US588687A - Tongue-bar-supporting clamp - Google Patents

Description

(No Modal.)

J. E. MOYER.

TONGUB BAR SUPPORTING CLAMP.

Patented Aug. 24,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE HECIILER NOYER, OF'TEHPL, TEXAS.

TONGUE-BAR-SUPPOTING CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,687, dated August 24, 1897.

Application filed December 31, 1896. Serial No. 617,624. (No modal.)

T0 aZZ wwm it may concern- Be it known that I, J ESSE HECHLER MOYER, a,citizen of the United States, residin g at Temple, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Ton gue-Bar- Supportin g Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a supporting or temporary holding clamp for maintaining a tongue bar in operative position With relation to the hammers of a piano and thereby faciltating the connection With the tongue-bar of the means whereby the latter is adapted to be subsequently operated, and, furthermore, to provide means whereby a tongue-bar may A be supported in a piano of any ordinary construction for purpose of exhibition without in any way modifying the construction of the instrument or marring the finish thereof.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof Will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of clamps constructed in accordance with my invention applied in the operative position to a tonguebar and engaged with the sides of a piano-case. Fig. 2 is a detail view in perspective of the clamp and the contiguous cxtremity of a tongue-bar.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures of the draw ings. V

In order to illustrate the function 01' the clamp embodying my invention, I have shown the same in connection With a tonguebar 1 similar to that shown and described in my former patent, No. 573,474, granted December 22, 1896, the clamp consisting of a vertically-adjustable shank or bar 2, provided with a scat 3 for the extremity 01: the bar. In the construction illustrated this scat consists of aWire tongue secured to the shank or bar and spaced from the edge thereof to allow the extremity of the tongue-bar to be introduced therebetween. The other member of the clamp consists of a clip 4, adapted to engage the upper edge of the side wall of a piano-case or any other similar fixed obj cet, such as shown in dotted lines at 5 in Fig. 2. This clip is provided with a guide or keeper 6, through which the shank 2 entends for adjustment, and a locking device, such as a set-screw 7, is pref erably mounted upon the guide and is adapted to impinge against the shank t0 secure it when the desired elevation of the tongue-bar has been attained. The clip may also be provided with a set-screw 8, having a follower 9 t0 bear against the exterior surface of the piano-case or other support, the faces of the apparatus which come in contact With the piano-case beingpreferably padded or clothed (not shown) to avoid marring the instrument.

I have found that in exhibiting a tongucbar for sale and otherwise it is desirable t0 employ supporting devices by which it may be arranged in the operative position in an instrument of any size and kind, of course of the cabinet class, in order that the effect upon the tone may be appreciated, and by the use of the clamp, as abovc described, this object can be obtained with facility. The clips or engaging members of the clamp are fastened to the upper edges of the side walls of the case, and the extremities of the tongue-bar are seated upon the shank, as above described, when by the proper manipulation of the shank the extremities of the tongues carried by said tongue-bar may be disposed as desired to show the operation of the device. This application and the subsequent removal of the clamp from the instrument do not mar the finish thereof, and hence any objection to a trial is overcome. It is also desirable t0 employ a device of the class described in fixing the tongue-bar in the right position for making the permanent connection thercwith, inasmuch as the efiicient operation of the device depends upon the arrangement thereof in a certain definite position with relation to the hammers and strings of the instrument.

I have found also that it is nccessary in or der-t0 enable a salesman to apply a tonguebar to pianos of different sizes, when it is undesirablc to carry more than one tongue-bar,

to provide means whereby the length of said tongue-bar may be adjusted, and hence I em ploy an auxiliary section or slide 10, fitted in clips 11 on the tongue-bar or otherwise connected therewith for longitudinal adjustment, as shown in the drawings.

It Will be seen that the seats 3 are open at their npper sides to allow the extremities of the bar to be fitted therein after the clamps have been arranged in position, and also facilitating the disengagement of the shanks of the clamps from the bars after the permanent attachment of the latter to an instrument has been effected.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted t0 withont departing from the spirit or saerficing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A tongne-bar-supporting clamp having a guide, and means for attaching the same to a fixed part of a piano, and a shank adjnstably fitted in said guide and provided Wllh a scat for the extremity of a tongne-bar, substantially as specified.

2. A tongne-bar-snpporting clamp having a guide provided With means for engagement With a fixed part of a pian o-frame, and a shank adj ustably fitted in said guide, and provided with a scat having an open npper side for the reception of the extremity of a fougue-bar, substantially as specified.

3. A tongne-bar-snpporting clamp having a guide, a clip carryng said guide and adapted to engage the upper edge of a piano-case, a shank adjustably fitted in said guide and provided with a scat for the extrernity of a tongne-bar, and a locking deviee for secnring the shank at the desired adjnstment, sub- Stantially as specified.

AL. The combination Of a supporting-clamp having a guide and means for securing the same t0 a fixed part of a piano-frame, and a shank adj nstably fitted in said guide and provided With a scat, with an extensible tongne-bar provided with an anxiliary member or slide adapted to fit in said scat, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim tl1e foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed 1ny signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JESSE HECHLER NOYER.

Witnesses:

II. Il. SWINK, G. W. ROWLAND.

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