US2097604A

US2097604A - Piano case construction

Info

Publication number: US2097604A
Application number: US101377A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sauerland Joseph
Original assignee: HARDMAN PECK AND Co
Current assignee: HARDMAN PECK AND Co
Priority date: 1936-09-18
Filing date: 1936-09-18
Publication date: 1937-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1954-11-02

Description

J. SAUERLAND 2,09 7,604

PIANO CASE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 18, 1936 Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIANO CASE CONSTRUCTION Application September 18, 1936, Serial No. 101,377

Claims.

The invention relates to pianos of the minia ture type in which the action is below the level of the keys so that the total height of the piano is only slightly more than that of the keyboard.

The case for a piano of this type is provided with a flat top, part of which folds back to expose the keyboard and the whole of which may be opened when necessary to give access to the mechanism for tuning and adjustment.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a music rack for a miniature piano which will have sufficient height and proper slant to support sheet music, which will fold up inside the top when it is closed, requiring a minimum of space,

' and which will present an attractive appearance.

The music rack according to this invention is ample in size, is permanently hinged in place so as to be of simple construction and easy to operate and requires no enlargement of the piano case to accommodate it.

A further object of the invention is to combine the music rack with the folding top in such a manner that when the entire top is opened the music rack will be moved out of the way of the mechanism without having to unscrew or remove any parts.

Other objects and advantages will more fully appear in connection with the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the upper part of a miniature piano in playing position with the keys exposed and the music rack raised;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line :c:c of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the music rack lowered and the top of the piano closed.

Referring to the drawing, the piano has the sides 5 and the back 6, the top edges of which are all in the same horizontal plane. To the back 6 is secured the iron string frame 8 in which are the tuning pins 9 for tensioning the strings Ill. The keys H and I2 operate the piano action (not shown) through pull rods l4 actuated by auxiliary levers 15, the action being below the keys, as is characteristic of this type of piano. Extending across the front of the piano is the usual panel l6 which extends slightly above the lower edges of the keys ll.

Above the keys and occupying the space between their tops and the underside of the folded top is a transversely extending section of cabinet work which may be collectively referred to as the name board l8 (Fig. 1) and which is shown in the drawing as comprising the top strip IS, the middle strip and the lower strip 2|, all fastened together to form a unit. The folding cover for the piano is made in three pieces, the back top 22, the front top 23 and the top panel 24. The back top is hinged to the back 6 by the hinge 26, the front top is hinged to the back top by the hinge 21 and the top panel is hinged to the front top by the hinge 28, so that the cover is capable of being opened, as shown in Fig. 2, and closed, as shown in Fig. 3.

A music rack constructed in accordance with any desired ornamental design is secured to the music-rack strip 3|, the length of which is preferably the same as that of the music rack. This strip is fastened by the hinge 32 to the underside of the back top 22 slightly to the rear of the forward edge thereof.

An aperture is provided in the name board 18 co-extensive with the width of the music rack 30 by cutting away the top and middle strips I9 and 20 to the extent shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thus providing a space in which the lower portion of the music rack is free to swing from open to closed position. While the invention has been illustrated with the music rack occupying about half of the width of the piano, this width may be varied as may be desired, the construction being otherwise the same.

The top of the middle strip in front of the music rack is provided with grooves 34 and has a bead 35 along its forward edge to prevent music standing thereon from slipping. The bottom edge 35 of the music rack is bevelled so as to squarely abut the rear face 31 of the cut-out section of the middle strip 20 when the music rack is in raised position. This limits its rearward movement and determines its standing angle. Spring catches 3B are inserted in the inner ends of the top strip l9 and frictionally engage sockets 39 in the music-rack strip 3| to prevent accidental falling.

Instead of utilizing the middle strip 20 of the name board [8 as a bottom support for music a suitable ledge may be attached to the music rack, in which case the aperture in the name board would be shaped to accommodate it and suitable stops would be provided to hold the rack in raised position.

The lower section 40 of the music rack is preferably made solid to such a height that when the rack is in the lowered position, shown in Fig. 3, it will cover the opening in the name board so as to prevent any objects accidentally falling 55 through that opening into the piano mechanism. It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that when the rack is raised it likewise completely closes the opening.

From Fig. 3 it will be seen that when the music rack is in lowered position the lower part of the rack swings under the back top 22, thus making it possible to provide a rack of adequate height which nevertheless will fold into'the available space inside the piano and yet have a fixed pivot. By this arrangement nearly one quarter of the rack is under the back top 22 when the rack is lowered.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that in order to gain access to the interior of the piano, and particularly to the tuning pins 9 for the purpose of tuning the instrument, it is only necessary to tip back the entire top assembly, which carries with it the music rack, on the hinge 2B which, and, in a single movement, opens the entire top of the piano without unfastening or unscrewing any parts.

Itis contemplated that various modifications may be made in the specific embodiment above particularly described within the limits of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed'is:

1. A piano case comprising a fiat top having front and back sections so hinged that the front section folds over onto the back section to expose the keys, a music rack hinged to the underside of the back section, a transversely extending member extending from above the keys to the underside of the top and having an aperture in which said rack is free to swing, said rack being so mounted that when raised its lower edge abuts said member.

2. A piano case comprising a flat top having front and'back sections so hinged that the front section folds over onto the back section to expose the keys, a music rack hinged above its bottom to the underside of the back section, a transversely extending member extending from above the keys to the underside of the top and having an aperture in which said rack is free to swing, said rack having a solid lower portion adequate substantially to close said aperture when in the raised or lowered position.

3. A piano case comprising a flat top having front and back sections so hinged that the front section folds over onto the back section to expose the keys, 2. music rack hinged above its bottom to the underside of the back section, a transversely extending member extending from above the keys to the underside of the top and having an aperture in which said rack is free to swing, said rack resting against said member when open and partially swinging under said back section when closed. 7

*4. A piano case comprising a flat top having front and-back sections so hinged that the front section folds over onto the back section to expose the keys, a top panel hinged to said front section and closing the front of the piano when the top is closed, a music rack pivoted at a point above its bottom to the underside of the back section, a transversely extending member enclosing the piano mechanism and having an aperture in which said rack is free to swing from raised to lowered position, said rack when lowered lying within the area enclosed by said top andsaid top panel.

5. A piano case comprising a fiat top having front and back sections pivotally connected longitudinally, the back section being pivoted on the back'of the piano, a music rack pivoted at a point above its bottom to the back section, a transversely extending member enclosing the piano mechanism and having an aperture throughv which said rack can swing, as a stop to limit the raised position of the rack, the said top and rack being together capable of being opened to give access to the piano mechamsm.

said member serving JOSEPH SAUERLAND.