US3098888A - Electrical musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1963 D. J. TOMCIK ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 21, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jay- Staffe, lief/wel?,

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 23, 1963 D. J. ToMclK ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 21, 1961 35, RNS@ July 23, 1963 D. J. ToMclK 3,098,888

ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT A Filed March 21, 1961 s sheets-sheet s infor/veufs 3,098,888 ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Daniel J. Tomcik, Buchanan, Mich., assigner to Electro- Voice, Incorporated, Buchanan, Mich., a corporation of Indiana Filed Mar. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 97,354 13 Claims. (Cl. 84-l.l7)

The present invention relates generally to electrical musical instruments, and more particularly to electrical chord organs.

Most organs have at least two keyboards or manuals. The first manual fof an electrical organ has a first group of keys coupled to a first group of electrical tone gener`- ators which are provided with a first group of voicing filters. The second manual has a second group of keys which 'are coupled to a second group or" electrical tone generators which are provided with a second group of voicing filters. Such an instrument permits the simultaneous production of musical notes from both groups of keys of the keyboard with different voices from the two groups of keys. The two keyboards may be mounted in alignment to dorm a split keyboard, that is, a keyboard which Ilias no divider between the manuals and the manuals are on the same plan'e, as disclosed by Langer in United States Patent No. 2,458,178.

In order to reduce the number of keys ot the keyboard, and `also to simplify the requirements for playing the instrument, some electrical musical instruments utilize only a single keyboard and a plurality of chord but-tons. The single keyboard is played by the right hand and actuatcs switches controlling electrical tone generators to produce the melody of the music. Each button aotuates a plurality of switches which energize a plurality of electrical tone generators to produce a chord, so that actuation of a single button simultaneously produces all of the musical notes lof a chord. A chord organ of this type has limited usefulness, since regular piano or organ music cannot wholly be interpreted on the instrument. Vamps, contramelody, melody and other piano and organ techniques played with the left hand cannot be executed with such a chord torgan. Further, there is a limited use 'for such an organ in the education of an artist.

Lt is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical musical instrument which may be, at the option of the artist, played as a chord organ or as a two manual organ, and particularly a split keyboard two manual organ.

It i's a xfurther object of the present invention to provide an electrical musical instrument of the keyboard type with a novel and improved keyboard switch mechanism.

It will `be recognized upon further consideration vof the present invention that it is a general object of the invention to provide an electrical organ which is both more versatile than existing instruments and loss costly than those instruments which are comparable in a generic sense. These objects and advantages of the .present invention Will be more fully appreciated upon ya further consideration of this disclosure, particularly when viewed in the light of the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an electrical organ constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram 'of a portion lof the electrical organ illustrated in block `diagram in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the underside of the keyboard of the musical instrument;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the keyboard taken along the line 4 4 et FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevational View of one of the contact 3,898,888 Patented July 23, 1963 ice members of the keyboard illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The electrical organ illustrated in :the figures is a preferred construction of the present invention, and the presen-t invention can ybe practised ywith many other constructions. The electrical organ illustrated lin FIGURE 1 h-as an `oscillator assembly 10 which contains an electrical tone generator or oscillator with the frequency lof each [of the musical notes which ythe organ is capable of producing, with the exception ot notes at the lowest frequencies of the orga-n. This low frequency group of notes are produced by a frequency divider 12 in the form of a multivibrator which is connected to the low frequency oscillators or generators of the oscillator assembly 10 through a pedal clavier 14. The pedal clavier 14 of one particular construction described throughout this application has 13 pedals. The 13 lowest frequency tone generators of the oscillator 1li are connected through the pedal clavier 14 to the multivibrator 12.

These 13 tone generators are a part of a first group of tone generators which are connected to a first manual or keyboard v16, and each lof the keys of this manual 16 is provided with a gang ,of switches 1'7 mechanically coupled thereto. One of the switches 18 of each gang 17 is utilized to produce the fundamental frequency of the tone generator of the ioscillator assembly 10. A second switch 2d of the gang 17 is utilized to connect this saine tone generator with :the input of the multivibrator 12 to produce an electrical signal having a frequency one octave below that of the fundamental tone generator, and at least one chord addition switch 2,2 is used to connect one of the other tone generators into the circuit to produce the desired chord. As will be clear trom a description of FIGURE 12, the bass switches 20 which are utilized to produce the lowest octave of frequencies fare connected through a chord switch 24 Ito the multivibrator, Iand the pedal clavier 14 is also connected through this chord switch 24. In like manner, the chord addition switches 22 are connected through the chord switch 24.

