US2532226A - Musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 28, 1950 L. M. HARTMAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 3 Sheecs-Sheet l Filed March 4, 1949 Nov. 28, 1950 L. M. HARTMAN 2,532,226

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 4, 1949 s sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 28, 1950 1 M. HARTMAN 2,532,226

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 4, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG 5 Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Lyle M. Hartman, Ohaton, Alberta, Canada Application March 4, 1949, Serial No. 79,611

Claims. l

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in musical instruments, more particularly to instruments wherein the sound is produced by the striking of wires under tension with hammers or the like, operated by pianotype keys, an object of my invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which has the playing technique of a piano but due to the novel construction including the sound box produces a distinctive tone.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which incorporates means whereby a tremolo eifect may be produced by the manipulation of the piano-type keys.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is portable and which may be supported either upon a table or upon folding legs provided with the instrument.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which although being portable has a musical range of at least four octaves.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is relatively economical in manufacture and which provides a useful and pleasing addition to the variety of instruments now being manufactured.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specifications proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top plan View of my device.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1 with the legs extended.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective fragmentation of my playing assembly sectioned in part to show the details thereof,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of one of my hammer assemblies in the normal or non-playing position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary drawing of one of my hammer assemblies, with the key in the down or striking position.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures.

Proceeding to describe my invention in detail,

will be seen upon reference to the accompanying drawings that the musical instrument embodies the casing i having a substantially harpiform configuration when viewed in plan and supported by the folding legs 2 pivotally attached to the underside thereof and braced by means of the diagonal struts 3. The casing I comprises the upper and lower panels 4 held in spaced relationship by means of the side pieces 5, thus forming the sound box E, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained.

Surmounting the forward end 'l of the casing is my keyboard assembly collectively designated 8, of substantially harpiform configuration comprising the front anchor plate 9 spanning two keyboard endplates I0 between which a set of black and white piano-type keys Il are situated. Strings l2 span the upper panel 4 of the casing l extending from the forward face i3 to which they are attached by means of screws or the like, to the conventional pitch adjusting keys I4 situated adjacent the rearmost edge l5 of the casting. The strings are elevated from the upper face by means of the front bridge I6 situated parallel with the aforementioned forward edge i3, and the rear bridge I 'l situated adjacent to and parallel with the aforementioned rear edge I5.

Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings shows the arrangement of the keyboard assembly 8 and it will be seen that the keys H are pivotally attached within the recess i 8 formed on the underside of the key supporting member I9 which spans the end plates lll as clearly shown in Figure 1. The keys il are drilled transversely towards rear end 20 thereof and are rotatably mounted upon a shaft 2l also extending between the end plates I9. A longitudinally extending strip of felt or the like 22 is attached to the forward under-surface of the recess i8 against which the upper surface of the keys bear in order to eliminate any undesirable noise when the key returns to the raised position. A rectangular recess 23 is provided in the under side of the key slightly forward of the centre thereof within which is receivable the bifurcated attachment arm Z5 pivotally attached at one end thereof to the key by means of the pin 25 extending transversely across the recess.

Striking actions collectively designated 25 comprise the connecting rod 2l, bell cranks 28 and the return springs 2S. Bell cranks 28 are journalled for rotation upon a shaft 3l! which is supported by the extension 3l of the U-shaped members 32 attached to the internal face of the front anchor plate 9 by means of bolts 33.

drawings.

These U-shaped members are adjacently situated across the width of the anchor plate 9, alternate members having the aforementioned extensions 3i in order to support the Shaft 30. Each U-shaped member is designed in this embodiment to contain the actions for three consecutive keys and is provided with the spring carrying anchor plate 3e held in position by the aforementioned bolts 33, vertical adjustment thereof :being `fpermitt'ed by the verticalslottinsr of the attaching apertures 35 for `the purpose hereinafter to be explained.

The spring'anchor plates 3Q are provided with the upper iiange 355 upon which is attachedrthe felt stripping 3l which acts .as a cushion for the forward underside edges '23T -of the -keys ll when same are depressed. The loweriianges Vt3 of the anchor plates extend outwardly and upwardly from the attaching portion substantially as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, and 'fare provided 'with"'apertures :39 adjacent -to the 'edges `-thereof 'into' .whichare receivable -the ends i of 'the Astriking faction return: springs 2 9.

