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US 4,286,493 AGranted
Graduated leverage piano action
AssigneeJames R. Wales
InventorsKeith C. Hardesty, Gene L. Lukensmeyer
Life of this patent
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AssigneeJames R. Wales
InventorsKeith C. Hardesty, Gene L. Lukensmeyer
Estimating the term…
A graduated leverage piano action is incorporated into a piano having graduated mass hammers for striking graduated mass strings. The mass of the hammers and strings is highest for the lowest bass strings and lowest for the highest treble strings. In the piano a plurality of keys are supported by and pivoted about a balance rail which divides each key into first and second lever arms. The length of the second lever arm is defined by the location of a capstan screw which is coupled to each key. The length of the second lever arm decreases as the mass of the hammers increases. A complex mechanical linkage is coupled to each hammer and is positioned above each capstan screw for displacing each hammer when contacted by an opposing capstan screw contacts the third lever arm. The third lever arm is displaceable by the corresponding capstan screw. The length of the third lever arm increases as the length of the second lever arm decreases so that the force required to displace any piano keys remains substantially constant across the entire keyboard.
A graduated leverage piano action for a grand piano having graduated mass hammers for striking graduated mass string wherein the mass of the hammers and strings is highest for the lowest bass strings and lowest for the highest treble strings, comprising:
In a piano having a plurality of strings and a plurality of keys for actuating a plurality of hammers to strike each of the strings where each key is pivotable about a balance rail which divides the key into first and second lever arms and where the piano includes means interposed between each key and each hammer for causing a displacement of each key to actuate a corresponding hammer to strike a corresponding string, the improvement comprising:
In a piano having a plurality of strings and a plurality of keys for actuating a plurality of hammers to strike each of the strings, and where each key is pivotable about a balance rail which divides the key into first and second lever arms and where the piano includes means interposed between each key and each hammer for causing a displacement of each key to actuate a corresponding hammer to strike a corresponding string, the improvement comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.