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US 6,930,234 B2Granted
Adjustable keyboard apparatus and method
OwnerLanny Davisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keyboard apparatus for musical instruments such as pianos, organs, clavichords, and harpsichords, and methods for making and using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a frame assembly, a plurality of keys, a plurality of lever assemblies each operably connected with its corresponding key, and a main fulcrum that together replicate the touch of an acoustic piano keyboard. It can be used in electronic and acoustic instruments, can be adjusted to simulate the feel of a selected type of keyboard instrument, and is simple and cost-effective to manufacture.
Claims20
A keyboard apparatus, comprising:
- a frame assembly;
- a fulcrum rail extending across at least a portion of said frame assembly;
- and
- a plurality of linearly arranged floating lever assemblies mounted to said frame assembly, each of said floating lever assemblies comprising a key lever adapted to be depressed and released by a user, a whippen lever pivotable on said fulcrum rail and pivoted to said key lever at a first pivot point and a hammer lever pivoted to said whippen lever at a second pivot point, each of said first and second pivot points moving from a rest position to an operative position when said corresponding key lever is depressed, said first and second pivot points returning to said rest positions when said corresponding key lever is released.
1 more element
A method for making a keyboard apparatus, comprising:
- fabricating a plurality of floating lever assemblies, wherein each of said lever assemblies includes a depressible key lever, a whippen lever pivoted to said key lever at a first pivot point, and a hammer lever pivoted to said whippen lever at a second pivot point
- installing a fulcrum rail across at least a portion of a frame assembly;
- installing the plurality of floating lever assemblies to the frame assembly so that each of said lever assemblies is linearly aligned and said whippen lever is pivotable on said fulcrum rail when said corresponding key lever is depressed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.