US2249978A - Reversible front panel for pianos and the like - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1941. J. PFAFF 2,249,978

REVERSIBLE FRONT PANEL FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKE Filed July 3, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "lllllllllllllfllllllll llll WWW INVENTOR.

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July 22, 1941. PFAFF 2,249,978

REVERSIBLE FRONT PANEL FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKE Filed July- 3, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. fo/wv PF/FFF July 22, 1941. J. PFAFF 2,249,978

REVERSIBLE FRONT PANEL FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKEv Filed July 5, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. Ja/r/v FFflFf-T Patented July 22, 1941 REVERSIBLE FRONT PANEL FOR FIANOS AND THE LIKE John Pfafi, Sycamore, Ill., assignor to The E dolph Wurlitzer Company,

corporation Cincinnati, Ohio, a

Application July 3, 1940, Serial No. 343,676

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a reversible front panel for decorative use in connection with pianos, organs and the like, wherein various decorative appearances may be given to the piano by the user thereof.

It is recognized that the decorative appearance or styling of piano casings plays an important part in the sale and use thereof, inasmuch as the piano becomes a decorative part of the home furnishings in addition to being a mere musical instrument. Wherein the tastes or appeal may vary among purchasers and users of the instrument, it is the purpose of this invention to incorporate in one structure different appearing designs of the front panel, which is the most noticeable part of the piano casing. Thus, in the one structure, the appearance and styling of the casing may be readily and easily altered to meet the appeal of different purchasers and users.

This is accomplished by providing a suitable front panel frame extending vertically between the keyboard and the top lid of the piano casing, the central portion of the frame embodying the usual music rack and providing openings on each side thereof for reception of reversible or interchangeable decorative panels. Thus, the appearance and styling of the piano may be readily altered by a change in the decorative front panel by raising the lid and reversing or replacing panel sections within said frame.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a piano embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is the same as the upper portion of Fig. 1 with the panel sections reversed. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the panel frame with the panel sections in place, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig, 3. Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. 4 showing the frame structure with the panel sections being removed. Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 4 showing a modified form of holding member in looking position. Fig. 7 is the same as Fig. 6 showing the holding member in releasing position.

In the drawings there is shown a piano embodying the invention herein described, and comprising a keyboard covered by a fallboard H supported along the front edge upon the legs l2. The keyboard is supported at its rear by the piano casing in the usual manner, said casing including end panels 13, bottom panel 54 and hinged lid IS.

The decorative front panel, which extends upwardly between the keyboard or fallboard and the lid l5, embodies a centrally arranged music rack l5 and panel sections ll extending on opposite sides thereof. Said front panel is supported by a frame structure, as shown in Fig, 3, comprising the horizontal upper and lower bars I 8 and I9, respectively. The lower bar is rigidly secured to the music shelf 20 and the upper bar is rigidly secured to the top rail 2| upon which the forward edge of the lid l5 rests A central opening is defined by the upright frame members 22 while openings on each side thereof are provided between the uprights 22 and the end panels 13.

The decorative panel sections H are removably supported and locked in place within the end openings of the panel frame, embodying upon one side a decorative surface, such as illustrated in Fig. 1, and on the other side a decorative surface, such as illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus, there is shown on the panel sections ll a decorative surface simulating bookbacks of musical interest, as indicated at A (see Fig. 1), whereas the reverse decorative surface of said panel sections is in the nature of matched grain veneer, as indicated at B (see Fig. 2).

The horizontal bars 18 and IQ of the frame are chamfered along their inner edge to provide a flanged seat and abutment for supporting and locking the panel sections in place said panel sections being provided along their upper and lower edges with the flanges or tongues 23 for seating within the chamfered portions of said frame bars.

For conveniently and removably supporting the panel sections within the frame there is provided to extend over each frame opening a pair of spaced vertical holding bars 24 having their lower ends hinged at 25 to the bottom bar IQ of the frame and their upper free ends being removably locked by a latch 26 pivoted to the upper frame 2| at 21. Adjacent each end of the holding bars 24 there are provided adjustable bearing screws 28 so positioned as to extend forwardly into engagement with the upper and lower flanges 23, respectively, and press them firmly into interlocking engagement with the inwardly extending flange portions of the cross bars I 8, I9.

When it is desired to reverse or interchange said panel sections, the lid I5 is raised, the pivoted latches 26 swung to horizontal position, and the holding bars 24 are swung rearwardly and downwardly about their hinged mounting 25 to free said sections. Thereupon the sections may be reversed or replaced and the latching bars returned to latching position. This has the effect of changing the appearance or styling of the piano from that shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, for example.

In the modified forms shown in Figs. 6 and '7, a holding member in the form of a spring I24 is provided in place of the rigid holding bars 24. The lower end of the spring is secured to the bottom l9 at the frame while the upper end is curved to form a head 128 engageable with the rear unexposed surface of the panel. Thus the spring I24 holds the panel in position within the frame under spring tension while permitting removal thereof by forcing the panel rearwardly against the tension of the spring to a position as shown in Fig. 7 wherein it may be removed from the frame for reversal.

The invention claimed is:

1. A decorative front panel for pianos, organs and the like having a vertical frame embracing a pair of openings extending between the piano keyboard and top lid, a reversible panel section adapted to fit into each of said openings and provided with different decorative surfaces on opposite sides thereof, a pair of hinged holding bars pivotally connected at their lower ends to the bottom portion of said frame, and a latch operable to releasably secure the upper ends of said bars to the upper portion of said frame in holding engagement with said panel sections for removably securing them within the frame with the selected one of the decorative surfaces exposed through the openings therein.

2. A decorative front panel for pianos, organs and the like, having a vertical frame embracing a pair of openings between the piano keyboard and top lid, said openings being arranged on opposite sides of the music rack portion, a reversible panel section adapted to fit into each of said openings and provided with different decorative surfaces on opposite sides thereof, a plurality of holding bars hinged to the lower portion of said frame and extending transversely of the openings therein to the upper portion thereof, hinged latches on said frame operable to releasably secure the upper ends of said bars thereto, and adjustable means on said bars adapted to engage the unexposed side of said panel sections to removably hold them firmly within said frame.

3. A decorative front panel for pianos, organs and the like having a vertical frame embracing a pair of openings between the piano keyboard and top lid, a reversible panel section adapted to fit into each of said openings and provided with different decorative surfaces on opposite sides thereof, a flange formed along the upper and lower edge of said panel engageable with a complementary flange extending along the lower and upper portions of said frame respectively adapted to effect interengagement between said panel and frame to position the panel therein, and a holding member having its lower end secured to the lower portion of the frame and its upper free end engageable against the rear unexposed surface of the panel operable to hold it in seated relation to the opening of the frame while permitting removal and reversal thereof.

4. A decorative front panel for pianos, organs and the like having a vertical frame embracing a pair of openings between the piano keyboard and top lid, a reversible panel section adapted to fit into each of said openings and provided with different decorative surfaces on opposite sides thereof, a flange formed along the upper and lower edge of said panel engageable with a complementary flange extending along the lower and upper portions of said frame for interengagement between said panel and frame to position the panel therein, and a resilient holding member in the form of an upstanding spring having its lower end secured to the lower portion of the frame and its upper free end yieldingly engageable with the unexposed rear surface of the panel operable to hold it in position under spring tension while permitting forcible movement against the tension of said member to free it from the frame and permit reversal thereof.

JOHN PFAFF.

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