JP2570123Y2 - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument having an electronic piano and other keyboards, and more particularly to an improved keyboard device for reducing the thickness of a musical instrument body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows a main part of a conventional keyboard device. The white key 1 is connected to the connecting part 3 via the hinge part 2 on the rear end side. The black key 4 is similarly connected to the connecting portion 3. A key frame 5 is provided below each key. The connecting portion 3 of each key is fixed to the key frame 5. Reference numeral 6 denotes an elastically deformable key switch, which is fixed on the key frame 5. A pressing member (actuator) 13 for driving the key switch 6 protrudes from the lower surface of the key 1. At the front end of the key frame 5, a key guide 7 made of urethane foam or other suitable plastic material is provided. The key guide 7 is formed to be bent upward from the key frame 5. A guided member 8 is formed on the key 1 side so as to protrude downward with the key guide 7 interposed therebetween. Reference numeral 9 denotes an engaging portion that constitutes an upper limit stopper for restricting upward movement of the key 1.

By the key pressing operation, the key 1 swings around the hinge portion 2 to a key pressing position (two-dot chain line) lowered by a predetermined stroke until the key 1 contacts the lower limit stopper. The lower limit stopper is constituted by, for example, a portion A of the upper surface of the key guide 7, and a position where the key 1 contacts the portion A is a lowermost position of a key pressing stroke. During this key pressing operation, the guided member 8 of the key 1 is placed on the side surface (guide surface) of the key guide 7 of the key frame 5.
, The key 1 is prevented from laterally swaying or twisting due to the swinging motion.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional keyboard device, the key guide 7 is provided with the key frame 5.
As a result, the height H between the upper surface of the key 1 and the upper surface of the key frame 5 is increased, and the thickness of the musical instrument body is increased.

In this case, if the length of the key guide 7 in the vertical direction is shortened, the effect of preventing the key 1 from swaying and twisting during the swinging movement of the key 1 when the key is pressed is reduced. Therefore, the length of the key guide 7 must be secured to some extent or more.
Further, it is necessary to form a sufficient gap corresponding to the stroke of the key 1 between the lower surface of the key 1 and the upper end surface of the key guide 7 at the key pressing position. The distance (height) between them had increased.

[0006] On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
4 is used for some electronic musical instruments. However, even in such a configuration, the thickness of the instrument at the rear end of the key can be reduced, but the thickness at the front end of the key remains unchanged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a keyboard device in which the distance between a key and a key frame is reduced and the thickness of a musical instrument body is reduced.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a key frame fixed in position with respect to a musical instrument main body; provided above the key frame so as to be swingable with respect to the key frame. A key guide member fixed to the key frame and having a guide surface parallel to a swing direction of the key; and formed integrally with the key and slid along the guide surface of the key guide member. In a keyboard device including a guided member, the key guide member protrudes downward from the key frame, and the lower end position of the key guide member is the lower end position of the guided member of the key when the key is not pressed. They are configured almost equally.

[0009]

Since the key guide member projects below the key frame, the distance between the key frame and the key above the key frame can be reduced. The lower end of the key guide member protruding downward is substantially equal to the position of the lower end of the key-side guided member when the key is not pressed, and is not protruded more than necessary.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The key (white key) 1 is a hinge portion 2 at the rear end.
To the connecting portion 3 via The black key 4 is similarly connected to the connecting portion 3. The connecting part 3 is fixed to the key frame 5. The position of the key frame 5 is fixed with respect to the instrument body (not shown). The key 1 is swingable about the hinge 2 with respect to the key frame 5. The key frame 5 is provided in parallel below each key corresponding to each key. A key switch 6 made of an elastic body is provided on each key frame 5.
The key 1 is provided with a pressing member (actuator) 13 for driving the switch when the key is pressed, corresponding to the key switch 6.

A key guide 7 made of urethane foam or other suitable plastic material is provided at the front end of the key frame 5. The key guide 7 is formed by bending downward from the key frame 5. Such a key guide 7
For example, a suitable metal plate is formed in a strip shape, the tip is bent downward, and the bent tip is covered and formed by outsert molding with a resin. The key frame 5 may also be formed of a plastic material.

