US2925006A - Musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1960 F. L. O'BRIEN 2,

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 5, 1952 IN VEN TOR.

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ATTORNEY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Francis L. QBrien, New York, N.Y., assignor at silty percent to Beatrice Evelyn Byrd, New York, NY.

Application July 3, 1952, Serial No. 297,039

1 Claim. (Cl. de -174) This invention relates to a musical instrument of the keyboard type.

It is an object of this invention to provide an instrument which will have all the simplicity in playing of a piano, and which can readily be played by any one who can play a piano, but which has beauty of harmony and tone added that a regular piano cannot produce.

A piano as is well known, has a keyboard with a key for every note of the diatonic scale, and having a set of one or more strings for each note. In the lower octaves the sets have one string each, in the central octaves two strings, and in the upper octaves three strings, but each of the sets have the strings in it in perfect unison.

In accordance with this invention it has been found that new beauty of harmony can be obtained by providing three separate series of strings, so related, that each key will simultaneously strike one string of each series. The strings of each series are harmoniously related to each other, in semitone intervals, but the basic tone of the first series is a definite fractional interval above the basic tone of the second series, and the basic tone of the third series is a definite fractional interval below the basic tone of the second or middle series. Thus each series give a whole gamut in perfect tune, but higher or lower in pitch, then each of the other series.

The accompanying drawings illustrate diagrammatically an instrument embodying this invention, shown in plane view. In the drawings the numeral 16 represents the standard keyboard, like that of a piano or organ. The keys indicated at 11 are connected by a suitable leverage not shown in detail, but indicated at 12 to operate a hammer 13, as in a piano. The customary dampers 17 will be understood. The strings are arranged in three series, giving three strings for each key.

The central string 14 of each set of three is tuned to the standard pitch represented by the key by which it is played. This series of central strings 14, therefore, comprises an entire piano stringboard which if no other series of strings were present, could be played as a piano and would sound as such. The strings of this series are shown in dotted lines.

In accordance with this invention, however, two other strings 15 and 16 are provided for each key, one shown in solid lines and one in dash lines. These are placed on opposite sides of the dotted line string 14, each of the strings 15 is a definite fractional interval below its corresponding string 14, and each string 16 is the same fractional interval above the corresponding string 14. As will be understood, therefore, the series 14, 15 and to each comprise a series of strings in perfect tone with each other but one series differing from the other in the absolute pitch to which the series is tuned. The difierence in pitch selected makes considerable difierence in the effect produced.

Patented Feb. 16, 1950 I have found that if the lower series be about /3 of a semitone below, and the highest series be about /3 of a semitone above the middle or standard pitch series, the result is at its optimum.

For example in the instrument. 1 have demonstrated, as tuned for the greatest harmon the notes are found to have the following ratios of vibrations with A=220.0 used as standard pitch, for the middle octave.

Key Low Middle High For each rise of an octave, we must of course, multiply by two, and for each drop we divide by two, in the usual manner.

When any key is struck, three tones are produced, one one-third of a semitone below, and one one-third of a semitone above the central or standard pitch tone, which is also sounded.

The effect is to produce a richness of tone which a piano cannot give, and yet because each series of strings is in perfect tune within itself, the net eifectiveness is harmonious.

it will be understood that whereas, for convenience or" illustration, all three series of strings are shown as mounted upon the same frame, that three separate frames may be provided, and each series mounted independently upon its own frame. In fact three complete sets of standard piano strings may be provided, even three complete and separate pianos, provided only that they are tuned to the proper differences in pitch, and mechanism is provided that a common key will cause the striking of its corresponding string in every series.

I claim:

A musical instrument comprising a keyboard having a key for each note of the scale, three series of strings, each containing a string for each note of the scale, one of said series having its strings tuned at standard intervals according to the notes which each string represents at standard pitch, another of said series having its strings tuned at identical intervals to the first series but each string being substantially one-third of a semitone lower than its corresponding string of the first mentioned series, and the third series having its strings tuned at identical intervals to the first series, but each string being substantially one-third of a semitone higher than its corresponding string of the first mentioned series, and mechanism operated by each key for Striking the related string of each series simultaneously.

Reierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 512,048 Muller Jan. 2, 1894 2,159,505 Hammond May 23, 1939 2,287,105 Kannenberg June 23, 1942. 2,509,923 Hanert May 30, 1950

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