US3525283A - Stringed keyboard instrument with adhesive actuator - Google Patents

Stringed keyboard instrument with adhesive actuator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3525283A
US3525283A US709970A US3525283DA US3525283A US 3525283 A US3525283 A US 3525283A US 709970 A US709970 A US 709970A US 3525283D A US3525283D A US 3525283DA US 3525283 A US3525283 A US 3525283A
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United States
Prior art keywords
string
key
vibrator
strings
instrument
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Expired - Lifetime
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US709970A
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English (en)
Inventor
Leonard W Pavia
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PAVIA FARNY ASSOCIATES
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PAVIA FARNY ASSOCIATES
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
    • G10C1/00—General design of pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards
    • G10C1/06—General design of pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards of harpsichords spinets or similar stringed musical instruments
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H3/00—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means
    • G10H3/12—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument
    • G10H3/14—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means
    • G10H3/18—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means using a string, e.g. electric guitar

Definitions

  • the vibrator may also provide a second vibration of the UNITED STATES PATENTS string.
  • a rocking arrangement assures that all vibrators inil,750,572 3/ 1930 Cloetens 84/173 tially adhere to their strings with the same force.
  • the harpsichord has a particularly pleasing sound but traditional harpsichords suffer from several problems.
  • One is the requirement for constant adjustment and maintenance of the individual plectrums to assure the proper plucking action of the string.
  • a second problem has been the relatively complex arrangements necessary to obtain a large volume of sound.
  • l-larpsichords are particularly affected by changes in temperature and humidity. Since only a small area of the string is plucked by the plectrum, the physical relationships between the string and the plectrum must be maintained with great accuracy, thereby requiring the constant adjustments of the plectrum.
  • the string is not pretensioned, it is not plucked, nor hit.
  • the adhesive may be over a relatively large surface of the string, when considered relative to a harpsichord plectrum, and so long as the vibrator element can rest on the string in the normal or non-played position, slight dimensional changes due to changes in temperature or humidity will have no effect, unlike traditional harpsichords.
  • the resilient portion of the vibrator member also serves to dampen the vibration of the string when the key is released as the vibrator member returns, by gravity or spring action, to rest on the string. Accordingly, the resilient portion, which may be a rubber pad or liner, should not be too small or the vibrator member will strike the string too hard when it returns to its rest position and thus, instead of dampening the string,
  • the resilient portion should not be so soft or large as to stretch when the vibrator member is raised.
  • a vibrator also provides a secondary striking of the string.
  • the adhesive vibrator as described above, normally rests on the string and provides the vibration of the string.
  • a support for a flexible or rubber rod which itself extends down beside the string. At the bottom of this rod and extending under the string is a striker member.
  • the flexible rod is so dimensioned that when the key is struck and the vibrator lifted in turn to lift, by the adhesion effects of my invention, the string, and thus set the string in vibration, the striker will not come into contact with the string. However, if the key is struck sharply, then the vibrator in moving suddenly will, in effect, snap the flexible rod and, after the string is first set into vibration by the adhesion effect of the vibrator, in accordance with my invention, the striker will be thrown against the under side of the string. Accordingly, a second vibration of the string occurs of different timbre.
  • FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a musical instrument in accordance with my invention
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the instrument of FIG. 1 with the lid of the instrument removed;
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B are views of the magnetic pick-up employed'in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a partial schematic drawing depicting the grounding of the instrument strings and the serial connection of the pick-ups of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a representation of a single wire of the instrument of FIG. 1, the wire extending between two tuning pins and a hitch bar;
