Patent Application
20240321249
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-047946 filed on Mar. 24, 2023, the entire disclosure of which, including the specification, claims, drawings and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to electronic keyboard equipment.
There have conventionally been known electronic keyboard instruments which can provide a key press-down feeling closer to a key press-down feeling provided by a real piano by including a mass element such as a hammer. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-17614 discloses a keyboard structure of an electronic keyboard instrument which includes a base plate, on which keys and mass elements of a keyboard are mounted, and a frame configured to hold the base plate below the keys. In this keyboard structure, the frame has multiple reinforcement ribs for reinforcing the frame itself. The multiple reinforcement ribs are formed individually between a white key and a white key of the keyboard, so that a mass element which is being swung and the reinforcement rib are prevented from interfering with each other.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic keyboard instrument including a casing, a keyboard having multiple keys which are provided to be exposed from the casing, a sound emitting unit provided inside the casing, and multiple ribs provided between the keyboard and the sound emitting unit at a position corresponding to at least one of the multiple keys, wherein at least a part of spaces between the multiple ribs has an opening, and wherein a communication passage is formed in the casing in such a manner as to extend from the sound emitting unit to reach a key gap between the multiple keys by way of the opening.
Referring to drawings, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. An electronic keyboard instrument 1 shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The left side surface plate 34 and the right side surface plate 35 have substantially a rectangular shape which is elongated in the front-back direction and are provided on a left-hand side and a right-hand side of the main body part 10, constituting a left side surface and a right side surface of the main body case 30, respectively. The upper surface plate 36 has substantially a rectangular shape which is elongated in the left-right direction and is provided at an upper backward portion of the main body part 10, constituting an upper surface of the main body case 30. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In the electronic keyboard instrument 1, the main body case 30 of the main body part 10 which is exposed outwards and the side plate units 110 of the leg part 100 are made of wood, so as to be characterized by a feeling of good quality. As shown in
As shown in
A front end portion of the inner case 50 is formed into a case-side convex portion 50a which protrudes upwards into a convex shape. A portion of the inner case 50 which is situated below lower sides of the black keys 22B of the keys 22 is formed into a case-side table portion 50b which protrudes upwards into a table shape. A portion lying between the case-side convex portion 50a and the case-side table portion 50b is formed into a case-side concave portion 50c which protrudes downwards into a protrusion. A rotational fulcrum 50b1, which is configured to rotationally support a back end portion of each key 22 of the keyboard 20, is provided at a back side portion of an upper surface of the case-side table portion 50b. In addition, a control circuit board 55 is provided on an upper surface of the case-side table portion 50b. A switch is provided on the control circuit board 55 so as to sound a note corresponding to the key 22 which is pressed down. Multiple case-side openings 50cl, which are opened in the upper-lower direction, are provided in the corresponding case-side concave portions 50c in such a manner as to be aligned in the left-right direction (refer to
A hook-shaped white key restricting portion 22W1 is provided on each of the white keys 22W of the keys 22 in such a manner as to extend downwards from a front end portion of the white key 22W, so that an upper limit position and a lower limit position of the white key 22W are restricted by this white key restricting portion 22W1 as a result of the white key restricting portion 22W1 interfering with first cushions 51 which are provided at an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion of the case-side convex portion 50a on a front side thereof, respectively. In addition, a black key restricting portion 22B1 is provided on each of the black keys 22B of the keys 22 in such a manner as to extend downwards from a front end portion of the black key 22B, so that an upper limit position and a lower limit position of the black key 22B are restricted by this black key restricting portion 22B1 as a result of the black key restricting portion 22B1 interfering with second cushions 52 which are provided at an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion of the case-side table portion 50b on a front side thereof, respectively.
