EP3533050A1

EP3533050A1 - Cover for grand piano

Info

Publication number: EP3533050A1
Application number: EP17863853.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Conny WASSÉN; Maria WASSÉN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-10-31
Filing date: 2017-10-31
Publication date: 2019-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-31
Also published as: EP3533050B1; SE540995C2; EP3533050A4; SE1651429A1; WO2018080391A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a cover (1) for the raisable lid (4) of a grand piano (2). According to the invention, the under side (1A) of said cover (1) has slide-preventing protuberances (14) situated at mutual distances (A, B) from each other. The upper side (IB) of said cover (1) has in turn a textile (15) of natural and/or synthetic material having light reflection-reducing ability, at least at a certain angle. A said cover (1) is compactable.

Description

Cover for Grand Piano

The present invention concerns a cover for the lid of a grand piano.

Problems exist particularly in concert situations when an orchestra and one or more grand pianos are situated on a stage and when the conductor is standing between the orchestra and the grand piano/pianos. There are occasions when reflections/light thrown back from, for instance, spotlights flashes in grand pianos and bothers those who are present around the instrument. Present-day strong spotlights have an very intensive light which may, if one happens to look straight into it (or upon

reflection), turns off the vision for a shorter moment. If this occurs in a pressing situation, such as at a live concert, this may be experienced as very unpleasant and distracting. On such occasions, the members of the orchestra may find it hard to clearly see the conductor. A high-gloss grand piano lid as background (back) against the conductor may create vague contours of the orchestra leader and its hand movements and facial expressions. To have covers on grand pianos during freight or as wear protection of them when they are closed and stored is something obvious but to also have some cover on them when they are standing open and used is, however, very

uncommon. Therefore, there are very few, if any, covers of this type on the market now. There are neither any covers which prevent undesired reflections from grand piano lids and the like from arising.

By US 6172293 Bl, a grand piano cover is previously known which consists of a cloth material, e.g. woollen flannel or padded material to improve the protection of a grand piano lid. However, a said known grand piano cover is held in place by means of a number of elastic straps (86) , which does not look so good from the direction where the audience sits and looks at the pianist and the orchestra. A said selected cloth material is thereby not selected to particularly prevent reflection from spotlights and other lamps but is only intended for protection purposes, i.e., to be soft and protect the grand piano lid against impacts. The cover of US 6172293 Bl is thereby inappropriate to use during a concert.

Therefore, the main object is primarily to solve said problems by simple means and remove annoying reflections from grand piano lids and also protect from abrasion and wear of grand pianos when these are standing open as well as make clear important visual impressions at certain situations for surrounding persons.

The solution consists of different

especially selected materials which together should protect grand pianos from wear and prevent certain

undesired visual situations from arising, as well as solve certain technical problems that arise for this type of cover to remain in place (stably and reliably) on a glossy grand piano lid that is raised.

Said object is achieved by means of a cover according to the present invention, which

essentially is characterized in that the under side of said cover has slide-preventing protuberances situated at mutual distances from each other and that the upper side of said cover has a textile of natural and/or synthetic material having light reflection-reducing ability, at least at a certain angle, as well as that said cover is foldable or possible to roll up. The invention is described in the

following in the form of a number of preferred embodiment examples, reference being made to the appended drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows the cover according to the present invention in extended state on a grand piano lid,

Fig. 2 shows a stage of the application of the cover on a grand piano lid,

Fig. 3 shows a further stage of the application of the cover on a said grand piano lid, edge to edge with the transverse hinges of the grand piano lid,

Fig. 4 shows the raising stage of the front pivotably journalled lid portion of the grand piano lid,

Fig. 5 shows said lid portion in fully turned-up and lowered position prepared for playing while the flap-shaped piece of the covering is in position prepared for folding above the lid portion,

Fig. 6 shows the flap- shaped piece in extended state above the lid portion ready for raised play position,

Fig. 7 shows the grand piano lid in raised and raised play position having a cover applied thereon, and

Fig. 8 shows a grand piano with the lid thereof having cover in lowered closed state.

A cover 1, which according to the present invention is intended and arranged to the adjustable grand piano lid 4 of a grand piano 2 which is pivotably

journalled and raised by means of support 3 in leaning play position, with the purpose of, by itself, remaining on the grand piano lid 4 as well as primarily remove or at least minimize disturbing undesired light reflections 5 from grand pianos 2 but also protect the grand piano lid 4 from unnecessary wear when they are standing unused as well as also make clear important visual impressions to surrounding persons from the grand piano 5 in certain situations, is intended according to the present

invention .

