Patent Publication Number: US-11651753-B2

Title: Piano tuning retention system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/319,992, filed May 13, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     After the first few years of a piano&#39;s life, during which frequent tunings are needed in order to bring the strings to a stable tension, the piano can still go out of tune for various reasons. Most notably in the case of an instrument that is played regularly, the stress placed on the strings by the hammers inevitably causes the tuning pins that hold the strings to turn slightly, lowering the tension on the strings and detuning the instrument. This type of detuning, which can occur in the absence of any degradation of the strings and irrespective of any changes in humidity and temperature, often requires the piano to be tuned two or more times per year at the owner&#39;s expense and inconvenience. 
     Efforts to prevent the movement of piano tuning pins date at least as far back as 1871 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 118,354 to Anthony Joseph Faas (“Faas”). However, such efforts either require the use of uniquely shaped tuning pins as in the case of Faas or involve overly complicated mechanical contraptions, making it impossible or impractical to retrofit an existing piano to keep it from going out of tune. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure contemplates various systems and methods for overcoming the above drawbacks accompanying the related art. One aspect of the embodiments of the disclosure is a piano tuning retention system for impeding rotation of a plurality of piano tuning pins of a piano. The system may comprise first and second bushings, each having a threaded upper longitudinal end and a lower longitudinal end that defines a polygonal interior for mating with a polygonal end of a respective one of the piano tuning pins, and first and second threaded fasteners, each having threads corresponding to the threaded upper longitudinal end of a respective one of the bushings. The system may further comprise first and second sleeves, each with an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of a respective one of the bushings. Each of the sleeves may have an upper longitudinal end with an inward radial extension that defines a reduced inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the respective bushing and a lower longitudinal end that defines a catch extending in a circumferential direction of the sleeve. The system may further comprise a bridge that spans the plurality of piano tuning pins. The bridge may define a first engagement region configured to be sandwiched between the first threaded fastener and the inward radial extension of the first sleeve with the first bushing disposed within the first sleeve and the first threaded fastener fastened to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the first bushing. The bridge may further define a second engagement region configured to be sandwiched between the second threaded fastener and the inward radial extension of the second sleeve with the second bushing disposed within the second sleeve and the second threaded fastener fastened to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the second bushing. 
     In each of the first and second sleeves, the catch may comprise a notch extending in a circumferential direction of the sleeve that is opposite a rotational direction in which the respective threaded fastener is fastened to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the respective bushing. 
     The first and second engagement regions of the bridge may be offset from each other to define parallel planes. 
     The bridge may define one or more openings through which the first and second threaded fasteners are fastened to the threaded upper longitudinal ends of the respective first and second bushings. 
     The threaded upper end of the first bushing may define a threaded interior of the first bushing, and the first threaded fastener may comprise a bolt. 
     The piano tuning retention system may comprise first and second washers. Each of the first and second engagement regions of the bridge may be configured to be sandwiched between the respective fastener and the inward radial extension of the respective sleeve with a respective one of the first and second washers disposed between the fastener and the engagement region. 
     The piano tuning retention system may comprise a third bushing having a threaded upper longitudinal end and a lower longitudinal end that defines a polygonal interior for mating with a polygonal end of a respective one of the piano tuning pins, a third threaded fastener having threads corresponding to the threaded upper longitudinal end of a respective one of the bushings, and a third sleeve with an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of a respective one of the bushings. The third sleeve may have an upper longitudinal end with an inward radial extension that defines a reduced inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the respective bushing and a lower longitudinal end that defines a catch extending in a circumferential direction of the third sleeve. The bridge may define a third engagement region configured to be sandwiched between the third threaded fastener and the inward radial extension of the third sleeve with the third bushing disposed within the third sleeve and the third threaded fastener fastened to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the third bushing. In each of the first, second, and third sleeves, the catch may comprise a notch extending in a circumferential direction of the sleeve that is opposite a rotational direction in which the respective threaded fastener is fastened to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the respective bushing. The first, second, and third engagement regions of the bridge may be offset from each other to define three parallel planes. The piano tuning retention system may comprise first, second, and third washers. Each of the first, second, and third engagement regions of the bridge may be configured to be sandwiched between the respective fastener and the inward radial extension of the respective sleeve with a respective one of the first, second, and third washers disposed between the fastener and the engagement region. 
