US444817A - Upright piano - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

G. COOK.

UPRIGHT PIANO. No. 444,817. Patented Jan. 20,1891.

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GEORGE COOK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

UPRIGHT PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,817, dated January 20, 1891.

Application filed October 22,1890. Serial No. 368,887. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE COOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Upright Pianos; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reforence being had to the accompanying draw-v ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My improvement consists in providing an upright piano with an appliance whereby the volume of tone of the strings can be softened or diminished when desirable, the nature of my invention being defined in the claim hereinafter presented.

Figure 1 is a front View of an uprightpiano case as it appears without the action and the frame supporting the satne to clearly illustrate the way my improvement is arranged therein. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line I 1 of Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the pedals and levers connected to them. Fig. 3 is a top view of the chair M, and Fig. 4 avertical section of the same with the pedal fulcrumed thereto, both figures being on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the cushion-bar.

In the drawings, A denotes a bar furnished with a cushion 13, of felt or other suitable material, said bar and its cushion being arranged in front of and near to the strings, but does not rest against them. Said bar is supported in position by being pivoted at its ends to links 0 0, each link pivoted at its other end to a projection from the case of the instrument. To the link C is jointed at a the upper end of a rod D, said rod pivoted at its lower end to a lever E, fulcrumed at Z) to a bearing l erected on a block G, secured to the bottom of the case, said block also sustaining the bearings of the levers II and I, II being connected to the pedal .I, which is before termed the soft pedal, the lever I being connected in a like manner to the loud pedal K.

In carrying out my improvement I have arranged an additional pedal L between the two pedals .I and K, usually employed, said pedal L to operate the cushion-bar-A, hereinmentioned. The pedal L extends through an opening (Z in the piano-case be tween the other pedals, and is fulcrumed at e to a chair M, which rests on and is pivoted atfto the bottom board of the case, so that it can be turned horizontally thereon. A short rod N is stepped at one end into a socket in the inner end of the pedal L, and also at its other end enters a socket in the lower edge of the lever E. A spring 0, hearing against the under edge of the lever E, forces the inner end of said lever toward the pedal L and keeps the rod N in position. A catch-plate P, secured to the ease, projects into the opening (Z therein, in which the pedal L is arranged, and serves to hold the outer end of said pedal down when swung under said plate.

The operation of my improvement may be thus described: \Vhen for any reason it is desired to subdue the tone of the instrument, depress the pedal L with the foot, and also move it laterally to the left. This will engage the pedal with the catch-plate P and hold it down. On depression of said pedal the bar A will be moved so as to interpose the cushion B between all the strings and hammers of the instrument. In playing upon the instrument with the parts mentioned in the position explained the volume of tone will be very much softened or subdued, and both feet of the player will be free to operate the usual soft and loud pedals to give the required accent to music that is being played.

This attachment is a very useful one to an upright piano, and admits of the instrument being played upon, when desired, without causing annoyance to or disturbing any one, and is particularly adapted for pupils when practicing their lessons, as the music can be played with proper expression, but in a suhare essentially as and for the purpose ex- IO dued tone. plained.

What I claim is- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in In lag upright piano,the combination of the presence of two Witnesses.

5 peda the chair supportim it ada ted to turn horizontally, the catoh P, the l ver E, GEORGE COOK adapted to be moved by the pedal, the con- Witnesses:

necting-rod D, the pivoted arms 0 C, and S. N. PIPER,

the cushion-bar A, all arranged and to oper- G. F. DANIELS.

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