In Figs. 1 and 7, the cover 1 is shown when it is placed and prepared, fast and smoothly, on the grand piano 2. The grand piano lid 4 is thereby ready to be raised by support 3 if desired. When the grand piano 2 is standing on the stage and the grand piano lid 4 is raised at a problematic angle which easily creates flashes, the cover 1 protects the surroundings (the orchestra) from undesired reflections in the lid 4 as well as makes the conductor clear for the orchestra members. When the lid 4 is in laid down position, as is shown in Fig. 1, the cover 1 protects the grand piano 2 from wear and abrasion.

Fig. 2 shows in the first instant how it is recommended to place the cover 1 on the grand piano 2. Before the cover has been rolled up, folded up or hanging on a hanger and then it has been placed on the slender part of the grand piano lid and then unrolled, after that the smaller transverse part 12 of the cover 1 is unfolded as shown by the arrow 6 in the picture.

Fig. 3 shows how it is recommended to place the cover 1 edge to edge with the transverse brass hinges 7 of the grand piano lid. This is done so that the cover 1 should position itself correctly automatically at the other end and not protrude a bit over that edge.

Fig. 4 shows when the front part 8 of the grand piano lid 4 is folded over. The part 8 that has a cross beam 9, and lets the weight of said part 8 then press the cover 1 against the large part 10 of the grand piano lid 4 while the remaining part of the cover rests by itself against the grand piano lid 4, so as to in such a way fix and hold in place the cover 1, also when the lid 4 is raised by its stay 3. This way to hold in place the cover 1 makes then it very difficult for it to slide off the lid 4 when it is raised. The materials of this part 11 of the cover have extra firmness and steadiness. This is provided by the different materials included in the cover 1 being laminated together, e.g. by agglutination or in another known way. It is also possible to arrange a separate core of stiffer material between the different layers of the cover 1, e.g. consisting of rubber, plastic, or foam rubber, which affords desired extra steadiness and stiffness to the cover 1. Taken together, lamination of the different materials affords the cover an increased torsional stiffness as well as that the surfaces of the cover can be made smooth without them getting creased.

Fig. 5 shows how finally the entire transverse part 16 of the cover 1 is put on top of the front raised part 8 of the grand piano lid, as the arrow 13 shows, so that the cover 1 also covers this part 8 of the lid 4 of the grand piano with its cross beam 9

containing lock housing.

Fig. 6 shows the shown blacked out part of the cover 1 and has in addition on its under side a special material that attaches extra good to the very glossy grand piano lid 4.

Fig. 7 shows a phase of grand piano 2 having open lid, and

Fig. 8 shows a grand piano 2 having closed lid 4. Fig. 9 shows an example of a cover having a channel intended for the hanging of the cover using a hanger .

Fig. 10 shows an example of a hanger which may be used together with the cover.

According to the invention, the cover 1 is formed of a flexible piece which essentially is adapted in shape to the circumference of a grand piano lid and which on the under side 1A of said cover 1 has slide-preventing protuberances 14 situated at mutual distances A, B from each other, and that the upper side IB of said cover is formed of a textile 15 having cut or angled pile

consisting of natural and/or synthetic material having good light reflection-reducing ability, at least when it is rotated at a certain angle. In those cases the pile is angled and is not standing primarily perpendicularly from the material, the angle is obtained by rotating the fabric to the position where the reflections become minimal and is determined by how the pile is lying in relation to the source of light for the respective grand piano. The pile is essentially directed away from the source of light to achieve the least reflections.

A said cover is easily compactable, when it is not intended to be used, by being rolled up or folded together, i.e., possible to roll up or foldable. The cover has a thickness of between 1 and 10 mm,

preferably between 2-5 mm, more preferably 3 mm. Fully spread out, the cover is approx. 155 cm x 260 cm as the longest in the width and longitudinal direction and has the shape of the lid 4 of the grand piano. Folded up, the cover can be got to a size of approx. 40 cm x 60 cm x 10 cm. Alternatively, the cover is hung up on a hanger intended for this. It may also be formed of a number of interconnectable pieces, which together partly or

completely cover the upper side 4A of the lid 4 of a grand piano .

More precisely, the cover 1 is formed of an entire piece which reaches from the end of the slender part of a grand piano all the way up to the hinge 7 of a pivotable lid portion 8 as well as a sewed up, etc., or detachably fixed flap-shaped piece 16 fixed at the area to where the lid portion 8 reaches in raised position over the fixed part of the lid of the grand piano, i.e., similar to Y-shaped.

