US2192077A - Transposing keyboard - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27, 1940. E. L. HANSON. JR

TRANSPOSING KEYBOARD Filed Dec. 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ma M Feb. 27, 1940. 'E. 1.. HANSON. JR 2,192,077

TRANSPOSING KEYBOARD I Filed Dec. 6, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 27, 1940. E. HANSON. JR

TRANSPOSING KEYBOARD Filed Dec. 6, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 game/WM Patented Feb. 27, 1940 PATENT OFFICE TRANSPOSING KEYBOARD Elford L. Hanson, Jr., Athens, Ga.

Application December 6, 1938, Serial No. 244,279

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in movable keyboards adapted for use in keyboard instruments, whereby transposition of music from one key to another may be accomplished by simple mechanical manipulation and more particularly the invention has reference to a movable keyboard for pianos.

The underlying principle involving movement of a mechanism for producing tones, as the key and hammer lever assembly of a piano,v to the right or the left for the purpose of transposing is known in the art, and instruments using this principle have found widespread usage in such fields as composing and various simplified teaching practices. The instruments in use, however, are cumbersome and have left much to be desired in the way of simplicity of operation. Additionally, such devices have a wide field of use for persons having the ability to play in the single key of C and having difficulty adapting themselves to the other keys having complex signatures. The instrument is adjusted to produce music in any desired key although the composition the operator reads is written for fingering 1 in the key of C. It is well known that a large number of compositions contain modulations, that is, the shifting of the music from one key to another during the course of the composition,

and for that reason it is necessary for the movable keyboard to be shifted to the desired key in such an easy and smooth manner that little or no interruption in playing would be perceptible. In the instruments of this type known in the prior art, too much time was required to shift the position of the keyboard during a performance involving modulation. I

The object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard that may be shifted silently and smoothly from one key to another by a simple operation involving the use of only one hand.

A further object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the number of moving parts necessary for the operation of a transposing keyboard.

The operation of the present keyboard is simple and the transposing features thereof cannot affect the playing of one who wishes touse the instrument, in conventional manner. constructed that music may be pitched to any one of the fifteen keys without causing complexity in the playing or reading of music. With-instruments of this kind it is only necessary to learn to play in the key of C. While all music may be played by operative manipulation suitable to playing in this key, the actual tones produced will be those of the key in which the composition was intended to be played. Playing on an instrument as hereinafter described renders unnecessary the ability to read music in the scales of keys other than that noted above, and. the only sharps or flats which are used are those that are added It is so to the particular key in which the music is written.

In its preferred embodiment, the present invention contemplates a rigid framework supporting a number of key levers in excess of those normally used which are mounted above the conventional hammer levers and made free to move across such hammer levers by means of antifriction rollers. Themovement of said key lever system is actuated by an adjustment lever rigidly connected to the key lever framework and projecting through an opening in the panel board, which in turn is calibrated to correspond to the keys in which the instrument may be played. Movement of the key lever system is accomplished by disengaging the adjustment lever from a suitable locking device and moving the same to the right or to the left until in register with the notation corresponding to the desired key. The keyboard is then in position to play in that key in which the music is to be played.

As may be seen from the drawings, the system is so designed that only a minimum portion of the keyboard system is moved. This naturally facilitates the movement thereof, which may be accomplished by only a slight pressure upon the adjustment lever. The framework supporting the key lever is made sufiiciently rigid to elimiin extreme cases, render the instrument incapable of proper operation.

The invention will be fully understood upon consideration of the following description of one specific embodiment thereof in connection with the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a piano .with the cabinet broken away to show the hammer levers and the relation of the key levers thereto;

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary section through the keyboard to show the adjustable support for the keyboard and the relation of key levers to hammer levers;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the front panel of a piano showing the means for positively retaining the keyboard in a desired position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 5-5 of Fi 2;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a piano having the device of this invention incorporated therein; and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the piano illustrated in Fig. 6.

As seen in Fig. 1 the operative mechanism to cause the hammers to strike the respective strings of the instrument comprises key levers l0 and hammer levers l, which are preferably weighted with lead at portions !2 and 3, respectively, to balance the levers and equalize the actions of black and white keys. At any time when the instrument is in position for playing in a given key, the relationship and operation of the mecha nisms to cause strings to be struck are conventional.

Each hammer lever i rests on a wooden block, supporting felt pad M, which acts as a fulcrum to operate the striking mechanism indicated generally at E5 when the head of the adjustable pin I6 is struck by the key lever. Suitable pivot and guide pins ll and i8 are secured to fixed parts of the piano chassis is and work in felt lined slots 2!] and 2! in the hammer lever. Felt shock absorbers are placed at those points where percussion effects might conceivably set up vibration in the chassis !9, as for example at 22.

