An Improved Device to be used for Actuating the Pedals of a Piano, or similar Musical Instrument.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device to be used for Actuating the Pedals of a
Piano, or similar Musical Instrument.
I, ERNST SEILER, of Pforzheim, in the German Empire, Teacher of the pianoforte,
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:-
To use the pedals of pianos and other similar musical instruments in a manner
proper for attaining the best result that is to say depress and release the pedals at the
correct moment, it is necessary that the heel of the foot rests on a firm base or
support and that the depression of the pedals is effected by the toes only. Children
and small persons in general are not able to so use the pedals of the present form
when seated.
Small persons and especially children when playing the piano do not reach the
ground with their heels and have to effect the depression of the pedals by stretching
their legs. It even happens that the player has to move on the seat forward to reach
the pedals with the feet at all and thus strikes an attitude unfavourable for good and
untiring play. As a result hereof the pedals are depressed and released too late
and improperly for the correct and required use of the pedals.
The object of the present invention is to provide means to enable any person to
keep the proper position or attitude when playing the piano and simultaneously to
permit the correct use of the pedals. In the usual course a pupil is made to perform
pedal exercise only after his feet are able to reach the pedals, which causes the
disadvantage of dividing his thoughts, as he has to read the notes and pay attention
to the use of the pedals simultaneously and makes it difficult for him to play. The
improved auxiliary device to be used for actuating the pedals of a piano or similar
musical instrument, forming the subject of the present invention, obviates all these
drawbacks completely and permits pedal exercise from the beginning of the lessons,
thus enabling the player to become familar with same simultaneously as he advances
in play.
The improved device is represented in the annexed drawings, in which
Figure 1 illustrates an elevation on line e-f of Figure 2 and
Figure 2 shows a plan, on the line a, b, c, d, of Figure 1.
xx are the ordinary pianoforte pedals. In a casing, harmonising in its external
shape and ornamentation with the piano or similar musical instrument it is to be
used with, is situated a lever (o) movable by means of hinge (71). A second lever (p)
is arranged and connected to the lever (o) below the fulcrum of the latter by means
of a hinge (r). The free extremity of the lever (p) rests on the pedal (x). An
adjusting screw (8) serves for fixing the angle of the two levers (0) and (p). To permit
or facilitate the adjustment of the angle of the two levers, nuts (9) and (u) are
arranged in vertical slots in the levers (o) and (p) respectively in such
a manner that it may turn to a certain degree around its horizonial
axle. A pair of screws (t) penetrate the levers (0) and (p) respectively,

page_text: horizontally, so that their inner ends project into the slot and serve
as pivots for permitting the nuts (q) and (u) to turn on same. The ends of the
screws may be pointed or otherwise formed for the purpose. The nut (9)
pivotally mounted in the lever (o), is provided with a smooth bore and the upper end
of the screw (s) is shaped correspondingly thus allowing it to turn freely in said
bore. A collar or the like is formed on the screw (s) of larger diameter than the
diameter of the bore, so that the lower surface of the nut (g) around the bore will bear
against it. A screw with a head larger than the bore in the nut (q),-which enters
the top end of the screw (s) may serve for the same purpose, the head of the small
screw resting in this case on the top surface of the nut (q) around the bore. By
turning the screw (s) to the left (supposing it is provided, with a right-hand screw-
thread) the two levers (o) and (p) will be caused to approach each other, or, the
lever (p) resting on the pianoforte pedal, the lever (o) and with it the screw (i)
will descend. The screw (i) provided with a large head (w) is adjustable in
height on the lever (o) a bore in which, screw threaded accordingly, it enters or
penetrates respectively. An aperture is provided in the cover of the casing for the
screw (i) which permits the free passage of the latter. A slot (y) of sufficient size to
permit the free passage of the lower end of the screw (i) is provided in the lever (p)
should it be required to fix the head (w) of the screw (i) in a very low position.
The whole device rests suitably on four screws (m² m² m³) and (m). the heads of
which are coated or covered with felt or other noise-preventing material. These
screws serve for varying the height of the device. The multi-adjustability of the
improved device on the one hand permits the pedals to be actuated by children and
small persons in general and on the other hand it is required as the distance of the
pianoforte pedals from the floor varies. To enable easy and comfortable transport-
ability of the device a knob (g) is attached in the centre of the cover (h). To protect
the polished surface of the piano or other musical instrument an upright wall (k) is
provided.
The player adjusts the device by means of the screws (m³, m², m³, m³), (s) and (i)
in such a manner that his heels comfortably rest on the cover (h) and the toes on the
head (w) when he is seated. When once adjusted the device will be fit for the next
use, without requiring readjustment.
For actuating the pedals ( x) of the pianoforte it is only necessary to slightly
depress the head (w) by means of the toes, which causes the lever (o) to be depressed
and to transmit its motion to the lever (p); the latter in its turn depressing the
pedal (x).
It is obvious that the casing contains a pair of levers (o p) with adjustable screws
and (i) for each of the two pedals of a piano.
The improved device enables any player to properly use the pedals provided he is
correctly seated. All those parts of the device that are likely to cause noise in their
transport or action may be provided with noise-preventing agents such as rubber or
felt coatings or the like. The back of the device and the upright wall are also
suitably coated with a layer of felt.
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 improved device for the purpose of facilitating the use of the pedals of a
piano or similar musical instrument by small persons, comprising a casing resting on
adjustable screws, within which two pairs of levers (o p) are mounted and adjustably
fixed in respect to each other, in such a manner that the lower one (1) rests with its
free end on a pedal, whereas the upper one (o) supports an adjustable screw (i)
provided with a large head (w), which screw (i) enables the head (w) to be fixed in
such a position that it may easily be depressed by the toes, while the heel rests
comfortably on the cover (h) of the device, substantially as set forth.
2) In combination with the improved device for facilitating the use of the pedals
of a piano or similar musical instrument as referred to in the first claim a screw (8)

page_text: for adjusting the angle of the two levers (o p) which passes through a nut (u) screw-
threaded correspondingly and mounted horizontally movable on pivots in a slot in the
lever (p) and engages with its smooth upper end a smooth bore in a likewise
horizontally movable nut (7) in the lever (o) substantially as set forth.
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.