The protuberances 14 are distributed along the surface of, e.g., a cloth, a textile material, or a plastic material and are in the form of uniform or nonuniform plastic and/or rubber studs, and form under side 1A of said cover 1 with slide-preventing function, while the upper side of the cover 1 is formed of a velvet-like textile having cut or angled pile turned into correct position and of dark colour. The distance between the protuberances may be between some mm to a few cm, for instance 1 mm, 5 mm, 1 cm, or 2 cm. According to a

preferred embodiment example of the invention, a flap- shaped piece 16 of the cover 1 is detachably connectable with the remaining piece 17 of the cover 1 by means of zip fastener, Velcro^® fastening elements, or another fastening means 18, for covering the entire grand piano lid in the lowered position thereof. Said flap-shaped covering piece 16 is arranged foldable across the main part of the lid 4 over the foldable end portion 19 of the grand piano lid 4, and is provided with a recess 20 or depression so that a cross beam having a lock housing 9 on the lid 4 could be surrounded. Said flap-shaped covering piece 16 is preferably provided with desired text, etc., 22 thereon, on one side thereof or both sides, which said text 22 is arranged on a foldable tab 23 or strip of said flap-shaped covering piece 16. Said flap-shaped covering piece 16 is arranged to be situated next to the pivotable lid portion 8 of a grand piano lid and is arranged to be retained together with the other part 11 of the cover 1 on a leaning raised grand piano lid 4.

Fig. 2 shows the application of a cover on a grand piano lid 4 in the direction 24 from the more slender lid portion of the grand piano toward the lid portion 8 of the grand piano.

According to a further embodiment example, not shown, the circumference edge of the cover, which preferably has sound- absorbing material in the same, is provided with a suspendable edge portion extending along the side circumference edge of a covering grand piano lid and along the cover, pockets, not shown, are arranged to be fastened by means of Velcro® fastening means for the receipt of objects therein.

It is fairly unpredictable how materials reflect light. From one visual angle, it maybe reflects almost no light at all while as seen from another angle or if the material is somewhat rotated, a disturbing light will arise. A deeply black fabric does not at all have to, as could be believed, obviously function in an application as this one, or other materials with imagined properties. Therefore, the material of the present invention is rotated/angled as well as produced from, for instance, black velveteen so as to as far it is technically possible and to a reasonable price meet this requirement.

As for US 6172293 Bl, the matter of reflections has not at all any bearing on their invention. Concerning the attaching, lowermost material, the cover according to the present invention has a particular fabric having small, small knobs

(protuberances) which adhere excellently against the glossy polyester varnish of the grand piano. The

attaching, lowermost material is manufactured from a material containing polyolefin elastomers, polyester, or silicone. Furthermore, this material is safe against a possible destructive chemical reaction between the material and the varnish of the grand piano. This may be of great importance since a concert grand piano may cost up to SEK 1 700 000 and is very expensive to restore after damage. The cover of US 6172293 Bl has no one of these properties. In order for their cover to be possible to remain in place when the lid is raised at approx. 30° angle, it should be required that this cover fits tight around the lid as well as runs over the edge and makes this along the very long edge of the entire lid. For safety's sake, their cover has also a strap which is running on the underside of the lid to better be able to hold it in place. The present cover, however, does not have to fit tight, slip over the edge, or have any strap but follows precisely the contours of the grand piano lid in order not to be seen at all for the audience in front of the grand piano in the auditorium, still it remains very reliably on the lid. In US 6172293 Bl, it also seems hard to get this large piece of fabric to keep the springiness around the entire long edge so that it does not loses attachment at some place making it to retract and slide off.

According to US 6172293 Bl, the cover does not fully cover all reflecting surfaces on the grand piano lid which it has to make for the purpose. Said known cover does not entirely cover a part of the part of the grand piano lid that is folded over, such as the cross beam having a lock housing on the same part that is folded over. The cover according to the present invention covers these parts, which is very important in order not to give rise to any disturbing reflections.

Regarding "the tab" : it is a piece of fabric (part of the cover) which affords the experience of the grand piano lid as a large and smooth surface. The text printed or embroidered on this tab 23 or strip may be features of a commercial kind (a company name) or more informative such as a philharmonic society/orchestral association. If it is temporary desired to conceal this text (or produce another text) , the tab 23 is turned over to the other side instead, and which may lack text, etc., or which has another text or logo. This is achieved by the tab 23 being attached with its one long side to the upper side of the flap-shaped covering piece 16, which makes that it easily can be folded over according to the above description.

