US2056352A - Piano - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6, 1936. c. L. HADDORFF PIANO Filed Nov. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 6, 1936. c. L. HADDORFF PIANO Filed Nov. 25, 1935 2 SheecsSheet 2 Patented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs PIANO Application November 25, 1935, SerialNo. 51,416 31 Claims. (Cl. 84-174) The invention relates to pianos and has as a general object to provide a novel and improved construction resulting in a piano requiring only a small amount of floor space yet having an artistic, decorative appearance and a large soundboard area and long strings to assure a fine tonal quality.

More particularly it is an object to perfect a new type of piano having the frontal appearance and the decorative value of a grand piano, coupled with the tonal beauty and sound quality resulting from long strings and a large soundboard area, yet requiring only a small amount of floor space when compared with a grand piano of comparable string length and soundboard area.

Another object is to provide a piano having as its main mass a horizontal section housing the action'and the keyboard, which section is closed at its ends by horizontal structural members disposed at approximately the height and having the vertical dimensions and general appearance of a grand piano rim, and between the rear ends of which there is secured in upright position a backframe, soundboard, string-plate and strings, the backframe extending downwardly from the horizontal members to rest on the floor and extending upwardly a short distance above the members, and being supported in upright position 30 through the horizontal members by legs depending from the forward ends of the members.

Another object is to perfect a piano having wide horizontal side members disposed at approximately the height of the sides of a grand 35 piano and forming the ends of a housing for the piano action as well as the keyboard, and a vertical backframe and harp secured between the rear ends of the members, the backframe and harp extending above the horizontal members a short 40 distance and being enclosed in a narrow housing a portion of which is removable to provide ready access to the tuning pins.

Yet another object is to provide a piano having a. vertical backframe and harp with vertical side panels extending over a portion only of the height and secured to the backframe but performing no supporting or structural functions.

A further object is to provide a piano having an upright backframe unstable in vertical posi- 50 tion, a keybed having portions extending rearwardly and rigidly secured to the backframe, horizontal side members secured at their lower edges to the keybed and also secured at their rear ends to the backframe, and legs supporting 55 the forward ends of the side members and the keybed thereby in turn maintaining the backframe in stable vertical position.

Further objects and features of construction will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accom- 5 panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational-view of a piano embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a right end elevation of Fig. 1 showing the action in dotted outline. 1

Fig. 3 is a partial rear elevational view.

Fig. 4 is a partial horizontal section taken approximately along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken along line 5-5 of Figs. 1 and 6 showing the structure of 15 the piano to the exclusion of the operating parts thereof.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 6-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental end elevational view showing a simplified mounting of the music rack.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, it is here shown and will be described hereinafter in a preferred embodiment, but it is not intended that the invention is to be limited thereby to the specific embodiment shown, but it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Forming the basic part of all pianos is the frame or skeleton upon which are supported the tone producing means, such as the piano harp, generally designated 9, the action, generally desig nated l0, and the keyboard I I, and to which is attached the encasing and concealing structure for the tone producing means. As best seen in Figs.

5 and 6, the frame of the piano disclosed herein is of novel and improved construction creating a new piano form, which in its composite whole has the artistic and decorative appearance of a grand piano as well as the tonal quality obtained only by long strings and a large sound board area without requiring 2 large amount of floor space. In order to obtain these results, particularly the artistic and decorative appearance, the frame or skeleton comprises horizontal structural side arms or members l2 extending the full depth of the piano. These members are of considerable vertical width and preferably are disposed at approximately the heightand have the vertical dimensions of the cheek or rim of a grand piano, and constitute the ends of a horizontal section housing the action l0 and the keyboard. More particularly, as best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, each member I2 is rectangular save for the upper forward corner, here cut away but which may well be retained, and is disposed opposite the action It? with its upper edge lying in a plane just above the action and with its lower edge 1ylng a plane slightly below the keyboard. In length from front to rear each member l2 approximates the distance from the front of a grand piano to the bend in the rim on the treble side.

