US954043A - Pedal-action. - Google Patents

Description

L. W. NORGROSS.

PEDAL ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1908.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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atto'anu o L. W. NORGEOSS.

FEDAL ACTION.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 18, 1908.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED STATILF PATENT OFFIU LEVI WATSON NORCROSS, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

PEDAL-ACTION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI 1V. Nononoss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented a new and use ful Pedal-Action, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pedal actions for pianos and is more particularly an improvement upon the structure disclosed in Patent No. 857,299 issued to me on June 18, 1907.

The object of the invention is to provide a pedal action adjustable for use in pianos of different constructions and which is also adjustable so as to require either a light or heavy pressure of the foot according to the requirements of the user and which will not lose its close adjustment with the piano action after the parts have once been placed in a predetermined relation.

A further object is to provide a pedal action, the parts of which are so weighted as to practically counterbalance the pedals so that it becomes unnecessary to employ springs for the purpose of maintaining the pedals in raised positions while not in use.

A further object is to provide a pedal action which can be used in connection with either the right or left pedal of a piano without necessitating the formation of rights and lefts as heretofore.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano embodying the present improvements, a portion of the case being broken away to show the pedal action in rear thereof, the cap of one of the pedals being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pedal action. Fig. 3 is a section on line AB, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line C-D, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cap of one of the pedals.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a pedal lever fulcrumed at its inner end Within a suitable bracket 2 and provided at its outer end with a downwardly extending enlargement 3 designed to work within a slot 4t in the case. An arm 5 extends forwardly from the lower Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 18, 1908.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Serial No. 433,559.

portion of this enlargement and is provided with a flat head 6 provided at its forward end with a shoulder 7. This head is designed to support a cap preferably of the construction shown in Fig. By referring to this figure it will be noted that the cap comprises a shank 8 having a longitudinal groove 9 in its lower face for the reception of the upper edge portion of arm and a head 10 of any preferred contour is located at one end of this shank and is designed to receive the head 6, there being a web 11 within the head 10 for the reception of a screw or other fastening device 12 engaging the head 6. The forward portion of head 10 is designed to rest on shoulder 7 while the shank 8 bears throughout its length upon the arm 5. An extension 13 projects upwardly from the rear end of the shank S and is designed to bear against and conceal the enlargement 3 and also extends over the exposed portion of the slot 4. It is of course to be understood that this cap which has been shown in Fig. 5 can be suitably ornamented and can be of any desired contour and material.

Lever 1 is enlarged laterally between its ends as indicated at 1-1 and within this enlarged portion are formed a number of openings 15 extending from the top to the bottom of the lever and any one of which is designed to receive a pin 16 extending from one end of an intermediate lever 17. A series of transverse openings 18 is formed within lever 17 and any one of these openings is designed to receive a pivot pin 19 supported within a bracket 20 which is sooured upon the floor of the piano. Obviously by shifting the position of the bracket 20 so as to enable the pin 19 to extend through different openings 18 the length of movement of the lever 17 can be varied. The inner or lifting end of lever 17 is preferably broadened as indicated at 21 and has a longitudinal groove 22 extending thereinto from its end and within this groove is mounted a. longitudinally slotted slide 23 formed with a series of openings 24. Screws 25 or other fastening means extend through the slot 26 within the slide and engage the lever 17 and these screws not only serve to guide the retaining slide within the groove but also constitute means for securing the slide in adjusted position. Any one of the openings 241 is designed to .receive the lower end of a litter rod 27 which can be of the usual or any preferred construction.

The levers l and 1'? which have been described can be used in connection with either the left or the right pedal of a piano and the parts are assembled in the same manner for each lever with the exception that lever 17 is extended diagonally from the lever l of the right pedal because itactuates mechanism located at the back of the piano, whereas the lev 1 1? actuated by the left pedal is extended at right angles therefrom or parallel with the front of the piano because it operates mechanism located in the front portion of the piano. These relative positions of the levers ot' the two pedals have been illustrated in Fig.

With the construction herein described the stroke of each pedal can be exactly regulated and n'iaintained by shifting the pivot pin and bracket 20 to any one of the openings 18 within the lever and by changing the bearing pin 16 to any one of the openings 15 in the pedal lever. its the parts are shown in the drawings the stroke is heaviest and the longest movement of the litter rod is obtained. However, by removing the pivot pin 19 to one of the other openings 18 the stroke of the lifter rod is shortened and the foot pressure reduced. This foot pressure can be further reduced by shifting the pin 16 to one of the other openings 15 in the pedal lever 1. By providing the slide 23 the intermediate lever 17 can be adjusted to a desired length. 13y enlarging the levers 17 at their inner or lifting ends they are given su'llicient weight to counterbalance the pedal levers and their caps so that the same are maintained normally in raised positions and after being depressed they will be returned to their normal positions by gravity. By providing this form of adjustment and connection there is no danger of the parts losing their adjustment relative to the piano action. Obviously a pedal action such as herein described can be adjusted for use either by a child. or a grown person.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a pedal lever having a. plurality of openings therein; of an intermediate lever projecting under and depressible by the pedal lever, a litter rod engaging the intermediate lever, and an upwardly extending projection upon the intermediate lever and seated in any one of the openings in the pedal lever.

The combination with a pedal lever; of a litter rod, an intermediate lever for engagement with the litter red, at shiftable fulcrum tor said intermediate lever, and an adjustable connection between the levers.

3. The combination with a. pedal lever; of a litter rod, an intermediate lever engaging the litter rod and disposed to be actuated by the pedal lever, and a shil'table fulcrum for the intermediate lever.

l. The combination with a pedal lever; of an intermediate lever actuated thereby, and a fulcrum adjustably connected to the intermediate lever, said intermediate lever being weighted to maintain the pedal lever normally raised.

The combination with a pedal lover; of an intermediate lever actuated thereby, an adjustable connection between the levers, an adjustable fulcrum :tor the intermediate lever, and adjustable means upon the intermediate lever for engaging a litter rod.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence oi two witnesses.

LEVI WlVlSON NORCROSS.

lVitnesses l S. TAYLOR, Jon KEATING.

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