Abstract: A support assembly includes a support rotatably disposed with respect to a frame; a jack support portion connected to the support; a jack having a recessed portion in a lower portion of the jack, the jack having the jack support portion inside the recessed portion and being rotatably disposed to the support; and an acting portion fixed to the jack and receiving a downward action. The recessed portion has an open end with a width larger than a width of the jack support portion. The recessed portion may have an open end with a width larger than a width of the jack support portion.

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: 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 mode pedal system includes soft and ultra-soft mode pedals, 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 mode pedal linkage assembly between the soft and ultra-soft mode pedals and the hammer rest and piano key lift rails causes movement of the hammer rest rail, piano hammers, the piano keys, and the wippen assemblies upon actuation of the soft mode pedal between normal mode position and soft and ultra-soft mode positions.

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: A damper action for an upright piano that comprises a springed tab on the damper lever that “ratchets” or gives way or folds away in one direction and does not in the other, to provide retention when the spring tab passes by the longitudinal ridge on the sostenuto rod in one direction and non-retention when the spring tab passes by the longitudinal ridge on the sostenuto rod the other direction. The ratchet aspect of the spring tab uses tension from the damper spring and does not require a separate spring to apply tension to yield the ratchet effect.

Abstract: Lost motion compensation device is a mechanical device that rigidly and pivotally connects the rest rail of an upright piano to the front end of the whippen of an upright piano to cause the two member to rotate in unison as the rest rail is rotated by depressing and releasing the soft pedal on an upright piano.

Abstract: A piano hammer stopper system includes a stopper rail set comprising at least first and second stopper rail members, each movable between respective first positions allowing unobstructed movement of associated piano hammers and respective second positions stopping at least one associated piano hammer from striking any corresponding string. At least one drive shaft is rotatably coupled to one or both of the stopper rail members. A drive arm is attached to the drive shaft and engages a drive fulcrum. A travel guide directs movement of the first and second stopper rail members between respective first and second positions. Rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive arm to engage the drive fulcrum for moving one or both of the first and second stopper rail members between respective first and second positions.

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: An upright piano, wherein: a) within the overall lever-hammer, the total weight of the hammer butt plus balance hammer exceeds the weight of the hammer by at least 60%; b) the arm of the lever-hammer has a measurement of less than 65 millimeters; c) the center of gravity of the lever-hammer is shifted rearwards from the vertical passing through the pin in the opposite direction to the string by a distance exceeding one centimeter such that, at the moment of striking, the segment which joins the center of gravity to the pin of the lever-hammer forms with the vertical a positive angle of at least 7°; d) a spoon is added, symmetrical to and opposite the spoon fixed to the wippen on the other side of the rod of the damper, this spoon being hinged, by a lever provided with a counterweight, to a fixed structure.

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, wherein: a) within the overall lever-hammer, the total weight of the hammer butt plus balance hammer exceeds the weight of the hammer by at least 60%; b) the arm of the lever-hammer has a measurement of less than 65 millimeters; c) the center of gravity of the lever-hammer is shifted rearwards from the vertical passing through the pin in the opposite direction to the string by a distance exceeding one centimeter such that, at the moment of striking, the segment which joins the center of gravity to the pin of the lever-hammer forms with the vertical a positive angle of at least 7°; d) a spoon is added, symmetrical to and opposite the spoon fixed to the wippen on the other side of the rod of the damper, this spoon being hinged, by a lever provided with a counterweight, to a fixed structure.

Abstract: An upright piano type action has a wippen 30, a jack 40, a butt 5, a swinging shank (hammer shank 71), a swinging member (hammer 70), a catcher shank 53, a backcheck 60 and a catcher 52. To any of the moving members, namely the butt 5, the swinging shank (hammer shank 71), the swinging member (hammer 70), the catcher 52 and the catcher shank 53, a weight 110, 120, 130 or 140 is attached. The weights 110, 120, 130, 140 are placed to apply loads, respectively, in a state where a key is not being depressed, in a direction opposite to a direction in which the moving members swing for hitting.

