Abstract: The present invention is related to a dynamic driving structure for the ornamental box comprising an eccentric shaft, a link rack driven by the eccentric shaft, a bracing pedestal used for supporting the link rack and other components, wherein the link rack is a tabulate plastic, and two grooves separated with a space are formed on the middle thereof so as to make the link rack flexible. The ends of the link rack are connected with the bracing pedestal to form a rectangle, and the other two grooves are formed on the junctions between them. Moreover, the end of the eccentric shaft on the music bell is rotated between the two side walls of the link rack, so the link rack is driven to perform a swinging phenomenon.

Abstract: An automatic set-up, collapsible drum set comprising a base, an upright, and a swing arm assembly each of which is hingedly connected to the next. A seat assembly, a locking mechanism, and a stick compartment are optionally provided so that the percussionist need only carry the drum set and a removable seat. Once the initial adjustments have been made for a given drummer, the drum set needs no further re-adjustment even after collapsing and re-setting-up the drum set.

Abstract: A musical instrument having a stabilization apparatus wherein a body of the instrument is V-shaped to allow the neck of a musician to be placed within an opening formed in the body. A curve of one wing of the body fits around the back of the neck of the musician while a second wing has a tip which rests against the chest of the musician. A strap is connected to portions of each of the wings. Further, a telescopic mechanism is fixed to the back of the musical instrument at one end. Another end of the telescopic mechanism has a plate which rests on the chest of the musician to support the instrument in a fixed position.

Abstract: An automatic player piano is implemented by a combination of an acoustic piano and an automatic playing system, and a velocity feedback loop and an acceleration feedback loop control solenoid-operated key actuator units for reproducing a performance so that the acceleration feedback loop cancels the undesirable increment of the resistances of the solenoid coils and aged deterioration.

Abstract: A portable, hand held, electronic calculator assembly has a retractable cover slidably mounted to a calculator. The calculator has a front with a keypad and display, and a back. The cover has an inner surface and an exposed outer surface. The cover is movable relative to the calculator between a first position where the cover inner surface is juxtaposed to the calculator front, thereby protecting the keypad and display, and a second position where the cover inner surface is juxtaposed to the calculator back.

Abstract: A musical pitch control for each of the strings on a musical instrument. A pivot arm is secured to one end of each string. Controlled current is applied to a length of memory wire secured between the arm and an anchor point. The bending strain on the arm is sensed and circuitry responsive to the sensor is arranged to rock the arm to maintain a desired tension on the string. A second biasing device also acts upon the arm in opposition to the alloy wire to urge the wire alloy to return to its original condition when no current is flowing through the memory wire.

Abstract: A plurality of solenoid-operated actuator units are incorporated in an automatic player piano for selectively driving keys in a playback mode, and share two elongated yoke members interdigitated with one another so as to house the solenoid-operated actuator units as close as possible without sacrifice of electro-magnetic forces produced thereby.

Abstract: In a piano mechanism, the sound volume can be effectively controlled without changing the feel of the key or tone quality. A hammer regulating button projecting from a hammer rail contacts the upper face of a catcher just before a hammer strikes a string. By restricting the string striking movement, the volume of string striking sound is controlled, irrespective of the mechanical operation of a jack or other associated transmitting components responsive to the key depressing. No cushioning material is required between hammer and string. In a piano having an electronic sound source built therein, even when the keys are depressed, the hammer can be stopped from striking strings by the provision of a hammer shank stop rail and a catcher regulating button. Therefore, without generating a string striking sound, sounds are generated from the electronic sound source. By manually turning an adjusting screw of the catcher regulating button, the position of the hammer when stopped can be adjusted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately sensing key motion in a keyboard operated musical instrument, in which optical emitters and sensors are positioned above the hammer shanks. The optical emitters and sensors are arranged on a plurality of individually addressable sensor boards, and the sensor boards are divided into a plurality of individually addressable sensor banks. Each sensor board is independently and sequentially activated by a controller according to a specified timing sequence. As the controller activates a sensor board in one bank, allowing the board to warm up, another sensor board in the second bank, which has previously been activated and warmed up, is read and analyzed by the controller. Activation and reading of sensor boards alternates between sensor banks as the sensor boards are sequenced through.

Abstract: A music learning aid has a base and a sliding template. The template has windows which allow viewing of musical information imprinted on the base at different positions. Each position is selected by being able to view a keynote through a window so that the cut-out slots in the template then show the musical information for that keynote and scale or chord. The musical information may include the musical notation and the musical instrument playing instructions. In another embodiment, a learning aid takes the form of an electronic calculator where different information sets may be displayed on a liquid crystal display according to instructions inputted on a keypad.

Abstract: A Briccialdi B flat thumb key mechanism for a woodwind instrument having a B key including a cup part and a lever part and movable around an axle, and a lever rockingly movable around the same axle for transferring a rocking motion to the B key for closing same and to a B flat key also for closing same, with the axle defining an angle of 20.degree.-75.degree. relative to a longitudinal axis of the instrument.