To obtain long strings and a large soundboard area without requiring a large amount of floor space, means is provided for supporting the piano harp in uprightposition. Accordingly there is disposed between the horizontal members i2 and permanently and rigidly secured directly to the rear ends thereof, by gluing or other well known manner, a vertical backframe generally designated IS. The backframe i3 is composed of a plurality of vertical timbers i l equally spaced horizontally at both the top and the bottom by filler blocks l5 secured therebetween and concealed by dressing boards l5 and ii. Extending horizontally near the top of the backframe and secured thereto to form a part thereof is a pin plank $8. The backframe extends downwardly below the horizontal members i2 so that its weight is supported on the floor, preferably through casters i9, and the backframe also extends a short distance above the horizontal members it to provide additional string length and to facilitate tuning as will become apparent hereafter. A hand grip 2b is secured between each end timber and the adjacent timber to facilitate moving and handling of the piano.

Completing the supporting frame or skeleton of the piano are a keybed generally designated 23 and front legs 26 supporting the forward ends of the horizontal members i2 and through the members maintaining the backframe in upright position. Herein the keybed 23 comprises longitudinal planks 25 and transverse connecting planks 25. At each end of the keybed is a transverse strip 2'i' secured beneath the respective member l2 and having a finger 28 extending rearwardly and secured in any well known man ner to the backframe. The front legs 2 in turn depend from the keybed and are secured thereto by means of a. dowel 2 formed on the upper end of each leg and projecting into an aperture in the keybed. overlying the dowel and the aperture is a plate 29 and projecting through the plate and into the dowel is a wood screw 39. At the lower end each leg is provid d with a caster 3i.

Supported on the backframe H3 in upright position is the piano harp 9 comprising a soundboard 32 secured at its periphery to a liner 33 on the backframe. a metal string-plate 3G and strings 35 secured at their lower ends to the string-plate and at their upper ends on tuning pins 36 mounted in the pin plank 18. The string-plate 34 is very securely fixed to the backframe to be reinforced and held thereby against buckling under the tremendous tension of the strings. In addition, near the center of the string plate in the lower portion thereof is a. reinforcing rib 37, shown in Fig. 4, which projects forwardly a substantial distance. It is believed apparent that as a result of the vertical mounting of the backframe and piano harp, particularly with the projection of the harp above the horizontal members l2, long strings and a large soundboard area are obtained without materially increasing the depth of the piano beyond that required to house the action and keyboard.

In conformity with the employment of an upright harp, though the action ill is housed in a' horizontal section, it is herein disposed in upright or vertical position in front of the strings with the hammers 38 thereof lying just below a plane through the upper edges oi the horizontal memmounted in well known manner on the keybed 23.

Pedals 39 for modifying the tone are supported on a foot 60 depending from the keybed.

Encasing the portion of the backframe and harp extending above the horizontal members 52 are narrow vertical panels 415 and corner mouldings 35 secured on each side of the backframe. These panels and mouldings are just slightly wider than the combined depth of the backframe and harp so as to project forwardly of the tuning pins a slight distance. The top edge of the frame is concealed by a dressing board ll secured to the top edge of the backirame and having its forward edge terminating approximately flush with the ends of the tuning pins. Hinged to the rear edge of the dressing board is a cover 68 which when in closed or horizontal position is flush with the upper edges of the mouldings 66 and its forward edge also is flush with the forward edges of the panels 45.

Covering the tuning plus is a panel 5d disposed just in front of the pins and fitting within the housing formed by the vertical panels G5, the mouldings 4E and the cover d8 (Fig. 2). In the present instance, the panel 50 is mounted on a cover member 5i resting on the upper edges of the members 52 to form a closure for the action housing. The vertical panels d5 are cut away at 52 to receive the rear edge of the cover member 5! in order that the panel 56 may fit within the panels 415. Disposed in front of the action and at its ends extending from the keyboard to the cover member 5! is a front panel 53. The forward edge of the cover member 5i, at the ends of the member, projects beyond the panel 53 to enable a screw 5 to extend through a plate 55, secured to the panel 53, and thread into the under side of the cover 5! where it is easily accessible yet normally concealed. As best seen in Fig. 1, two such securing means for the cover are provided and they are the only means by which the cover and the panel 58 are secured so that both are readily removable as a unit to provide for convenient access to the tuning pins and the action.