Abstract: A surface 60 of a butt 50 has a flat portion 61 which is situated forward and has a small inclination angle and a slanting pressure receiving portion 62 which is situated backward and has a large inclination angle as areas pushed up by a jack 40. Between the flat portion 61 and the slanting pressure receiving portion 62, an escapement portion 63 having an obtuse angle is formed. The escapement portion 63 is provided to correspond to a position of the jack 40 placed immediately after the start of swinging of the jack 40. The inclination angle of the slanting pressure receiving portion 62 is determined such that in a stage where a key starts returning from a slow full stroke key-depression, a position at which the butt 50 is in contact with the jack 40 is maintained with the butt 50 swinging backward.

Abstract: An upright piano which is capable of providing a soft pedal effect in a first playing mode for performing acoustic playing, and an excellent performance in a second playing mode, without being affected by step-on of a soft pedal, while properly detecting the rotational position of each hammer, is disclosed. The upright piano includes sensors for detecting the rotational position of a hammer in the second playing mode, a hammer rest rail with which the hammer is in contact in a key-off state of a key, a soft pedal, a pedal rod for pushing up the hammer rest rail as the soft pedal is stepped on, a stopper movable between a permitting position and a blocking position, and a stopper drive mechanism for driving the stopper to the permitting position in the first playing mode and to the blocking position in the second playing mode.

Abstract: An upright piano includes action units between keys and hammers, and the action units are less prompt so that a missing tone tends to take place in a music passage through high-speed repetition; the action unit is constructed from a whippen assembly, a jack mechanism provided on the whippen assembly and a regulating button mechanism for an escape in cooperation with the jack mechanism, and a compression coil spring is provided between a center rail and the whippen assembly for urging the whippen assembly in a direction toward the original position, thereby accelerating the restoration of jack to the contact with the hammer.

Abstract: An improved device for providing the magic touch effect during a double repetition in an upright piano wherein the device comprises a plurality of keys swingably mounted on a keyboard frame and supporting a suitably inclined slanted drive element, which can be screw adjusted and is intercoupled to a slanted swinging arm that operates as a control lever that is pivoted to an abruptly clockwise downstream slanted main bridge having an escapement lever coupled to a butt roller of a hammer, pivoted to a first pillar element, that supports adjusting buttons for adjusting a first and second escapements. The main bridge assembly is coupled to a second pillar element, that is pivoted to the lever of the second escapement.

Abstract: An improved device for providing the so-called magic touch effect during a double repetition, in an upright piano, is characterized in that said device comprises a plurality of keys said keys being swingably mounted on a keyboard frame and supporting, each, a suitably inclined slanted drive element, which can be screw adjusted and is intercoupled to a slanted swinging arm, operating as control angular variation continuous escapement energy lever in turn pivoted to an abruptely clockwise downstream slanted main bridge operatively swinging with the escapement lever which is coupled to a butt roller of a hammer, pivoted to a first pillar element, in turn supporting a plurality of adjusting buttons for adjusting a first and second escapements.

Abstract: [Problems to be solved]There is provided an upright piano which is capable of providing a soft pedal effect in a first playing mode for performing acoustic playing, and an excellent performance in a second playing mode, without being affected by step-on of a soft pedal, while properly detecting the rotational position of each hammer.

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 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 exhaust gas muffler for an internal combustion engine, especially in a manually guided implement such as a power chain saw and the like, is provided. The muffler has a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet for engine exhaust gas. An essentially cylindrical spark killer screen is fixed in position at a wall opening of the muffler housing that forms the outlet. The spark killer screen projects into the interior of the muffler housing. Adjoining the spark killer screen on the outer side of the muffler housing as an extension of the cylindrical spark killer screen is an exhaust gas pipe. This pipe is provided with threads and serves as a fastening device with which the spark killer screen and the exhaust gas pipe, as a fire protector, are fixed in position in the wall opening of the muffler housing.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument is a compromise between an upright piano and an electronic keyboard, and a hammer stopper is provided between hammer shanks and sets of strings; the hammer stopper has cushion members on a stopper rail where the hammer shanks rebound before a strike against the strings, and a pair of parallelogram crank mechanisms are connected to both end portions of the stopper rail so as to project the cushion members into and retract them from the trajectories of the hammer shanks, thereby decreasing space occupied by the cushion members.

