Abstract: An electronic musical instrument capable of suppressing resonance of a soundboard and reducing a peak dip of the frequency characteristic of a musical tone to enable excellent musical sound to be obtained. The soundboard has first and second ends which extend parallel to each other. The first and second ends are secured to a predetermined part of the instrument by first screws and second screws. A vibration exciter is provided on the soundboard and driven according to a musical tone signal to vibrate the soundboard to cause the soundboard to generate a musical tone. The first and second screws are arranged along the respective first and second ends in a staggered manner such that each first screw and each first screw are not opposed to each other in symmetrical relation in a direction orthogonal to the first and second ends.

Abstract: According to embodiments herein, a circular, semi-circular, or generally rounded piano keyboard is shown and described. In particular, in an illustrative embodiment, the piano keyboard is a fully to nearly-fully circular stage piano keyboard that surrounds a keyboardist, allowing for up to 360 degrees of key-play. Other, e.g., wearable, embodiments of the circular piano keyboard are also described, such as a curved keytar or a curvaceous “keydress.

Abstract: A key having a key-depression surface with a woody characteristic and durability without the need of a surface treatment and capable of being formed from a simple-shaped uncompressed wood. A key for use as a black key includes a resin part and a compressed wood part secured at its lower surface to an upper surface of the resin part. The compressed wood part is used to constitute a portion of a key top including an upper surface and positioned above an upper surface of white keys which are in a non-key-depression state. The compressed wood part is obtained by compression molding of unprocessed wood. The compressed density in the vertical direction in the compressed wood part is higher toward rearward from a front end of the compressed wood part.

Abstract: A material for a key of a keyboard instrument may include, but is not limited to, a base resin; and particles of a moisture control material that performs chemical sorption of moisture. The moisture control material increase in volume with moisture-sorption. The moisture control material decrease in volume with moisture-desorption.

Abstract: A tone plate which makes it easy to reduce the entire length and width thereof, thus increasing the degree of freedom in design. The tone plate includes an antinode portion, front and rear ends, and first and second supporting holes which are located closer to the front and rear ends than to the antinode portion and at which a vibration node can be formed. There are provided first and second mass concentrating portions extending toward the front and rear ends from locations on a side close to the first and rear ends with respect to the supporting holes. First and second thinner portions are respectively provided between the antinode portion and the supporting holes. The tone plate vibrates to generate a musical tone of a specific tone pitch when struck with being supported at the supporting holes.

Abstract: A method of assembling a musical instrument such as an acoustic guitar. The instrument includes at least one major panel and a side wall. The major panel has a groove or rebate cut into the panel according to a predetermined pattern, which may extend substantially around the periphery of the panel. A first assembly jig supports the panel whilst a second assembly jig holds the side wall in a configuration corresponding to the groove/rebate. The side wall is placed into the second jig such that a free edge of the side wall follows the groove/rebate. Adhesive is applied and the jigs are brought together such that the free edge of the side wall is inserted into the groove/rebate. A compression force is applied across the jigs to urge the side wall into the groove/rebate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a key for pianos, comprising a pivotably supported key body consisting of a soft wood and adjustment means for adjusting the touch load of the key. A plate-shaped element of a different specific weight is inserted into the key body. The position and weight of the plate-shaped element is selected such that a desired touch load of the key is almost accomplished. The weight of the plate-shaped element is varied slightly by inserting an additional weight, in particular a setscrew, or by forming a recess in such a manner that the desired touch load of the key is accomplished. The plate-shaped element consists of a composite wood material comprising a press-formed resin-wood layer formed of wood veneer layers, which are impregnated with a resin under a vacuum and glued to each other while applying pressure and heat to accomplish a very high specific weight.

Abstract: A multiple bit screwdriver comprising a plurality of tool bits, an elongate member defining an axial passage adapted to receive said bits therein positioned tip to end so that the foremost bit operably extends from the passage and is rotatable with the elongate member, first and second retainers connected to the elongate member near each end of the passage and extending radially inward into the passage to engage frictionally the foremost and last bits to prevent said bits from falling out of either end, and a motion restricting member within the passage having an expandable engagement portion that cooperates with at least one tool bit to permit the movement of bits within the passage in one direction only. The engagement portion is expandable in response a tool bit being pushed therethrough in one direction, but resists expanding when a tool bit is being pushed in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A keyboard device for an electronic keyboard musical instrument is provided for permitting a significant reduction in the number of parts constituting a hammer supporting members and the number of assembling steps required therefor, thereby reducing a manufacturing cost, and also for permitting hammers to be mounted in a high mounting accuracy to eliminate noise. The keyboard device comprises a chassis, a hammer rail made of an aluminum extrudate and coupled to the chassis, a plurality of keys pivotably supported by the chassis, a plurality of hammers each provided for each of the plurality of keys, pivotably supported by the hammer rail and configured to pivot in response to depression on a key associated therewith, and a stopper mounted to the hammer rail for restricting a pivotal movement of a hammer caused by depression on a key associated with the hammer.

