US1973638A - Triple accordion - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 11, 1934.

H. M. LENTZ TRIPLE ACCORDION Filed April 28, I953 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,v w m m T m L m M M J M H a a 0 J 2 Q .M a W 8 a a fi .IW 3M 1 o m A: a d n 1 v z WLW .JWIM 7.. L MI o I M W 2 Sept. 11, 1934. H. M. LENTZ TRIPLE ACCORDION Filed April 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lillllldrlllllllll lllfl AW M QK Patented Sept. 11, 1934 NT GFFEE TRIPLE ACCORDION Herman M. Lentz, Renville, Minn.

Application April 28, 1933, Serial No. 668,433

13 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to a musical instrument of the accordion type wherein a multiple number of accordions are connected together for the purpose of increasing the volume and greatly adding to the novelty of the instrument.

Another object of this invention is the production of a novel triple accordion wherein three instruments are efficiently connected together to permit the same to be simultaneously operated adding greatly to the novelty of the instrument, as well as the volume produced thereby.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient means for facilitating the operation of the similar keys of the various instruments which are connected together in unison by the manipulation of one set of keys by the fingers of the player.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings2- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a series of instruments connected together to produce the triple accordion;

Figure 2 is 'a top'plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the instruments or accordions;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the accordions connected in a triple bank;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional perspective view gsillustrating the connection between .a series of similar keys of the various instruments and illustrating the manner in which the keys are simultaneously operated;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through one of the main operating keys of the central instrument;

Figure 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view illustrating the connection of the key operating rod With one of the keys of the rear instrument;

Figure 9 is a through a portion of the key of one of the keys of the forward instrument showing th operating rod connected thereto, and

Figure 10 is a section taken on line 10-.10 of Figure 4.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that I preferably employ three accordions or instruments which are connected together in a single bank or-group, although I do not desire longitudinal sectional view to limit myself to any particular number of accordions or instruments. By particularly con-@ sidering Figure 1, it will be seen that I employ a central accordion or instrument which I refer to as A, a rear instrument which I refer to as B, and a forward instrument which I refer to as Cl The instrument A is provided with a pair of reed chambers l which communicate with air chambers 2. The air chambers 2 of the instrument A communicate with the air chambers 3 and 4 of the instruments B and C respectively. The instrument B is provided with a pair of reed chambers 5 and a pair of air chambers 3. The instrument C is provided with a pair of reed chambers 6 and a pair of air chambers 4. 7c The air chambers 3 of the instrument B are connected together by means of a bellows or ballast 7 for the purpose of creating sufficient air pressure for the manipulation of the accordion in the usual manner. 'A suitable bellows or ballast 8 is also carried by the instrument C. The instrument A, however, is not provided with a bellows or ballast, but the air chambers 2 of the instrument A communicate with the air chambers 3 and 4 of the instruments B and C in a manner as is illustrated in detail in Figure 5.

By referring particularly to Figure 5, it will be seen that a suitable packing strip 9 is interposed between the abutting walls or" the air chambers 2 and the air chambers 4 and suitas able communicating ports 10 are formed in the walls of the air chambers 2 and 4 which also communicate with the apertures 11 formed in the packing strip 9, in this way setting up a complete communication between the chambers 2 and 4. The chambers 3 and 2 are similarly constructed to the manner as illustrated in Figure 5 and as described above, each of the chambers 3 and 2 being so constructed as to provide communication, and each of the chambers 4 and 2 being also similarly connected. Suitable bolts 12, as illustrated in Figure 5 are employed for firmly connecting and binding the air chambers together and the packing strip 9 will constitute an efiicient seal to prevent th escape of the air from between the chambers or sections. By means of this structure, it will be seen that the central bellows or ballast may be eliminated. The corners of the air chambers 2, 3 and 4' are all preferably braced by means of corner braces 13, clearly. 4 shownin the drawings.

Suitable straps 14 may be employed for holding'the accordions in their compressed relation as is usual with such instruments and these. 11 6 straps may be connected securely in any suitable or desired manner as is common to the trade. Furthermore, it should be understood that the detail construction of the accordions may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention so long as the structure falls within the scope of the appended claims.