Multiple hammers 60 are provided individually inside the case-side table portions 50b within the inner space IS in such a manner as to connect with the corresponding keys 22. In addition, in
A support unit 70 is provided at a frontal portion in the inner space IS in such a manner as to be disposed on the lower surface plate 37. The support unit 70 is screwed down onto the lower surface plate 37 to thereby be attached to the main body case 30. The keyboard 20 is indirectly supported on the main body case 30 made of wood via the inner case 50. The pivot 54 for supporting the arm 62 of the hammer 60 is provided on the support unit 70. A configuration of the support unit 70 will be described in detail later on.
As shown in
As has been described above, the various constituent components such as the keyboard 20, the inner case 50, the control circuit board 55, the hammers 60, and the support unit 70 are provided in the inner space IS. A sound piece of the sound emitted from the loudspeaker 80 to be transmitted to the inner space IS passes through a gap between the support unit 70 and the inner case 50 to be emitted towards a player from a gap between the keys 22. That is, a communication passage P (refer to
On the other hand, a sound piece of the sound emitted from the loudspeaker 80 to be transmitted to the back space BS passes through the back space BS where the lid 38 is installed to be emitted towards the player from the upper opening portion 30a. That is, a back communication passage (the other communication passage) BP (refer to
Next, the communication passage P provided in the inner space IS will be described in detail. As shown in
Here, referring to
As shown in
The hammers 60 which are provided on a lower side of the case-side table portion 50b are provided on a back side of the support-side convex portion 70a. The first ribs 71 and the second d ribs 72 are provided in positions corresponding to the hammers 60. Specifically speaking, the first rib 71 and the second rib 72 are provided on the same straight line as a straight line on which the hammer 60 is provided in the front-back direction, and a central position of the hammer member 60 in the left-right direction coincides with the first rib 71 and the second rib 72.
The multiple support unit opening portions 70A described above constitute passages provided in an interior of the support unit 70, and each passage extends from a back end portion 70d of the support unit 70, passes through a space defined between the first ribs 71, and reaches an upper side of the support-side concave portion 70c. Specifically speaking, as shown in
On the other hand, multiple third openings 70cl, each having substantially a quadrangular shape, are provided between the second ribs 72 in the support-side concave portion 70c in positions lying closer to the support-side table portion 70b in such a manner as to be opened in the upper-lower direction. Each third opening 70cl is provided at a position corresponding to each case-side opening 50cl in the upper-lower direction, that is, in a position where each third opening 70cl does not overlap with each case-side opening 50cl in the upper-lower direction.
An inclined surface 70c2 is provided on a lower side of each third opening 70cl in such a manner as to incline from the second opening 70b2 towards the third opening 70cl. Each inclined surface 70c2 inclines so that a sound is reflected from an upper surface of the lower surface plate 37 which constitutes a horizontal plane towards the gap between the keys 22, that is, towards the player. In other words, the inclined surface 70c2 is set at an inclination angle at which the gap between the keys 22 is positioned on an imaginary line L which indicates an orbital path of a reflection sound which is reflected by the inclined surface 70c2. Specifically speaking, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 70c2 is preferably in a range from 45 to 60. As a result of the inclined surface 70c2 being made to incline at such an inclination angle, a sound which is reflected on the inclined surface 70c2 is configured to reach the gap between the keys 22 without interfering with any other constituent elements.
Thus, each support unit opening portion 70A constitutes a passage which extends from the first opening 70b1, passes through an interior of the support-side table portion 70b, extends through the second opening 70b2, and reaches the third opening 70cl by way of the inclined surface 70c2. As a result, each support unit opening portion 70A constitutes a passage which penetrates the support unit 70 from a side facing the inner space IS towards a side facing a space defined below the multiple keys 22.
Returning to the configuration of the communication passage P, the second communication passage P2 constitutes a path which extends through the third opening 70cl of the support unit opening portion 70A, then extends through the case-side opening 50cl to communicate with an upper side of the inner case 50, and finally reaches the gap between the keys 22. In this way, a wall surface or the like which interrupts a passage of a sound is not provided halfway through a whole length of the communication passage P which includes the first communication passage P1 and the second communication passage P2, and hence the communication passage P constitutes a series of passages which defines a communication from the first sound emitting hole 37al to the gap between the keys 22 to thereby constitute a path through which a sound is propagated effectively.
