Extra low profile housing for vertical dual keyboard MIDI wireless controller for accordionists

• US 5,388,493 A
• Filed: 11/17/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Giorgio F. Curletto
• Original Assignee: Giorgio F. Curletto
• Inventors: Curletto, Giorgio F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DONELS, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/153,196
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 84/376, 84/376 R, 84/376 A, 84/376 BA, 84/645
• US Class Current: 84/376.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 11/00 Accordions, concertinas or the like; Keyboards therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/245 Spint accordion, i.e. mimicking accordions; Electrophonic instruments with one or more typical accordion features, e.g. special accordion keyboards or bellows, electrophonic aspects of mechanical accordions, Midi-like control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/211 Wireless transmission, e.g. of music parameters or control data by radio, infrared or ultrasound beam G10H2220/405

Abstract

An extra low profile housing for vertical dual keyboard MIDI wireless controller for accordionists, representing values and features of convenience, practicality and portability even further enhanced in its book-like folding version, in its three section interlocking modular version, and in its vertical horizontal dual-purpose version. The instrument can be used with either the traditional MIDI cable connection or by a wireless MIDI transmission system when so equipped.

Claims

1. An extra low profile housing for vertical dual keyboard MIDI or Wireless MIDI Controllers for accordionists comprising three vertically oriented rectangular segments;

the first one of said three segments being three and one-half to four inches deep comprising a lateral left surface, a back surface, a top and a bottom surface, a front surface incorporating a left-hand bassboard assembly, and containing a primary control panel positioned lengthwise on a lateral right surface;

the longitudinally adjacent second rectangular section of said three rectangular segments being not more than two and one-quarter inches deep, having a front and a back surface, a top and a bottom surface, and containing a secondary control panel arranged longitudinally on a lateral right surface;

the subsequent adjoining third and last section of said three rectangular segments being one and one-half inches deep, having a top and a bottom surface, a lateral right surface, and having lengthwise a back surface directly opposite a right-hand keyboard representing and constituting the front surface of said third and last section.

2. A folding extra low profile housing for vertical dual keyboard MIDI or Wireless MIDI Controllers for accordionists comprising three vertically oriented rectangular segments of equal length;

the first one of said three segments being three and one-half to four inches deep, having a lateral left surface, a back surface, a top and a bottom surface, a front surface incorporating a left-hand bassboard assembly, and containing a primary control panel positioned lengthwise on a lateral right surface;

the longitudinally adjacent second section of said three rectangular segments not more than two and one-quarter inches deep, being dissected lengthwise in two sections representing a left half side and a right half side;

said left half side having a top and a bottom surface, a front and a back surface and a lateral right surface;

said right half side having a top and a bottom surface, a front and a back surface, a lateral left surface and a lateral right surface containing a secondary control panel;

said secondary control panel adjoining lengthwise the third and last subsequent one and one-half inches deep section of said three rectangular segments having a top and a bottom surface, a lateral right surface and having a back surface directly opposite a right-hand keyboard representing and constituting the front surface of said third and last section;

furthermore, said back surface of said left half side central portion being connected longitudinally to said back surface of said right half side central portion by means of a piano hinge;

said piano hinge making it possible for said MIDI or Wireless MIDI Controllers to fold for added portability.

3. An interlocking modular extra low profile housing for vertical dual keyboard MIDI or Wireless MIDI Controller for accordionists comprising three separate vertically oriented interconnectable modular rectangular segments;

the first one of said three modular segments being three and one-half to four inches deep, comprising a lateral left surface, a back surface, a front surface incorporating a left-hand bassboard assembly, a top and a bottom surface, and a lateral right surface containing in its longitudinal front half portion a primary control panel and incorporating in its longitudinal rear half portion a dove-tail like recessed track;

the second one of said three interconnectable rectangular segments being not more than two and one-quarter inches deep, having a top and a bottom surface, a front and a back surface, a left lateral surface incorporating a dove-tail like interlocking protruding track, and a right lateral surface containing a dove-tail like recessed interlocking track;

the remaining third separate section of said three rectangular interconnectable modular segments having a left lateral surface not more than two and one-quarter inches deep incorporating a dove-tail like interlocking protruding track, a front surface, a lateral right surface containing a secondary control panel;

said lateral right surface merging lengthwise with the inner edge of the one and one-half inches deep right-hand keyboard assembly comprising a lateral right surface, a back surface, a front surface consisting of a keyboard, and a top and a bottom surface matching both the one and one-half inch depth of said keyboard assembly and the two and one-quarter inch depth of said left lateral surface incorporating said interlocking protruding track and containing said secondary control panel.

4. A dual-purpose extra low profile housing for dual keyboard MIDI or Wireless MIDI Controllers for accordionists to be used either vertically or horizontally;

said dual-purpose housing comprising three vertically oriented rectangular segments;

the first one of said three segments being three and one-half to four inches deep, comprising a lateral left surface, a back surface, a top and a bottom surface, a front surface incorporating a left-hand bassboard assembly, and a lateral surface containing a primary control panel;

the longitudinally adjacent second one of said three rectangular segments being not more than two and one-quarter inches deep, and being dissected in two sections respectively representing a left side half and a right side half;

said left side half having a top and a bottom surface, a front and a back surface, and a lateral right surface;

said right side half having a top and a bottom surface, a front and a back surface, a lateral left surface, and a lateral right surface containing a secondary control panel;

said lateral right surface merging lengthwise with the inner edge of the right-hand keyboard;

said keyboard representing the front surface of the keyboard assembly comprising a lateral right surface, a back surface, a top and a bottom surface matching the same dimensions of both the one and one-half inch deep portion of said keyboard assembly and the two and one-quarter inch deep portion of said right side half of said dissected second segment containing said secondary control panel;

said left side hall'"'"'s top surface of said dissected section of said three rectangular segments and said right side hall'"'"'s top surface of same dissected section being connected by means of a short hinge;

said hinge making it possible for said left side half and said right side half of said dual-purpose housing to either join together to be used vertically like an accordion, or to separate and gradually fan out to a full 180°

at which point said left side half'"'"'s top surface and said right side half'"'"'s top surface join together thus causing the aligment of both left-hand bassboard and righthand keyboard in a straight horizontal position to be used like a piano.