US3058382A - Piano action - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1962 F, A. GUTH 3,058,382

PIANO ACTION Filed July 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l l? 4 37 ,y y l i A *n n 4 '47 59"` K y/ 57 4l f 2.1. 13

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PIANO ACTION Filed July 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 75 K n a A@ 7 /7 5 INVENTOR, Frederick A'. Guth BY W Oct. 16, 1962 F. A. GUTH 3,058,382

PIANO ACTION Filed July 24, 1959 s sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR, Frederick A. Gurh 7mm/M MW nited States 3,058,382 PIANO ACTION Frederick A. Guth, Rte. 3, Waverly, Ohio Filed `Iuly 24, 1959, Ser. No. 829,46() 4 Claims. (Cl. 84-249) This invention relates to certain new and useful irnprovements in piano action by which the string-striking hammer of a piano is actuated by depression of the key upon the keyboard.

The present invention is particularly adaptable to pianos of the upright type, and is more particularly devised to provide pianos of this type with an improved repetitive action, comparable to, and in some instances superior to, the action which is acquired in grand type pianos.

It has long ybeen a problem recognized by the manufacturers of pianos and of piano actions that the arrangement conventionally used in pianos of the upright type have been fundamentally incapable of the sensitive repetitive actions such as of a staccato nature which can more easily be achieved in a piano action of the grand piano type. It accordingly has been the purpose of many designers and inventors to attempt to solve the problem involved, and there have heretofore been numerous attempts along this general line. These attempts have, however, failed to provide an eillcient or commercially successful piano action which could effectively provide for a desired quickly repetitive action insuring against mis-striking of the key upon the keyboard, and further insuring that upon each stroke of the key the hammer would again strike the piano string.

The primary difficulty which has heretofore been encountered has resolved itself into the diiliculty of maintaining the jack or ily (which forms the connecting portion between the whip, which is actuated by the key, and the hammer butt which in turn actuates the hammer) iu suillcient contacting relationship with the hammer butt after initial striking, to insure that upon a repetition of the striking sufilcient contact between the ily and the hammer ybutt would be continued so that upon subsequent quick striking of the key the actuation of the hammer will result. Some attempts have led to a linking by positive linkage of the ily with the hammer butt. Other .arrangements have contemplated the projection of levers and arms from the hammer butt for the purpose of limiting the ily relative to the hammer butt and thereby accomplishing a continued relationship. Even these eiforts, however, have proven ineillcient primarily because the cumbersome nature of same has rendered them dilllcult of operation and maintenance as well as unsure in accomplishing the primary purpose desired.

The present invention contemplates the simple solution of the primary problem of providing for and insuring a repetitive action in a piano action of the upright and similar types by an improvement in the ily or jack in which the present invention is primarily concentrated, the improvement essentially comprising the provision of the ily or jack with a hammer butt-engaging tip, which is hingedly engaged with the main body of the fly, is positioned for hinging or pivoting away from the string, carrying the tip of the ily thereby with the body of the hammer butt, and which hinged tip is spring-urged to remain in contact with the hammerbutt and promptly to return to upright or erect position immediately upon the release of pressure upon the key, enabling the ily to maintain its position beneath the hammer butt and to be ready immediately for a repetition of the stroke whether the fly has straightened under the spring action to alined condition or whether it maintains a slightly hinged or bent condition.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new .and novel ily or jack for a piano action.

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A further object of the present invention is to prov1de such a ily or jack which includes a tip hllgedly Secured to the ily or jack.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide such a hinged ily or jack in -which the ily assembly includes spring means urging the hinged tip to return to alined position.

A further object of the invent1on 1s to prov1de in a piano action a hinged ily or jack in which the fly or Jack is disposed for the hinging of the t1p away from 'the string to be struck by the hammer actuated by htheaction.

A further object of the invention is to prov1de 1n such a hinged ily or jack a metallic tip actuated by a compression spring member for return to alined cond1t1on.

A further object of the invention is to prov1de 1n a hinged ily, a tip having spring means acting thereon to urge return of the tip to condition alined with the main body of the ily; and

A further object of the invention is to generally 1mprove the design, construction and eiilciency of ilies or jacks for piano actions.

The means by which the foregoing and other ob3ects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following speciilcation upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a piano action embodying an improved ily of the present invention with the actuating key in at-rest position.

