Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6632988
-
Patent Number
6,632,988
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, April 4, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 14, 200320 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 084 13
- 084 216
- 084 217
- 084 218
-
International Classifications
-
-
Disclaimer
Terminal disclaimer
Abstract
A damper assembly for a piano includes a rail assembly with an adjustable mount for mounting the rail assembly to the piano case, and a plurality of underlevers coupled to the rail assembly. The rail assembly is configured for vertical adjustment relative to the case, for example, continuous adjustment (in which the rail assembly can define a vertical slot) or discrete adjustment (in which the rail assembly defines discrete openings arranged vertically). The adjustable mount includes mounting blocks, and the rail is mounted to the blocks for rotation relative to the blocks. The mounting blocks each define an adjustment slot. A method of simultaneously adjusting a plurality of piano underlevers in a piano includes mounting a damper assembly to a piano case with an adjustable mount, and adjusting the position of a rail assembly of the damper assembly relative to the case.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a damper adjustment device for pianos, and in particular to the damper timing in grand and upright pianos.
An acoustic piano, by way of a keyboard and hammer mechanism (action), excites tensioned strings to produce tones. The strings are dampened by a second mechanism, the damper assembly. The “feel” of the piano action, that is, the real and perceived heaviness of the piano keys, depends on the damper timing—the point in the piano keystroke at which the damper is removed from the string. If the dampers are displaced from the strings early in the piano keystroke, it takes more force to depress the keys, making the keys “feel heavy”. On the other hand, if the dampers are displaced later in the keystroke, the keys feel “livelier” to the pianist. Personal preferences can dictate the exact timing desired.
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a prior art damper assembly
100
of a typical grand piano includes cushions
1
mounted on a damper head
2
, which is typically held above a piano string
30
as shown. When cushions
1
are in contact with string
30
, cushions
1
dampen vibrations of string
30
. Cushions
1
are typically made of felt or another material which can absorb vibration, and damper head
2
is typically made of wood. Damper head
2
is supported by a rigid damper wire
3
attached at one end
3
a
to damper head
2
and at an opposite end
3
b to a top flange
5
by a locking mechanism
4
, e.g., a barrel and screw as shown in FIG.
1
. Top flange
5
is mounted to an underlever
7
to rotate relative to underlever
7
about a pin
6
. Underlever
7
is mounted to a mounting flange
8
to rotate relative to mounting flange
8
about a pin
31
. Mounting flange
8
is attached to other structural elements, described below, by a flange screw
9
.
FIG. 2
demonstrates how the prior art damper assembly of
FIG. 1
operates to displace cushions
1
from piano string
30
when a piano key
10
is depressed. As shown in
FIG. 2
, a downward force
32
is applied at a proximal end
35
of piano key
10
. Since piano key
10
rests on a fulcrum
33
, this results in upward displacement of the opposite, distal end
37
of piano key
10
(arrow
39
). Distal end
37
comes in contact with an underside
36
of underlever
7
, and subsequently rotates underlever
7
about pin
31
(arrow
41
), transmitting the upward displacement through top flange
5
, damper wire
3
and damper head
2
(arrow
43
), lifting cushions
1
off piano string
30
. This allows an undamped vibration of piano string
30
when struck by a hammer (not shown). Associated movements of other components of the piano action, causing the hammer to strike piano string
30
and produce a tone, are not shown.
An important adjustment in the regulation of piano actions is the proper spacing
14
between the underside
36
of underlevers
7
and the distal end
37
of keys
10
. This determines the distance the distal end of the key must travel before damper head
2
is displaced from string
30
, and thus the amount of downward force
32
which must be applied to proximal end
35
of the piano key
10
. In practice, the spacing is adjusted by the “feel” of a trained technician. According to the prior art, this adjustment is made by loosening locking mechanism
4
between top flange
5
and damper wire
3
, rotating the underlever about pin
31
to provide the desired spacing
14
, and then retightening locking mechanism
4
. In a typical prior art grand piano, this adjustment must be repeated for the sixty damper assemblies present in the piano. Analogous adjustments are made for upright pianos as well.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, prior art damper assembly
100
typically includes a rail assembly
41
with a damper tray
11
. Damper tray
11
, designed to contact the underside
36
of each of a number of underlevers
7
in a group of underlevers, is typically operated by a foot pedal. This allows the vibrations of all piano strings associated with the group of underlevers to remain undamped as long as the foot pedal is operated. Rail assembly
41
includes a pair of stationary blocks
12
to which damper tray
11
is coupled by pivot pins
16
received in pivot cavities
17
defined by blocks
12
for rotation relative to blocks
12
about pins
16
. Pivot blocks
12
are fixedly mounted to piano case
40
by mounting screws
19
.
