US2220192A - Illuminating means for pianos or the like - Google Patents
Illuminating means for pianos or the like Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2220192A US2220192A US138169A US13816937A US2220192A US 2220192 A US2220192 A US 2220192A US 138169 A US138169 A US 138169A US 13816937 A US13816937 A US 13816937A US 2220192 A US2220192 A US 2220192A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- panel
- keyboard
- piano
- translucent
- music
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
- G10C3/00—Details or accessories
- G10C3/02—Cases
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V33/00—Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V33/00—Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
- F21V33/0004—Personal or domestic articles
- F21V33/0052—Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
- F21V33/0056—Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
Definitions
- the purpose of this invention is to provide a novel and artistic means for lighting the keyboard and music support of a piano or similar instrument so that, if desired, the instrument may be played in a darkened room without other illumination.
- the invention consists in certain features and elements of construction as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a piano with illuminatingmeans embodied therein in accordance with this invention.
- FIG. 2 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 22 on Figure 1.
- Figure 3 is a vertical detail section taken longitudinally through the music-supporting panel.
- Figure 4 is a detail section taken transversely of the panel, as indicated at line 4-4 on Figure 3.
- the drawing illustrates a small vertical type of piano, but it may be understood that this invention is equally applicable to various styles, including the older form of upright and also the familiar grand piano.
- a music desk usually comprising a nearly upright rack or panel, as shown at l, against which the sheet music or book leans, and a ledge or panel upon which the edge of the music sheet or book is lodged.
- the latter panel may be made of glass, as indicated at 2 in Figures 1, 3 and 4., and, preferably, this glass panel will have grooves or corrugations 2 in its upper surface for engaging the edges of the music sheets as they lean against the supporting rack or panel I.
- this glass should be etched, sandblasted or otherwise treated to render it translucent, but not transparent.
- Suificient light for reading the music is then provided by mounting under the translucent panel 2 one or more elec-- tric lamps 3 which are thus enclosed in the piano case so that their light escapes only by way of the panel 2.
- the lamp 3 may be controlled by means of any suitable switch mechanism enclosed in the housing 4 and operable by means of the usual lever 5.
- the end cheeks I may be hollow, and each of them may be fitted with a translucent, but, preferably, not transparent, panel II, with an electric lamp I2 enclosed in the hollow cheek I0.
- the lamp l2 may be located so that it shall not be directly back of the panel H but its light may be transmitted through the latter by way of a reflector l3 producing a better diffusion and a more satisfactory ornamental effect.
- the lamps 3 and the lamps [2 may be all included in the same circuit for simultaneous control by the switch 5 so that .the lighting system may be switched on or ofi at will.
- an additional switch may be located, as indicated at M, with a spring-pressed button protruding slightly through the upper surface of the cheek ID at l 5, so that if the hinged lid 6 is closed without turning off the lights at the switch 4 this switch will automatically open the lighting circuit, but will never interfere with its operation when the piano lid is in open position.
- the pianist can readily play the piano in a darkened room without any other lighting.
- the illuminated areas and lights and shadows produced thereby will add interest and artisticbeauty to the instrument.
- a piano or like instrument including a keyboard and a case which terminates vertically below the eye level of a performer seated at the keyboard, said case having a hollow end wall adjacent the end of the keyboard, the panel of said hollow wall which is adjacent the keys having a translucent window therein and an electric lamp disposed within the hollow wall but not opposite said window, a mirror disposed within the hollow wall in inclined relation to the window and exposed toward the lamp for reflecting light therefrom through the window onto the keyboard.
- a piano or like instrument having a case and a keyboard, said case including cheeks at opposite ends of the keyboard terminating vertically below the eye level of a performer seated at the keyboard, each of said cheeks being hollow and each including a translucent window in the panel of the hollow wall adjacent the keyboard, together with electric lamps housed in said hollow cheeks in position to illuminate the keyboard through their translucent Walls respectively and without 5 creating a glare in the eyes of the performer.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Tables And Desks Characterized By Structural Shape (AREA)
Description
Nov; 5,' 1940.
w. ZAISER ILLUMINATING MEANS FORPIANOS OR THE LIKE Filed April 21, 1957 -%ZZz az2?/ Zaser m ab flzz fagy.
Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William Zaiser, Rockville Centre, N. Y., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, De Kalb, 111., a corporation of Ohio Application April 21, 1937, Serial No. 138,169
2 Claims.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel and artistic means for lighting the keyboard and music support of a piano or similar instrument so that, if desired, the instrument may be played in a darkened room without other illumination. The invention consists in certain features and elements of construction as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.
In the drawing:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano with illuminatingmeans embodied therein in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 22 on Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical detail section taken longitudinally through the music-supporting panel.
Figure 4 is a detail section taken transversely of the panel, as indicated at line 4-4 on Figure 3.
