US2505805A - Knockdown piano - Google Patents

Description

C. F. STEIN May 2, 1950 KNOCKDOWN PIANO 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 Original Filed Dec. 21, 1946 INVENTOR. Charlesfi-ederz'c/b5m May 2, 1950 c. F. STEIN 2,505,805

KNOCKDOWN PIANO Original Filed Dec. 21, 1946 5 Sheebs-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

C. F. STEIN May 2, 1950 KNOCKDOWN PIANO 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Dec. 21, 1946 mmvm. Garlkz rederz'a Siam Patented May 2, 1956 KNOCKDOWN PIANO Charles Frederick Stein, La Grange, Ill., assignor to Pratt, Read and Company, Inc., Ivoryton, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Original application December 21, 1946, Serial No. 717,678. Divided and this application February 20, 1948, Serial No. 9,785

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to pianos and more particularly to a piano structure including a, plurality of pro-assemblies which lend themselves to high speed production methods and which are so constructed that manufacture, shipping and storage of a high quality piano is made easier. This application is a, division of my application Serial No. 717,678, filed December 21, 1946.

In the prior art it has been the general practice to manufacture pianos on an individually customized basis. This has been due primarily to the nature of prior art piano construction and due to the difficulty of producing, in such construction, a piano of the desired quality and performance. Although various attempts have been made to speed up piano manufacture and to apply high speed production assembly line methods thereto, due to the requirement of hand fitting a great many parts of the piano, these methods have still resulted in pianos which are considerably different and in which the tone and performance vary depending upon the individuals who worked upon them.

Another reason why high speed manufacturing methods have not been satisfactory for the manufacture of pianos is that in most commercial piano structures, the piano casing is used for assembling many of the parts of the piano into a complete structure. For this reason special care must be taken of the piano casing during manufacture, assembly and adjustment of the piano, to prevent damage thereto. Even when taking such precautions, it is necessary that the casing be refinished after manufacture of the piano has been completed. The practice of forming the piano case and operating structure into one complete unit has also complicated shipment and storage of pianos because of the great weight and bulk of the completed piano structure. Piano construction in which the operating structure and casing are made in one composite unit is subject to another defect, that is, that the piano operating mechanism has a relatively long life and the casing becomes out of style while the piano is still in good condition. As the casing is used to support the operating structure, it is very diflicult to remove the same and apply a new casing to thereby improve the appearance of the piano.

- Prior commercial piano constructions are also objectionable in that the completed piano is very heavy and hard to handle. This is caused by the fact that in order to provide means sufiiciently rugged for stretching the strings of the piano, a

metal string plate together with a massive wooden back structure have been required. As the easing is used to support this back structure and also the various operatin parts of the piano, it has had to be constructed in a very rugged manner further increasing the weight of the piano.

My Patent No. 2,431,350 and my copending applications, Serial Nos. 585,053 and 643,713, are directed to knock down piano-structures which overcome some of the above mentioned difficulties with reference to piano construction. The structure disclosed in this application includes improvements and further features not disclosed in the above applications.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved knock down type piano in which the operating structure of the piano and the case therefor are independent and can be easily assembled and disassembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piano having an operating structure which is independent of casing therefor, and in which the operating structure is arranged so that a minimum amount of space is required for shipping and storing the same.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a piano havin a self-supporting operating structure and a case composed of a plurality of parts which are assembled together as the case is applied to the operating structure.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a single metal frame member for a piano on which all the operating components of the piano are mounted and which is self-supporting to provide a, structure which can be completely adjusted and assembled without the use of the piano casing.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of a piano operating structure having a horizontal string chassis with brackets removably mounted thereon and a piano keybed pivotally secured to the brackets so that the keybed can be moved from a normal position for playing the piano to a position parallel with and adjacent the string chassis so that a minimum amount of space is required for shipping and storin the operating structure.

Further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing the operating structure and removable casing in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the back portion of the piano;

"toprotect the-piano action and the keys. movable supporting foot is provided on the frame Fig.3 is a rear view of the back portion in assembled form;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the back portion;

Fig. 5 illustrates the two positions of the keyboard; and

Fig. 6 shows a portion of the keyboard and mounting therefor.