When damper tray
11
is rotated, for example, by actuating a mechanism (not shown) attached to a foot pedal (not shown), a pad
34
attached to tray
11
(typically made of felt or other material capable of absorbing noise) contacts the underside
36
of underlever
7
, causing upward displacement of cushions
1
through the same mechanism as described above with respect to the piano key action. Rotation of damper tray
11
results in motion of underlever
7
, even before contact between pad
34
and the underside
36
of underlever
7
. This is true unless the axes of rotation of underlever
7
(through pin
31
) and damper tray
11
(through pins
16
) are coincident.
FIG. 4
depicts an alternate embodiment of a prior art damper assembly
100
a.
Damper assembly
100
a
includes an underlever
7
a
mounted to piano casing
40
by a rail assembly
41
a,
and a damper tray
13
a
independently mounted to the piano casing
40
. Rail assembly
41
a
is mounted to piano casing
40
in a fixed position with screws
43
a.
Damper tray
13
a
includes a pad
34
a
for contacting the underside
36
a
of underlever
7
a.
Tray
13
a
is mounted to piano case
40
with mounting flanges
42
a
and screws
44
a.
Tray
13
pivots about pins
46
a.
Upward force on damper tray
13
causes pad
34
to contact the underside of underlever
7
. Further movement of tray
13
causes upward displacement of cushions
1
in an equivalent way as described with respect to
FIG. 3
, but rotation of independent damper tray
13
does not, in and of itself, cause movement of underlever
7
until pad
34
contacts the underside of underlever
7
. That is, the rotation of underlever
7
and damper tray
13
are not coupled until pad
34
contacts the underside
36
of underlever
7
.
Referring to
FIG. 5
, a piano action of an upright piano, according to the prior art, includes a damper assembly
200
. As in a grand piano, cushions
101
dampen vibrations of piano strings
130
. Cushions
101
are mounted on a damper head
102
(typically made of wood), which is positioned adjacent to string
130
as shown. Damper head
103
is supported by a rigid damper wire, a lower end
105
of which is press-fit into an underlever
136
. Underlever
136
is rotatably connected to a flange
137
by a pin
106
. Flange
137
is mounted to a primary action rail
138
.
In operation, piano key
110
, resting on a fulcrum
133
, is subjected to a downward force
132
at proximal end
134
. This results in upward displacement (arrow
107
) of the opposite, distal end
135
of piano key
110
. Distal end
135
comes in contact with the underside of one end
141
of a wippen assembly
139
, causing the latter to pivot about a pin
131
. The opposite end
143
of wippen assembly
139
, which has a spoon
140
mounted on its upper surface
145
, is thereby rotated downward (arrow
146
) and contacts underlever
136
, producing rotation of underlever
136
about pin
106
. This causes the upper end
149
of underlever
136
(and consequently damper wire
103
, damper head
102
and cushion
101
) to move away from piano string
130
(arrow
148
), acting against the bias introduced by a wire spring
141
. This allows piano string
130
to vibrate freely when it is struck by a hammer
151
.
The spacing
114
between spoon
140
and underlever
136
is important in determining when, during the piano keystroke, cushion
101
is lifted off string
130
. The greater the spacing
114
, the later during a keystroke cushion
101
is displaced from string
130
. This significantly affects the way the keys feel to a pianist, as described above. As with grand pianos, space
114
is individually adjusted for each damper assembly. For either type of piano, inconsistencies are introduced with such individual adjustments, and the individual adjustments are time-consuming and difficult to perform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention results from the realization that significant advantages can follow from a damper assembly which allows adjustment of the timing of the underlevers (that is, the spacing between underlevers and piano keys) in a groupwise, rather than individual, fashion.