The position. nature of adjustable pins IE are important to the specific embodiment of my invention here disclosed, but it will be clear as the disclosure proceeds that in its broader aspects the invention contemplates other suitable means for accomplishing a similar result.

According to the present invention, the key levers are supported in any desired position with respect to the hammer levers by a superstructure readily movable with respect to chassis Id. In the illustrated embodiment the said superstructure comprises a series of three lJ-shaped pieces of cold rolled steel 23, 24 and 25, each securely fastened to a steel strip 26 at either end of the keyboard. The forward U-shaped piece 23 rides on three anti-friction rollers ill and the rearward U-shaped piece 25 rides on two similar rollers 28 and each of the said rollers is mounted on the chassis !9. To maintain the superstructure in proper parallel relationship to the chassis, guide posts 29 and 39 are mounted on the said chassis at suitable intervals along the keyboard.

The entire operative assembly of key levers ID is mounted on the said U-shaped pieces 24 and 25. Piece 25 supports a series of pivot pins 3!, each pin 3! fitting in a corresponding guide slot 32 in a key lever ill which slot is preferably felt lined. A felt washer 33 about the base of each pin 3! serves as a fulcrum for the corresponding.

key lever Hi. It will be noted that the pivot pins 3! for white key levers are somewhat further forward than the similar pins for black key levers. Usually, a difference in position of about of an inch is proper although this may vary with the instrument under consideration. Such difference in position of the pivot point is advisable in order to insure uniform operation of the several key levers. Guide pins M operating within guide slots 35 of the black key levers are secured to U-shaped piece 24. while similar guide pins 36 are secured to U-shaped piece Guide slot 3'! and felt pad 38 are of more or less conventional construction.

It will be readily understood that the superstructure can be shifted to right or left in order that the key levers I!) will be placed in position to operate different hammer levers i l by striking the heads of adjustable pins !ii. The heads of the said pins are preferably rounded and the under surface of each key lever is fitted with a wear'resistant plate 39 which may be of metal, a synthetic resinous material or the like.

As shown in Fig. 4 the keyboard comprises a number of key levers in excess of the number of hammer levers, namely H. In all instruments using this type of keyboard it is necessary to include six extra keys on the left of the keyboard and five on the right of the keyboard in order to maintain the normal number of keys in view at all times. The keys which are not in position to contact adjustable pins H) are hidden from view of the operator by a masking panel 5! and the key levers under the said masking panel are supported in position to move over the pins !6 upon shifting of the superstructure by a track Ml secured to the piano chassis. The track 4B is of a length sufficient to accommodate the full number of key levers in excess of the number of hammer levers. It will be noted that under some conditions, the masking panel 5! will overlie half of one key lever. However, the position of the hammer levers is such that a key only partially exposed may be ignored by the person playing the instrument.

For shifting the keyboard to a desired position and securing the same in such position, I provide an adjusting lever of novel design. A strip of cold pressed steel M is securely attached to the superstructure at the central portion thereof. Preferably the strip M is bolted to the underside of U-shaped piece 25 and connected by an angle strip .2 to the U-shaped member 2 A U-shaped piece 50, of a width preferably less than that of the other members of the key supporting superstructure, extends between the parts 26 at each end of the frame. As shown in Fig. 2, the connection between strip 4! and angle strip 42 is by means of a bolt passing through piece 50, whereby substantial rigidity is imparted to the superstructure. It will be noted that the piece 50 serves the further purpose of preventing the key levers from rising off their respective pivot pins. Suitable felt washers are inserted between metal to metal contacts wherever necessary to damp vibrations which would interfere with the music produced by the instrument. The strip t! is extended upwardly behind the front panel of the instrument and is bent forward at its upper end to form an operating handle 43.

In the region of the front panel through which the handle 43 projects to the exterior of the instrument there is affixed a plate 44 having a horizontal slot 48 of a width to accommodate the handle 43. The said handle is equipped with a hingedly mounted catch member 45 adapted to oscillate within a groove in the upper surface of handle 43 and a spring Mi is inserted to force member 45 upwardly to engage one of the notches 41 in the upper edge of slot 48. The notches 4! are suitably marked to indicate the key in which the instrument will play when the keys are struck in the manner appropriate for playing the particular composition in the key of C. Care should be exercised in constructing the adjusting features of the superstructure to avoid interference with the hammer levers I!. If necessary, the upper surfaces of the hammer levers may be notched to permit free movement of the superstructure and strip 4! without contacting the hammer levers.

It will be noted that the indicia on the plate 44 are suitable for setting the instrument to play in any major key while using the conventional fingering for playing in the key of C major. t is to be understood that this is exemplary of the nature of the invention.

The operation of devices made in accordance with this invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which it appertains. By grasping the handle 43 in a manner to depress catch 45 and exerting relatively little force the entire keyboard is quickly and easily shifted to a desired position.