In practicing my invention I provide a low upright piano having a back portion including a single frame member with a sounding board and strings secured thereto. The frame member includes means for securing the piano action thereto and brackets which "are-removably secured to the frame member for supporting the keyboard of the piano. The keyboard is pivotally mounted on the brackets so that it may be positioned in the normal operating position with respect to the piano action or pivoted to a position parallel to the frame member and adjacent the piano action to thereby provide a piano structure which may be shipped and stored in a minimum of space and inwhich thekeyboard tends A reso that the operating structuremay be held in "an upright position thereby. A casing is providedfor the piano including a plurality of members which are assembled as they are attached "to the operatingstructure of the piano. visions are included on the frame member for "attaching the casing thereto.

'Pro- Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is'shown a piano operating structure If] includ- -ing-a-back'portion A piano action l2 and keyboard i3 are secured to the back portion, the

keyboard being supported by brackets I4. A supporting'foot I5 is also secured to the back structure for a purpose to be described hereinafter. -"Members adapted to form a casing are provided including sides 16, top member shelf I8, music These various members are adapted to be operating structure. v

As is shown in Fig. 1, the piano'backiportion II "has openings therein adapted to receive "dowels 3| on the sides l6 of the case to thereby position thesides with respect to the operating structure. Registering hinge-like portions 32 and 33 are provided on the frame and sides respectively for-securing'the sides tothe frame, pins "34 being provided to connect the hinge portions to thereby form simple and effective securin means. After thesides have been secured'to the operating structure, the legs 25 are secured to the keybed I3 by screws or other securing means. projections 35 being provided in the legs to fit in openings 36 in the keybed for positioning the legs with respect thereto. The toe rail 23 is then secured to the side members I6 with the channel members 31 thereon being positioned about projecting portions 38 on the sides and pins 39 bein positioned in openings in the members 31 and 38 to hold the toe rail securely to the side member. Thereafter the bottom panel 24 may be secured in place with respect to the toe rail 23 and sides I6 by any suitable securing means, this member being removable in the usual piano construction.

The key blocks 2| and the key slip 22 may now be set in place, supporting members 40 being provided on the sides of the'casing |6to which these'members may be secured by screws or other securing means. The key blocks 2| include reor modern designs.

portions 45 adapted to cooperate with similar portions 4t on the frame H, the hinge portions being connected by pins 41 forming a hinged connection for the top panel.

Itis obvious that the various parts of the case described above can be of such configuration that the assembled case will be of any desired designs, suchasthe various 18th century designs As cases of the various designs may be applied to the same operating structure, it will be possible for the owner of a piano to have his piano restyled by changing the case thereof, without'removing the piano "fromhis home. Also, sales agencies can changethe cases of pianos to suit the desire of the purchaser and thus reduce the number of'pianos which they must keep in stock.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2, 3 and; in which the details of the back'port-ionof the operating structure are illustrated. 'The back portion includes a frame member 50 which is the sole supporting member forthe entire operating structure for the piano. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 4 the'frame includes a peripheral flange portion"5| and a central web portion 52 having a plurality of reinforcingribs 53 thereon and openings 54 therein. The reinforcing ribs 53 are so positioned to strengthen the frame'at the points where the tension of the piano-strings cause the greatest stresses therein. A cross-rib 55 is provided across the back of the framemember 50 forming a narrow upper recess and a relatively large rectangular lower recess. A'pin block 56 is positioned in the upper recess and a sounding board 51 is supported in the lower recess. Openings 58 are provided in the webportionat the upper recess through which pins '59 extend into the pinblock 56 for supporting the piano strings 60. Projections 6| are provided on certain of the reinforcing ribs 0n the frame'for supporting the other ends of the'strin'gs.

Thesounding-board 5'! includes'a relatively thin vibrating member 62 having a surrounding frame portion 53 which-fits into the recess between the cross-rib 55 and the peripheralflan'ge on the bottom andsides of the frame member. The sounding board is held in position by screws 64 which are threaded into openings 65 in the web'portion 52 adjacent the periphery thereof. Ribs-66 are provided on the backside of the sounding board for stiffening the same and bridges 67 and 68 are provided on the front-side in such a manner that they extend through openings 54 in the web portion of the frame to contact the strings 60. Fig. 4 showsa cross-sectional View of the frame member 50 with the pins '59, strings 60 and sounding boardtl in place. Fig. 2 shows the manner in which the bridges 61" and 68 on the sounding board project'throughthe openings 54 in the web portion.

