US768784A - Piano-action. - Google Patents

Description

No. 768,784. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. J. L. WILSON.

PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2a, 1903. no MODEL.

4 ATTORNEY Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT @EETCE.

JOSEPH L. IVILSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,784, dated August 30, 1904.

Application filed April 28, 1903.

To all 1071 0772, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH L. VILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Actions; and Ido 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 improvements in pianos, and properly to a key pivot or fulcrum; and some of the objects of the invention are to provide a device of this general character which Will be simple in construction and positive and effective in operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a key pivot or fulcrum so constructed as to take up the lateral play or looseness of the key and also to prevent any longitudinal motion of the key.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide an adjustable pivot or fulcrum by means of which the key may be adjusted readily and accurately in relation to the balance-rail for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the stroke or the distance between the end of the key and the front rail.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists, essentially, in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as more fully described in the following specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a piano-key and balancerail, partly. broken away to better illustrate the invention and its application thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of a piano-key and balance-rail; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified form of construction.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, reference character 1 designates a Serial No. 154,689. (No model.)

portion of the key-bed, whereon is formed or secured a balance-rail 2, and in the balancerail is secured the reduced portion or end 3 of an elliptical pin or device 4, constructed to enter an oblong or elliptical opening in a piano-key 5, and sufiicient play or looseness is desirably allowed the pin 1 in the opening 5 in thepiano-key to permit of the operation or movement of the latter, and by means of this construction the lateral or rolling movement of the key can be taken up or prevented by merely -turning the oblong pin device 4 more or less across or obliquely of the slot 5, which can be accomplished by means of the notch or recess7 in the end of thepin withoutinterfering with the operation or touch of the key, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains. It is well known that the keys of pianos become loose and roll from wear of the pivot-pin in the key, and by this simple means the lateral movement or roll of the key is prevented without detriment to the efiiciency of the action and in a very cheap manner. A pivotpin 8 is provided with screw-threads and is screwed into the key 5, so as to provide for the adjustment thereof in relation to the balance-rail for the purpose of increasing and decreasing the stroke of the key or the distance between the end of the key and the front rail, this adjustment being accomplished by rotating the pivot-pin 8 in the key, as will be readily understood. The pivot-pin 8 is preferably provided with a collar or washer 10, constructed to bear upon the balance-rail, and beyond said collar the pin is extended to form a conical point or end 9, adapted to removably enter an opening or bearing 11 in the balance-rail, essentially as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and this pivot-pin constitutes the pivot or fulcrum of the piano-key and prevents any longitudinal motion thereof, while the key can be readily withdrawn by removing the back-stop wire, (not shown,) which is held in position by the usual set of screws, (not shown,) without removing the rail or other parts of the action.

Referring to the construction illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the pivot-pin 12 therein shown is shorter than the pivot-pin 8 and is secured in the plate or cushion 2 and into the balance-rail 1, or either alone, and is provided with a Washer 10, above which pivotpin 12 extends into a recess 13 in the edge of the piano-key, whereby the latter is permitted to move on said pin as a fulcrum or pivot, while the longitudinal motion of the key is prevented, and the lateral motion or roll of the key is taken up by means of the construction hereinbefore described and shown.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and further explanation thereof will not be required.

It is not desired to limit or confine this invention to the specific construction, combination, and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, and the right is reserved to make all such changes in and modifications of the same as come Within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim- 1. A piano-key provided with a pivot having adjustable connection therewith and a device engaging said key to prevent the roll thereof.

2. A piano-key provided with a pivot having a screw-threaded connection therewith.

3. A piano-key provided with an oblong opening, an oblong pin in said opening constructed to be turned therein to prevent the roll of the key and a pivot-pin adjustably mounted in said key to regulate the movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, this 14th day of April, 1903.

JOSEPH L. WILSON.

l/Vitnesses:

BEATRICE lVILKINs, MIeNoN FORD.

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