US357291A - Upright piano - Google Patents

Description

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J. E. RICHARDSON & J. A. WARREN.

UPRIGHT PIANO.

N0. 357,291 I Patented Feb. 8,1887;

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UPRIGHT PIANO.

Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. RICHARDSON AND JOSEPH A. \VARREN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

UPRIG HT PDIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,291, dated February 8, 1887.

Application filed March 30, 1886. Serial No. 197.209. (No model.)

' invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame,reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Heretofore cases for upright pianos have been constructed with hinged tops made in one piece and with tops in two pieces, and to increase the volume of sound said tops are propped up or folded back,which is detrimental, as the using of the top of the instrument for books and ornaments is prevented. Pianos have also been constructed with a sunken-panel top adapted to slide back to increase the sound, which has a like objection. The construction of a rocking or swinging front is objectionable, as the turning back of the part exposes the works of the instrument, leaving an unfinished appearance.

The obj ect of our present invention is to overcome these obj ections,which we accomplish by locating in the top Vertical front of the instrument a curved or ornamental sliding front panel, the volume of sound being increased by simply forcing the sliding front under the top of the instrument, leaving its finished or ornamental front in full view to the operator, as hereinafter set forth; and our invention con sists in the general arrangement of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming apartof this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an instrument embodying ourinvention. Fig. 2 is a' cross-section of same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing in section the operating parts of the sliding front or panel. Fig. 4 is a perspective in modification, having parts broken away. Fig. 5 is top plan, having cover Tremoved. Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged details.

T is the top of the instrument,which may be employed as a mantel or support for ornaments or music, and is made detachable.

two supporting or sliding arms, a a, extending backward horizontally, as shown in Fig. 3. The under face of each arm is provided with a longitudinal V-shaped channel, 0. (See Fig. 3.) Said arms are closely fitted over metalV-sh aped slides a. Said slides or tracks are firmly attached to the supporting-board O, which can tends from end to end of the instrument. BB are caps fitting over the sliding arms, and are provided with ledges a a, through which the screws 8 pass, securing the cap to the support ing-board, as shown in Fig. 3. The caps BB allow free movement of the arms a aback and forward when operating the front F, and also prevent the rear ends of the arms from tilting up as the front is closed or drawn forward to the position of Fig. 1, which also causes the movable front F to travel ona trueplane, preventing its sagging, and also prevents any transverse or binding movement of the front as it is forced backward and forward to increase or decrease the tone of the instrument.

It is a handle for operating the movable front, which is attached at the center.

When the front F is forced back, as shown in Fig. 2, the operator is enabled to reach through the opening and disengage the rear side of the front board, D, to remove the same without taking off the top of the instrument, as is common.

It will be observed from the foregoing construction that the end portions of the movable front are free from contact with the ends of the instrument; hence there is no friction and no tendency to bind or cause the front to impinge while being moved.

It will also be observed that the same finished or ornamented front of the movable part is in full view of the operator in any ofits positions.

In Fig.4 we show the sliding panel suspended is made of metal and works in the two-part box B B, in which represents Babbitt metal The arm a is attached to the head m by means of the screw sflwhich passes into said arm. The

head at is attached to the back face of the movable panel or frontF by screws through the holes 6 e. The metal arm a has a long bearing in the box B when the frontis drawn forward, as in Figs. 4 and 5, to prevent said panel from sagging, and forms a perfect and true guide as the panel is moved backward and forward, whereby both ends of the panel or front are caused to move at the same degree. The handle being placed at the center, there is no end pressure or binding of parts.

In Fig. 4 we show the face of the front F slightly concaved, and locate it entirely under the detachable top T. In said view we show a square arm, a, which we turn so that its faces stand on a diagonal line to its vertical center. The channel-walls of each box B stand at right angles to each other, and when placed together, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, receive freely said arm. By this arrangement the ends of the sliding front are prevented from tilting up or down, and it gives also a broad horizontal bearing to the arm a.

Having thus fully set forth our present invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' In an upright piano, the movable vertical front carrying an arm, said arm being attached to the center of said movable front and adapted to slide within the boxing mounted on the sup port-ingboard, said movable front located and adapted to be operated below the detachable cover, as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. RICHARDSON. JOSEPH A. WARREN.

Witnesses:

G. I. VVARREN, R. B. WHEELER.

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