US1770983A - Piano - Google Patents

Description

E. B. JONES July 22, 1930.

PIANO Filed May 4, 1928 Inventor Edgar E. 101165.

Hzls Attorney 13, strut 14, header member Patented July 22, 1930 EDGAR B. JONES, OF OREGON, ILLINOIS PIANO Application filed May4, 1928. Serial No. 275,036.

My invention in general relates to pianos, and more particularly to the provision of means in a piano whereby a substantial in crease in volume of sound and quality of tone is obtained therein.

The object of my invention is to improve the sonorous quality of a piano by the provision of a special resonance chamber incorporated therein, together with a construction permitting a freer vibration of the piano sounding board with consequent greater volume of sound, and clearer tone.

Other objects and advantages of the method and construction herein employed will appear more fully when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano embodied in my invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof, parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view through the tonal chamber of a piano embodying my invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, 11 designates the case of agrand piano having a sounding board 12 with diagonal reinforcing members 15, pin planks 1617 and the ports 18,all of which form no part of my invention, being typical of piano construction in general.

As an important feature of my invention,

. I provide a resonance chamber A formed between the outer casing wall 19 and the inner wall 20the resonance chamber, as best shown in Figure 2, being somewhat arcuate in configuration to conform with the general contour of the piano. As will be seen by inspection of all the figures, the resonance chamber extends from the top of the casing to the bottom, there being a complete passage-way therethrough.

Heretofore in piano construction it has been customary to fasten the sounding board to the outer casing 19, the latter as usual, being of laminated construction; Sounding boards of pianos made in the conventional manner indicated have their natural period of vibration dampened to a considerable er:- tent by'being secured to the outer wall, this mode of construction being typical of socalled grand pianos. By the novel resonance chamber provided, it will be seen that not only is the sounding board 12 free from the comparatively heavy outer casing, but it is also enabled to set up by the thin inner wall 20, and the chamber A sound vibrations of greater amplitude and with much less dampening effect,the dampening resulting in what is known in the art as smothered tone.

It will be observed that the piano construction illustrated and described by me involves no radical structural changes in the construction of a piano that could not be made by any manufacturer in this line. The construction,

however, yields a remarkably clear, rich and sonorous tone.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains that the invention is susceptible of modification and change; hence I do not desire to be understood as confining myself to the precise details as set forth, but wish to take advantage of such modifications and embodiments as fairly lie Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a grand piano including an outer cas ing of substantially curvilinear configuration, an inner wall spaced from said outer casing to provide a curvilinear space between said outer casing and said inner wall, and a sounding board attached to said inner wall, said curvilinear space extending substantially through said piano and adapted to permit said sounding board to vibrate more freely while causing sound vibrations to pass freely from said space.

2. In a piano construction, an outer casing, an inner wall spaced a substantially uniform distance from said outer casing and not rigidly connected to said outer casing, to provide "a resonance chamber between said casing and wall, said chamber being open at the top throughout substantially the entire extent thereof, and a sounding board secured to said inner wall whereby said sounding board is adapted to vibrate more freely While causing sound vibrations to pass freely from the top of said resonance chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDGAR B. JONES.

Images