Supports – Supporting base
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-19
2001-04-03
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Supporting base
C248S346030, C248S694000, C084S461000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209838
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to recording keystroke information in a keyboard operated musical instrument, and more particularly to a mounting rail assembly for supporting optical recording sensors associated with the keys, hammers, hammer shanks or hammer catchers in a piano.
2. Description of the Background Art
Recording sensors are commonly used in electronic player piano systems to capture keystroke information. Typically, sensor assemblies are mounted below the keyboard to sense the movement and position of the keys for recording the original piano performance. In conventional player piano systems, the sensor assemblies are mounted on a common rack assembly which is sized to match the size of the keyboard. Since the rack assembly must be sized to match the size of the keyboard, it is necessary to customize the rack assembly for different types of player pianos.
Currently available rack assemblies do not provide for adjustability of the position of the sensors in relation to the keys. In the piano industry, however, there are at least four distinct piano key spacing arrangements. It will be appreciated that there is a large number of individual keys to be sensed in a player piano. Further, optical sensors may be positioned for sensing the movement and position of hammers, hammer shanks, or other moving portions of the piano which are associated with the piano keys. Currently used sensor rack assemblies are generally structured and configured to be positioned beneath the piano keys themselves, and are not suitable for supporting optical sensors which detect position and motion of hammers, hammer shanks, or moving parts other than the piano keys themselves.
Thus, there is a need for an apparatus which will allow for sensing key movement without interfering with the key movement, which provides for accurate positioning of each sensor in relation to the corresponding key, and which can be used for supporting optical sensors for the detection of position and movement of hammers, hammer shanks, or like moving parts of a piano which are associated with the keys. There is a further need for sensor assemblies which can be easily retrofitted to existing pianos with varying keyboard sizes and key spacing configurations. The present invention satisfies those needs, as well as others, and overcomes the deficiencies found in conventional sensor assembly mounting techniques.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a recording sensor mounting rail assembly for keyboard operated musical instruments, particularly electronic player pianos, which can be used to install recording sensors in a new or existing piano and provide for accurate alignment of the sensors in association with the individual keys in the instrument.
By way of example, and not of limitation, the invention comprises an elongated mounting rail which is preferably extruded as an integral component. A pair of flanges extend along the front and back edges of the mounting rail, and an open channel is defined between the flanges. Each flange includes a step or shelf that extends along the flange, with a shoulder running along the inner edge of the shelf, and a corner running along the outer edge of the shelf. A plurality of the rails may be joined together end to end in order to provide a sensor assembly which extends along the length of the keyboard of the piano.
The flange along the front edge includes an upward facing groove adapted to receive a threaded fastener therein. The step or shelf is configured to receive the front edge of a circuit board placed thereon. In the preferred embodiment, the flange along the back edge includes an inner lip that extends along the length of the back flange defining an elongated flute between the lip and the step or shelf. The flute is configured to receive the back edge of the circuit board placed therebetween. In the alternate embodiment, the back flange also includes an upwards facing groove adapted to receive a threaded fastener therein. The step of shelf is configured to receive the back edge of the circuit board placed thereon. A plurality of threaded fasteners is used to secure the circuit board onto the mounting rail.
An object of the invention is to provide a recording sensor mounting rail which permits accurate alignment of the recording sensors in relation to the keys, hammers, hammer shanks, or like moving part associated with the keys in a keyboard operated musical instrument.
Another object of the invention is to provide a recording sensor mounting rail which allows multiple rails to be connected to accommodate different sizes of keyboards.
Another object of the invention is to provide a recording sensor mounting rail which can be easily retrofitted to existing keyboards.
Another object of the invention is to provide a recording sensor mounting rail which provides for stable mounting of recording sensor assemblies.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a recording sensor mounting rail which is immutable to vibration which causes misalignment of the circuit board sensors.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limits thereon.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4974482 (1990-12-01), Tamaki
patent: 5010799 (1991-04-01), Tanaka
patent: 5081892 (1992-01-01), Broadmoore
patent: 5237125 (1993-08-01), Fields
patent: 5546842 (1996-08-01), Pimentel
patent: 5911169 (1999-06-01), Lichtenstein
patent: 5984255 (1999-11-01), Reyes
Anderson Denton B.
Fischer Wolfgang K.
Burgett, Inc.
King Anita M.
Morrison N.
O'Banion John P.
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