Hereinafter, advantages of the electronic keyboard instrument 1 of the present disclosure will be described based on a comparison made between the electronic keyboard instrument disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-17614 and the electronic keyboard instrument 1 of the present disclosure. In the configuration as of the electronic c keyboard instrument disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-17614 in which the multiple ribs are individually provided in the position lying lower than the keys and between the white key and the white key in order to enhance the reinforcement effect, the multiple ribs may interrupt the passage of a sound, whereby it occasionally becomes difficult to secure sufficiently the sound emitting path from the speaker to the gap between the keys of the keyboard within the casing (for example, in the position lower than the keyboard or on the back side of the casing). As a result, there has been a fear that a good sound image cannot be obtained.
In contrast with this electronic keyboard instrument according to the related art, the electronic keyboard instrument 1 according to the present embodiment includes the main body case 30, the keyboard 20 having the multiple keys 22 which are provided in such a manner as to be exposed from the main body case 30, the loudspeakers 80 (the sound emitting units) provided inside the main body case 30, and the multiple first ribs 71 and second ribs 72 which are provided between the keyboard 20 and the loudspeakers 80 in such a manner that the first rib 71 and the second rib 72 are provided at the position corresponding to at least one of the multiple keys 22. Then, the space between the multiple first ribs 71 and second ribs 72 has an opening (the support unit opening portion 70A). In addition, the communication passage P is provided in the main body case 30 in such a manner as to extend from the loudspeaker 80 to reach the key gap between the multiple keys 22 by way of the support unit opening portion 70A.
With the electronic keyboard instrument 1 of the present embodiment which is configured as described above, a sound emitted from the loudspeaker 80 towards the support unit opening portion 70A passes through the communication passage P by way of the support unit opening portion 70A provided between the first ribs 71 and the second ribs 72 so as to be propagated towards the key gap defined between the multiple keys 22, that is, towards the player without being interrupted by a wall surface of the like. As a result, the sound emitting path from the loudspeaker 80 towards the player can be secured while realizing the configuration in which the keyboard 20 is supported uniformly by the first ribs 1 and the second ribs 72 which are provided in the positions corresponding individually to the multiple keys 22, thereby making it possible to secure the sound passage structure with good efficiency. As a result, with the electronic keyboard instrument 1 of the present embodiment, a good sound image can be obtained while maintaining the strength of the constituent elements.
With the electronic keyboard instrument 1 according to the present embodiment, the communication passage P includes the first communication passage P1 configured to extend from the loudspeaker 80 to reach the support unit opening portion 70A and the second communication passage P2 configured to extend from the support unit opening portion 70A to reach the key gap between the multiple keys 22. According to this configuration, for example, a path extending from the loudspeaker 80 to the support unit opening portion 70A by way of the space below the keyboard 20 can be formed into the first communication passage P1, while a path passing through the interior of the unit where the first ribs 71 and the second ribs 72 are provided to reach the key gap between the multiple keys 22 can be formed into the second communication passage P2. In this way, the specific configuration for the communication passage P can be provided.
The electronic keyboard instrument 1 according to the present embodiment includes the hammers 60 corresponding individually to the multiple keys 22, and each first rib 71 and each second rib 72 are provided at the position corresponding to each hammer member 60. As a result, a part of the communication passage P can be formed into a path which passes through a space between the hammers 60, whereby the specific configuration for the communication passage P can be provided in which the passage of sound is not interrupted by a wall surface or the like. In addition, the reinforcement structure of each key 22 of the keyboard 20 can be made uniform as a result of each first rib 71 and each second rib 72 corresponding to each hammer 60. Further, the reinforcement structure can be adjusted for each key 22 by adjusting the first rib 71 and the second rib 72 which correspond to each key 22.