In one aspect, the invention features a damper assembly for a piano. The damper assembly includes a rail assembly with an adjustable mount for mounting the rail assembly to the piano case, and a plurality of underlevers coupled to the rail assembly.
Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features.
The underlevers are rotatably coupled to the rail assembly. The rail assembly is configured for vertical adjustment relative to the case, for example, continuous adjustment (in which the rail assembly can define a vertical slot) or discrete adjustment (in which the rail assembly defines discrete openings arranged vertically). The rail assembly has two ends, and the adjustable mount includes a slot in a region of one end and another slot in a region of the opposite end. The adjustable mount includes an adjustment screw in each slot.
In one illustrated embodiment, the rail assembly includes a rail and an attached damper tray. The rail is configured for mounting to the case for rotation relative to the case. The adjustable mount includes mounting blocks, and the rail is mounted to the blocks for rotation relative to the blocks. The mounting blocks each define an adjustment slot. In another illustrated embodiment, the damper assembly includes a damper tray mounted to the case independently of the rail assembly.
The damper assembly includes a plurality of damper wires. Each of the underlevers is coupled, for example, rotatably coupled, to a respective damper wire.
In other embodiments, the piano has a horizontal axis and the rail assembly is configured for horizontal adjustment relative to the case.
According to another aspect of the invention, a piano includes a case and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a rail assembly having an adjustable mount which mounts the rail assembly to the case, and a plurality of underlevers coupled to the rail assembly.
Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features.
The mount includes adjustable mounting blocks coupled to the rail assembly, and mounting screws for fixing the mounting blocks to the case. The mounting blocks define slots for receiving the mounting screws. The mount includes slots defined in the rail assembly and mounting screws received in the slots for fixing the rail assembly to the case.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of simultaneously adjusting a plurality of piano underlevers in a piano includes mounting a damper assembly to a piano case with an adjustable mount, the damper assembly including a rail assembly and a plurality of underlevers coupled to the rail assembly, and adjusting the position of the rail assembly relative to the case.
Embodiments of this aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features.
The method includes rotatably coupling the underlevers to the rail assembly. The piano has a vertical axis, and the step of adjusting the rail assembly position relative to the case includes vertically adjusting the rail assembly position. The step of adjusting the rail assembly position relative to the case includes adjusting a spacing between the underlevers and a corresponding group of piano keys. Alternatively, the step of adjusting the rail assembly position relative to the case includes horizontally adjusting the rail assembly position.
The invention provides a number of advantages over previously known damper adjustment devices and methods. The inventive damper adjustment device permits the adjustment of a group of underlevers, rather than the adjustment of individual underlevers which has previously been required. More specifically, the inventive damper adjustment device permits the adjustment of distances between underlevers and their corresponding elements for displacing damper heads from piano strings without loosening the locking mechanisms of individual damper assemblies. Individual artists prefer the same “feel” for all the keys. Thus, the invention advantageously minimizes the introduction of string-to-string inconsistencies between the damper assemblies. The inventive damper adjustment device allows factory-established settings to be maintained for long periods of time. Further, the time and skill required to regulate damper settings are reduced.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side view of a prior art grand piano damper assembly.
FIG. 2
is a side view of a prior art grand piano key and damper assembly.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of a prior art grand piano damper assembly and damper tray.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of an additional prior art grand piano damper assembly and damper tray.
FIG. 5
is a side view of a conventional prior art upright piano action.
FIG. 6
is a side view of a grand piano key and damper assembly according to a particular embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of the damper assembly of FIG.
6
.
FIGS. 8A and 8B
are a side and front view, respectively, of a slotted grand piano damper tray pivot block.
FIGS. 9A and 9B
are a side and front view, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a slotted grand piano damper tray pivot block.
FIGS. 10A and 10B
are a side and front view, respectively, of an additional alternative embodiment of a slotted grand piano damper tray pivot block.
FIGS. 11A and 11B
are a side and front view, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a grand piano damper tray pivot block.
FIGS. 12A and 12B
are a side and front view, respectively, of an additional alternative embodiment of a grand piano damper tray pivot block.
FIG. 13
is a side view of an adjustment bolt for a grand piano damper tray pivot assembly.
