Combination acoustic and electronic piano in which the acoustic action is disabled when played in the electronic mode
US5844154A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 17, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10C9/00
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A combination acoustic mode and electronic mode grand piano is provided including a hammer shank stop rail that intercepts the hammer shank when operating in its electronic mode, so that the hammer cannot complete its normal travel to strike its corresponding string(s) when its key is actuated. The positioning of the hammer shank stop rail is actuated by a user-operated control that, when placed into the "acoustic" mode, raises the hammer shank stop rail to a non-engaged position that does not interfere with the normal movements of the hammer shank. When in the "electronic" mode, the control lowers the hammer shank stop rail into an engaged position where it intercepts the hammer shanks of the piano, thereby preventing each hammer head from striking its respective string(s). When in the engaged position, the wire cam also causes an "early escapement rail" to be moved into a location such that flexible "early escapement tabs" are moved into positions just beneath the letoff button of each of the key actions, thereby preventing a harsh "feel" or "touch" as perceived by the human player of the piano. In a second embodiment of a combination dual-mode piano, a hammer head stop rail is p…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.