means associated with each key for operating a switch.

Claim 3

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fingers are of substantially equal width and said smaller cross section is derived from a perforation formed in the root of said black key fingers.

Claim 4

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including means providing a mounting rail, a key cluster comprising a thin sheet of resilient material having slits extending from one edge toward the opposite edge thereof to define parallel, spaced, relatively wide spring fingers, black and white playing keys arranged in chromatic order mounted to each of said fingers to extend axially therefrom, the fingers associated with said black keys having a smaller cross section over at least a portion of their length to equalize operating pressure as between the black and white keys, said opposite edge of said sheet being secured rigidly against said rail, and means associated with each key for controlling a signal source.

Claim 5

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including means providing a mounting rail, a key cluster comprising a thin sheet of resilient material having slits extending from one edge toward the opposite edge thereof to define parallel, spaced, relatively wide spring fingers, black and white playing keys arranged in chromatic order mounted to each of said fingers to extend axially therefrom, the fingers associated with said black keys having a smaller cross section over at least a portion of their length to equalize operating pressure as between the black and white keys, said opposite edge of said sheet being secured rigidly against said rail, and means associated with each key for controlling a signal source.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said smaller cross section is derived from a perforation formed in the black key fingers in the area of flexure thereof.

Claim 7

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including a frame and a key cluster mounted on said frame, said frame including: a. a key mounting rail angled downwardly from front to back; and b. an up-stop spaced from said rail; and key cluster including: c. a key comb comprising a thin, substantially flat sheet of resilient material having slits therein extending from one edge toward an opposite edge to define parallel, spaced spring fingers and a mounting portion adjacent said fingers, said mounting portion being fastened rigidly against said key mounting rail; and d. a plurality of playing key assemblies each mounted on one of said spring fingers and including an up-stop bracket engaging said up-stop on said frame to define a restored position of said playing key assembly substantially short of complete resilient restoration of said spring finger, said up-stop bracket and said up-stop engaging each other to limit restoration of said spring fingers to a position short of parallel to said downward angle of said rail and wherein said frame further includes a rib generally parallel to said key mounting rail and extending partly under said spring at a point corresponding to about the line of maximum deflection thereof to substantially eliminate any torsional motion of said spring fingers.

Claim 8

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including a frame and a key cluster mounted on said frame, said frame including: a. a key mounting rail angled downwardly from front to back; and b. an up-stop spaced from said rail; and key cluster including: c. a key comb comprising a thin, substantially flat sheet of resilient material having slits therein extending from one edge toward an opposite edge to define parallel, spaced spring fingers and a mounting portion adjacent said fingers, said mounting portion being fastened rigidly against said key mounting rail; and d. a plurality of playing key assemblies each mounted on one of said spring fingers and including an up-stop bracket engaging said up-stop on said frame to define a restored position of said playing key assembly substantially short of complete resilient restoration of said spring finger, said up-stop bracket and said up-stop engaging each other to limit restoration of said spring fingers to a position short of parallel to said downward angle of said rail and wherein said frame further includes a rib generally parallel to said key mounting rail and extending partly under said spring at a point corresponding to about the line of maximum deflection thereof to substantially eliminate any torsional motion of said spring fingers.

Claim 9

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including a frame and a key cluster mounted on said frame, said frame including: a. a key mounting rail angled downwardly from front to back; and b. an up-stop spaced from said rail; said key cluster including: c. a key comb comprising a thin, substantially flat sheet of resilient material having slits therein extending from one edge toward an opposite edge to define parallel, spaced spring fingers and a mounting portion adjacent said fingers, said mounting portion being fastened rigidly against said key mounting rail; and d. a plurality of playing key assemblies each mounted on one of said spring fingers and including an up-stop bracket engaging said up-stop on said frame to define a restored position of said playing key assembly substantially short of complete resilient restoration of said spring finger said up-stop bracket and said up-stop engage each other to limit restoration of said fingers to a position short of parallel to said downward angle of said rail and wherein said spring fingers associated with black keys are formed with a smaller cross section over at least a portion of their length relative to that of the spring fingers associated with white keys to equalize operating pressure therebetween.

