Baldwin Piano & Organ Company

D. H. Baldwin Company

Random Corporation

Sportsman's Market, Inc.

Randon Corporation

Baldwin Piano, Inc.

Thomas E Kimble

William M Stevens

David R Wade

Lawrence J Kelly

William J Dirr, Jr

George F Emerson

Clifford E Schmucker

Marion B Gregory

John E Gauch

Jeffrey J Rampello

A piano keyboard apparatus has an action assembly that includes a four bar linkage having four pivotably connected bars including a whippen pivotably connected to a repetition lever. An articulated jack has a lower link pivotably connected to an upper link and the lower link is pivotably connected to the whippen.

Piano action with articulated jack

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 provided for an upright piano which intercepts the hammer head when in the electronic mode. When placed into the acoustic mode, the hammer head stop rail is rotated to a non-engaged position that is not within the normal path of the hammer travel. When operated in the electronic mode, the actuating arm is rotated such that the hammer head stop rail becomes positioned directly in the path of travel of the hammer heads of the upright piano where they will impact directly against the stop rail. In the illustrated embodiment, the stop rail comprises a deflectable member that is coated with a sound and vibration absorbing material, such that when the hammer head impacts the stop rail, the deflectable member somewhat displaces, as the hammer head impacts against this member. The hammer head stop rail also includes a sound and vibration absorbing pad that is brought into position against the strings of the piano, thereby tending to dampen any acoustic vibration that may otherwise become induced in the strings.

Combination acoustic and electronic piano in which the acoustic action

An electronic keyboard key apparatus includes a longitudinally extending key pivotally mounted on a supporting base and a simulated hammer assembly including a simulated hammer mounted on a hammer shank that is independently pivotally mounted with respect to the key on the base. A jack means is mounted on the key for striking and pivoting the hammer assembly when the key is struck and a preferably flexible bridle for controlling the hammer assembly connects the hammer assembly to the key. A spring is connected between a back end of the key and the base for quickly returning the key to its at rest position. The bridle may be a flexible strap. The simulated hammer may be a metallic cylinder disposed about a first distal end of the hammer shank. A butt is attached to a second distal end of the shank and the butt has a butt end that is bifurcated to form two hinge lugs that are hinged to a single hinge lug of a lug mount fixedly connected to the base. The shank and the butt may be constructed as a single integral member and made of wood as can be the lug mount. The simulated hammer assembly may be mounted above the key and the lug mount is mounted above the key on a first rail. A hammer cushioning means for cushioning and resting the simulated hammer is mounted to the base beneath the simulated hammer and a hammer stop is disposed above the hammer cushioning means such that the simulated hammer engages the stop when the key is struck causing the hammer shank to pivot upwards. The hammer stop may be a U-shaped stop cushion with a circularly bent end, legs extending away from the bent end, and the stop cushion mounted to a stop bar by a clamp channel that clamp the legs between the channel and the stop bar.

Simulated piano action apparatus for electronic keyboard

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 provided for an upright piano which intercepts the hammer head when in the electronic mode. When placed into the acoustic mode, the hammer head stop rail is rotated to a non-engaged position that is not within the normal path of the hammer travel. When operated in the electronic mode, the actuating arm is rotated such that the hammer head stop rail becomes positioned directly in the path of travel of the hammer heads of the upright piano, where they will impact directly against the stop rail. In the illustrated embodiment, the stop rail comprises a deflectable member that is coated with a sound and vibration absorbing material, such that when the hammer head impacts the stop rail, the deflectable member somewhat displaces, as the hammer head impacts against this member. The hammer head stop rail also includes a sound and vibration absorbing pad that is brought into position against the strings of the piano, thereby tending to dampen any acoustic vibration that may otherwise become induced in the strings.

An electronic keyboard key apparatus to simulate the feel of escapement includes a longitudinally extending key preferably pivotally mounted on a supporting base, a spring apparatus flexibly disposed between the base and the key for resisting depression of the key with a variable resistive force, a latching apparatus to latch the spring apparatus in connection to the base, and an unlatching apparatus to unlatch the spring apparatus from connection to the base with a predetermined amount of resistive force. The latching apparatus may be a magnetic apparatus disposed between the base and the spring apparatus having one of a magnetic element and a magnetically attracted element fixedly connected to the base and the other fixedly connected to the key. The unlatching apparatus may be a hook apparatus having a hook element and a catch element such that the hook element is able to be engaged with the catch element and one of the hook and the catch elements is fixedly connected to one of the magnetic and magnetically attracted elements which is attached to the spring apparatus and another of the hook and the catch elements is fixedly connected to the key. The catch element is spaced apart a predetermined distance from the hook element when the key is not depressed such that the catch element engages the hook element when the key is depressed a predetermined portion of an allowable amount of travel of the key. A weight may be attached to the key so as to resist depression of the key.