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of a single one of the key actions of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D are representations of vibrators in accordance with specific different embodiments of my invention and all employable in the musical instrument of FIG.
  • FIG. 8 is a side view of the rockable key bed together with the rocker rod, as employed in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged representation of a single wire and associated actuator employable in the musical instrument of FIG. 1 and in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of my invention.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a musical instrument in accordance with my invention having a single manual or keyboard 10.
  • the instrument is depicted with the lid 11 down and the first lid flap which extends over the keyboard and the second lid flap which closes the instrument in front of the keyboard removed.
  • the keyboard 10 is positioned higher above the bottom 13 of the instrument than is usual for keyboard instruments. This is because in this embodiment the keys are positioned above the springs, as best seen in FIG. 6, and the tuning pins are mounted beneath the keyboard 10 behind a tuning pin strip 14 which may be readily removed to allow access to the tuning pins.
  • the keyboard 10 extends between two sides or cheeks l6, 17.
  • a rocking rod is positioned adjacent the check 17 and is held in one of two positions by a bolt or pin 21 extending through the cheek 17.
  • the rocking rod 20 and its function are further explained below with reference to FIG. 8.
  • each string 23 extends from a tuning pin 25, which is positioned beneath the keyboard 10, across a bridge 69, seen in FIG. 6, and the bridge 27 and around a hitch post of the hitch bar 29 back over the bridges 27 and 69 to an adjacent tuning pin 25.
  • a tuning pin 25 which is positioned beneath the keyboard 10
  • bridge 27 and around a hitch post of the hitch bar 29 back over the bridges 27 and 69 to an adjacent tuning pin 25.
  • hitch posts 30 have been depicted in the hitch bar 29, the same result may be attained merely by drilling adjacent holes in the hitch barand threading the wire through the two holes for the two strings 23.
  • each transducer 33 extends across five or six strings. Further, overlapping of the transducers 33 so that two adjacent transducers both are energized by the same string may occur.
  • I provide twelve transducers 33 with each extending over five strings 23 except for the first transducer responsive to the highest notes, which first transducer extends over six strings.
  • Each transducer or magnetic pick-up 33 advantageously comprises a magnetic material, such as a magnetic plastic, capable of providing the desired magnetic field, mounted between two steel flux direction plates 36, 37, and held together as a unit by screws 38.
  • the unit itself is supported by a support bracket 39 from the bottom 13 of the instrument, to which it is attached as by screws 40; alternatively the units may be hung from a support rail above the strings.
  • a plurality of turns of wire 42 are wrapped around the magnetic material and between the plates 36, 37 to define the coil winding. These windings 42 are connected in series, as by wires 43, and the series connected coils are in turn connected to an amplifier. While in the embodiment of FIG. 2 I have shown all the coils 42 connected in series to a single amplifier, I have also found it advantageous to split the coils 42 into two sections, for the higher and lower notes, and have each connected to separate amplification equipment and speakers.
  • FIG. 6 shows a single key 50 supported from a key bed for pivoting, as is usual with keyed instruments.
  • the key pivots on a curved pivot rail 53 mounted on a fulcrum or pivot bar 54, a pivot or fulcrum pin 55 extending up from the bar 54 through an enlarged slot in the key 50, as is known in the art.
  • a positive return of the key 50 is provided by a pressure spring 57 positioned between the key 50 and a bracket 58 secured to the key bed.
  • the travel of the key in pivoting around the pin 55 is limited by a limit finger 60 supported beneath the key and traveling between a first felt pad 64 on the key bed 51 and a second felt pad 62 on a stop bracket 63 mounted on the key bed 51.
  • the key bed 51 is not rigidly affixed to the bottom 13 of the instrument but is itself slightly movable. Specifically it is connected at its ends adjacent the cheeks 16,17 by a screw 65 extending through an enlarged washer 66 to two key bed mounting blocks 67 which are themselves rigidly affixed to the bottom 13 at each end of the keyboard, the one side block 67 being shown broken away to show the position of a bridge 69 mounted on the bed 13.
