US375327A - Upright-piano-forte action - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. Q. NORTON.

UPRIGHT' PIANO FORTE ACTION.

No. 375,327. Patented Dec. 20,1887.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDlVA'RD Q. NORTON, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ZADEK 8t NORTON PIANO-FORTE AND ORGAN COMPANY, OF ALABAMA.

UPRlGHT-PlANO-FORTE ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,327, dated December 20, 1887.

(No model.)

To a ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Q. NORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the port of Mobile, county of Mobile, and State of 5 Alabama, have invented a new and useful Iniprovement in Actions for Upright Piano- Fortes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the action of upright piano-fortes, in which a lifter, A, raises the whole action of the piano and disconnects it from the keys, at the same time substituting thepressure of a spring upon each key for that of the weight of the action; and the objects of my improvements are to enable the keys to be used without making any sound, and also to relieve the action of all wear and consequent deterioration while the piano-forte is used for five-finger" exercises and other exercises requiring the repetition of a limited number of notes; also to enable more than one person to practice upon one pianoforte at the same time without producing interfering tones. mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear view of the lifter-frame. 'Fig. 2 is'a front view of the same swung open. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of an upright-pianoforte action with lifter attached, showing mode of operation of the lifter. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the same piano-forte, showing the lifter as attached to the action of the pianoforte.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

G G is a frame, made of wood or other suitable material, sufiiciently strong to raise and support all the rockers and connected action of an upright piano-forte.

I is the handle by which the lifter-frame G G is drawn out or pressed back into position.

A is a flangerail, to which is screwed flange B, and in which rocker works on pivot-pin 4 5 D when rocker O is raised by sticker E being lifted by key F.

I attain these objects by the.

In Fig. 3, G G is an end view of lifter-frame resting in stationary sockets H H, drawn forward by handle I, and the dotted lines indicate lifter frame when pressed in so as to assume a perpendicular position.

J is one ofaseries of curved or spiral springs attached to the rear of the base of the lifterframe, one to correspond with each key. Each spring is made with a resisting force equal to 5 5 that of the action of its corresponding hammer. Each spring is inserted into the base of the lifter-frame at such point and at such angle that when the lifter-frame is swung open and the action is in its normal position the spring J is raised beyond the reach of the key F when the same is struck; but when the frame is pushed in and the action is disconnected from the key the spring is thrown forward and downward upon the key F, and resists anypressure upon the key with the same force that is exercised by the action E when in its normal position.

The action of lifter-frame G G is as follows: \Vhen pressed in from the angular to the straight or perpendicular position, the height of lifter-frame G G is increased and raises the whole action of the piano, including sticker E, by raising rockers O. Sticker E is disconnected from the key F, and the spring J, resting upon the key F, causes thekcy to respond to the touch of the fingers in playing; but there being no contact between sticker E and key F, all that part of the action above key F is not operated.

I claim Thecombination, with apianoaction, of the oscillating lifter-frame composed of the hinged parts G G, supported in sockets H H, and the springs J, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

Q. NORTON.

\Vitnesses:

JNo. S. HOLMES, P. E. GODEFREY.

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