Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
  • G10C3/00—Details or accessories
  • G10C3/16—Actions
  • G10C3/20—Actions involving the use of hydraulic, pneumatic or electromagnetic means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
  • G10C9/00—Methods, tools or materials specially adapted for the manufacture or maintenance of musical instruments covered by this subclass
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
  • G10C1/00—General design of pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards
  • G10C1/04—General design of pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards of grand pianos
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
  • G10C3/00—Details or accessories
  • G10C3/16—Actions
  • G10C3/22—Actions specially adapted for grand pianos
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10C—PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, SPINETS OR SIMILAR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE OR MORE KEYBOARDS
  • G10C3/00—Details or accessories
  • G10C3/26—Pedals or pedal mechanisms; Manually operated sound modification means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to apparatus and method for imparting an acoustic effect to a piano.
• the invention is described with reference to an elongate member (or finger) which can be actuated by a piano player to engage with a string of an acoustic piano as the hammer strikes the string, in order to create a harmonic.
• the elongate member can be moved relative to a plurality of strings in the piano by the piano player, so that it can be selectively imparted against the strings.
• Flageolet sounds can be produced on a grand piano, touching the strings slightly either before or after hitting the respective key.
• a piano player can create a flageolet sound or other alternative sound by touching a piano string with a finger of one hand and hitting the respective key with the other hand
• there are limitations to use of the technique in musical compositions as the piano player must move one of his hands away from the keyboard to touch the string, and in order to do so must stand, and therefore cannot remain seated to create a flageolet sound.
• the "flageolet sound” alternative sounds and other harmonic effects, are difficult to achieve, when relying on the piano player touching the strings.
• the present invention seeks to overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, by providing apparatus and method for imparting an acoustic effect to a piano.
• the present invention consists of an acoustic effect impartment apparatus for use in a piano including a plurality of keys, a plurality of strings provided in corresponding relation to said keys and a plurality of hammers each responsive to an operation of any one of said keys to strike the string corresponding to the key, said acoustic effect impartment apparatus comprising:
• At least one elongate member disposed near at least one of said plurality of strings, said elongate member movable by means of a first actuator between a retracted configuration in which said elongate member is disengaged away from said at least one of said plurality of strings and an imparted configuration wherein said elongate member is imparted against said at least one of said plurality of strings, and said first actuator can be actuated by a piano player such that said elongate member is imparted against said at least one of said plurality of strings as said piano player strikes a key associated therewith.
• said apparatus comprises at least one track disposed relative to and spaced apart from said plurality of strings, a carriage mounted to said rail and slidably movable therewith, said carriage supporting said first member, and said carriage slidably movable along said track by means of a second actuator.
• said elongate member has a free end, and when said elongate member is imparted against said at least one of said plurality of strings, it is said free end that is imparted therewith.
• At least a portion of said free end of said elongate material comprises an
• said first actuator is operably connected to a first pedal.
• said first pedal is operably connected to said first actuator via mechanical means or electromechanical means.
• said mechanical means is a cable means.
• said second actuator is operably connected to a second pedal.
• said second pedal is operably connected to said first actuator via mechanical means or electromechanical means.
• said second actuator is operably connected to a push button.
• said first actuator can be actuated via wireless means.
• said apparatus is built into said piano.
• said apparatus is retrofitted to said piano.
• the present invention consists of an acoustic effect impartment apparatus for use in a piano including a plurality of keys, a plurality of strings provided in corresponding relation to said keys and a plurality of hammers each responsive to an operation of any one of the keys to strike the string corresponding to the key, said acoustic effect impartment apparatus comprising:
• a housing including a support frame that allows it to be attached to said piano, a said housing supporting a plurality of fingers disposed above and near said plurality of strings, each of said fingers able to be individually actuated by means of actuation between a retracted
• said means of selection and/or means of actuation is operably selected and/or actuated via a wireless computing device.
• the present invention consists of a method of imparting an acoustic effect to a piano including a plurality of keys, a plurality of strings provided in corresponding relation to said keys and a plurality of hammers each responsive to an operation of any one of said keys to strike the string corresponding to the key, said method comprising a piano player causing actuation of a movable elongate member to move between a retracted configuration in which it is away and disengaged away from one of said plurality of strings and an imparted configuration where it is imparted thereagainst.
• said piano player causes actuation of said movable elongate member from a seated position.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an acoustic effect impartment apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention fitted to a grand piano.
• Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of acoustic effect impartment apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial elevation view of of an acoustic effect impartment apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an acoustic effect impartment apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 5 is a schematic of a piano string that has a finger of an acoustic effect impartment apparatus, such as in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 imparted against it as a hammer strikes the piano string.
• Figs. 1 and 2 depict an "acoustic effect" impartment apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention fitted to a piano 2.
• acoustic effect we mean that apparatus 1 is for altering the sound created by a conventional piano, so as to produce a flageolet sound, alternative sound or a harmonic effect in addition to traditional sounds generated by piano 2.
• Piano 2 is a conventional grand piano, having an internal metal frame 3 and strings 4 disposed horizontally, with strings 4 extending away from keyboard 5 having a plurality of keys 6, each associated with a particular string 4.
• the strings are conventionally of varying thickness metal wire, with the lowest notes produced by strings to left of the keyboard.
• Apparatus 1 comprises a support frame 8 mountable to frame 3 of piano 2.
• Support frame 8 has two horizontally extending spaced apart guide rods (tracks) 11 supporting a first carriage 9 that can move horizontally in a transverse direction over strings 4, as shown by double headed arrow ⁇ .
• First carriage 9 supports a second carriage 12, that can move horizontally in a linear direction parallel to strings 4 as shown by double headed arrow 3 ⁇ 4.
• first carriage 9 and second carriage 12 engage in "rack and pinion" fashion, where a rack of teeth 17 on carriage 9 engage with a pinion (a hidden circular gear) mounted within second carriage 12, thereby allowing relative movement there between.
• finger 7 is disposed above and near strings 4 and supported by second carriage 12.
• finger is not used to mean an articulated knuckle member similar to a human's finger, but rather an “elongate member”.
• finger 7 has free end (or head) 14 made of, or coated with, an elastomeric material such as rubber, silicone or the like.
• a cable 15, which may for example be a "Bowden cable” extends between a pedal 16 and finger 7, and can be used to transmit a "pulling or pushing force" to move finger 7 between a retracted configuration in which finger 7 is disengaged away from a string 4a to an imparted configuration where finger 7 is imparted against 4a.
• Cable 15, can be actuated by a piano player (not shown) such that finger 7 imparts string 4a as the piano player strikes a key 6 associated therewith.
• the motion of finger 7 may be rotational, as shown by arrow R or linear as shown by double headed arrow L, or a combination of both in order to move finger 7 between the "retracted configuration" and the "imparted configuration", as shown in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 5 depicts head 14 of finger 7 as it imparts against string 4a in the "imparted configuration” and hammer 13 (associated with a key 6 not shown in Fig 5) is moving towards string 4a near damper 27.
• First carriage 9 can preferably be moved horizontally in a transverse direction over strings 4, as shown by double headed arrow H T , by means of an electro-mechanical actuator 20, and this movement maybe actuated by the piano player (not shown).
• the transverse position of finger 7 relative to strings 4 could be monitored using an indicator means 18 operably connected to electro-mechanical actuator 20, which provides the piano player a visual indication as to which "string location" finger 7 is disposed at.
• the piano player could actuate electromechanical actuator 20 using a push button trigger 21.
• apparatus 1 could be used to impart harmonic (acoustic) effects, including flageolet effects to any of strings 4.
• harmonic acoustic
• Fig 3 depicts a second embodiment schematically, which is an alternative to the first embodiment.
• a rod (or rail/track) 11a similar to rod 11 is disposed transversely over strings 4.
• Rod 1 la extends from a support frame (not shown) but similar to support frame 8 of the first embodiment.
• Carriage 9a is mounted on rod 1 la so it that can move horizontally in a transverse direction over strings 4, as shown by double headed arrow H T .
• Finger 7a, having head 14a is mounted to carriage 9a and operably connected to a cable 15 (and actuated by a pedal (not shown), similar to the first embodiment.
• Fig. 4 depicts an acoustic effect impartment apparatus 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention to be fitted to a piano (not shown).
• apparatus 100 has a support frame 108 that allows it to be attached to the metal frame of the not shown piano.
• a finger support housing 109 supports a plurality of fingers 107 to be held in a grid (row/column) relationship above a plurality of strings of the piano.
• Finger support housing 109 has a plurality of elongate openings 112 between each column of finger 107.
• Each of the fingers 107 can be individually actuated by an electro-mechanical means (not shown-hidden within frame 108) so that they can linearly move in a vertical direction downwardly from a "retracted configuration" to an "imparted configuration” where they touch the strings of the piano.
• fingers 107a and 107b are shown in the "imparted configuration", whilst the remaining fingers 107 are in the retracted configuration.
• the free ends (or head) 114 are made of, or coated with, an elastomeric material such as rubber, silicone or the like.
• the selection of which finger 107 is to be imparted against a string can be chosen via the "touch screen" of a wireless interactive device, such as a tablet computer 30 connected to said apparatus 100 via controller 110, and be actuated by same .
• a wireless interactive device such as a tablet computer 30 connected to said apparatus 100 via controller 110
• the touch screen of tablet 30 could be used as the means of selecting a desired finger 107
• a pedal (not shown) in wireless communication with controller 110 could be used to actuate the selected finger 107.
• housing 109 may be considerably smaller and could for example support a smaller number of fingers 107, say twelve fingers 107.
• second carriagel2 is in a geared rack and pinion relationship with first carriage 9.
• second carriage 12 could be a slider mounted to a rail attached to or integral with first carriage 9.
• the mechanical arrangement of first carriage 9 slidable along rods 11 could differ to that shown.
• the important feature is that the carriage that supports the finger 7 is horizontally movable in a transverse manner over the strings of piano 2, and that finger 7 can be actuated by the piano player, either mechanically or electro-mechanically between the "retracted configuration" and the "imparted configuration" where finger 7 touches a string 4.
• wireless communication between pedals, buttons, levers could be used to acuate finger 7 via electro-mechanical actuators 20, 23.
• a tablet computer or other wireless device similar to tablet 30 of the second embodiment could be used to identify and select the position of finger 7, and be used to actuate same.
• mechanical and/or electromechanical actuator components which are quiet during operation so as they do not impact acoustically on the playing of piano 2. They may require shrouding or insulation to minimise or eliminate noise during actuation, so that the only component of the apparatus imparting an acoustic effect is finger 7,107 when it touches a string 4.
• the embodiments of the present invention are advantageous over the prior art, because the piano player can generate "flageolet sound", alternative sounds such as “damping of strings” and other harmonic effects, whilst remaining seated, and without touching the strings with his or her hands. This also means the piano player can generate these sounds whilst carrying out normal hand activity on the keyboard, thereby allowing composers to create new music compositions previously not possible, incorporating the sounds that are generated by the present invention along with those traditionally generated via the keyboard 5 of piano 2.
• the terms “comprising” and “including” (and their grammatical variations) as used herein are used in an inclusive sense and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

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Citations (3)

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• 2015
  • 2015-03-19 EP EP15769675.8A patent/EP3127108A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2015-03-19 JP JP2016559230A patent/JP6526707B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2015-03-19 US US15/127,853 patent/US20170132992A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2015-03-19 AU AU2015234706A patent/AU2015234706A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2015-03-19 WO PCT/AU2015/050117 patent/WO2015143499A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2015-03-19 KR KR1020167029589A patent/KR20170044059A/ko not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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