Abstract: A muffler mechanism that reduces the volume of an acoustic piano without altering the feel of the piano to a human pianist. One embodiment includes a highly configurable piano muffler kit that may be mounted into pianos of various models. The muffler mechanism includes a cushioning member, which muffles the sound of the hammer striking the string and reduces the volume of the sound made by the string's vibration. The muffler mechanism also includes shims that may be used to position the cushioning member between a hammer let-off position and the string. This may allow for muffled piano playing without a noticeable change in the resistance of the keys. The muffler mechanism is mounted using brackets with a relatively small footprint. This allows the piano muffler to be installed without removing all of the dampers.

Abstract: An adjustable pedal extension device for a piano and methods for use. An adjustable clamp member is configured couple to a piano pedal. A pedal extension member is adjustably coupled to a clamp member for horizontal movement of at least one end of the pedal extension. An adjustable member is configured to selectively fix the pedal extension into a fixed position in relation to the clamp member after adjustment is made. A piano muffler kit includes a sound effect pad comprising at least one sound effect layer. A muffler rail dampening element is coupled to a piano in the engagement path of a muffler rail.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument is a combination of an acoustic piano, a silent system and an electronic sound generating system, and the silent system includes a change-over mechanism and a shank stopper connected to the change-over mechanism so as to be changed between a free position and a blocking position, wherein a change-over mechanism gives rise to a rotation of the shank stopper around vertical axes spaced apart from each other on a horizontal virtual plane so that the hammer stopper is free from a twist.

Abstract: An acoustic piano is equipped with a shank stopper moved into and out of trajectories of hammer assemblies and a change-over mechanism for changing the shank stopper, and the change-over mechanism has a pedal, a transmitter connected to the pedal and another transmitter held in contact with the transmitter for transmitting force exerted on the pedal to the shank stopper, wherein the transmitters are only restricted in the direction to transmit the force from the pedal to the shank stopper so that the transmitters are independently disassembled and regulable.

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 stopper, a driver unit, key and pedal sensors, a sound processing unit and a sound system are installed in an acoustic piano so as to remodel the acoustic piano into a keyboard musical instrument performable with either acoustic or electronic sounds.

Abstract: A combination acoustic mode and electronic mode grand piano is provided including a hammer shank stop rail that intercepts the hammer shank when operating in its electronic mode, so that the hammer cannot complete its normal travel to strike its corresponding string(s) when its key is actuated. The positioning of the hammer shank stop rail is actuated by a user-operated control that, when placed into the "acoustic" mode, raises the hammer shank stop rail to a non-engaged position that does not interfere with the normal movements of the hammer shank. When in the "electronic" mode, the control lowers the hammer shank stop rail into an engaged position where it intercepts the hammer shanks of the piano, thereby preventing each hammer head from striking its respective string(s).

Abstract: a stopper, a driver unit, key and pedal sensors, a sound processing unit and a sound system are installed in an acoustic piano so as to remodel the acoustic piano into a keyboard musical instrument performable with either acoustic or electronic sounds.

Abstract: A device for softening sounds generated by a piano includes a lifting rod assembly mounted on the frame of the piano and operatively connected with a soft pedal mounted on the frame. An elongated sound softening rail assembly is pivotally mounted on the frame for selectively mutingly engaging the strings. The sound softening rail assembly includes an elongated rail spaced above the hammers and at least one dampening wedge attached thereto extending transversely outward from the rail toward the strings. The lifting rod assembly engages the rail so as to pivot the rail when lifted by the soft pedal, thereby pivoting the dampening wedge into muting contact with at least one of the strings. A method of retrofitting an existing piano with this sound softening device is also disclosed.

Abstract: In order to give piano-like key touch to a player in an electronically sound producing mode, a keyboard incorporated in a musical instrument is linked with key action mechanisms associated with hammer mechanisms, and a stopper blocks the hammer shanks before the hammers strike the strings so that noises are not mixed with synthesized tones.