In order further to enhance the beauty of the piano and accentuate its predominantly horizontalappearance, a music rack 58 spaced forwardly from the panel 58 and extending above the cover 5! is provided. The rack is mounted on a shelf 57 secured at its forward edge on the upper edge of the panel 53 at a cut-away portion 58 intermediate its ends. To accommodate the music rack 56, the cover member 5i also is cut away at 59 (see Figs. 2 and '7). The cut-away portion may take any artistic shape, but herein is generally rectangular with the inner corners rounded. At the forward edge of the cover member 5!, the cut-away portion coincides with the cutaway portion 58 in the front panel but the shelf 57 projects slightly beyond the cut-away portion the music rack 56 on the shelf serves the twofold purpose of positioning the rack at the proper height for one seated at the piano and providing an opening through which the sound may issue.

The piano is provided with a closure for the keyboard shown in open position in Fig. 1 and which may be swung downwardly into horizontal position to conceal the keyboard.

The portion of the backframe and harp below the horizontal members 12 is encased at each of the side edges by a vertical panel 65 secured to the backframe. This panel preferably is slightly narrower even than the upper panel 45 and is in fact just equal in width to the depth of the backframe, soundboard and string-plate exclusive of the reinforcing rib 31 on the plate. The panel carries a moulding 66 (see Fig. 4) and a leg 61 having a caster 68 at its lower end. The major weight of the piano however is carried by the casters l9 and the leg 61 is primarily for appearance and need not constitute a structural member.

Extending between the mouldings on the lower panel 65 is a bottom board 10 completing the encasing of the lower portion of the harp and soundboard. At its side edges the bottom board is flush with the forward edges of the moulding 66 but near the center extends forwardly to accommodate the reinforcing rib 31 on the string-plate. As here shown the bottom board is bowed but may have any other shape so long as it starts from the forward edges of the side panels and extends forwardly near the center to accommodate the rib 31. The upper edge of the bottom board is spaced downwardly a short distance from the keybed to provide an opening H for the issuance of sound (see Figs. 1 and 2).

In Fig. 8 a simplified construction for the mounting of the music rack is shown. In the simplified construction neither the front panel 53 nor the cover 5| is cut away and the music rack 56 is mounted directly on top of the cover 5|. This facilitates construction and also facilitates tuning of the piano after construction because this rack is now removed as an incident to removal of the cover 5|.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have created a new piano form which in apperance is predominantly horizontal and thus has the artistic and decorative value of a grand piano, but which structurally incorporates a vertical backframe and harp so as to provide the long strings and large soundboard area essential to fine tone without requiring a great amount of space. This results primarily from the use of wide, horizontal side members which are structural members and serve to support the backframe, secured between them, in upright position and to cover the action as well as the keyboard. In addition these advantages are coupled with facility of manufacture and an economy in the amount of material required.

I claim as my invention:

1. A frame for a piano comprising horizontal side members extending the entire depth of the piano, a backframe rigidly secured between the rear ends of said members in upright position and extending upwardly above said members and downwardly below said members to a point adjacent the floor, means carried by'said backframe providing a narrow base for supporting the same, front legs for supporting the forward ends of said members and through said members maintaining said backframe in stable upright position, and a keybed secured at its ends to said members.

2. In a. piano, having an upright piano harp comprising a soundboard, string-plate and strings, and an upright action positioned in front of said strings, an upright backframe upon which the harp is mounted, side cheeks extending horizontally the full depth of the piano and secured at their rear ends to said backframe spaced downwardly from the top thereof, the upper edges of said cheeks terminating at the top of the action, a vertical panel above each cheek wide enough to cover the edge of the backframe and harp, a cover for the action supported thereabove and below the top of the backframe by said cheeks and extending to said vertical panels,

and a removable pin panel immediately in front of said strings and above said cover.

