US984527A - Folding treadle for piano-playing attachments. - Google Patents

Description

. R. J. BENNETT.

FOLDING TREADLE FOR PLANO PLAYING ATTACHMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 27, 1909. 984,527.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. (I. BENNETT. FOLDING TREADLE'FGR PIANO PLAYING ATTACHMENTS.

APPLIOATIOY'PILED OCT 27, 1909.

"Patented Feb. 21, 1911 I SHEET 2.

2 SHEETS UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn- ROBERT J. BENNETT, or MQLINEQ ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR r0 nn'rrsrnrmno PLAY R cQMPANY, or MILAN, ILLINOIS, A conronarron or ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21; 1911.

Application filed Optber 27, 1909. Serial No. 524,887.

To all when it may concern:

Be it known that, I, ROIHCRT J. Bnrmn'r' a citizen of the United States, residing at Moline, in the county of Rock lsland and State of Illinois have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Treadles for Piano-Playing Attachments of which the following is'h specification.

This invention relates to in'iproremcnts in folding tr-cadlcs for piano playingattachments adapted to be folded into the casing through an opening therein when not in use and one of the objects of the in vcntion is to provide improved means whereby the treadle and operating mechanism may be readily detached from thcfoperating mechanism for the wind inducing or suction bellows when desired.

A further object is to provide improved mechanism of this character which will be simple in construction and which when fold cd into the casing will be compact and will occupy a minimum space.

To the attainment of these ends and tho accomplishmcnt of other new and useful obiects as will appcan the inventionrousisls in the features of novelty in the construction. combination and arrangement otthc several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the acmmpanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of the invention. a nd in which--- Figure l is a sectional \'l0\\' talccn on line 1-l. of li' ip'. 3 of an improved device of this character ccmstructcd in accordanrw with the n'inciplcs of this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 22 of Fig. '1. lia i-l is a sectional view on line 3-4-3 of l i. 1. Fig. 4- is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the trcadlc attachment folded into the casing of a musical instrument.

Referring more 'mrticularly to the drawings and in the present xcmplilication of the invention the mnncral 1O designatesv the portion of a, musical instrument to which this improved attachment is applied and the rawing is provided with an open front :uljaccut the bottom thereof Within the casing and adjacent each side thereof are located pamper or suction creating dcriccs I l in the form of pncuinatics or bellows. llach of these bellows is snp 'njirlcd in position in any dcsircd or suitable manner and is arranged so that one of the members of the bellows l l l i l l l l l l l l l arm isrclcasctl, the elastic strmncnt and in a position to swing in an upright plane. An elasticmember 12, preferably in the form of a spring, is provided which is disposed between the movable'membcr ofihc bellows and. a fixed support, and these springs tend normally to collapse the bellows.

-.-*irranged within the casing at the base thereof and spaced longitudinally from iach other are roclr shafts 13, each of which is journalcd in suitable bearings 14 and "the adjacent extremities of the shafts extend bc yond the adjacent bearings, 14 and are journaled in bearings 15 which are spaced from thc'rcspectirc bearings 14. Each of the rock shafts 13 is provided with a crank arm 16 adjacent the irrespectivebellows 11 and journalcd to the free extremityof each of the crank arms is an anti-friction roller 17 which is adapted to engage a projection 18 secured to the movable member of the/bellows, so that when the shaft is rocked to move the crank'arm 17 toward the rear of the casing". thcmovable member of the bellows will be moved to cause the bellows to expand against the tension of the elastic member 12. lV-hcn pressure on the crank n'icmbcr will collapse the bellows.