Abstract: A keyboard for an electronic instrument and an electronic piano providing a key touch and a key touch response similar to those of an acoustic piano and stabilizing the key touch response for each key. Two detection positions of a key stroke are detected by a jack tail sensor or a jack sensor by detecting contact of a jack tail equivalent member or a jack equivalent member, before or after a hammer equivalent member disengages from or releases from a jack equivalent member. A time difference between the two positions is not adversely affected by the let-off of the jack equivalent member. Therefore, the positions and the time difference are detected stably for each key. Sound timing and sound intensity are controlled based upon the detected positions and time difference between the positions. Therefore, a key touch response, similar to that of an acoustic piano, can be stably obtained for each key.

Abstract: A key action mechanism incorporated in an upright piano is accompanied with a repetition mechanism having a repetition lever rotatably supported by a butt and pushed by a jack after an escape from the butt for producing a gap between a leading end thereof and a back check, therefore, the butt and, accordingly, hammer assembly can rotate backwardly over a predetermined angle due to the gap, after the striking or after the escape of the jack, and, as a result, the hammer assembly is prevented from double-strike.

Abstract: A jack on a whippen incorporated in an upright piano drives a hammer assembly to rotate toward musical strings for producing sound, and a soft pedal causes the hammer assembly to become closer to the musical strings, wherein the upright piano comprises an adjusting mechanism operative to move the whippen upon manipulation of the soft pedal for eliminating gap between the jack and the butt as well as modifying rotating distance of the whippen, and a driving link assembly coupled between an associated key and a damper mechanism so that the whippen moved by the adjusting mechanism has no influence of action of the damper mechanism, thereby keeping key-touch ordinary under the manipulation of the soft pedal.

Abstract: A muting device of an upright piano which includes butt, a wippen, a capstan button and a muting mechanism (15). This butt rotates with a hammer which strikes a string of the upright piano. In addition, a jack is provided to come in contact with a lower surface of the butt, and rotates the butt in response to displacement of the key. The jack is supported by the wippen such that it can freely rotate. The capstan button is provided at a back edge portion of the key to transmit displacement of the key to the wippen. The muting mechanism is designed to reduce a string-striking stroke by rotating the hammer. Further, there is provided a key-displacement-transmission-rate changing mechanism. When reducing the string-striking stroke by the muting mechanism, this mechanism raises a displacement transmission point, at which displacement of the key is transmitted to the wippen, toward a rotation center of the key from the capstan button.

Abstract: The subject action is a modification of the traditional upright action. The traditional jack spring is eliminated. Its function is assumed by a jack/repetition spring, which is a compression spring adjustably mounted between the jack near the end that engages the hammer butt and a pilot attached to a threaded shaft through the back stop portion of the hammer assembly. The hammer return spring mounting enables adjustment of the range of force applied by the spring to the hammer. The force range magnitude is such that the hammer return torque is commensurate to the torque that would be applied by gravity if the hammer shank were mounted horizontally instead of vertically. The operating force of the jack/repetition spring is related to that of the hammer return spring in such a way that re-engagement of the jack with the hammer butt is assured before hammer return beyond the back-checked point.

Abstract: The subject action is a modification of the traditional upright action. The traditional jack spring is eliminated. Its function is assumed by a jack/repetition spring, which is a compression spring adjustably mounted between the jack near the end that engages the hammer butt and a pilot attached to the back stop portion of the hammer assembly. The hammer return spring mounting enables adjustment of the range of force applied by the spring to the hammer. The force range magnitude is such that the hammer return torque is commensurate to the torque that would be applied by gravity if the hammer shank were mounted horizontally instead of vertically. The operating force of the jack/repetition spring is related to that of the hammer return spring in such a way that re-engagement of the jack with the hammer butt is assured before hammer return beyond the back-checked point.