3. In a piano, having an upright piano harp comprising a soundboard, string-plate and strings, an upright action disposed in front of said strings, and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the piano harp is mounted having means on its lower edge adapted to rest on the floor, a horizontal member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof and secured at its rear end to said backframe forming the end closure for said action and keyboard, a front bottom board, and a vertical panel at each end below the horizontal member covering the edge of said backframe and harp, each of said panels including a leg.

4. In a piano, having an upright piano harp comprising a soundboard, a string plate having a reinforcing rib projecting from the front face near the center thereof, and strings, an upright action disposed in front of said strings, and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the harp is mounted, a horizontal member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof forming the end closure for said action and keyboard, a narrow vertical panel secured to said backframe at each end below the horizontal member, said panel being approximately equal in width to the combined depth of the backframe, soundboard and string-plate exclusive of the reinforcing rib, and a bottom board disposed between said vertical panels flush at its end edges with the forward edges of said panels and projecting forwardly to accommodate the reinforcing rib on the string-plate.

5. In a piano having an upright action and a keyboard, means providing a horizontal section housing the action and the keyboard comprising horizontal side members extending the full depth of the piano and disposed with their upper edges in a plane above the action and with their lower edges in a plane below the keyboard, a keybed secured at its ends to said members and supporting the keyboard, a cover for the action supported by said members, the intermediate portion of the forward edge of said cover being cutaway rearwardly, a front panel disposed in front of the action and extending from the keyboard to said cover, the intermediate portion of the top edge of said panel being cut away downwardly, a shelf projecting rearwardly from said front panel and spaced below said cover, a music rack mounted on said shelf and projecting upwardly through the cut-away portion of said cover, a backframe permanently secured between the rear ends of said members in upright position, a soundboard, string-plate and strings supported on said backframe, and front legs supporting the forward ends of said members,

6. In a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action and a keyboard, means providing a horizontal section housing the action and the keyboard comprising horizontal side members of substantial vertical width extending the full depth of the piano and disposed with their lower edges in a plane below the keyboard and their upper edges at the top of the action to form the ends of the horizontal section and a keybed secured at its ends to said members and supporting the keyboard, a

backframe rigidly secured between the rear ends of said members in upright position, said backframe extending downwardly below the horizontal members to a point adjacent the floor, a rear leg secured to each side edge of said backframe below the horizontal member, and front legs supporting the forward ends of said horizontal members and through said members maintaining said backframe in upright position.

7. A frame for use in a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate and a keyboard, comprising an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted to be supported and reinforced thereby, a horizontal member at each end of the piano secured at its rear end to said backframe and extending forwardly therefrom to the front of the piano, each of said members being disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard and with its top edge spaced downwardly from the top of the backframe and string-plate and having a vertical dimension at least equal to the combined height of the action and the keyboard to give to the piano a predominantly horizontal appearance, and a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members and supporting the keyboard.

8. A frame for use in a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate and a keyboard, comprising an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted to be supported and reinforced thereby, a horizontal member at each end of the piano secured at its rear end to said backframe and extending forwardly therefrom to the front of the piano, said member being disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard with its lower edge below the keyboard and its upper edge approximately at the top of the action, and a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal mem bers and supporting the keyboard.

9. A frame for a piano comprising an upright backframe having means on its lower edge providing a narrow base adapted to rest on the floor, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano rigidly secured at its rear end to said backframe to be supported thereby and extending forwardly therefrom to the front of the piano. front legs for supporting the forward ends of said horizontal members and through said members maintaining said backframe in stable upright position, and a keybed secured at its ends to said members.

10. A frame for a piano comprising an upright backframe having means on its lower edge providing a narrow base adapted to rest on the floor, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof and rigidly secured at its rear end to the side edge of said backframe to be supported thereby, said backframe constituting the sole support for the rear end of said horizontal members, front legs for supporting the forward ends of said members and constituting the sole means for maintaining said backframe in stable upright position, and a keybed secured at its ends to said members. I

5.11. A frame for use in a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate and a keyboard, comprising an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted and having means on its lower edge adapted to rest on the floor, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano secured at its rear end to said backframe and extending forwardly therefrom to the front of the piano, said member being disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard with its lower edge below the keyboard and its upper edge approximately at the top of the action but below the top of the backframe and string-plate, a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members and supporting the keyboard, and front legs supporting the forward ends of said horizontal members.

