US1041004A - Piano-playing device. - Google Patents

Description

R. H. BOARDMAN.

PIANO PLAYING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1912.

1,041,004. Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

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UNITED sTA rns PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH H. IBOARDMAN, on NEW B-RI'TAIN, commences.

PiANo-PLAYIiIG' niivioii.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented Oct. 15,1912".

Application filed January 16, 1912. Serial No. 671,437.

' the object of the invention being to provide a simple, light and inexpensive article of this character which can be manipulated with oue'or both hands and by which with the aid of a piano, certain novel musical effects are obtained, the tones thus produced being similar to those of a chime, gong or bell. By the use, therefore, of the device I can play'upon the piano a chime tune. It is a recognized fact that a chime or gong note is made up of several -sub-tones as will hereinafter appear, and I provide the device with means spaced or separated the distances to simulate these sub-tones, and this result is preferably secured through the intervention of at least five projections or fin gers upon a suitable body or supporting member which is adapted to be held in one or both hands and to be moved longitudinally of the keyboard during the playing of a tune.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I show in detail one of the several convenient forms of embodiment of the invention which to en able those skilled in the art to practice the same will be set forth fully in the following description, this disclosure being primarily provided to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. "I may depart from said showing in several respects within the scope of the invention included in the claims succeeding said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan View of a piand playing device involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Like characters refer to like parts in both n mes.

The device involves in its make-up a body or s up' ort-ing member which is adapted to be hel in one or both hands and which may be made from any suitable material, and any desirable length provided it be of an extent -uflicient to carry the requisite number of lingers spaced at the necessary intervals. A

body or' supporting member such as sa'tisfa'ctorily answers my conditions, is that denoted in a general way by 5, and this body is usually I made from wood, and preferably, but not necessarily, has at its ends knobs 6 and 7, one adapted to be held in eachof the hands in the act of playing. Said body 5 has preferably at least five fingers of projections as 8, 9, I0, 11 and 12 and said fingers may also be made from any suitable material and any convenient length. In the present instance they consist of wood, and although they may be united to the body 5 in any desirable w Ly,

they are shown rigidly connected ther'r'with as by one or more nails extending throiig'h the butts of the fingers or projections and into the body. The finger or might be considered as the first figer' of the series, the finger 12' being the final; or fifth finger of the series, and when the rejection, 8

rocked or swung on its axis the five provided they be in the right relation over board will. simultaneously strike said keys,

and owing to the separation of said fingers.

finger 10 an interval of a musical fourth,

while the finger 10 is separated from the finger 11 an interval of a musical fifth, the finger 11 being separated from the finger 12 an interval of a musical sixth which is the preferred construction but which disposition may not in all cases be necessary. When five notes are simultaneously struck by said fingers, I obtain substantially the effect of a chime note and by moving the supporting body 5 longitudinally of the keyboard and at the same time rocking it, I can play a chime tune. It is essential in such an event that one of the fingers constitute what might be considered a master or a key finger, and in the construction shown the second finger or that denoted by 9 is chosen to serve as such an element, the tune being played with this particular finger and the remaining fingers sounding the companion notes during the playing of the tune.

To get the best possible effects I prefer to pad the fingers at their effective portions or at the places where they strike the keys of the equivalent number of keys of the keythe piano-keyboard, and this I can obtain in many different. ways. As shown each of the fingers has on its under side a substantially semicircular portion 13 which can be attached thereto at or near the tip thereof by means of glue or brads or anything of an equivalent nature, and the curved surface of each semi-circular portion is provided with a pad or buffer it of some suitable ma terial such as felt, rubber or even a composition.

As will be gathered from the observations already made, 1 have described in detail one Way of making a device involving my invention. This device can be made in other ways. It is clear that no great musical ability is required to operate the device. As a matter of fact the latter appeals particularly to children, and those not having a profound or deep musical education. In reality a child With a rudimentary knowledge of music and capable of picking out, as children do, a tune with one finger can operate the device as successfully as an ex perienced musician. The device will be appealing to musical experts as Well.

What I claim is:

1. A piano playing device comprising a supporting body adapted to be manually tion in the direction of the length 0 operated and to be shifted on it's manipulathe keyboard of a piano, said supporting body being provided with at least five fingers in the same plane and spaced to strike a cor responding number of keys on the keyboard, 35 the first and the second and thesecond and the third of said fingers being spaced to sound fourths, the third and the fourth fingers being spaced to sound fifths, and the fourth and fifth fingers being spaced to 40 sound sixths.

2. A piano playing device comprising a supporting body provided with at least five fingers in the same plane and spaced to strike a corresponding number of keys on 45 thekeyboard, the first and thesecond and the second and the third of said fingers beingspaced to sound fourths, the third and the fourth fingers being spaced. to sound fifths, and the fourth and the fifth fingers being spaced to sound sixths. said supporting body extending outwardly beyond the first and the fifth fingers to present grasping portions to he held in the hands wherebyv, the use! can move said supporting body along the keyboard and also raise and lower the same. I v

In testimony whereof I atlix my signa ture in presence of two Witnesses.

RALPH Pl. BOARDMAN.

/Vitnesses Y. J. STEARNS, S. H. STEARNS;

Gopie: of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. C.

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