Abstract: A piano selectively playable in normal and soft modes has multiple piano keys and actions, including a wippen assembly, and multiple piano hammers. A soft pedal system includes a soft pedal and a hammer rest rail mounted for movement between normal and soft mode positions. A piano key lift rail is mounted for movement between a normal mode position spaced from lifting contact with the keys and a soft mode position in contact with and lifting the keys and the wippen assemblies. A soft pedal linkage assembly between the soft pedal and the hammer rest rail and piano key lift rail, upon actuation of the soft pedal, causes movement of hammer rest rail and piano hammers, and movement of the piano keys and the wippen assemblies, between normal and soft mode positions, in gap-closing motion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are involved with but are not limited to: a vertical piano action including: a substantially vertically oriented string; a hammer assembly including a hammer, a hammer butt, and a backstop portion, the backstop portion coupled to the hammer butt and extending therefrom; a jack member, the jack member including a first jack member end; a repetition spring coupled to the hammer assembly and coupled to the jack member; and an engagement member including an elastic member and an outer skin, the elastic member wrapped under compression with the outer skin, the engagement member coupled to the hammer butt and so oriented to physically engage with the first jack member end during one or more portions of travel by the first jack member. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Obtained is a structure of a piano action by which excellent playing reproducibility is secured even in a case of playing by repeatedly striking a key at an extremely high speed. In a piano action including a plurality of hammers 31 for striking keys, hammer shanks 32 that support the hammers turnably, hammer rails 1 that restrict the hammer shanks 32 from turning after the hammers strike strings, and hammer cushions (shock absorbing materials) 100 that are placed on the hammer rails and absorb motion energy generated by collision with the hammer shanks 32, the hammer cushions (shock absorbing materials) 100 are disposed at an angle so as not to become parallel to contact surfaces of the hammer shanks 32.

Abstract: Disclosed is an action for an upright piano capable of expressing rich tone variation and improving the continuous press performance of the same key. In the action (1) for an upright piano, there are formed a guide member (67) fixed to a center rail (14) and continuing in the horizontal direction; and a member to be guided (73) sliding along the guide member (67). A hammer under rail (19) on which a hammer shank (45) abuts is affixed to a hammer rail (18), and butt flanges (41) are affixed to the member to be guided (73). The member to be guided (73) is connected to a pedal (77) via an upthrust bar (81) and a balance (79) such that the member to be guided (73) is slid to the right or left with the force of working the pedal (77) by the player.

Abstract: A vertical or upright piano action includes a key bed, a key frame, a wippen, a damper action, a hammer action, a repetition lever, a sustain mechanism, sostenuto mechanism, and an una chorda or action shift mechanism. Butt directly engages damper, improving response to professional standard. Touch resistance is unchanged by sustain mechanism.

Abstract: An upright piano main action rail with a special cross sectional shape of its lower half that angles or curves towards the back of the piano to effectively relocate the lower front surface of upright piano main action rail from a position in front of the row of whippen flanges as with the prior art to a relocated new position behind the row of whippen flanges to enable the front mounting of whippen flanges to the main action rail. Upright piano main action rail has all whippen mounting holes located its the lower front surface instead of the lower rear surface as with prior art upright piano main action rails.

Abstract: Systems and methods are involved with but are not limited to: a vertical piano action including: a substantially vertically oriented string; a hammer assembly including a hammer, a hammer butt, and a backstop portion, the backstop portion coupled to the hammer butt and extending therefrom; a jack member, the jack member including a first jack member end; a repetition spring coupled to the hammer assembly and coupled to the jack member; and an engagement member including an elastic member and an outer skin, the elastic member wrapped under compression with the outer skin, the engagement member coupled to the hammer butt and so oriented to physically engage with the first jack member end during one or more portions of travel by the first jack member. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Abstract: To provide an action of an upright piano which permits playing of repeated notes on the single key and touch of the keys that are comparable to a grand piano. A first spring (59) is provided to a pushing-up portion (20) of a jack (18), a first spring rest (71) is provided to a jack stop rail (53), and when a jack tail (19) moves away from a regulating button (47), the first spring (59) bent between the pushing-up portion (20) and the first spring rest (71) forces the pushing-up portion (20) to be pushed under a pushed-up portion (27) to be thrust up of a hammer butt (25). A second spring (66) is provided to a damper stop rail (56), a second spring rest (72) is provided to a hammer shank (33), and the second spring (66) bent between the damper stop rail (56) and the second spring rest (72) stops the rotational movement of a hammer (32) before the hammer (32) that moves rotationally by the force of the first spring (59) strikes a string (90).