' The 'returnisprings extend betweeny the anchor @plates 35i andi the upper arm *Et 'of 'the-.bell crank component iZS. The yconnecting rods 2i' o 'the .fstrikingaction extend lbetween'the `lower li Tof the bell` crank components :to 'which 'they f are fpiv'otally fattach'edby means :of Ypins fand the distal ends of the aforementioned 'attachment :arms 21s. In thisembodimentllthe.'upper 'end of Lth'e @connecting fr'odl v-acts va's a b'all receivable wi-thinthe'two Vsocket 'portions 3123' on vthe 'end of the arm 2d, the tension thereof ibeingtc'ontrolled 'by 'means' of-setscrews @It inthe V''conventi'onal manner.

"Thehammersfcollectively designated 45 com- Y iprisef flat resilient strips of 'material 'ltdsecured fby'means-of'setscrews or thellike to thezunderside 'of belllcrariks'within a 'slotted-shoulder 53'?. "The resilient lstripil' isstiiiened at vthe point of atta'chment't'o thebll'-cra1ik by arein'iorcing leaf ispring 8 also receivable within the shoulder di asclearly shown inligureeof the accompanying A 'string impacting 'hammer head li? fis-provided upon'the distal end o'i the 'resilient strip i5 being felt covered in the conventional fma'nner.

A 'novel "feature of my 'piano-harp is the vibrating vassembly collectively 'designated by 'whichl obtain a tremolo effect-in playing. This assembly comprises 'a flat resilient strip of mafterial-ei attached to 'the underside or the aforementioned anchoringfbracket'' by meansof set- I have provided a string damper t5 uporl the distal end of the butt end extension 511i which engages with the string when the hammer is released thus eliminating the vibration of the string after the note has been struck.

In operation the key H is depressed or struck journalling around the key shaft 2l and causing the connecting rod 2l to rotate the bell crank 28 thus placing the return spring 29 under tension. The' bell "crank in rotationfmottes hammer'li in an aro causing the hammer head i9 to strike the string l2 thus producing the note.

VvIt should be observed that the stationary promi ontory 53 intercepts the butt end extension 54 .just prior to the hammer head dii striking the string thus placing the hammer under spring tension 'which'gpermits the aforementioned tremolo Ascrews or the -vlike'be'ing stinened by a lea spring r 252 .as clearly shown'in'Figure'Li. A stationary interceptingipromontory 53 in the Aform 'oi a'frela- -tively'small wheel is `provide'd'on' the'un'derside of fthe distal end of 'the atstrip! and is engage- 'ablebyfthe butt fend' extension 5 o'i the hammer "ed which Yextends irearwardly from "the slotted shoulder 122i of the bell' crank 23. in the embodi- 'mentiillustrated .the butt fendextension 'is shown fas a separatey strip of material' which has the Jeffe'ct 'of further stiiening the hammer 'but it `will :be 'appreciated 'that it may if desired be 'formed with the hammer d'5. The aforementioned promontory 53 is engageable by the extension 54 when the 'hammer is in the "ressecl or-"strikingposition, 'theV strip El carrying the 'promontory be'ing exed with and by the extension thus placing-'the hammer d under .tension which permits rapid oscillation the keyfthus providing'a tremolo effect as will hereinafter 'become apparent.

effect to be produced by the oscillation of the key The forward undersurace edges 3l of the keys should be adjusted with relation to the felt 'stripping 3.-'l by means of"theaforementioned slotted portion of 'the .anchor 'plate inlorder to fensure 'that the 'hammer head rstrikes 'the 'strings before the keg/*meets 'the yfelt.

AIf it is desire-Ll to prolong the note fthe-n :the =keyfisfnot release-el 'entirely vas it will he apprelci'ated that :upon release or the the `stri-ng damper 55 'on the-end or" the'butt-end extensie '-555 'engages `with the lstring thusV stopping -tlievibration thereof.

As-hereinbefore described, a -note'fmayailso' be held 'by the 'treniclc -rnethcd depending uponthe fki'nd-'o'f music "being played or the 'effe-:Lts desired y'by 't'he player.

