US2022692A - Musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1935. l o. SCHMIDT 2,022,692

MUSI CAL INSTRUMENT im @L INVENT R BY /ecb 4 ATTORNEYS.

Dec- 3, l93.5- o. SCHMIDT 2,022,692

vMUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 21, 1955 5 SheetS-Sheet 2 y IINVENT R @g5 www @gc/6 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 3, V1935. o. SCHMIDT MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 21, 19551 INVENTOR a ,@mm' BY gc/dw l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 3, 1935 PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Otto Schmidt, New York, N. Y., assigner to M. Hohner, Inc., New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application December 21, 1933, Serial No. 703,394

9 Claims.

vMy invention relates to a new and improved accordion or other musical instrument which is operated by means of keys. The invention relates particularly to musical instruments which utilize reeds, although it is not limited to such instruments.

Whenever I refer to accordions, it is to be understood that I Wish to include similar instruments such as concertinas and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a musical instrument which has reeds, and which has a plurality of valves for controlling Said reeds. A key of said instrument may be associated with one or more supplemental controls, each of said supplemental controls being associated at will with one or more of said valves, so that different tone combinations can be secured.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a control which shall facilitate the rapid playing of the vinstrument and which shall also enable the instrument to `deliver an augmented Volume of sound.

vOther objectsof my invention .will .be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustratera preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain 'the same and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 'l -is a perspective plan view showing an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11a .is a front elevationof the treble side of theiinstrumentgthe covering grille which over- .lies the valves having ybeen removed, in order tofmore clearly illustrate certain ofthe parts.

Figs. Zand 3 are respectively sections on the lines A2-'2 and3-3 of Fig. 1.

rlFigs. i4 and 5 are respectively Asections on the ilinesv4--4 and 5--5 of Fig. 3.

The instrument generally comprises a treble side I, a bass side 2, and bellows 3. The treble side 'I is provided with white keys 4 and black keys 4a of the usual type. The bass side of the instrument is provided with bass keys 5 of the usual'type.

The instrument may also embody other conventional features such as a strap 6, and a slide 1 for controlling the slide registerofione or more reed blocks on the treblezsideof thelinstrument.

Referring to Fig. 3, the White -keys 4 are provided with pivots 8, and the black keys 4a are provided kwith pivots 9. 'I'hese pivots are of the lusual type.

The keys 4 andf4a are connected to valves V and Va of the usual type and each of said valves controls the air supply to one or more reeds. Ordinarily each of said Valves controls a pair of passages iii, in an associated reed block I! so that each of said Valves controls the operation of a pair of reeds which are associated in the 5 usual manner with said passages.

As shown in Fig. 3, each of said keys 4 and 4a has a pin I2a which can actuate a button I2, having a shank I4. Said button I2 has `an inclined face adjacent the pin i211.

This shank I4 pushes a slidable member which is located in a cable C. `This slidable member may be a closely wound helical spring, as shown in the Gray Patent No. 1,314,867. Likewise, I can use a Bowden Wire, of the type which is l5 shown in Williams U. S. Patent No. 1,284,523.

Generally speaking the cable C may have a helical spring having a suiiicient pitch so that said cable can be readily bent, and said cable C may have any suitable ilexible outer covering 2o sleeve lfor said spring.

As shown in Fig. 3, the inner end of each cable C is provided with `a sleeve I5, which is screwed into a hollow'block I6. Said block I6 is mounted upon an endless steel band B.

As shown in Fig. 5, the band B is provided with a series of said blocks I6, and each of said blocks is associated with one of said cables C. The band B is slidably located between spaced lugs Il, which may be turnably connected to the adjacent part of the frame of the device.

As shown in Fig. 5, the inner end of the spring slide member of each cable C is provided with an operating pin I8. Likewise and as shown in Fig. 5, the band B is provided with a series of openings which are always in register with the openings of the blocks I6, in the planar part of said band.

Each pin I8 is actuated through a corresponding opening of the band B, so as to open the adjacent valve V or Va.

The band B can be shifted so that the pin I8 which is associated with a particular key 4 or fia, can be moved into alignment with one of a large number of valves, so that the operation of a key 4 or 4a may help to cause the associated pin i8 to help in opening the valve directly associated with said key, or said pin I8 can open a valve which is associated with a different key.

Hence the operation of key 4 or 4a can cause 50 one valve to be opened, or it can cause two or more valves to be opened. In order to shift the band B, arms 2B and 2| are connected to a pair of blocks I5. These arms 20 and 2l are connected to main control cables 22 and 23 and 55 of the band B causes the simultaneous shifting of the members I8 of the cables C. The cables C have suitable return springs associated with their slidable members, so thatpthe pins I8 are retracted when the corresponding keys 4 andr 4a are allowed to spring back to their inoperative positions. Upon pushing button 25 to the right of the position shown in Fig. 5, the band B is shifted in the clockwise direction.

The control cables 22 and 23 do not have springs associated with their control members, so that the band B remains in the adjusted position to which it has been shifted. The Shanks 24a and 25a are long enough topermit the shifting of the cables 22 and 23 to any desired extent.

The pins IB are moved through openings in a suitable frame-piece F in order to operate the valves V and Va.

A scale can be provided adjacent the buttons 24 and 25 so that the player can shift either of said buttons through the proper distance.

