Keyboard Key Weight with Elastic Protrusions for Secure Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional key weights for keyboard instruments require high mounting forces and are prone to displacement or falling off due to reduced elastic deformation of ridge portions, making the mounting process labor-intensive and unstable.
Innovation Solution
A key weight with an elastically deformed portion on its insertion leading end and a latched portion on its side surface, which are designed to be easily inserted into a weight-accommodating portion with a reaction force from the far-side wall, allowing for secure latching with the side wall, reducing the required mounting force and preventing displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If latching protrusions are formed on the wall surfaces of the weight accommodating portion to prevent the key weight from falling off, then the key weight can be securely retained, but a very large force is required to push the key weight into the weight accommodating portion during mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The key weight is divided into distinct functional portions: a weight body portion and a protrusion portion. The protrusion portion is further segmented into multiple protrusions that can be elastically deformed. This segmentation allows the mounting force to be applied to the weight body portion while the protrusions independently deform and latch with the side walls, separating the mounting action from the latching action and reducing the required mounting force.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are designed with elastic properties, allowing their physical state to change during mounting. When the key weight is pushed into the weight accommodating portion, the protrusions elastically deform to overcome the latching protrusions on the side walls. After mounting, the protrusions return to their original shape, securely latching the key weight. This parameter change (elastic deformation) enables easy mounting while ensuring secure retention.
2Ease of manufacture
If the key weight is fixed only by the thrust of ridge portions through elastic deformation, then the mounting process is simple, but the key weight may be displaced downward or fall off when returning forces are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The key weight is divided into distinct functional portions: a weight body portion and a protrusion portion. The protrusion portion is further segmented into multiple protrusions that can be elastically deformed. This segmentation allows the mounting force to be applied to the weight body portion while the protrusions independently deform and latch with the side walls, separating the mounting action from the latching action and reducing the required mounting force.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are designed with elastic properties, allowing their physical state to change during mounting. When the key weight is pushed into the weight accommodating portion, the protrusions elastically deform to overcome the latching protrusions on the side walls. After mounting, the protrusions return to their original shape, securely latching the key weight. This parameter change (elastic deformation) enables easy mounting while ensuring secure retention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and secure mounting of the key weight with a relatively small force, preventing it from falling off by utilizing elastically deformed protrusions and latching mechanisms, thus stabilizing the key weight within the keyboard instrument.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformed portion that is formed on an insertion leading end of the weight body portion into the weight-accommodating portion, and is elastically deformed by a reaction force from a far-side wall surface of the weight-accommodating portion when the weight body portion in a state in contact with the far-side wall surface during mounting of the key weight is pushed into the weight-accommodating portion
Implementation Method 2
a latched portion that is formed on a side surface of the weight body portion and is latched with a side wall of the weight-accommodating portion
Data Source
AI summary
A key weight capable of being easily mounted in a key for a keyboard instrument and being positively prevented from falling off the key. The key weight is mounted in the key by being inserted from outside into a weight-accommodating portion of the key, and includes a block-shaped weight body portion, protrusions that are formed on an insertion leading end of the weight body portion into the weight-accommodating portion and are elastically deformed by a reaction force from a far-side wall surface of the weight-accommodating portion when the weight body portion in a state in contact with the far-side wall surface during mounting of the key weight is pushed into the weight-accommodating portion, and latched portions that are formed on side surfaces of the weight body portion and are latched with side walls of the weight-accommodating portion.