Simulated escapement apparatus for electronic keyboard

An electronic keyboard musical instrument is provided having optical emitters and detectors both positioned beneath each of the instrument's keys, whereby optical energy is emitted upon the bottom reflective surface of the key and the reflected light is detected. The distance between the optoelectronic sensor and the bottom of the key is detected by the light detector which produces an analog output signal and, by measuring the time between a first and second threshold crossing, the key's velocity can be determined. The two thresholds are preferably chosen to measure a rising voltage as the key is depressed, and the threshold values are preferably chosen at 50% of key travel and 75% of key travel. By use of these thresholds, a relatively clean and useful waveform is available at both threshold crossings, particularly since the mechanical movement of the key has nearly reached its terminal velocity. Electronics in the keyboard instrument sequentially scan each of the output voltages produced by their corresponding light detectors so that a single microprocessor can measure all of the key position values. A single set of threshold voltages can be utilized for all of the keys of the keyboard instrument, if desired, or each of the keys can have its own individual threshold values depending upon the calibration values for its zero and span conditions. The time interval between threshold crossings can be determined, which in turn is used to determine the velocity of each key as it is being depressed. Once the velocity is known, the volume for that key's particular musical tone can be controlled by a sound engine, as well as its other characteristics, such as timbre, attack, and envelope.

Method and apparatus for optically sensing the position and velocity of

An improved combination acoustic-mode and electronic-mode piano is provided which includes a hammer shank stop rail that intercepts the hammer shank, when in the electronic mode, so that the hammer cannot complete its normal travel and cannot strike its corresponding string(s) when its piano key is actuated. The hammer shank stop rail is actuated by an intermediate crank that, in turn, is actuated by a pedal dowel attached to one of the pedals of the piano. When operated in the acoustic mode, the stop rail occupies a position that will not interfere with the hammer shank's movements, and when in the electronic mode, the stop rail intercepts the hammer shank so that its associated hammer will not be able to travel all the way into contact with their associated string. A second embodiment operates the stop rail by use of a cable and cam mechanism. A third embodiment uses a hand-actuator to operate the stop rail via a dowel and intermediate crank. In a fourth embodiment, a fluid-actuated hammer shank stop rail is located in a position similar to the mechanical hammer shank stop rail described hereinabove. The fluid-actuated hammer shank stop rail includes a rigid portion that provides support across the width of the piano and an expandable portion that is resilient and can be enlarged by the use of an internal fluid pressure, which intercepts the hammer shank before the associated hammer can strike their associated string. A fifth embodiment of a combination dual-mode piano is provided that utilizes a spring-loaded wippen-disabler to prevent the wippen from being actuated by the key tail when the associated key is struck. When placed into the electronic mode, the wippen-disabler is rotated into a position in which one of its extended members is forced against the bottom portion of the wippen and raises the wippen high enough into a position so that the capstan screw of the key tail cannot come into contact with the bottom surface of the wippen. In addition, a different portion of the wippen-disabler is rotated so that its associated spring comes into contact with the top of the key tail, thereby providing the person playing the piano with some mechanical feedback that will approximate the feel of a standard key action.

Combined acoustic and electronic piano in which the acoustic action is

Hand held electronic checklist

Optical components and methods for an I.V. flow detector providing complete coverage of a drip chamber through the use of a single emitter and receiver. The optical components take the light of a single emitter and spread it uniformly across the entire drip chamber. Furthermore, the light is collimated as it passes through the chamber. In addition, the optics collimates the light at some point in its path from the emitter to the drip chamber. Similarly, it collimates the beam of radiation at some point in its path from the drip chamber to the receiver. Further, the optics creates a plane of symmetry for the light path passing through the center of the drip chamber and lies perpendicular to the path of the light. The design specifically takes into account the optical characteristics of the drip chamber itself.

Optical components for an I.V. flow detector

A housing for a laptop computer or computer terminal and the computer and terminal themselves in which opening the top causes a curved surface to descend below the computer's rear, bottom surface. This ridge runs across at least half of the bottom of the computer's back and preferably the entire computer. It serves to support the bottom section of the cover, and thus the keyboard, when used on a person's lap at a suitable angle. Specifically, it elevates the rear of the keyboard so that the hands have facile access to all the keys. The curved surface is formed integrally with the edge of the computer cover's upper section. When the top closes, the surface moves to a position where it does not descend below the bottom of the cover in order to provide a neat, portable package. Opening the top causes the surface, or ridge, to occupy the position where it will sit on the person's legs to prop up the keyboard.

Computer and computer terminals with depending, supporting ridge

Computer terminal

An adjustable clutch mechanism for fixing the relative position of two objects rotationally coupled relative to each other. The pressure resisting the change of rotational position submits to adjustment to permit facile movement but yet resists change from the selected position. The mechanism finds particular utility for holding a portable computer terminal's cover containing a display at a desired position relative to the base containing the keys. The clutch mechanism itself includes two sets of annular rings held against each other by a nut and bolt pressing against a spring which in turn presses against one of the rings. Tightening the screw applies greater pressure to the rings and prevents the relative rotation. The first set of the rings moves with the cover while the second set of rings has a fixed rotational orientation relative to the base. A tubular shaft, affixed to the base, passes through the center of the rings engaging tabs of the second set. The shaft keeps the second set from moving relative to the base. Tabs extending outwardly from the first set contacts one of the arms holding the cover to the base; these tabs, and thus the first set of rings, move with the arms and thus the cover.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Thomas E Kimble