Abstract: An action for an upright piano which emulates or simulates the action of a grand piano is provided. In the action, a back check lever is positioned above the back of the key, and a grand piano whippen is positioned above the back check lever. The grand whippen acts on a knuckle provided on a catcher arm integrally connected with the hammer shank at a substantial angle. Depression of the key produces upward movement of the back of the key, the back check lever, and the grand whippen, in turn producing rotation of the catcher arm which drives the hammer towards the string. The catcher arm has a catcher at its forward end and the back check lever has a back check for catching the catcher after the hammer has rebounded from the string. A vertically-acting gravity-activated damping action is provided. The hammer action is mounted independently from the damping action, and a shifting lever connected to a foot pedal permits lateral shifting of the hammer action with respect to the strings.

Abstract: An improved wippen heel arrangement for an upright piano includes: a pillar screwed into one end portion of a piano key so that the projecting length of the pillar which projects from the piano key is adjustable; a wippen heel attached to a wippen constituting one element of an action mechanism; and a wippen joint interposed between the pillar and the wippen heel for pivotal movement about a stationary shaft, in which the thrust applied to the pillar is transmitted through the wippen joint to the wippen. Accordingly, a key touch quality which may be experienced with a grand piano can be enjoyed using an upright piano.

Abstract: An action mechanism for a upright piano includes a back check mechanism having a back check member provided on the horizontal arm of a hammer arranged to strike a string and a hammer check disposed upright on a wippen constituting an escapement mechanism. With an upright piano incorporating this back check mechanism, it is possible to satisfactorily produce a rapid repetition of a tone with a sound quality approximately that which up until now could only be provided with a grand piano.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument utilizes a magnetic action to strike a resonator element with a hammer in response to playing of a pivotally mounted key, the magnetic action including a pair of opposite polarity magnetic poles mounted on an actuating end of the key and a magnetic pole mounted on the hammer to be disposed in horizontal alignment with one of the poles mounted on the key of an opposite polarity when the hammer is in a rest position such that the opposite polarity magnetic poles attract one another with the hammer in the rest position and, when the playing end of the key is depressed, the similar polarity pole on the actuating end of the key is moved to repel the magnetic pole carried on the hammer to impel the hammer to strike the resonator element. A block of non-magnetic material can extend from the lower magnetic pole on th actuating end of the key under the magnetic pole of the hammer to engage the same and initiate movement of the hammer when the playing end of the key is depressed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modified striking mechanism for use in pianos and related instruments having strings or their equivalent to produce musical notes and keys to select the notes. The mechanism includes a hammer assembly, a lever driving the hammer, coacting gear means for imparting motion to the hammer and features a novel escapement action for use therewith. An alternate embodiment is also disclosed wherein the lever and coacting gear means have been eliminated which allows the jack to engage and drive the hammer directly. Additionally disclosed are improvements including an escapement action adapted for use with conventional piano striking mechanisms, a novel damper assembly, a mechanism for activation by the soft pedal of the piano, a tension adjustment mechanism for varying the amount of force necessary to strike a key, and novel balance rail and capstan lever assemblies.

Abstract: An action for a piano type musical instrument in which the hammer striking force is produced by the reaction of a pneumatic piston. For the grand piano embodiment, the hammer pivot is carried by the key-lever and the piston is connected to the hammer butt such that when the instrument is played the resistance of the piston raises the hammer into the musical string. A similar action is shown for the upright piano. In each case the hammer is propelled into the string with a velocity proportional to key-lever velocity and the escape, check and repetition parts of conventional actions are made unnecessary by the inherent properties of the pneumatic piston.

Abstract: Disclosed is a modified striking mechanism for use in pianos and related instruments having strings or their equivalent to produce musical notes and keys to select the notes. The mechanism includes a hammer assembly, a lever driving the hammer, coacting gear means for imparting motion to the hammer and features a novel escapement action for use therewith. Additionally disclosed are improvements including an escapement action adapted for use with conventional piano striking mechanisms, a novel damper assembly, a mechanism for activation by the soft pedal of the piano, a tension adjustment mechanism for varying the amount of force necessary to strike a key, and novel balance rail and capstan lever assemblies.