12. In a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of the string-plate and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof and secured at its rear end to the side edge of said backframe, said side members being disposed opposite the action to form the ends of a horizontal section housing the action, a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members and supporting the keyboard, and means completing the horizontal section comprising a closure for the top of the section and a front panel extending from the keyboard to the closure.

13. A frame for use in a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate and a keyboard, comprising an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted to be supported and reinforced thereby, a horizontal member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof and secured at its rear end to the side edge of said backframe, said member being disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard with its lower edge below the keyboard and its upper edge above the action to give to the piano a predominantly horizontal appearance, and a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members and supporting the keyboard.

14. A frame for use in a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate and a keyboard, comprising an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted to be supported and reinforced thereby, a horizontal member at each end of the piano extending the full depth'thereof and secured at its rear end to the side edge of said backframe, said member being disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard with its lower edge below the keyboard and its upper edge at the top of the action and below the top .of the backframe and string-plate to form the end of a horizontal section housing the action, which section has a vertical width and is disposed at a height comparable to a grand piano rim, long strings and a large soundboard area being obtained by extension of the string-plate above the horizontal members, and a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members and supporting the keyboard.

15. A frame for a piano comprising an upright backframe comprising vertical timbers and spacing blocks interposed therebetween and rigidly secured thereto, said backframe extending to a point adjacent the floor and having means secured thereto providing a narrow base adapted to rest on the floor to support the backframe, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof and rigidly glued at its rear end directly to the end timber of said backframe to be supported thereby, front legs for supporting the forward ends of said horizontal member and through said members maintaining said backframe in stable upright position, and a keybed secured at its ends a to said members.

16. A frame for use in a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate and a keyboard, comprising an upright backframe extending downwardly to a point adjacent the floor upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted, said backfram'e having means secured thereto providing a narrow unstable base adapted to rest on the floor to support the backframe, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof and rigidly secured at its rear end to the side edge of said backframe, said member being disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard with its lower edge below the keyboard and its upper edge at the top of the action but below the top of the backframe and string-plate to give the piano a predominantly horizontal appearance, a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members and supporting the keyboard, and front legs supporting the forward ends of said horizontal members and through said members maintaining saidbackframe in stable upright position.

17. A frame for use in a piano having an upright soundboard and string plate, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate and a keyboard, comprising an upright backframe extending downwardly to a point adjacent the floor upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted and having means on ifs lower edge providing a narrow base adapted to rest on the floor to support the backframe, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof and rigidly secured at its rear end to theside edge of said backframe, said backframe constituting the sole support for the rear end of said horizontal members, each of said members being disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard with its lower edge below the keyboard and its upper edge at the top of the action to give to the piano a predominantly horizontal appearance, a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members and supporting the keyboard. and front legs for supporting the forward ends of said members and constituting the sole means for maintaining said backframe in stable upright position.

18. In a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of the string-plate and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof and secured at its rear end to the side edge of said backframe spaced downwardly from the top of the backframe and stringplate, said side members being disposed opposite the action to form the ends of a horizontal section housing the action, a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members and supporting the keyboard, means completing the horizontal section comprising a closure for the top of the section and a front panel extending from the keyboard to the closure, and a housing for encasing the portion of the backframe and string-plate extending above said side members.

19. In a piano, having a piano harp comprising a soundboard, a string-plate and strings disposed in upright position, a keyboard, and an action disposed in upright position in front of said harp and above the rear of the keyboard, horizontal side members extending the full depth of the piano and having a vertical width such that their lower edges are below the keyboard and their upper edges are above the action to give the piano a predominantly horizontal appearance, a keybed secured at its ends to the lower edges of said side members and supporting said keyboard, a backframe for supporting the harp disposed in upright position between the rear ends of said side members and secured thereto, said backframe extending downwardly below said side members to a point adjacent the floor, said backfrzune including a pin plank at its top edge and extending above said side members so as to dispose the pins of the pin plank above said members to provide additional string length and afford convenient access to the pins for tuning, a cover supported by said side members above said action and terminating short of said harp, a front panel secured at its ends to said side members disposed in front of said action and extending fromsaid keyboard to said cover, a tuning pin panel, for concealing the front of the backframe and harp ex-- tending above said side members, disposed above said cover and in a plane between the harp and the action, and a housing for encasing the top and sides of the backframe extending above said members having its forward edge terminating at the pin panel.

