US3139781A - Piano action - Google Patents

Description

ly 7, 1964 c. w. ANDERSEN ETAL 3,139,781

PIANO ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 20, 1959 9/ car/07 39: Q/dan/ y 1954 c. w. ANDERSEN ETAL 3,139,781

PIANO ACTION Original Filed July 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 h A Q INVENTORS, 'kfir'd 1 1 M75670 United States Patent 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-240) This invention relates generally to piano actions and more particularly to piano actions of the inverted-stickertype.

This application is a division of our copending application, Serial No. 828,176 filed July 20, 1959, and entitled Piano Action.

A general problem with piano actions of the invertedsticker-type is the proclivity of the stickers to fall in all directions when not connected to the piano keys. Accordingly, removal and reinstallation of such an action becomes quite difficult. It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide an improved piano action of the inverted-sticker-type in which the stickers are readily restrained for installation or removal of the action.

An additional problem encountered in installing or removing a piano action is the difficulty of transporting the action past the strings without inadvertently damaging the damper felts. Hence, another object of the invention is to provide a piano action in which the dampers are retracted when the stickers are restrained.

Additional objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structure and arrangements whereby the above objects are attained.

A structure in accordance with the invention comprises a piano key; a piano action including a sticker releasably attached to the key; an action bracket spaced from the piano key in supporting relationship with the piano action; and hook means on the action bracket for cooperating in holding the sticker when the sticker is released from the key.

The invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational, cross-sectional view showing a piano action constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, fragmentary view showing a number of stickers restrained by a dowel rod constrained in an action bracket; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view of the showing of FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, specifically to FIG. 1, a piano structure is shown to include a front panel 12, a keybed 14 and a frame 16. In conventional manner a backplate 18 is secured to the frame 16, piano strings 20 being suitably mounted to the backplate 18 in a taut condition. A balance rail (not shown) is mounted on panel 22 fastened to the keybed 14 in order to support a plurality of piano keys 24. While each key 24 pivots about the balance rail on a balance rail pin, aguide pin 26 guides the outer end of the key and is surrounded by a felt washer 27 which serves as a downstop. A keybed felt 28 is appropriately secured to the end of panel 22 in order to support key 24 in the rest position. 8

Depression of a key 24 is arranged to cause striking of the corresponding string 20 through a piano action assembly indicated generally at 30. The piano action 30 is mounted in the piano structure by means of a number of action brackets 32. Each of the brackets 32 is fastened to the backplate 18 by a screw 34 and a tubular, action spacer 36. A mainrail 38, a spring rail 40 and a hammer rail 42 extend through the piano to be atlixed to each of the action brackets 32 for purposes of supporting the individual action members.

Piano action 30 is of the inverted-sticker-type; and as is Well known, each hammer 44 of such an action includes a butt 46, butt 46 being pivotally mounted to the mainrail 38 by means of a butt flange 48. Hammer 44 is urged to strike a string 20 by means of a jack 50 which is pivotally mounted to a whip 52 by means of a jack flange 54. Whip 52 is, in turn, mounted pivotally to mainrail 38 by a whip flange 56, an abstract or sticker 58 being pivotally mounted to Whip 52 by a pin 60 in order to actuate jack 50 when the corresponding key 24 is depressed.

A screw 62 threadedly engages the free end of sticker 58, sticker 58 being preferably fabricated from wood or other rigid material. Accordingly, screw 62 can enter a hole bored axially in sticker 58 or can be screwed directly into the sticker. The screw 62 is provided with a knurled portion 64 which is adapted to retain above it a resilient grommet 66. As is best shown in FIG. 3, grommet 66 incorporates a circumferential slot 68. Grommet 66 is preferably molded from rubber although it can also be fashioned from felt.

A keyfork or yoke 70 is secured to the end of piano key 24, keyfork 70 being advantageously provided with a rearwardly opening notch adapted to receive grommet 66 at the circumferential slot 68. Keyfork 70 can be fabricated from steel and can be plated for corrosion resistance if desired.

The keyfork 70 is provided with a tongue which can be driven directly into key 24, preferably at an angle in order to keep from splitting the wood of which key 24 is customarily made. Advantageously, this tongue is coated with rosin in order to achieve better attachment.

