US1018204A - Piano-bench. - Google Patents

Description

E. V. MENDENHALL.

PIANO BENCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10, 1910. 1,018,204. Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

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APPLICATION FILED 0GT.10, 1910.

1,018,204. Patented Feb. 20, 19 12.

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UNITED STATES PATEN ELBERT V. MENDENHALL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO MARY F. MENDENHALL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

PIANO-BENCH.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBERT V. MENDEN- HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Piano-Bench, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to benches for use with pianos or piano players, and one Ohj ect of the invention is to provide simple and effective means for adjusting the height of the bench.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for tipping the top of the bench to adapt it for use as a piano player bench.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and referring thereto:

Figure l is a perspective of the bench, looking from below, with the parts broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the top of the bench with adjacent incline portions showing the means for retaining the top on the frame. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of an end portion of the top and frame, showing the means for giving an additional rise at the rear of the top. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts adjusted for elevation of the top, without tipping. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan of the controlling handle for the bench tipping means. Fig. 6 is an inverted plan of the stop meansfor the operating handle of the elevating devices. Fig. 7 is a detail section thereof. Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical, longitudinal sections of a different form of the bench. Fig. 10 is a transverse section on line 00 ai in Fig. 9.

1 designates a rectangular frame provided with legs 2 and adapted to support the top 3 which is provided with depending flanges 3 fitting on frame 1 so as to movably support or operate the top on said frame, elevating means being provided, supported by said frame and connected to said top to adjust the height of the top relatively to the frame. Horizontal grooves or ways 4 are formed in each of the side members 5 of the frame and cross-bars or bars 6 are provided, having tongues 7 at their ends sliding in the respective ways 4, one of said bars 6 being arranged at each end of the frame and said bars sliding to and from one another and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 10, 1910.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Serial No. 586,381.

engaging with incline members 8, secured to the top 3. The portion of each cross-bar 6 Where it engages with the incline members 8 is chamfered or beveled as at 6 in correspondence with the inclination of the operating or inclined face 8 of the inclined member. The aforesaid parts may be of wood. A metal strip 10 may be provided on each cross-plate 6, extending beyond the cross-plate to engage in a groove 11 formed in each iiicline member 8, parallel to the op erative inclined face 8 thereof, forming an additional guiding-means and acting more particularly as a retainer for preventing the top from being lifted off. the frame. The members 6 are operated longitudinally of the frame by means of a lever 13 pivoted at 13 on a cross-member 15 extending across the frame 1 between the side members 5 thereof, said lever 13 being connected by links 16 to pivots 17 on the respective crossmembers 6. An operating handle 18 is provided for the lever 13, said handle being slidable radially in a slot 20 in the lever 13, and being provided with a projection 21 engaging in notches 22 in a detent plate secured on the frame 1, a spring 24 being provided at said slot 20 to press the projection into such engagement. The notches 22 in the detent plate 23 are preferably ratchetshaped so as to provide for free movement of the handle and lever in direction to raise the top, but to prevent the return movement until the projection on the handle is released from the detent means.

Means are preferably provided for raising the plates 6 at the rear ends thereof in the separation of said plates so as to tip the rear of the top member 3 upward, said means consisting, for example, of a block 28 pivoted at 28 on the frame 1 and having face 29 adapted to rest on the bottom of the groove or way 4, and an incline face 30 adapted in this position of the block to form an incline plane near the end of the slot to engage the cross-member 6 and cause the same to ride upwardly in its longitudinal movement, the side member 5 of the frame 1 being cut away or slotted as at 5' adjacent to and above said block 28 to provide an inclined extension of the horizontal way 4 in said side members 5. The outer ends of said block 28 are provided with an incline surface 32 engaged by a pin 33 formed on or carried by the bar or rod 34-, the two bars or rods 3.4; from each end of the machine being bent down near the midlength of the machine to engage in a handle 35 pivoted at 35 on the frame 1 so that by partial rotation of said handle, the pins 83 may be operated longitudinally to ride on the incline surfaces 32 and cause the block 28 to be swung upwardly into position shown in Fig. 4-, leaving an unobstructed horizontal extension of the channel or way t at the rear of the frame.

In normal position when the top is depressed, the cross-bars 6 are in their innermost positions as shown in Fig. 1. lVhen it is desired to elevate the top, the handle 13 is turned so that acting through the links 16, it operates to separate the crossmembers 6, causing said members to slide longitudinally on the incline members 8, thereby pushing up the top. Assuming that the bench is to be used as a piano bench, the supplementary lifting means operated by the handle 35 is moved to position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, causing the pins 33 to ride on inclines 32 and tipping up the blocks 28, leaving the horizontal way extension at each end of the way 4: unobstructed for passage thereinto of the crossmembers 6. If, however, it be desired to use the bench with a piano player, the handle member 35 is operated to position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, thereby causing the blocks 28 to be tipped from position shown in Fig. 4t to that shown in Fig. 3 by operation of the pins 33 on rods 84, said pins riding on the incline surfaces 32 on blocks 30, and passing from the inner to the outer end of said incline surfaces so as to allow the blocks to descend by gravity to position shown in Fig. 3, presenting incline faces on which the cross-members 6 ride in their outward movement, said faces causing said blocks to be tipped upwardly at their rear ends; this operation resulting in corresponding tipping of the top of the bench. In whatever the position the bench may be adjusted, it is secured therein by engagement of the catch means on the handle 13 with the detent plate 22. It will be noted that in the elevation of the top, the cross-members 6 act in opposite directions on the respective pairs of wedging devices on the top member, so that the pressures are balanced longitudinally and there is no tendency to press or bind the top against the frame. This construction gives minimum friction and wear in the operation of the device.