Claim 10

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including a frame and a key cluster mounted on said frame, said frame including: a. a key mounting rail angled downwardly from front to back; and b. an up-stop spaced from said rail; said key cluster including: c. a key comb comprising a thin, substantially flat sheet of resilient material having slits therein extending from one edge toward an opposite edge to define parallel, spaced spring fingers and a mounting portion adjacent said fingers, said mounting portion being fastened rigidly against said key mounting rail; and d. a plurality of playing key assemblies each mounted on one of said spring fingers and including an up-stop bracket engaging said up-stop on said frame to define a restored position of said playing key assembly substantially short of complete resilient restoration of said spring finger said up-stop bracket and said up-stop engage each other to limit restoration of said fingers to a position short of parallel to said downward angle of said rail and wherein said spring fingers associated with black keys are formed with a smaller cross section over at least a portion of their length relative to that of the spring fingers associated with white keys to equalize operating pressure therebetween.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fingers are substantially equal width and said smaller cross section is derived from a perforation in the root of said black key fingers.

Claim 12

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including means providing a mounting rail, a key cluster comprising a thin sheet of resilient material having slits extending from one edge toward the opposite edge thereof to define parallel, spaced, relatively wide spring fingers, black and white playing keys arranged in chromatic order mounted to each of said fingers to extend axially therefrom, said opposite edge of said sheet being secured rigidly against said rail, a flange extending from said mounting rail generally perpendicular to said fingers of said key cluster and having thereon a rib extending opposite said rail and situated under said fingers at about the line of maximum deflection thereof, and means associated with each key for controlling a signal source.

Claim 13

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including means providing a mounting rail, a key cluster comprising a thin sheet of resilient material having slits extending from one edge toward the opposite edge thereof to define parallel, spaced, relatively wide spring fingers, black and white playing keys arranged in chromatic order mounted to each of said fingers to extend axially therefrom, said opposite edge of said sheet being secured rigidly against said rail, a flange extending from said mounting rail generally perpendicular to said fingers of said key cluster and having thereon a rib extending opposite said rail and situated under said fingers at about the line of maximum deflection thereof, and means associated with each key for controlling a signal source.

Claim 14

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including a keyboard frame having a rail generally inclined upwardly with respect to said frame, said rail having a transversely convex upper surface, a key cluster comprising a thin sheet of resilient material having slits extending from one edge toward the opposite edge thereof to define parallel spaced relatively wide spring fingers, black and white playing keys arranged in chromatic order mounted to consecutive ones of said fingers to extend axially therefrom, said opposite edge of said sheet being secured rigidly against said convex surface by a clamping member for urging said keys upwardly, said clamping member having a surface complementary to said convex rail surface and being transversely adjustable with respect to said rail surface, and interengaging means on said keys and said frame to limit resilient restoration of said keys.

Claim 15

A musical instrument keyboard assembly including a keyboard frame having a rail generally inclined upwardly with respect to said frame, said rail having a transversely convex upper surface, a key cluster comprising a thin sheet of resilient material having slits extending from one edge toward the opposite edge thereof to define parallel spaced relatively wide spring fingers, black and white playing keys arranged in chromatic order mounted to consecutive ones of said fingers to extend axially therefrom, said opposite edge of said sheet being secured rigidly against said convex surface by a clamping member for urging said keys upwardly, said clamping member having a surface complementary to said convex rail surface and being transversely adjustable with respect to said rail surface, and interengaging means on said keys and said frame to limit resilient restoration of said keys.

Claim 16

A musical instrument keyboard assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said interengaging means includes an up-stop mounted on said frame and spaced from said rail and an up-stop bracket mounted on each of said playing keys, said up-stop bracket and said up-stop engaging each other to limit said resilient restoration of said keys.