US473082A

US473082A - Piano-back

Info

Publication number: US473082A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1892-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 1909-04-19

Description

(No Model.)

J. W. REED.

PIANO BACK.

Patented Apr. 19,1892.

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'NVENTOR. 52171144128862 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IV. REED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PIANO-BACK.

" SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,082, dated April 19, 1892.

Application filed March 11, 1891. Serial No. 384,511. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN IV. REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Backs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the frame portion of upright pianos to which the soundingboard, piano-strings, &c., are attached and supported in proper position.

The object of the present improvement being to provide an improved arrangement and construction of the framing parts, embodying a strong and rigid form and mode of attachment of the string-plate, a simple and efficient attachment of the sounding-board, whereby extra sounding surface is attained, and a simple, strong, and durable attachment of the pin-block in position. I attain such object by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the framing part of a piano illustrating my present invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same at line a: m, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the same at line 0c 00, Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the string-plate, of any usual construction so far as the openings for the passages of the sounding-board bridges and the manner of stifieir ing and strengthening the margins of such openings are concerned. In the present invention the plate is formed with side and bottom flanges or checks 2 and 3 to afford a wide bearing-surface to the side and bottom edges of the frame and furnish substantial means for the outer andmarginal wooden frame 4 and 5, that carry the sounding-board 6. In the present invention this marginal frame consists of wooden side and bottom rails of the required size, screwed or bolted to the flanged edges of the string-plate, as shown, the rear faces of such rails projecting backward from the rear of the string-plate the requisite distance, so as to form a substantial means for the attachment of the soundingboard 6, which is firmly attached thereon by means of the marginal rim 7. At top the side rails a of the marginal frame projects up the proper distance to receive and aid in supporting the pin-block or wrest-plank 9 in proper position, the main support for such pin-block, however, being the socket for mation at the back of the string-plate, near its top, which is formed by the rearwardlyprojecting horizontal rib 10 on the back of the plate, on which the lower edge of the pinblock is supported, the face of such pin-block resting against the back of the string-plate, as shown.

11 are the usual series of holes through the string-plate for the passage of the tuning-pins into the pin-block or wrest-plank.

At its top the sounding-board is supported in front by the horizontal rail 12 on the back of the string-plate and at the backby the top member of the marginal frame or rim 7 \Vith my present improvement the usual heavy wooden piano-back for supporting the sounding-board is dispensed with, and in addition to the great lightness resulting from such omission the present construction admits of the piano being made much thinner and yet preserve its tone and volume, owing to the comparatively larger-sized sounding-board and the ommis sion of the framing timbers back of the same that interfere with and break the sound in a great measure. In the practical construction of the present improvement it is not necessary that the string-plate extend up and wholly cover the pin-block, and such plate may be cut down so as to embrace and cover only the lower front edge of the pin-block without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a frame or back for pianos, the combination of a piano string-plate, an outer marginal wooden frame secured thereto, so as to inclose the same and project rearwardly, and a sounding-board secured to the back of the outer marginal frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a frame or back for pianos, the combination of the piano string -plate having the same and project rearwardly, the soundin g-board secured to theouter marginal frame, and the pin-block resting upon the horizontal I 5 flange of the string-plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN W. REED. Witnessesi ROBERT BURNS, ALANSQN H. REED.