FIG. 14
is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of a grand piano damper assembly.
FIG. 15
is a side view of an upright piano damper assembly according to a particular embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 16
is a perspective view of the upright piano damper assembly of FIG.
15
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention results from the realization that adjustments of the timing of piano underlevers can be made quickly, reliably and easily if the timing can be adjusted groupwise, and simultaneously. To accomplish this goal, a damper assembly for adjusting underlevers in a groupwise fashion has been devised. The damper assembly can be utilized in grand pianos and upright pianos.
Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, a damper assembly
300
includes a rail assembly
311
adjustably mounted to a piano case
40
. Rail assembly
311
includes a damper tray
311
a
and a mount
312
for adjusting the position of rail assembly
311
relative to case
40
. Damper assembly
300
includes a plurality of underlevers
307
coupled to damper tray
311
a
(only two underlevers
307
being shown in FIG.
7
). Adjustment of rail assembly
311
affects the size of a gap
314
(
FIG. 6
) between all underlevers
307
and their respective piano keys
10
, or a group of underlevers
307
and their respective piano keys
10
. The size of gap
314
is adjusted to change the “feel” of the piano keys. A smaller gap means that the dampers lift earlier in the keystroke, and a larger gap means that the dampers lift later in the keystroke. Personal preferences can dictate the exact timing desired.
Damper assembly
300
includes cushions
301
mounted on a damper head
302
. Damper head
302
is supported by a rigid damper wire
303
attached at one end
303
a
to damper head
302
and at an opposite end
303
b
to a top flange
305
by a locking mechanism
304
. Top flange
305
is mounted to an underlever
307
to rotate relative to underlever
307
about a pin
306
. Underlever
307
is mounted to a mounting flange
308
to rotate relative to mounting flange
308
about a pin
331
. Mounting flange
308
is attached to a back wall
338
of damper tray
311
a by a flange screw
309
.
Referring particularly to
FIG. 6
, adjustment of the vertical position of rail assembly
311
along vertical axis, V, e.g., raising rail assembly
311
(arrow
310
), raises flange
308
. Under the weight of underlever
307
, this causes underlever
307
to rotate about pin
331
and top flange
305
to rotate about pin
306
such that cushions
301
remain in contact with string
30
and end
307
a
of underlever
307
lowers (as shown in dashed lined), thus changing the size of gap
314
.
Referring particularly to
FIG. 7
, rail assembly
311
includes mounting blocks
342
,
342
a
for mounting damper tray
311
a
to piano case
40
. Damper tray
311
a
is coupled to blocks
342
,
342
a
to pivot relative thereto by pivot pins
316
,
316
a
received in cavities
317
,
317
a
defined by pivot blocks
342
,
342
a,
respectively. Blocks
342
,
342
a
define slots
333
,
333
a,
respectively, which permit vertical adjustment of damper tray
311
a.
Each block
342
,
342
a
is mounted to case
40
by a screw
315
,
315
a,
respectively, and is supported on an adjustment bolt
343
,
343
a,
respectively.
Adjustment bolts
343
,
343
a
contact piano case
40
along a bottom horizontal surface
346
and an overhanging horizontal surface
347
of case
40
. Alternatively, rather than including surfaces
346
,
347
along the full length of case
40
, a “C”-shaped bracket, not shown, can be introduced only directly above and below the location of blocks
342
,
342
a.
FIGS. 8A and 8B
further depict slotted rail pivot block
342
, as having a threaded passageway
344
which receives adjustment bolt
343
.
Blocks
342
,
342
a
are adjusted by loosening screws
315
,
315
a,
turning adjustment bolts
343
,
343
a
until blocks
342
,
342
a
are adjusted to a desired position, and tightening screws
315
,
315
a.
Adjustment bolts
343
,
343
a
can be turned by any of a number of ways known to those of skill in the art including the use of an adjustment pin (not shown) passing through the diameter of the bolt, or the use of a hexagonal nut (not shown) mounted to the bolt. Alternatively, as shown in
FIGS. 9A and 9B
, an adjustment block
342
b
can include two adjustment bolts
321
,
321
a.