As previously stated, the frame'me'mber'ifl of the back portion N forms the support for the entire operating structure of the piano. Figs. 1 and 5 illustrate the operating'str'ucture assembled on the frame member 50. As shown in the drawings, the frame 50 has a removable foot l5 secured thereto which is used to support the back portion of the piano in the normal upright position. A projection 19 is provided on one of the reinforcing ribs 53 of the frame member having an opening H therein in which the foot is removably positioned. The foot is bent and may be placed in the opening H at different angles so that the frame member 59 may be tilted more or less (Fig. 5). A rubber tip 12 is provided on the foot to provide a secure contact with the supporting surface. The foot is adapted to hold the back portion, or the entire operating structure of the piano in the normal upright position while other supporting means are secured thereto.

The piano action l2, which is provided as a preassembled unit, includes a plurality of supporting brackets 86 adapted to support the action on the frame 50. Integral projections 89 are provided on the reinforcing ribs 53 of the frame (Fig. 2) for supporting a horizontal bar 8! which is provided for supporting the piano action in operative position with respect to the strings. Forwardly extending projections 83 and pins 85 which project upwardly are provided on the horizontal bar 8|. The bottoms of the action brackets 86 include recesses adapted to fit over the pins 85 to thereby mount the action on the bar 8|. The top portions of the brackets 86 are supported on the web portion 52 of the frame 50 by pins 81. Accordingly, it is seen that the action is supported entirely on the frame member 59 and may be connected thereto or removed therefrom as a unit after having first been preassembled. It is to be noted that the action fits closely to the web portion 52 and a portion thereof is within the space defined by the flange 5| of the frame. This provides an operating structure of minimum depth.

In Figs. 5 and 6, there is illustrated the manner in which the keyboard I3 is supported on the frame member 50. The keyboard includes a keybed 9 3 on which the piano keys 95 are supported in a manner well known in the art. Brackets M are removably secured to the flange 5| of the frame member by screws 90, the brackets having portions 9| which abut the flange to thereby make a very rigid connection. The brackets [4 include U-shaped trunnions 92 On the inside of the forwardly extending portions thereof. Pins 93 are provided on the keyboard l3 positioned to engage the trunnions 92 to thereby pivotally support the keyboard on the brackets. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The keyboard may thus be pivoted from a vertical position as shown in solid lines in Fig. 5 to a horizontal position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. In the vertical position the operating structure of the piano may be stored or shipped in a relatively small space with the keybed 94 tending to protect the keys 95 and the action l2. In the horizontal position, the keybed and keys are in the normal playing condition with the capstan screws 96 at the back end of the keys engaging the whips 91 of the piano action. It is to be understood that the particular action disclosed and the cooperation between the keys and action is merely illustrative and other types of actions might be used in the same arrangement.

Means are provided for locking the keyboard in the two positions, comprising bolts 98 on the keyboard registering with openings 99 on the bracket l4. Additional bolts may be positioned in the keybed intermediate the ends thereof registering with openings in the projections 83.

Wing nuts |0l are provided on the bolts for securely supporting the keyboard in the horizontal playing position. When it is desired to pivot the keyboard, the nuts IOI are removed and the keyboard pivoted in the trunnions 92 to the vertical position. The trunnions 92 and the pins 93 on the keyboard have openings therein which register when the keybed is in the vertical position. Pins I92 are provided which may be positioned in the openings to lock the keyboard in the vertical position. This arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 5.

In manufacturing a piano in accordance with the invention, the back portion is first assembled with the pin block 56 and sounding board 51 being secured to the frame 50 and the strings 60 strung thereon. Thereafter the foot I5 is secured in place on the frame and the brackets M for supporting the keybed are applied. With the back portion held in upright position the piano action and keyboard are applied and the piano is com pletely regulated. It is apparent that a completely playable piano is thus provided which does not include any parts of the piano case. If it is now desired to ship or store the piano, the keyboard may be pivoted to the vertical position and the foot [5 removed to thereby permit storing the operating structure in a minimum of space. When it is desired to assemble the operating structure and case as a complete piano, the operating structure is again supported in the upright position by the foot IS, the keyboard is pivoted to the normal horizontal position, and the case is then applied thereto as previously described. It is to be pointed out that after the legs 25 of the piano case are secured to the keyboard, the foot l5 can be removed and bottom panel 24 put in place.

It is seen from the foregoing that in accordance with the invention a structure is provided wherein a piano may be assembled from a plurality of preassembled units each of which is adapted for production line manufacturing methods. The back portion is formed with a single frame member which replaces the usual string plate and wooden back structure, and as this frame member may be cast as a single member, the manufacture thereof is simplified to a large extent as compared with former structures. The use of the frame member of the back portion as the sole supporting member of the operating structure of the piano makes it possible to completely assemble the operating structure before applying a case thereto for styling the piano. The provision of the removable foot on the frame member facilitates handling of the operating structure during the various manufacturing and assembling processes. The pivoted keyboard support results in an operating structure which requires less space for shipping and storage thereof and in general permits the shipping and storage of two pianos in the space previously required for one.

