US1506373A - Tuning peg for musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 26 1924.

C. KREMP TUNING PEG FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS I Original Filed June 22 Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES 7 1,506,373 PATENT OFFICE.

CARL KREMP, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO H. A. WEYMANN &

SON, INCL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNYSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

TUNING PEG FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Continuation of application Serial No. G l-7,050, filed June 22, 1923.

This application filed July 3, 1924.

Serial No. 724,052.

To oZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL KREMP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in a 'Inning Peg for Musical Instrui'nents, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a tuning peg for musical instruments, the same being a continuation of my application for Letters Patent bearing Serial Number 647,050, filed June 22nd, 1928, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this character which will be neat in appearance, strong and durable as well as effective in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tuning peg which is particularly adapted for use on stringed musical instruments of the banjo type wherein the key or finger piece may be rotated at one speed and the tuning peg proper or stem rotated at a slower speed through the medium of a suitable gear train between the key and stem.

A further object of this invention is to provide for varying the speed of rotation between a key or finger piece and a tun-' ing peg proper or stem so constructed that said key and stem are in direct alignment and the ordinary well known operation and exterior appearance of the tuning peg will remain unchanged.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a tuning peg structure comprising a stationary internal ring gear, a central key gear, a loose or racing intermediate gear meshing with the first two named gears, and a tuning peg proper or stem including, in effect, a crank for connection with the intermediate gear to rotate the said stem at a less speed than the rotation of the key gear.

lVith these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, re-

ferring by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1, is a rear face view of the outer end of a musical instrument neck and head prcec showing my invention applied thereto w th one of the tuning pegs removed.

Fig. 1'2, is an enlarged interior plan view of the tuning peg with the stem and inside plate removed.

Fig. 5, is a longitudinal sectional side elevation of the complete tuning peg structure.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, 2 represents the neck of a string musical instrument of the banjo type from which projects the head piece 3 and in the back of this head piece are formed a number of recesses 1 each having notches 5 and com municating with a hole 6 through the front of the head piece.

These recesses are to receive the tuning peg structure which includes an outer plate '7 having a central cupped up portion 8 forming a chamber 9 to receive a washer 10. To the plate 7 is secured an internal ring gear 11 having a number of spaced enlargements 12 in which are formed holes 13 to receive screws as will be hereinafter set forth.

The ring gear 11 is of slightly smaller diameter than the plate 7 so as to leave an overhanging edge or flange 14 which is adapted to rest upon the back surface of the head piece when the tuning peg structure is placed in the recess 4.

Concentric with the ring gear 11 is revolubly mounted a key gear 15 carried by the key shank 16 passing through the plate 7' and having a key or linger piece 17 fastened thereon in any suitable manner as by a screw 18 and between the cupped portion of the plate 7 and the inner end of the key, or a component part thereof, is placed a washer 19.

From the key gear 15 projects a trunnion 20 adapted to register with a central hole 21 in the tuning peg proper or stem 22, the latter projecting through the hole 6 and adapted to have a musical string attached thereto. The tuning peg proper or stem 22 is fixed to a disc 23 carrying a pin 24; which enters the hub of the loose or racing intermediate gear 25 the latter meshing with the stationary ring gear and the revohible key gear. The disc 23 and pin 2st form acrank for the tuning peg proper or stem 22 so that as the racing gear 25 travels the stem 22 will be rotated at the same speed as the axis of said racing gear.

To hold the tuning peg with its disc and the racing gear in place and also complete the housing for the gear train a plate 26, through which the stem 22 projects, is disposed across the ring gear 11 and secured thereto by screws 27 or their equivalent which pass into the holes 13 for threaded engagement with the enlargements 12 of said racing gear. Projecting from the plate 26 and surrounding the opening therein through which the stem 22 passes is an externally threaded hollow boss or sleeve 28 which projects into the hole 6 in the musical instrument head piece and on this is threaded the cap nut 29 having a flange 30 to bear against the front face of the head piece to fasten the tuning peg structure in place thereby giving a finish to the completed article and eliminating the unsightly screws generally used for fastening appurtenances to musical instruments.