  • the strings 23 extend from the tuning pin 25 in the tuning pin block 68, beneath the keys as discussed above, over the nut or second bridge 69 and between the key bed mounting side blocks 67 and the key bed 51.
  • the string is neither plucked, as in a harpsichord, nor struck by a hammer, as in a piano, or a bar, as in a clavichord; instead I provide a unique action for setting the strings into vibration.
  • This action as well as the other aspects of my invention gives my keyboard instrument its unusual tone. Specifically as seen in FIG. 6 in the normal position before a key 50 is played there is resting on the string 23 a vibrator 70 which serves both to set the string 23 into vibration when the key is depressed and also to damp the vibration when the key is released.
  • the vibrator 70 which is secured to the end 71 of the key 50, may take any of many specific shapes and forms, exemplary embodiments of which are depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D. Each of these embodiments has in common that the vibrator have an outer surface capable of sufficiently adhering to the string 23 to lift the string.
  • the vibrator also provides a sufficient softness, either by the member carrying the adhesive material or by a separate member, to damp the vibration without causing additional sound. In each instance the length of the portion of the vibrator 70 along the wire may be only of the order of A to of an inch.
  • the vibrator 70 which is the one depicted in FIG. 6, comprises a section of sponge rubber 73 on the lower portion of which is coated a thin layer of an adhesive 74. Stiffness is provided by painting the long side of the vibrator with a lacquer, glue, or other material 75 which upon drying stiffens the soft sponge rubber.
  • the layer of adhesive may be quite thin, as of only ofthe order of 1/16 to 1/32 of an inch.
  • the vibrator 70B of FIG. 7B may be employed wherein the sponge rubber 73 is differently shaped and the lacquer coating 75 is painted on both sides.
  • the adhesive may be of a rubber cement or any other adhesive which retains its tackiness and never hardens; many such adhesives are well known today and are used for a variety of purposes, such as for weather stripping.
  • the adhesive serves to lift the string 23 against its natural tension. The string lifts until the tension in the string overcomes the pull of the adhesive, at which point the string releases and vibrates. It is to be pointed out that the string is specifically not pretensioned by the vibrator 70 resting on it or forcing it down. Instead the vibrator merely rests on the string, adhering to it while in its normal unstressed position due to the tackiness of the adhesive layer 74.
  • the sponge rubber 73 serves to soften the damping of the string when the key is released and the vibrator 70 returns to reston the still vibrating string.
  • the body 76 of the vibrator 70C is of a solid material, such as wood, and there are positioned on the bottom surface of the body member 76 a first layer comprising a rubber pad 77 and a second layer 74 of adhesive.
  • the adhesive 74 serves, as discussed just above, to seize by adhesion of stickiness" the string 23 and lift it to set it into vibration.
  • the rubber pad 77 serves in place of the sponge rubber body 73 to soften the damping of the string.
  • the rubber pad may be several times larger than the adhesive layer, as of the order of v; of an inch thick, depending on the particular material employed. However, care must be taken in determining the thickness of the pad 77.
  • the pad is too thick, then the pad itself will tend to stretch when the vibrator is lifted by the depression of the key, thereby preventing the immediate attack or lifting of the string 23 by the adhesive layer.
  • the rubber pad is too thin, then when the vibrator 70 is returned to the string 23 to dampen it, it will strike the string too hard and act as a hammer inducing an additional vibration.
  • FIG. 8 As noted above a rocking rod 20 is visible adjacent the check 17 in FIG. 1. The purpose and functioning of that bar will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 8. As can there be seen the rod 20 is screwed into or otherwise rigidly affixed to the key bed 51. This bed 51 is capable ofa slight rocking ac tion when the rod 20 is moved, as indicated by the arrows 80, to either side of the bolt or pin 21 affixed through the check 17. The end of the pin 21 is directly adjacent the rod 20 and the rod has enough lateral flexibility that it can be placed to either side of the pin 21.
  • the bed 51 is mounted by two screws 65 at either end of the bed to the two key bed mounting side blocks 67 which are in turn rigidly held by the bottom 13.
  • An over size washer 66 allows the screw 65 to move slightly thereby allowing the bed 51 to rock or pivot slightly. The rocking movement may be so slight that the handle of the rod 20 will itself only move about a quarter or a half an inch, that is, from one side of the pin 21 to the other.
