Grand piano keyboard support structure

Abstract

To effectively convey the subtle up-and-down movement of the keyboard caused by the player's touch, which is difficult because of the weight of the lead embedded in the keyboard.SOLUTION: The player can achieve a subtle touch response with an effect of buffer material and compression coil springs located at the rear of the keyboard.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a keyboard support structure for a grand piano.

Background Art

[0002] A partial cross-sectional structure of a conventional grand piano including a keyboard is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, a keyboard 2 is supported on the upper surface of a rail 1 so as to be swingable about a fulcrum 0, and a shank rail 4 and a wippen rail 5 are fixed to a bracket 3. A hammer shank 7 having a hammer 6 attached thereto is rotatably supported by the shank rail 4, and a wippen 8 is rotatably supported by the wippen rail 5. Further, a string 9 struck by the hammer 6 is stretched. In addition, a plurality of lead weights 10 are embedded in the tip side of the keyboard 2.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-described conventional keyboard 2, in order to reduce the keying force of the keyboard, the keying force is adjusted by embedding lead weights 10 that are easy to process at the tip portion. However, due to long-term use, the lead weights 10 embedded in the keyboard 2 deteriorate over time, or due to the oxidation and expansion of the lead, contact between adjacent keyboards occurs, and white powdery oxidation corrosion products accumulate on the upper surface of the rail 1. If they are scattered in the air and absorbed by the human body, health concerns may arise.

[0005] Further, although the lead weights 10 function when the keyboard 2 is depressed due to their weight, they do not function when the keyboard returns from the depressed state. Therefore, it is difficult to effectively transmit the delicate vertical movement of the keyboard due to the touch of the performer.

[0006] Furthermore, in order to drill a plurality of holes with a diameter of about 10 mm for lead embedding on the side of the keyboard 2, the original bending effect of the wood, which is the keyboard material, and the reaction effects of the strong touch and soft touch by the performer are eliminated.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the keyboard support structure of the grand piano of the present invention has a buffer member disposed between the lower surface of the keyboard made of a uniform material that is swingably supported at a fulcrum and the stringer on the back side of the fulcrum. The buffer member consists of a first buffer member and a second buffer member. The lower end of a compression coil spring is fixed to the first buffer member, and the upper end of the compression coil spring is fixed to the second buffer member. When the keys of the keyboard are at rest, the compression coil spring holds the maximally compressed state, and when the keys of the keyboard are pressed, the compression coil spring extends according to the key pressing force of the keyboard. Also provided is a keyboard support for a grand piano, which comprises a sheet-like first buffer member provided with a plurality of holes at a predetermined position, a compression coil spring with one end inserted and held in the hole, and a second buffer member independently fixed to the other end of each of the compression coil springs.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the above configuration, it is possible to respond sensitively to the up and down movement of the keyboard, enabling ultra-high-speed continuous key pressing more easily than before, and broadening the selection range of variations in performance expression. Also, the health concerns caused by lead are eliminated, allowing one to enjoy piano playing for a long time with peace of mind. Furthermore, the toughness and bending effect inherent in the keyboard material are not sacrificed, and the reaction to the subtle touch of the performer can be obtained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] FIG. 1 is a partial sectional structure at the time of the grand piano's quiet keys including the keyboard of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of part A of FIG. 1. In these figures, the same components as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rubber plate 11a is laid on the back side of the keyboard of the rail 1, a felt 11b is placed on the rubber plate 11a, and the rubber plate 11a and the felt 11b form a buffer member 11. And an insertion hole 11c is drilled in this buffer member 11, and a compression coil spring 12 is inserted into the insertion hole 11c in a state of being fixed on the side of the rail 1. Note that the keyboard 2 is made of uniform wood and does not have a weight such as lead embedded therein.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of part A of the partial sectional structure at the time of pressing the keys of the grand piano including the keyboard of the present invention. Also in FIG. 3, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, when the keyboard 2 is pressed, the repulsive force of the compression coil spring 12 acts to help lift the back side of the keyboard. At that time, the felt 11b on the rubber plate 11a also lifts away from the rubber plate 11a according to the elongation of the compression coil spring and abuts against the bottom 2a on the back side of the keyboard 2. By the above operation, for the performer, it is possible to press the keys with a lighter touch on the keyboard than before, and it is possible to obtain a delicate touch reaction of the performer, thereby widening the range of performance. Further, since no weight such as lead is used, the production of the keyboard itself is simple, and the health anxiety when using lead is eliminated.

[0012] Fig. 4(a) is a perspective view of the keyboard support for a grand piano according to the present invention, and (b) is a side sectional view. In Fig. 4, the rubber plate 11a is a sheet-shaped buffer member provided with a plurality of holes 11c at predetermined positions, and one end of each of the compression coil springs 12 is inserted and held in a fitting state in each of the plurality of holes 11c. Further, a buffer member made of felt is fixed to the other end of each of the compression coil springs 12. The keyboard support for a grand piano having such a configuration can be easily mounted simply by laying the sheet-shaped rubber plate 11a having the above configuration on the rim 1 of the grand piano. Therefore, since the compression coil springs 12 can move back and forth together with the rubber plate 11a serving as a base, the touch feeling can be adjusted according to the acoustic level and the preference of the player for each of the three sections of the bass section side, the middle section, and the sub-high section. In addition, the rim of the keyboard base and the back of the keyboard are extended to better compensate for the disadvantage of the short keyboard length of small and medium-sized grand pianos, and a touch that is easy for the player to play can be provided.

Industrial Applicability

[0013] The present invention is useful as a keyboard support structure for a grand piano that enables reduction of the key depression force of the player's keyboard.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0014] 0... fulcrum, 1... rim, 2... keyboard, 2a... bottom on the back side, 3... bracket, 4... shank rail, 5... wippen rail, 6... hammer, 7... hammer shank, 8... wippen, 9... string, 10... lead, 11... buffer member, 11a... rubber plate, 11b... felt, 11c... hole, 12... compression coil spring

Claims

1. In a grand piano, a buffer member is disposed between the lower surface of a keyboard made of a uniform material and supported so as to be swingable about a fulcrum, on the back side of the fulcrum of the keyboard, and the buffer member is composed of a first buffer member and a second buffer member. The lower end of a compression coil spring is fixed to the first buffer member, and the upper end of the compression coil spring is fixed to the second buffer member. When the keys of the keyboard are at rest, the compression coil spring holds a maximally compressed state, and when the keys of the keyboard are pressed, the compression coil spring extends according to the key pressing force of the keyboard. A keyboard support structure for a grand piano, characterized by the above.

2. A keyboard support for a grand piano, comprising a sheet-shaped first buffer member provided with a plurality of holes at a predetermined position, a compression coil spring having one end inserted and held in the holes, and a second buffer member independently fixed to each of the other ends of the compression coil springs.

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