Abstract: There is disclosed a keyboard structure incorporated in an electronic keyboard instrument the keyboard structure including; a plurality of key members each having a depressible front end portion and a rear end portion; a plurality of flexible connecting members each merged with the rear end portion of each key member; a retainer member merged with the flexible connecting members for retaining a circuit board which carries a plurality of key switches; and a plurality of coupling members each having a first element merged with the rear end portion of each key member and a second element merged with the retainer member, and the first element is snapped into the second element, so that major members are simultaneously formed by a molding, thereby enhancing the assembling efficiency.

Abstract: An improved keyboard includes the replacement or substitution of the original, conventional flat/sharp or black keys with a more narrower key having a width factor substantially within the range of 0.55 to 0.85 of the width of a standard or original black key such that the players having hands and/or fingers larger than normal may more easily reach the adjacent shank portion of the intermediate white keys.

Abstract: In construction of a keyboard device well suited for use on an electronic piano and a piano training device, a combination of a jack element corresponding to a jack on an actual action assembly, an abutment whose force acting on the jack element corresponds to the weight of an actual hammer, and a releaser corresponding to actual regulating button provides key touch very close to that obtained on an actual piano equipped with action assemblies.

Abstract: A membrane keyboard for e.g. a low cost electronic tone generator of the type affixed to the binding of a songbook is disclosed. The keyboard includes a base carrying a set of interdigital upwardly facing printed circuit contacts for each key. A membrane overlay is vacuum formed of a thin plastic sheet to define a horizontal row of playing keys, each key being formed as a plateau area, with a vertical depression spring rib separating each key. Each key includes an elastomeric foam pad affixed to its underside area which carries a conductive lower surface aligned with with the interdigital traces of the key. The conductive surface bridges the traces to complete an electrical circuit when the membrane is depressed downwardly from its top surface.

Abstract: A key apparatus is provided in which the resistance of the keys to being depressed is such that the touch feeling of a real piano key is simulated. A key is pivotally mounted so that rotation is performed in response to depression. A weighted lever and a weight embedded in the key serve to urge the key in the opposite rotational direction. A deformable element is arranged so that it contacts the key after the key has been depressed a predetermined distance. The resistance of the deformable element to being deformed initially increases as the key is depressed beyond the predetermined distance, and then decreases as the key is depressed further.

Abstract: Each key of a keyboard of an electronic musical instrument is mounted on a frame to be tiltable in the vertical direction and biased to a normal position by a return spring. Each key is incorporated with a weight member embedded in a cushion member. Preferably the cushioned weight member is mounted on the front end of each key and the cushion member is made of rubber. The cushioned weight member provides a refined responsive key touch sensation.

Abstract: A key-driving/detecting mechanism for performing automatically a keyboard instrument is constituted by a plurality of keys arranged on a key bed, each key being rotatable about a balance pin secured to a balance rail, and an electromagnetic device interposed between a lower surface of each key and the key bed at a position to the rear of the balance pin. Each electromagnetic device comprises an electromagnetic oil mounted on the key bed and a permanent magnet secured to a rear surface of the key. The simplicity of the key-driving/detecting mechanism is implemented by this disposition of the electromagnetic device. In a modification a pair of electromagnetic devices are provided in front of and in rear of the balance pin.

Abstract: Each key of a keyboard of an electronic musical instrument is mounted on a frame to be tiltable in the vertical direction and biased to a normal position by a return spring. Each key is incorporated with a weight member embedded in a cushion member. Preferably the cushioned weight member is mounted on the front end of each key and the cushion member is made of rubber. The cushioned weight member provides a refined responsive key touch sensation.

Abstract: A keyboard-operated tone-producing apparatus having, in combination, keyboard means the keys of which are mounted for downward depression to effect tone production in the apparatus and for longitudinal sliding to alter or bend the tone; electronic digital signal processor means; tone-generating means; pressure sensing means responsive to key depression to produce signals corresponding thereto for application to the signal processor means to produce corresponding digital signals applied to generate tones from the tone-generating means; means for causing the pressure sensing means to provide the same signal reference, upon key depression, irrespective of the point of pressure along the path of longitudinal sliding of the key; and means controlled in response to the last-named means and cooperative with the signal processor means as it controls the tone-generating means to produce one or all of variable range bending of the tone, center compensation for differing player techniques of key depression, and second s

Abstract: A key action for an electronic musical instrument for simulating a mechanical-type tracker action having a single means embodying an electrical contact means and a motion retarding means to cause a toggling of the key while the electrical contact is maintained.

