US873949A

US873949A - Piano sounding-board.

Info

Publication number: US873949A
Application number: US36844307A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Knight
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1907-04-15
Filing date: 1907-04-15
Publication date: 1907-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1924-12-17

Description

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. KNIGHT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIANO SOUNDING-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17', 1907.

Application filed April 15. 1907- Serial No. 3684MB.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Piano Soundi11gBoa1'ds, of which the following is a specification.

It is well known among piano makers that a crowning sounding board greatly improves the tone of the instruments. And this invention relates to the production of such boards and it consists in a combination with a piano sounding board of otherwise suitable construction, of bars or ribs attached thereto and of a frame to which the board is attached, all substantially as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an upright piano frame, showing generally the arrangement of the frame and the run of the sounding board and its bars or ribs relatively thereto and as to the board. Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views lengthwise of two of the bars or ribs, before being attached to the board; Fig. 2 showing a bar of one thickness of wood and Fig. 3 a bar of two thicknesses or layers glued together. Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections on dotted lines 4& and 5 5, Figs. 2 and 3, respectively. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on dotted line 6-6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on dotted line 77, Fig. 1. Figs. 8 and 9 are similar elevations of one of the end-posts or uprights of the pianoframe, Fig. 9 showing it in its most approved form for the pur poses of this invention. Fig. 10 is a horizontal cross section on dotted line 1010, Fig. 9.

In the drawings, A represents the frame of an upright piano, B is the sounding board, and C, C are the wooden bars or ribs attached to one side of the sounding board, all as well known except as to the features hereinafter particularly described and which constitute this invention.

Each bar C is convexat and along one edge a and concave at and along its other and opposite edge 6, and, in each instance, from end to end of the bar. This convexity and concavity of the bars substantially correspond with each other, and in each instance it is secured by steaming the bar and in that condition then bending it over a suitably shaped former, to which it is confined until it has become set to the shape thereof, all as well known'in bending wood by the steaming process.

D, D are the opposite end-uprights of the piano frame, and each upright has a similar convex face E which extends the height of the upright and in each instance corresponds to the convexity of the bars O.

The several bars C of the sounding board A are relatively arranged as to each other and to the several edges of the sounding board as well known, but with their convex edges a resting on or in contact with the board and in this position they are severally glued or otherwise suitably attached to the board as ordinarily practiced for the attachment of bars or ribs of the usual form to sounding boards, or otherwise suitably, and as the ribs or bars at and along their attaching edges a are convex the board is thus brought to or given a crowning shape corre sponding substantially to the crown or convexity of the several bars. The board A, prepared with its bars or ribs C all as described, is glued or otherwise suitably attached by the concave side of the board to the convex faces E of the end-uprights D of the frame A; and thus not only is the sounding board of itself crowned as desired, but its retention in such shape is insured because of its attachment as explained to substantially corresponding convex faces E of the frameuprights D.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

The combination with a piano sounding board, of a series of wooden ribs or bars which severally, at and along one and the edge of each by which it is secured to the board, are convex from end to end and at and along the other and opposite and unattached edge of each are substantially correspondingly concave from end to end, and a piano frame having opposite end-uprights,

each of which has a convex face which eX- my hand in the presence of two subscribing tends in the direction of its height, and sub- Witnesses. stantiall corresponds to the convexity of said bal s, and has the sounding-board at- WILLIAM G 5 taclled thereto, all substantially as described Witnesses:

and for the purposes specified. ALBERT W. BROWN, In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set MARION E. BROWN.