Instead of using inclined members on the top of the bench, the elevation of the bench may be efiected by inclined portions 38 in the guiding grooves 39 for the longitudinally extensible members, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, said guiding groove 39 in these figures being provided in the side members 13 of the frame 1' and the top 4.2 being provided with blocks 11 extending parallel to the top and engaging with transverse plates or bars 1 1 which slide under said blocks and are guided and retained thereon by metal plates 15 engaging in grooves 46 in said blocks. Said blocks 44: are operated by link connections 47 to lever means similar to that above described for longitudinal extension of the cross-members 6 and the operation is the same as above described, except that the elevation is provided for by inclines on the frame in place of inclines on the top. In order to provide for tipping of the bench in this form of the invention, movable blocks 48 are pivoted at 419 at the upper ends of the inclined slots 38 at the rear side of the bench, the cross members 4-1 being provided with extensions 50 adapted to run in said inclined slot portions 88 and onto blocks 48. Said blocks 48 are operated through rods 51 by a. controlling handle 52 in similar manner to the operation of the blocks 28 above described, so as to lift the said blocks 48 out of the way, to position shown in dotted lines, when it is desired to allow the top to be elevated without tipping. In this case the extensions 50 on the cross members 44 ride onto fiat portions 53 at the upper ends of the respective inclined slots 38, said flat portions being the same at the front and rear sides of the bench.

What I claim is:

1. In a piano bench, a frame, a top mounted to move vertically thereon, a cross member movable longitudinally of said frame, said frame being provided with a guide-way for said cross member, incline means on the top and incline means on said guide-way for engaging the cross member, to raise the top in the longitudinal movement of the cross member, by the joint action of said incline means, and means for moving said cross member longitudinally of the frame.

2. A piano bench comprising a frame, a top mounted to move vertically thereon, cross members movable longitudinally of the frame, means for moving said cross members longitudinally of the frame, incline means engaging said cross members to raise said top, said incline means having a greater lift in one side of the bench than the other, so as to tip the top of the bench.

3. A piano bench comprising a frame, a top movably mounted thereon, incline members on said top, cross-members longitudinally slidable on said frame, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, and links connecting said lever with said cross-members to separate said cross-members longitudinally in the pivotal operation of said lever, said frame being provided with guide-ways at each side for guiding the said cross-members, and means in said guide-ways at one side of the frame for tipping the corresponding ends of the cross-members upward in their outer movement along the frame, thereby tipping the top of the frame.

4. A piano bench, comprising a frame, a top movably mounted thereon, incline members on said top, cross-members longitudinally slidable on said frame, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, and links connecting said lever with said cross-members to separate said cross-members longitudinally in the pivotal operation of said lever, said frame being provided with guide-ways at each side for guiding the said cross-bars, and means in said guide-ways at one side of the frame for tipping the corresponding ends of the cross-members upward in their outer movement along the frame, thereby tipping the top of the bench, said means comprising blocks pivotally mounted in said ways and movable into position to leave the ways clear of obstruction beneath said blocks, and also movable into position to obstruct said ways, said blocks being formed with inclined faces on which the said crossmembers ride in their outward movement and means for controlling the position of said blocks.

5. A piano bench comprising a frame, a top movably mounted thereon, incline members on said top, cross-members longitudinally slidable on said frame, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame, and links connecting said lever with said cross-members to separate said cross-members longitudinally in the pivotal operation of said lever, said frame being provided with guide-ways at each side for guiding the said cross-bars, and means in said guide-ways at one side of the frame for tipping the corresponding ends of the cross-members upward in their outer movement along the frame, thereby tipping the topof the bench, said means comprising blocks pivotally mounted in said ways and movable into position to leave the ways clear of obstruction beneath said blocks, and also movable into position to obstruct said ways, said blocks being formed with inclined faces on which the said crossmembers ride in their outward movement and means for controlling the position of said blocks comprising rods engaging said blocks and handle connected to operate the rods for both blocks simultaneously.

6. A piano bench comprising a frame, a

top movably mounted thereon, cross members mounted to slide longitudinally on said frame and having a sliding engagement with the top, incline means providing for elevation of said cross members in their longitudinalmovement, an operating lever, links connecting said lever with respective cross members to move the same longitudinally in opposite directions, and movable means at one side of said frame adapted to be moved into the path of said cross members to elevate one side thereof and to be moved out of said path to allow the cross members to move similarly at both sides of the frame, and means for controlling the position of said movable means.

7. A piano bench comprising a frame, a top vertically movable thereon, inclined members on said top, cross members longitudinally slidable on said frame, means for moving said cross members longitudinally of the frame, said frame being provided with guide-ways at each side for guiding said cross members, and incline means engaging said cross members in their longitudinal movement to raise said top member more at one side than at the other.

8. A piano bench comprising a frame, a top vertically movable thereon, longitudinal guide-ways on said frame, cross members mounted to slide longitudinally in said guide-ways, means for operating said cross members longitudinally in said guide-ways, incline members on said top engaging said cross members to lift both sides of the top, and incline means engaging said cross members in the latter part of their longitudinal movement, to lift one side of the top more than the other side.

9. A piano bench comprising a frame, a top vertically movable thereon, cross members mounted to slide longitudinally on said frame, incline means operated by the longitudinal movement of the said cross members to raise the top, said incline means having a greater range of movement on one side than on the other so as to tip the top when the cross members are moved longitudinally.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 29th day of September, 1910.

ELBERT V. MENDENHALL.

In presence of- ARTHUR P. KNIGHT, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM.

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

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