ACCORDION

Abstract: An accordion comprising a treble portion (12), a bellows (8) and a bass portion (11). Said treble portion (12) as well as said bass portion (11) includes a respective frame (1A, 1B) and a respective sound bottom (2A, 2B). Said frame (1A, 1B) supports said sound bottom (2A, 2B), which on its part supports respective sound boxes (3A, 3B) having wind channels, reeds and valves. Said frames on the whole consist of bent metal profiles.

Description: Accordion TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an accordion. It in par¬ ticular relates to an accordion including a bellows, which at its ends is tightly connected to two respective frames, each of said frames supporting a sound bottom having one or several sound boxes with wind channels, reeds and valves. THE STATE OF THE ART The frames and sound bottoms of an accordion usually are made of wood. The frames are often varnished or coated wit e.g. celluloid. Such frames made of wood and associated sound bottoms usually are not replaceable. Frequently the frames have a rectangular shape and rounded edges. However, the sound bottoms and the frames of accor¬ dions may be made in the shape of regular polygons, e.g. sextants, as in concertinas. Fully circular frames are not often used and sound bottoms and frames having irregular shapes are rare. Also, accordions have been built with frames and additio- nal parts made of plastic materials. However, such instru¬ ments made of plastic materials have never been approved of by professional musicians and fairly advanced amateurs. When accordions are produced on an industrial scale, it amounts to a substantial drawback that the frames and the sound bottoms can not be made replaceable at reasonable prices, when wood is used as a material. Generally the frames are made of glued strips of wood and a sound bot¬ tom associated with a particular frame is adjusted to make it fit that particular frame. When producing accordions having frames and sound bottoms made of wood it is not possible to make frames for a va¬ rying number of sound boxes, which later on can be com¬ bined arbitrarily according to the customers' demands. Thus, it is not feasible for a manufacturer to have a stock at a reasonable price, which can satisfy most vary¬ ing customer desires as to the number of sound boxes. The shape of the frames and the sound bottoms substantial- ly contributes to the tone quality of the instrument. By varying the geometrical shape of the frames and sound bot¬ toms the tone quality of the instrument can be influenced. However, in case the instrument is to be built of wood according to methods known today, it will be extremely expensive to vary the geometrical shape of the frames and sound bottoms. A DISCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to produce an im¬ proved accordion of the kind described in the introducto¬ ry portion. First of all the drawbacks and limitations noted above must be eliminated. This object is attained by producing frames, which on the whole consist of bent metal profiles. In this way it is . feasible, with the use of a small number of profiles, to produce frame parts having varying shapes and sizes, using a very simple and economical production method. As a rule = at least one of the frames of an accordion according to the invention is one single bent metal profile. Thus, part of an accordion according to this invention can be produce in an economic way. Also, the invention allows, in an in¬ dustrial production, an easy organization of a production controlled by means of customer orders, with the use of moderate semi-manufacture stocks and consequently small amounts of capital tied up in semi-manufacture stocks. Profiles designed for frames can actually be stored by the meter and be cut and bent to the desired dimensions as well as be welded according to customer orders. Since the frames mainly are made of bent metal profiles, it is possible to make the frames and sound bottoms re¬ placeable. This facilitates, with a minimum inventory of frames, sound bottoms and sound boxes and at short no- tice, the production and shipment of accordions accordin to most varying customer demands. The customer demands relate e.g. to freedom of choice as to button and piano mechanisms, number of rows, color etc. The customer de¬ mands may also vary as far as sizes go. The replaceabili- ty allows also a novice to buy an accordion having e.g. just one single row, he being able to supplement later o his accordion with more rows. Also, he who has e.g. bough an accordion having a button mechanism may obtain an ac¬ cordion having a piano mechanism by means of a replace- ment of parts. Additional characterizing features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in the following description in conjunction with the accompanying patent claims. A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following description reference will be made to the supplied drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a section of an accordion according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a frame with a sound bottom and a sound box; Fig. 3 shows the major parts of an accordion according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows the design of the frame of the bass portion of the accordion; Fig. 5 shows how the frame of the bass portion of the accordion can be designed in another way; and Fig. 6 shows an additional alternate design of the bass portion of the accordion. A DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings the bass portion of the accordion is de¬ signated with reference numeral 11, the bellows with 8 and the treble portion with 12. Fig. 1 shows a horizontal section of the accordion, which includes bellows 8, which is connected to and unites treble portion 12 and bass por tion 11. The supporting part of treble portion 12 is a frame 1A, which is composed of a bent aluminum profile. The ends of the bent metal profiles are united e.g. by means of a welded joint or a rivet joint. The aluminum profile which is used to produce frame 1A is provided with four flanges 16, 17A and 18. Flange 16 makes a tight joint with bellows 8, which by means of pins is detachably con¬ nected to frame 1A. Two flanges associated with frame 1A are designated with reference numeral 18. These flanges are mutually similar and are designed to fasten sound box es 3. Flange 17A is designed to fasten a sound bottom 2A. In Fig. 2 sound bottom 2A has been positioned against frame 1A and its flange 17A. A rubber packing 33 has been placed between sound bottom 2A and flange 17. Sound bot- torn 2A is detachably connected to flange 17 and conse¬ quently also to frame 1. The bond between sound bottom 2A and flange 17 may consist of a spring plate 31, which is screwed tight by. means of a screw 32. Sound boxes 3A are not shown in detail in the drawings and also will not be described at length, since their de- sign and shape are known to the artisan in the field and are not involved in the inventive concept. The sound box are fastened in the case, which consists of frame 1A and sound bottom 2A. Sound boxes 3A-D are locked by means of e.g. expanding cylindrical