US1780670A

US1780670A - Sostenuto piano

Info

Publication number: US1780670A
Application number: US346290A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cooper Simon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-03-12
Filing date: 1929-03-12
Publication date: 1930-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 1947-11-04

Description

Novr 4, 1930,

's. COOPER 1,780,670

' SOSTENUTO PIANO Filed March 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l awueutoz S. COOPER SOSTENUTO PIANO Nov. 4, 1930.

Filed March 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qwwanfoa: A z'hrazz 6 00 3 Patented Nov; 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE smon coornn, orrnoomam, imw YORK SOSTENUTO PIANO Application meamreh 12, 1929. Serial no. 846,290.

should be produced for the chord or'passage thus played pianissimo'and, in electric sustes nuto pianos it is especially desirable to be able to play pianissimo passages with full sostenuto effect. Where the sostenuto efiect is obtained by electro-magnetic means the energy required to maintain a vibrating string in singing oscillation is very small but, if this amount of energy is relied upon to. initiate the string vibrations without resortto the hammer, considerable time will elapse before the string retains its proper amplitude of vibration by the overcoming of its inertia.

-Moreover, if only weak impulses are used at first the string is apt to be thrown into nodal vibrations with the result that it does not vibrate to produce its fundamental tone but only produces overtones or partials which may cause very unpleasant eflect on the ear. One important 0 ectof the present invention is, therefore, to provide improved electro-magnetic mechanism by which the musician, inplaying, is enabled to immediately overcome the inertia of the string or strings and to initiate the desired amplitude ofivibration as quickly as is wanted and yet afterward have control of the amount of electrical energy so as to vary the amplitude-of the string vibrations.

A second important object ofthe invention is to provide improved electro-magnetic means in such a piano as will initiate imme diately full electro-magnetic efie'ct even though the key be touched only hard enough to produce a pianissimotone. e

A third important object of the invention is to provide, in an electric sostenuto piano,

electro-magnetic means whereby depression of a key will bring immediately full magnetic force on the string controlled by the key and will be automatically followed by continuing and gradually decreasing electro magnetic impulses as soon as the string has been given the full amplitude of vibration desired to be magnetically-produced.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide, in such a piano, improved elec o0 tro-magnetic sostenuto means in which the magnetic strength may be regulated at the will of the musician.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter vfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically cl aimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and: 7 I Figure 1 1s a diagrammatic view of a single key, ts strmg and the improved electro 7 magnetic means, the key being shown in fu1ly raised or. normal position.

. Figure 2 is a view of the key and circuit closers showing the relation of the parts under slight depression of the key.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fi'gure 2 with the key further depressed.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the key almost fullydepressed.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the key fully depressed and about to rise.

Figure 6 is a perspective detail of a certain camming contact and pin used herein.

In the form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings but one key and its associated parts have been shown but it is obvious that each key of the piano or a number of keys of such piano are to function similarly. The invention is, however, clearly shown by its association with a single key. 7

Bearing this in mind it will be seen that there is. provided a key 10 and a string 11 stretched between pegs 12and passing over a. 0

bridge 13, these parts being all of ordinary character. To the string 11 adjacent the bridge 13 is attached one side orelement of a modulator 14 such as is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,598,056. The other side of this modulator is connected by a wire 15 with one side of a second modulator 16 which is in turn connected by a wire 17 with a suitable source of current such as the battery 18 which in turn is connected by a wire 19 with a spring contact 20 fixed to the underside of the key and engageable, upon depression of the key,-with a fixed springcontact 21 secured to some suitable part of the piano. At '22, adjacent the string 11, is an electromagnet having one terminal connected by a wire 23 with the contact 21 and having its other terminal connected by a wire 24 with the first mentioned side of the modulator 14;. It is to be noted that both modulators'14 and 16 constitute variable resistances in which movement of one element toward, the other I decreases the reslstance'and movement of one element away from the other increases the resistance. Beneath the key 10 is fixed a pin 25 which engages the movable member of modulator 16 to decrease the resistance upon depression of the key toa desired extent. Also, beneath the key is secured a spring contact finger 26 which has adjacent its free end a bend forming a wiping point 27, the extremity of the bend being provided with an angularly disposed cam extension 28 -working past apin 29 fixed in the piano frame. By this arrangement the contact 26 is forced in one direction upon depression of the key and in the opposite direction as the key rises. This contact 26 is connected by a wire '30 with the wire 24. Fixed to the piano frame is a spring contact 31 which has a wiping point 32 engaged by the point 27 upon depression of the key 10 but, due to the cam action of the parts 28 and 29, free from such engagement upon This return of the contact 26 to raised position without engagement with the contact 31 is effected by reason of the cam portion 28, which is ofiset to engage the pin 29, conthe key rising.