     Another aspect of the embodiments of the disclosure is a method of installing a piano tuning retention system in a piano. The method may comprise fitting a lower longitudinal end of a first bushing onto a polygonal end of a first piano tuning pin of the piano, placing a first sleeve over the first bushing, fitting a lower longitudinal end of a second bushing onto a polygonal end of a second piano tuning pin of the piano, and placing a second sleeve over the second bushing. The lower longitudinal end of the first bushing may define a polygonal interior for mating with the polygonal end of the first piano tuning pin, and the lower longitudinal end of the second bushing may define a polygonal interior for mating with the polygonal end of the second piano tuning pin. The first sleeve may have an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the first bushing and may have an upper longitudinal end with an inward radial extension that defines a reduced inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the first bushing. The second sleeve may have an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the second bushing and may have an upper longitudinal end with an inward radial extension that defines a reduced inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the second bushing. The method may further comprise placing a bridge on the upper longitudinal ends of the first and second sleeves and screwing a first threaded fastener to a threaded upper longitudinal end of the first bushing with the bridge and the inward radial extension of the first sleeve therebetween, the direction of screwing causing a circumferentially extending catch defined by a lower longitudinal end of the first sleeve to engage with a piano string held by the first piano tuning pin. The method may further comprise screwing a second threaded fastener to a threaded upper longitudinal end of the second bushing with the bridge and the inward radial extension of the second sleeve therebetween, the direction of screwing causing a circumferentially extending catch defined by a lower longitudinal end of the second sleeve to engage with a piano string held by the second piano tuning pin. 
     The method may further comprise fitting a lower longitudinal end of a third bushing onto a polygonal end of a third piano tuning pin of the piano and placing a third sleeve over the third bushing. The lower longitudinal end of the third bushing may define a polygonal interior for mating with the polygonal end of the third piano tuning pin. The third sleeve may have an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the third bushing and may have an upper longitudinal end with an inward radial extension that defines a reduced inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the third bushing. The placing of the bridge on the upper longitudinal ends of the first and second sleeves may further comprise placing the bridge on the upper longitudinal end of the third sleeve. The method may comprise screwing a third threaded fastener to a threaded upper longitudinal end of the third bushing with the bridge and the inward radial extension of the third sleeve therebetween, the direction of screwing causing a circumferentially extending catch defined by a lower longitudinal end of the third sleeve to engage with a piano string held by the third piano tuning pin. 
     Another aspect of the embodiments of the disclosure is a piano tuning retention system for impeding rotation of a plurality of piano tuning pins of a piano. The system may comprise a bridge that spans the plurality of piano tuning pins, a first assembly for engagement with a first piano tuning pin of the plurality of piano tuning pins, and a second assembly for engagement with a second piano tuning pin of the plurality of piano tuning pins. The first assembly may include a first bushing fitted on the first piano tuning pin and a first sleeve placed over the first bushing. The first bushing may have a threaded upper longitudinal end and a lower longitudinal end that defines a polygonal interior for mating with a polygonal end of the first piano tuning pin. The first sleeve may have an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the first bushing and may have an upper longitudinal end with an inward radial extension that defines a reduced inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the first bushing. The first sleeve may have a lower longitudinal end that defines a catch extending in a circumferential direction of the first sleeve for engagement with a piano string held by the first piano tuning pin. The first assembly may further include a first threaded fastener screwed to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the first bushing with the bridge and the inward radial extension of the first sleeve therebetween. The second assembly may include a second bushing fitted on the second piano tuning pin and a second sleeve placed over the second bushing. The second bushing may have a threaded upper longitudinal end and a lower longitudinal end that defines a polygonal interior for mating with a polygonal end of the second piano tuning pin. The second sleeve may have an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the second bushing and may have an upper longitudinal end with an inward radial extension that defines a reduced inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the second bushing. The second sleeve may have a lower longitudinal end that defines a catch extending in a circumferential direction of the second sleeve for engagement with a piano string held by the second piano tuning pin. The second assembly may further include a second threaded fastener screwed to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the second bushing with the bridge and the inward radial extension of the second sleeve therebetween. 
     In each of the first and second sleeves, the catch may comprise a notch extending in a circumferential direction of the sleeve that is opposite a rotational direction in which the respective threaded fastener is screwed to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the respective bushing. 
     A portion of the bridge that is between the first threaded fastener and the first bushing may define a first plane that is parallel to and offset from a second plane defined by a portion of the bridge that is between the second threaded fastener and the second bushing. 
     The first assembly may include a first washer between the first threaded fastener and the bridge, and the second assembly may include a second washer between the second threaded fastener and the bridge. 
     The piano tuning retention system may comprise a third assembly for engagement with a third piano tuning pin of the plurality of piano tuning pins. The third assembly may include a third bushing fitted on the third piano tuning pin and a third sleeve placed over the third bushing. The third bushing may have a threaded upper longitudinal end and a lower longitudinal end that defines a polygonal interior for mating with a polygonal end of the third piano tuning pin. The third sleeve may have an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the third bushing and may have an upper longitudinal end with an inward radial extension that defines a reduced inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the third bushing. The third sleeve may have having a lower longitudinal end that defines a catch extending in a circumferential direction of the third sleeve for engagement with a piano string held by the third piano tuning pin. The third assembly may further include a third threaded fastener screwed to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the third bushing with the bridge and the inward radial extension of the third sleeve therebetween. 
     The catch of the third sleeve may comprise a notch extending in a circumferential direction of the third sleeve that is opposite a rotational direction in which the third threaded fastener is screwed to the threaded upper longitudinal end of the third bushing. 
     A portion of the bridge that is between the third threaded fastener and the third bushing may define a third plane that is parallel to and offset from the first and second planes. 
     The first assembly may include a first washer between the first threaded fastener and the bridge, the second assembly may include a second washer between the second threaded fastener and the bridge, and the third assembly may include a third washer between the third threaded fastener and the bridge. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a piano tuning retention system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the piano tuning retention system; 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded cross-sectional view thereof; and 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the piano tuning retention system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure encompasses various embodiments of piano tuning retention systems and methods of installation thereof. The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of several currently contemplated embodiments and is not intended to represent the only form in which the disclosed innovations may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and features in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second and the like are used solely to distinguish one from another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a piano tuning retention system  10  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The piano tuning retention system  10  may include a plurality of assemblies  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  as shown, each of which engages with a respective tuning pin  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  from among a plurality of tuning pins driven into a pin bock  40  of a piano. The tuning pins  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  may be conventional tuning pins and may be the original tuning pins of the piano, for example. As such, the piano may be retrofitted with the piano tuning retention system  10  without having to replace any tuning pins or the pin block  40  with specialized hardware. The assemblies  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  may simply fit over the existing tuning pins  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c , fixedly engaging with polygonal ends  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  thereof while being held in place by the piano strings  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  as described in more detail below. A bridge  200  spanning the plurality of tuning pins  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c  may engage with each of the assemblies  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  to impede rotation of any one of the tuning pins  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c . By preventing unwanted rotation of the tuning pins  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c , the piano tuning retention system  10  may thus help to keep the piano in tune. When tuning is desired (e.g. due to changes in temperature and humidity), the piano tuning retention system  10  may easily be removed to allow access to the tuning pins  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c . After the tuning procedure is complete, the piano tuning retention system  10  may then be reinstalled to maintain the new tuning of the piano. 
       FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the piano tuning retention system  10 , including a single assembly  100  and the bridge  200 , together with a single tuning pin  20 .  FIG.  3    is an exploded cross-sectional view thereof. The assembly  100  shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3    may be any of the assemblies  100   a ,  100   b ,  100   c  of  FIG.  1   , for example, with the associated tuning pin  20  being the corresponding tuning pin  20   a ,  20   b ,  20   c . As shown, the tuning pin  20  may terminate in an exposed polygonal end  22  having a cross-section that is a square or other polygon. In this regard, the tuning pin  20  may be shaped for engagement with a conventional tuning lever or wrench, for example. Also depicted is a passage  24  for threading of a piano string  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  (see  FIG.  1   ), which may typically be wrapped around the tuning pin  20  by the rotation of the tuning pin  20  after being threaded therethrough so as to be securely held at the desired tension. The tuning pin  20  may further include threads  26  for driving the tuning pin  20  into the pin block  40  (see  FIG.  1   ). 
     The assembly  100  may include a bushing  110  having a lower longitudinal end  112  that defines a polygonal interior  113  for mating with the polygonal end  22  of the piano tuning pin  20 . For a tuning pin  20  whose polygonal end  22  has a square cross-section, for example, the polygonal interior  113  defined by the lower longitudinal end  112  of the bushing  110  may be square. In the case of a tuning pin  20  whose polygonal end  22  is tapered, the polygonal interior  113  of the bushing  110  may include a matching taper or may have no taper but simply be wide enough to accommodate the tapered polygonal end  22 . Owing to the polygonal interior  113  of the bushing  110 , the bushing  110  may be fixedly engaged with the tuning pin  20  so as to rotate together with the rotation of the tuning pin  20 . By the same token, the bushing  110  may prevent any rotation of the tuning pin  20  separate from rotation of the bushing  110 . 
     The bushing  110  may further have a threaded upper longitudinal end  114 . The threaded upper longitudinal end  114  may have interior threads  115 , for example, though exterior threads (i.e. on the outer circumference of the bushing  110 ) are also contemplated. The assembly  100  may include a threaded fastener  130  (e.g. a bolt) having threads  132  corresponding to the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110 . In the illustrated example, the threaded fastener  130  is a bolt having external threads  132  such that it may be screwed into the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110 . In a case where the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110  has exterior threads, it is contemplated that the threaded fastener  130  may instead be a cap with interior threads, the cap being configured to fit over the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110  (which may have a reduced diameter relative to the rest of the bushing  110 ) and to be screwed thereto. 
     Before screwing the threaded fastener  130  to the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110 , a sleeve  120  may be placed over the first bushing  110 . The sleeve  120  may be used to hold the assembly  100  onto the tuning pin  20  as described in more detail below. In order that it may fit over the bushing  110 , the sleeve  120  may have an inner diameter D S1  that is greater than an outer diameter D B  of the bushing  110 . At the same time, the bushing  110  may be confined to the sleeve  120  by virtue of an inward radial extension  123  of the sleeve  120  at an upper longitudinal end  122  thereof. The inward radial extension  123  may define a reduced diameter D S2  that is less than the outer diameter D B  of the bushing  110 , while still permitting engagement between the threaded fastener  130  and the upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110 . As illustrated, for example, the external threads  132  of the bolt  130  may pass through the upper longitudinal end  122  of the sleeve  120  to engage with the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110 . 
     In order to hold the assembly  100  onto the tuning pin  20  (which may be particularly important in the case of an upright piano having horizontally oriented tuning pins  20 , for example), the sleeve  130  may have a lower longitudinal end  124  that defines a catch such as a protruding lip or a notch  125  extending in a circumferential direction of the sleeve  120 . For example, the notch  125  may be a v-shaped cut as shown, beginning from the lower longitudinal end  124  of the sleeve  120  and extending upward at an angle relative to the lower longitudinal end  124  in a direction having a component in the circumferential direction of the sleeve  120 . By virtue of extending in the circumferential direction in this way, the notch  125  may be oriented to engage with the corresponding string  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  held by the tuning pin  20  (see  FIG.  1   ) as the sleeve  120  is rotated. Once the lip or notch  125  is engaged with the corresponding string  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  (referred to generally as string  30 ), the string  30  serves to hold the sleeve  120  down (i.e. toward the pin block  40 ) because the lower part of the sleeve  120  protrudes underneath the string  30  by virtue of the shape of the lip or notch  125 . 
