US535558A - Samuel w - Google Patents

Description

S. W KI MUSIC DESK.

No. 535,558. Patented Mar. 12, 1895.

Vjw @M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL WV. RORK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHIOKERING d: SONS, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

MUSIC-DESK.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 535,558, dated March 12, 1895.

Application filed December 3,1894- Serial No. 530,663. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. RORK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Desks, of which the followingis a specificatiomreference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has for its object to provide a compact, simple and efficient music desk for pianos, and the like.

In the following specification, I will describe a music desk embodying my invention and in the claims which are appended hereto, I will point out the novel features of said invention.

In the following description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the upper front portion of an upright piano with my invention applied thereto, the device being shown as broken away at one point for greater clearness. Fig. 2 is an end view showing a portion of the front casing of the piano as also the lower portion of a music desk embodying my invention, the said desk being shown in its open position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the music desk closed, or in the position which it occupies when not in use.

My improved music desk is not limited in its application to pianos, but may be applied to organs or other instruments having a casing or frame to which the desk may be attached, or which will serve as a support for an upright to which the desk may be attached. I do not, however, deem it necessary for the purposes of this specification to show my device applied to more than one form of musical instrument and I have accordingly shown and will proceed to describe it as applied to an upright piano.

The upright front portion of the piano frame or casing is shown at A and may be of any usual form. At the point at which the music desk is to be applied, the said casing A is paneled or recessed or cut away in order that my device when applied, and when closed, or not in use, will shut into the front of the said casing and appear as a fixed portion thereof.

My device proper consists of a swinging frame 2 which is constructed of a size and shape with its attached parts to fit the opening or panel or recess provided for it in the front of the frame A. The frame 2 is pivoted at its upper side or edge in the usual manner. For the purpose of holding the swinging frame in its forward, or open position, and at different angles of inclination, I provide the pivoted links l which are placed at each end of the said desk, as shown. One end of each pair of links is pivoted to the stationary frame A, just behind the recess or opening which is filled by the swinging frame Q, when said frame is closed,and the otherend of each pair of links is pivoted inside one of the end portions of the swinging frame 2, as will be clear from Figs. 1 and 2. The pivots of the links at are sufficiently tight to insure friction in their working, and since the swinging frame and its attached parts are comparatively light, this friction is sufficient to hold the frame in its outward or open position at any desired angle of inclination. It is therefore unnecessary to provide any special device for supporting the swinging frame when it is open although any of the well known devices for holding aswinging frame at various angles of inclination may be employed, if desired. It will be noted that the swinging frame 2 does not entirely fill the panel or space in which it is placed, but that there is a space below the swinging frame which is provided for the reception of the pivoted bar 5, which, when the desk is open forms a ledge or support for the lower edge of the sheet music which is placed on the desk.

The device in its open position is shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. The ralobet at each end of the bar 5 forms projecting lips 10 and 20, which when the desk is closed conceal the pivots of the links at, and also serve as stops for the bar 5. This will be clear from the drawings. At Fig. 2 the lip 20 is shown in contact with the rear edge of the projecting strip 9 and in this position acts as a stop to prevent the bar 5 from beingturned or rocked farther than is required to bring the ledge upon which the lower edge of the sheet music rests into a position at right angles to the frame 2. In like manner the lip 10 serves when the bar 5 is turned to its closed position,

shown at Fig. 3 to properly locate the said bar music desk is obtained of substantially the 5 with its face 6 in line with the face of the swinging frame 2.

When the desk is closed the bar 5 completely fills the opening in the frame A below the swinging frame 2 so that the appearance and finish of the front of the piano are in no way impaired when the desk is not in use. The said bar 5 is pivoted at 11 to the strips or projections 9 and these pivots are so located with reference to the ends of said bar near the apex of the angle formed by the faces 6 and 7 thereof and substantially equidistant from each of said faces, that when the bar 5 is partially rotated, in opening the music desk for use, the rearward portion of said bar will fill the space occupied by the forward portion when the desk is closed, and will form a continuation of the front face of the desk, so that there is no opening or crack through which music may fall and so that even when the desk is open and in use,its appearance is not impaired by a break in its front face.

When the parts are made accurately, they will fit with greater exactness than can be indicated in the drawings, and thejoint between the lower edge of the swinging frame and the bar 5 in either position of the bar will be scarcely perceptible.

"When the music desk is closed, the bar 5 is reversely rocked or rotated causing it to assume the position with reference to the swinging frame 2 which is shown in Fig. 3. If the desk be now closed into its recess in the frame A of the piano, it will fill said recess and will present the appearance of a fixed part of said frame. It will also be seen that the bar 5 is so mounted and is of such a construction that the full vertical width of the desk is preserved when the latter is in use.

In some forms of desk which are now in use, the tip-turning of the ledge or support for the lower edge of the music narrows the desk Vertically so that when such a desk is in use, it is considerably less in width than the space in the piano front which it occupies when closed.

My desk herein described is simple in construction, not liable to get out of order, may be readily opened or closed and set at any required angle of inclination. By its use a full vertical width, when open, of the space in the piano into which it closes when not in use.

The desk is free from openings in the vicinity of the ledge or support for the lower edge of the music, so that the music cannot slip down and presents whether closed or open, a continuous surface, affording an opportunity for superior finish and which does not impair the appearance of the instrument. As will be clear the swinging frame 2 may be paneled or otherwise ornamented as desired.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A music desk for pianos, 850., comprising a swinging frame provided at the lower edge thereof with a bar which is L-shapedin cross-section, and is connected at its ends to the said frame by pivots located near the apex of the angle, one of the interior sides of said bar constituting a ledge on which music may be supported when the bar is turned forward and the other of said interior sides and one of the exterior sides alternately forming a continuation of the lower part of the face of the frame in different the positions of the bar, substantially as described.

2. A music desk for pianos, the, comprising a swinging frame provided with projections at the ends of the lower edge thereof and a bar which is L-shaped in cross section and pivoted to the said projections near the apex of the angle, the ends of the said bar being rabbeted to form lips which conceal the said projections and which also contact therewith to limit the turning movement of the bar, one of the interior sides of said bar constituting aledge on which music maybe supported when the bar is turned forward and the otherof said interior sides and one of the exterior sides alternately forming a continuation of the lower part of the face of the frame in the different positions of the bar, substantially as described.

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

SAMUEL IV. RORK.

Witnesses:

WM. A. MAOLEOD, OHAs. F. RANDALL,

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