Method of manufacturing a piano plate assembly and the assembly

Claim 2

A piano plate assembly comprising: composite material bars, composite material plate elements and fastenings means, said bars and plate elements being selectively fastened together by said fastening means to form said plate assembly.

Claim 3

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening means are bonding agents.

Claim 4

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprise metal fasteners.

Claim 5

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprise metal fittings and metal fasteners.

Claim 6

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprise metal fittings, metal fasteners and bonding agents.

Claim 7

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are hollow and made with graphite fibres and resin.

Claim 8

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a mandrel.

Claim 9

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a tubular metal mandrel.

Claim 10

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a plastic mandrel.

Claim 11

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a composite material mandrel.

Claim 12

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are hollow and made with graphite fibres and resin and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them.

Claim 13

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them.

Claim 14

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a tubular metal mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them.

Claim 15

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a plastic mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them.

Claim 16

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a composite material mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them.

Claim 17

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are hollow and made with graphite fibres and resin and said plate elements are made up of laminations of grahite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes;

Claim 18

Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the hitch pins in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate element having the hitch pins in place.

Claim 19

Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the hitch pins in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate element having the hitch pins in place.

Claim 20

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a composite material mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes; 3. Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the hitch pins in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate element having the hitch pins in place.

Claim 21

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a tubular metal mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes; 3. Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the hitch pins in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate element having the hitch pins in place.

Claim 22

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a plastic mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes; 3. Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the hitch pins in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate element having the hitch pins in place.

Claim 23

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a composite material mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes; 3. Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the hitch pins in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate element having the hitch pins in place.

Claim 24

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are hollow and made with graphite fibres and resin and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by a method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes;

Claim 25

Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 26

Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 27

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by a method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 28

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a tubular metal mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by a method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 29

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a plastic mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by a method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 30

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a composite material mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by a method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 31

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes;

Claim 32

Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate elements having the hitch pins in place, and said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 33

Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate elements having the hitch pins in place, and said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 34

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a tubular metal mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes; p1 3. Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs;

Claim 35

Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate elements having the hitch pins in place, and said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 36

Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate elements having the hitch pins in place, and said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 37

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a plastic mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes; 3. Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate elements having the hitch pins in place, and said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 38

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are made with graphite fibres and resin and a composite material mandrel and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes; 3. Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate elements having the hitch pins in place, and said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 39

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which said composite material bars are hollow and made with graphite fibres and resin and said plate elements are made up of laminations of graphite fibres impregnated with resin, some of said plate elements having hitch pins molded in place and some having holes for tuning pins formed in them, said hitch pins being molded in place by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing said hitch pins in said holes; 3. Holding said hitch pins in proper alignment and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs from the cured plate elements having the hitch pins in place, and said holes being formed in said some of said plate elements by the method comprising the steps of: 1. Punching holes into said some of said plate elements in their uncured state; 2. Placing parts having the desired finished shapes and sizes of the holes into said holes; 3. Holding said parts in the desired alignments and locations relative to each other and the plate elements with tooling jigs; 4. Curing the plate elements with the parts in place; and 5. Removing the tooling jigs and the parts from the cured plate elements.

Claim 40

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 further comprising at least one capo d'astro element comprising material laminated around a core made of material which has high internal damping and high specific gravity.

Claim 41

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 further comprising at least one capo d'astro element comprising composite material laminated around a core made of lead.

Claim 42

A plate assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 further comprising at least one capo d'astro element comprising composite material laminated around a core made of plastic filled with lead particles.