tacting with the right side. of this pin on. rising from theposition shown in Figure 5' so that, by reason of the angularity of this cam portion, the point 27 will be carried to the right and thus clear the point 32 without contacting therewith. This contact 31 is connected by a wire 33 with the wire 17.

- Thus the circuit established by contacts 26 and 31 when closed is a shunt circuit around the modulators and sends the full currentof the battery 18 through the magnet 22.

, I also prefer to insert, in the line 19,-a pedal controlled rheostat 34 by means of which the musician may modify the current passing through the magnet at will.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5 it will be seen that slight depression of the key 10 closes the contacts 26 and 31 and thus imparts a relatively heavy magnetic pluck to the string. This is immediately broken (Figure 3) as the depression of the key continues and next (Figure 4) the resistance of modulator 16 is decreased, this decrease. continuing until the key has been fully depressed. Obviously, the extent and duration of depression of the key is regulated by the musician so that he may thus produce a wide range of sostenuto effects. 1

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired 'to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having'thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In an electric sostenuto piano, electromagnetic means for imparting a powerful the fundamental note of said string.

, 2. In a electric sostenuto piano, electromagnetic means for initiating a powerful vibration of the piano string, and other electro-magnetic means for maintaining the vibration of the string with'a diminished electro-magnetic attraction.

3. In a sostenuto piano, a string, an electromagnet adjacent the string to cause oscillation thereof upon energization, means to pass a relatively high initial current through said magnet, and other means to maintain a relatively low oscillating current through said' magnet. j

, 4. In a sostenuto piano, a string, an electromagnet adjacent the string to cause oscillation thereof uponenergization, means to pass a relatively high initial current through said magnet, and other means to maintain a relatively low oscillating current through said magnet, said other means being under control of the operator.

5. In a sostenuto piano, a string, an electromagnet adjacent the string to caus'e'oscillationthereof upon energization, means to pass a relatively high initial current through said magnet, and other means to maintain a relatively low oscillating current through said magnet, said other means being under control of the operator so as to increase or decrease the amplitude of the string vibrations.

6. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string and a key, means for imparting an invibrating the string,

bration of the string to vary the current energizing the electro-magnet to maintain sostenuto tone.

7. In an electric'sostenuto piano having a string and a key, means for imparting an 1nitial' impulse to the string by magnetic attraction, such means acting momentarily and ceasing, and other means actuated by the vibration of the string to vary the current energizing the elec'trc-magnet to maintain sostenuto tone.

-8. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string and a key, means for imparting an initial impulse to the string by magnetic attraction, such means acting momentarily and ceasing, and other means actuated by the vibration of the string to vary the current energizing the electro-magnet to maintain sostenuto tone, the energy for such other means going controlled by pressure on the piano ey. '9. In a piano having a string, an electromagnet adjacent said string, means to energize the magnet to a degree suflicient to impart hammer blow efl'ect to the string, and other means to impart oscillationsto the magnet strength to maintain the string in vibra tion.

, 10. In a piano having a string, an electromagnet adjacent said string, means to energize the magnet to a degree sufiicient to impart hammer blow eifect to the string, and other means to impart oscillations to the magnet strength to maintain the string in. vibration, said last means being so arranged as to develop the harmonics of the musical note sounded. I

11. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string, a magnet located to initiate the vibra: tion of the piano string by causing it to sound the fundamental note of the string, and means connected with the electro-magnet to maintain the vibration of the string and developing the partial tones in addition to the fundamental note.

12. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string, electro-magnetic means for initially and means for maintaining the sostenuto tones which include the partials of the note after the string has been caused to vibrate by said electro-magnetic means. y

13. In' an electric sostenutotpiano having a string, electro-magnetic means for initially vibratingthe string, and means for maintaining the sostenuto tones which include the partials of the note after the stringhas been caused-to vibrate by said electro-magnetic means, said first mentioned means being controlled by the operator as to varying the amplitude of string vibration.

14. In an electric sostenuto piano, electromagnetic means for maintaining string vibration including a variable conducting medium controlled byv the pressure of the piano key.

bration including a variable con a current pulsator actuated by the string 15. In an electric sostenuto piano, electromagnetic means for maintaining string viucting medium controlled by the pressure of the piano key, said medium decreasing its electrical resistance with increase of pressure applied by the key. 16. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string, the combination of a circuit including vibrations, an electro-magnet for vibrating the string, said pulsator varying the electromagnet acting to keep the string in vibration, a source of electric energy, and a switch for closin the circuit by the depression of the piano ey.

17. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string, the combination of a circuit including a current pulsator actuated by the string vibrations, an electro-magnet for vibrating the string, said pulsator varying the electro-magnet acting to keep the string in vibration, a source of electric energy, a switch for closing the circuit by the depression of the piano key, and a shunt circuit for initiating the string vibration which connects the electro-magnet directly with a source of energy.

18. 4 In an electric sostenuto piano having a string, the combination of a circuit, including a current pulsator actuated by the string vibrations, an electro-magnet for vibrating the string, said pulsator varying the electro-magnet acting to keep the string in vibration, a source of electric energy, a switch for closing the circuit by the depression of the piano key,

and a shunt circuit for initiating the string vibration which connects the electro-magnet directly with a source of energy, said shunt circuit being closed for a portion of the movement to depress the piano key.

19. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string, the combination'of a circuit including a current pulsator actuated 'by the string vibrations, an electro-magnet for vibrating the string,-said pulsator varying the electro magnet acting to keep the string in vibration, a source of electric energy, a switch for closing the'circuit by the depression of the piano key, and a shunt circuit for initiating the string vibration which connects the electrokey.

- 20. In an electric sostenuto piano, electromagnetic means for initiating a powerful vib'ration of the piano string, and other electromagnetic means for maintaining the Vibration of the string with a diminished electromagnetic attraction so arranged that the initiating means does not repeat when the mai itaining means ceases. v r

21. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string and a key, means for imparting an initial impulse to the string by magnetic attraction, and other means actuated by the vibrationof the string to vary the current energizing the electro-magnet to maintain sostenuto tone, the said initiating means only functioning when the piano key is being depressed.

' 22. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string, a magnet located to initiate the vibration of the piano string by causing it to sound 7 the fundamental note of the string, and means connected with the electro-m'agnet to maintain the vibration of the string and developing the partial tones in addition to the funda mental note, said initiating means acting only Epon the downward movement of the piano 23. In an electric sostenuto piano having a string, the combination of a circuit including a current pulsator actuated by the string vibrations, an electro-magnet for vibrating the string, said pulsator varying the electromagnet acting to keep the string in vibration, a source of electric energy, aswitch for closing the circuit by the depression of the piano key, and=a shunt circuit for initiating the string vibration which connects the electro-magnet directly with a source of energy, said shunt circuit being actuated only by the downward motion of the piano key.

24. In an electric sostenuto piano, electromagnetic means for imparting a powerful momentary impulse to a string to initiate string vibration, and electro-magnetic means for continuing the string vibration by means calculated to also develop the harmonics of the fundamental noteof said string, said first means being arranged for variation in force under the control of the operator.

25. In an electric sostenuto piano, electromagnetic means for initiating a powerful vibration of the piano string, and other e1ectr0- magnetic means for maintaining the vibration of the string with a diminished electros V magnetic attraction, said first means being arranged for variation in force under the control of the operator.

26. In a sostenuto piano, a string, an eleci tromagnet adjacent the string to cause oscil-' lation thereof upon energization; means to pass a relatively high initial current through said magnet, other means to maintain a rela tively low oscillating current through said magnet, said other means being under control of the operator so as to increase or decrease the amplitude of the string vibrations, and a third means controlling the first and second means and arranged to vary the input of electric energy to the electro-magnet.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature.

I SIMON OOPER.