Celesta promptly responsive to high speed keying-in

• US 5,235,892 A
• Filed: 12/03/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Semba, Yasuyuki, Takahasi, Masaaki, Terada, Norishige, Ohmuro, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANZIONE, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US07/801,047
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 84/174, 84/236, 84/237, 84/323, 84/371, 84/404, 84/239, 84/240, 84/216, 84/217, 84/218
• US Class Current: 84/404
• CPC Class Codes: G10C 3/16 Actions
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 13/09 with keyboards

Abstract

A celesta produces sounds in response to keying-in by striking sound bars with hammer units associated therewith, and key action mechanisms are provided between the keys and the hammer units, wherein the hammer units are located under the associated sound bars so that the hammers promptly return to initial positions by the aid of the gravity exerted thereon.

Claims

1. A celesta comprising

a) a plurality of keys, each of said plurality of keys being swingable when selectively depressed by a player;

b) a plurality of sound bars respectively associated with said plurality of keys;

c) a plurality of hammer units respectively associated with said plurality of sound bars for striking said associated sound bars, and located under said associated sound bars;

d) a plurality of key action mechanisms respectively coupled between said plurality of keys and said plurality of hammer units, and causing said associated hammer units to strike said associated sound bars when said associated keys swing, said plurality of key action mechanisms allowing said associated hammer units to return to respective initial positions by the aid of at least the gravity exerted thereon after said associated hammer units strike said associated sound bars; and

e) a plurality of resonance boxes provided in association with said plurality of sound bars, respectively, an adjusting mechanism being provided between each of said plurality of resonance boxes and each of said plurality of sound bars for adjusting a gap therebetween.

2. A celesta as set forth in claim 1, in which said plurality of keys are provided on a flat surface and broken down into first and second key groups, and in which said plurality of sound bars are partially provided in an upper section over said plurality of keys and partially in a lower section under said plurality of keys, said plurality of key action mechanisms selectively coupling said plurality of keys with said hammers associated with said sound bars over said plurality of keys and with said hammers associated with said sound bars under said plurality of keys.

3. A celesta as set forth in claim 2, in which said key action mechanisms are broken down into a first group provided for said keys associated with said sound bars in said upper section and a second group provided for said keys associated with said sound bars in said lower section, in which each of said key action mechanisms of said first group comprises a whippen assembly provided between said associated key and said associated hammer unit, wherein each of said key action mechanisms of said second group comprises a connecting rod engaged with said associated key, a rockable bar engaged with said connecting rod and a whippen assembly provided between said rockable bar and said associated hammer unit.

4. A celesta as set forth in claim 3, in which said celesta further comprises:

a damper mechanism associated with said sound bars.

5. A celesta as set forth in claim 1, in which said celesta further comprises g) a plurality of supporting mechanisms respectively associated with said plurality of sound bars for locating said sound bars over said associated hammer mechanisms, respectively.

6. A celesta as set forth in claim 5, in which each of said supporting mechanisms comprises a rigid frame, a damper provided between said rigid frame and the associated sound bar, and at least two pin members passing through at least two holes formed in said associated sound bar and fixing said associated sound bar and said damper to said rigid frame, said at least two holes of said associated sound bar being located in such a manner that nodes of vibrations take place thereat upon striking with said associated hammer unit.

7. A celesta as set forth in claim 6, in which said at least two pin members are covered with a substance capable of insulating vibrations.

8. A celesta as set forth in claim 5, in which each of said supporting mechanisms comprises a rigid frame, a damper provided between said rigid frame and the associated sound bar, a first pin member passing through a first hole formed in said associated sound bar and fixing said associated sound bar and said damper to said rigid frame, and a second pin member fixed to said rigid frame and attached to a predetermined side area of said associated sound bar for spacing said associated sound bar from an adjacent sound bar, said first and second pin members being located in the vicinity of those spots where nodes of vibrations take place thereat upon striking said associated sound bar with said associated hammer unit.

9. A celesta as set forth in claim 5, in which each of said supporting mechanisms comprises a rigid frame, a pair of generally wedge-shaped lower felt members mounted on said rigid frame, a pair of upper felt members sandwiching said associated sound bar together with said generally wedge-shaped lower felt members, a base member mounted on said upper felt members, and pin members passing through holes of said generally wedge-shaped lower felt members, holes of said associated sound bar and holes of said upper felt members for fixing to said rigid frame, said holes of said associated sound bar being spaced apart from each other so that nodes of vibrations take place thereat.

10. A celesta comprising

a) a plurality of keys, each of said plurality of keys being swingable when selectively depressed by a player;

b) a plurality of sound bars respectively associated with said plurality of keys;

c) a plurality of hammer units respectively associated with said plurality of sound bars for striking said associated sound bars, and located under said associated sound bars;

d) a plurality of key action mechanisms respectively coupled between said plurality of keys and said plurality of hammer units, and causing said associated hammer units to strike said associated sound bars when said associated keys swing, said plurality of key action mechanisms allowing said associated hammer units to return to respective initial positions by the aid of at least the gravity exerted thereon after said associated hammer units strike said associated sound bars; and

e) a plurality of resonance boxes provided in association with said plurality of sound bars, respectively.

11. A celesta as set forth in claim 10, in which said celesta further comprises:

an adjusting mechanism provided between each of the plurality of resonance boxes and each of the plurality of sound bars for adjusting a gap therebetween.

12. A celesta as set forth in claim 10, in which said key action mechanisms are broken down into a first group provided for said keys associated with said sound bars in said upper section and a second group provided for said keys associated with said sound bars in said lower section, in which each of said key action mechanisms of said first group comprises a whippen assembly provided between said associated key and said associated hammer unit, wherein each of said key action mechanisms of said second group comprises a connecting rod engaged with said associated key, a rockable bar engaged with said connecting rod and a whippen assembly provided between said rockable bar and said associated hammer unit.