     The bridge  200  may be a rigid piece of material such as a loop or sheet of metal or composite material that spans the plurality of tuning pins  20 , extending from one assembly  100  to the next (see  FIG.  1   ). As shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the bridge  200  may define an engagement region  210  configured to be sandwiched between the threaded fastener  130  and the inward radial extension  123  of the sleeve  120 . In particular, the engagement region  210  of the bridge  200  may be sandwiched between the threaded fastener  130  and the inward radial extension  123  of the sleeve  120  with the bushing  110  disposed within the sleeve  120  and the threaded fastener  130  fastened to the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110 . In this way, the bridge  200  may be fixed to the assembly  100 , which may be held onto the tuning pin  20  by the engagement of the lip or notch  125  with the string  30 . One or more washers  140 , such as a lock washer, a flat washer, or both, may be disposed between the threaded fastener  130  and the engagement region  210  of the bridge  200  in order to provide a surface for distributing the load of the threaded fastener  130  and/or to help prevent loosening of the threaded fastener  130 . As described in more detail in relation to  FIG.  4   , below, the bridge  200  may have other engagement regions  210  that are likewise fixed to other assemblies  100 , with the rigidity of the bridge  200  thus preventing rotation of any of the assemblies  100  (and consequently preventing rotation of any of the tuning pins  20 ). 
     The bridge may define one or more openings  220  through which the threaded fasteners  130  are fastened to the threaded upper longitudinal ends  114  of the respective bushings  110 . For example, if the bridge  200  is shaped as a loop as shown, the interior of the loop may define a single opening  220  and each engagement region  210  may consist of two opposing sides of the loop as in the case of the assembly  100   b  (see  FIG.  1   ) or an end of the loop as in the case of the assembly  100   a . If the bridge  200  is a sheet of metal rather than a loop, each engagement region  200  may be a region of the sheet in which a respective opening is formed through which the threaded fastener  130  can engage with the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110 . As another possibility, the bridge  200  may simply be a rigid length of metal or other material that passes only one side of each threaded fastener  130  as it spans the plurality of assemblies  100 , like the illustrated loop-shaped bridge  200  but consisting of only a single side of the loop. In this case, there may be no openings, and the engagement regions  210  may simply be segments of the length of material constituting the bridge  200 . 
       FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the piano tuning retention system  10 . As shown, each of the engagement regions  210  (e.g.  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c ) of the bridge  200  may be a region of the bridge  200  that has a straight profile in order to allow the bridge  200  to be easily sandwiched between the threaded fasteners  130  and the sleeves  120 . The same may be true regardless of the form of the engagement regions  210 , whether the bridge  200  is a loop or some other shape. Between the engagement regions  210 , the bridge  200  may be angled, such that the straight engagement regions  210  may be offset from each other to define parallel planes, forming a series of steps along the length of the bridge  200 . In this way, the bridge  200  may accommodate assemblies  100  installed on a series of tuning pins  20  that are driven into the pin block  40  at an angle. A piano may have angled tuning pins  20  in order to better maintain tension on the strings  30 , for example. It is contemplated that the same piano tuning system  10  may be used on many different pianos and may include a variety of different bridges  200  for compatibility with differently angled tuning pins  20 . Alternatively, a single bridge  200  may be provided with adjustable (e.g. hinged) segments between each engagement region  210 . 