A lost motion is provided between each valve V or Va and associated keys 4 and 4a so that a pin I8 can operate a valve without simultaneously operating a key 4 or 4a.

.For this purpose each of said valves, V, is provided with a pivot arm 38 which is pivoted at 3I to the fra-me of the machine. A spring 32 normally holds each valve V in its closed position.

As shown in Fig. 3, the key 4 is provided with an upstanding rod 33 which pushes against the inner face of a lug 34 of the valve V. Hence the valve V can be operated by the pin I8 without moving the key 4.

Referring to Fig. 2, each black key 4a has a rod 48 connected thereto and said rod 40 has an end which abuts the inner surface of a lug of the associated valve Va. Eaclh said valve Va is provided with a pivot rod 4I, which is connected by a pivot 42 to an arm of the framework of the instrument. Hence each valve Va can be operated by: a pin I8 without operating the key 4a.

As shown in Fig. 2, the improvements make it possible to use only six series of reeds, while securing the same volume and general effect as though eight series of reeds were employed.

In the embodiment shown herein, the movement of a key 4 or 4a need not necessarily operate more than one valve, because the pin I8 which is associated with a key 4 or 4a may be aligned with the same valve which is operated by the respective key. Likewise, in this embodiment, eac-h said key 4 and 4a can only control a maximum of two valves because each said key only has a single control cable C associated therewith.

However a plurality of control cables may be associated with one or more of the keys 4 and 4a, so that the movement of a key 4 or 4a, may control a chord having any desired number of notes.

A spacing strip Fa of cardboard or the like is provided, as shown in Fig. 2.

If it is desired to play the instrument very rapidly whilecausing each key 4 or 4a to operate the valve which is directly associated therewith, the band B can be shifted so that the pin I8 of each control device C operates the same valve which is normally operated by the key which actuates the respective control device.

A relatively slight turning movement of a key 4 or 4a will then cause the opening of the associated valve. This arrangement facilitates the rapid playing of the instrument, because the player is not compelled to fully depress the keys 4 and 4a.

Since the pins I8 are made( of thin wire, the band B should be adjusted so that each said pin is aligned with a corresponding opening in the member F. For this purpose the buttons 24 and 25 can be provided with suitable spring pressed wedges or clicks, and the adjacent surface of the frame of the instrument can be provided withL be aligned with the openings of the frame memv ber F.

Likewise each said control device C can be provided with a spring which will permit a certain lost motion between the lshank I4 and the slidable inner member of said control device C. Hence, if the pins I8 are adjacent imperforate portions of the frame F, the springs o'f said control devices C willyield when the keys 4 and 4a are depressed, so that the pins I8 will not be forced against the imperforate portions of the frame F, with excessive pressure.

Whenever I refer in the claims to an accordion, it is to be understood that I include all instruments having reeds and which are provided with valves which are operated by means of keys.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that numerous changes and omissions may be made without departing from the same.

Thus, while I prefer to have the valves operable independently of keys 4 and 4a, this invention is not limited to this improvement. By suitably inclining the faces of a member I2, so that it has. a small angle relative to the key, the valve can be opened by a partial movement of the key.

I claim:

1. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keys which are adapted to actuate said valves, said valves being movable independently of said keys, and additional individual operating devices each of which is operated by one of said keys, said additional operating devices being adapted to actuate said valves, and means adapted to shift said additional operating devices relative to said valves.

2. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keys which are adapted to actuate said valves, said valves being movable independently of said keys, and additional operating devices which are operated by said keys, said additional operating devices being adapted to actuate said valves, said additional operating devices comprising flexible sheaths having flexible slide members located therein.

3. An accordion having reeds and control valves F ing ends which are adapted to actuate said valves, and means for shifting the operating ends of said additional operating devices, in order to select the valves which are operated thereby.

4. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keys which are adapted to actuate said valves, said valves being movable independently of said keys, and additional operating devices which are operated by said keys, said additional operating devices having operating ends which are adapted to actuate said valves, said additional operating devices comprising flexible sheaths having exible slide members located therein, and means for shifting the operating ends of said additional operating devices, in order to select the valves which are operated thereby.

5. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keys which are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operating devices Which are operated by said keys and which are adapted to actuate said valves, said valves being operable independently of said keys, said additional operating devices being movable to open said valves by partial movements of said keys.

6. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keys which are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operating devices Which are operated by said keys and which have ends which are adapted to actuate said valves, and a movable member in which said ends of said operating devices are located, said movable member being movable relative to said valves.

7. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keys which are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operating devices Which are operated by said keys and which have ends which are adapted to actuate said valves, and a movable member in which said ends of said operating devices are located, said movable member being movable relative to said valves, said movable member being an endless band which is made of flexible material.

8. An accordion having reeds and control valves :for said reeds, and keys which are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operating devices Which are operated by said keys and which have ends which are adapted to actuate said valves, and a movable member in which said ends of said operating devices are located, said movable member being movable relative to said valves, and actuating devices for said movable member, said actuating devices comprising flexible slidable members which are located in flexible sheaths.

9. An accordion having reeds and control valves for said reeds, and keys which are adapted to actuate said valves, and additional operating devices vvhich are operated by said keys and which have ends which are adapted to actuate said valves, and a movable member in which said ends o'rro SCHMIDT.

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