US1840712A - Keyboard construction - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 12, 1932. c NT 1,840,712

KEYBOARD CONSTRUCTION Filed June 11, 1951 all. arwmz Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES.

CASPER ELDBED GRANT, or ron'rsmourmvmomm KEYBOARD coirs'rauczrron Application flled June 11, 1931. Serial No.. 5 43,711.

This invention relates to a keyboard construction designed primarily for use where two or more manuals of ke s are used in the same instrument, as on t e console of an organ.

In the consoles of large organs from three to five manuals of keys are generall used, and for the purpose of supporting t e keys at the proper angles to permit correct engagement by the fingers of the performer it has been the practice to tilt the several manuals so that they converge toward the position in which the hands are most conveniently held while playing. As the manuals diverge away from the performer there has been a considerable waste of space between the back portions of the key banks and the console of necessit has been made higher than would otherwise be necessary.

It is an object of the present invention to provide key manuals which can be arranged in parallel superposed relation but set back as ordinarily, the proper angles of the keys of the several manuals being obtained not by tilting the manuals but by extending the upper surfaces of the keys toward the proper position where the hands should be held while playing.

Another object is to provide keys made of metal and cooperating with parts made of fire and water resisting materials whereby injuries from fire and water will be reduced to the minimum.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appearas the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 isa vertical section through three manuals or banks of keys having the present improvements.

ranged benea Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through one of the keys and adjacent parts. Figure 3 is a bottom' plan view of a'key. the bottom plate bein" removed and some of the cooperating parts eing shown in section. Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates thebottom plate of a key bank or manual, this plate being suitably mounted on supporting panel 2 and block 3. To the plate 1 above block 3 is secured a stri 4 on which are fixedly secured the back ends of sheet metal strips 5 constituting .thewhite keys'of a keyboard. Each of these is so shaped-as to resemble an ordinary ivory andwooden .key when viewed from above. Theblack keys 6 are similarly mounted and are also of sheet metal. They are shaped like the corresponding keys of .the usualgkeyboard construction. -All the keys are fastened at their back ends in th usual manner-. g Y

Eachof the sheet metal white keys 5 is reinforced by, small side flanges 7 extending alon those edges projecting from'the panel 2 o the console. All of these visible portions are preferably porcelained so as to have a smooth, enduring finish.

Each key may have means for yieldingly supporting it in raised position, this being a spring 8 interposed between plate 1 and a block 9 of waterproof and fire resisting fiber or the like secured to and projecting downwardly from the key. The key is guided on a pin 10 extending upwardly from plate 1 into a hole 11. in the block, and a stop cushion or pad 12 is located on the plate and beneath the block. Upward movement of the key is limited by a stop pin 13 carried by the block and slidable in an opening in plate 1, there being a head 14 on the pin for engaging under theplate.

Separate s aced terminals 15 are areach key and are electrically connected to the valve mechanism, (not shown) controlled by the key. A contact 16 is carried by the key and when thekey isdepressed this contact will engage the two ter minals and close the circuit therebetween.

An important feature of the present in vention resides in the fact that the keys 5 are not generally flat. In practice only the keys of that bank at the natural level will be flat and horizontal. The front ends of the white keys in the upper banks are inclined downwardly toward the performer while the lower banks can have the ends of their white keys inclined upwardly toward the performer. This has been shown clearly in Figure 1 and in view of the arrangement described, the hands of the performer can be held at the correct angle while playing on the keys of.

any bank. At the same time it is unnecessary to incline the several banks so that they will diverge from the erformer and produce a large amount of waste space in the console.

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard includin super osed parallel manuals of keys, the orward ends of the white keys of each manual converging forwardly toward the forward ends of the keys of the other manuals.

2. A keyboard including separate manuals of keys, the forward ends only of the keys of each manual converging forwardly toward the keys of the other manuals.

3. A keyboard including separate manuals of keys, the forward ends only of the keys of each manual converging forwardly toward the keys of the other manuals, the remaining portions of the keys being normally parallel with the keys of the other manuals.

4. A sheet metal manual key and means for stifiening the forward end portion of the key, said end portion being pitched at an angle to the remaining portion.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

CASPER ELDRED GRANT.

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