     To install the piano tuning retention system  10  in a piano, a person may first fit the lower longitudinal end  112  of a first bushing  110  onto the polygonal end  22  of a first tuning pin  20 . As noted above, the lower longitudinal end  112  of the bushing  110  may define a polygonal interior  113  for mating with the polygonal end  22  of the tuning pin  20  to prevent separate movement thereof. The person may then place a first sleeve  120  over the first bushing  110 . The person may similarly place bushings  110  and sleeves  120  on one or more additional tuning pins  20 . Once the bushings  110  and sleeves  120  are on each of the tuning pins  20  that are to be connected together by the piano tuning retention system  10  (typically two or three tuning pins  20 ), the person may place the bridge  200  on the upper longitudinal ends  123  of the sleeves  120 . The bridge  200  may be placed on the sleeves  120  so that the engagement regions  210  of the bridge  200  align with the upper longitudinal ends  123  of the sleeves  120 . Lastly, the person may screw a threaded fastener  130  (along with possibly one or more washers  140 ) to the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of each bushing  110  with the bridge  200  and the inward radial extension  123  of the corresponding sleeve  120  therebetween. Engagement between the threaded fastener  130  and the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  may be via an opening  220  in the engagement region  210  of the bridge  200 , for example. 
     As the person screws each threaded fastener  130  to the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the respective bushing  110 , the direction of tightening may cause a circumferentially extending notch  125  (see  FIGS.  1 - 3   ) defined in the lower longitudinal end  124  of the corresponding sleeve  120  to engage with the piano string  30  held by the corresponding tuning pin  20 . In this regard, the notch  125  may extend in a circumferential direction of the sleeve  120  that is opposite a rotational direction in which the threaded fastener  130  is fastened to the threaded upper longitudinal end  114  of the bushing  110 . For example, for a clockwise tightening threaded fastener  130 , the notch  125  may be cut into the sleeve  120  in a counterclockwise direction (e.g. with the point of a v-shaped notch  125  pointing in a direction having a counterclockwise circumferential component), such that the notch  125  “catches” the string  30  as the sleeve  120  is rotated clockwise. If a protruding lip, rather than the notch  125 , is used as the catch, the lip may protrude in the clockwise direction for substantially the same effect. Thereafter, as the person continues to tighten the threaded fastener  130  to the bushing  110 , the relative movement of the threads  132 ,  115  causes the bushing  110  to move upward toward the threaded fastener  130  and abut the inward radial extension  123  of the sleeve  120  from within, pressing the inward radial extension  123  upward against the bridge  200  (see, e.g., threads  132   a ,  115   a  and inward radial extension  123   a  in  FIG.  4   ). In this way, the bridge  200  may be sandwiched between the threaded fastener  130  and the inward radial extension  123  of the sleeve  120  by the tightening of the threaded fastener  130 , while at the same time the sleeve  120  may keep the entire assembly  100  on the tuning pin  20  by virtue of the string  30  being caught by the lip or notch  125  (see  FIGS.  1  and  2   ). 
     To remove the piano tuning retention system  10 , the person may simply unscrew the threaded fasteners  130 , after which the threaded fasteners  130 , washers  140 , and bridge  200  can be removed. Once the threaded fasteners  130  are loosened, the inward radial extension  123  of the sleeve  120  is no longer sandwiched tightly between the bushing  110  and the bridge  200 , allowing the sleeve  120  to rotate freely. A slight counterclockwise rotation of the sleeve  120  will free the string  30  from the catch (lip or notch  125 ), allowing the sleeve  120  to be removed, after which the bushing  110  is free to be removed as well. 
     In the illustrated example of the piano tuning retention system  10 , three assemblies  100  are placed respectively on three tuning pins  20  and are connected by a single bridge  200 . The three strings  30  held by these tuning pins  20  may, for example, be the three strings corresponding to a single key in the upper register of a piano (i.e. the three strings that are simultaneously struck by the same hammer when the key is played). In the case of the middle register of the piano, where there are only two strings  30  corresponding to each key, the piano tuning retention system  10  may be employed with only two assemblies  100 , one for each of the two tuning pins  20 . The construction of the bridge  200  may be the same in this case, but with only two out of the three engagement regions  210  being used and the third left unused, or alternatively a bridge  200  with only two engagement regions  210  may be used. As another example, whether in the case of connecting two assemblies  100 , three assemblies  100 , or more, the connected assemblies  100  may be placed on tuning pins  20  corresponding to different keys of the piano, rather than the same key. For example, the bridge  200  may span two or more tuning pins  20  corresponding to consecutive (or non-consecutive) keys on the piano. This may be the only possibility in the lower register of the piano, where there is only a single string  30  corresponding to each key. For example, a first row of one or more piano tuning retention systems  10  may extend from the lowest string  30  of the piano to the highest, connecting the tuning pins  20  of the lower register keys, a first set of tuning pins  20  of the middle register keys, and a first set of tuning pins  20  of the upper register keys. Parallel to the first row, a second row of one or more piano tuning retention systems  10  may begin at the middle register and connect the remainder of the tuning pins  20  of the middle register keys and a second set of tuning pins  20  of the upper register keys. Lastly, parallel to the first and second rows, a third row of one or more piano tuning retention systems  10  may begin at the upper register and connect the remainder of the tuning pins  20  of the upper register keys. In each such row, it is contemplated that any number of adjacent tuning pins  20  may be connected by the same bridge  200 . 