  • l have provided a double acting key, controllable by the force with which the player attacks the note.
  • the vibrator there depicted is the vibrator 70C of FIG. 7C including a wooden body portion 76 and the outer adhesive layer 74 and inner rubber layer 77.
  • a pin 82 extending out from the side of the end 71 and then at an angle down toward the string 23.
  • Attached to pin 82 is a rubber rod 83 extending down at an angle towards the side of the string 23.
  • a metal striker 84 is in turn attached to the lower end of the rubber rod 83 and normally positioned below and at right angles to the string 23.
  • a second manual can be provided in which the keys are below the strings and a linkage provided to place the vibrators, employing the adhesion effect in accordance with my invention, above the strings.
  • a second key block can be placed above the second keyboard and within the main part of the instrument, as is usual in harpsichords and pianos, rather than below a keyboard, as described above.
  • bridge bar and hitch bar may be both incorporated in a single member and the bridge bar itself serve as the hitch bar, since no pins are required and the wire isjust extended through and around the hitch post to allow two adjacent strings to be defined by a single wire.
  • damping or felt pads may be placed on the strings between the bridge and the hitch bar and advantageously just adjacent the bridge, as is known in the art.
  • a vibratory string under tension and means for setting said string into vibration, said means including a member resting on said string and to which said string adheres, at least a portion of said member being resilient, and means for raising said member whereby said string is concurrently raised therewith by the adhesion of said string to said member and then is released and set into vibration.
  • said member is of a solid material having a coating thereon of a soft resilient material into which said string sinks so as to be enveloped thereby when said member is resting on said string.
  • said means for raising said member and lifting said string comprises key action means, said striker being positioned below said string so as not to contact said string on normal striking of said key action means but sharp striking of said key action means causing said flexible means to bend and cause said striker to strike said string.
  • a musical instrument comprising a plurality of strings, individual action means for setting said strings into vibration, and keyboard means for operating said action means, each said action means comprising a member resting on one of said strings and having a resilient portion and said string adhering to said member when said member is resting on said string.
  • a musical instrument in accordance with claim 9 wherein said member is of solid material and has a coating of a soft resilient material into which said string sinks so as to be enveloped thereby.
  • a musical instrument in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a key bed means supporting said action means on said key bed, and means for rocking said key bed so as simultaneously to remove all said members from said strings.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
  • Stringed Musical Instruments (AREA)
US709970A 1968-03-04 1968-03-04 Stringed keyboard instrument with adhesive actuator Expired - Lifetime US3525283A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US70997068A 1968-03-04 1968-03-04

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US3525283A true US3525283A (en) 1970-08-25

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US709970A Expired - Lifetime US3525283A (en) 1968-03-04 1968-03-04 Stringed keyboard instrument with adhesive actuator

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US (1) US3525283A (enExample)
DE (1) DE1910671A1 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2003145A1 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1228342A (enExample)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4091702A (en) * 1975-08-11 1978-05-30 Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha String musical instrument having a keyboard
US4258603A (en) * 1978-05-17 1981-03-31 Sjoestrand Gunnar Plucking mechanism for a stringed instrument
US20160055834A1 (en) * 2012-02-09 2016-02-25 Edward J. McMorrow Fully tempered duplex scale

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4091702A (en) * 1975-08-11 1978-05-30 Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha String musical instrument having a keyboard
US4258603A (en) * 1978-05-17 1981-03-31 Sjoestrand Gunnar Plucking mechanism for a stringed instrument
US20160055834A1 (en) * 2012-02-09 2016-02-25 Edward J. McMorrow Fully tempered duplex scale

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Publication number Publication date
DE1910671A1 (de) 1969-10-02
GB1228342A (enExample) 1971-04-15
FR2003145A1 (enExample) 1969-11-07

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