US4126070A — Keyboard musical instrument

Claim 1

Independent Claim 97 words

A hand-held keyboard musical device comprising; a keyboard assembly comprising a plurality of keys, an elongated housing having top and bottom wall surfaces, a hand-support section and a keyboard section longitudinally disposed of the support section and having an opening for accommodating the keyboard assembly, said housing having means defining a passage therethrough in the hand-support section of the housing adjacent to the keyboard assembly and extending between top and bottom wall surfaces, said passage for receiving the player's hand for enabling hand support of the device, and means for supporting the housing from the player's body.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 97 words

A hand-held keyboard musical device comprising; a keyboard assembly comprising a plurality of keys, an elongated housing having top and bottom wall surfaces, a hand-support section and a keyboard section longitudinally disposed of the support section and having an opening for accommodating the keyboard assembly, said housing having means defining a passage therethrough in the hand-support section of the housing adjacent to the keyboard assembly and extending between top and bottom wall surfaces, said passage for receiving the player's hand for enabling hand support of the device, and means for supporting the housing from the player's body.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said keyboard assembly comprises support means for the keys of the keyboard assembly, biasing means for urging the keys to a nondepressed position, and means for adjusting the horizontal position of the keys on an individual key basis.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said keyboard assembly includes chassis support means for the keys and individual optical interruptor means associated with each key for sensing key depression.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 3 wherein each optical interruptor means includes a light source, a light baffle secured to the key and a photo sensor.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said key support means comprises a common support shaft and support bracket having access means to said means for adjusting, said biasing means including a spring having one end engaging a stop covering said access means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has means defining a control panel and a plurality of switches mounted on said control panel.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control panel is mounted above said keys viewed from the player's position, the plane of said control panel being tilted relative to the plane of the keys for easy viewing by the player.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passage extends in the direction of key depression.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 including control knob means arranged adjacent the passage on the top surface of the housing for manipulation by the player's finger.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 9 including second control knob means arranged adjacent the passage on the bottom surface of the housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 32 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 9 including switch means disposed adjacent the control knob means and arranged for finger contact by the same fingers controlling the control knob means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting includes a strap and means affixing the strap to the housing at two points of connection.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 12 wherein the space between the points of connection is less than the length of the keyboard.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 for controlling a remote voice-generating apparatus and comprising conductor means for sending a serial pulse train from the device indicative of depressed keys.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 6 for controlling a remote voice-generating apparatus and comprising conductor means for sending a serial pulse train from the device indicative of switch position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 31 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bottom wall surface is substantially flat forming a resting surface for the device when used in a flat stationary position.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

A muscial device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said passage is elongated and extends longitudinally of the housing.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 17 wherein the length of thepassage is at least on the order of the width of the player's fist.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 9 wherein the control knob means include a plurality of adjustable knobs extending longitudinally of the passage and housing.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 1 including control means manually operable by the player and disposed adjacent said passage for easy access by the player's fingers.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 31 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 20 wherein said passage has means defining a gripping surface for hand supporting the device and also enabling operation of said control means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 188 words

A hand-held keyboard musical device for controlling a remote synthesizer apparatus, comprising; a keyboard assembly, an elongated housing having top and bottom wall surfaces, a hand-support section and a keyboard section longitudinally disposed of the support section and having an opening for accommodating the keyboard assembly and means for supporting the housing from the player, means responsive to key actuation for registering an individual indication representative of each key actuated, umbilical cord means interconnecting the synthesizer apparatus and the device and including a number of signal wires, synchronization means coupled via the umbical cord means to the device, selector means responsive to said means for registering and said synchronization means for providing a serial pulse train on at least one of said signal wires having time slots indicative respectively or each key and the state thereof, said housing having means defining a passage therethrough in the hand-support section of the housing adjacent the keyboard assembly and extending between opposite top and bottom wall surfaces, said passage for receiving the player's hand for enabling hand support of the device, and means for supporting the housing from the player's body.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 188 words

A hand-held keyboard musical device for controlling a remote synthesizer apparatus, comprising; a keyboard assembly, an elongated housing having top and bottom wall surfaces, a hand-support section and a keyboard section longitudinally disposed of the support section and having an opening for accommodating the keyboard assembly and means for supporting the housing from the player, means responsive to key actuation for registering an individual indication representative of each key actuated, umbilical cord means interconnecting the synthesizer apparatus and the device and including a number of signal wires, synchronization means coupled via the umbical cord means to the device, selector means responsive to said means for registering and said synchronization means for providing a serial pulse train on at least one of said signal wires having time slots indicative respectively or each key and the state thereof, said housing having means defining a passage therethrough in the hand-support section of the housing adjacent the keyboard assembly and extending between opposite top and bottom wall surfaces, said passage for receiving the player's hand for enabling hand support of the device, and means for supporting the housing from the player's body.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 62 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 22 including control panel means having a plurality of control switches, and second selector means responsive to the positions of said control switches and said synchronization means for providing a serial pulse train on at least one of said signal wires having time slots indicative respectively of each control switch and the state thereof.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 19 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 23 wherein said control switches comprise momentary swtiches and toggle switches.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 32 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 22 including hand adjustable potentiometer means mounted from the housing and having control to the synthesizer apparatus via signal wires connecting from each potentiometer.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 39 words

A musical device as set forth in claim 22 including pulse switch means and associated counter means disposed within the housing, said pulse switch means controlling the state of said counter means to provide signals on said signal wires.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 191 words

A hand-held keyboard musical device for controlling a remote synthesizer apparatus, comprising; a keyboard assembly an elongated housing having top and bottom wall surfaces, a hand-support section and a keyboard section longitudinally disposed of the support section and having an opening for accommodating the keyboard assembly, means responsive to key actuation for registering an individual indication representative of each key actuated, umbilical cord means interconnecting the synthesizer apparatus and the device and including a number of signal wires, synchronization means coupled via the umbilical cord means to the device, control panel means having a plurality of control switches, selector means responsive to the positions of said control switches and said synchronization means for providing a serial pulse train on at least one of said signal wires having time slots indicative respectively of each control switch and the state thereof, said housing having means defining a passage therethrough in the hand-support section of the housing adjacent the keyboard assembly and extending between opposite top and bottom wall surfaces, said passage for receiving the player's hand for enabling hand support of the device, and means for supporting the housing from the player's body.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 191 words

A hand-held keyboard musical device for controlling a remote synthesizer apparatus, comprising; a keyboard assembly an elongated housing having top and bottom wall surfaces, a hand-support section and a keyboard section longitudinally disposed of the support section and having an opening for accommodating the keyboard assembly, means responsive to key actuation for registering an individual indication representative of each key actuated, umbilical cord means interconnecting the synthesizer apparatus and the device and including a number of signal wires, synchronization means coupled via the umbilical cord means to the device, control panel means having a plurality of control switches, selector means responsive to the positions of said control switches and said synchronization means for providing a serial pulse train on at least one of said signal wires having time slots indicative respectively of each control switch and the state thereof, said housing having means defining a passage therethrough in the hand-support section of the housing adjacent the keyboard assembly and extending between opposite top and bottom wall surfaces, said passage for receiving the player's hand for enabling hand support of the device, and means for supporting the housing from the player's body.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-11-20	1982-05-22	1982-11-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-11-20	1986-05-22	1986-11-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-11-20	1990-05-22	1990-11-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Keyboard musical instrument

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