A trcadle support is provided adjacent the inner extremities of the rock sln ft 13 and this support comprises two pairs of spaced members 19 which are connected at their free extremities by means of a connecting bar or member 20. These members 19 are provided with bifurcated extremities 21 which are adapted toircmovably engage the portion of the respective rock shafts 13 between thc bearings l-il. and 15, which latter scrve as means for preventing displacement of the members longitudinally with respect to the rock shafts. The free extremities of the memberslflarc provided with feet 22 which are adapted to engage and rest upon ihc lloor. These members 19 may bcof any desired length and of any desired configuralion and the rear ends thereof are preferably bent upwardly as shown. Secured to cach of lhcroch shafts 1,3 and intermediate the bifurcated extremities '21 of the rcspcctlve pairs of the members 19 is a cranl; arm 23, which is preferably disposed in thc opposite direction from the crank arms ;17.-,Thesc crank arms 28 are preferablyprovided with a will be disposed toward the rear of the inbifurcated extremity into 1 which one eX-.

tremity of a member 9A projects and is removably secured to the crank arm 23, in any desired or suitable manner, preferably by means of a fastening device 25 such as a pin or the like, passin through the crank arm 28 and the extremity 24:, and a cotter pin 26 i may be provided for preventing accidental displacement of the fastening device 25. The extremity of the member 2i adjacent the end which is secured to the crank arm 23 is arched as at 27 so as to extend over the rock shaft 13. The forward end of the member 2t is deflected downwardly and-extends through a suitable opening in the toe rail 28. This memberQi is arranged between the pair of members 19 and is supported by means of a pair of links 29, one extremity of each of which is pivotally connected as at 30 to the member. 24 and the other extremity of the links are connected as at 31 to the members 19. These links 29 preferably incline. forwardly as shown. The free extremity-of the member ill terminates short of the connecting men'iber '20 of the pairs of members 19 and an anti-friction roller 39 is journalcd in the free extremity of the member.

Treadles 33 are pivotally supported by their forward extremities to the connecting member'Qt) of the pairs of members 19. Depending from the lower face of each of the treadles is a projection 31 whichhas an inclined lower face 35 and this face is adapted to engage and rest upon the roller 32 of the respective menibeis 21. and the depending portions 34 of the treadles are so located that when the bellows 11 is collapsed. the

treadle will be held in an elevated po ition for use. W'hen pressure is exerted upon the treadle 33 it will move about it point of pivotal support and the extension ill will be depressed to cause the inclined face 35 to ride over the roller 32, which movement will cause the member 24 to swing backwardly upon the supporting links 29 to rock the shaft 13 and expand the bellows. By providing the links 29 the members 24 will be supported for a free oscillating movement.

hen the treadles are not in use, the members 19 may be swung about their points of pivotal connection with the shafts 13. whichwill cause the members 2.- to swing about their points of pivotal connections with the crank arms 23 to permit the treadles to be folded into the casing. ..\s the supports and treadles move inwardly into the casing, they will assnmethe positions shown in Fig. 4, that is, the depending portion 34 will move away from the anti-friction roller 32 and the member 24 and the treadles will be supported so as to hang in upright positions from their points of pivotal connection with the supporting frame.

\Vhen it is desired to remove the treadle attachment all that is necessary is to remove the fastening devices 25 to disconnect the members 2 f from the crank arms 23, after which the entire treadle mechanism, including the treadles, and operating members 24 may be readily detached and removed, leaving only the rocker shafts and their supports and the crank arms 16 which operate the bellows. 3

In order that the invention might be fully understood the details of the foregoin embodiment thereof have been thus speci cally described, but What is claimed as new is 1. In a folding pedal mechanism,'the combination of a treadle support pivoted at its inner end to a fixed support, a rock shaft, a bellows, an operative connection between the shaft and bellows, an operating member, a link supporting said member intermediate itsends and. from the treadle support for bodily oscillating movement, an operative connection between the member and the" shaft, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, the free end of the said operating member terminating adjacent the treadle, and means on the treadlc adapted to engage the free end of the member to oscillate the same to rock the shaft, said treadle support and operating member being movable respectively about their points of connection with a fixed support and shaft during folding and unfolding movements.

2. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a treadle support pivoted at its inner end to a fixed support,,a rock shaft, a bellows, an operative connection between the shaft and bellows, an operating member, a link pivotally supporting the member intermediate its ends and from the treadle supportfor bodily oscillatingmovement, an operative connection between the member and the shaft, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, one end of said operating member terminating adjacent the treadle,

and a cam on the treadle adapted to engage and move over the end of the operating member to oscillate the same to rock the shaft, said treadle, support and operating member being movable respectively about their points of connection with the said fixed support and shaft during folding and unfolding movements.

