Patent ID: 7723597

Claim:
In an electronic keyboard musical instrument combination comprising: a. a base structure, b. a plurality of planar, longitudinally extending keys mounted on said base structure with each key adapted to enable downward depression and backward and forward displacement of the same, said keys being disposed in two ranks whose playing surfaces overlap when keys of either rank are substantially displaced in the direction of their longitudinal axes, c. each key in said plurality having an at-rest position and an active position away from said at-rest position and associated means for limiting key motion when said key is depressed or displaced, d. each key in said plurality having a first resilient support means fixedly secured at one of its ends to the end of said key distal the player and perpendicularly below to said base structure, the foregoing opposing key displacement, and a second resilient support means under said key opposing key depression, e. each key in said plurality having means for establishing a first extent of separation between said key and said second resilient support means when said key is centered in its longitudinal axis and at least a second extent of separation between said key and said second resilient support means when said key is displaced from center in its longitudinal axis, f. each key in said plurality having associated sensing means responsive to key depression and to key displacement to produce signals corresponding thereto for application to electronic digital signal processor means, g. electronic digital signal processor means for receiving said signals in order to produce musical control information corresponding to the signals from said sensing means, an improvement comprising h. in combination, a section of said key and means for constraining said section such that only a single line of contact is established between them when said key is subjected to lateral forces, whereby a player may more facilely and broadly manipulate said keys for musical expression.