The outputs of the multivibrator 12 and manual 16 `are connected to the input of an accompaniment lter 26 which permits the selection of ione of a plurality of voices for the low frequency or lett hand notes of the torgan. The output of the accompaniment filter 26 is connected to a preamplifier 28, and the preamplifier is connected to a power amplifier 30. A loudspeaker 32 is connected to the output or" the power amplifier. A swell shoe 34 is also connected to the preamplifier 28 in order to manually modulate the amplitude of the organ tones produced.

The oscillator assembly 10 also has a second and higher frequency group of tone generators, and these time generators of the second group are connected to a second manual 36. The manual 36 is connected through a second voicing filter 38 to the input of the preamplifier 38. The torgan also has a vibrato generator 40 which is connected to the oscillator assembly 10 to modulate the amplitude of the tone generators at a vibrato rate.

From FIGURE 2, the first group of tone generators of the tone generator assembly can be identified as the tone generators for the notes C1, Clit, D1, Dlt, E1, F1, Flil, G1, Glii, A1, Alli, B1, C2, Cgil, D2, Dgil, and E2, these Outputs being indicated within the bracket 42. 'Ihe second group of tone generators comprise all of the other tone generators which are the immediately higher frequency notes of the evenly tempered scale, and these have been designated within the bracket 44. All of the outputs of the oscillator assembly 1l) are connected to a multiconductor cable 46 which connects each of the outputs of the oscillator assembly 1li to its associated switches of the first manual 16, the second manual 36 or the pedal clavier 14. For example, the lowest frequency tone generator of the oscillator assembly 1l) has a frequency corresponding to the note `C1 which is 65.4 cycles per second, and the multiconductor cable 46 connects 'this output terminal to the first switch 18 of the key for playing the note C1, designated 48a in FlGURE 2. The multiconductor cable 46 also connects the output for the tone generator producing the note `C1 to the switch 52a associated with the lowest frequency pedal of the pedal clavier 14 so that the note C one octave below this note may be produced through the pedal clavier and the multivibrator 12. It is also clear from FIGURE 2 that each of the keys has two chord addition switches 22a and 221; ganged with the switches 1S and 20, and that the multiconductor cable 46 connects these switches to the appropriate outputs of the oscillator assembly l() to produce the desired chords.

The chord switch 24 actually includes three separate sections 50a, Stlb and 50c which are ganged together. Each of the sections of the chord switch 24 has two stationary contacts and a movable contact. The movable contact of the section Stia of the chord switch 24 is connected to each of the stationary contacts of the switches 22a and 22b which are associated with the keys of the first manual. One or" the stationary contacts of the section Stia, which has been designated on is connected to each of the stationary contacts of the switches 1S associated with the keys of the first manual and also to the input of the accompaniment filter 26. The other stationary contact of the section 50a, designated off is connected to ground. IThe stationary contact of section Slib which corresponds to the first stationary contact of the section Stia is connected to each of the stationary contacts of the switches 20 associated with the keys of the first manual. In addition, this stationary contact is also designated on and connected to the second stationary contact of the third section Stic of the switch 24 which is designated off The movable contact of the second section Stirb is connected to the input of the multivibrator 12. The movable contact of the third section 50c of the chord switch 24 is connected to ground. The second contact of the section 50h is connected to the movable contact of the first switch 52a of the pedal clavier i4.