The tuning peg structure is completely assembled before connection with the musical instrument and to place it in position the stem 22 and the hollow boss 28 are inserted in the hole 6 while the ring gear and other component parts are fitted in the recess l with the enlargements 12 of said ring gear registering with the notches 5 which will prevent the rotation of the tuning peg structure and when said structure is properly positioned the flange let of the plate 7 rests upon the rear surface of the instrument head piece and closes the recess 4. Next the cap nut 29 is threaded onto the hollow boss until the flange of said cap nut engages the front face of the instrument head piece, thus fastening the tuning peg structure in place.

It will be particularly noted that such a structure provides for the tuning peg proper or stem 22 and the key or finger piece 17 being in direct alignment so that to the casual. observer the appearance is identical with that of the ordinary tuning peg and with the skilled musician both the key and tuning peg are in the same places as he is accustomed to use them. The reduction in speed of rotation between the tuning peg 22 and its key permits the strings to be very accurately tuned and as the reduction here shown is approximately in the ratio of four to one even though the key is turned one complete revolution the tuning peg will be rotated but a quarter of a turn. In the ordinary tuning peg it sometimes happens that due to friction an extra amount of force is required to start the key and before the movement can be stopped the string will have been either tightened or loosened too much. This disadvantage is entirely overcome by the structure herein described while providing very accurate tuning of the string.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without de parting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. The combination with a head piece of a stringed musical instrument having a recess in the rear thereof with a hole through the front and comn'iunicating with the recess and further having notches (lisposed about said recess, of a tuning peg structure including an outer plate having a central cupped up portion, a ring gear fixed to said plate, said ring gear being of smaller diameter than the said plate so as to leave a flange for engagement with the rear face of the head piece when the tuning peg structure is inserted in the recess, enlargements on said ring gear for registration with the notches about the recess in the head piece, a key gear concentric with the ring gear, an outwardly projecting shank passing through the outer plate and adapted to revolve the key gear, a washer within the cupped up portion of the outer plate between the latter and the key gear, a key mounted on the shank, a washer located between said key and said outer plate, a loose intermediate gear meshing with the ring gear and the key gear and adapted to travel about the space between said gears during the revolving of the key gear, a trunnion projecting from the key gear at the axial center thereof, a stem journalled on said trunnion in endwise alignment with the key gear shank, a disc fixed to the inner end of the stem, a. pin carried by said disc and fitted in the loose intermediate gear to travel therewith and thereby rotate the stem at a reduced speed relative to the key, and a plate covering said disc and secured to the ring gear.

2. The combination with a head piece of a stringed musical instrument having a recess in the rear thereof with a hole through the front and. communicating with the recess and further having notches disposed about said recess, of a tuning peg, structure including an outer plate having a central cupped up portion, a ring gear fixed to said plate, said ring gear being of smaller diameter than the said plate so as to leave a flange for engagement with the rear face of the head piece when the tuning peg structure is inserted in the 'recess, enlargements on said ring gear for registration with the notches about the recess in the head plate, a key gear concentric with the ring gear, an outwardly projecting shank passing through the outer plate and adapetd to revolve the key gear, a washer within the cupped up portion of the outer plate between the latter and the key gear,

a key mounted on the shank, a washer located between said key and said outer plate, a loose intermediate gear meshing with the ring gear and the key gear and adapted to travel about the space between said gears during the revolving of the key gear, a trunnion projecting from the key gear at the axial center thereof, a stem journalled on said trunnion in endwise alignment with the key gear shank, a disc fixed to the inner end of the stem, a pin carried by said disc and fitted in the loose intermediate gear to travel therewith and thereby rotate the stem at a reduced speed rela tive to the key, an inner plate disposed across the ring gear, means passing therethrough and coacting with the enlargements of the ring gear to fasten said plate in place, a hollow boss carried by said plate and registering with the stem, said boss with the stem projecting through the hole in the head piece, and a cap nut having threaded connection with said boss and engaging the front face of the head piece to fasten the tuning peg structure in the head piece.

In. testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature:

CARL KREMP.

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