Grand piano having a lower lid

Abstract

A grand piano having a lower lid attached thereto by hinges, and a lid designed for attachment to the bottom of a grand piano. The lid completely covers the bottom of the piano case when latched in a closed position. In its closed position, the lower lid protects the soundboard from damage (such as during transportation of the piano) and mutes the piano's sound. The lower lid of the invention is designed so that, when released from its closed position and pivoted downward into an open position, it will reflect sound from the soundboard outward from the front of the piano. Preferably, the angular orientation of the lower lid in its open position is chosen to reinforce and focus the projection of sound within a desired frequency range (for example, midrange sounds) to a desired target region. Such optimal angular orientation can be determined experimentally. In one embodiment, the lower lid consists of two or more panels connected together by hinges, so that it can be detached from the piano and folded into a compact volume for convenient handling and storage. The dimensions of the lid and the positions of hinges which connect its panels are preferably predetermined so that lid has an optimal orientation for reinforcing projection of midrange sounds (or sounds within another desired frequency range) in a typically-sized room or concert hall when the lid is lowered to an open position in which it rests on the floor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention pertains to a lower lid for a grand piano, and to a grand piano having a lower lid. More particularly, the invention pertains to a hinged lid, and to a grand piano having a hinged lower lid.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe primary sound radiating component of a grand piano is its soundboard. The soundboard is horizontally oriented within the piano's case. The bottom of a conventional grand piano is open, so that sound can radiate downward from the soundboard directly to the surface on which the piano rests.A conventional grand piano has a hinged cover (to be referred to herein as a "top lid") which can be raised into an open position. When the top lid is propped in its open position, sound radiating upward from the soundboard is reflected by the top lid toward the front side of the piano (the curved side of the piano, which is on the right side of a pianist facing the keyboard).U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,142, issued to Conklin, discloses attachment of a la...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a grand piano having a lower lid attached thereto by hinges, and a lid for attachment to the bottom of a grand piano. Preferably, the lid is sized and shaped to completely cover the bottom of the piano case when latched in a closed position. In its closed position, the lower lid protects the soundboard from damage (such as during transportation of the piano) and mutes the piano's sound. Such muting action is desirable, for example, when the piano is used in small room (such as a practice room), or when the piano resides on an upper level of a multi-level building (such as an apartment house) where it is necessary to minimize projection of sound from the piano to lower levels of the building.

The lower lid of the invention can be fitted with one or more removable sound-absorbing pads (composed of styrofoam or another sound-absorbing material). Such pads will enhance the muting action of the lower lid in its closed position, and can be removed when the lid is lowered into its open position.

Problems solved by technology

However, Tower's vanes are very small, and would not have sufficient surface area to project sound efficiently outward from the soundboard.

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