It is to be noted that the second manual 36 has keys which are associated with each of the tone generators of the second group 44, and it also has keys which are associated with the twelve highest frequency tone generators of the first group 42. In this manner, the melody may be played on the second manual including the twelve highest frequency notes of the first group of tone generators. Obviously, the invention may be practiced with or without this overlapping feature and with more or less overlapping than has been here provided.

lf it is desired to use the chord feature of the organ shown in FIGURES l and 2, the chord switch 22 is put in the on position, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. It is to be noted that the position of the chord switch 24 does not aifect the connection of the stationary contacts of the switches 1S associated with the keys of the first manual with the input of the accompaniment filter 26. It does, however, connect the stationary contacts of each of the switches 22a and 22h associated with the keys of the first manual to the input of the accompaniment filter 26 through the first section Stia of the chord switch 24. In addition, the stationary contacts of the switches 20 are connected through the section 50h of the chord switch 24 to the input of the multivibrator l2 to produce a note one octave below the fundamental frequency of the note played. ln the on position the third section Stic of the chord switch 24 has no efiect. However, in the off7 position, the third section 50c of the chord switch 24 connects the stationary contacts of the switches 20 to ground. In the o position, the second section 56h of the chord switch 24 connects the input of the multivibrator 12 to the pedal clavier 14.

It is to be noted that the pedal clavier 14 has a switch 52a, 5211, 52C, etc. associated with each of the pedals thereof. Each of these switches has a stationary contact which is connected through the multiconductor cable 46 to one of the tone generators of the first group of tone generators of the oscillator assembly 10. The first switch 52a of the pedal clavier i4 has a movable contact which is connected, as stated above, to the off stationary contact of the section Sflb of the chord switch 24, and each of the switches also has a second stationary Contact. The second stationary Contact of the switch 52a is connected to the movable contact of the switch 52h, and the second stationary Contact of the switch 52h is connected to the movable contact of the switch 52e, and the other switches of the pedal clavier are also connected in the same manner. The switches are normally in the position in which the movable contact abuts the second stationary contact, as shown in FIGURE 2. As a result, when more than one pedal of the pedal clavier 14 -is depressed, the lowest tone represented by the depressed pedals alone is produced.

The specific construction of the tone generators has not been illustrated, since there are many well known musical instrument tone generators. A particularly suitable tone generator for use in the present electrical organ is that disclosed in the patent application of Daniel J. Tomcik entitled Oscillator and Frequency Divider Assembly, Serial No. 75,270, filed December l2, 1960.

It is to be noted that each of the keys of the second manual has but a single switch 53 associated therewith, and the stationary contact of each of the switches S3 is connected to the input of the voicing filters 3S. The movable contact of each of the switches 53 is also connected to the multiconductor cable 46 through a resistor 54. In like manner, each of the switches 18, 20, 22a, and 22b associated with the keys of the first manual are connected to the multiconductor cable 46 through a resistor 54.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 illustrate Ithe construction of the switches 18, 2i), 22a, `and 22b, associated with `the keys of the first manual 16. The keys 4S are mounted on a support bracket 56 which extends the entire Ilength of the first and second manuals t6 and 36. The support bracket 56 has a plate 58 and depending por-tions at opposite ends of the plate designated 6) and 62 which mount the support bracket 56 to ya cabinet. rPhe :switches i8, 29, 22a, tand 2211 are mounted in an assembly 64 which is disposed between the portions et) and 62 and which is secured to the underside of the plate 5B by :a pai-r of angular members 66. Each key 48 is pivotal-ly mounted adjacent to one end on a knotched member 68 which extends from .the plate 68 adjacent to the portion 62 of the bracket '56, and a spring 7G extends between the bracket 56 and 1an extension portion 72 of each key 4S to spring bias the key in a direction away from the switch assembly 64. A guide member 74 mounted on the bracket 56 adjacent to the portion 6ft) .also extends into an indentation 75 of each key 43 to maintain it in alignment.

The switch assembly l64 itself comprises a plurality of sheets 76 of electrically insulating material, such as fiberboard or Bakelite. in the particular construct-ion, 13 sheets 76 :are employed, and .these ysheets are mounted in a stack to form a laminated `structure by ymeans of ,a plurality of bolts 78 which extend through the sheets, and two of `the bolts 73 :also secure the stack of sheets to the mounting brackets 66. Each of the sheets 76 is provided with la first row lof rectangllar openings `Sti of equa-l size', and a second row -of rectangular openings 82 also of equal size. In this manner, each sheet is provided with a longitudinal rib 84 between the openings 8i) `and 82 and .a lateral rib lS6 between adjacent openings Sti and adjacent openings 82. In effect, the openings '8b yalso forni a bib 38 on the side lof .the opening opposite the longitudinal rib 84, and the openings S2 orm a third lateral rib 9d on the side thereof opposite the first lateral rib 84. The sheets 76 are assembled with lthe openings titi and 82 in alignment, .so that the laminated structure which results from `assembly of the sheets 76 also has openings epesses which extend therethrough corresponding to the openings 80 and 82.