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is provided. The stringed instrument comprises an automatic biasing mechanism for automatically urging associated anchor members affixed to corresponding ends of a string into a secured position so that the associated string will not come loose during playing of the stringed instrument. The anchor elements may comprise bullet-shaped elements. The automatic biasing mechanism is adapted to urge the bullet-shaped elements forward substantially along the longitudinal axis of the associated strings.

Abstract: A player fingers on the keyboard of an automatic player piano and steps on the soft and damper pedals for variety of musical expression in a recording mode, and a controller drives actuators associated with the keys and the pedals as if the player performs, wherein the controller sequentially checks a digital locational signal to see whether or not transit points indicated by the digital locational signal characterize the locus of the plunger and stores digital locational codes indicative of the characterizing transit points only, thereby improving the faithfulness of the performance without sacrifice of the amount of stored data.

Abstract: The invention is a tremolo device for adjusting the string tension in a stringed musical instrument including a body having an upper surface, a neck portion, a tuning head having a series of tuning devices, a multiplicity of strings each anchored at a first end to a respective one of the tuning devices and extending over at least a portion of the neck portion and the body. The tremolo device includes a base plate attached to the body of the instrument and a movable plate having first and second edges extending in a direction perpendicular to the strings. The movable plate is mounted to the base plate along the second edge of the movable plate about a pivot axis and in a horizontal position with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the strings. The first edge of the movable plate is adapted to securely anchor the second end of each of the strings.

Abstract: A drumming practice set (10) consisting of a combination drumstick practice pad (12) and a pair of practice drumsticks (40). When used together, a percussionist in pursuit of evenness and control, can achieve optimum results in the shortest time. The drumstick pad (12) consists of a lower resilient section (14) that attaches to an upper drumstick striking pad (22) that includes a set of five drumstick striking patterns (28). The practice drumsticks (40) are larger and heavier than conventional drumsticks and include an oversized bead (54). The practice drumsticks (40) feature a set of at least three, spaced, circular finger-placement marks (60) located around the drumstick circumference. When the thumb is placed over the front ring, the drumstick will provide maximum bounce; when placed over the back ring, to change the fulcrum, a maximum power strike is produced. The bead (54) is painted in a contrasting color to the remaining section of the drumstick.

Abstract: A guitar slide for permitting the user to contact a single string, or any pair of adjacent strings of a stringed instrument. The guitar slide includes a body of a length sufficient to contact any pair of adjacent strings on a stringed instrument, an inner end formed with a hole for receiving the tip of the user's finger, and an outer end formed with an arcuate end cap adapted to be positioned adjacent the tip of the user's finger. The guitar slide body is shorter than the distance between the tip of the user's finger and the first knuckle of the user's finger to assure that the finger has the same flexibility as if the user was not wearing the guitar slide, which length is sufficient to allow guitar slide 1 to contact any two adjacent strings.

Abstract: A stabilizer for a tremolo bridge prevents disablement of an instrument in the event of string failure. An abutment, selectively actuated, serves to support and position a tremolo bridge so that pre-failure tuning of the remaining strings is maintained. A method is disclosed for stabilizing a tremolo bridge, comprising steps of determining the normal position of the bridge with strings intact and the tremolo not actuated, providing a retractable stabilizer capable of maintaining the bridge in that position, and selectively using the stabilizer to limit disabling movement of the tremolo bridge in the event of a string failure.

Abstract: The invention applies to keyboards--for example, musical or typewriter keyboards. Various key top shapes are disclosed which may be identified by touch. These shapes include longitudinal ridges, slots, and rows of ridges, slots, knobs, craters and texturing. Various angled key tops are disclosed also. The preferred embodiment applies to a musical keyboard similar to the Janko design.

Abstract: An electronic metronome device producing precisely timed and tuned rhythms and pitches that are pre-programmed to correspond to specific scales or modes, arpeggios, chords, and etudes. A combination of microprocessor and user interface (34, 30, 28, and 26) stores these musical exercises and retrieves them from an electronic memory (36), inputs them to a signal processor (42) for amplification and modification, and outputs (40) them to speakers (12), optical displays (24), audio outputs (18), etc. A volume control 20 and balance control 22 modify the audio signal coming from the speakers 12. The components, enabled either by an internal (battery) or external (plug) power source (44), are housed in a light and durable case for easy portability and user control.

Abstract: Disclosed is a manually operable calculator for determining a fourth value on the basis of three variables. According to one example, the calculator is used to determine the total storage available for a recording medium consisting of several units, such as hard disks or magneto optical disks. Specifically, values for total storage are displayed in response to inputting the capacity of each disk, the number of disks and the data recording rate. According to the invention, the calculator comprises a slide member upon which two rotating wheels are mounted along a common axis of rotation. The slide and wheels each have indicia corresponding to the three variables printed thereon. The indicia on the wheels is selected by rotation while the indicia on the slide is selected by moving the slide within a sleeve having openings formed therein.