US4444083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard instrument, especially a piano or similar instrument
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-02-01
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Granted: 1984-04-24
•
Expires: 2002-02-01
Abstract
Abstract Keyboard instrument, in particular a piano or similar instrument that has keys and that can be used in conjunction with aids to learning in the form of templates, characterized in that, of the white keys (long keys 2) that form the C-major scale, the width (b) of the keys that produce the notes B, C, E, and R is 1/4 less than the width (B) of the remaining keys, which produce the notes D, G, and A, so that the ratio of the width of the equally wide keys for B, C, E, and F to the width of the equally wide keys for D, G, and A is 3:4. Templates that are separated into a number of adjacent divisions (5) that are equally wide, each division (5) being 1/2 the width (b) of one D, G, or A key, so that three adjacent divisions (5) will be as wide as two B, C, E, or F keys and two divisions (5) will be as wide as one D, G, or A key can be placed over the keyboard to represent all possible scales, thirds, triads, and tetrads with their inversions, major and minor intervals, cadenzas, transpositions, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Siegfried Apel
- 👤 Marlene Apel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:11
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B15/00; G09B15/08; G10; G10C; G10C3/00; G10C3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A keyboard instrument, in particular a piano or similar instrument having a keyboard with keys arranged such that each C-major scale octave consists of seven white keys which sequentially produce the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B and five black keys which produce the notes C', D', F', G', and A', one end of said black keys terminating along a smooth continuous line and the corresponding ends of each said white keys having a portion extending equidistant beyond said line, said keyboard being usable in conjunction with aids to learning in the form of templates, the improvement comprising: the width of said portion of the white keys that produce the notes B, C, E, and F having a first value and the width of said portion of the white keys that produce the notes D, G, and A having a second value, the ratio of said first value to said second value being 3:4.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A keyboard instrument, in particular a piano or similar instrument having a keyboard with keys arranged such that each C-major scale octave consists of seven white keys which sequentially produce the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, and B and five black keys which produce the notes C', D', F', G', and A', one end of said black keys terminating along a smooth continuous line and the corresponding ends of each said white keys having a portion extending equidistant beyond said line, said keyboard being usable in conjunction with aids to learning in the form of templates, the improvement comprising: the width of said portion of the white keys that produce the notes B, C, E, and F having a first value and the width of said portion of the white keys that produce the notes D, G, and A having a second value, the ratio of said first value to said second value being 3:4.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 1, and templates separated into a number of adjacent divisions that are equally wide, each division being 1/2 said second value, i.e., the width of one D, G, or A key, so that three adjacent divisions will be twice said first value, i.e., as wide as two B, C, E, or F keys and two divisions will be equal to said first value, i.e., as wide as one D, G, or A key.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 2, wherein said templates are placeable directly over the keyboard, some of the divisions in each template being punched out and other divisions projecting tonguelike outward to represent various musical scales and harmonic forms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 2 or 3, wherein said templates are comprised of cardboard.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A keyboard instrument as defined in claim 2 or 3, wherein said templates are comprised of plastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 1, and for use as an instructional device in schools, wherein the keyboard is mounted in a wooden or plastic box having a bottom section and a top section in form of a cover accepting and storing the templates and being connected by hinges to said bottom section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein the keyboard is mounted on a play table suspended between two vertical posts, a keyboard diagram above said play table and having displays indicating whatever keys in the keyboard are being pressed, and a box under the play table for storing and protecting unused templates, said box being also suspended between the posts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 6 or 7, wherein an empty space is located behind the keyboard for standing up required templates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 7, including a magnetic surface underneath the keyboard diagram for holding templates when in use.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 7, wherein said storage box is divided into compartments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 7, wherein each post rests on transverse supports with casters on the bottom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein sound is produced mechanically.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Keyboard instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein said templates can be folded to form two legs so that they can stand up, each leg also representing a different harmonic form.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A keyboard instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein sound is produced electronically.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
216 words
A keyboard instrument as defined in claim 1 and templates separated into a number of adjacent divisions that are equally wide, each division being 1/2 the width of one D, G, or A key, so that three adjacent divisions will be as wide as two B, C, E, or F keys and two divisions will be as wide as one D, G, or A key, said templates being placeable directly over the keyboard, some of the divisions in each template being punched out and other divisions projecting tonguelike outward to represent various musical scales and harmonic forms, said keyboard being mounted on a play table suspended between two vertical posts, a keyboard diagram above said play table and having displays indicating whatever keys in the keyboard are being pressed and a box under the play table for storing and protecting unused templates, said box being also suspended between the posts, an empty space being located behind the keyboard for standing up required templates, a magnetic surface underneath the keyboard diagram for holding templates when in use, said storage box being divided into compartments, each post resting on transverse supports with casters on the bottom, said templates being foldable to form two legs so that they can stand up, each leg also representing a different harmonic form.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-24 | 1987-10-24 | 1988-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-24 | 1991-10-24 | 1992-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-24 | 1995-10-24 | 1996-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |