Transportable stringed keyboard instrument
AssigneeKeybird Instruments ApS
InventorLander Pinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transportable stringed keyboard instrument includes a lightweight sound-body formed of several layers with front plate and back plate of material of high modulus of elasticity like steel or higher, with a side plate of a material of high modulus of elasticity like steel or higher, bonded to various layers between front plate and back plate. A method of forming a lightweight sound-body includes a single press procedure, wherein the sound-body is formed with bending in opposite direction compared to bending forces due to the string load. An upright piano action is optimized for space reduction so that keys can be positioned closer to the strings and a rotatable action together with the keys form a separate unit for transportation, apart from the sound-body.
Claims19
A sound-body for a stringed keyboard instrument, comprising:
- a front plate having at least one opening;
- at least one soundboard fixation layer having at least one opening;
- a soundboard comprising a bridge that protrudes from the front plate and soundboard fixation layer through the respective at least one opening in the front face and the soundboard fixation layer;
- a side plate;
- a rear soundboard fixation layer;
- one or more sandwich spacing layers;
- and
- a back plate located further from the front plate compared to the soundboard fixation layer, the soundboard, the rear soundboard fixation layer, and the one or more sandwich spacing layers;
- wherein:
- the front plate is bonded to the at least one soundboard fixation layer;
- ends of strings are anchored to the front plate;
- the soundboard fixation layer is bonded to an outer edge portion along a contour of the soundboard, allowing the soundboard to vibrate freely apart from the outer edge portion along the contour;
- the rear soundboard fixation layer is bonded to the soundboard outer layer along the contour or to the soundboard fixation layer;
- the rear soundboard fixation layer allows the soundboard to vibrate freely, apart from its outer edge portion along the contour;
- the bridge is connected with the strings;
- and
- the side plate is bonded to sides of the front plate and/or sides of the at least one soundboard fixation layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.