US436163A

US436163A - Piano tuning-pin

Info

Publication number: US436163A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1907-09-09

Description

(No Model.)

J. S. THO'RPB. PIANQ TUNING PIN.

Patented Sept. 9,'1890- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. THORPE, OF VATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

PlANo'TuNING-PIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 436,163, dated September 9, 1890. Application filed October 14, 1889. Serial No. 326,958. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. THORPE, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Piano Tuning-Pins; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure l, a view in elevation of one form which a sectional tuning-pin embodying my invention mayassume, and showin g also a section of the piano-frame and one end of the piano-string; Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional view through the sectional tuning-pin.

My invention relates to an improvement in tuning-pins for pianos, the object being to produce a durable and efficient tuning-pin adapted to be substituted without any change in the piano-frame for the ordinary tuningpin and to be manipulated with an ordinary lVith these ends in View my invention consists in a sectional tuning-pin having a stud projecting from the piano-frame, a rotative cap set over the said stud, and means for locking the cap to the stud in anyposition of rotation thereupon.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

As herein shown my improved pin consists, in part, of a stud having its lower end adapted to be driven into a piano-frame A and provided with longitudinal ribs or corrugations B, by which it is held against turning therein, and having its upper end provided with a tapering bearing C and with a longitudinal threaded bore D. A stud so constructed may be driven into the holes formed in a piano-frame to receive the ordinary tuning-pins and in place thereof.- If desired, however, the studs may be formed integral with the piano-frame in case the frame is made of metal, or they may be otherwise adapted to be driven into it and held against rotation. A cap having at its lower end a barrel or sleeve E, upon which a pianostring F is wound, and at its upper end a square and slightlyltapering head G to receive the tuning-key, is provided with a longitudinal tapering opening H, adapting it to be set over the tapering bearing C of the stud upon which it is rotated to wind the string F upon the barrel. A small hole I, formed in the lower edge of the head of the cap, is provided to receive the end of the string, which thereby gets its initial grip upon' the pin. The cap is locked upon the stud in any desired position of rotation thereupon by means of a screw J, which passes through it and enters the threaded bore in the stud, the outer end of the screw having a slotted head, which bears upon the end of the cap.

It will be readily understood that by loosen ing the screw the cap may be turned on the stud to wind the string upon its barrel or to unwind it therefrom, and so 'increase or decrease its tension as the tuning of the piano may demand. As soon as the string has been brought to the tension giving the desired tone, the screw is turned down upon the upper end of the cap so as to firmly lock the cap to the stud. Inasmuch as the stud cannot turn in the piano-frame no1' the cap upon the stud when the stud and cap are locked together, it is apparent that the piano cannot get out of tune hy any rotation of the stud. Any wear between the cap and the stud is taken up in their tapering bearing-surfaces, so that long use of the pin and frequent tuning of the piano will not eiect the practical value ofthe pin, whereas a pin screwed into the piano-frame wears every time it is turned and deteriorates in effective value all the time without any means for compensation. It is to be noted, also, that my improved pin is manipulated by the ordinary piano-key and requires no special tools.

l. Asectional tuningpin for pianos, having a stud projecting from the frame and provided at its upper end with a longitudinal threaded bore, a cap adapted to be set over the stud and provided with a longitudinal opening, and a screw passed down through the cap into the bore of the stud for looking the cap thereto.

2. A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud provided with a tapering bearing at its upper end, a cap adapted to be set over IOO the stud and to be rotated thereupon and provided at itslower end with a barrel or sleeve and at its upper end with a square head, and

means for locking the stud and cap together, gsubstantially as described.

3. A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud provided at its lower end with longitudinal ribs or corrugations which hold it against turning in the piano-frame and having a tapering bearing at its upper end, a cap adapted to be set over the upper end of the stud and to be rotated thereupon, and means for looking the cap and stud together, substantially as described.

4. A sectional tuning-pin for pianos, having a stud projecting from the, piano-frame and provided at its upper end with a tapered bearing and With a longitudinal threaded bore, a cap having a barrel at its lower end,a squared head at its upper end, a small hole to receive the end of the piano-string, and a longitudinal tapering opening adapting it to be set over the tapered bearing of the stud, and a screw for locking the cap to the stud, substantially as described.

JAMES S. THGRPE. Witnesses: f

CHAs. W. GILLETTE, WM. M. GILLETTE.