Since various modifications can be 'made iin'rnfiy 'invention as vihereinabove described, 'apparently wideiy-dierentembodiments of same 'madewithin Vthe-spirit and 'scope foi the c ms 'withoutf'depai'ting'from suchspi it scopefi't is intended that rli matter containedY in the 'accompanying speoi'eation -shall he interpreted 'illustrative only and-'not in'a limiting-sense.

What Iolam as my -invention is:

l. A piano-harp 'characterized by the'combination with a horizontally disposed and substan- :tially harpiiorm keyboard `of a set 'of keys and an associated 'line-up vof shaft-supported 'ham- 'mers therebeneath, a striking action connected to and extending between each key and'one of the hammers, said action embodying a "bell- 'crank component 'journalled `on 'said 'shaft and a 'connecting rod extending .between said crank 'and sai'd key, spring means also extending between saidY crankV and an adjacent point of anchorage, said hammers each consisting of a at Aresilient strip of .material secured to said crank, a 'string impacting head on the distal end thereof and 'at least one leaf spring overlying said hammer in the region of attachment of said hammer to 'said crank for "stiiening said strip, and a vibrating assembly composed of astationary intercepting promontory and a butt-end extension 'on 'said hammer engageable'with said and said key, spring means also extending between said crank and an adjacent point of anchorage, said hammers each consisting of a flat resilient strip of material secured to said crank, a string impacting head on the distal end thereof, and means for vibrating said hammer against the strings of said keyboard when a key is struck.

S. A piano-harp characterized by the combination with a horizontally disposed and Substantially harpiform keyboard of a set of keys and an associated line-up of shaft-Supported hammers therebeneath, a striking action connected to and extending between each key and one of said hammers, said action embodying a bell-crank component journalled on said shaft and a connecting rod extending between said crank and said key, spring means also extending between said crank and an adjacent point of anchorage, said hammers each consisting of a flat resilient strip of material secured to said crank, a string impacting head on the distal end thereof and at least one leaf spring overlying said hammer in the region of attachment of said hammer to said crank for stiiening said strip, a vibrating assembly composed of stationary intercepting promontory and a butt-end extension on said hammer engageable with said promontory when said hammer is depressed to produce a vibrating sound effect on said keyboard, and a string damper on said extension for engagement with the associated string of said keyboard when said key is released.

4. A piano-harp characterized by the combination with a horizontally disposed and substantial harpiform keyboard of a set of keys and an associated line-up of shaft-supported hammers therebeneath, a striking action connected to and extending between each key and one of said hammers, said action embodying a bellcrank component journalled on said shaft and a connecting rod extending between said crank and said key, spring means also extending between said crank and an adjacent point of anchorage, said hammers each consisting of 1 a fiat resilient strip of material secured to said crank, a string impacting head on the distal ends thereof and at least one leaf spring overlying said hammer in the region of attachment of said hammer to said crank for stiffening said strip, and a vibrating assembly composed of stationary intercepting promontory and a butt-end extension on said hammer engageable with said promontory when said hammer is depressed to produce a vibrating sound effect on said keyboard, said extension taking the form of a resilient strip which contacts said promontory before said impacting head makes contact with the string of said keyboard.

5. A piano-harp characterized by the combination with a horizontally disposed and substantial harpiform keyboard of a set of keys and an associated line-up of shaft-supported hammers therebeneath, a striking action connected to and extending between each key and one of said hammers, said action embodying a bellcrank component journalled on said shaft and a connecting rod extending between said crank and said key, spring means also extending between said crank and an adjacent point of anchorage, said hammers each consisting of a flat resilient strip of material secured to said crank, a string impacting head on the distal end thereof and at least one leaf spring overlying said hammer in the region of attachment of said hammer to said crank for stiiening said strip, and a vibrating assembly composed of stationary intercepting promontory and a butt-end extension on said hammer engageable with said promontory when said hammer is depressed to produce/a Vibrating sound effect on said keyboard, said extension taking the form of a resilient strip which connects said promontory before said impacting head makes contact with the string of said keyboard, and a string damper on said extension for engagement with the string of said keyboard when said key is released.

LYLE M. HARTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 730,581 Stienback June 9, 1903 1,015,896 Kiessig Jan. 30, 1912 1,405,328 Puchalski Jan. 31, 1922 2,244,332 Finney et al June 3, 1941

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