pins 15 (one of which is show in Fig. 2) , in directions parallell to the plane of sou bottom 2A. Sound boxes 3A-B are locked against sound bo tom 2A by means of a metal tongue14,in a direction perpe dicular to sound bottom 2A, which tongue is provided wit an elongated hole and which is pushed into the space bet ween flanges 18 associated with frame 1A. Every sound box is provided with a row of sound channel cells. Every sound channel cell is via holes in the bott plate connected to the space which is defined by sound b tom 2A and a cover 4, which when it is a part of an acco dion often is called a deck. By means of valve flaps 5A- the passage between said sound channel cells and the spa between sound bottom 2A and deck 4 can be opened or clos The treble portion is also provided with a mechanism 6, which allows the opening av various flaps 5A when depres When a button 7A is depressed, the corresponding valve f 5A is opened, and then an air stream can pass from and to the bellows through one of the sound channel cells, whic emits a certain tone. In Fig. 1 an extremely simple design of mechanism 6 is shown. In more complicated designs there are multiple set of stops in various octave positions. In such accordions the air supply in every stop or range is adjusted by mea of a range bar, which is provided with punched holes, whi correspond to the sound holes of the sound box ' . These de tails are not shown in the figure, since they are known to the artisan and also not pertinent to the invention. However, the fact that these complicated designs are not shown in the drawings, must not be construed to imply tha mechanisms including multiple sets of stops in various octave positions cannot be applied in connection with accordions in accordance with the present invention. It is shown in Fig. 1 that sound boxes 3, which are associ¬ ated with the treble portion, are placed entirely within the space, which is defined by the case which is formed by frame 1A and sound bottom 2A. Sound boxes 3 of bass portion 11 are mounted in such way that they are pushed into the bellows space between bass portion 11 and treble portion 12. The space which is de¬ fined by frame IB of bass portion 11 and sound bottom 2B is occupied by bass mechanism 10. Bass mechanism 10 is not shown in detail. In Fig. 1 only one sound button 7B for the bass manual is shown. However, in some instruments the number of buttons 7B in the bass manual can be as high as 120. Thus, the mechanism for the bass tones is mounted in the case-shaped space which is defined by frame IB and sound bottom 2B, as far as bass portion 11 is concerned. In the bass portion frame IB consists of two parts, i.e. an aluminum profile 9, which completely enclose two short sides and one long side as well as a manual profile 13, which takes up a portion of or the entirety of the long side of bass portion 11, which the manual takes up. Frame profile 9 is provided with flanges 19,17B,23. Bel¬ lows 8 is made tight against flange 23, but bellows 8 is detachably connected to frame IB of bass portion 11 by means of pins. Sound bottom 2B of bass portion 11 is de¬ tachably connected to flange 17B by means of an expanding packing 30 between flange 23 and sound bottom 2B. On that part of frame IB, associated with bass portion 11, which consists of manual profile 13, sound bottom 2B is attached to flange 24 on profile 13. The case which is formed by frame IB of bass portion 11 and sound bottom 2B is covere by a plate 20, which as far as accordions go is called a bass deck. Bass deck 20 is positioned in bass portion 11 in such a way that it is attached to flange 19, which is associated with frame profile 9. The bass portion is also provided with valve flaps 5B, which open and close variou air channels to the sound channel cells of the sound boxe of the bass portion. Fig. 3 shows the essential basic parts of an accordion, i.e. frames 1A and IB, sound bottom 2A, sound boxes 3A, and bellows 8. By making flanges 1A and IB of bent metal profiles various frame sizes can be produced, e.g. by using simple bending tools, and with a great exactitude. Sound bottoms made of metal or aluminum can easily be produced with such an exactitude that a complete replace- ability for frames and sound bottoms can be obtained. By making bendings into various shapes frames can be pro¬ duced, which e.g. resemble the shape of a guitar frame. With such a designing varying tone * effects can be ob¬ tained. Such a complicated designing can also be accomp¬ lished with a great exactitude, which guarantees replace- ability. Modifications of the embodiment described above are con¬ templated, without deviating from the general principles of the present invention and without reaching beyond the scope of protection as defined by the following patent claim when accomplishing such modifications.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. An accordion including a bellows (8), which at its two ends is tightly connected to two respective frames (1A, IB) , each of said frames supporting a sound bottom (2A, 2B) having one or several sound boxes (3A,3B) with wind channels, reeds and valves, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said frames (1A,1B) on the whole consist of bent metal profiles. 2. An accordion according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that at least one of said frames (1A) con¬ sists of one single continuous bent metal profile. 3. An accordion according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that at least one of said frames (IB) in¬ cludes a bent metal profile (9), which encloses more than two thirds of the circumference of said sound bottom (2B) . 4. An accordion according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said metal profile or metal profiles consist of extruded aluminum profiles. 5. An accordion according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one of said sound bottoms (2) is made of a metallic material. 6. An accordion according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the material which at least one of said sound bottoms is made of is an aluminum alloy or an aluminum plate. 7. An accordion according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said metal profile is provided with at least one flange (17A,17B), which is de- signed to support said sound bottom (2A,2B). 8. An accordion according to any of the preceding claims c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said metal profile i provided with a flange (16,23), which is made tight again said bellows (8) . 9. An accordion according to any of the preceding claims c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said metal profile i provided with flanges (18) , which are designed to fasten said sound boxes (3A) . 10. An accordion according to any of the preceding claim c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the ends of said meta profile, which forms a frame, are joined by means of a solid joint.

Inventors: EK LARS, GLIMHESTER AAKE, EK, LARS, GLIMHESTER, AAKE
Applicants: SCANDINAVIAN ACCORDIONS MUNKFO, SCANDINAVIAN ACCORDIONS MUNKFORS AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G10D11
IPC codes: G10D11