Abstract: A key is provided for permitting simple attachment of a weight and easy adjustment of a touch load, while using an alternative material for substitution for lead as a material for the weight, to thereby reduce the manufacturing cost. A swingable key body is formed with an embedding hole. The weight is made of a composite material produced by blending a plurality of kinds of materials except for lead in a predetermined blending proportion to have a predetermined specific gravity, and is removably attached to the embedding hole of the key body.

Abstract: A damper pedal mechanism, a sostenuto/muffler pedal mechanism and a damper pedal mechanism are incorporated in an acoustic piano for artistic expression, and are independently actuated by a pianist, wherein component parts are assembled into the pedal mechanisms on a base plate, and, thereafter, the pedal mechanism unit is installed in a piano housing so that a factory worker feels the assembling work comfortable.

Abstract: A method of mounting a plate in a grand piano is provided for ensuring an appropriate bridge pressure in accordance with an actual amount of swelling of a soundboard and its distribution in a simple manner without requiring bridge pressure setting and re-adjustment. The method comprises the steps of measuring the heights of a bridge from a reference plane at a plurality of predetermined positions of the bridge on the back assembly; attaching a plurality of plate bases at a plurality of positions along the outer periphery of the top surface of the back assembly at heights corresponding to the measured heights of the bridge; and carrying the plate on the plurality of plate bases, and fixing the plate carried on the plate bases to the back assembly.

Abstract: A composite part for an electronic musical instrument which allows the center of a drill to be immediately and reliably positioned on a rivet during disassembly, thereby making it possible to significantly improve the efficiency of disassembling works and accordingly promote reuse of resources. The composite part is composed of first and second members each having a rivet inserting hole, and a rivet having a head and a shaft. The rivet is inserted through the rivet inserting holes of the first and second members, and a leading end portion of the shaft is caulked to join the first and second members together. The rivet is formed with a guiding recess formed on a surface of at least one of the head and the caulked leading end portion of the shaft for guiding a drill for cutting the rivet when the first and second members are disassembled.

Abstract: A panel assembly for an electronic keyboard musical instrument is disposed over a substantially entire width in a direction in which keys are arranged. The panel assembly serves to cover electronic circuits or the like contained therein. The panel assembly is made up of two members of a front panel and a rear panel which are divided in the direction in which the keys are arranged. A rear end portion of the front panel is placed on top of a front end portion of the rear panel, and the front panel and the rear panel are connected together by self tapping screws to be screwed from a lower side into the lower surface of the rear end portion of the front panel.

Abstract: To provide an electronic upright piano providing a key touch of an acoustic upright piano. An action load simulation member (2) provided in the electronic upright piano is composed of a wippen (15) rotating and rising when a depressed key (11) is rotated, a jack (17) rising together with the wippen (15) until a jack tail (17a) contacts a regulating button (16), a hammer butt (18) rotatably supported by a center pin (18b) for contacting or leaving the jack (17), a hammer shank (21) connected to the hammer butt (18) and provided with a hammer (23), and a hammer stopper (32) which can contact the tip of the hammer (23). The wippen (15), the jack (17) and the hammer butt (18) are rotated about separate axes, respectively. In the electronic upright piano, the let-off timing is the same as that in an acoustic upright piano.

Abstract: A method of assembling a grand piano, an outer rim for a grand piano and a manufacturing method thereof, an arm for a grand piano and a fabricating method thereof, and a keyboard musical instrument are provided. The method of assembling a grand piano comprises an outer rim forming step of forming an outer rim, and a part mounting step of mounting to the outer rim, as a base, a plurality of other parts in order to assemble a grand piano. The outer rim of the grand piano is composed of a left flat plate forming a left front linear portion of a grand piano, a right flat plate forming a right front linear portion of the grand piano, and a plurality of arcuate plates mutually having the same radius r, wherein the arcuate plates are joined to connect rear ends of the left flat plate and the right flat plate therethrough to form a curved portion of the grand piano.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly for a keyboard instrument such as an electronic piano is constructed using a key, a first moving member, a second moving member and a key-depression switch. Herein, the key is supported by a keyboard frame to have a capability of rotating up and down about a rotation center. The first moving member is arranged beneath the key and is subjected to rotary motion about a first rotation center. The second moving member incorporating a deadweight has a larger weight and a longer moving distance as compared with the key and first moving member respectively. At the key depression, mode a back portion of the first moving member rotates upwardly so that the second moving member normally located at a rest position is subjected to rotary motion about a second rotation center. Thus, the second moving member rotates backwardly, and, it is stopped at a contact position defined by a back portion of the keyboard frame.

