US1401115A - Grand-piano construction - Google Patents

Description

B. c. EDMANDS.

' GRAND PIANO CONSTRUCTION.

I I 1 0- 1 40 1 1 1 5 I Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

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I GRAND PIANO CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED 001.21.1920.

I ,40 1 1 1 5 Patented Dec. .20, 1921.

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GRAND PIANO CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION 'HLED OCT. 21. 1920.

1,401,;1 15, Patented Dec. 20, 192 1.

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awn/mug UNITED- STATES PATENT: OFFICE.

BRADFORD o. EDMANDS, or Nnw'ren, nassncnnsn'rrs, Assrenon 'ro AMERICAN PIANO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

GRAN D-IPIAN CONSTRUCTION.

To aZZ'w/wm it'm-ay concern.

Be it known that LBRAnroRD G. EDMANDS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newton, in the county of 'Middlesex and State of Massachusetts have invented an Improvement in Grand-Piano Construction,

of which the following is a specification.

pianos.

: The present invention relates to grand pianos and has for an object to provide an improved grand piano construction and an lmproved method of assembling grand For many years grand pianos have been constructed by a method'of manufacture which has involved fitting and securing the skeleton frame and case rim together and subsequently fitting the sounding-board and musical instrumentalities into place within the rim. This method involves carefully fitq and finish the case rim separately therefrom and thereafter apply it to the previously tingthe sounding-board into the rim and against the skeleton frame while the rim is in position making the work difficult and expensive. In connection with the fitting of the sounding-board, the skeleton frame must be provided with recesses to receive the ends 'of the sounding-board ribs. This requires skillful, painstaking workmanship.

It has been proposed, heretofore to assemble theskeleton frame, sounding-board and musical instrumentalities and to make assembled parts. While this method has resulted in a considerable saving in the manufacture of grand pianos, nevertheless it has certain disadvantages inthat the skeleton frame and caserim must still be carefully fitted together. Furthermore, this method Ordinarily involves the use of a shop-form for each rimto retain the rim. win shape during relatively long period while it is being operated. upon in the process ..the' manufacture 0f the skeleton frame,. sounding-board and musical instrumentali-- of manufacture andfinishing.

' The present invention provides a method of miniufacture and assembly which permits ties' 'as one unit and the: manufacture of the case rim as a separate unit and in such form that thetwo units may be easily assembled "without exact trimming and fitting of either found among-ordinary cabinet makers; The

part and without requiring labor having a igher degree of skill. than thatv usually Specification of Letters Iatent.

with the strings and the action.

skeleton frame is a strong and rigid structure commonly forming a permanent part of the case in pianos of the type to which this invention relates. It holds the case rim in.

pianos are manufactured for sale in distant markets considerable expense in transportation can'be saved 1f the frame assembly and action can be manufactured at av central plant where highly skilled piano operatives are available and these parts shipped to a distributing center where the case can be applied and the piano finished by'available labor' having reasonable skill in cabinet work. i a

The present invention makes feasible the manufacture and assembling of the more important elements of the piano at one factory and shipment to a'distributing center for completion and finishing. This is accom- V plished by providing an improved construction and method of assembling especially designed to facilitate the application of the rim to the frame assembly without requiring special tools andjigs or a high quality of workmanship; I i

The invention will be "best understood from a specific description of an illustrative structure and a preferred method ofassembling such structure.

'In carrying out the method of manufacture which will be particularly described the sounding-board, iron'frame and strings are preferably assembled 'on the skeleton frame or rast and then the rim is applied thereto and secured firmly to theJskeleton frame. Theskeleton' frame is preferably made enough smaller-than the rimto make allowance' for minor irregularities in the shape of either therim or frame. The rim is stiffened by. a reinforcing rib or member extending preferably continuously along the interior thereofxand flush with the lower.

edge. A'rigid connection is made between the skeleton frame and rim at spaced points by introducingwedges between the skeleton frame and rim which wedges areglued to both parts and screws are preferably put,

7 Patented Dec. 20, 1921. Application filed October 21, 1920. Serial No. 418,530.

through theframe and wedges into the rim to secure the wedges in place and the skeleton frame and rim in suitably spaced relation, The frame preferably isjalso glued and screwed to the reinforcing rib' of the rim. Thereafter. .the action, pedals, fall board, cover and other parts are assembled v with the piano in the usuatmanner'.

i of a grand piano showing areinforcing rib 151 7 frame adapted to and skeleton frame support extending along the lower edge and the ;key-bed secured.

thereto. 7 p v p 7 Fig.2 is a perspective view of a skeleton Fig. 1; 7 c 7 V .Fig. 31s a central sectional VlGWOf the skeleton frame witha sounding-board, 1ron frame and strings assembled thereon.

Fi 4: is a similar sectional. complete piano.-

view of the skeleton frame and flrim in assembled relation.

Fig. 6 is a; on the line 66 of Fig. 5. V p g. 7 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5. V f it Fig. Sis a perspective View of one of the .wedges 20, the taper beingshown as exaggerated for the sake of clearne'ss',

In the constructionillustrated the rim and skeleton frame are made separately and afterward assembled. The rim member 1 comprises the rim proper 2 (Fig. 1) with the rib 3 extending around the interior thereof preferably adjacent the'lower' edge,

- the key-bed'l and the frontbar 4 which" are secured to therim to bracethe' ends and hold-them in properspaced relation; This rim member may be finishedcomplete and polished before any other parts are assem bled therewith. The reinforcing rib 31per forms two functions. It'stifiens the rim while it is being operated upon and in the: finishe'dj pianojit provides a1 support and convenient point of attachment for the skeleton frame when the-same is assembled with the rim.