'I'lre second and third sheets designated 76a land '7611, have confronting grooves 92 which are disposed parallel to the second longitudinal rib 88 and `adjacent thereto, and a lfirst bar 94 of electrically conducting material is clamped within the grooves 92 of the sheets '76a and 7617. ln like manner, the fifth and sixth sheets designated 76C and 76d, have confronting grooves 92 which are parallel to the second longitudinal rib Sti :and a second bar 96 of electrically conduct-ing material is clamped within .these grooves 92. Also, the eight and ninth sheets, designated 7 6e and "761i, are provided with confronting grooves parallel to the second longitudinal rib 88, `and a third bar 9S of electrically conducting material is disposed within these grooves 92. 'Ilhe electrically conducting bars 94, 96, and 98, Iare disposed in a comm-cn plane normal to the planes of the sheets 76.

An elongated contact member 101B` is clamped at one end between the portions of the first sheet, designated 76g, and the -second sheet 76a, used to .form the longitudinal rib 84, and the contact member extends from the 'longitudinal rib 84 normal to the bar 94 and terminates in confrontation with the bar 94. The first :sheet 7 6g is provided with two spaced bores 102 along an axis normal to Ithe bar 94 which accommodate two spaced prongs 11M which extend 4from the contact member 100 and maintain the contact member normal to the bai 94. As is clear from FIGURE 5, the prongs 104 are for-med by bending cutouts in a iiat elongated strip 166 of electrically conducting resilient material. The ends of this strip 166 opposite the prongs 104, carries a circular prong itl-8 of material of higher resilience than the strip 106.

It is thus clear that while lthe :strip 106 is capable of bending upon actua-tion, the outwardly extending prong 108 is capable of substantially greater bending. The strip 1116 also has an aperture 110 located therein between the prongs 104 and the end of the str-ip.

A second contact member 112 is mounted between the fourth sheet 76h and fifth sheet 76e. This second contact member is similar in construction to the first contact member 100, `and lthe outwardly extending prong 108 thereof confronts the second bar 96. yIn like manner, a third electrically conducting contact member 114 -is mounted between the seventh sheet 76 and eighth sheet 76e. The third contact member 114 also has an outwardly extending prong 108 which confronts the third bar 98. rIhe outwardly extending prongs 1118 of the first contact member 161i, second contact member 112, and third contact member 114, `all confront :the bars 94, 96 or 9S, respectively, on the side of the bar-s confront ing .the i-rst sheet 76g so that movemen-t of the contact members in a direction away from the first sheet 76g will cause the contact members .to abut the bars.

A fourth contact member 116 is mounted between the tenth sheet 76j and the eleventh sheet 76k, and it also is of similar construction to the contact members 101i, 112, and 114. There is one major difference between these contact members, and that difference concerns the existence and size of the :aperture .110. The contact member 116 has no aperture, while the contact member 114 has but a small aperture, the contact member 112 :a larger aperture, and the contact member 161i has the largest aperture. An actuator pin 118 extends through the apertures 110 in the contact members 160, 112, and 114, `and has yan end portion 119 which .terminates in abutment with the .contact member 116. The actuator pin also has a portion 12d disposed between the second and third contact members 112 and 114, with `a greater diameter than the aperture in the third contact member, but smaller than aperture in the second contact member. In like manner, the actuator pin y118` has a cylindrical portion 122 located between the rst `and second contact members 1111i and 112 which has a diameter bigger than the aperture in the contact member 112 `and smaller than the 6 taper-ture in the contact member x Also, the actuator pin has a portion 124 of larger diameter .than the aperture in the first contact member 100 which abuts this contact member. It is thus clear that a force applied to this latter portion 124 will result in movement of all four of the contact members.