Abstract: A system for balancing upright piano key mechanisms consists in weighting the key (1) in its front portion (at 11), opposite to the portion (5) where the key downweight is usually placed, and consequently in weighting (at 15), by means of a weight simulating the weight of the hammer, also the portion where the hammer (7) rests, the hammer in turn resting, through the wippen (9), on the rear portion of the key, so as to create a balance between the front portion and the rear portion of the key itself.

Abstract: A keyboard device for a keyboard-based musical instrument comprises a plurality of chassis arranged in a left-to-right direction, and a plurality of keys attached to the plurality of chassis for pivotal movements and arranged in the left-to-right direction. The overall chassis for the keyboard device is divided into a plurality of chassis which can be separately manufactured, so that the size of each chassis can be reduced as compared with a conventional keyboard device for which a single chassis is manufactured. Since this results in a reduction in scale of manufacturing facilities including a mold and a press machine used for manufacturing the chassis, and easier adjustments to the mold in a trial manufacturing stage, a manufacturing cost of the chassis, i.e., a manufacturing cost of the keyboard device can be reduced.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly comprises at least one key unit including a plurality of keys each having a front end and a base end, a common key support supporting the keys, and a connecting portion provided on the base end of each of the keys and connecting between each of the keys and the common key support. The keys are formed integrally with the connecting portion and the common key support in a manner such that the keys are each connected via the connecting portion to the common key support for swinging about the common key support in a direction of depression and release of the keys and in a direction in which the keys are juxtaposed. The keys define gaps therebetween, each of which becomes progressively larger toward the front end of an associated one of the keys.

Abstract: An improved method for the inertial balancing of a plurality of key assemblies having keysticks within a musical instrument keyboard wherein an individual front weight is predetermined for each stick, the method consisting of calibrating each of the keysticks to an identical selected front weight prior to installing the key leads to a preset pattern which result in the final individual front weight for each key assembly.

Abstract: In the balancing of piano key mechanisms according to the invention, counterweights are placed in each piano key to balance said key mechanism in order to create a smooth linear progression of key front weights along a keyboard, thereby providing a keyboard with a more uniform "feel" to the piano keys when played by a pianist.

Abstract: A keyboard for a musical instrument is composed of a resin composition, having a durometer hardness of 82 or larger, and the composition comprises a cellulose derivative resin and a silica having 3.0 or less silanol groups in the area of 100 square angstrom and a BET specific surface area of 10 to 210 m.sup.2 /g. It may comprises a substrate and the keyboard.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of producing a multi-key structure for keyboard musical instruments. A molding material is filled in a mold to form a molded structure which has a proximal end portion and a plurality of juxtaposed key portions extending from the proximal end portion. Molding is carried out in a state that the respective adjacent key portions diverge toward their free ends. The molded structure is removed from the mold, and the proximal end portion is deformed in such a manner that the plurality of key portions are brought into parallel relation to one another to provide the multi-key structure.

Abstract: The keyboard for pianos and similar musical instruments has key shanks (levers) formed of structural foam containing glass fibers, there being only one shank construction for all the white keys and another for all the black. The shanks are connected, at their outer ends, to self-positioning hollow key caps. Each shank rests, at a laterally thickened central portion, on a synthetic resin balance rail from which an integral balance pin projects into a slot in such central portion. The outer end of each shank rests on a synthetic resin guide rail having a guide pin formed integrally therewith and extending into the shank. The laterally thickened central portions of the shanks are sufficiently close to each other to provide a strengthening effect creating much resistance to side forces such as occur, for example, during shipment. The balance rail and guide rail, with their integral pins, are injection molded of solid synthetic resin.

Abstract: A compact chord organ which includes a unitary molded lower chamber portion and an upper chamber portion provided with integrally molded reed housings are pressed together to form a chamber. A volume control together with a treble keyboard and chord keyboards are cooperatively associated with the upper chamber portion and the keys of said keyboards are connected thereto by unitary resilient holding means. A unitary molded cabinet top is pressed together with the upper chamber portion so as to provide a housing for the volume control and pallet ends of the keys.