US3534145A - Electrical musical instrument with combined conventional reed and electronic tone generators housed within a single common structure - Google Patents

Electrical musical instrument with combined conventional reed and electronic tone generators housed within a single common structure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3534145A
US3534145A US721346A US3534145DA US3534145A US 3534145 A US3534145 A US 3534145A US 721346 A US721346 A US 721346A US 3534145D A US3534145D A US 3534145DA US 3534145 A US3534145 A US 3534145A
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United States
Prior art keywords
electronic
musical instrument
reed
accordion
contact
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Expired - Lifetime
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US721346A
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English (en)
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Hans Worl
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Individual
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Individual
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    • 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
    • G10H3/16—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 reed
    • 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
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/32—Constructional details
    • 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
    • G10H2230/00—General physical, ergonomic or hardware implementation of electrophonic musical tools or instruments, e.g. shape or architecture
    • G10H2230/045—Special instrument [spint], i.e. mimicking the ergonomy, shape, sound or other characteristic of a specific acoustic musical instrument category
    • G10H2230/245—Spint accordion, i.e. mimicking accordions; Electrophonic instruments with one or more typical accordion features, e.g. special accordion keyboards or bellows, electrophonic aspects of mechanical accordions, Midi-like control therefor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to musical instrument apparatus and more particularly to an accordian-like structure having the normal red-trunks and tone producing reeds normally found in present-day accordions and, in addition thereto, includes a polyphonic electronic sound generator and the necessary electronic circuitry for the production of electronic sound.
  • musical instrument apparatus wherein the reed trunks which bear the bellows driven tone-producting reeds of a normal ac-' cordion and the polyphonic electronic sound generator as well as the related actuation circuitry therefor of an electronic musical instrument are combined into an accordion-like structure having approximately the same dimensions and weight as an ordinary accordion.
  • This structure is capable of operating as a musical instrument in either the normal bellows driven reed mode, the electronic mode, or a combination mode.
  • the musical instrument apparatus depicted in the drawing has the external appearance of a normal accordion comprising a bellows 1, frame members 2, and
  • a grip 3 having treble keys 4 and 5 mounted thereon.
  • the interior portion of the musical instrument apparatus has been uniquely modified from that usually present in known accordion apparatus to accommodate the additional electronic components and circuitry contemplated by this invention.
  • the keyboard 6, in contradistinction to that of a normal accordion has been shifted a small distance, i.e., from 1 to 5 cm., toward the front of the depicted musical instrument apparatus to thereby provide a space 7 having the dimensions of the keyboard for the accommodation of the sound generator 8.
  • the sound generator 8 which forms no part of this invention per se and hence has been indicated generally, may take any type of such circuitry and is preferably assembled in the form of a flat, slab-like member, whose length and width correspond to the dimensions of the grip 3. Due to the present state of the electronics art, it is possible, using printed circuit and/or integrated circuit techniques, to assemble the tone generators as well as the remainder of the necessary electronic circuits for the requisite sound effect, such as sustain, percussion, vibrato, tremolo, etc., in such a slab-like member having a thickness of not more than .5-4 cm. Thus, the total thickness of the grip 3 is only slightly in excess of that of a normal accordion and only a slight amount of excess Weight is added thereby.
  • the sound generator 8, mounted under the keyboard of the treble keys may comprise the tone-generators of both the treble and the bass section so that the bass section, which will have less available space for modification, need only include the requisite reed trunks, as hereinafter explained, and the sound contacts of the bass portion. If this latter assembly is utilized, the connection between the treble contacts and their respective tone generators may be accomplished by a cable passing through the instrument.
  • the musical instrument apparatus of this invention as depicted in the figure has the normal reed-trunks 9 of ordinary accordion type instruments mounted within the frame member 2 thereof to provide for normal accordion operation.
  • the reed-trunks 9, however, are mounted closer together and also shifted forward in the frame compared to the usual mounting in ordinary accordion structures to thereby provide a mounting space 10 behind each row of reed-trunks 9 in the rear of the depicted musical instrument apparatus.
  • the space 10 behind each row of reedtrunks 9 serves as a mounting area for the necessary contacts and further electronic components whose function determines the electronic sound timbres.
  • the contacts for the elec-' tronic portion of the musical instarument apparatus of the instant invention which are actuated by striking the keys 4 and 5.
  • the illustrated embodiment there is shown, for example, an arrangement of the type which would be necessitated for three-foot electronic sound generation. However, it should be apparent that any mode of polyfoot construction of the electronic portion may be utilized.
  • a vertical distribution and contact plate 17 is mounted in the space 10 at the bottom of the frame member 2.
  • the vertical distribution and contact plate 17 has three contact springs 18 for each key firmly anchored therein.
  • the contact springs 18 for each key extend to a separate contact spring spacer 19 which is secured at the free end of the arm 14 of lever 11 which extends into the space 10.
  • collector wires or rods 20 are mounted within the space 10, perpendicular, as indicated by the end view thereof, to their respective contact springs 18.
  • the contact spring spacer 19 is located so that when lever 11 is in the deenergized position as shown, it is approximately parallel to the contact plate 17 and thus none of the three contact springs 18 are in engagement with their respective collecting wires or rods 20.
  • the contact spring spacer 19 is rotated in the clockwise direction, as shall be explained below, so that the three contact springs 18 are brought into engagement with their respective collecting rods or wires 20.
  • the air flow supplied by the bellows 1 to the frame chamber 21 is isolated from the space 10 by the cover plate 23 which forms an airtight seal with the deformed portion 22:: of the resonance plate 22.
  • the cover plate 23 is preferably made readily removable so that easy access to the contacts 18 is available. Further, the cover plate 23 may serve as a mounting platform for additional electronic parts 24 which are utilized for. producing the selected timbre.