     Depending on the particular piano and the desired installation, the above-described angling of the bridge  200  between the engagement regions  210  may be unneeded. For example, in the case of assemblies  100  that are placed on tuning pins  20  corresponding to different keys of the piano (e.g. connecting a series of tuning pins  20  in the lower register of the piano), the bridge  200  may be flat (i.e. without any angle or contour producing steps along its length) since the tuning pins  20  may all be aligned height-wise. The bridge  200  may still of course be installed at an angle relative to the pin block  40  to accommodate any angle at which the tuning pins  20  are driven into the pin block  40 . In general, the shape, size and contouring of the bridge  200  may be designed to conform to the number of pins  20  in a retention grouping and the orientation of the pins  20  in that grouping. For instance, the system  10  may provide an installer or tuner with the flexibility to use any of the following bridge configurations: 1) flat on the x-y plane, parallel sides, oval ends, non-bent on the x-y plane, 2) flat on the x-y plane, parallel sides, oval ends, bent to any angle on the x-y plane, 3) contoured relative to the x-y plane, parallel sides, oval ends, non-bent on the x-y plane, 4) contoured relative to the x-y plane, parallel sides, oval ends, bent to any angle on the x-y plane, or others. In theory, by overlapping and piggy-backing a combination of flat, uncontoured bridges and contoured bridges, either bent or non-bent, a tuner or installer could stabilize any grouping of pins  20  using virtually an unlimited number of configurations. In addition to being flat or contoured/angled, bridges  200  can have different shapes and can be fabricated from hollowed out oval parallels for easier and more universal installation or made from blanks of various metals, materials or composites that are shaped, contoured and drilled with precision holes for precision installation to accommodate any specific orientation and arrangement of pins  20 . 
     As noted above, the bridge  200  may be a rigid piece of material such as a loop or sheet of metal or composite material. The other components of the piano tuning retention system  10 , including the bushing  110  and sleeve  120  of each assembly  100 , for example, may likewise be made of metal, such as brass or stainless steel, or a composite material. It is contemplated, however, that other materials such as felt, silicone, and/or rubber, which may have less rigidity, could be incorporated at various positions in the assembly  100  in order to mitigate sound from unwanted vibrations or scratching of the piano metal or paint. For example, a damper bushing may be incorporated at the bottom of the bushing  110  or sleeve  120  at the position of the notch  125  (or on the lip) in order to prevent vibration of brass or other metal against the piano string  30 . 
     Throughout the above description, when the terms upper, lower, upward, down, etc. are used in relation to directions in the drawings, it should be borne in mind that the pin block  40  is not necessarily oriented horizontally with the tuning pins  20  protruding upward counter to the direction of gravity. For example, in the case of an upright piano, the pin block  40  may be oriented vertically with the tuning pins  20  protruding sideways relative to the direction of gravity. Therefore, in the context of describing the components of the piano tuning retention system  10 , such directional terms are used to describe directions relative to the pin block  40 , with upper and upward referring to a direction away from the pin block  40  and lower and down referring to a direction toward the pin block  40 . In other contexts, the terms may of course have other meanings as will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art (e.g. upper and lower register referring to pitch frequency). 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.