US553904A - fischer - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 1 7 T. T. FISCHER. PIANO GASE- No. 553,904. Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

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. I I I I'll UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

TORQUATO TASSO FISCHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES S. FISCHER, OF SAME PLACE.

PIANO-GAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 553,904, dated February 4, 1896.

Application filed October 11,1895. Serial No. 565,312. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, TORQUATO TASSO FISCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and usef Lil Improvement in Piano-Gases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in [O piano-cases; and it consists in the novel mechanical construction of the same hereinafter fully described.

The object of my invention is to provide a piano-case of the class in which there is a top panel extending partially or entirely across the front upper portion of the case and adapted to swing at an incline for the purpose of providing a suitable music-rack, with a device for automatically tilting the said top panel out of the perpendicular when the flap for the keyboard is opened and returning or permitting the top panel to return to its normal perpendicular position when said flap is closed, thereby requiring only one act to op- 2 5 crate both of said parts.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sec tion, of apiano-case containing my invention,

the side of the piano-case being removed to show the operation of the same, the keyboardflap in said figure being illustrated in the closed position and the top panel in the upright or perpendicular position, Fig. 2 is a 3 5 similar View, the flap being opened to permit access to the keys, the top panel or musicrack being tilted into the inclined position to hold the music; and Fig. 3 illustrates a modification of the system of levers used in my invention.

Similarletters refer to similar parts.

A is the top panel or music-rack of a pianocase, by preference hinged at a suitable point above the center upon the bearing-pin B, so

that when the parts are assembled the panel will assume a normally-perpendicular position. The said top panel A may extend partially or entirely across the front upper portion of the piano-case.

' C is a flap hinged to the piano-case and adapted to cover the keyboard D when closed.

If desirable, this flap C may have an additional hinged joint E adapted by preference to fold in theopposite direction from the joint which connects said flap to the piano-case, that portion of the piano-case to which said flap O is hinged being termed the back flap E. 4 T

G is a lever mounted at apoint intermediate in its length upon a bearing-pin. II, which has by preference a rigid support.

I is arod pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of the lever G and at the opposite end to the flap O, as illustrated. The lever G extends upwardly and is adapted to 6 3 bear against the rear of the top panel A, so that when the upper end of the said lever G is moved toward the front of the piano it will tilt said panel A out of its vertical position and into a position capable of supporting the music. As the flap C is opened, the connecting-rod I is moved rearward, causing the lower end of the lever G to recede, and thereby advancing the upper end of said lever, which, pushing against the rear side of the top panel 7 5 A, tilts the same, as above described and as indicated in Fig. 2.

J is a suitable ledge secured at or near the lower edge of the top panel A, upon which ledge the music rests.

The back flap F and that portion of the case adjacent to the rod I and past which it moves may be cut away or recessed sufficiently to permit the free passage of said rod, which may be formed from thin stock and suitably finished with gold, silver, or nickel plating to correspond with the other metal finishings on the case.

The slot or recess for permitting the movement of the connecting-rod I may be made or 0 located at any desired point in the length of the flap or case; but by preference I provide the above-described mechanism at each end of the flap, thus balancing the work and making the same less conspicuous. Inasmuch as the rod I may be formed from very thin stock the slot or recess in which it moves may be correspondingly small so that the beauty of the case may be in no way impaired.

The rod I may be curved, as shown in the drawings, toward the end which is attached to the flap 0, thus permitting a largeportion of the metal to be hidden from View.

By removing the screw pivotal bearing K between the red I and the flap C, all the parts of the case may be taken down in the usual manner to permit the cleaning or tuning of the instrument, or for any other desired purpose.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the lever G is pivotally supported at II, and above that point the lever may be divided and a toggle-joint l; formed. In this case the extreme upper end 01: the lever is detachably connected to the rear side of the top panel A. In this modification also the adjacent ends of the lever G and red A are provided with slots designated by the reference-letters M and N, respectively, the purpose of these slots being to afford a means whereby the throw of the lever G or l maybe regulated. to govern the desired pitch of the top panel. or music-rack. It is obvious that one slot in either of the parts mention ed could perform said function.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the salient point of my invention resides in connecting the rod which leads into the case from the clamp E to the flap F at a suitable point forward of the hinged connection of the said flap, so that as the same is turned on its hinges to give access to the keyboard rearward motion will be imparted to the connecting-rod 1.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An improvement in piano-eases, comprising a tilting top panel, a hinged keyboardflap, a lever pivotally supported in the case, the upper end of said lever bearing against the top panel, a connecting-rod pivotally attached to the flap forward of the hinged connection and attached to the said lever below its pivotal support, substantially as and [or the purpose specified.

2. An in'lprovement in piano-cases, com prising a tilting top panel, a hinged keyboardiiap, a lever pivotally supported in the case, the upper end of said lever bearing against the said top panel below its hinged support, and a connecting-rod one end of which is at tached to the lower end of the said lever, the opposite end being curved upwardly and attached to the said keyboard-flap forward of its hinged connection, substantially as described.

23. An improvement in piano-cases, com prising a tilted top panel provided with a ledge along its lower edge, a lever pivotally supported in the case, the upper end oi said. lever bearing against the top panel below its hinged support, a keyboard-[lap hinged to the case, a rod attached at one end to said llap forward of its hinged connection and projecting downwardly and into the case, passing below said hinged connection, the inner end of said rod being connected to the lower end of said lever for the purpose of operating said lever and thereby the top panel as the keyboard-flap is opened, substantially as described.

4. An improvement in piano-cases, comprising a hinged top panel, a hinged Hap, a lever supported in the case, its upper end bearing against the rear of the top panel, a connecting-rod adjustably attached to said lever below its pivotal connection and extending toward the keyboard, curved upwardly and attached to said flap forward of its hinged connection, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

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