Abstract:
An arrangement for facilitating the installation of an action in a piano body. The arrangement includes at least one adjusting medium being adapted to facilitate the positioning of the action with respect to a piano body, wherein the at least one adjusting medium is associated solely with the action.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to pianos and their associated keyboards.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Normally, a keyboard for a grand piano includes a set of keys mounted on a frame, to which is mounted the piano&#39;s action stack. The action stack contains all the hammers that strike the piano&#39;s strings and produce the piano&#39;s sound. Taken together, the action stack and the piano&#39;s keyboard form a complete unit in a grand piano called the “action” or “piano&#39;s action” and, normally, this unit is easily removable from the piano.  
           [0003]    With the advent of the acceptance of alternative size keyboards for the piano, it has become important for pianos to be able to accommodate two or more actions that can be interchanged. A problem arises, however, in that high quality grand pianos, for the most part, are hand made, which results in small differences from piano to piano in their internal dimensions. The keyboard for a specific piano is therefore hand-fit for that piano and will not necessarily fit into another piano of the same make and model.  
           [0004]    Accordingly, a need has been recognized in connection with making grand piano&#39;s keyboard adjustable so that a new action for the piano can be made to fit into any piano of the same make and model.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, provisions are made for various adjustments that can easily be made by a technician, such that a new keyboard can quickly be installed into any piano of a given make and model without any time-consuming custom hand-fitting. This will potentially allow for the mass producing of new keyboards that can easily be fit into existing pianos. It also affords a concert artist the ability to perform on his/her own keyboard by having it easily installed into the piano at a given concert hall, such as one in another city when the pianist is on tour. The artist will then have the use of his/her keyboard that has the “touch” as well as the size of keys that he/she prefers without having to transport his/her entire piano.  
           [0006]    Generally, there is broadly contemplated in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention An arrangement for facilitating the installation of an action in a piano body, the arrangement comprising: at least one adjusting medium being adapted to facilitate the positioning of the action with respect to a piano body, the at least one adjusting medium being associated solely with the action.  
           [0007]    Further, there is broadly contemplated in accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention a piano action comprising: an arrangement for facilitating the installation of the action in a piano body, the arrangement comprising at least one adjusting medium being adapted to facilitate the positioning of the action with respect to a piano body, the at least one adjusting medium being associated solely with the action. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The present invention and its presently preferred embodiments will be better understood by way of reference to the detailed disclosure herebelow and to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  are top and left side views, respectively, of the left side of a keyboard frame.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a top view of the right side of a keyboard frame.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 a  is a bottom view of the rear of a keyboard frame.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 b  is a close-up frontal view, and FIG. 3 c  a close-up bottom view, of an adjustable block and associated components.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 a  is a bottom view of the front of a keyboard frame.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 b  is a close-up frontal view, and FIG. 4 c  a close-up bottom view, of an adjustable block and associated components.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  are a front view and bottom view, respectively, of a keyboard frame back rail and attached slat.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a side view of a piano key and associated components.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b  are a side view and top view, respectively, of a back rail of a keyboard frame.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b  are top and closeup views, respectively, of the front rail of a keyboard frame and other components.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a general perspective view of a piano action. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    By way of general terminology, the action is a complete unit that includes a keyboard and an action stack. The keyboard is a set of keys mounted to a frame. The action stack, which holds all the hammers of the piano, is mounted to this key frame. Pressing a key in the action will actuate a hammer in the action. This unit normally is slid into a compartment inside the piano. Once installed in a piano, the action is normally free to move about ⅛ of an inch to the right by the use of the “soft pedal”. (A soft pedal operates such that a hammer that will normally hit 3 strings can be made to play softer by sliding the action to the right where it will now hit only 2 strings.) This movement to the right is typically accomplished by a lever that fits into a slot in the bottom of the key frame. A spring mounted on the right side of the piano typically pushes on the right side of the key frame and pushes the action back to the left once the soft pedal is released. The action will then typically move to the left until the left side of the frame meets a stop in the left side of the piano. Glide pins mounted in the frame insert into fittings in the cheek blocks and these keep the action in position front to back.  
         [0021]    In accordance with at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, various adjustments can be made on or relative to a piano keyboard so that a new action can be installed into an existing piano and made to work properly without changing anything on the original piano. This will allow the new action and the original action to be interchangeable. Once the new keyboard has been adjusted, the original action and the new action can then be interchanged in a couple of minutes.  
         [0022]    The adjustments on a new keyboard compensate for the variations in the internal dimensions that are found from piano to piano in a given make and model. These variations include, inter alia, the level of the key bed, the string height above the key bed, the height of the damper levers above the key bed, the location of the action soft pedal lever, and the overall width, depth, and height of the compartment in the piano that houses the piano&#39;s keyboard. Some adjustments contemplated in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention are discussed below, and particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings. Any and all such adjustment mechanisms may preferably be included with respect to an action (with keyboard).  