An example of the shape of the key guide 7 is shown in FIG. The key guide 7 includes a guide portion 10 protruding downward from the key frame 5 and stopper portions 11 protruding on both side surfaces of the key frame 5. Both side surfaces of the guide portion 10 constitute vertical guide surfaces parallel to the swing direction to prevent the key 1 from swinging when swinging. A pair of guided members 8 are provided on both sides of the guide section 10 with the guide section 10 interposed therebetween. The guided member 8 is a molded body integrated with the key 1.
At the lower end of the guided member 8, a locking portion 9 is formed to protrude in a hook shape. The locking portion 9 constitutes an upper limit stopper for restricting the upward movement by contacting the lower surface of the stopper portion 11 of the key guide 7 at the time of the upward return operation after the key 1 is pressed.

The position of the lower limit stopper that determines the lower end position at the time of key depression may be a position where the switch 6 is pressed and deformed, or a convex portion is formed on the lower surface side of the hinge portion 2 (FIG. 1). May contact the upper surface of the stopper portion 11 of the key frame 5 or the key guide 7 to form a lower limit stopper. In the above configuration example, the upper limit stopper is configured.
The locking portion 9 to be formed is formed integrally with the lower end of the guided portion 8, but instead of such an integral structure, the upper limit stopper is separately provided from the guided portion 8 at a different position. It may be formed. Further, the lower limit stopper may be configured by bringing the key 1 into contact with the upper surface of the key guide 7. In this case, a felt cloth or the like may be attached to the upper surface of the key guide 7.

By the key pressing operation (arrow A in FIG. 1), the key 1 is
It swings around the hinge portion 2 to a key depression position (dashed line) lowered by a predetermined stroke. At the time of this key pressing operation, the guided member 8 of the key 1 slides along both side surfaces (guide surfaces) of the guide portion 10 of the key guide 7 formed at the front end of the key frame 5, so that it is accompanied by a swinging motion. The key 1 is prevented from being laterally skewed or twisted. According to the configuration of the above embodiment, the guide portion 10 of the key guide 7 at the tip of the key frame 5 is formed downward from the key frame, and its protruding length is the length of the guided member on the key side when the key is not pressed. The length of the lower end portion below the frame 5 is substantially equal to that of the key guide portion.
The guide part 10 of the member 7 is engaged with the lower end of the guided member 8.
The key frame 5 has a length corresponding to the vertical width of the part 9
Projecting downward from the key frame, the distance between the upper surface of the key 1 and the key frame 5 when the key is not pressed can be reduced, and the musical instrument can be made thin and compact. In addition,
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the lower end portion of the key guide member 7 (ie, the guide).
Position A of the lower end of the guide portion 10 and below the guided member 8
The position B of the end (that is, the lower end of the locking portion 9) is shown. From the figure
As can be seen, the key 1 is moved from the key depressed position in FIG.
When moved to the non-pressed position, the lower end of the key guide member
A and the position of the lower end B of the guided member are substantially equal (see FIG.
1).

The guide portion 10 of the key guide 7 may be protruded above the key frame . In this case,
Compared to the case where the lock part 10 is projected only below the key frame.
In addition, reduce the amount of protrusion to the lower side by the amount
If the entire length of the guide portion 10 is changed, the guide function is low.
Do not drop.

[0016]

As described above, in the present invention, a key guide bent downward is formed at the front end of the key frame, and the lower end is formed at the lower end of the guided member of the key when the key is not pressed. Since the distance between the key frame and the keys on the upper surface side of the key frame is shortened, it is possible to form the musical instrument body composed of the keyboard assembly thin and compact. As a result, a keyboard device excellent in appearance and handleability can be obtained, and the degree of freedom in musical instrument design is increased, so that it is possible to form a keyboard musical instrument having a variety of forms according to various demands.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the keyboard device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a main part configuration diagram of a conventional keyboard device.

FIG. 4 is a main part configuration diagram of another example of a conventional keyboard device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1; white key, 2; hinge part, 3; connecting part, 4; black key, 5;
Key frame, 6; key-on switch, 7; key guide,
8: Guided member, 9: Locking portion.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A key frame fixed in position with respect to a musical instrument main body; a key provided on the upper side of the key frame so as to be swingable with respect to the key frame; key guide member and having a guide surface parallel to the direction; Ri Do and a guided member that slides along the guide surface of the key and is integrally formed the key guide member, the guided
Hook-shaped locking part for upper limit stopper is horizontal at lower end of member
In the keyboard device protruding in the direction, the key guide member corresponds to a vertical width of the locking portion.
A key unit that protrudes downward from the key frame by a predetermined length , and a lower end position of the key guide member is substantially equal to a lower end position of a guided member of the key when the key is not pressed.