As is shown in the drawings, the central instrument A is provided with a suitable keyboard 15 which supports a plurality of playing keys 16 in the conventional manner to be operated upon by the fingers of the instrumentalist. The construction of one of these keys is illustrated in Figure 7 in detail, and comprises a finger-engaging button 1'? carried by the usual key bar 18 which is normally held in an extended position by means of the spring 19. The key bar 18 carries a rearwardly extending rod 20 to which is hingedly connected a link rod 21 and this link rod 21 is preferably threaded into a ferrule 22 which is soldered, welded, or, in any suitable manner attached to the key 23 of the instrument B corresponding with the key 16 of the instrument A. The key bar 18 also is provided with a forwardly extending rod 24 which is hingedly connected to a link rod 25, the link rod 25 having an offset or upwardly bent loop portion 26 which extends over the top of the key-board 27 of the instrument C and is provided with a downwardly or inturned terminal portion 28, which terminal portion 28 is removably secured within a ferrule or other socket 29 soldered or otherwise secured to the key 30, which key 30 is preferably in alignment with the keys 16 and 23 of the instruments A and B respectively, and correspond therewith to sound the same musical note when operated. A guiding strip 31 is carried by the top or outer edge of the key-board 40' as the key 16 of the central instrumentA is manipulated; This structure is illustrated in detail in Figure 6. It should be understood that each successive key upon the key-board 15 of the central instrument A is likewise connected with the similar key upon the instruments B and C as is illustrated in Figure 2, the connection in each instance being the same as that illusbe limited to the particular type of keys, nor

to the particular type of instrument employed.

By referring in detail to Figure 4, which illustrates the reverse side of the instruments or bottom thereof, it will be seen that the air 70, control bar 33 is located upon the'bottom or of the operator.

ers 36 which are grooved, as indicated clearly in Figure 10, thereby holding the bars 33, 34 and 35 against accidental lateral displacementand at the same time permitting free longitudinal sliding movement of the bars. These rollers 36 are carried by the base plates 37 carried upon the bottom of each instrument and the side walls 38 of the base plates 39 are preferably notched, as indicated at 39, to provide channels for receiving the bars 33, 34 and 35. The air valve control bar 33 is preferably provided with a suitable handle or finger-engaging hook 40 to permit the gripping of the bar 33 and facilitate the reciprocation of the bar 33 at the will The bar 33 is provided with three laterally extending fingers 41 arranged in spaced relation, each finger having an inturned terminal 42 which is adapted to contact with the conventional air valve 43 carrier by each instrument A, B and C. Consequently, by reciprocating the bar 33, the air valves 43 may be simultaneously opened and closed at the will of the instrumentalist, these valves 43 being preferably of the spring-pressed type to normally hold the valves closed and permitting the opening-thereof when the fingers 41 are forced into contact therewith.

The bars 34 and 35 which constitute the base key control bars are provided with inwardly extending arms 44, the arms of the bars 45 extending toward the arms 44 of the bar 35. Each arm 44 is provided with an inwardly extending terminal 45 which is adapted to contact with the spring-pressed base keys 46 of the instruments Band C only. V

'The bars 34 and 35 are provided near'their center with straight fingers 47, the fingers 47 of the bars 34 and 35 extending toward each other and normally projecting under the finger lever 48 of the spring-pressed base keys 49 of the central instrument A; This structure is shown clearly in Figures 1 and 4. It will therefore be seen that by operating the finger lever 48 of the base keys 49, or by depressing these keys the straight finger 47 will be engaged by the finger lever 48 and the bars 34 and 35, depending upon which key is depressed, will be reciprocated thereby simultaneously operating the similar base keys of the instruments B and C. By means of the structure illustrated and described, it will be seen that a very simple means has been provided for simultaneously actuating a series (in the present instance 3) base keys in unison upon three separate accordions, thereby greatly increasing the volume and adding to the novelty of the instrument. The treble notes may also be simultaneously sounded by depressing the keys 16 upon the key-board 15 which will simultaneously depress the corresponding keys 23 on the key board 53 and the corresponding keys 3!) on the key-board 2'7. Suitable stop keys of the conventional type, indicated by the numeral 50, are carried by each instrument A, B and C, as illustrated.

As is shown in Figure 3, a suitable leather l handle or supporting strap 51 may be employed as is common to instruments of this type. A suitable strap handle 52 may also be provided to facilitate the handling of the instrument.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction, combination and arrangement of parts may'be employed without departing from the spirit of within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is: 1. A- multiple accordion of the class described comprising a central instrument and a plurality of auxiliary instruments operatively connected together and-adapted to simultaneously operate, each instrument having a key-board, a series of keys carried by each key-board, the keyboard of the central instrument having a plurality of key bars, and links hingedly connected to said key bars and connected to the. corresponding keys of the auxiliary instruments for simultaneously actuating the corresponding keys of all of the instruments. i 2. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a central instrument and a plurality of auxiliary instruments operatively connected together and adapted to simultaneously operate, each instrument having a key-board, a series of keys carried by each key-board, the key-board of the central instrument having a plurality of key bars, each key bar having an inwardly extending finger, a connecting link hingedly secured to each finger, said connecting links being anchored in engagement with the keys of an auxiliary instrument, each key bar also having a forwardly extending finger, forwardly extending links hinged to said forwardly extending fingers, and said forwardly extending links hav- CJl ing ofiset loop portions overhanging the keyboard of one of the auxiliary instruments and connected to the keys of the last-mentioned auxiliary instrument.

3. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a central instrument and a plurality of auxiliary instruments operatively connected together and adapted to simultaneously operate, each instrument having a key-board, a series of keys carried by each key-board, the key-board of 40 the central instrument having a plurality of key bars, each key bar having an inwardly ex tending finger, a connecting link hingedly secured to each finger, said connecting links being anchored in engagement with the keys of an auxiliary instrument, each key bar also having a forwardly extending finger, forwardly extending links hinged to said forwardly extending fingers, said forwardly extending links having oifset 100p portions overhanging the key-board of one of the auxiliary instruments and connected to the keys of the last-mentioned auxiliary instrument, and a notched guide bar carried by the last-mentioned auxiliary instrument and receiving said loop portions for guiding said loop portions in their reciprocating movement as the keys are actuated.

4. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a primary instrument and an auxiliary instrument, said instruments having abut- 60' comprising a primary instrument and an auxiliary instrument, said instruments having abutting relation, each instrument having an air chamber, means for forming a communication between the air chambers of the various instruments, a bellows carried by one instrument, and

a sealing strip interposed between the instruments for preventing the escape of air therebetween and provided with a communicating .port for permitting a communication between 'the air chambers of the instruments.

6. A' triple accordion oftthe class described comprising a central instrument, an auxiliary instrument'mounted upon each side of said cen'' tral instrument, each instrument having air chambers," the air chambers having abutting wallswhich are provided with communicating apertures to permit intercommunication between the air chambers oi the various instruments, a sealing medium interposed between the air chambers of the instruments to prevent the escape of air, a bellows carried by the auxiliary instruments for supplying air to the air chambers of all the instruments, and operating kes carried by each instrument for connecting the corresponding keys of the various instruments to permit the simultaneous operation of the similar keys of the various instruments.

7. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a main instrument and an auxiliary instrument, an air valve control rod slidably mounted across said main and auxiliary instru ments, an air valve carried by each instrument, and means carried by said air valve control rod for simultaneously actuating said air valves carried by the various instruments.

8. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a main instrument and an auxiliary instrument, an air valve carried by each instrument, an air valve control bar movable transversely across the instruments, said bar having 1 a plurality of laterally projecting fingers adapted to be brought into contact with said air valves as said bar is shifted, and means for guiding said bar in its transverse movement.

9. A multiple accordion of the class described 1 comprising a main instrument and an auxiliary instrument, an air valve carried by each instrument, an air valve control bar movable transversely across the instruments, said bar having a plurality of laterally projecting fingers adapted to be brought into contact with said air Valves as said bar is shifted, spaced guiding rollers engaging said bar for holding the bar against accidental displacement and guiding said bar in its longitudinal shifting movement, and an operating handle carried by said bar.

10. A multiple accordion of this class described comprising a main instrument and an auxiliary instrument, said instruments being operatively connected together, a base key carried by each instrument, a base key control bar slidably mounted upon said instruments and extending transversely across the same, said bar having a projecting finger, said base key having a finger lever overhanging said last-mentioned projecting finger for contacting therewith and shifting said bar longitudinally as said finger lever is depressed, and a second projecting finger carried by said bar and adapted to contact with the base key of the auxiliary instrument whereby the similar base keys of the different instruments may be simultaneously operated.

11. A multiple accordion of the class described comprising a main instrument and an auxiliary instrument, said instruments being operatively connected together, a base key carried by each instrument, a base key control bar slidably mounted upon said instruments and extending transversely across the same, said bar having a projecting finger, said base key having a finger lever overhanging said last-mentioned projecting finger for contacting therewith and shifting said bar longitudinally as said finger lever is depressed, a second projecting finger carried by said bar and adapted to contact with the base rec key of the auxiliary instrument whereby the similar base keys of the different instruments may be simultaneously operated, and. spaced grooved rollers contacting with said bar for guiding the same in its transverse movement and holding the same against accidental displacement.

12. A multiple accordion comprising a series of instruments arranged in abutting and contacting relation, means for securing the instruments firmly together for simultaneous operation, a series of keys carried by each instrument, the keys of one instrument being arranged in a parallel plane vwith respect to the adjacent instrument, and means for directly connecting the keys of one series with the keys of the adjacent

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