Folding piano
OwnerCharles T. Helpinstill, IIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable folding piano is disclosed which incorporates in the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a keyboard and associated keys which disengage from the hammer pickup fingers. The keyboard is pivotally attached to the piano body and may be swung to a stored position for transportation purposes. A positioning rail aligns the hammer pickup fingers for reengagement with the piano keys which are provided with a forked extension to enable repeated and accurate engagement.
Claims10
In a piano which includes a piano body having a frame work and strings therein, and designated action mechanisms having a plurality of pickup fingers associated therewith, each action mechanism causing a hammer to strike a designated string to form a musical note, and which piano further includes a separable keyboard assembly including a plurality of keys, the improvement which comprises:
- (a) an elongate positioning rail for operatively aligning the pickup fingers and each action mechanism for engagement and disengagement relative to a designated key of the keyboard assembly, said positioning rail incorporating a plurality of slots for receiving the pickup fingers;
- (b) means for selectively engaging and disengaging the plurality of keys with the action pickup fingers;
- (c) means for fixedly attaching the keyboard assembly to the piano body at an operative position such that striking a designated key of the keyboard assembly causes a hammer to strike a designated string in the piano body to form a musical note;
- and
- (d) means for selectively altering the position of the keyboard assembly relative to the piano body between operative and inoperative positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.