Yamaha Corporation

Shunsuke Ichiki

Ichiro Osuga

Hiroshi Harimoto

Kenichi Nishida

Shin Yamamoto

Akito Ohba

Ken Takahashi

Kento Ogawa

Tsuyoshi Sato

Hirotsugu Suzuki

Hirotsugu Kamiya

A keyboard apparatus includes: a frame; keys each disposed pivotably with respect to the frame; pivot members each including: a support member disposed pivotably about a pivot shaft; and a structure connected to the support member at a position spaced apart from the pivot shaft, the structure having a specific gravity that is greater than that of the support member. A hole portion is formed in each of a first structure and a second structure, each of which is the structure of a corresponding one of a first pivot member and a second pivot member of at least two of the pivot members, such that a mass of the first structure and a mass of the second structure are different from each other. The hole portion of the first structure and the hole portion of the second structure are different from each other in shape.

Keyboard apparatus

A keyboard device includes white keys, black keys adjacent to the white keys, and guides that are arranged between the white keys and the black keys and restrict operation by coming into contact with the white keys and the black keys. The keyboard device may further include a housing that covers parts of the white keys and the black keys, and the guide may be arranged in the region covered by the housing. The keyboard device may further include caps that are provided between the guides and the white keys and the guides and the black keys, and that have a lower Young's modulus than the guides.

Keyboard device

A keyboard device includes: a frame; a plurality of keys including a first key and a second key, the plurality of keys rotating around the frame; and a plurality of guides for restricting an operation of each of the plurality of keys, at positions different in a vertical direction, each of the plurality of guides including a first member that is softer than the frame and the plurality of keys, and a second member that is harder than the first member, wherein each of the plurality of guides is in a first state where a corresponding one of the keys comes into contact with the first member, or in a second state where the corresponding one of the keys comes into contact with the second member.

To realize a rotating mechanism by which a bearing section is stably rotated relative to a shaft section. A rotating mechanism includes a shaft section having a groove, and a bearing section which is provided with an opening for supporting the shaft section, has a shielding plate shielding part of the opening and disposed inside the groove, and is rotated around a rotational axis. The shielding plate may shield a region containing the rotational axis, and may have a projecting portion projecting from the shielding plate toward the inside of the groove, between the shielding plate and the groove.

Rotating mechanism and keyboard apparatus

A pivot member includes: a first member configured to pivot about a pivot axis; and a second member having a connecting surface, at least a portion of which has a flat surface. The second member is disposed such that the flat surface and the first member are opposed to each other. The second member has at least one surface different from the flat surface. A first identifier and a second identifier are provided on the at least one surface. The first identifier is visually recognizable from a first direction orthogonal to the flat surface. The second identifier is visually recognizable from the first direction and from a second direction in which the first identifier is not visually recognizable.

Pivot member and keyboard apparatus

A hammer assembly includes: a weight; and a pivot member including a first weight supporter configured to support the weight in a first direction, a second weight supporter configured to support the weight in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a coupling portion configured to couple the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter to each other. A distance from the first weight supporter to the weight and a distance from the second weight supporter to the weight increase with decrease in distance to the coupling portion in at least a portion of a region of the weight.

Hammer assembly and keyboard instrument

A pivot mechanism includes: a shaft portion; a bearing configured to contact the shaft portion and pivot about a pivot axis; and a reinforcement protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion. The outer circumferential surface includes a first region contactable by the bearing in a range of its pivotal movement and a second region not including the first region in a region opposed to the first region via the pivot axis. The reinforcement extends from at least a portion of the second region to an outside of the bearing in a pivot-axis direction.

Pivot mechanism and keyboard apparatus including the same

A keyboard apparatus includes a key, a frame arranged below the key, a key-side supporting section connected to a member a positional relationship of which is fixed to the key and extending more downward than the member, and a flexible section supported by the key-side supporting section, having flexibility in at least an up-and-down direction, and configured to rotate the key with respect to the frame.

A keyboard apparatus includes a key; a guide regulating a direction in which the key moves, the guide being arranged at three or more locations not lined in a straight line when seen along a scale direction of the key, and the guide slidably making contact with the key from the scale direction; and a connecting portion connecting the key to a frame at the back side of the key from the guide, the connecting portion including a rod-like flexible member.

A keyboard apparatus includes: a key disposed so as to be pivotable with respect to a frame; a first member, an elastic member being disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the first member; a second member configured to be moved on the elastic member while elastically deforming the elastic member in response to pivotal movement of the key; and a hammer assembly connected to the key via the first member and the second member so as to pivot in response to pivotal movement of the key.

A keyboard apparatus includes: a key disposed to be pivotable with respect to a frame; a hammer assembly disposed to be pivotable in response to pivotal movement of the key; a first member; a second member disposed to be slid and moved on the first member when the hammer assembly pivots in response to pivotal movement of the key; and a third member connected to the first member and configured to guide the second member such that the second member is not located at a distance greater than or equal to a predetermined distance from the first member, the third member having a shape in which a second contact area that is an area of contact between the second member and the third member is less than a first contact area that is an area of contact between the first member and the second member.

A keyboard apparatus includes a key, a frame, a flexible section configured to rotate the key with respect to the frame, the flexible section having a longitudinal direction, and including a region where a length of the flexible section in a first direction continuously increases toward a first end and a second end of the flexible section in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flexible section, and a first supporting section supporting side closer to the first end than the region, the first supporting section including a bonding section bonded to the first end, the bonding section including a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section keeping continuity with the flexible section, and a recessed section being arranged at a position, in a scale direction and sandwiched between the first section and the second section, of the bonding section.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard apparatus includes a key; and a connecting member connecting the key to a frame and including a rod-like flexible member arranged between the frame and the key, the key being turned to the frame by bending of the rod-like flexible member.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard apparatus includes a key, a frame, and a connecting portion having a first flexible portion, a second flexible portion serially connected to the first flexible portion between the key and the frame, and a connector for connecting the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion to each other attachably and detachably, the connecting portion turnably connecting the key to the frame by utilizing flexibility of the first flexible portion or the second flexible portion.

A pivot mechanism includes: a shaft portion; a bearing configured to contact the shaft portion at a first contact and a second contact and configured to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the shaft portion; and a supporter secured to the bearing, configured to contact the shaft portion at a third contact, and bendable in a direction different from a direction from the pivot axis toward the third contact.

Growing community of inventors

Hamamatsu, Japan

Shunsuke Ichiki