The electronic keyboard instrument 1 according to the present embodiment includes the support unit 70 provided below the keyboard 20 to support the keyboard 20, and the first ribs 71 and the second ribs 72 are provided on the support unit 70. As a result, the support unit 70 can be reinforced by the first ribs 71 and the second ribs 72, whereby the configuration can be realized in which the keyboard 20 is effectively supported by the support unit 70.
With the electronic keyboard instrument 1 according to the present embodiment, the multiple first ribs 71 and second ribs 72 are provided in such a manner that the first rib 71 and the second rib 72 are erected substantially vertically at the position corresponding to one of the multiple keys 22. As a result, sound passing through the communication passage P can be propagated rectilinearly, whereby the sound passage structure with better efficiency can be secured.
With the electronic keyboard instrument 1 according to the present embodiment, the main body case 30 includes the lower surface plate 37 on an upper surface of which the support unit 70 is disposed, and the communication passage P includes the inclined surface 70c2 in which an angle formed between the lower surface plate 37 and itself constitutes an angle of elevation and configured to incline from a back of the main body case 30 to a front of the main body case 30. In other words, the communication passage P includes the inclined surface 70c2 that is configured to incline from a plate surface of the lower surface plate 37 which is made into the horizontal plane towards the key gap between the multiple keys 22. Thus, by providing the inclined surface 70c2 at the portion of the communication passage P as described above, the specific configuration can be provided which can realize the communication passage P extending from the loudspeaker 80 provided on the lower side of the main body case 30 to the player, that is, upwards of the main body case 30. In addition, when compared with a case in which a communication passage which is bent substantially vertically is provided, by providing the inclined surface 70c2 as described above, the communication passage P can be realized in which the reflection of sound is reduced, allowing sound to be propagated with good efficiency.
With the electronic keyboard instrument 1 according to the present embodiment, the inclined surface 70c2 is set at the inclination angle at which the key gap between the multiple keys 22 is positioned on the imaginary line L extending along the inclined surface 70c2. As a result, the specific inclination angle of the inclined surface 70c2 can be provided which can realize the communication passage P extending from the loudspeaker 80 towards the player.
With the electronic keyboard instrument according to the present embodiment, the loudspeaker 80 and the portion of the key gap between the multiple keys 22 which is positioned on the imaginary line L are provided in the position where the loudspeaker 80 and the portion of the key gap do not overlap each other in a vertical direction in a cross-sectional view of the electronic keyboard instrument 1. According to this configuration, the space where the hammer 60 is provided to impart the heaviness to each key 22 can be provided on the upper side of the loudspeaker 80, whereby the communication passage P extending from the loudspeaker 80 to the key gap between the multiple keys 22 can be provided efficiently inside the interior of the main body case 30.
The electronic keyboard instrument 1 according to the present embodiment has the back communication passage BP configured to communicate from the loudspeaker 80 to the upper side of the keyboard 20 by way of the path which does not overlap with the keyboard 20 in a vertical direction in a cross-sectional view of the electronic keyboard instrument 1. According to this configuration, since not only is sound from the loudspeaker 80 propagated towards the player by way of the communication passage P, but also sound from the loudspeaker 80 is propagated towards the player further by way of the back communication passage BP, the electronic keyboard instrument 1 can be realized in which the sound is emitted from both the upper and lower sides of the keyboard 20, and the sound from the loudspeaker 80 is propagated towards the player effectively. In addition, since the sound is emitted from both the upper and lower sides of the keyboard 20, when compared with a case in which the path along which sound is propagated is limited to either of the communication passage P and the back communication passage BP, the sound pressure of sound transmitted to the player can be enhanced irrespective of the height of the player who is seated. Further, the player can be imparted a sensation that sound is being made and emitted from the whole of the electronic keyboard instrument 1.
Here, the embodiment of the present disclosure that has been described heretofore is presented as the example, and hence, there is no intention to limit the scope of the present disclosure by the embodiment. The novel embodiment can be carried out in other various forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Those resulting embodiments and modified examples thereof are included in the scope and gist of the present disclosure and are also included in the scope of disclosures claimed for patent under claims below and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-047946 | Mar 2023 | JP | national |
