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US 4,381,691 AGranted
Touch force adjustment means for a piano
AssigneeBaldwin Piano & Organ Company
InventorsHarold A. Conklin, Jr., Pieter W. van Nuis
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AssigneeBaldwin Piano & Organ Company
InventorsHarold A. Conklin, Jr., Pieter W. van Nuis
Estimating the term…
Means for adjusting the touch force required to depress the keys of a piano within the range normally preferred by pianists, comprising a plurality of spring member means having a relatively small spring constant (low stiffness). Each spring member means is connected at one of its ends to one of piano keys near the fulcrum thereof. Each spring member means is connected at its other end to a beam located above the keys and extending transversely thereof the full length of the keyboard. At least one of the connections of each spring member means is adjustable. The beam may be a single continuous member, or it may be made up of segments corresponding to groups of adjacent keys. In the initial adjustment each spring member means is typically prestressed by means of its adjustable connection to set the static touch force of its respective key to the desired value.
A touch force adjustment means for a piano playing key of the type adapted to operate a hammer action, said touch force adjustment means comprising a spring member means, said spring member means being connected to said key and being connected to a means located above said key, one at least of said connections being adjustable said spring member means being prestressed in tension by means of said adjustable connection to reduce said touch force of said key.
A touch force adjustment means for the playing keys of the keyboard of a piano, said keys each being of the type adapted to operate a hammer action, said touch force adjustment means comprising a spring member means for each key, each spring member means being connected to its respective key and being connected to a means located above and extending transversely of said keys, one at least of said connections for each of said springs being adjustable, each of said spring members being prestressed by means of its adjustable connection to reduce said touch force of its respective key, said means above said key being shiftable to change said touch force adjustment for said keys by changing the stress on said spring member means simultaneously.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.