US1008161A - String-plate for pianos. - Google Patents

Description

E. J. KNABE, JR. STRING PLATE FOR PIANOS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1, 1911.

1,008, 1 61. Pat gnted Nov. 7, 1911.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAA t.

ERNEST J. KNABE, JR.,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

STRING-PLATE FOR PIANOS.

Application filed June 1, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. *7, 1911.

Serial No. 630,718.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST J. KNABE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in String-Plates for Pianos; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to string plates or frames for pianos and proposes a construction of plate which is considerably lighter than the same type of plate now being used, and which has its maximum strength at that part which is subjected to the greatest strain; one which will efiectively resist the strain or pull of the strings; and wherein a fuller and freer course is afforded for the sound waves than is now obtained.

To these ends the invention consists in the novel combinations of parts and details of construction more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views :Figure 1 is a front elevation of the plate. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1.

The plate consists of an upper section 1, a lower section 2, and an intermediate or central section 3; said upper and central sections being united by the pair of parallel ribs 4 and 5 on one side, and by two diagonally crossed ribs 6 and 7 on the other side thereof; and the lower section 2 is united to the central section 3 by continuations of said ribs 5 and 6.

The upper section 1 is reinforced by two substantially parallel and longitudinally disposed ribs 8 and 9 the former of which is located along the marginal edge of said section and the latter is in the body thereof. The ribs 4 and 10 located on the marginal side edges of said upper section serve as transverse reinforcements for said section. The reinforced construction of the section 1 as just described is of known construction.

The central section 3 has one edge thereof constructed with a relatively wide rib 11 to which are secured the hitch pins 12 for the strings which strings are secured at their other ends and in the usual manner to the wrest plank that is fastened to the back of the section 1.

All string plates are fastened at the top and any movement of the plate itself, which may result from the strain of the strings is confined to the lower part of the plate and to that part to which the hitch pins are attached, and to equalize or resist this the central section 3 is reinforced by continuous ribs on directly opposite sides thereof. Each of said ribs consists of a series of similar trussed sections 13 13 and 13 formed integral with the plate section 3 and located in opposite pairs between each two adjacent ribs (4;, 5, 6 and 7). The salient point of each of the truss sections is located at substantially the middle point between each two ribs (see Fig. 3) the purpose of which will be readily understood. The intermediate plate section 3 is constructed with integral and triangular-like truss sections 1 1 14 and 14 for each of the opposed pairs of truss members 13, said truss members 14 1 1 and 14* being disposed at right angles to the truss members 13, 18 and 13 and have their apices at the points of greatest strain of the strings.

By the construction and design of plate disclosed herein a much lighter plate is obtained; and one having a considerably greater cross sectional opening in front of the sounding board for the same given size of plate than heretofore, resulting in a fuller and freer course for the sound waves.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

What I claim is 1. A string-plate for pianos comprising end sections and a central section united by ribs disposed transversely of the plate; and reinforcing ribs formed integral with said central section, said ribs disposed lengthwise of the central section and located on opposite sides thereof, substantially as described.

2. A string-plate for pianos comprising end sections and a central section united by ribs disposed transversely of the plate; and reinforcing ribs for said central section, said reinforcing ribs disposed on the opposite faces and lengthwise of the central section,

and increasing in depth to either side of said transverse ribs, substantially as described.

3. A string-plate for pianos comprising end sections, and a central section; ribs disposed transversely of the plate and uniting said sections; and ribs formed integrally with and on the opposite sides of the central section and reinforcing the same, said ribs comprising a series of truss members each located between and disposed transversely of the first-named ribs, substantially as described.

4. A string plate for upright pianos, comprising an upper, lower, and central section; ribs disposed transversely of the plate and uniting said sections; ribs integral with and on the opposite sides of the central section reinforcing the same, said ribs comprising a series of truss members disposed in opposed pairs transversely of the first named rib; and a truss member for each pair of ribs formed integral with said central section adapted to resist the strain of the strings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST J. KNABE, JR. Witnesses:

E. A. DOLL, JOHN H. AYDnLoTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

Images