US536886A - Piano-violin - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 1.

H. F. MLLER.

PIANO VIOLIN Patented Apr. 2,1895.

WTF

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. P. MULLER.

PIANO VIOLIN Patented Apr. 2, 1895.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet s.

. H. P. MLLER.

PIANO VIOLIN UNITED STATES dPATENT OEEICE.

HENRY F. MLLER, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO CARL FRIEDRICH AUGUST MEYER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PIANO-VIOLIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,886, dated .April 2, 1895.

Application vtiled September 8, 1894. Serial No. 522,443. (No model.) Patented in Germany May 5, 1892, No. 72,889: in France November 11,1892,No.225,771. andinAustria-Hungnry May 18, 1894, No. 113 and No. 17,710.

T all whom, it' may concern: downwardly and thus maintain the baud bow Be it known that I, HENRY F. MLLER, a u, at normally uniform tension. subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a In order to bring the band bow d into conresident of Hamburg, in the German Empire, tact with the strings e on the linger board, I have invented certain new and useful Improvide a series of levers or oscillating press- 55 provements in Musical Stringed Instruments, ure barsf fulcrumed on pins or pivots m se- (tor which I have obtained patents in Gercured to a plate m that carries the key levers many, No. 72,889, dated May 5, 1892; in 71 said pressure bars being guided in suitable France, No. 2:25,77Ldated November 11,1892, slots formed in a transverse bar m4 that is 1o and in Austria-I-Iungary, No. 113 and No. conveniently secured to the undersideof the 6o 17,710, dated May 18, 1894;) and I do hereby aforesaid plate m. The free end of the pressdeclare the following to be a full, clear, and ure barsf is Z-shaped, forming a linger that exact description of the invention, such as carries a roller g and projects into the path will enable others skilled in the art to which it of lthe endless band bow a. i5 appertains to make and use the same, refer- The key levers h are bell crank levers ful- 65 ence being hadtothe accompanying drawings, cruined at lo in suitable uprights Z secured to and to letters of reference marked thereon, plate m. The short arm of the key levers which form a part of this specification. is slotted longitudinally, and in the slot 7l My invention has relation to that class of thereof is adjustably secured a slide block n, zo stringed instruments in whichthe sounds are connected by bolt n with one end of an ex- 7o produced by the friction resulting from the tensible bar o, whose other end is connected pressure upon the strings of a mechanically with one of the arms of a centrally pivoted moved endless band bow, such pressure being rock lever p, the other arm of which is concontrolled by suitable key levers, as will now nected with a pressure bar, as hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the described. 75 accompanying drawings, in which- By means of the described connection of Figure 1 is a plan view of a musical instrukey lever and centrally pivoted rock lever, ment embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an the amplitude of the movements ot said parts underside view of the mechanism controlling may be varied or regulated as desired, or re- 3o the pressure levers and controlled by the key quired. 8o levers. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 The bars o as shown are constructed of two is a vertical cross sectional view of the instruparts adjustable longitudinally on each other ment, and Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating by means of aset screw, and the centrally piva modication in the means for controlling oted rock levers p to which said bars are conthe operation of the band bow. nected are fulcrumed on a common spindle q 85 In the above drawings A indicates the Iinsupported from suitable standards r, secured ger board which is out away at its lower end to the plate m. to admit of the passage of the endless band I have shown an instrument provided with bow d, arranged to travel in a zigzag path six melody strings e, and in accordance there- 4o over suitable pulleys b b and isset in motion with I provide siX pressure barsf, and these by a drum d keyed to a spindle d. Rotation I arrange in pairs, one of a pair above the may be imparted to the spindle by any suitother on their respective fulcrum pins m, and able means, as by a treadle, a suitable grooved provide means whereby the pressure bars of wheel c, and rope or cord c being provided. apair maybe oscillated in opposite directions In order to maintain the band bow d at a unlfrom a normal position of rest and brought 95 form tension, the lower guide rollers b are into contact with oppositely moving portions journaled in bearings b2, adapted to slide in of the endless band bow a to press said porslots b3 in the framing B, said bearings betions against the strings on the outer side ing connected with the framing by suitable thereof. To this end one half of the pressure 5o springs b4 that tend to draw the bearings bars f are directly connected with a correroo spending number of centrally pivoted rock levers p by means ot' connecting rods s while the remaining pressure bars f are connected with their respective centrally pivoted rock levers through the medium of intermediate two-armed levers t and connecting rods s and s', Fig. 2, suitable springs u being provided to return the pressure bars into their normal position of rest when moved out of it by depressing a key lever h.

