US784631A - Piano-case. - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES Patented Maren 14, 1905.

MARK F. RICHARDSON, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

PIANO-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,631, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed December 14, 1904. Serial No. 236,828.

To It wimnt 111; may concern:

Be it known thatI, MARK F. RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Piano-Case, of which the following is a specilication:

This invention relates to piano-cases, and has for its principal object to provide novel means for holding the front frame of the case outward in position to form an inclined rest for music.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction wherein the top frame may be opened by a very slight pull and will be firmly held in open position when used as a music-rest. When not in use, the frame or panel may be replaced in closed position by slight pressure and retained by a friction-clasp.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structu re may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of the upper front portion of a piano-casing provided with a front frame or panel constructed in accordance with the invention, the panel being shown in closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the panel in open position. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective View of the operating mechanism employed for holding the panel open. Fig. 1 is a similar view of the supportingbracket for the panel-operating arm.

Similar characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

1n upright pianos the upper front panel, generally known as the front or top frame, is usually hinged or pivoted in such manner that its lower end may be moved outward to form an inclined rest for music, and various devices have been employed for retaining the panel in its open position.

The panel A is provided at points adjacent to one or both ends with a recess 10, in which is arranged a pin or yoke 11, formed of any suitable material, and when the panel is moved to closed position this pin rides over the top of a small spring-arm 12, which by frictional engagement with the pin will hold the panel closed, although a very slight pull will be sufficient to disengage said pin.

To a suitable portion of the piano-casing as, for instance, the cross-bar Bis secured a bracket 13, which may be formed of sheet metal, having a pair of parallel pivot-ears l4 and a small flange 15. The pivot-ears are provided with openings for the passage of a pin 16, on which is mounted an arm 17, the upper or forward end of which is arranged on a curved line, as illustrated at 18, and serves as a cam for engagement with the rear face of the panel A, a strip of felt or similar material, such as 19, being preferably placed on the panel to prevent wear and render the device noiseless.

On the pivot-pin is arranged the coils of a torsion-spring 20, the central portion of the spring passing up over an arm 17 and its opposite ends bearing against the base of the bracket 13. This spring tends normally to throw the arm from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that illustrated in Fig. 2.

1n the operation of the device, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, a slight outward pull at thelower portion of the panel will release the pin 11 from the spring-clasp 12, and the torsion-spring 20 will thereupon force the arm 17 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, causing the rounded surface 18 of the arm to act as a cam on the rear face of the panel and force said panel outward to the inclined position shown in Fig. 2, at which point it will be held and form an inclined rest for music. When the arm has reached its full outward position, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower edge of said arm will engage the top of the flange 15, so that there will be no danger of the arm moving to such an extent as to form a rigid brace that will prevent movement of the table to its closed position.

\Vhen it is desired to restore the panel to closed position, slight pressure on the lower portion of the panel will cause the arm to ride upward on the strip 19 until the panel is closed and the pin 11 is again engaged with the clasp 12, and the panel will be held closed until again pulled outward.

The device is of the most simple construction and may be readily applied to existing pianos Without any change in their structure, and one or more may be employed in connection with each piano.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is The combination with a piano-case having MARK F. RICHARDSON Witnesses:

DUNCAN STEWART, VVILLIAM L. BYRNES.

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