FR2759990A1 - Tilting support for handling pianoforte - Google Patents

Abstract

The tilting support (1) allows tilting of a piano (4) from a normal position (A) where it rests on its feet, towards a position (B) where it is supported on the side faces (10) of the piano. The tilting support has at least one main tilting rest (2). The tilting rest has a tilting ramp of curved shape. The rests are attached to the piano before handling. A further support can be attached to the rear castor of the piano and consists of a wheel (3) attached via a support leg.

Description

DEVICE FOR TILTING A PIANO ON ITS SLOT
The present invention relates to a device for tilting a piano and more particularly to a grand piano on one of its lateral edges as well as a tilting method using this device.

 Moving a piano generally requires a large workforce due to its weight and size, its handling and handling are, moreover, made delicate by the fragility of said piano. Thus, it is generally necessary to be at least three or four people to carry out such a displacement.

 To move a grand piano, it is a question of placing it by tilting it on its longest side edge so, on the one hand, to be able to remove the feet, and on the other hand, to be able to position said piano. on a conventional type trolley or on a pallet or a support plate intended to be handled using a trolley of the type described in European patent application EP O 755 841 by the applicant.

 Thus, the tilting device according to the invention proposes to solve the aforementioned drawbacks by simple, robust and reliable means intended to allow easy handling of a piano by a single person.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings which are given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

 Figure 1 illustrates in perspective the entire device positioned on a piano.

 Figure 2 illustrates the main tilting member in front view.

 Figures 3a, 3b, 3c schematically illustrate the method of tilting a piano in front view.

 FIG. 3a illustrates the blocking position of the tilting means and the normal position of the piano.

 Figure 3b illustrates the tilting of the main tilting member and the piano.

 Figure 3c illustrates the piano in its prone position on its side edge after tilting.

 According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tilting device, bearing the general reference (1) comprises piano tilting means which are constituted by at least one main tilting member (2), and possibly, by a or several complementary tilting members (3).

 The tilting device (1) is intended to allow the tilting of a piano (4) and more particularly of a grand piano type piano from its normal position (A) where it is placed on its feet, towards a position lying down (B) where it is placed on one of its side edges.

 The device (1) comprises a piano support (6) on which is intended to be tilted the piano (4). Note that said piano support (6) can be a trolley with steerable wheels or a simple pallet that can be moved once the piano is tilted on said pallet using a system of crosspieces and motorized side rails such as that described, for example, in patent EP O 755 841.

 According to the preferred embodiment, the device (1) illustrated in FIG. 1, 2, 3a, 3b and 3c comprises a main tilting member (2) intended to be fixed either directly to the piano (4), or to connecting means and transmission (5) integral with said piano and capable of transmitting the rocking movement of the member (2) to the piano (4). Furthermore, the device (1) also comprises a complementary tilting member (3) intended to be placed on the rear leg (4a) of the piano (4) in order in particular to preserve the latter during the tilting.

 The piano support (6) is intended to be mounted on the side edge (10) on which one wishes to arrange the piano by means of fixing the support, not shown, such as straps for example.

 According to the preferred embodiment, the connection and transmission means are constituted by a half box (5) whose dimensions can be adjustable and which is intended to be fixed around the keyboard (7) on the front part (8) of the piano (4). Said half box (5) includes fixing means, not shown, intended to allow the main tilting member (2) to be fixed on its lower part, advantageously directly above the front part (8) of the piano (4). .

 According to the preferred embodiment, the main tilting member (2) has on its lower part a tilting ramp (9) of curved shape in a transverse plane (p perpendicular to the lateral field (10). The curvature of said ramp extends at its lateral end (9a) the vertical plane (P) of the piano support (6) and is at its lower end (9b) tangent to the horizontal plane (H1) of the ground (11).

Between its two ends (9a, 9b), the ramp (9) advantageously has a curved shape such as a quarter of an ellipse, for example. The complementary tilting member advantageously consists of a wheel (12) mounted on the tilting side on the rear leg (4a), that is to say between said leg and the vertical plane (P) of the piano support (6) on which we rock the piano.

 According to the invention, the device comprises control means (14, 15), tilting means (2, 3) intended to allow said tilting means to be either in a locking position illustrated in FIG. 3a in which any tilting is cmpêché corresponding to the normal position (A) of the piano, that is to say in a tilting position illustrated in FIG. 3b in which said tilting means allow the piano to tilt to its lying position.

 According to the preferred embodiment, the control means (14, 15) are mounted on the main tilting member (2) and are constituted by an articulated stand (14) and a control member (15) of the stand such that a rope intended to allow said stand to pivot from a locking position preventing any tilting towards a tilting position where it is retracted relative to the tilting ramp (9) in order to allow the tilting of the member main and piano.

 The method of tilting a piano using a device according to the invention comprises a preliminary step which consists in mounting the tilting means (2, 3), the piano support (6) and possibly the means of transmission and link (5) on the piano (4). Said method then comprises an intermediate step consisting in putting, using the control means (14, 15), the tilting means (2, 3) in the locked position so as to prevent tilting when the front foot is removed. (4b) of the piano (4) located closest to the lateral field (10) on which the piano is laid.

 The main step of said method consists, using control means (14, 15) of placing the tilting means (2, 3) in the tilting position so as to cause the main tilting member to tilt. (2) and thus obtain the tilting of the piano (4) from its normal position (A) to its prone position (B).

 Note that, according to the preferred embodiment of the device (1), the intermediate step allows, by positioning the stand (14) in its locked position, to remove the front leg (4b) of the piano so that the weight of the piano rests on said stand (14). Thus, during the main stage, the retraction of the stand (14) makes it possible to obtain the tilting of the piano under the effect of its own weight, the main tilting member (2) rocking on its ramp (9 ) until the piano support (6) is placed against the floor (11).

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented by way of examples, but it also includes all the technical equivalents as well as their combinations.

Claims (3)

 1. Tipping device (1) intended for tilting a piano (4) from its normal position (A), where it is placed on its feet, to a lying position (B), where it is placed on one of its lateral fields (10), characterized in that it is provided with tilting means (2, 3) comprising at least one main tilting member (2).  2. tilting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the main tilting member (2) comprises a tilting ramp (9) of curved shape.  3. Method of tilting a piano using a device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a preliminary step consists in mounting the tilting means (2, 3) on the piano (4).