The downward movement of the finger arm of the key levers h is limited by a bridge or stop w, Fig. l, secured to the finger board fm, which latter may be pivotally connected with the frame B as by pivot screws m2 whereby said board m, supported at its free end on posts m3, may be lifted and tilted over, thus affording ready access to the mechanism on the under side thereof.

In lieu of the described connections 0 p s, and o p, t, s s', between the key levers h and pressure bars f, the said key levers may be connected with their respective pressure bars by means of wires, cords, or belts u2, Fig. 5, passing over suitable guide pulleys u and u', one end of each wire, cord, or belt being secured to the adjustable block n of a key lever and the other to a pressure bar.

The described invention may be applied to almost all stringed instruments in which a bow is used for the production of sound, and it is also applicable to such stringed instruments as the Zither, in which the treble strings are usually actuated by a plectrum attached to the thumb,while the bass strings are actuated by the other fingers of the right hand. In the latter case the key levers ot' the action are preferably arranged with their front edge on a line oblique to the strings, Fig. I, while in other cases, where the bass strings need not be struck by the fingers of the right hand and the sounds of the treble strings on the finger board regulated by the left hand fingers, the front end of the key board may be parallel with the strings of the instrument.

Although I have described a particular con` struction of finger board action, and a moditication of the same, I wish it to be clearly understood that I do not limit the scope of my invention thereto.

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

l. In a musical instrument such as described, the combination with the violin strings and an endless band bow adapted to travel in a zigzag path in proximity to said strings, of a key lever, a pressure bar adapted to move in a plane at right angles to the plane of motion of the bow and to press the same against an adjacent string, and means for varying the amplitude of the movements of the pressure bar, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a musical instrument such as described, the combination with a movable endless band bow, and a violin string on each outer side thereof, of two pressure bars having iingers in proximity to the inner sides of said band bow, two key levers, and connections between the latter and the pressure bars adapted to move said bars in opposite directions when said key levers are depressed, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a musical instrument such as described, the combination with a movable endless band bow and a violin string on each outer side thereof, of two pressure bars having fingers in proximity to the inner sides of said band bow, said pressure bars arranged one above the other on a common fulcrum, two key levers, and connections between the latter and the pressure bars adapted to move said bars in opposite directions when said key levers are depressed.

4. In a musical instrument such as described, the combination with a movable endless band bow, a violin string on each outer side thereof, and two pressure bars f arranged one above the other on a common fulcrum and carrying rollers g proximate to the inner sides of said bow, a key lever, a centrally pivoted rock lever p connected with said key lever, and with one of the pressure bars, a second key lever, a second centrally pivoted rock lever p connected thereto, and an intermediate two-armed lever t, and connections s s connecting the said two armed lever with the other pressure bar, said devices arranged to move the pressure bars in opposite directions when the key levers are depressed, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a musical instrument such as described, the combination with a key lever having a longitudinal slot in one of its arms, a block adjustable along said slot, and a pressure bar as f, of a centrally pivoted rock lever, a connection between said pressure bar and rock lever, and an extensible connection connecting the aforesaid block with the rock lever, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name7 in presence of two witnesses, this 25th day of August, 1894.

HENRY F. MULLER. Witnesses:

ALEXANDER SPEOHT, HARRY F. W. GRE'rHE.

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