The prong 108 of the lfourth contact .member 116 is disposed :between two contact plates .126 and 128. The contact plates fare provided with rectangular ndentations 130, and the rectangular indentation l of the contact plate 123 is disposed Iabout the first rib 88 of the tenth sheet 76j. In like manner, the rectangular indentation 13) of the contact plate 126 is disposed about the fir-st rib `S3 of the .twelfth plate 761. Both of the plates 126 `and 123 extend outwardly from the laminated structure to form contact terminals 132. In this manner, the fourth contact member 116 makes contact with one of the contact plates 126 or 128 only.

Terminal strips 134 are also disposed between the sheets '76 in the third rib 96, these terminal strips 134 being eiigned with the contact members. The terminal strips terminate at their ends Iadjacent to the contact strips in flanges 136 which are normal to the strips 134, and .the confronting ends of the Contact strips-also terminate in iianges 138. An electrical component, suchas the resistor 54, is connected between Ithe flange 136 of the terminal strip 134 and the flange 138` fof the contact strip 1116. AIt is to be noted that the terminal strips 134 are also provided with two outwardly extending prongs 140 which mate in lbores |in the third rib 90 lof the assembly of sheets 76.

It is to be noted that each of the keys of the first manual 16 actuates the four contact strips 100, 112, I114, and 116 of the switch assembly 64. The switch 18 is formed by the contact strip 100 and bar 94. In like manner, the switch 20 is formed by the contact strip 1-16 and the contact plates 126 and 128. The switches 22a are formed by the Contact strips 112 and conducting bar 96, While the switches 22b are formed by the contact strips l1&14 and the bar 98. It is also to be noted that the switches 53 of the second manual 36 are constructed in essentially the same manner as the switches 18 which are described in FIGURESy 3 and 4, except that only one contact member is employed, and this contact member corresponds to the contact member 116 of the switch assembly 64 in that the aperture 11i)1 is omitted. It is, of course, unnecessary in the switches of the second manual to utilize more than three sheets 76 of insulating material of a single conducting rod corresponding to the rod 94.

Each actuator pin 124 is aligned with an actuator key 142 which is mounted on one of the keys 48. When a key 48 of the rst manual is depressed, it causes the actuator pin to move the four contact members 100, 112, 114 and 116 and effect switching action. The spring '70 returns the key 48 to its rest position.

It will be recognized that the switch assembly 64 here disclosed is adapted for mass production techniques, and effectively provides gang switching in a very small area. In addition, it is to be noted that when the chord switch 24 is in the off position, the switching mechanism is effective to play the fundamental note, for example, the switch 48a will then play the note C1. When the chord switch 24 is in the on position, this same key 48a plays a chord in which the note C1 is fundamental, that is, it plays the chord C1, El, G1 and in addition, adds the bass note C0. The other keys of the first manual 16 operate in the same manner. It is thus clear that an electrical musical instrument has been provided in which the low frequency or left hand manual may be used at the option of the artist to play chords or fundamental notes in the same manner of either of split keyboard organ or a chord organ.

From the foregoing disclosure, those skilled in the art will readily devise many and additional uses for the present invention, and will clearly foresee many additional advantages of the structures herein set forth. It is therefore intended that the scope of the present invention be not limited by the foregoing disclosure, but rather only by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical organ comprising, in combination, a plurality of electnical generators having frequencies in the audio range respectively corresponding to successive notes of a musical scale, an electroacoustic transducer having an input for electrical signals, a first keyboard and a second keyboard disposed in a common plane adjacent to each other, a first electrical switch mechanically coupled to each key of the first keyboard and the second keyboard, each of the first switches being normally open and electrically connected between the input of the electroacoustic transducer and one of the tone generators, a second switch mechanically ganged to each first switch associated with a key of the first keyboard, the second switch being normally open and having two terminals, a manually actuable third electrical switch having a first terminal connected to the input of the electroacoustic transducer and a second terminal connected to one terminal of each second switch, the other terminal of each second switch being electrically connected to two tone generators different than the tone generator connected to the first switch associated with the same key of the first keyboard, said three tone generators associated with each key of the first keyboard having frequencies corresponding to the notes of a musical chord.