In utilizing the advantages of this invention,

the compositions to be played are written in the key of C with suitable indication on the music as to the key in which it is intended to be played. The musician then sets the keyboard to the desired key and plays the composition using the same fingering as that usual for the key of C. Many uses of the present invention will be immediately recognized by those skilled in the art. For example, a musician would be aided in transposing a composition to a key other than that in which it is written. Thus in order to transpose music for use in playing an accompaniment to a voice or musical instrument, the range of which does not correspond to the music as written, the accompanist may make proper adjustment of the keyboard and proceed to play the music in a suitable key with far less inconvenience than is normally involved in such operations.

There are many skilled musicians who are unable to transpose satisfactorily while playing from written music. It will be noted that the difference between any two adjacent positions indicated on the plate 44 is a half tone. In order to transpose music from the key in which it is written to any desired key, it is only necessary to count the number of half tones between the basic notes of the two keys and move the keyboard a corresponding number of notches to right or left as the case may be and play the music with the fingering appropriate to the key in which it is written.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and changes, I have herein described in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I have not thereby intended to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed but intend to cover all the modifications falling within the scope of a keyboard instrument, such as a pipe organ, electric organ, piano accordion, and a so-called steam piano.

I claim:

1. In a piano having a chassis, a plurality of tone producing strings thereon, a plurality of horizontal hammer levers each adapted to cause one of said strings to sound also mounted on said chassis and a number of horizontal key levers in a keyboard movable across said hammer levers in such manner that a major proportion of said key levers overlie said hammer levers in parallel relation thereto, some of said key levers being shorter than the remainder thereof, there being one key lever above each hammer lever having means on the underside thereof to make contact with and depress said hammer lever upon depression of said key lever; a frame movable with respect to said chassis and a mounting therefor comprising a pair of rigid horizontal bearing members each having an upturned edge at each end thereof of a length substantially greater than that of the keyboard one disposed at the forward and one at the rear side of said frame,

a pair of rigid straight members rigidly connecting the respective upturned ends of said bearing members'at the ends of the keyboard, a longitudinal rigid member parallel to and intermediate said bearing members rigidly connected at its ends to said straight members, guide pins on said rear bearing member and corresponding guide slots in said key levers, guide pins on said longitudinal member and corresponding slots in said shorter key levers, guide pins on said forward bearing member and corresponding slots in said remainder of said key levers to retain said key levers on said frame in operative position, rollers mounted on said chassis to support said bearing members for movement in the direction of the length of the keyboard, means to inhibit movement of said frame in a direction at right angles to the length of the keyboard. and means to retain said frame in a desired position With respect to said chassis.

2. In a piano having a chassis, a plurality of tone producing strings thereon, a plurality of horizontal hammer levers each adapted to cause one of said strings to sound also mounted on said chassis and a number of horizontal key levers in a keyboard movable across said hammer levers in such manner that a major proportion of said key levers overlie said hammer levers in parallel relation thereto, there being one key lever above each hammer lever having means on the underside thereof to make contact with and depress said hammer lever upon depression of said key lever; a frame movable with respect to said chassis and a mounting therefor comprising a pair of rigid horizontal bearing members each having an upturned edge at each end thereof of a length substantially greater than that of the keyboard one disposed at the forward and one at the rear side of said frame, a pair ofrigid straight members rigidly connecting the respective upturned ends of said bearing members at the ends of the keyboard, guide pins on said bearing members and corresponding guide slots in said key levers to retain said key levers on said frame in operative position, rollers mounted on said chassis to support said bearing members for movement in the direction of the length of the keyboard, means to inhibit movement of said frame in a direction at right angles to the length of the keyboard and means to retain said frame in a desired position with respect to said chassis.

3. In a keyboard instrument having a chassis, a plurality of tone producing elements thereon, a plurality of horizontal operating levers each adapted to cause one of said tone producing elements to sound also mounted on said chassis and a number of horizontal key levers in a keyboard movable across said operating levers in such man ner that a major proportion of said key levers overlie said operating levers in parallel relation thereto, there being one key lever above each operating lever having means on the underside thereof to make contact with and depress said operating lever upon depression of said key lever; a frame movable with respect to said chassis and mounting therefor comprising a pair of rigid horizontal bearing members each having an upturned edge at each end thereof of a length substantially greater than that of the keyboard one disposed at the forward and one at the rear side of said frame, a pair of rigid straight members rigidly connecting the upturned ends of said bearing members at the respective ends of the keyboard, guide pins on said bearing members and guide slots in said key levers to retain said key levers on said frame in operative position, rollers mounted on said chassis to support said bearing members for movement in the direction of the length of the keyboard, means to inhibit movement of said frame in a direction at right angles to the length of the keyboard and means to retain said frame in a desired position with respect to said chassis.

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