The drawing illustrates a small vertical type of piano, but it may be understood that this invention is equally applicable to various styles, including the older form of upright and also the familiar grand piano. In any of these styles there is a music desk usually comprising a nearly upright rack or panel, as shown at l, against which the sheet music or book leans, and a ledge or panel upon which the edge of the music sheet or book is lodged. In accordance with the present invention the latter panel may be made of glass, as indicated at 2 in Figures 1, 3 and 4., and, preferably, this glass panel will have grooves or corrugations 2 in its upper surface for engaging the edges of the music sheets as they lean against the supporting rack or panel I. For the best appearance this glass should be etched, sandblasted or otherwise treated to render it translucent, but not transparent. Suificient light for reading the music is then provided by mounting under the translucent panel 2 one or more elec-- tric lamps 3 which are thus enclosed in the piano case so that their light escapes only by way of the panel 2. As indicated in Figure 3, the lamp 3 may be controlled by means of any suitable switch mechanism enclosed in the housing 4 and operable by means of the usual lever 5.
For additional illumination of the piano the end cheeks I may be hollow, and each of them may be fitted with a translucent, but, preferably, not transparent, panel II, with an electric lamp I2 enclosed in the hollow cheek I0. If desired, the lamp l2 may be located so that it shall not be directly back of the panel H but its light may be transmitted through the latter by way of a reflector l3 producing a better diffusion and a more satisfactory ornamental effect.
It may be understood that the lamps 3 and the lamps [2 may be all included in the same circuit for simultaneous control by the switch 5 so that .the lighting system may be switched on or ofi at will. If desired, an additional switch may be located, as indicated at M, with a spring-pressed button protruding slightly through the upper surface of the cheek ID at l 5, so that if the hinged lid 6 is closed without turning off the lights at the switch 4 this switch will automatically open the lighting circuit, but will never interfere with its operation when the piano lid is in open position.
By virtue of the illumination of the music sheets afforded through the translucent panel 2 and the illumination of the manual keys furnished through the translucent panels II in the cheeks Ill the pianist can readily play the piano in a darkened room without any other lighting. In addition to the convenience thus afforded, the illuminated areas and lights and shadows produced thereby will add interest and artisticbeauty to the instrument.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and re-arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, instead of translucent panels, such as the glass members 2 and H shown in the drawing, I may substitute wooden or metal grilles or textile screens sufiiciently reticulated to transmit enough light from the lamps enclosed in the piano case. Or, for illuminating the keyboard, instead of providing separate lights in the cheeks of the piano case, I may form the vertical wall back of the keyboard with windows or openings so that the same lamp or lamps which illuminate the desk panel 2 will serve to light the keys. Thus the invention is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described, except insofar as indicated by the appended claims.
I claim:
1. In a piano or like instrument including a keyboard and a case which terminates vertically below the eye level of a performer seated at the keyboard, said case having a hollow end wall adjacent the end of the keyboard, the panel of said hollow wall which is adjacent the keys having a translucent window therein and an electric lamp disposed within the hollow wall but not opposite said window, a mirror disposed within the hollow wall in inclined relation to the window and exposed toward the lamp for reflecting light therefrom through the window onto the keyboard.
2. In a piano or like instrument having a case and a keyboard, said case including cheeks at opposite ends of the keyboard terminating vertically below the eye level of a performer seated at the keyboard, each of said cheeks being hollow and each including a translucent window in the panel of the hollow wall adjacent the keyboard, together with electric lamps housed in said hollow cheeks in position to illuminate the keyboard through their translucent Walls respectively and without 5 creating a glare in the eyes of the performer.
WILLIAM ZAISER.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US138169A US2220192A (en) | 1937-04-21 | 1937-04-21 | Illuminating means for pianos or the like |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US138169A US2220192A (en) | 1937-04-21 | 1937-04-21 | Illuminating means for pianos or the like |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US2220192A true US2220192A (en) | 1940-11-05 |
Family
ID=22480765
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US138169A Expired - Lifetime US2220192A (en) | 1937-04-21 | 1937-04-21 | Illuminating means for pianos or the like |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US2220192A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3079491A (en) * | 1959-10-29 | 1963-02-26 | Thomas B Janssen | Musical instrument illuminating system |
US3230814A (en) * | 1962-09-25 | 1966-01-25 | Richard A Welts | Music support and keyboard lighting device for musical instruments |
FR2520536A1 (en) * | 1982-01-25 | 1983-07-29 | Adam Christian | Upright piano with interlocking outer panels - has flaps on top and end panels for connection to two-part front panel |
-
1937
- 1937-04-21 US US138169A patent/US2220192A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3079491A (en) * | 1959-10-29 | 1963-02-26 | Thomas B Janssen | Musical instrument illuminating system |
US3230814A (en) * | 1962-09-25 | 1966-01-25 | Richard A Welts | Music support and keyboard lighting device for musical instruments |
FR2520536A1 (en) * | 1982-01-25 | 1983-07-29 | Adam Christian | Upright piano with interlocking outer panels - has flaps on top and end panels for connection to two-part front panel |
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