The case for the piano disclosed, which is made of a plurality of parts which are assembled as the case is applied to the operating structure, permits very easy and fast changing of cases on an operating structure. This not only has the advantage of eliminating damage to the case during the manufacture of the operating structure but also results in the requirement of less shipping and storage space as the operating structure and various components of the case can be placed in much less space than is required for the completely assembled piano and case. The provision of interchangeable cases has the further advantage of permitting theuser of a piano to restyle a piano to conform with other decorations in his home and also permits "selling agencies 'to furnish the cases desired by a particular purchaser without having a great number of pianos in stock.

It 'is, therefore, seen that I have provided a piano structure in which the various components are 'sodesigned that assembly and regulation of the operating parts ar'every easily accomplished. Ifhe structure is such that a minimum amount of shipping and storage space is required and that the complete unit can be assembled very rapidly by relatively unskilled workmen. "Ifhe regulation of the piano is not affected by the assembly of the operating structure with respect to the case as the piano is complete and entirely playable without the case. I

Although I have described certain einbodinients of the piano structure in accordance with the invention, it is obvious that variouschanges can be made therein without departing from the intended scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

"1. Apiano operating unit adapted for use with case ii-leans, said operating unit being playable an'd'en'tirely self-supporting without having case means therewith and including in combination a unitary string chassis "having a single flanged frame, a sounding board, strings, and means for supporting said sounding board and strings on said frame in the space'defined by said fiang'es, a piano action in operative relation with said strings, means for supporting said piano action on said string chassis, bracket means, means for supporting said bracket means "on said string chassis, a playing portion including piano keys, and means for pivotally supporting said playing portion on said bracket means so that said playing portion is movable from'ahorizontal'position in which the keys are in position'tooperate'said pianoaction to a vertical positioninWliich'the playing portion is adjacent said piano action to thereby form a compact unit with said "playing unit bein'g positioned. to 'prote'ctsaid action.

'2. A piano operating unit adapted for use with case means, said'operating unit being playable and entirely self supporting without having a case means therewith and'comprising a string chassis including a single flanged metal framememb'er,

strings, a sounding board and means for supporting said strings and sounding board on said frame member in the space defined by said :flanges, a playing 'portion'including key support :r'neans a'nd'key means thereon,bracket means,

means for mounting said. bracket'means on'said :frame member out of contact 'with'the strings, means pivotally mounting said playing portion on said bracket means, and means secured to said frame member for supporting said "operatingunit independently of a case means, said playing portion extending perpendicular t'o's'aid string chassis when in playing position and being pivotable to aposition parallel'to'said string chassis to permit storage or transportation thereof ina relatively small space.

. 3. A piano operating unit adapted for use with case means, said operating unit comprising a back portion including a frame, strings and a sounding board, a piano action in operating positi'on with respect to said strings, means for mounting said piano action on said frame, bracket means, means for securing said bracket means to said frame, a playing portion including piano keys thereon, means pivotally mounting said playing portion on said bracket means, supporting "means 'remova'bly secured to said frame, said playing portion and said supporting means having operating positions in which said keys are in normal operating position with respect to said action and said supporting means supports said operating unit to provide a complete playable unit, and non-operatingpositions inwhic'h said playing portion is pivoted toward said back portion and said supportingv means is removed so that said operating unit forms a compact assembly.

4. A piano operating unit adapted for use with case means, said operating unit comprisinga back portion including a single frame member with strings and a sounding board thereon, piano action means in operating position with respect to said strings, means for removably mounting said piano action means'on said frame, bracket means, means for removably securing said bracket means to said frame member, a'playing portion having key support means and key means thereon, means pivotally mounting said playing portion on said bracket means, and supporting means removably secured to said frame, said playing portion and said supporting means having a first position in which said "key means are in normal operating position with respect to said action means and said supporting means supports said operating unit so that it is completely playable and entirely self supporting and a second position in which said. playing portion is pivoted toward said back portion and said supporting means is removed so that saidoperating unit forms a'compact assembly which can be housed in a minimum amount of space.

CHARLES FREDERICK STEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Great Britain Sept. 10, 1925

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