FIGS. 8A and 9A
show alignment of pivot hole (
317
or
317
a
) with adjustment devices thus minimizing block rotation. While adjustment blocks
342
,
342
a
permit groups of underlevers or all underlevers in the piano to be adjusted simultaneously, individual adjustment is still possible using locking mechanism
304
, as described above with reference to FIG.
1
.
FIGS. 10-12
depict embodiments of the invention which provide discrete adjustment of damper tray
311
a
rather than the continuous adjustment provided by blocks
342
. Referring to
FIGS. 10A and 10B
, mounting block
345
includes three notches
323
, one of which receives a corresponding protrusion
323
on case
40
. Alternatively, block
345
can include protrusions and case
40
corresponding notches. Block
345
defines a slot
333
b
and is mounted to case
40
with a screw
315
b.
To adjust the vertical position of block
345
, screw
315
b
is loosened, block
345
is moved to the new desired position with protrusion
323
located in one of notches
323
, and screw
315
b
is tightened. Although
FIG. 10A
discloses three triangular shaped notches, other shapes and number of notches can be utilized.
Referring to
FIGS. 11A and 11B
, a mounting block
346
defines three vertically oriented screw holes
347
for receiving a screw
315
c.
Piano case
40
defines a single screw cavity
348
for receiving screw
315
c.
To adjust the vertical position of block
346
, screw
315
c
is removed from block
346
, block
346
is moved to align a new screw hole
346
with hole
348
, and screw
315
c
is placed through the new screw hole
346
into hole
348
. Alternatively, as shown in
FIGS. 12A and 12B
, piano case
40
defines a number of pivot block screw cavities
348
, and rail block
346
defines a single screw hole
347
.
Referring to
FIG. 13
, an additional continuous adjustment mechanism includes a bolt
348
mounted to case
40
to rotate relative to case
40
while not undergoing axial translation. Threaded onto bolt
348
is a nut
349
. With nut
349
prevented from rotating, rotation of bolt
348
changes the axial position of nut
349
. Nut
349
can be coupled to a rail pivot block to vertically adjust the position of the rail pivot block, substantially as described above. For example, a pin
320
associated with nut
349
can be inserted into a corresponding cavity in the rail pivot block.
FIG. 14
shows an embodiment of the invention in which underlever
307
is coupled to a rail assembly
352
adjustably mounted to case
40
. Rail
352
defines a vertical slot
327
for receiving a screw
328
for mounting rail
352
to piano case
40
. There are generally at least two such slots
327
and screws
328
, typically one at each end, although embodiments can be envisioned having a single slot/screw combination, or more than two. The vertical position of rail
352
can be adjusted (arrow
353
) by loosening screw
328
and sliding rail
352
to a new position. A separate damper tray (not shown) interacts with underlevers
307
as described above with reference to FIG.
5
. In this embodiment, the motions of the damper tray and rail
352
are decoupled.
The invention is also well suited for use in an upright piano, as described below. Referring to
FIG. 15
, an underlever
236
is rotatably attached to a flange
237
by a pin
206
. Flange
237
is mounted to an auxiliary rail
250
, which is rotatably adjustable about a pin
251
to change the horizontal position of flange
237
, generally along a horizontal axis, H. As described below, auxiliary rail
250
can be either rotatably adjustable or translationally adjustable with respect to primary action rail
238
. Auxiliary rail
250
extends across the damper assemblies of several keys in an upright piano, and, preferably, across the width of all damper assemblies in an upright piano. Horizontal adjustment of flange
237
relative to primary action rail
238
, for example, toward piano string
230
, causes the lower end
247
of underlever
236
to be moved away from spoon
240
, thereby increasing the space
214
between this end of underlever
236
and spoon
240
. This increased space results in later damper head displacement during a keystroke. Conversely, moving flange
237
away from string
230
results in damper head
202
being displaced from string
230
earlier in the keystroke.
Referring to
FIG. 16
, rotation or translation of rail
250
can be accomplished by attaching flange
237
to rail
250
with a screw
253
. Flange
237
can include a slotted screw hole, adjustment bolts, notches, or any equivalent way of achieving either continuous or discrete positional adjustment of flange
237
relative to rail
250
, as described above. Alternatively, rail
250
can pivot about pin
251
with the adjustment of the sweep angle being made, for example, using an adjustable screw which is placed in the position of pin
251
, or by adjustment of a connecting rod
254
, which lead to a foot pedal, lever, or other adjustment actuator.