2. An electrical organ comprising a plurality of audio frequency tone generators having output frequencies respectively corresponding to successive notes of a musical scale, an electroacoustic transducer having `an input for electrical signals, a first keyboard and a second keyboard, a first electrical switch mechanically coupled to each key of the first and second keyboards, each of said first switches being normally open and electrically connected between the input of the electroacoustic transducer and one of the tone generators, characterized by the improved construction wherein a second switch is mechanically ganged to each first switch associated with a key of the first keyboard, each of said second switches being normally open and 'having two terminals, and a manually actuable electrical third switch having a first terminal connected to the input of the electroacoustic transducer and a second terminal connected to one terminal of each of the second switches, the second terminal of each second switch associated with a key of the first keyboard being electrically connected to a tone generator having a frequency constituting with the tone generator connected to the first switch associated with said key the notes of a musical chord.

3. An electrical organ comprising the elements of claim 2 wherein the first and second switches associ-ated with each key of the first keyboard are disposed in a common assembly comprising a plurality of sheets of electrically insulating material, means -for assembling Said sheets into a laminated structure, said laminated structure having an opening extending therethrough, a first electrically conducting bar disposed between two abutting sheets and a second electrically conducting bar disposed between another two abutting sheets, said bars being parallel to each other 'and extending through the opening in the laminated structure, a first elongated contact member mounted at one end between two abutting sheets generally normal to the first bar and extending to confront the first bar at the other end, a second elongated Contact member mounted at one end between another two sheets normal to the second bar and extending to confront the second bar at the other end, the first and second contact members being of' resilient electrically conducting material and constituting the second terminal of each switch, the electrically conducting bar constituting the first terminal of each switch.

4. An electr-ical organ comprising a plurality of audio frequency tone generators having output frequencies respectively corresponding to successive notes of a musical scale, an electroacoustic transducer having an input for electrical signals, a first keyboard and a second keyboard, a first electrical switch mechanically coupled to each key of the first and second keyboards, each of said first switches being normally open and electrically connected between the input of the electroacoustic transducer and one of the tone generators, characterized by the improved construction wherein a second and a third switch are mechanically ganged to each rst switch associated with a key of the first keyboard, said second and third switches being normally open and having two terminals, a manually actuable electrical switch assembly including a first and second section mechanically ganged together, the first section having a first terminal connected to the input of the electroacoustic transducer and a second terminal connected to one terminal of each second switch, the other terminal of each second switch being electrically connected to a tone generator different than the tone generator connected to the first switch associated with lthe same key of the first keyboard and forming a chord with the tone generated by the generator connected to the first switch of said key, a frequency divider having an output terminal coupled to the electroacoustic transducer and an input terminal connected to one terminal of the second section of the manually actuable electrical Switch assembly, the other terminal of said second section being electrically connected to one terminal of each of the third switches, the other terminal of each of the third switches being electrically connected to the same tone generator as the first switch.

5. An electrical organ comprising the elements 0f claim 4 wherein the second section of the manual-ly operable switch assembly has a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact, the multivibrator being electrically connected to the movable contact and one of the stationary contacts being electrically connected to the one terminal of each of the third switches, lin combination with a pedal clavier having a plurality of pedals and an electrical switch mechanically associated with each pedal, leach switch of the pedal clavier having a first terminal electrically connected to one of the tone generators and la second terminal electrically connected -to the other stationary contact of the second section of the manually openable switch assembly.

6i. An electrical organ comprising `a plurality of audio frequency tone generators having output frequencies respectively corresponding to the successive notes of a musical scale, an electroacoustic transducer having an input for electrical signals, a first keyboard and a second keyboard, a first electrical switch mechanically coupled to each key of the first and second keyboards, each of said first switches being nonmally open and electrically connected between the input of the electroacoustic transducer and one of the tone generators, a second electrical switch mechanically coupled to each key of the first keyboard including @a plurality of sheets of insulating material, said sheets being secured together to `form a laminated structure and said laminated structure having an opening therethrough, Aan electrically conducting bar disposed between the two sheets Iof insulating material and extending Aacross the opening, an elongated contact member having one end mounted between adjacent sheets of insulating material and the other end confronting the conducting bar, said contact member being constructed of resilient electrically conducting material, and an actuating member movtably mounted to abut the contact member between the two ends thereof and move the contact member relative to the electrically conducting bar, said second switches being normally open, and a manu-ally actuable electrical switch having a first terminal connected to the input ofthe electroacoustic transducer and a second terminal connected to the electrically conducting bar of 9 eac-h yof the second switches, the contact member of each of the second switches being connected to a [different tone generator than the tone generator connected to the first switch associated with the same key of the first keyboard.