FIG. 2 is a similar View on an enlarged scale illustrating the piano action including the ily of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in partially actuated condition.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the parts of the device with the key fully depressed and the hammer striking the string.

FIG. 4 is a greatly magnified fragmentary view illustrating details of a preferred embodiment of the ily of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the ily of FIG. 4 in hinged, actuated position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear view of the fly of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and S.

FIG. 7 is a View similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a modilication in the ily of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a View similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the ily of FIG. 7 in hinged actuated position.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. l0 is a further view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the ily of FIG. 9 in hinged actuated position.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, the present invention is illustrated in its several embodiments in connection with a typical piano action. There are herein shown -in the drawings a unit of a piano action including a single key and the action members related therewith, it being understood that similar action members are included with the other keys of the conventional set of keys incorporated in the piano.

In the present embodiment the keys of the individual units `of the piano action are primarily supported from a keyboard 13. Each of the keys 15 which is supported therefrom is mounted for a reciprocal action by depression pursuant to pressure by the iinger of the player and subsequent return to its normal or unactivated position after release of the pressure from the linger or hand of ythe player. These keys 15 are respectively mounted upon front key pins 17, which eilectively serve to guide the key in its Ireciprocal action, and are balanced about a cent-ral balance preferably being represented by a balance key pin 19.

To the rear end of keys are respectively connected linkage conventionally called stickers 21, the upper end of sticker 21 being firmly fixed to the rearward end of key 15, and at its lower end the sticker 21 is connected with a wippen or whip 23, the connection between sticker 21 and whip 23 preferably being a pivotal connection as at 24. Whip 23 is pivoted as at 25 to one or more flanges 26 which are rigidly fixed to the main rail 27 which extends throughout the piano action as is typical. Main rail 27 is preferably supported as from suitable framework 29 which consists of a number of similar elements spaced from place to place throughout the piano action, and which is adapted to support a number of the parts which are essential thereto.

Suitably mounted adjacent to and rearward of frame 29 are the piano lstrings 31 which are mounted upon and extended between back plate elements 33, 34. It will be understood that the back plate elements 33, 34 are supported in usual fashion from the main body of the piano.

Rearwardly of the flanges 26 a spoon 35 is mounted upon, carried by, and extends upwardly from the rearward end of `whip 23. The spoon engages against the lowermost end of a damper lever 37, a damper 39 being connected with the upper end of lever 37 and normally bearing against string 31 in order to `dampen the vibration of the string. It will, of course, be seen that, as is typical, the damper is movably responsive to activation of damper lever 37 to and from engagement with the strings so as to free the string 31 for vibration upon suitable contact therewith. Damper lever 37 is pivoted to a damper flange 41, damper fiange 41 being firmly fixed to main rail 27.

Also firmly fixed to main rail 27 and extending above the upper extremity thereof are hammer butt flanges 43, to the upper extremity of which are pivoted, as at 45, hammer butt means 47, a hammer shank 49 being fixed to the butt 47 and projecting upwardly therefrom. At its upper end a hammer 51 is fixed t0 shank 49, the hammer 51 being adapted for swinging movement into and out of contact with strings 31 so as to cause the vibration of the strings in the manner desired for effecting the tone of the piano. Also mounted upon frame 2.9 is an upper `or hammer rail 53 provided with suitable padding against which the hammer Shanks 49 rest when the hammers are not activated by the keys. Connected with hammer butt 47 and projecting forwardly therefrom is a catcher stem 55 to which is fixed a catcher 57, the catcher 57 being disposed in engageable alinement with a back check 59,

the back check 59 being mounted upon a back check wire or connection 61, back check wire 61 at its lower end being fixed to whip 23. Also, as is conventional, a bridle tape 63 extends from a bridle wire 65 which is attached to whip 23 into engagement with hammer butt 47. Further supported as from frame 29 are a series of regulator buttons 67 which are respectively disposed in association with each of the keys 15 of the piano action, and are positioned for adjustable arrangement to regulate the amount of movement responsive to the depression of the keys.

