US877339A - Music-indicator. - Google Patents

Description

No. s77,3s9.- TATENTND JAN. 21, 1908.

T. E. HOBANT.

MUST@ INDICATOR.

APPLIGATIONPILBD SEPT. 19, 1905.

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'PATENTED JAN. 21, 190s.

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Emmy/Enma@ F. E. HOBAR'I. MUSIC INDICATOR; APPLIGATIQN FILED SEPT. 19. 1905.

t A v v K. i. S l@ mNmlN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK EARL HOBART, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL GONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.

MUSIC-INDICATOR.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

Application filed September 19| 1905 Serial No. 279.138.

T 0 all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK EARL I-Io BART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Music-Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for indicating upon a keyed instrument notes, chords, and the like.

The object is to provide a 'simple structure of a novel nature which can be readily applied to a piano or other keyed musical instrument, will properly indicate the various chords, notes, scales, and the like, and will not only indicate the same' in different keys, but will also display the relation between corresponding major and minor keys.

A further object is to provide a novel structure of the above character that is exceedingly simple so that it can be cheaply manufactured.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a piano, showing the indicator in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation on an enlarged scale of the indicator, portions unnecessary to an understanding of the invention being broken away. Fig. 3 is a similar view on an enlarged scale of the supporting member. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, a support is provided in the form of a bar 5, triangular in cross section, and preferably, though not necessarily, constructed of wood. One of the faces, as 6, of the support is provided with a cushioning strip 7, or' felt or other suitable material, which is adapted to rest upon the keys of a piano or other musical instrument, and thus support one of the faces, as 8 in an outer position and at an inclination. The portions on opposite sides of this outer face 8 are cut away and provided with longitudinally disposed grooves 9, constituting guideways and forming outstanding flanges 10. On one end portion of the outer face 8 is located a key signature iinder scale, divided into an upper section 11 and a lower section 12, each section including a staH, on which the diierent key signatures are shown, the explanations of said signatures being arranged above or below the same, as fully illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus the lower section has the signatures of the major keys while the upper section comprises the signatures of the minor keys. On an intermediate portion ol the outer 'face S is located another scale 13, showing the relative major and minor keys, the relative signatures being located one over the other.

Slidably associated with the above described support is a carrier in the form of a metal plate 14, that is located over the outer 'face S of the support and has its margins inturned, as shown at 15, and slidably mounted in the grooves or guideways 9, thus being slidably interlocked with the iianges 10. The outer or exposed face of the carrier 14 is provided with what may be termed a key table,7 consisting of a series of suitably designated dili'erently colored characters, which maybe explained by rules or instructions for the use of the device, the designations being clear to those skilled in the art. These diii'erent characters include suitable pointers 1 6, which are located directly above the keys that the characters indicate when the instrument is being used. The carrier has an opening 17 at one end, constituting an indicator which registers with the dillerent key signatures of the key signature 'finder scale so that said signatures will be exposed through the opening. Another opening 18, arranged in an intermediate portion ofthe carrier plate simultaneously coperates with the characters of the relative value scale 13, the two openings and the scales being so disposed that, when one of the key signatures oi' the major scale is exposed in the opening 17, the same major key signature together with the minor key signature of which it is the relative major, will be exposed through the opening 1S. This, it is believed will be clear by reference to Figs. 1 or 2. Handles 19 and 20, located respectively on the opposite ends of the support and carrier constitute convenient means for relatively sliding the same.

In use, the device is placed upon the black keys of a piano or other musical instrument with the key signature or inder scale properly located over the notes of an octave. That is to say, the lower maj or key signatures of the scale 12 are placed over the keys designated by them, thereby positioning the inldicator'upon the keyboard. Therefore, upon adjusting the carrier with respect to the key finder scale, the key table will be brought into coperative relation with the different keys of the key-board, and the same can thus be readily ascertained and played with ease and expedition. For example, referring to Fig. 1, the indicator having been properly placed upon the key-board if it is desired to play in the key of C major, it is only necessary to slide the carrier 14 until C in the lower section of the key finder scale appears in the opening 17. This will position the characters of the key table over the proper keys of the instrument, and unmistakably point them out. 'Now assuming that it is desired to find the relative minor key of C, reference is had to the signature opening 18 when it will be found that C is the relative Vmajor of A minor. Consequently it only becomes necessary to again slide the carrier until the minor key signature A of the upper section 11 of the key finder scale is eX- posed through the opening 17, whereupon the indicators of the key table will be properly positioned to point out the keys of said minor key, the L major 3rd. and minor 6th. indicators being of course employed in lieu of the corresponding major key indicators. On referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that when the carrier plate is located with the major key signature Gp exposed in the opening 17, it will be found by reference to the central opening that Gb is the relative major of Eb minor, and therefore a further adjustment of the carrier to expose the signature El? minor will position the indicators on said carrier over the proper keys. Consequently it will be apparent that major and relative minor keys can be readily ascertained. Moreover the structure can be inexpensively manufactured for the parts are exceedingly simple and the various characters can be readily printed, stamped or otherwise applied thereto.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be under- .l

stood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. A

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a support having a key signature finder scale, and a scale indicative of the major keys and their relative minor keys, of an adjustable carrier movably mounted on the support and having a key table composed of indicators that register with the keys of a key-board, said carrier also having indicating means associated with the key signature finder and with the relative major and minor scales and simultaneously registering with the corresponding relative indicators thereof.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a support adapted to be placed upon a key-board and having a key signature finder scale comprising sections one of which comprises major key signatures, the other comprising minor key signatures, said support also having a scale of the major key signatures and their relative minor key signatures disposed in coperative relation, and a carrier movably associated with the support and having indicating means associated with both sections of the key signature inder scale and with the major and corresponding minor key signature scale.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a support having a key signature finder scale, and a scale indicative of major keys and their relative minor keys, said scales being located on the outer face of the support, of an adjustable carrier plate movably mounted on the support and having a key table comprising symbols adapted to register with the keys of a key-board, said carrier covering the scales of the support and having openings simultaneously exposing a signature on the key signature finder scale and the corresponding major and minor signatures in the other scale.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a support arranged to be placed upon a key-board and having a key signature finder scale comprising sections, one of which consists of major key signatures, the other comprising minor key signatures, said support also having a scale of major key signatures and their relative minor key signatures disposed in coperative relation, and a carrier slidably mounted on the support and movable over the scales, said carrier having openings, one of which is movable over the key signature iinder scale to expose the signatures thereof, the other being correspondingly movable over the other scale.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK EARL HOBART.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERs, S. GEORGE TATE.

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