Abstract: Disclosed is an action for an upright piano capable of expressing rich tone variation and improving the continuous press performance of the same key. In the action (1) for an upright piano, there are formed a guide member (67) fixed to a center rail (14) and continuing in the horizontal direction; and a member to be guided (73) sliding along the guide member (67). A hammer under rail (19) on which a hammer shank (45) abuts is affixed to a hammer rail (18), and butt flanges (41) are affixed to the member to be guided (73). The member to be guided (73) is connected to a pedal (77) via an upthrust bar (81) and a balance (79) such that the member to be guided (73) is slid to the right or left with the force of working the pedal (77) by the player.

Abstract: A piano action flange with an open-slotted rail attachment feature that is a slot-shaped void completely through the piano action flange, running in the longitudinal direction of the piano action flange, with width slightly larger than the outer diameter of the thread end the flange screw but smaller that the head diameter of the flange screw, where the slot-shaped void is open on one end, breaking through the end of said piano action flange, to leave the slot-shaped void open and accessible from the end of the piano action flange.

Abstract: An upright piano main action rail with a thinner cross section and relocated lower front surface so that when the main action rail is installed an the upright piano, the lower front surface of upright piano main action rail resides in the same location as the lower rear surface of prior art upright piano main action rails. An upright piano main action rail also has all whippen mounting holes located on the lower front surface instead of the lower rear surface as is traditional.

Abstract: To provide an action of an upright piano which permits playing of repeated notes on the single key and touch of the keys that are comparable to a grand piano. A first spring (59) is provided to a pushing-up portion (20) of a jack (18), a first spring rest (71) is provided to a jack stop rail (53), and when a jack tail (19) moves away from a regulating button (47), the first spring (59) bent between the pushing-up portion (20) and the first spring rest (71) forces the pushing-up portion (20) to be pushed under a pushed-up portion (27) to be thrust up of a hammer butt (25). A second spring (66) is provided to a damper stop rail (56), a second spring rest (72) is provided to a hammer shank (33), and the second spring (66) bent between the damper stop rail (56) and the second spring rest (72) stops the rotational movement of a hammer (32) before the hammer (32) that moves rotationally by the force of the first spring (59) strikes a string (90).

Abstract: A jack motion-restricting device for an upright piano, which is capable of maintaining constant a jack motion-restricting position by a simple construction to thereby obtain an intended operation of the jack. The jack motion-restricting device restricts the motion of the jack operating in accordance with key depression by having the jack abut thereagainst. A base part of the device is provided at a location close to the jack. A base layer of the same is formed of a material having dimensional stability, and is affixed to the base part. A surface layer of the same is formed of a material having abrasion resistance and flexibility, and is affixed to the base layer, for having the jack abut thereagainst.

Abstract: A universal piano action having a minimum number of identical parts interchangeable in upright and grand pianos, under and above the tensioned strings and effecting rapid repetition in upright and grand pianos, this universal piano action responds to every strenght of touch evoking sounds from a whisper to thunder. In this universal piano action the hammers can be positioned to any at rest position, to any proximity in respect to the tensioned strings for a sensitive control of sound, permitting practice playing with a normal strenght of piano key touch without disturbing.

Abstract: An improved piano which offers improved repetitive playing characteristics, a clearly distinguishable set off pressure, and an improved player touch, enabling the player to better control the strength and sound quality produced. The piano action includes biasing means which causes a different moment of force on the hammer butt depending on the position of the hammber butt as it rotates from the rest position to the string striking position. A piano made in accordance with the present invention includes an improved bridge and soundboard arrangement at an upper end of an upright piano's plate comprising a bridge rail connected to a soundboard; a suspension bridge supported along a first edge portion of the bridge rail and supported along a second edge portion opposite the first edge portion by the plate; and a bridge bearing in contact with the suspension bridge and arranged to bear against the strings to transfer vibrations from the strings to the soundboard.

Abstract: Means for improving the repetition characteristics of an upright piano action of the type having a hammer for each key, the butt of the hammer being pivotally mounted on a main action rail so that the hammer can be projected from an at-rest position toward a string striking position, a wippen pivotally attached to the main action rail and operatively connected to the key, a jack pivotally connected to the wippen for transmitting the action of the key and wippen to the hammer via the hammer butt to cause the hammer to strike the string when the key is forcibly depressed and a back check serving as an oscillation damper for the hammer. The means for improving the repetition characteristics comprises an adjustable spring and linkage assembly attached at its ends to positions of substantially equal operating displacement on the wippen and the hammer butt.

Abstract: An upright piano action includes a butt having a hammer, and a jack adapted to swing the butt, thereby permitting the hammer to strike a string, in which there is provided a butt spring means urging against the swinging movement of the hammer toward the string, the butt spring means not acting during the initial portion of the swinging movement of the hammer but acting from midway of the swinging movement thereof up to the point wherein the hammer strikes the string, so that a rapid, continual hammer striking operation is possible, attaining a delicate sound control as with the grand piano action.