When it is desired to remove the piano action 30, sticker 58 may be readily separated from key 24 by pushing grommet 66 from its engagement with keyfork 70. Next, sticker 58 is pushed back until it engages a backcheck 76 that is rigidly secured to Whip 52. Continued pushing of sticker 58 causes whip 52 to pivot about a pin 78; and as a result, a spoon 80 engages a damper lever 82 urging a damper 84 to pivot about a pin 86. This movement withdraws a damper felt 88 from contact with the corresponding stringZtl.

The piano action 30 will now be rearranged as shown in dashed outline in FIG. 1. In this configuration, it should be noted, sticker 58 is disposed to the rear of a hook 90 which projects from action bracket 32. Thus disposed, sticker 58 may be restricted in such position by means of a dowel rod 92 inserted longitudinally through action 30 between hook 90 and sticker 58, it being understood that each bracket 32 has such a hook 90, the dowel rod 92 being positioned behind all such hooks. This arrangement is shown clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As is suggested in FIG. 2, a number of stickers 58 can be restrained by the dowel rod 92. When all of the stickers 58 have been so restrained, the screws 34 may be loosened and withdrawn from the action brackets 32 and the entire action assembly easily Withdrawn from the piano. It will be recognized that retracting the dampers 84 as hereinabove described greatly facilitates removal of the action assembly by reducing the possibility of damage to the felts 88 as might be occasioned by their being dragged across or along the strings 20 upon removal of the action 30.

The above procedure is easily reversed for reinstallation of the piano action.

The specific example herein shown and described should be considered as illustrative only. Various changes in structure will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art; and these changes are to be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a piano action, the combination comprising: a swingably mounted whip; a linear sticker pivotally connected at one end to said whip and upstanding therefrom, said pivotal connection being aligned with the longitudinal axis of said sticker; a key; detachable means operatively connecting the opposite end of said sticker to said key; a plurality of action brackets each having support means thereon directed away from said key; an elongated member received by said support means and disposed transversely of said brackets and of said sticker to hold said sticker rearwardly away from said key upon said detachable means disconnecting said sticker from said key; a swingable damper; a piano string normally damped by said damper; and damper control means fastened to said whip on the side of the fulcrum thereof opposite said sticker for contacting and retracting said damper from said string upon pivoting of said whip during movement of said sticker toward said damper to the position in which it is held by said elongated member.

2. In a piano, the combination comprising: a piano structure; a piano string tautly mounted on said structure; a piano key fulcrumed on said structure; a piano action assembly including a linear sticker reieasably mounted at one end to said key, a swingable whip pivotally connected to the opposite end of said sticker said pivotal connection being aligned with the longitudinal axis of said sticker, a damper fulcrumed to pivot toward and away from said string, and damper control means on said whip whereby swinging of said whip acts to retract said damper from said string upon release of said sticker from said key and upon relocation of said sticker rearwardly of said key; a plurality of action brackets mounting said piano action assembly in said structure; an elongated member situatable transversely of and between said key and said sticker for holding the free end of said sticker upon detachment and rearward relocation of said sticker, said damper being thereupon retracted from said string; and hook means operative between each of said brackets and said member for restraining said member and holding said sticker in said position.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said hook means are formed integrally with said action brackets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,260,287 Betz Oct. 28, 1941 2,260,348 Stein Oct. 28, 1941 2,361,573 Stein Oct. 31, 1944

Claims (1)

1. IN A PIANO ACTION, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A SWINGABLY MOUNTED WHIP; A LINEAR STICKER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID WHIP AND UPSTANDING THEREFROM, SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION BEING ALIGNED WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID STICKER; A KEY; DETACHABLE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID STICKER TO SAID KEY; A PLURALITY OF ACTION BRACKETS EACH HAVING SUPPORT MEANS THEREON DIRECTED AWAY FROM SAID KEY; AN ELONGATED MEMBER RECEIVED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BRACKETS AND OF SAID STICKER TO HOLD SAID STICKER REARWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID KEY UPON SAID DETACHABLE MEANS DISCONNECTING SAID STICKER FROM SAID KEY; A SWINGABLE DAMPER; A PIANO STRING NORMALLY DAMPED BY SAID DAMPER; AND DAMPER CONTROL MEANS FASTENED TO SAID WHIP ON THE SIDE OF THE FULCRUM THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID STICKER FOR CONTACTING AND RETRACTING SAID DAMPER FROM SAID STRING UPON PIVOTING OF SAID WHIP DUR-

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