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US 6,639,133 B1Granted
Universal piano action striking vertical and horizontal strings from below and above
OwnerRichard Wroblewskiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A universal piano action having a minimum number of identical parts interchangeable in upright and grand pianos, under and above the tensioned strings and effecting rapid repetition in upright and grand pianos, this universal piano action responds to every strenght of touch evoking sounds from a whisper to thunder. In this universal piano action the hammers can be positioned to any at rest position, to any proximity in respect to the tensioned strings for a sensitive control of sound, permitting practice playing with a normal strenght of piano key touch without disturbing.
Claims64
A universal piano action for emplacement in upright pianos and grand pianos below and above strings;
- comprising a hammer shank carrying a piano hammer;
- a base end of said hammer shank being pivotally connected to a support member;
- a substantially rigid pivotal jack supported by a spring means being positioned on a rear portion of a piano key;
- said spring means pressing said pivotal jack against an abutment in a direction towards a pivot of said support member;
- upon depressing said piano key a lifting surface of said pivotal jack lifting a substantially straight lifting surface of said hammer shank in a sliding manner;
- said undersurface of said hammer shank urging said lifting surface of said pivotal jack in said sliding manner pushing said pivotal jack in opposition to said spring means supporting said pivotal jack into a substantial incline in a direction away of said pivot of said support member;
- said incline being effected by gravity of said hammer shank and said piano hammer upon said lifting surface of said pivotal jack;
- angle of said pivotal jack in said incline varying with amounts of force applied to said piano key;
- said pivotal jack remaining in said incline until release of said piano key returning said pivotal jack to its normal upstanding attitude;
- said piano hammer being propelled towards a tensioned horizontal string;
- and rebounding from said tensioned horizontal string during said lifting surface of said pivotal jack being in contact with said undersurface of said hammer shank;
- said lifting surface of said pivotal jack locking onto a variable point on said undersurface of said hammer shank;
- whereby positioning said piano hammer at a variable rebound position;
- said lifting surface of said pivotal jack unlocking from said variable point on said undersurface of said hammer shank upon releasing said piano key permitting said piano hammer to return to its normal at rest position from said variable rebound position;
- said variable rebound position of said piano hammer being effected by amounts of force applied to said piano key and to tension strength of said spring means supporting said pivotal jack and to weight of said piano hammer;
- said universal piano action operating without escapement let off biasing means.
13 more elements
A universal piano action for emplacement in upright pianos and grand pianos below and above strings;
- comprising a hammer shank carrying a piano hammer;
- a base end of said hammer shank being pivotally connected to a support member;
- a substantially flexible jack being positioned on a rear portion of a piano key;
- upon depressing said piano key a lifting surface of said flexible jack lifting a substantially straight undersurface of said hammer shank in a sliding manner;
- said undersurface of said hammer shank urging said lifting surface of said flexible jack in said sliding manner pushing said flexible jack into a substantial incline in a direction away of a pivot of said support member;
- said incline being effected by gravity of said hammer shank and said piano hammer upon said lifting surface of said flexible jack;
- angle of said flexible jack in said incline varying with amounts of force applied to said piano key;
- said flexible jack remaining in said incline until release of said piano key returning said flexible jack to its normal upstanding attitude;
- said piano hammer being propelled towards a tensioned horizontal string;
- said piano hammer striking said tensioned horizontal string and rebounding during said lifting surface of said flexible jack being in contact with said undersurface of said hammer shank;
- said lifting surface of said flexible jack locking on to a variable point on said undersurface of said hammer shank;
- whereby positioning said piano hammer at a variable rebound position;
- said lifting surface of said flexible jack unlocking from said variable point on said undersurface of said hammer shank upon releasing said piano key permitting said piano hammer to return to its normal at rest position from said variable rebound position;
- said variable rebound position of said piano hammer being effected by amounts of force applied to said piano key and to tension strength of said flexible jack and to weight of said piano hammer;
- said universal piano action operating without escapement let off biasing means.
12 more elements
A universal piano action operating without escapement let off biasing means;
- for emplacement in upright pianos and grand pianos below and above strings;
- comprising a pivotal member having a first end and a second end;
- said first end carrying a hammer shank carrying a piano hammer;
- said piano hammer facing a tensioned horizontal string from below;
- a substantially straight undersurface of said first end resting on a substantially rigid pivotal jack supported by a spring means;
- said jack being positioned on a rear portion of a piano key;
- said piano hammer striking said tensioned horizontal string and rebounding during said jack being in continual contact with said substantially straight undersurface of said first end.
4 more elements
A universal piano action comprising a pivotal jack;
- a pivotal member carrying a piano hammer;
- a lifting surface of said jack in a sliding manner lifting an undersurface of said pivotal member propelling said piano hammer towards a tensioned string;
- said jack being pressed by a spring means against an abutment;
- said lifting surface of said jack being in contact with said undersurface of said pivotal member during said piano hammer striking said tensioned string and rebounding from said tensioned string effectuated by absence of a jack escapement means;
- weight of said piano hammer and said pivotal member via said undersurface of said pivotal member upon being lifted by said jack pushing said lifting surface of said jack pushing said jack into a substantial incline in a direction away of a pivot of said pivotal member in opposition to said spring means pressing said jack in a direction towards said pivot;
- said jack remaining in said incline until said piano hammer being returned to an at rest position by releasing a piano key operating said universal piano action.
