US1668406A

US1668406A - Musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US1668406A
Application number: US64430A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander N Ivanoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-10-23
Filing date: 1925-10-23
Publication date: 1928-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 1945-05-01

Description

May 1, 1928.

A. N. IVANOFF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY fl W w May 1, 1928.

- A. N. lVANOFF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sneet 2 H m I INVENTOR ATI'ORNEY WITNESS:

Patented May 1, 1928- ALEXANDER N. IYALIOFF, on NEW onx, n. Y.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed October 23, 1925. Serial No. 64,430

This invention relates to musical instruments, and more particularly to a chromatic scale harp which comprises a standard harp structure which is mounted in a horizontal position on a table structure, and has extending across one end of said harp structure, a relatively narrow piano-like keyboard control mechanism for operating a plurality of string dampers in a selective manner for controlling the sound emission ofsaid harp. Theobject of the invention is to provide combination harp and piano keyboard structure adapted to have soundedthereon, certain chords ina selective manner, making it possible to play a composition consisting of chords.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table mounted harp structure with a keyboard operatingmechanism thereon for dampening certain strings in an octave for mation against sound emission, and a pair of foot pedals depend from the underside of the top structure of the table, and are connected to said harp and keyboard mechanism for'lifting all of the string dampers simultaneously or for silencing all the strings on the harp simultaneously, against sound emission. 7

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detail description, and in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1-is atop plan of the combination harp and keyboard mechanism therefor.

Figure 2-is a side elevational view of the instrument showing the foot pedal mechanism.

Figure 3is a longitudinal section through the keyboard mechanism on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure tis, a cross section through the keyboard mechanism on the line ie-4: of Figure 1.

Figure '5is a section through the harp on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, showing the pedal operated silencing bar.

Figure 6is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, enlarged.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the invention'comprises the table 1 havinga top structure 2 which is hollow and adapted to provide a sound amplifying chamber 3. The harp at is secured to the top surface of said top structure 2, inc, horizontal position and is secured by meansof thescrew 6 in the harp frame 7. The top structure 2 comprises the top and bottom boards 5 and 5, which are spaced in order to define the sound chamber 3. The top board 5 terminates short of one end of the top structure, thereby causing an opening 5 to be formed, said frame covering all but the upper right hand corner of the top structure 2, there being provided in the said corner in the top surface thereof, a plurality of sound apertures 8 and so spaced" as to simulate a de; sign. At the extreme left end 9 of the harp structure 4, extending across the bridge head 9 thereof, is the piano key mechanism generally designated as 10, said key mechanism comprising a rectangular frame 11 which is made up of'the two, side members 12 and the two end members 13 which are secured across the ends of the relatively long side members 12. Running parallel with and spaced between the side members 12 are a plurality of actuating bars 1 1, which are apertured ateach end thereof, and adapted to be positioned on a plurality of studs 15 secured in the end frame members 18 for slidable up and down movement thereon, said studs and a plurality of coil springs 16 being disposcd'on the lower part of said studs and under the actuating bars let-for returning the saidbars to their normal position, said bars having depending from the underside thereof, a set of four equally spaced contact pins 17 each of said bars 1 1 being provided with four of said contact pins which are equally spaced throughout the greater length of the bars 14, and each succeeding row on the remaining bars are spaced ahead the distance of one pin from the first pin on the first bar, as indicated at A, thereby presenting a staggered formation and said pin formation adapted to provide progressive contact with forty-eight damper fingers, indicated at 18, said damper fingers being disposed at right angles to the bars 14, and are pivoted intermediate their ends to spring influenced hinge brackets 19, which are in turn fixedlyv secured to the side face 20 of the inner side member 12, each of said damper fingers, 18 having the undersurface of their contact heads 21 faced with felt padding for silent contact with a like number of strings disposed on said harp.

Adjacent to one end of the key. mechanism and projecting upwardly from the side frame members 12, are two upstanding ears 22 adapted to hold rigidly a key-retaining cross bar 23. Said bar adapted for effecting a bearing in the V-grooves 2 which are provided one on the upper 'face of each key adjacent the rear end thereof, and provides the pivotal point for the downward and upward movement of each key. The underside of the offset heads 26 of the keys 25 present an arcuate surface 27 for contact on the key supporting cross member 28 which extends across the undersides of the side frame members 12. Said cross member 28 having a plurality of upstandin pins 29 secured therein for passage through the clearance apertures 30, provided in the offset heads 26 of the keys 25. Said pins 29 adapted to retain the keys 25. in alignment with the bars 14, and to limit the downward movementof said keys. 7

. Adjacent to the front or operating end of the white keys 25, on the underside thereof, are a plurality of apertures, 31, one in each key and said apertures adapted to slidably receive a like number of relatively short upstanding alignment studs 32, said studs being rigidly secured in the upperor padded face of the blocks 38 whichare secured on the top 3 surface of the actuating bars 14, and parallel therewith. The black keys 34 which are disposed between the white keys 25 in the usual order, aresimilarly constructed, and positioned centrally over the respective actuating bars for said black keys 34, and the pivoted ends 35 of said keys 34 also have a vertical aperture 36 through the ends 37 for passage therethrough of similar alignment pins 38, with the exception that they 2 are placed to the right side of the retaining cross bar 23, as indicated at B. V