Abstract: A silencing apparatus is provided for pianos having an electronic sound source as well as the conventional acoustic sound mechanism. The silencing apparatus includes a plurality of arms, a stop rail bridging ends of the arms and a positioning mechanism. When acoustic sound is to be silenced, a wire is pulled by means of an operating lever, thereby pivoting an actuating lever which is connected to one of the arms. This causes the stop rail to pivot to the stop position at which the stop rail abuts against and thereby stops motion of the hammer shanks which move in response to key depressions. The stop rail and the arms thereon define open spaces for accommodating for the presence of the other components, such as damper units, inside the piano. Thus, the silencing apparatus of the present invention travels over a greater range of motion without interfering with the operation of other components inside the piano.

Abstract: A piano-like keyboard instrument allowing a player to perform in either an acoustic sound mode and or an electronic sound producing mode. In the electronic sound producing mode, a stopper blocks sets of piano strings from hammers and an electronic sound producing unit generates electronic sounds. A key touch is maintained in the electronic sound producing mode. A gap regulating unit changes gaps between the toes of jacks and regulating buttons, depending upon which mode of operation is selected. Hammer shanks rebound on the stopper after the escapes of the jacks.

Abstract: In a grand piano having an electronic sound source performance mode, a damper unit for stopping the movement of the hammer shanks in response to depression of the keys is provided. The damper unit has a relatively wide stop rail for halting the motion of the hammer shanks. Both ends of a support plate connected to the stop rail are pivotally supported by a pair of support mechanisms for pivotal motion in the longitudinal direction of the stop rail. In one of the pair of support mechanisms, a coil spring for urging the stop rail toward the support mechanism is provided. The stop rail is pulled toward the other support mechanism by an externally operated wire. Without changing the direction of the contact face of the stop rail for abutting on the hammer shank, the stop rail can be moved vertically between a stop position and a retracted position. In grand pianos, which have only a limited amount of available space above the hammer shank, the stop rail can be broadened.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument selectively generates acoustic sounds and electronic sounds depending upon a mode selected by a player, and has a hammer stopper for interrupting hammers before strikes at strings and an escape accelerator for accelerating an escape of a jack from the hammer assembly in the silent mode earlier than an escape in the acoustic sound mode, thereby preventing the hammer assembly from capture between the jack and the hammer stopper without deterioration of the piano key touch.

Abstract: For use with a piano having key activated hammers, each hammer striking a selected string upon activation by the associated key, a rail stop assembly that comprises a rotational hammer stopping rail for preventing the hammers from striking the selected strings. Included is a mechanism for moving the hammer stopping rail between a first position for blocking the hammers and a second position for allowing the hammers to strike the selected strings.

Abstract: A damper unit for a piano is provided in which the position of a hammer stop rail for contacting the hammer shanks before the hammers strike the strings can be changed from an inoperative retracted position to a stop position with a relatively small drive force and the hammer stop rail is firmly and reliably positioned at the stop position. Stop rail support arms for supporting the hammer stop rail are connected, via linkage mechanisms composed of links and lever arms, to a rotary shaft. By pulling a wire that is connected to the rotary shaft, the rotary shaft is rotated, such that the hammer stop rail can be positioned, via the linkages, at the stop position and the retracted position, in which the hammer stop rail does not contact the hammer shanks. As compared with the conventional damper unit, the position of the hammer stop rail can be changed with a relatively small drive force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanism capable of simply making a low sound volume performance on the piano, and more particularly to a muffler for pianos, which includes a flat muffler member of a cushioning material provided slidably on a damper guide holder, and which is adapted to make a low sound volume performance on the piano by striking strings by hammers with the flat muffler member of a cushioning material advanced to a position between the hammers and strings, and a regular sound volume performance thereon by striking the strings by the hammers directly with the muffler member slidingly retreated to its normal position.

Abstract: A universal mute for vertical pianos that as a unit mounts to the tuning pins with adjustment capability to establish installability in existing vertical pianos of various size, age and origin.

Abstract: A muffler mechanism for a piano includes at least one axially rotatable muffler pipe arranged below and extending over an array of strings and a flexible muffler coupled to the muffler pipe and registable at an operative position suited for damped performance, thereby enabling a simple construction, a reduced mounting space and stable and reliable damping effect without deformation even after long use.

Abstract: In the construction of a muffler assembly for a piano, a muffler rail is supported for up and down movement along a substantially straight path slightly inclined sideways for unchanged correct positioning of a muffler felt between strings and hammers even after long use, thereby assuring constant sound softening.