         [0023]    With reference to FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  (top and left side views, respectively, of a keyboard frame  102  including slat  103 , back rail  106 , balance rail  108  and front rail  110 ), provision may be made for an adjustment on the left side of the frame of the keyboard so that the hammers on the action stack can be made to align accurately under the strings of the piano. As shown in FIG. 1 a , there may be an adjustable piece provided at the left side of the keyboard frame  102 , attached to a slat  103  via screws  105  he like. The adjustable piece  104  may be made out of metal or any other suitable material. By adjusting the screws or other adjusting elements  105 , the adjustable piece  104  can be moved away from or towards the slat  103 . It will be appreciated that the adjustable piece will ultimately bear up against a stop in a piano body when the frame is installed in a piano. A suitable number of spacers  112  may be provided about each screw (or other adjusting element)  105 , and may fill the gap between the adjustable piece  104  and the slat  103 .  
         [0024]    As shown in FIG. 2 (a top view of a keyboard frame  202  including slat  203 , back rail  206 , balance rail  208  and front rail  210 ), provision may be made for an adjustment on the right side of the frame of the keyboard so that an action return spring can be made to operate at its proper strength. As shown, an adjustable piece  204 , which may be substantially similar in general makeup to the one shown at  104  in FIG. 1 a , may be provided. Again, the adjustable piece  204  may be attached to slat  203  via screws or the like ( 205 ) and may be made out of metal or any other suitable material. Again, by adjusting the screws or other adjusting elements ( 205 ), the adjustable piece  204  can be moved away from or towards the slat  203 . In this case, it will be appreciated that the adjustable piece  204  will ultimately bear up against a spring typically found in the right-hand side of many pianos (particularly, that spring which biases the keyboard frame [or “keyframe”] to the left and, thus, towards the aforementioned stop typically found at the left-hand side of many pianos). Again, a suitable number of spacers  212  may be provided about each screw (or other adjusting element)  205 , and may fill the gap between the adjustable piece  204  and the slat  203 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 a  is a bottom view of a keyboard frame  302  (with an entire back rail  306  intersecting with a number of spaced-apart slats  303 ) showing five adjustable blocks  314  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The blocks  314  may be provided in back rail  306  to allow for the adjustment of the overall height of the action stack. This can compensate for variations in string height without having to regulate the action. The blocks  314  can also be used to “bed” the back rail to the bed of the piano.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 b  is a close-up frontal view, and FIG. 3 c  a close-up bottom view, of one of the adjustable blocks  314  and associated components. As shown, the adjustable block  314  may be attached via screws or the like  316  to the back rail  306 . Spacers  318  may be provided about each screw (or other adjusting element)  316  to essentially fill the gap between the adjustable block  314  and the back rail  306 . (As shown, each adjustable block may essentially reside in a recess  320  provided within the back rail.) It will be appreciated that adjustable blocks  314  such as those shown in FIGS. 3 a - 3   c  can provide a fine height adjustment at the back rail  306  that hitherto might not have been possible.  
         [0027]    Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4 a  (a bottom view of a keyboard frame  402  with slats  403 , but at the front), adjustable blocks  414  may be provided in the front rail  410  of the frame  402  to allow for the adjustment of the overall height of the front of the keys. This compensates for variations in the height of the fallboard without having to regulate the height of the keys. The blocks can also be used to “bed” the front rail to the bed of the piano.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 b  is a close-up cut-away elevational view, and FIG. 4 c  a close-up bottom view, of one of the adjustable blocks  414  and associated components. Similarly to the adjustable blocks  314  described and illustrated with respect to FIGS. 3 a - 3   c , here an adjustable block  414  may be attached via screws or the like ( 416 ) to the front rail  410 . Again, spacers  418  may be provided about each screw (or other adjusting element)  416  to essentially fill the gap between the adjustable block  414  and the front rail  410 . (As shown, each adjustable block  414  may essentially reside in a recess  420  provided within the front rail  410 .) It will be appreciated that adjustable blocks  414  such as those shown in FIGS. 4 a - 4   c  can provide a fine height adjustment at the front rail  410  that hitherto might not have been possible.  
         [0029]    As shown in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  (a front view and bottom view, respectively, of a back rail  506  and attached slat  503  in a keyboard frame  502 ), a provision may be made for an adjustment, in the configuration of the slot  522  normally used by the soft pedal to shift the action. Particularly, as shown in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , an adjustable block  524  may be movable from left to right in order to adjust the position of the surface  525  against which a lever from the “soft pedal” pushes in order to shift the entire action. In this way, it will not be necessary to adjust the soft pedal lever mechanism itself, as has normally been the case. Thus, in keeping with the other types of adjustment mechanisms described and contemplated herein, adjustments are made only on the keyboard structure and not on the piano structure. As shown, two screws  526  may be provided within elongated slots  528  to permit the aforementioned left-to-right adjustment.  