20. In a piano having a harp comprising a soundboard, a string-plate and strings disposed in upright position, a keyboard, and an action disposed in upright position in front of said harp and above the rear of the keyboard, a grand piano front for housing the action having horizontal structural side members comparable in vertical width to a grand piano rim and extending the full depth of the piano to give to the piano a predominantly horizontal appearance, and a keybed secured at its ends to the lower edges of said side members and supporting the keyboard, a backframe for supporting the harp disposed in upright position between the rear ends of said side members and secured thereto, said backframe extending downwardly below said side members to a point adjacent the floor, said backframe including a pin plank at its top edge and extending above said side members so as to dispose the pins of the pin plank above said members to provide additional string length and afford convenient access to the pins for tuning, a cover supported by said side members above said action and terminating short of said harp, a front panel secured at its ends to said side members disposed in front of said action and extending from said keyboard to said cover, a tuning pin panel, for concealing the front of the backframe and harp extending above said side members, disposed above said cover and in a plane between the harp and the action, a housing for encasing the top and sides of the backframe extending above said members having its forward edge terminating at the pin panel, said backframe having means at its lower edge forming a narrow base for resting on the floor, front legs for supporting the forward ends of said side members and through said members maintaining said backframe in stable upright position, and vertical panels for concealing the sides of the portion of the backframe and harp extending below said members equal inwidth only to the combined thickness of the backframe and harp further to enhance the predominantly horizontal appearance of the piano.

21. In a piano, a grand piano front having horizontal side members comparable in vertical width to a grand piano rim and extending the full depth of the piano, a keybed secured at its ends to the lower edges of said side'members, and a keyboard supported on said keybed; a piano harp comprising a soundboard, a string-plate and strings disposed in upright position between the rear ends of said side members; a backframe for supporting said harp disposed in upright position between the rear ends of said side members and secured thereto, said backframe extending downwardly below said side members to a point adjacent the floor, said backframe including a pin plank at its top edge and extending above said side members so as to dispose the pins of the pin plank above said members to provide additional string length and afford convenient access to the pins for tuning; an action disposed in upright position in front of said harp above the rear of the keyboard; means completing the front comprising a cover supported by said side members extending rearwardly over at least a portion of said action but terminating short of said harp, and a front panel secured at its ends to said side members disposed in front of said action and extending from said keyboard to said cover; and a housing for encasing the portion of the backframe and harp extending above said members having its forwardmost portion terminating at the rear edge of said cover.

22. In a piano having an upright string-plate and soundboard, a keyboard and an upright action disposed in front of the string-plate, a supporting frame therefor comprising an' upright backframe upon which the harp is mounted, a keybed for supporting the keyboard having a rearward extension at each end rigidly secured to said backframe, and a member of substantial vertical width at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof having its lower edge secured to said keybed and its rear end secured rigidly to said backframe to make the frame more rigid and to form the end of a housing for the action and the keyboard.

23. In a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of the string-plate and'a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted including a pin plank at the top of the backframe, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano extending the full depth thereof and secured at its rear and a front panel, means encasing the sides and top of the backframe and string-plate extending above said members, and a tuning pin panel disposed in front of the pin plank and mounted on said closure to be removable therewith as a unit.

24. In a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of the string-plate and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano comparable in vertical width to a grand piano rim and extending the full depth of the piano and secured at its rear end to the side edge of said backframe, said side members being disposed opposite the action and the keyboard to form the ends of a horizontal section housing the action and the keyboard, a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members and supporting the keyboard, and means completing the horizontal section comprising aclosure for the top of the section and a front panel extending from the keyboard to the closure, the means completing the horizontal section having an opening therein for facilitating the issuance of sound from within the piano in a direction toward one playing the piano.

