US786669A - Keyboard. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

H. ODELL.

KEYBOARD.

APPLIOATIOIT FILED AUG. 1 0, 1904.

[if .I my M w m.

WITNESSES: I I i Z54 Patented April 2, 1905.

' MELANOTHON HELI ODELL, OF CINCINNATI, (EH10.

KEYESOA SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Ho. ?86,669, dated April 431, 1905.

Application. filed August 10, 1904. Serial lilo. 220,206.

To In whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ll lELANG'ZHON Hum: ODELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of i amilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Keyboard, of which the follow" ing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to pianos and organs; and its object is to provide a new and improved keyboard in which the keys are not liable to stick on account of the tightening of the bushing on the balance and guide pins caused by the swelling of the wood carrying the bushing and at the same time allow the use of any kind of fall-board, as all cross" rails, key-binders, and like devices are entirely dispensed with.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of the improvement, and Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

On the frame A of the keyboard are arranged the usual front rail B, the intermediate rail C, and the back rail D, on which latter normally rest the rear ends of the keys E, mounted to swing on the balance-pins F, resting on the intermediate rail C, the front ends of the keys being guided by the guide-pins G, rising from the front rail B.

Each guide-pin G extends through a eloselyfitting bushing H, of felt or other similar suitable material, and this bushing is secured to a wooden support I, titted in a recess in the body of the key E and glued or otherwise secured thereto, so as to practically form an integral part of the key.

Each balance-pin F is engaged at its sides and near the top thereof by a bushing H, similar to the bushing H, and likewise attachcd to wooden suonort I, similar to the T 1 L L I support i, ano secured to the body of the key *1 to form a part thereot the same as the sum Y J. u r

ort l. as shown in the drawin s the su L I h 7 I t the bottom portion ot port I forms part the key, w ile the support 1 is arranged on the top thereof, and each support is preferabi y forked at one end to receive the bushing H or H at the inner faces of the fork members, the opening between the fork members registering with the apertures E and E formed in the key-body, and in which apertures extend the guide-pins G- and the balance-pins F freely that is, without touching the walls of the said apertures.

Each of the wooden supports 1 and 1 has its grain arranged at ang.es to the grain of the body of the key E, and each wooden support is preferably of the composite type-- that is, made of plurality of superimposed layers of wood glued together, the grains of adjacent layers crossing each other to render the support non-shrinkable in itself and nonshrinkable relative to the body of the key E.

havii'ig the bushings mounted on the non shrinkable supports it is evident that the key is not liable to stick on the balance-pin F or on the guide-pin G, and hence the key is always kept in proper position and is in proper condition to yield to the touch of the player.

lhe device is very simple and durable in construction and can be cheaply manufactured and readily applied to the white as well as to the black keys of the keyboard.

iiavin g thus described my invention, 1 claim as new anddesire to secur Letters Patent 1. A key for a keyboard, having a bushing, and a cross-grain wooden support for the bushing and attached to the key.

2. A key fora keyboard, having a body providcd with a recess, a cross-grain wooden support fitted into the said recess and secured in position thereon, and a bushing carried by the said cros grain support.

3. A keyboard provided with an intermediate rail carrying balance-pins,and keys mounted to swing on the said balance-pins, each key having :1 cross-grain support and a bushing In testimonywhereoflimvosignod mynzuno I earned by the said support and engaging the to this S] ')6Cii'i0?tij10ll 1n tho presence of two snh- 1 corresponding balance-pin. scribing Witnesses.

k. A keyboard provided with a front mil, MELANCTHON HILLF ODELL. guiilo-pins on the said front raih and keys hzw- .Vitnessos: ing cross-grain supports and bushings on tho Giins'rniz W. HEEL-MILL.)

said supports, engaging the said guide-pins. VINoux'i 8011mm.

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