The skeleton frame 5 (Fig. 2) ism'ade separately and is of usual construction eX-' cept that the outer circumferential frame m'ember inwthe construction] illustrated is narrower thanusual by an amountequal to the vertical'depth of theskeleton framesup-- por'ting' rib so that the top is'at the usual -'=l'evel"with respect to the rim; The central bar 7 *and; the bottom "belly bar 8Qof the skel'eton frame "arefalso 'madenarrower, at

' least'attheirlends where they join the cir-f I. f 'cumferenti'al frame;member, so as 'to fit over therib 3 when assembled with therim as I indicated at '10 in Figs. 2 and Elandatll' in Fig. 6. The diagonal brace'12 issimilarly cut away at its outer end to fit over thereafter the skeleton frame with these associated parts is set into the rim." The skeleton frame is glued and screwed tothe stiffening rib 3 which nowserves'as a supportzfor the skeleton frame. The screws, or the stiffening rib with the connecting screws and glue constitute a supporting and securing means for holding the skeleton frame and rim in suitable preferably spaced relation. 1

The [skeleton frame is' preferably made smaller than theinterior of the. rim, as above noted, .in order to allow for variation 7 or inaccuracyin the shapes of the skeleton F 1g. 5 1s a plan view showing. only the frame and rim to avoid diiiicult trimming of 'the skeleton frame at the b11116 of as y Psembling..- Preferably additional securing detail sectional view takenf.

means are .providedmoresecurely to hold the skeleton frame and rim in definite spaced relation. As shown, spacing-wedges :20" are introduced between the skeleton frame and rim at suitable intervals along their adjacent peripheries and WOOdeSCftEWS 21 are introduced; through the skeleton frame and wedges into the rim to secure;

the frame and rim firmly in. fixed relation It is to be understood that the particular method and construction described are merely illustrative of the invention as vari-.

ations Willi be obvious to those skilled in theart; v 5 5i:

"I'cl'aim: l. A grand piano having an inwardlyiprojecting reinforcing rib, a skeleton frame secured to and supported by said rib, and securing'meanscon necting said skeleton frame and rim to hold soundin'g'board'and an iron frame.

2.,A grand p ano comprising acase rim having an 7 inwardly. pro ecting reinforcing 'rib, askeleton frame smaller-than the interior of the'rim, spaced therefromfthroughout its perimeter and secured to and. supportedby said ribtogether with spacingand securing means between the skeleton frame and rim to hold, the same in fixed spaced relation." J 8. A grand piano comprising a caseirim,

ya skeleton frame 'jsmaller than the interior comprising a case V a the same in'fixed relationtogetherwith a of the rim and spaced therefrom throughout its perimeter, securing'devices holding, the skeleton frame and rim in fixed spaced relation, a sounding boardand an iron frame supported by the skeleton frame.

4. A grand piano comprising a case rim, a skeleton frame within and spaced from said rim, securingmeans holding said skeleton frame and rim in fixed spaced relation, a sounding board and musical instrumentalities supported above said skeleton frame.

5. A grand piano comprising a case rim having an inwardly projecting frame'supporting ledge, a skeleton frame supported by said ledge and an iron frame supported by said skeleton frame.

I 6. A grand piano comprising a case rim having a frame support projecting inwardly at its lower edge, a skeleton frame supported by and secured thereto and an iron frame supported by said skeleton frame.

7. As an'article of manufacture, acase rim for a grand piano and a key-bed secured to and connecting the ends of the rim.

to hold the same in definite spaced relation.

8; As an article ofmanufacture, a caserim for a grand piano having a reinforcing skeleton frame.

rib along its lower edge projecting inwardly A and formed to provide a support for the 9. As an article of manufacture,'a caserim for a grand piano having a reinforcing, stiffening rib pro ecting inwardly and a keybed secured o and connecting the ends of the 'rim.

10. The improvement in the art of constructing grand pianos which comprises constructing and assembling the skeleton frame, sounding-board and musical instrumentalities, constructing and finishing separately the case-rim having a reinforcing rib which affords support for the skeleton frame; assembling the skeleton frame and rim, and

securing the skeleton frame to the reinforcing rib.

11. The improvement in the art of constructing grand pianos which comprises constructing and assembling the skeleton frame,

sounding-board and musical instrumentalistructing and assembling the skeleton frame,

sounding-board and musical instrumentalities, constructing and finishing separately the case-rim, supporting the case-rim and skeleton frame in spaced relation, and securing the skeleton frame to the rim.

13. The improvement in the art of constructing grand pianos which comprises constructing and assembling the skeleton frame, sounding-board and musical instrumentalities, constructing and finishing separately the case-rim.with the key bed secured thereto, assembling the skeleton frame and rim, and securing the skeleton frame to the rim.

1%. The improvement in the art of constructing grand pianos which comprises constructing and assembling the skeleton frame, sounding-board and musical instrumentalities, constructing and finishing separately the case-rim, the skeleton frame being substantially smaller than the rim and spaced therefrom throughout its periphery, inserting spacing-wedges between the skeleton frame and rim, and securing the rim permanently to the skeleton frame.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 18th day of October, 1920.

BRADFORD C. EDMANDS.

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