US1775330A

US1775330A - Keyboard music instrument

Info

Publication number: US1775330A
Application number: US716864A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stoehr Moriz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-05-31
Filing date: 1924-05-31
Publication date: 1930-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1947-09-09

Description

Sept. 9, 1930. STOEHR 1,775,330

KEYBOA'RD MUSIC INSTRUMENT Filed May 31, 1924 Q I INV TOR u v 71m, $214 A} BY 437 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES monrz s'ronrm, or naw'roanar. r.

KEYBOARD MUSIC: ms'rnunnn'r Application filed May 31,

My invention has reference to pianos and similar keyboard instruments, and the object of my invention is to produce a keyboard instrument which is equipped with two string- 6 frames whereby the number of strings usually formed in such an instrument is doubled.

The strings of the second string-frame are tensioned so as to be a little higher pitched than the strings of the usual string-frame, so

1 that an instrument is obtained on which quarter-tones can be produced, while on the keyboard instruments now in use as is Well known, only half-tones can be produced. In combination with the second string-frame,

there is, of course, provided also a separate set of hammers, and these hammers are operated by keys of a special keyboard, wh1ch is preferably arranged somewhat above and behind the keys of the usual keyboard. The

instrument thus is a double keyboard instrument.

For a better understanding of my invention I refer to the accompanying drawing in which the invention is diagrammatically illustrated and in which Fig. 1 shows the two string-frames arranged one behind the other;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the two string-frames showing also the hammer-action and the keys cooperating therewith; Fig. 3 is a top-view of the double keyboard, Fig. 4 shows the disposition of the keys of the two keyboards on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 shows a modification in the relative position of the two stringframes.

In the preferred embodiment of my ,invention, I arrange the two string-frames 1, 2 parallel to each other, one behind the other, the rear string-frame being elevated relative to the front string-frame so as to enable the hammers 3 to strike the strings as shown in Fig. 2. The sounding boards and other parts of the instrument have been entirely omitted as not forming any part of this invention. In fact, except for the addition of the second string-frame, the second set of hammers and the additional row of keys, the construction of the instrument is not changed in any particular.

The strings drawn across the front stringframe, which is the usual string-frame, are

1924. Serial No. 716,864.

struck by the hammers 4 2) which-are operated in the well-known manner, *by means of-thehammer-action;5 by the white or

black keys

6 and 7 respectivelyofthe ordinary keyboard 8 (Fig.3). "Thehammersj3,intended 255 to strike the strings of'the rearstring-fra-me,

are operated by-means of the hammer action 9 bythe white and black keys. IO-and 11 respeetively of theupper keyboard 12. As shownin'Fig. '2, thekeys of the uppeflkeyboard are preferably slightly inclinedtoward thekeys of the lower keyboard-to-facilitate their manipulation. 13,114 and-15 designate the rails provided -'for-:the keys of'the-two keyboards. Fig. 4 shows the {relative arrangement-of: the keys of the two-keyboards on a larger scale. p

Asshown in Fig. '3,- the keysof =theupper keyboard 12 are slightlyofi setrelative to the keysof the lower keyboard8*to-therehy indicate that the strings set in vibration {by the depression ofthe keys ofgthe' upperkey board are pitcheda little higher thanethe strings set in vibrationby 1 the trays: ofthe lowerikeyboard. iIn the present instance, 3 referring to an upri ht piano, the diflerence between the pitch 0% the string corresponding say to the key C of the upper keyboard is a quarter-tone higher than the pitch of the string corresponding to the same key in the 410 lower keyboard, and so on, throughout the entire range of keys. Thus, the chromatic range of the tones capable of being produced by such a piano, in accordance with the present invention is double that of an ordinary piano, on which by the use of the black keys only half-tones can be produced.

As the keys are arranged in two separate keyboards controlling separate sets of hammers, anyone desiring to do so can play the piano like any other piano by using only the keys of the lower keyboard 8. By the addition of the upper keyboard, 12, the second set of hammers thereby controlled and the second string frame, a keyboard instrument is produced, which in variety of tones and tone-combinations approaches a string instrument, such as a violin or violin-cello, on which the roduction of tones is varied by the position of the fingers of the performer.

Instead of arranging the two string-frames parallel to each other as shown in Fig. 2, the string-frames may also be arranged as indicated in Fig. 5, where the rear stringframe 2 is shown at an angle relative to the front string-frame 1.

In the actual manufacture of such van instrument other changes may recommend themselves which do not affect the essence of my invention which I claim:

1. In a keyboard music instrument, the

combination of two relatively displaced string-frames arranged one behind the other, two separate sets of hammer actions disposed in front of the first string frame, two separate keyboards each comprising a full set of black and white keys, and separate mechanisms for transmitting the movements of-the keys of each keyboard to the hammers of the corresponding hammer action.

2. In a keyboard music instrument, the combination of two relatively displaced string-frames, one behind the other, and the second frame being higher than the first frame, two separate sets of hammer actions disposedin front of the front frame, two separate keyboards arranged in terrace Jiorm and each comprising a full set ofblack and white keys, and separate mechanisms for transmitting the movements of the keys of each keyboard to the hammers of the corresponding hammer actions. v 7' 3. A keyboard'instrument as set forth in claim 1, in which the keyboard for the rear string-frame is elevated relative totheother keyboard and the keys of said elevated keyboard are oflset relative to the keys of the other keyboard In testimony whereofI aflix my, signature.

MORIZ STOEHR. 1