  • the electrical-mechanical connection of the keys 4 or 5 to the reed-trunks 9 and the contact springs 18 is preferably accomplished via a three-armed lever 11, wherein one lever 11 is supplied for each of the keys.
  • the first arm 12 of each lever is located beneath the corresponding key therefor and upon the depression thereof is rotated about the pivot point 15 in the clockwise direction.
  • the second arm 13 of each lever 11 leads to the reed-trunks 9 and opens the corresponding valves thereto when its respective key is depressed.
  • the third arm 14 extends into the space 10 and serves to actuate the pertinent contacts of the electronic portion of the depicted musical instrument apparatus when its corresponding key is depressed.
  • Each of the levers 11 is mounted about its axis of rotation 15 and is provided with a spring 16 to bias it in the counterclockwise direction to thereby return the lever to the depicted rest position when the key is released.
  • a compression spring may be arranged under the key as an alternate to the bias spring 16. The space 25 is maintained between the key arms 12 and the sound generator 8 so that sutficient room is provided to insure that the key arm is free to pivot about the axis 15 in the clockwise direction.
  • Knwon switch means which form no part of this invention and hence have not been shown, are provided on the instrument case to energize the reeds or the sound generator so that the depicted instrument may operate in only the ordinary reed driven mode, only in the electronic mode, or in a combination mode.
  • the instrument may be provided with the usual register-like keys, buttons or similar adjusting elements for selecting the various timbres and the functions and effects of the electronic sound generator.
  • Such keys, buttons or similar adjusting elements may be either separated from or combined with the registers of the accordion portion.
  • musical instrument apparatus that combines a normal polyphonic accordion and the sound generator of a polyphonic electronic musical instrument into a, single accordion-like structure having approximately the same dimensions and weight as an ordinary accordion and capable of operating in a normal bellows driven reed mode, an electronic mode, or a combination mode.
  • musical instrument apparatus having the outward appearance of an ordinary accordion instrument, said musical instrument apparatus including bellows means, reed-trunk means bearing tone-producing reeds capable of actuation by said bellows, grip means having a plurality of individual key means mounted thereon to form a keyboard and casing frame means having a resonance plate connected thereto, the improvement comprising:
  • distribution and contact plate means having a first plurality of contact means mounted therein, said reed-trunk means being mounted forward on said resonance plate thereby forming a space therebehind, said distribution and contact plate means and said first plurality of contact means being mounted in said space;
  • said second plurality of contact means including one contact means for each of said plurality of first contact means, said second plurality of contact means being adapted for connection with said electronic sound generator means and said electronic means for producing the selected timbre;
  • interconnecting means associated with each of said plurality of individual key means, said interconnecting means upon the depression of its respective individual key means engaging said first plurality of contact means respectively with said second plurality of contact means to thereby accomplish the selective connection to said electronic sound generator means and said electronic means for producing the selected timbre and further to actuate valve means present in each of said reed-trunk means to thereby enable said tone-producing reeds to be driven by said bellows.
  • each of said plurality of individual key means comprises lever means having a plurality of arms, said plurality of arms including at least a first arm situated under the respective individual key means of that lever and adapted for movement therewith, a second arm operatively connected with said valve means to open the same upon the depression of the individual key means of that lever, and a third arm extending into the space housing said first and second pluralities of contacts and causing the engagement thereof upon the depression of the individual key means of that lever.
  • the apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising contact spacer means mounted on the free end of said third arm, said contact spacer means having one end of each of said first plurality of contact means mounted therein whereby each of said first plurality of contact means extends between said contact spacer means and said distribution and contact plate means, and means for mounting each of said second plurality of contact means intermediate said contact spacer means and said distribution and contact plate means in an operative relationship with respective ones of each of said first plurality of contact means so that engagement is caused therebetween upon the depression of the individual key means of that lever.
  • the apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising sealing means interposed between the chamber in which said reed-trunks are mounted as formed by said bellows, said resonance plate and a portion of said casing frame means, and said space in which said contacts are mounted, said sealing means fluidically isolating said space from said chamber.
  • said electronic sound generator means having a slab-like appearance is assembled in the form of a fiat plate of printed circuit components, said electronic sound generator comprising a master-generator, divider means, and all of the component and integrated circuit portions necessary for the production of the desired sound effects such as sustain, percussion, vibrato, and tramolo.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
US721346A 1967-04-22 1968-04-15 Electrical musical instrument with combined conventional reed and electronic tone generators housed within a single common structure Expired - Lifetime US3534145A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE1967W0043834 DE1273966C2 (de) 1967-04-22 1967-04-22 Musikinstrument

Publications (1)

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US3534145A true US3534145A (en) 1970-10-13

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US721346A Expired - Lifetime US3534145A (en) 1967-04-22 1968-04-15 Electrical musical instrument with combined conventional reed and electronic tone generators housed within a single common structure

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DE (1) DE1273966C2 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3671658A (en) * 1969-07-01 1972-06-20 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg Key switch assembly for electronic musical instruments
US3845683A (en) * 1972-10-30 1974-11-05 Pratt Read Corp Keyboard for electronic musical instrument

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102017007064A1 (de) * 2017-07-26 2019-01-31 Hohner Musikinstrumente Gmbh Handzuginstrument

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2983178A (en) * 1958-03-10 1961-05-09 Lesman Corp Accordion-organ

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2983178A (en) * 1958-03-10 1961-05-09 Lesman Corp Accordion-organ

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3671658A (en) * 1969-07-01 1972-06-20 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg Key switch assembly for electronic musical instruments
US3845683A (en) * 1972-10-30 1974-11-05 Pratt Read Corp Keyboard for electronic musical instrument

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1273966C2 (de) 1977-03-17
DE1273966B (de) 1968-07-25

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