US3030844A - Portable organ - Google Patents

Description

M. PANCOTTI PORTABLE ORGAN April 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1958 m U. mm

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MARD PANQOTTI Mm--J.?..u-

April 24, 1962 M. PANCOTTl PORTABLE ORGAN Filed Dec. 5, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F weeee INVENTOR. MARO PANQ T'H Wham A TTOE XS April 24, 1962 PANCOTTl 1 3,030,844

PORTABLE ORGAN Filed Dec. 5. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. MARIO PAN COTT I ATTOENEY5 April 24, 196

Filed Dec. 5. 1

M. PANCOTTI PORTABLE ORGAN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 i A N k FIG.7

INVENTOR. MARIO PANCOTTI MPM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,030,844 PORTABLE ORGAN Mario Pancotti, 141 Ardsley Road, Scarsdale, N.Y. Filed Dec. 5, 1958, Ser. No. 778,350 12 Claims. (Cl. 84-355) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in musical instruments of the wind operated type. More particularly, this invention relates to a portable type electrically operated table organ containing a sealed compart ment in which air pressure is increased to permit easy playing of the organ.

An object of this invention is to provide a portable table model type of electrically operated miniature organ.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a table type organ having a limited keyboard and a series of basses with a complete chromatic run.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a miniature type of table organ which contains an enclosed compartment for impelling means to supply air for the operation of the keyboard and the bass buttons.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an accordion type electrically energized instrument adapted to impel air under pressure through a reed upon pressure or actuation of one or more keys, group of keys or chords in said accordion.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing an embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly broken away view of a top portion of the embodiment in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partly broken away plan view of the bottom wall of the embodiment looking upward from the bottom of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3, showing one of the keys of the keyboard depressed to permit escape of the air from the interior of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2 showing the arrangement at a black key of the keyboard.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail fragmental view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6 showing the arrangement of the keys thereat, and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view enlarged, of the bass buttons shown on line 88 of FIG. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts throughout, there is provided a portable cabinet 10 provided with suitable rests or legs 11 and which as shown extend from the front 12 to the rear 13 of the bottom of the cabinet 10, to permit placing the cabinet on any suitable surface such as on a table, not shown. Said cabinet as shown is of the rectangular type; however, it may be of any suitable shape or outward form.

Said cabinet 10 has its front wall 12 provided with a plurality of longitudinal slits 14 extending part of the length of the face and a number of circular openings 15 as shown at the left side of the face thereof. These slits are provided merely for esthetic appearance and it is to be noted the slits 14 do however, extend through the wall 12 into the interior of cabinet 10 to permit some air to pass through from the interior of the cabinet. The top 16 of the cabinet is provided with a fixed top wall portion 16a attached to the rear wall 13 thereof and a movable flap portion 16b connected to said fixed top 16a by means 3,030,844 Patented Apr. 24, 1962 of a piano hinge which extends the full length of the top of said cabinet 10.

It will be noted that the cabinet at its front or face portion as shown in FIG. 2, when the top lid 16b is open has a keyboard 17 consisting of keys 18 and 19 representing sharps and flats respectively, and a bass board 20 with bass buttons 21 which are set in groups as shown to obtain the desired harmony when playing the instrument. As shown said keys .are each provided with a rearwardly extending portion 22 the end of each of which is provided with a felt closure piece 23 adapted to fit over and normally cover openings 24 in the top board 25 of inner compartment 26 as shown in FIG. 4.

It is to be noted that the cabinet 10 contains said closed compartment 26 with its upper or top board 25 containing a series of openings 24 for each of the keys of keyboard 17. It is to be further noted that said compartment is completely sealed and that air therein cannot readily escape except through said openings and also through the area of the openings in the bass portion as well. Furthermore, said compartment 26 contains a reed plate 27 mounted on depending members 30 and 31 and provided with individual passageways 28 each covered by a reed 29. As shown, the reed plate is inside the compartment, and it is only when keys on the keyboard are operated that air escapes through the reed plate vibrating the respective reeds to obtain the desired tone or musical effect.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bass buttons 21 on keyboard 20 terminate the vertically slidable rods 30 which have transverse projections 9. Crank arms 31 are engaged at one end thereof by said projections for rotation upon depression of buttons 21, and also comprise central pivot rod portions as seen in section at the opposite extremity thereof, which are thus journalled for rotation in con ventional means not shown. They also comprise at the other extremity thereof, valve lifting fingers 9a located in different vertical planes than those of their corresponding arms 31, and which are rotatable integrally therewith, in engagement with links such as 33 on the valves 34 to lift said valves from their seats by swinging them outward therefrom on the resiliently swingable arms 32 to which said valves are attached. Valves 34 are thus enabled to permit air passage therethrough from the sealed compartment 26 to actuate the respective reeds 35, as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. These bass key buttons may be operated singly or severally to combine with the playing of the keys 18 and/ or 19.