3. In a folding pedal mechanism, the combination of a treadle support pivoted at its inner end to a fixed support, a rock shaft. a bellows, an operative connection between the shaft and bellows, an operating member, a link pivotally supporting the member intermediate its ends and from the treadle support for bodily oscillating movement, an operative connection between the member and the shaft, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, one end of said operating member terminating adjacent the trcadle, a roller on the said end of the operating memher, and a cam on the treadle adapted to en and shaft during folding and unfolding the operating memberto rock the shaft, said.

treadle .support and operating member being movable respectivelyv about their points of connection with the said fixed support movements.

4. In a folding treadle mechanism, the

combination of a treadle support detachably pivoted at itsinner end to a rock shaft, a bellows, tion betw'een the shaft and bellows, an operating member, means supporting said member intermediate its ends and from the treadle support for longitudinal oscillatory movement, a detachable operative connection between theimember and the shaft, and

a fixed support,

atreadle pivotally mounted on the treaplrle erating member, a link supporting said member intermediateits ends and from the treadle support for bodily oscillatory movement, a treadle pivoted to thesupport adapted to engage andoscillate said member, a crank on the shaft, and a fastening'device for connecting the said operating member and the crank, said fastening device also serving to hold the parts assembled and adapted to be removed to permit the treadle support, operating member and treadle to be detached.

l 6. In a folding treadle mechanism, the combination of a rock shaft, a treadle support comprising spaced cotiperating members pivotally connected to the shaft at their inner ends, and for independent movement with respect to the shaft, an operating member disposed between the first said members, a link pivotally supporting said operating member intermediate its ends and from the treadle support, a crank on the shaft, means connecting one end of the operating member with the crank, a treadle pivotally' mounted on the support, thefree end of the operating member terminating adjacent the treadle. and means on the treadle detached from and engaging said operating member' to operate the latter when the treadle is operated, said operating member also serving to hold the treadle in position for use.

7 In a folding treadle mechanism, the

cdmbination of a. rock shaft,a treadle support comprising a member having a bifurcated extremity engaging the shaft for detachably connecting the member to the shaft for pivotal movement independently with respect to the shaft, an operating member,

an operative connecadapted to. engage and a crank on the shaft, means a link pivotally supporting the latter intermediate its ends and from-the treadle support, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, one end of said operating member terminating adjacent thetreadle and de tached therefrom, said treadle being adapt ed to engage and operate said operating member, and a detachablepivotal connection between the operating member and the shaft, said connection serving to hold the parts assembled, the treadle support, treadle. and operating member being adapted to be removed when said connection is detached.

8. In a folding treadle mechanism, the.

combination. of a rock shaft, a treadle sup port comprising a member having a bifurcated extremity engaging the shaft .for'detachably connecting the member to the shaft for pivotal movement independently with respect to the shaft, an operating member, a link pivotally supporting the latter intermediate its ends and from the treadle support, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, one end of said operating member terminating adjacent the'treadle and being detached therefrom, said treadle being operate said operating member, I detaehably and p-ivotally connecting the said operating member with the crank, said connect-ing means serving to hold the parts assembled and permitting theremoval of all ofthe parts when detached.

.9. In a folding treadle 'mechanism, the

combination of a rock shaft, atreadlesupf port comprising a member having a bifurcated extremity engaging the shaft for detachably connecting the member to the shaft i for pivotal movement. independently with respect to the shaft, an operating member, a link pivotally supporting the latter intermediate its ends and from the treadle sup port, a treadle pivotally mounted on the support, one end of said operating member terminating adjacent the treadle and being-dd tached therefrom, said treadle being adapt-- ed to engage and operate said operating member, a crank on the shaft, the other end of said operating member arching over the shaft and terminating adjacent the crank. and means detachablv connecting the end of said member with the crank. the last said means serving to hold all of the parts assembled and permitting the detachment of said parts from the shaft when disconneeted.

. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, dayof October A. D. 1909.

ROBERT J. BENNETT.

on this 16th 'Witnesses:

IVIILLIAM E. TiioMPsoN, WM. H. COLLINS

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