         [0030]    In connection with considerations relating to the soft pedal, it is normally the case that the action, when shifted by the soft pedal and associated lever mechanism, ultimately hits upon a screw or other type of adjustable stop located on the piano structure. However, in keeping with the other types of adjustment mechanisms described and contemplated herein, such a screw or stop may instead be placed on the keyboard structure and not on the piano structure.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 (a side view of a piano key  630  and associated components, as well as back rail  606 , balance rail  608  and balance mechanism  631 ) illustrates a component  632  which may be termed a “damper lifter”. As shown, the damper lifter  632  may be mounted on the back of key  630 , and damper lifter felt  634  may be mounted as part of the damper lifter  632 . (Preferably, damper lifter  632  will be so positioned and configured as to strike a lever  633   a  which moves a rod  633   b  to lift a string damper  633 , all when key  630  is played.) The damper lifter  632  is preferably adjustable and compensates for variations in the height of the back rail  606  (e.g., in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 a - 3   c ). Also, damper lifters  632  of differing length may preferably compensate for differences in the depth of the action compartment in the piano.  
         [0032]    Essentially, since the height of the back rail  606  may be adjustable in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention (e.g., via an adjustable block  314 ; see FIGS. 3 a - 3   c  and related discussion), the vertical position of the damper lifter  632  may preferably be adjustable to compensate for variation in the height of the back rail  606  and also for possible variation in height in the lever  633   a . In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the damper lifter  632  is a removable part that includes a small board or slat  632   a  to which conventional felt  634  may be attached. As shown, the small board or slat  632   a  may be attached via a screw  636  to the piano key  630 , and spacers (e.g. metal spacers)  638  are preferably provided about the screw  636  both between the board/slat  632   a  and screw head and between the board/slat  632   a  and the main body of the piano key  630 . It should be understood that pivoting adjustment of the damper lifter  632  is also possible, by pivoting the same about screw  636  to a desired position and then fixing it in place.  
         [0033]    Preferably, any damper lifter will be interchangeable with a damper lifter of different length. In this manner, the length of a damper lifter can be customized to compensate for variations in the depth of an action compartment in different pianos.  
         [0034]    As shown in FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b  (a side view and top view, respectively, of a back rail  706  of a keyboard frame  702  as well as a slat  703  intersecting back rail  706 ), a provision may be made for an adjustable block  740  in the back of the frame that will fit under the “dag blocks”  742  that are used to hold the action to the bed of the piano during transportation of the piano when the piano is placed on its side. Normally, the back rail  706  fits under the dag blocks  742  but here, the back rail  706  is made narrower and the new adjustable block  740  is made to fit under the dag block. This will compensate for differences in the location of the dag blocks  742 . As shown, the adjustable block  740  may be attached via screws  744  to the back rail  706 . The screws  744  themselves may be disposed in elongated slots  746  in the adjustable block  740  to allow for back-to-front adjustment of the adjustable block  740 .  
         [0035]    Thus, in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, the back rail  706  of a keyboard frame is accordingly made narrower and an adjustable block  740 , such as that shown in FIGS. 7 a  and  7   b , is attached to it. The adjustable block  740  is intended to be disposed under a dag block  742 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b  are top and closeup views, respectively, of the front rail  810  of a keyboard frame  802  (with intersecting slats  803 ) and other components. As shown, an adjustment arrangement  848  is provided for the adjustment of the location of glide pins  850  that normally fit into cheek blocks and establish the position of a keyboard front-to-back. This adjustment arrangement  848  will compensate for differences in the location of the fittings in the cheek blocks (not shown here).  
         [0037]    As shown, adjustment arrangement  848  may preferably include an adjustment block  852  which supports glide pin  850 , a spacer  854  (though more could conceivably be provided) and screws  856  which attach block  852  and spacer(s)  854  to front rail  810 . Normally, glide pins serve to allow the keyboard to move side-to-side, via the soft pedal, by about ⅛ inch while helping to establish the front-to-back position of the keyboard frame through insertion into the aforementioned cheek blocks.  
         [0038]    For general reference herein, FIG. 9 is a general perspective view of a piano action  988 . Shown are piano keys  990  mounted on a frame  991 , to which is mounted the piano&#39;s action stack  992 .  
         [0039]    It should be understood that various embodiments of the present invention may be employed in different types of settings relating to pianos. Though the realm of hand-crafted concert grand pianos is recognized as an appropriate context for one or more embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that a wide range of types of grand pianos and baby grand pianos, with full-sized or reduced-size keyboards, may appropriately employ one or more of the embodiments of the present invention. (General background information on reduced-size keyboards may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,301 to Steinbuhler.)  
         [0040]    If not otherwise stated herein, it may be assumed that all components and/or processes described heretofore may, if appropriate, be considered to be interchangeable with similar components and/or processes disclosed elsewhere in the specification, unless an express indication is made to the contrary.  
         [0041]    If not otherwise stated herein, any and all patents, patent publications, articles and other printed publications discussed or mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein.  
         [0042]    It should be appreciated that the apparatus and method of the present invention may be configured and conducted as appropriate for any context at hand. The embodiments described above are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.