It will be further noted that each of said keys 18 or 19 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 is provided on its under side 36a with a spring 36 fixed to the exterior of the top wall 25 of inner compartment for normally keeping the end portion 22 depressed so that the felt piece 23 normally covers the openings 24 except when the key is actuated. Also the underside 36a of the key is provided with a cross pivot of dowel 37 adapted to fit in a cross recess 38 in parallel side plates 39 which are fixedly located on each side of the under portion of the key as more clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Furthermore, the top plate or board 25 of the compartment is provided at its top face with a pair of felted stop members 40 and 41 to soften the downward thrust of the finger pressing portion of the key 18 or 19. Also as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 there are provided members 30 and 31 onto which is mounted said reed plate 27. Said members are coextensive with the length of the keyboard 17 and provide a sufiiciently large opening for air or wind to pass through the different reed openings or passages 28 when one or more of the keys 18 and 19 are depressed or into the chamber 44 and pass therethrough when any of the buttons 21 are depressed to open valves 34 of reeds 35.

It will be noted that compartment 26 is sealed and is provided with air space for the reed plate and also an opening 45 at the floor board 46 of the compartment.

Mounted over said opening and fixed to said floorboard 46 there is an impeller 47 with a motor 50 mounted inside a hollow funnel or truncated section 48 onto which theimpeller 47 is axially mounted as shown. Said motor 50 is connected with a source of electricity by means of aconductor cord 51 controlled by a switch 52 shut off when cover is down on top plate, and when operated causes the impeller to build air pressure in compartment 26 for the continuous and proper operation of the instrument.

It will be noted that as stated when the motor and impeller "are operating, the pressure of the air in the compartment builds up and on depression of keys 18 and/or 19, the air escapes through the reed plate 27 to produce the desired music. In other words, there is always available a supply of air under pressure to insure suflicient air to permit easy and rapid playing of music according to the keys and chord selected. The instrument as constructed gives a complete chromatic run of music. The sealed air compartment beneath the key and bass board section permits a continuous supply of air under pressure to facilitate smooth playing with the instrument. Also, there are no normal air outlets in the compartment except through the valves and reed plates. Furthermore, it will be noted that as shown in FIG. 8 there are provided rows of transverse crankshafts terminating the crank arms 31 at their left hand ends and at right angles thereto which operate valves 34 the same as the others on the keyboard. However, there are varying combinations of valves being lifted when the buttons 21 are depressed so that sometimes both valves 34 are lifted by the same button 21.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes or modifications as to form, structure, arrangement of parts auduse of materials may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A portable type of table organ comprising a cabinet, a keyboard consisting of flat, sharp and normal note keys, .a bass button board, said cabinet having an inner compartment within said cabinet mounted below the keyboard and the bass button board, a series of sound valves beneath said keyboard and operable by said keys, an impeller in the compartment for building fluid pressure in the compartment, means for operating said impeller, and means for keeping said cabinet in upright position; whereinwind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

2..A portable organ type of musical instrument for table use, comprising a cabinet having a sealed compartment, a lid hinged to the top of said cabinet, a keyboard and bass keyboard within the cabinet, 2. valved reed plate for operation by said keyboard and said bass keyboard, an impeller inside the compartment for building up air pressure in the compartment and causing said air to flow through selected portions of said reed plate upon actuation of the keyboard and bass keyboard keys; wherein Wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

3. In a portable electrically operated reed type organ instrument comprising a cabinet having a pivoted lid on the top thereof, and a sealed compartment in said cabinet having a plurality of openings therein, a keyboard and bass keyboard, a reed frame for said keyboard and said bass keyboard, said frame having reeds matching the keys of the keyboard and bass keyboard, an impeller in the com- 4. A portable electrically operated type of organ instrument of the character described, comprising a cabinet, a keyboard, keys for playing natural notes and sharps and flats and another keyboard with a combination of keys for forming major, minor, seventh and combined chords; said cabinet having a sealed compartment therein, and having a plurality of openings therein, said keys for sharps and flats having downwardly extending portions, operative upon key depression to induce reed covering, a reed plate with reeds corresponding with each of the notes of both of said keyboards, separate occlusion means for said reeds operatively connected to a downwardly extending portion of each said key for reed keying, impeller and motor means connected to and operatively associated with said compartment for increasing the air pressure in the compartment whereby upon actuation of the keys suflicient air passes through the reeds of the reed plates to sound the same, and means for energizing the motor; wherein wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

