An Improved Appliance for Turning Over the Leaves of Music.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Turning Over the Leaves of Music.
I, ALBERT RUDDOCK, 5, Ladymead, Bath, Seed Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to produce an appliance for turning over the leaves
of music which can be operated by the performer on the instrument. The apparatus
consists essentially of a suitable frame for supporting the music and having a ledge
along its lower edge. Just below this edge and in the centre of the lower edge I
provide as many spring joints (one over the other) as there are leaves to be turned
over. To each .spring joint is attached a lever: these spring levers are parallel to
each other and each is somewhat greater in length than the one immediately above
A tubular socket
it and has a downward tending projection near its outer end.
pointing upwards is also provided at the outer ends each to carry a rod which is to
go between the leaves of music. A rod is also provided in the centre to retain the
piece of music in the middle fold. Below the ends of the levers are as many tappet
levers as there are spring levers, the tappet levers being hinged to the frame and
capable of being turned down, hy pressing a finger disc at the end.
Each tappet lever has a projection at its side, so arranged that when they are
turned upwards on their hinges and the appliance set for use, they will come in
front of the downward tending projections on the spring levers and as it is intended
that when the spring levers are brought over to the tappet side of the frame and
kept in place by the projections on the tappet levers, the spring joints shall be in
tension, it follows that on pressing down the tappets in succession the levers will
one after the other spring back to the opposite end of the frame and carry with
them the leaves of music.
The springs for returning the levers may be of any kind, but I prefer them to be
arranged as follows:-To the end of each spring lever at the centre of the frame, I
attach a flat circular box through the centre of which passes a spindle on which the
box and consequently the lever, turns. I attach one end of a (preferably) flat
spring to the inside of the box and the other end to the spindle, the spring being
so arranged that when the lever is brought over to the tappet side of the frame, the
spring is put in tension and on the tappet end being released the spring returns to
its normal position.
In order to more clearly show my invention I make reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings in which Fig. 1. is a front view of my appliance and Fig. 2. a
diagram of a lever and its spring box. Similar letters refer to the same parts.
a is the frame for supporting the music, the spring lever having at one end the
spring-box e which turns round the central spindle d. e is the spring attached to c at f
the other end being attached to d. (The dotted lines show the position of the
spring when the lever has been turned from one side to the other.) g are the
downward tending projections on b. h are the tappet levers having the finger
dises i, and the projections ; to retain g until released by pressing down the
tappets. is a rod to go between the fold in the music, rods to be put between
the leaves of music. m sliding stop for setting the end tappet at the right
height the height of each of the other tappets being adjusted by bringing the
projections m in contact with the under-side of their immediately adjoining levers h.
The tappet levers are held in position before they are depressed, by the pressure of
the projections g against the projections j, this pressure resulting from the spring e

page_text: being in tension and endeavoring to return the levers 6 from the tappet side of the
apparatus to the opposite side. n, a plate holding the levers on to the frame.
A piece of rubber or other substance may also be provided for the ends of the
levers to strike against as they spring back.
In use, all the levers 6 are turned to the right and kept in position by the
tappet levers, the rod k being put in between the fold, and the rods between
the leaves of the music. Then on pressing down the tappet levers in succession
the levers 6 will turn over from right to left and carry the leaves with them.
The invention being capable of variation without departing from the spirit of it,
-1 do not restrict myself to the precise configuration, relative proportions and
dispositions or number of parts as shown in the drawing or described in the
specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An appliance for turning over the leaves of music and consisting essentially
of a number of horizontal levers having projecting rods at their ends, for insertion
between the leaves of music, the said levers being released in succession by tappets
whereupon they are carried over (together with the leaves of music) from one side
to the other by spring joints at the opposite ends of the levers, the whole substan-
tially as described in the above specification and exemplified in the accompanying
drawing.
2. An appliance for turning over the leaves of music, provided for and operating
substantially as described in the above specification and exemplified in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of June 1896.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.