7. An electrical organ comprising the elements of claim 6 wherein the laminated structure of insulating sheets is provided with a second opening adjacent to the mounted end of the contact member, said mounted end of the contact member extending from the first opening into the second opening, a contact plate mounted -between sheets of the laminated structure 'and extending into the second opening, and .-an impedance element electrically connected between the contact plate and the contact member.

`8. An electrical organ comprising, in combination, a plurality of electrical generators having frequencies in the .audio range respectively corresponding to successive notes of fa musical scale, an electroacoustic transducer having lan input for electrical signals, 1a first keyboard and a second keyboard disposed in a common plane adjacent to each other, a first lelectrical switch mechanically coupled to each key of the first keyboard and the second keyboard, each of the first switches` being normally open and electrically connected between the input of the electroacoustic transducer and one of the tone generators, a second switch and a third switch mechanically ganged to each first switch associate with a key of the first keyboard, the second and third switches being normally open @and having two terminals, a manually actuab-le electrical switch assembly including la first and 4a second section mechanical-ly :ganged together, the first sectionhaving Ia first terminal connected to the input of the electroacoustic transducer and a second terminal connected to one terminal of each second switch, the other terminal of each second switch being electrically connected to two tone generators different than the tone generator connected to the first switch associ-ated with the same key of the first keyboard, said three tone generators associated with each key of the first keyboard having frequencies corresponding to the notes of a musical chord, la frequency divider having aan output Iterminal coupled to the electroacoustic transducer and an input terminal connected to one terminal of the second section of the manually actuable electrical switch assembly, the other terminal of said second switch being electrically connected to one terminal of each of the third switches, the other terminal of each of the third switches being electrically connected to the nametone generator yas the first switch ganged to said third switch.

9. A switch comprising a plurality of sheets of insulating material, said sheets being secured together to fiorm a laminated structure, said laminated structure having an opening extending lthere-through, an electrically conducting blar disposed between two sheets of insulating material :and extending across lthe open-ing, an elongated contact member having one end mounted between two sheets of insulating material and the other end confronting the conducting bar, said contact member being constructed of resilient electrically conducting material, and an actuation member movably mounted to abut the contact member between the two ends thereof and move the contact member relative to the electrically conducting bar.

10. A switch assembly comprising la plurality of sheets of electrically insulating material, means for assembling said sheet-s into a laminated structure, said laminated structure having an opening extending therethrough, la first electrically conducting bar disposed between two abutting sheets and a second electrically conducting bar disposed between another two abutting sheets, said bars being parallel to each other and extending through the opening in the laminated structure, a first elongated contact member mounted `at one end between two Iabutting sheets generally normal to the firs-t b-ar and extending to confront the first bar at the other end thereof, a second elongated contact member mounted at one end between another two sheets normal to the `seco-nd bar and extending to confiront the second bar at the other end thereof, said first land second contact members being of resilient elec- Itrieally conducting material, and an actuator member movably mounted to simultaneously engage and move the first and second contact members relative to the first and second bar-s.

ll. A switch assembly comprising a plurality of sheets of electrically insulating material, means for assembling said sheets into a laminated structure, said laminated structure having an opening extending therethrough, a first electrically conducting bar disposed between two abutting sheets, .a second electrically conducting lbar disposed between two tdifferent abutting sheets, said bars being parallel to each other and exten-ding through the opening in the laminated structure, a first elongated contact member mounted vat one end between two .abutting sheets generally norm-al to the first 'bar and extending to confront the first har `at the other end thereof, -a second elongated contact member mounted `at one end between another two sheets normal tothe ysecond bar and extending to confront the second bar at the other end thereof, said second contact member having an aperture therein, said first and second contact members being of resilient electrically conducting material, and an .actuator member movably mounted to simultaneously engage .and move the first 'and second contact members relative to the first and second bars, said actuator having a first portion of smaller cross-section than the aperture in the second cont-act member disposed within said :aperture and a second section of larger cross-section than said aperture, said first section terminating in abutment with the first contact member :and said second section terminating -in .abutment with the second contact member.