5. A portable type of electrically operated instrument for tables and the like comprising a cabinet having a lid hinged thereto, a keyboard and a bass keyboard disposed under the lid, said keyboard having keys pivoted thereto and having key extensions thereon, said cabinet having an inner sealed compartment, reed plates therein, having reeds corresponding with each of the notes of both of said keyboards and which are adapted to be occluded by the extensions of the keys, a portion of said cabinet having a plurality of openings for the escape of air therethrough, impeller and motor means for said compartment for increasing the air pressure in the compartment whereby upon actuation of the keys sufiicient air passes through the reeds of the reed plates associated with each keyboard, and means for energizing the motor; wherein wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

6. A portable type of organ comprising a cabinet having an upper lid pivotally mounted thereon, a keyboard and a bass keyboard for producing treble and bass tones, said cabinet having disposed beneath the keyboard a compartment, having a series of reeds therein, one for each of the notes of the keyboards, an impeller means for increas ing the air pressure in said compartment to force air through the selected reeds upon playing of the notes of the keyboard; wherein wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

7. In a portable type organ, a cabinet having an upper lid pivoted thereon, a series of sharp and flat note playing keys pivotally mounted and having rearwardly extending portions, a bass keyboard having a plurality of buttons in association with downwardly slidable extensions adapted to produce treble and bass tones, said cabinet having a compartment disposed beneath the said keyboard, at least one reed for each of the notes of the said keys and the said keyboard, one of said reeds being covered by each of such extending portions and impeller means in the compartment for increasing the air pressure in said compartment to permit suflicient air under pressure to pass through the reeds selected by depressing keys corresponding to the notes of the keyboard; wherein wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

8. In a portable organ instrument of the character described, a cabinet having a baseboard, a keyboard consisting of sharp, flat and normal keys and a bass keyboard, each of said keys being pivotally mounted on the baseboard and having an extension thereon, said bass keyboard being adjacent the said keyboard and comprising a plurality of buttons, downward button extensions, and spring returned, button extension actuated valve levers associated with each said button, said cabinet having an inner sealed compartment, reed platesin the compartment with reeds corresponding with each of the notes of both top thereof forms the baseboard, impeller means for increasing the air pressure in the compartment whereby upon actuation of the keys and buttons against the associated spring action said valves are raised and suflicient air passes through the reeds of the reed plates for organ playing, and means for rotating the said impeller means; wherein wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

9. A portable organ type instrument of the character described comprising a cabinet, standing means for said cabinet, a baseboard, a keyboard and a bass keyboard, said cabinet having an inner sealed compartment, the roof thereof being formed of the said baseboard, reed plate means having reeds corresponding with each of the tones of both said keyboard and said bass keyboard mounted in the compartment, the compartment having at least one free opening, impeller means inside the compartment for increasing the air pressure in the compartment whereby upon actuation of keyboard keys sufficient air tone sounding passes through the reeds of the reed plates, a housing, a motor in said housing in connection with said impeller and means for energizing the motor; wherein wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

10. A portable electrically operable organ type of musical instrument comprising a cabinet, a movable lid forming the top of the cabinet, a baseboard comprising the top of a compartment, a keyboard disposed above said baseboard, manually operable keys pivotally mounted thereon, said keys each having a rearward extension portion, a reed plate mounted under the baseboard, said plate having a series of spaced vibratable reeds thereon each of said reeds being normally covered by the corresponding rearward extension portion of the respective key; a bass keyboard containing a plurality of buttons, spring biased extension means associated with each of the said buttons, a reed plate having vibratable reeds normally covered by said extension means and impeller means adapted to impel air through cooperating reeds when said keys and buttons are operated; wherein wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

11. A portable electrically operable organ type of musical instrument comprising a cabinet, a movable lid forming the top of the cabinet, a baseboard having a compartment thereunder and comprising the top thereof, a keyboard disposed above said baseboard, having manually operable keys, pivotally mounted key extensions on said keys, a reed plate mounted under said baseboard, said plate having a series of spaced vibratable reeds thereon each being normally covered by the corresponding key extension of a respective key; a bass keyboard containing a plurality of buttons, spring biased extension means operatively associated with each of said buttons, 21 reed plate having vibratable reeds normally covered by said extension means and impeller means adapted to impel air through the reeds when corresponding keys and buttons are operated; wherein wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

12. A table type organ comprising manual control means consisting of a keyboard having a set of keys and a set of bass buttons adjacent thereto, a cabinet supporting said control means and having a wind compartment, an impeller within the wind compartment adapted to provide constant air pressure therein, reed plate means mounted within said cabinet and extending at least partially within the wind compartment, and a plurality of valve means linked to said manual control means for causing escape of compartment air through said reed plate means under control of said control means; wherein wind pressure is created by rotation of an unassisted impeller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,084,266 George et a1 June 15, 1937 2,111,953 Turturro Mar. 22, 1938 2,185,932 Skinner Jan. 2, 1940 2,556,408 Abern et al June 12, 1951 2,659,261 Magnus Nov. 17, 1953

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