Rigidly fixed to whip 23, intermediate whip flange 26 and the pivot 24 by which sticker Z1 is connected to the forward end of the whip, is a jack flange 69, to which is pivoted as at 71 the lower end of a jack body 73. Adjacent, but forwardly offset from jack pivot 71, jack body 73 is provided with a forwardly extending jack heel 75 which overlies whip 23, and a compression spring 77 is interposed between heel 75 and the upper surface of whip 23 urging the maintenance of spacing between the heel and the whip during actuation of the present action. Heel 75 is alined with a regulator button 67, it being understood that each of the jacks in the composite piano action herein involved is respectively in alinement with the regulltor button 67 Which iS related with its interconnected I ack body 73 extends upwardly from whip 23 into adjacency with hammer butt 47, and at its upper end jack body 73 is provided with a jack tip 79 which is disposed in contact with the under surface of hammer butt 47. The jack body and jack tip, comprising the composite jack of the present invention, are effective to transmit to the hammer butt the thrust imparted upon actuation of the whip pursuant to depression of the key 15.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. l to 6, inclusive, jack tip 79 is hinged as at 8i1 to the uppermost end of jack -body 73. Preferably the hinge 81 is accomplished by providing jack tip 79 with a pair of forwardly extending flanges 83 which embrace jack lbody 73, and the hinge comprises a pivot as at 81 mentioned above extending through flanges 83 and the jack body 73.

The composite jack of the present invention, which as hereinabove described consists of the jack body and the jack tip hingedly connected therewith, further includes spring means which are adapted to urge the jack tip resiliently toward alinement with the jack body, means connecting the spring means with the jack body, and means connecting the spring means with the jack tip, these means also being effective to prevent the hinging of the jack tip toward the strings, and being further adapted to yield under appropriate pressure in order to permit the hinging of the jack tip away from the strings and toward the front of the piano action.

Thus in the preferred embodiment the spring means consist of a compression spring -means 85 mounted upon a rod 87 by which the spring is connected with jack tip 79, rod 87 passing through jack tip 79 and having a suitable head 89, the head 89 engaging against the tip 79 and being effective to limit the hinged movement of the tip rearwardly toward string 31. At its opposite end rod 87 is engaged with a plate 91 rigidly fixed to the upper end of jack body 73, the spring 85 ibeing adapted to yield under appropriate pressure so as to permit hinged movement of jack tip` 719 vfo1vvardly relative to jack body 73 against the resiliency of spring `85, with the spring constantly urging return of the tip toward aligned condition. Additionally, the tip 79 is provided with a lower portion 93 which extends below the uper extremity of the rear of jack body 73 and effectively adds means preventing hinged movement of tip 79 rearwardly toward the string so that the tip is prevented from moving rearwardly beyond alined condition with jack body 73.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 a modification of the composite jack is illustrated. In these figures of the drawings the jack body otherwise similar to jack body 73 is designated 173. To the upper end of jack body 173 .a jack tip 179 is hingedly secured as by a jack tip pivot 181. In this embodiment of the invention a rod 187 extends through jack body 173, being `fastened at one end to a plate 191, which in turn is connected with jack tip 179. At its opposite end, remote from plate 191, rod 187 is provided with a suitable head, and between the head and the jack body 173 .a compression spring 185 is mounted upon the rod. Thus it will be seen that in common with the composite jack of FIGS. l to 6 there is here an arrangement in which the composite jack is normally held in alined condition with the jack tip 179 alined with the jack body 173, with the composite means including limit means which are effective to prevent the jack tip from hinging rearwardly toward the strings of the piano about the hinge 181. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 these limit means primarily consist of the elongated plate 191 which extends below the upper extremity of the rear of body 123. The spring means are connected with the body of the jack and with the jack tip, and the spring is arranged to urge the jack tip into alinement with the jack body while being adapted to yield under appropriate pressure for hinged movement out of such alinement and forwardly away from the strings of the device.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 a further modification of the device is provided which is basically similar to the device as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, with the exception of the modlication in the spring means. As in FIGS. 7 and 8, there is a jack body 173 and a jack tip 179 hingedly connected to the jack body as at pivot 181. Also, there is a curved rod 187 connected at one end to a plate 191, which rod projects through the jack body 173 and includes at its outer end a head which is engaged with a spring means, in this instance consisting of a leaf spring 285.

In the operation of the piano action involving the present invention it is apparent from the structure as hereinabove described that a completely new and novel jack in several comparable forms is herein proposed. As a key 15 is depressed under the operation of the piano, the key pivots about the balance pin 19, elevating the rearward end of key 15 and carrying with it the upper end of sticker 21, thus elevating the forward end of whip 23. As is typical, as the whip 23 is elevated about its pivotal connection with the main rail the spoon 35 is forced against the damper lever, forcing the damper out of engagement with the string 31, and thus freeing the same for vibration upon striking by the hammer 51.