It will be understood that “vertical” adjustment of the position of the rail is not limited to strictly straight-line, vertical adjustment, but also includes adjustment along a vertical arc, particularly an arc having its center at the point of rotation of underlever
307
about pin
306
. Such vertical adjustment can eliminate any small lateral displacement of top flange
305
which is evident in
FIG. 7
(shown by dotted line). This generality of adjustment applies equally for any particular embodiment calling for horizontal adjustment.
It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the forgoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A damper assembly for a piano, the piano including a case, said damper assembly comprising:a rail assembly including an adjustable mount for mounting said rail assembly to the case, and a plurality of underlevers coupled to said rail assembly.
- 2. The damper assembly of claim 1, wherein said underlevers are rotatably coupled to said rail assembly.
- 3. The damper assembly of claim 1, wherein the piano has a vertical axis and said rail assembly is configured for vertical adjustment relative to said case.
- 4. The damper assembly of claim 3, wherein said rail assembly is configured for continuous vertical adjustment relative to said case.
- 5. The damper assembly of claim 4, wherein said rail assembly defines a vertical slot.
- 6. The damper assembly of claim 3, wherein said rail assembly is configured for discrete vertical adjustment.
- 7. The damper assembly of claim 6, wherein said rail assembly defines discrete openings arranged vertically.
- 8. The damper assembly of claim 1, wherein said rail assembly has a first end and a second end, said adjustable mount comprising a first slot defined in a region of said first end and a second slot defined in a region of said second end.
- 9. The damper assembly of claim 8, further comprising a first adjustment screw received by said first slot and a second adjustment screw received by said second slot.
- 10. The damper assembly of claim 1, wherein said rail assembly comprises a rail and attached damper tray.
- 11. The damper assembly of claim 10, wherein said rail is configured for mounting to the case for rotation relative to the case.
- 12. The damper assembly of claim 10, wherein said adjustable mount comprises two mounting blocks, said rail being mounted to said mounting blocks for rotation relative to said mounting blocks.
- 13. The damper assembly of claim 12, wherein said two mounting blocks each defines an adjustment slot.
- 14. The damper assembly of claim 1, wherein said damper assembly further comprises a damper tray mounted to said case independent of said rail assembly.
- 15. The damper assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of damper wires, each of said plurality of underlevers being coupled to a respective one of said plurality of damper wires.
- 16. The damper assembly of claim 15, wherein each of said plurality of underlevers is rotatably coupled to said respective damper wire.
- 17. The damper assembly of claim 1, wherein the piano has a horizontal axis and said rail assembly is configured for horizontal adjustment relative to said case.
- 18. A piano, comprising:a case, and a damper assembly including a rail assembly having an adjustable mount mounting said rail assembly to the case, and a plurality of underlevers coupled to said rail assembly.
- 19. The piano of claim 18, wherein said mount comprises adjustable mounting blocks coupled to said rail assembly, and mounting screws for fixing said mounting blocks to said case, wherein said mounting blocks define slots for receiving said mounting screws.
- 20. The piano of claim 18, wherein said mount comprises slots defined in said rail assembly and mounting screws received in said slots for fixing said rail assembly to said case.
- 21. A method of simultaneously adjusting a plurality of piano underlevers, comprising:mounting a damper assembly to a piano case with an adjustable mount, the damper assembly including a rail assembly and a plurality of underlevers coupled to said rail assembly, and adjusting a position of said rail assembly relative to the case.
- 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising rotatably coupling said underlevers to said rail assembly.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein said piano has a vertical axis, and the step of adjusting the position of said rail assembly relative to said case comprises vertically adjusting the position of said rail assembly.
- 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of adjusting the position of said rail assembly relative to said case adjusts a spacing between said underlevers and a corresponding group of piano keys.
- 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the piano has a horizontal axis, and the step of adjusting the position of said rail assembly relative to said case comprises horizontally adjusting the position of said rail assembly.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
197 03 445 |
Aug 1998 |
DE |
54 058428 |
May 1979 |
JP |