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: A key device, as used in a keyboard, comprises(a) a hinge,(b) a key tab projecting in one direction relative to the hinge, and connected with the hinge,(c) a pusher projecting in another direction relative to the hinge, and connected with the hinge, and(d) a spring arranged to be deflected when the key tab is downwardly depressed about the hinge axis, to resist such depression.

Abstract: An organ key assembly having a loosely mounted switch actuator providing self-aligning movement of the actuator relative to the switch. The switch, in the illustrated embodiment, is a membrane switch. The actuator is arranged to slide across the switch in effecting the operation thereof. The actuator is associated with the key in such a manner as to permit the key to be moved from an undepressed, normal position to the fully depressed position, with a substantially constant force. The actuator defines a novel configuration for providing the self-aligning function and switch wiping operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the switch is provided as a portion of a printed circuit board. A support structure is provided for preventing deformation of the printed circuit board by the actuator biasing forces.

Abstract: A keyboard mechanism for musical instruments which includes a key return spring made from resilient wire bent to form a pair of flexure spring arms connected by a bight. The arms have elbow bends. The ends of the arms have wrist bends, and are trapped in apertures formed in the frame of the instrument. The bight is trapped in one of a plurality of notches on the outer surface of the key. The spring is located close to the fulcrum of the key, in order to reduce the moment arm and spring deflection, both of which contribute to undesirable force build-up.

Abstract: A musical synthesizer keyboard has a plurality of keys mounted so that each key may be displaced along and return along a locus of movement and where during travel in either direction along said locus a key causes a change of state in each of two corresponding optical detectors at spaced locations along said locus. Means are provided for signalling the states of the detectors to other equipment.

Abstract: An action is described for musical instruments of the piano type. Means are included for braking and restraining each hammer of the action to prevent bouncing, rebounding, or other undesired movement, when the key is depressed and the hammer is positioned at the escapement distance from the tone generating tine and also when the key is released and the hammer is at rest position. The braking and restraining means move arcuately in cooperation with the key to exert a wedging force against a portion of the head of the hammer to brake and restrain it in the desired positions.

Abstract: A pair of key blocks bearing a keyboard assembly via an intervening frame are pivotally coupled to side boards of a musical instrument by means of pin-groove engagement, and a top board and a front cover of the instrument are both turnable upwards in order to allow free pivotal movement of the keyboard assembly. Pivotal mounting of the keyboard assembly allows easy access to its bottom construction for replacement, repairment and adjustment purposes.

Abstract: The keys for toy musical instruments comprises a plurality of keys that are friction-fitted on a pair of supports. Each key is an integrally formed, molded member comprised of several components with interrelated functions, such as (1) a key lever for manual depression, (2) a hammer at the end remote from the key lever, (3) a flexible segment for propelling the hammer against a tone bar in response to depression of a key lever, and (4) unique cooperating members on the flexible segment and key lever for damping out reverberations of the hammer that might cause repeated strikings of the tone bar and/or chattering of the hammer.

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 keyboard assembly incorporates a plurality of key members molded of thermoplastic material, each of the keys having an integrally formed pivot wall supported on a pair of pivot points disposed on a pair of pivot members integral with a pivot bracket. The key members are located laterally by the pivot wall being gripped between the pivot points, and is located longitudinally relative to the pivot members by means of two pairs of locating ridges, one pair on each side of the pivot wall. A pair of resilient tabs integral with the plastic key member engage the upper corners of the pivot members, and a rib extending downwardly from the pivot wall extends into a slot to resist twisting of the key member. A key guide strip for the key member has a pair of vertically aligned projections, for supporting bumpers which guide the forward end of the key member and which provide a cushioning action for noiselessly stopping of upward movement of the key member.

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.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with the production of pitch variations, tone alterations and other related effects on keyboard musical instruments and the like effected through mechanisms activated by individual longitudinal finger movement along the longitudinal axis of the keys.

Abstract: A keyboard of an electronic musical instrument incorporates a plurality of variable capacitors, one for each key, with one conductor of each capacitor being connected for movement with an individual key of the keyboard toward and away from the other conductor, so as to vary the capacitance of the capacitor in accordance with the force with which the key is depressed.

Abstract: A chord button assembly for use in electronical organs is formed as a unitary assembly. A plastic hinge strip extending the length of the chord selector button area is provided and a plurality of keys or arms extend from the strip and have selector buttons formed at or near terminating ends of the arms in a staggered pattern to extend through openings formed in the chord selector plate. The arms are provided with return spring and electrical contact element receiving recesses which are strategically located to allow selection of multiple chord operation by actuation of a single chord button.