US574308A - Rudolf dolge - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

RUDOLF DOLGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE O. F. ZIMMERMANN COMPANY, OF DOLGEVILL l, NEXV YORK.

HARP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,308, dated December 29, 1896.

Application filed September 21, 1895. Serial No. 563,194. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may col/Loewe:

Be it known that I, RUDOLF DoLGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Harps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to obtain a bar or manual for stringed musical instruments, such as harps, citherns or the like, which bar or manual can be readily or easily operated; and the invention resides in the novel features of construction set forth in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of abar or manual sectioned along c m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a section along y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 1 with parts in` a dierent position than in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section along .e z, Fig. 3.

In improved kinds of instruments the bars or manuals are arranged not only with fixed dampers or contactors, but also with one or more movable dampers or contactors, so that changes can be produced, as, for example, from maj orto minor. To simplify and facilitate the work of the player, it is important that the actuation of the movable dampers or contactors should be effected by the same kind of movement that is used to actuate the bar.

In the accompanying drawings is shown a bar 1, which is hollow or gutter-shaped, having its lower or open edge closed by a piece 2, secured in place by fastenings, such as light strips or bands 3. The bar is normally held out of contacting position by springs 4, but when depressed against the action of said springs the dampers or contactors 5 and 6 make contact. The dampers or contactors 5 are fixed to the bar, while the dampers or contact-ors 6, as also dampers or contactors 7, are movable.

The dampers or contactors 6 are each carried by an arm of levers 8, fulcrumed at 9 to the side of bar l, said levers 8 being housed in the bar. Said levers are pivoted or jointed at 10 to a link 11, normally held raised in the bar l by a spring or springs 12.

Then the bar 1 is actuated by depressing or actuating handle 13, the dampers or contactors 5 and 6 are brought to active position, but if such a depressed or actuated bar 1 has the change-handle 14 depressed or actuated, Fig. 3, the link 11 is actuated to bring into action dampers or contactors 7, which before were idle, while the dampers or contactors 6 are now idle.

The changes that can be effected by suitable disposition of ixed and movable dampers or contactors are obvious.

The depressing or actuating handle 13 and` change-handle 14: are both actuated by like movement, so that the player does not have to make a variety of movements for effecting the actuation of the bar 1 and the change of tones which are dampened or brought to sounding condition.

The bar 1 is shown shiftable, its ends being slotted to straddle the guides or pins 15, the shifting being effected by shifting handle 16. The depressing or actuating handle 13, if not shiftable, can be kept centrally located between the guides 15, but this feature of depressing or actuating handle 13 forms no feature of this invention.

The change-handle 11 of course shifts with bar 1 and is shown extending through a suitable opening in the top of said bar 1.

The contacting faces of the dampers or contactors G and 7 are shown somewhat inclined, whereby these individual or movable dampers or contactors can be better adapted for cleancut contact with and release of the strings.

As lightness and simplicity of construction are desirable it may generally be preferable to have a group of dampers orcontactors, such as 6 and 7,1inked together to alternate,as seen, and actuated by a common change-handle.

Of coure it is obvious that chords can be produced not only by having the bars provided with dampers for cutting out certain strings, but also by bars, which by contacting with certain strings will cause said strings to sound, while leaving others dead or unsounded, the contacting being readily effected by hammers, picks, or the like on the bar.

In the drawings I have illustrated the action of a damper or dampers 5 without indicating the grouping of the dampers for producinga certain chord, as this will be readily understood without special illustration.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isa- 1. A depressible bar or manual combined ICO Swine@ sprin gs housed in Suid bnr or manual and mede to direetly support iihe link, :in netuntingkey for Suid link, rnd dempers ereontuetors (one or more) actuated by Suid link, snbsinntinlly :is described.

CS. A hollow or Chamber-ed bnr or manual provided with a depressible link adapted to :ibut against or be arrested by the top of the bar or manual, Combined with Springs housed in the lower pnl-t of the bnr or manual and made to direct-ly support the link for normally holding' the lutter against the top of the bnr, n handle for actuating the link, and dempers or eontzietors (one or more) actuated by said link, substantially :is described.

.L. A barormanual, Combined with n group of individnelly-movable alternating dempers or eonmetors, and fr link eonnnon lo the nlternirtingl dempers or eon'taetors of the group` substantially ns described.

5. A bnr or manual provided. willi :i link housed in the bnr, dnmpers or eontnetors enrried by the link, dumping' or eontnebing' levers lulerulned to the bzirnnd actuated by the link, and :in notunting-hnndle lor the link su bstn ntinlly is described.

(S.A bur or mnnunl made depressible or movuble toward an d from the srin oi' n. musical instrumeiiit und provided with n damper or contacter provided with am inclined eoiuifiezing inee und made depressible or movnble toward and from the Strings in the direeiiion correspondingI to the direction oi' motion oi' the bn-r or mzrnunl, substnntinlly :is described.

ln testimony whereof l hzrve hereunto sei. my hund in the presence ol two subseribinj.; witnesses.

lVitnessesf WM. U. lLiUFiv, lll. F. lnsrnniuunnn.

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