3 more elements
A universal piano action striking vertical strings and horizontal strings from at least one direction, comprising a hammer shank carrying a piano hammer;
- a base end of said hammer shank being connected pivotally to a support members a substantially rigid pivotal jack being positioned on a rear portion of a piano keys a lifting surface of said pivotal jack lifting a substantially straight undersurface of said hammer shank in a sliding manners said undersurface of said hammer shank urging said lifting surface of said pivotal jack in said sliding manner in a direction away of a pivot of said support members effected by gravity of said hammer shank and said piano hammer upon said lifting surface of said pivotal jack;
- said piano hammer being propelled towards a tensioned horizontal strings said piano hammer striking said tensioned horizontal string and rebounding from said tensioned horizontal string, during said lifting surface of said pivotal jack being in contact with said undersurface of said hammer shank;
- said lifting surface of said pivotal jack locking onto a variable point on said undersurface of said hammer shank;
- whereby positioning said piano hammer at a variable rebound positions said lifting surface of said pivotal jack unlocking from said variable point on said undersurface of said hammer shank, upon releasing said piano keys permitting said piano hammer to return to its normal at rest position from said variable rebound positions said variable rebound position of said piano hammer being effected by amounts of force applied to said piano key and to tension strength of a spring means supporting said pivotal jack, and to weight of said piano hammers said universal piano action operating without escapement let off biasing means and wherein said pivotal jack includes a through hole running from side to side;
- said spring means functioning therein.
2 more elements
A universal piano action for emplacement in upright pianos and in grand pianos below and above strings, comprising a hammer shank carrying a piano hammer;
- a base end of said hammer shank being connected pivotally to a support members a substantially flexible jack being positioned on a rear portion of a piano key;
- a lifting surface of said flexible jack lifting a substantially straight undersurface of said hammer shank in a sliding manners said undersurface of said hammer shank urging said lifting surface of said flexible jack in said sliding manner, in a direction away of a pivot of said support member, effected by gravity of said hammer shank and said piano hammer upon said lifting surface of said flexible jack;
- said piano hammer being propelled towards a tensioned horizontal strings said piano hammer striking said tensioned horizontal string and rebounding during said lifting surface of said flexible jack being in contact with said undersurface of said hammer shanks said lifting surface of said flexible jack locking onto a variable point on said undersurface of said hammer shanks whereby positioning said piano hammer at a variable rebound positions said lifting surface of said flexible jack unlocking from said variable point on said undersurface of said hammer shank, upon releasing said piano key, permitting said piano hammer to return to its normal at rest position from said variable rebound position;
- said variable rebound position of said piano hammer being effected by amounts of force applied to said piano key and to tension strength of said flexible jack and to weight of said piano hammer;
- said universal piano action operating without escapement let off biasing means;
- and wherein said flexible jack being carried by a stage;
- said stage being adjustable along said rear portion of said piano key.
4 more elements
The universal piano action striking plurality of vertical and horizontal strings from two directions;
- comprising a pivotal member having a first end and a second ends said first end carrying a hammer shank carrying a piano hammer;
- said piano hammer facing a tensioned horizontal string from below;
- a substantially straight undersurface of said first end resting on a substantially rigid pivotal jack supported by a spring means;
- said jack being positioned on a rear portion of a piano key;
- said piano hammer striking said tensioned horizontal string and rebounding—during said lifting surface of said jack being in contact with said substantially straight undersurface of said first end;
- and wherein said piano hammer carried by said hammer shank, carried by said first end of said pivotal member pointing downwardly, facing said tensioned horizontal string upwardly;
- a substantially straight undersurface of said second end of said pivotal member resting on said lifting surface of said pivotal jack positioned on said rear portion of said piano key;
- said piano hammer striking said tensioned horizontal string downwardly.
5 more elements
A piano action for emplacement in upright and grand pianos below and above strings;
- comprising a substantially flexible jack carried by a rear portion of a piano keys a pivotal member carrying a piano hammer;
- upon depressing said piano key weight of said piano hammer and said pivotal member in a sliding manner pushing a top of said flexible jack positioning said flexible jack into a substantial incline in a direction away of a pivot of said pivotal member;
- said flexible jack remaining in said incline until release of said piano key;
- said top of said flexible jack supporting said pivotal member during said piano hammer being propelled towards a tensioned strings said top of said flexible jack supporting said pivotal member during said piano hammer striking said tensioned strings said top of said flexible jack supporting said pivotal member during said piano hammer rebounding from said tensioned strings said top of said flexible jack supporting said pivotal member during release of said piano key.
1 more element
A piano action for emplacement in upright pianos and grand pianos below and above strings;
- comprising a pivotal jack acted upon by a spring means against an abutment in a direction towards a pivot of a pivotal member carrying a piano hammer;
- said pivotal jack being carried by a rear portion of a piano keys upon depressing said piano key weight of said piano hammer and said pivotal member in a sliding manner pushing a top of said pivotal jack positioning said pivotal jack into a substantial incline in a direction away of said pivot of said pivotal members said pivotal jack remaining in said incline until release of said piano key;
- said top of said pivotal jack supporting said pivotal member during said piano hammer being propelled towards a tensioned string;
- said top of said pivotal jack supporting said pivotal member during said piano hammer striking said tensioned string;
- said top of said pivotal jack supporting said pivotal member during said piano hammer rebounding from said tensioned string;
- said top of said pivotal jack supporting said pivotal member during release of said piano key.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.