l2. A switch comprising a plurality of sheets of insulating material, said sheets being secured together to form a laminated structure, said laminated `structure having a first opening extending therethrough and -a second opening extending therethrough spaced `from the rst opening, said first |and second openings forming a .bar portion therebetween, `an electrically conducting bar disposed between two sheets of insulating material `and extending across the first opening at a distance from the bar portion, an elongated contact member having one end mounted between two sheets o-f insulating material in the bar portion of the laminated structure and the other end confronting the conducting bar, said contact member being constructed of resilient conducting material, a contact plate disposed between two sheets of the laminated structure 4and terminating within the .second opening, an impedance element having wire terminals mounted on the plate and contact member within the second opening, and an actuation member movably mounted to `abut the contact member between the two ends thereof and move the contact member relative to the electrically conducting bar.

13. A switch assembly comprising, in combination, a plurality of sheets of electrically insulating material, means for assembling said sheets int-o a laminated structure, said laminated structure having a first plurality of .aligned openings spaced from Ia second plurality of 4aligned openings forming a first longitudinal bar portion between the first group of openings and the second group of openings and `a plurality of lateral bar portions extending normally from the first bar portion, a first electrically conducting bar ldisposed between two abutting sheets parallel to the bar portion, and a second electrically conducting bar disposed between yanother two abutting sheets parallel to the first electrically conducting bar and on the same plane normal to the sheets as the first bar, said bars extending through the first group of openings in the laminated structure, a first elongated contact member disposed in each of the openings and mounted at one end between another two sheets in the first bar portion, said first contact members being normal to the first bar :and extending to confront the first bar at the other ends, a second elongated contact member disposed in each of the openings and "t l mounted at one end between two dierent sheets in the first -bar portion of the laminated structure, said second contact members being norm-a1 to the `second bar `and extending to confront the second bar at the other ends, said second contact members each having an aperture therein, tsaid first and second contact members being of resilient electrically conducting material, an actuator member having a first portion of smaller cross section than the aperture in the second contact member disposed within the aperture of each second contact member, each actuator member having `a second section of larger cross section `on said aperture, said rst section terminating in abutment with the confronting rst contact member and said second section terminating in abutment with the second contact member, an electrically conducting plate extending .into the second opening confronting each contact member, and an electrical impedance mounted between each contact member and one of the plates.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,542,065 Van Wye Feb. 20, 1951 12,557,133 Mork lune 19, 1951 2,583,566 Hanert Jan. 29, 1952 2,769,880 Holmqvist et al Nov. 6, 1956 2,970,200 Walker etal. Ian. 31, 19611 2,990,465 Dumke et al June 27, 1961

Claims (1)

1. AN ELECTRICAL ORGAN COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF ELECTRICAL GENERATORS HAVING FREQUENCIES IN THE AUDIO RANGE RESPECTIVELY CORRESPONDING TO SUCCESSIVE NOTES OF A MUSICAL SCALE, AN ELECTROACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER HAVING AN INPUT FOR ELECTRICAL SIGNALS, A FIRST KEYBOARD AND A SECOND KEYBOARD DISPOSED IN A COMMON PLANE ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER, A FIRST ELECTRICAL SWITCH MECHANICALLY COUPLED TO EACH KEY OF THE FIRST KEYBOARD AND THE SECOND KEYBOARD, EACH OF THE FIRST SWITCHES BEING NORMALLY OPEN AND ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED BETWEEN THE INPUT OF THE ELECTROACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER AND ONE OF THE TONE GENERATORS, A SECOND SWITCH MECHANICALLY GANGED TO EACH FIRST SWITCH ASSOCIATED WITH A KEY OF THE FIRST KEYBOARD, THE SECOND SWITCH BEING NORMALLY OPEN AND HAVING TWO TERMINALS, A MANUALLY ACTUABLE THIRD ELECTRICAL SWITCH HAVING A FIRST TERMINAL CONNECTED TO THE INPUT OF THE ELECTROACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER AND A SECOND SWITCH, THE OTHER TERMINAL OF EACH MINAL OF EACH SECOND SWITCH, THE OTHER TERMINAL OF EACH SECOND SWITCH BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO TWO TONE

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