25. In a piano having an action and a keyboard, a side cheek at each end of the piano forming the end of a housing for the action and keyboard, a keybed secured at its end to said cheeks and supporting the keyboard, a cover disposed above the action supported by said cheeks, the intermediate portion of the forward edge of said cover being cut away rearwardly, a front panel disposed in front of the action and extending from the keyboard to said cover, the intermediate portion of the top edge of said panel being cut away downwardly, a shelf projecting rearwardly from said front panel and spaced below said cover, and a music rack mounted on said shelf and projecting upwardly through the cut-away portion of said cover.

26. In a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an action and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano having a vertical width comparable to a grand piano rim and extending the full depth of the piano to give the same a predominantly horizontal appearance, said members being at opposite ends of the keyboard and the action and secured at their rear ends to the side edge of the backframe, a cover for the top of the section formed by said horizontal side members supported by the members, and a music rack mounted between the horizontal side members with its lower edge below the top edge of the side members.

2'7. In a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright actiondisposed in front of the string-plate and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string-plate are mounted including a pin plank at the top of the backframe, a horizontal side member at each end of the piano, each side member being disposed with its lower edge at the keyboard and its upper edge above the top of the action to form the ends of a horizontal section, a keybed secured at its ends to said horizontal members for supporting the keyboard, means completing the horizontal section comprising a front panel and a removable top closure for the section supported by said side members, and a tuning pin panel disposed in front of the pin 7 plank and mounted on said closure to be removable therewith as a unit.

28. In a piano having an upright piano harp comprising a soundboard, a string-plate and strings, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate, and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the harp is mounted, a horizontal member at each end of the piano secured at its rear end to said backframe and extending forwardly therefrom to the front of the piano, said member being disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard with its lower edge below the keyboard and its upper edge approximately at the top of the action, a narrow vertical panel at each end of the backframe'covering the portion thereof below the plane of the lower edge of the horizontal member, said panel being approximately equal in width to the combined depth of the backframe, soundboard and string-plate, and a front closure for the portion of the stringplate below the members disposed with its end edges at the forward edges of said vertical panels and extending forwardly so that the middle portion thereof is spaced from said string-plate a greater distance than its end edges.

29. In a piano having an upright piano harp comprising a soundboard, a string-plate and strings, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate, and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the harp is mounted, a horizontal member at each end of the piano secured at its rear end to said backframe and extending forwardly therefrom to the front of the piano, said member being disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard with its lower edge below the keyboard and its upper edge approximately at the top of the action, and a bottom board extending in front of the lower portion of the string-plate and bowed to place the center portion of the board a greater distance from the string-plate than are the side edges.

30. In a piano having an upright soundboard and string-plate, an upright action disposed in front of said string-plate and a keyboard, an upright backframe upon which the soundboard and string plate are mounted to be supported and reinforced thereby, said backframe extending downwardly and having means on its lower edge adapted to provide a base for supporting the backframe, a horizontal member at each end of the piano disposed opposite both the action and the keyboard with its lower edge below the keyboard and its upper edge above the top of the action and extending from the front of the piano to the backframe, and secured at its rear end to the backframe to be supported thereby, a keybed secured at its ends to said member and supporting the keyboard, a vertical panel at each end of the piano encasing the side edge of the backframe and string-plate extending below the memher, the dimensions of the horizontal member and the vertical panel making the horizontal member predominate and thereby giving to the piano a horizontal appearance, and legs for supporting the front of the piano.

31. A frame for a piano comprising an upright backframe, a horizontal side member at each end of the backframe permanently and rigidly secured at its rear end to the backframe to be supported thereby and extending forwardly therefrom to the front of the piano, said backframe extending downwardly below said members to a point adjacent the floor, means carried by said backframe providing a base for supporting the same on the floor, front legs for supporting the forward ends of said members and through said members maintaining said backframe in upright position, and a keybed secured at its ends to said members to be supported thereby.

CARL L. HADDORFF.

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