US480296A - stukes - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet; 1. J. M. STU'KES. ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS 0R ORGANS.-

No. 480,296. Patented Aug. 9,1892.

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(No Model.) 'lShaets-Sheet Q. J. M. STUK ES.

ATTACHMENT POR PLANOS 0R ORGANS. No. 480,296. Patented Aug. 9, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN M. STUKES, OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS.

ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS OR ORGANSx SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,296, dated August 9, 1892.

Application tiled April 25, 1892. Serial No. 430.537. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. STUKES, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Marcos, in the county of Hays and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Pianos or Organs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings represents a top plan View of my improved attachment for pianos or organs. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of Fig. l, taken on line 2 2, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, an under side plan view; Fig'. 4, a detail side elevation, on an enlarged scale, showing more clearly the indicator-plate; Fig. 5, a vertical transverse section taken on line 5 5 of Figs. l, 2, and 3; Fig. 6, a vertical transverse section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. l; Fig. 7, a detail view showing a portion of the under side of the keyboard; Fig. 8, a detail view in perspective of one of the pressure-arms.

The present invention has for its object to provide an attachment that can be used on pianos or organs, whereby the manipulation of the keys is greatly facilitated and playing upon the instrument greatly simplified, and the attachment is especially designed for those who do not to any great extent understand music orbeginners who find it diflicult to make the several chords in any particular key, the device being capable of ready attachment to the keyboard of any piano or organ and removed when not required for use.

The several objects I attain by the construction substantially as shown in the drawings, and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a rectangular frame of any suitable material, but preferably of wood, and has connected to its under side a number of spacingblocks B, which are supported by guide-pins a, said blocks, as will be seen, extending transversely of the frame. The pins o are of sufficient length to admit of a vertical movement of the blocks B, the ends of said blocks having a thin extension l), through which the pins pass. The under side of the blocks B are covered with felt or some other soft material and are so arranged relative to the black keys on the keyboard of the instrument that when the attachment is placed in position the blocks will come between the black keys and fill up the spaces so as to level the keyboard.

To the front side of the frame Ais suitably connected an indicator-plate C, having` thereon the liats, Sharps, and naturals, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The keyboard D is of suoli size and length that it will 'freely slide within the frame A and is supported by the projecting edges of the top c of said keyboard; or, if preferred, flanges upon the sides of the keyboard may be used, or any desirable means may be employed that will support the keyboard within the frame and admit of its sliding therein to change the position of said keyboard when required. The single keys, both white and black, are pressed down by a series of supplemental keys (shown at E) which are carried by the keyboard D, while the series of keys of the piano or organ necessary to form a chord are manipulated by the two sets of keys F G, one set being used for the bass chords, as at F, and the other set, as shown at G, being used for the treble chords. The pushkeys E, which are arranged in a direct line lengthwise of the keyboard D, are designed to govern both the white and black keys of the piano or organ and are in number to correspond with one, two, or more octaves; butin the present instance I have shown a sufcient number to correspond with four and one-third octaves. These keys may be of any suitable construction and of any preferred material and have felt upon their lower ends and are retained in their normal position when pressure is removed therefrom by a suitable spring d, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, or by any other preferred and well-known means found best adapted to the purpose. The push-keys represented by the two sets F and G are, as previously stated, to govern the several keys of the piano or organ which are to form the bass and treble chords, respectively, and are connected to pressure-arms H. (Shown in detail, Fig. 8.) The arms have push-pins e sufficient in number to form the chord desired, the pins operating the keys of the piano or organ by pressing directly thereon or through the medium of the space-blocks B, according to the IOO key the attachment is set to. The pressurearms H are retained in their normal position when pressure is removed from the push-keys, to which they are connected, by means of springsfat one end thereof, while at the opposite end the arm is pivoted at g to the keyboard D. The keyboard D is provided with a hinged locking-lever I to engage with the notches 7L on t-he indicator-plate C to hold the keyboard in its adjusted position Within the f rameA. Each notch inthe indicator-plate represents a certain key, eitherof naturals, Sharps, or flats, and when the keyboard is slid along the frame t0 bring the locking-lever to the notch representing the key desired to play in said lever is thrown down in position to engage the notch, which will hold the keyboard stationary. In this position the attachment is ready for the player, and when pressure is brought ou the front row of push-keys the keys of the piano or organ directly below them will be sounded, and in like manner the two sets of push-keys representing the bass and treble chords will cause the same to be sounded. The heads of the push-keys may have numbers or other characters thereon to correspond with those used in the music to be played. The movable keyboard may be adj usted within its supporting-frame to any key desired and held in such adjusted position, so that the player is confined to the notes required in that key. It is also useful in transposing music from one key to another, which can be accomplished with comparatively little trouble.

I do not. wish to be understood as confining myself to the precise construction herein shown and described, as many changes may loe made in the details of construction as would come within ordinary mechanical skill without departing from the principle ot my invention, which right I reserve without at'- ecting` in any manner the gist of the invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

I. In an attachment for pianos or organs, the rectangular frame A, having verticallymovable transverse spacing-blocks B and the guide-pins a therefor, in combination with the movable keyboard D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an attachment for pianos or organs, the rectangular frame A, having' verticallymovable transverse spacing-blocks B and the indieatorplate C, provided with notches h, in combination with the movable keyboard D, having' the hinged locking-leverI to engage with the notches, and the supplemental keys to operate the keys of the instrument, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In an attachment for pianos or organs, the rectangular trame A, having the movable spacing-blocks B, in combination with the movable keyboard D, carrying' the pivoted pressure-arms Il, which are provided with the push-keys, as showmand upon the underside having push-pins c and the springs f, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my naine in the presence of two witnesses.

JOI-IN M. STUKES. lVitnesses:

E. M. DAwsoN, CHAs. H. FowLnR.

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