As the upward movement of the forward end of whip 23 is continued back check 59 is moved against the catcher 57, and, through the upward thrust against jack anges 69, the jack body 73, maintained in its relative position by jack spring 77, is likewise moved upwardly. Upon such upward thrust the jack tip 79 thrusts against hammer butt 47, beginning swinging movement of the hammer about the pivot 45 of the hammer butt to the hammer butt flange 43, this movement being accentuated due to the length of the hammer shank and the extent thereof above the hammer butt.

As this upward thrusting movement is continued by the interaction of the back check with the catcher, as well as the action of the composite jack against the hammer butt, the tendency is to force the jack away from the thrusting position .against the hammer butt. As this force develops under the operation of these elements, the jack tip 79, in its yielding mounting which is here shown, is enabled to fold or hinge forwardly away from its alinement with the jack body, and thus is enabled to permit the maintenance of the jack body in its alinement of thrust toward the hammer butt without requiring the forward deviation of the jack body or the composite jack away from such thrusting alinement. Thus the jack tip is enabled to fold over, as is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, so as to accomplish the completion of the upward lift of the whip while maintaining the engagement of the jack tip with the hammer butt, thus immediately upon the release of pressure upon key 15 and the consequent dropping of the whip to return toward its normal position the jack tip nevertheless is already in contact with the hammer butt and is immediately available upon the simplest of lengthening of position to again project into an alined condition under the action of the jack tip spring S5. It will be observed that even though the jack tip has not had an opportunity to fully return to condition alined with the jack body, nonetheless under the action of the jack tip spring urging the tip toward such alinement upon a repeated striking of the key and the continued contact of the jack tip with the hammer butt a repeated laction of the hammer may be thereby achieved.

As is further apparent comparable and similar actuations result from the variations in the composite jack structure such as are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and FIGS. 9 and 10.

It will be seen that the resilient hinging of the composite jack assists in the escape of the hammer from the string upon release of the key, yet maintains the jack tip engagement with the hammer butt for quick repetitive striking of the key and repeated actuation of the hammer.

It will be observed that tip 79 is essentially a flange like member, which may be metallic, and that portion 93 is a plate portion which serves as limit means for jack alinement. Additionally spring l is mounted within the tip and above the upper end of jack body 73.

I1: will be understood that each of the hinges or pivots between the jack bodies and the jack tips is cushioned as by means of a tough felt in manner similar to the conventional cushioning of the other hinge and/or pivot actions in the piano, as for example the cushioning of the pivot between the hamer butt and the butt ange. The cushioning has not been herein shown as` the same is well understood in the art of piano action.

I claim:

1. A composite jack for use in a piano which includes keys at the front of the piano for respectively actuating hammers to strike the strings of the piano positioned rearwardly of said keys, a piano action including a hammer having a hammer butt, and a Whip operable by one of said keys; said jack having a jack body pivoted at its lower end to said whip, a jack tip normally alined with said jack body and hinged to the upper end of said jack body, said tip being of a minor length relative to said jack body and embracing the opposite sides of the upper end of said body, said tip extending above and overlying the end of said body into engagement with said hammer butt, said tip being of substantially right angular formation and having an upper part engaging said hammer butt, a depending part extending downwardly from the rear thereof and having a pair of flanges embracing the sides of said jack body, the means hinging said tip to said body extending through said flanges to hingedly connect said tip to said body, limit means preventing hinging movement of said tip out of alinement toward said strings, spring means carried by and forming part of said composite jack, means mounting said spring means extending across lsaid jack body underneath said tip and below said upper part of the tip, said mounting means being connected respectively with said body and said tip and urging alinement of said tip with said body, said spring means being shielded by said tip, said spring means resiliently yielding to permit hinging movement of said tip out of alinement in a direction away from said strings, said tip thereby maintaining contact with said hammer `butt during key actuation for repeated thrust against said hammer butt.

2. In a piano in accordance with claim 1, a composite jack device in which said spring means is a compression spring.

3. In a piano in accordance with claim 2, a composite jack device in which said spring means is disposed above said jack body.

4. In a piano in accordance with claim 1, a composite jack device in which said limit means comprises plate means carried by said tip and extending below the upper extremity of the rear of -said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 651,799 Guild June 12, 1900 663,734 Darley Dec. 11, 1900 1,301,908 Clutsam Apr. 29, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS 471,440 Canada Feb. 6. 1951

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