In one example, the cover 1 comprises a channel 25 intended for the hanging of the cover 1 using a hanger. For easier putting up and removal of the cover 1 from the grand piano lid, the cover may be provided with a channel 25 or tunnel that is attached to the cover 1 with extension from the edge of the respective long side of the cover 1 along the fastening means 18. The channel 25 is arranged to receive a hanger which then may be hung up in a suitable place, e.g. in a storage space or on a hook in a wall. The channel 25 consists of a piece of fabric that has been fastened in both ends by a seam so that a through passage is formed transversely to the cover 1. An example of a hanger 26 that may be used together with the cover has a hook 27, an upper part 28 which transforms to a lower part 29 according to Figure 10. The lower part 29 has a length which is longer than the upper part 28 and which preferably is as long as or longer than the length of the channel 25. The hanger 26 may have a cord 30 which then is fastened in a ball 31 at the end of the lower part 29 of the hanger 26 to render the hanger 26 extra stability when the cover 1 is

hanging/is threaded on the same and which also makes more difficult or prevents the cover 1 from gliding off the hanger. The ball 31 has an internal groove in which the cord can be attached. This results in the possibility of making the rest of the hanger 26 lighter while it still manages to carry the cover 1 without the hanger vibrating or risks breaking. The hanger 26 may be made of plastic or metal. The hanger 26 may also be of another kind than what is shown in Figure 10 as long as a part of the hanger 26 can be inserted into the channel 25.

The channel 25 may also be present when the cover 1 only consists of a continuous piece.

The function and nature of the invention should have been clearly understood from the above- mentioned and also with knowledge of what is shown in the drawings but the invention is naturally not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible, particularly as for the nature of the different parts, or by using an

equivalent technique, without departing from the

protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims.

Claims

C l a i m s 1. Cover (1) for the pivotable lid (4) of a grand piano (2) , characterized in that the under side (1A) of said cover (1) has slide-preventing protuberances (14) situated at mutual distances (A, B) from each other and that the upper side (IB) of said cover (1) has a textile (15) of natural and/or synthetic material having light reflection-reducing ability, at least at a certain angle, as well as that said cover (1) is foldable or possible to roll up.

2. Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the protuberances (14) are distributed along the surface of a cloth, a textile material, or a plastic material and are in the form of uniform plastic and/or rubber studs, and form under side (1A) of said covering (1) with slide-preventing function.

3. Cover according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the upper side (IB) of the cover (1) is formed of a velvet-like textile having cut or angled pile and of dark colour.

4. Cover according to any one of claims 1-3 , characterized in that the cover (1) is formed of a number of interconnectable pieces, which completely cover the upper side (4A) of the lid (4) of a grand piano.

5. Cover according to claim 4, characterized in that a flap-shaped piece (16) of the cover (1) is detachably connectable with the remaining piece (17) of the cover (1) by means of zip fastener, Velcro^® fastening elements, or another fastening means (18) , for covering the entire grand piano lid (4) in lowered position.

6. Cover according to claim 5, characterized in that said flap-shaped covering piece (16) is arranged foldable across the main part of the lid (4) over the foldable end portion (19) of the grand piano lid (4) , and is provided with a recess (20) for projection (9) on the lid (4), and is preferably provided with desired text, etc., (22) thereon, on one and/or both sides thereof.

7. Cover according to claim 6, characterized in that text (22) is arranged on a foldable tab (23) of said flap- shaped covering piece (16) .

8 Cover according to any one of claims 6-7, characterized in that said flap-shaped covering piece (16) is arranged to be situated next to the pivotable lid portion (19) of a grand piano lid and is arranged to be retained together with the other part (11) of the cover (1) on a leaning raised grand piano lid (4) .

9. Cover according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the circumference edge of the cover (1), which preferably has sound-absorbing material in the same, is provided with a suspendable edge portion (24) extending along the side circumference edge of a covering grand piano lid.

10. Cover according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, along the cover (1) , pockets are arranged to be fastened by means of Velcro^® fastening means.

11. Cover according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the cover (1) has

a Y-shaped cross-sectional profile having a fixed, flap- shaped covering piece (16) secured at a distance from the respective end edges of the cover or a detachable flap- shaped covering piece (12) fastenable at a distance from the respective end edges of the cover and at one end edge of the cover, respectively.

12. Cover according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that layers included in the cover (1) are laminated together, e.g. by agglutination, and/or that a separate core of, e.g., rubber, plastic, or foam rubber is arranged in the interior of the cover.

13. Cover according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the cover (1) has a geometry and a size corresponding to the geometry and the size of a grand piano lid (4) .

14. Cover according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the cover comprises a channel (25) attached to the cover (1) with extension between the edge of the respective long side of the cover (1) along the fastening means 18.