The alignment pins29 for the white keys 25, are placed tothe left of said cross bar 23, asindicated at C. This is necessary for the reason that the black keys 34 are shorter in length than the white keys 25, and consequently, have a. shorter leverage. The first one of the actuating bars 14 which is indicated by the numeral 39, has no contact posts or key provided therefor, but has instead, an auxiliary bar 40, parallel therewith, and se cured adjacent to the underside of the first bar 39, for simultaneous contact with all of the damper fingers l8. Said bar 39 being connected by the pivoted rods 41 which terminate at the end of one of the pedals 42, said pedal adapted, to raise all of the damp er fingers 18 simultaneously. The remaining pedal 43 secured to the support 44 therefor, actuates the silencer bar 45, which is connected to said pedal by means of a pivoted rod 46, said silencer bar being faced with felt, and adapted. to silence all ofthe harp strings 47, simultaneously when pressure is applied to said pedal. The entire key mechanism and the carrying frame therefor, is of such proportion, as to fit snugly on the harp frame and is held secure by a pair of screw points, and hooks 48, and a suitable ornamental cover 49 is provided to ed to raise the four spaced intervals of the damper fingers 18, it will be readily seen by those learned in the art, that any chord or combination thereof, may be sounded upon the instrument. i

It is, of course, to be understood, that the invention may be constructed in various other manners, and the parts associated in different relations, and therefore, I do not desire to be limited in any manner, except as set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting stand therefor, said supporting stand including an amplifying sound chamber formed therein, a keyboard operated control mechanism disposed on the harp frame and over the strings of said harp, pedal means for silencing all of the harp strings simultaneously, a plurality of damper fingers provided strings and actuated by the keys on said keyboard for raising and lowering a predetermined number of said damper fingers, and pedal means for raising all of said damper fingers simultaneously.

2. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting stand therefor,

said supporting stand includin an amplifying sound chamber formed therein, a sound control mechanism disposed on the harp frame and over the strings thereof, a control keyboard embodied in said mechanism, a plurality of damper fingers controlled by said keyboard, each key comprising said keyboard, adapted forraising and lowering a predetermined number of said damper fingers, pedal means for raising all of said damper fingers simultaneously, and a single for said harp damper bar for silencing all of the harp strings simultaneously. 7 V

8. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting stand therefor,

said stand including an amplifying cham- 7 her formed therein, a keyboard control, a damper frame, said mechanism comprising a plurality of actuated bars, a plurality of damper fingers for co-operative action with a series of piano keys comprising said keyboard control in a selective manner, a pair of foot pedals disposed downwardly from the underside of said stand, means for conmechanism disposed on the harp v necting one of said pedals with one of the actuating bars for simultaneously raising and lowering all of the damper fingers, and the second pedal adapted for silencing simultaneously all of the harp strings.

4E. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting stand therefor, said stand including an amplifying sound chamber formed therein, a keyboard 03erated damper mechanism disposed in a horizontal position on the harp frame and over the strings of said harp, said mechanism comprising aframe, a plurality of actuating bars movably secured in said frame and parallel with the sides of said frame having the greatest length, a plurality of piano keys pivoted and disposed in central alignment over said actuating bars for effecting contact with said bars, a plurality of damper lingers disposed at right angles to said actuating bars, and pivoted adjacent to the contact ends of said damper lingers to the inner side member of said frame, a single silencing bar, pedal means for actuating said bar, and pedal means for actuating all of the damper fingers simultaneously.

5. The combination with a chromatic scale harp, of a supporting stant therefor, said stand including an amplifying sound chamber formed therein, a keyboard operated damper mechanism disposed in a horizontal position on the harp frame and over the strings of said harp, said mechanism comprising a frame, a plurality of actuating bars movably secured in said frame and parallel with the sides of said frame having the greatest length, aplurality of piano keys pivoted and disposed in central alignment over said actuating bars for effecting contact with said bars, a plurality of damper lingers disposed at right angles to said actuating bars and pivoted adjacent to the contact ends of said damper fingers to the inner side member of said frame, a single silencing bar, pedal means for actuating said bar, pedal means for actuating all of the damper fingers simultaneously, a cover for complete keyboard control mechanism, said cover apertured to expose the keys only, and means for securing said cover and mechanism.

In a musical instrument, a stand comprising a top structure and an under supporting structure, said top structure having upper and lower vibrating boards spaced to delining a sound amplifying chamber therebetween, the upper board tern'iinating short of one end of the top structure and thereby causing an opening to be formed, a chromatic scale harp secured to the top board with its strings spaced from the board, a sound control mechanism on one end of the top structure and over the strings of the harp and provided with a control keyboard for actuating elements of the sound control mechanism for raising or silencing tire tone caused by the vibat-ion of the strings.

7. In a musical instrument, the combination with a top structure and an under sup porting structure therefor, said top structure having top and bottom boards spaced to define a sound chamber, the top board terminating short of one end of the top structure causing an opening to be formed, of a. chromatic scale harp secured on the top board with its strings spaced from said top board, a sound control mechanism embodying a control keyboard at one end of the top structure and over the strings of the harp, said sound control mechanism having a plurality of damper fingers, with means for actuating them toward and from the strings for silencing and raising the tone emanating from the strings.

in testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

ALEXANDER N. IVANOFF.