KEYBOARD DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a keyboard device which is applied to a keyboard instrument, such as an electronic piano, and in which a depressed one of keys operates such that it pivotally moves about a virtual pivot located rearward of a rear end of the key.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, as this type of a keyboard device, there has been known, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H10-340079 (FIGS. 1 and 2). In this keyboard device, keys extending in a front-rear direction are disposed on an upper portion of a keyboard chassis. Each key has a front end thereof provided with a stopper portion that extends downward and has a lower end bent forward. Further, a rear end of the key is supported by a key support member, and with this, the key is configured to pivotally move downward about a virtual pivot located rearward of the rear end of the key during key depression. Furthermore, a hammer arm is pivotally movably provided below the key such that the hammer arm pivotally moves along with the key depression.

In the keyboard device constructed as above, during key depression, when one of the keys is depressed, the key nearly parallelly moves downward. In this case, the hammer arm below the key is pivotally moved in a predetermined direction by the key being depressed. Further, when the depression of the key is released, the hammer arm pivotally moves in a direction opposite to the above-mentioned direction, and the key pushed upward along with this pivotal movement of the hammer arm returns to its original position where it was before the key depression. In this case, the stopper portion provided at a lower portion of the front end of the key moves into contact with an upper limit stopper provided on the keyboard chassis from below, which blocks further upward movement of the key.

In the above-described keyboard device, in the case where the depressed key returns to its original position, the key is vigorously pushed up by the hammer arm pivotally moving, and consequently the stopper portion on the front end of the key sometimes hits hard against the upper limit stopper. As described above, when the stopper portion of the key hits hard against the upper limit stopper, noise is generated. Of course, by using a relatively soft cushion as the upper limit stopper, it is possible to suppress generation of noise. In this case, however, upper limit positions of a large number of keys arranged side by side in a left-right direction sometimes fail to be aligned to each other. In addition, the hammer arm, upon returning to its original position, is liable to bounce, and accordingly, there is a possibility that the key having returned to its original position does not immediately come to a standstill or even a possibility that mechanical noise is generated from portions of the key and the hammer arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard device for a keyboard instrument, which, when a depressed key returns to its original position where it was before key depression, is capable of reducing generation of noise and promptly bringing the key to a standstill.

To attain the above object, the present invention provides a keyboard device for a keyboard instrument, including a keyboard chassis having an upper limit stopper, a key extending a predetermined length in a front-rear direction and disposed above the keyboard chassis, and a key support mechanism that is provided in a state engaged with the keyboard chassis, for supporting the key from below, and causes, upon depression of the the key, the depressed key to operate such that the key pivotally moves about a virtual pivot located rearward of a rear end of the key, wherein the key includes an upper limit position regulation portion provided on a lower portion of a front end of the key, for regulating an upper limit position of the key by moving into contact with the upper limit stopper from below, in a key-released state, the keyboard device further including a key rear-side stopper provided on the keyboard chassis, for moving into contact with the rear end of the key from below before the upper limit position regulation portion moves into contact with the upper limit stopper, when the key returns to its original position where the key was before the key depression.

With this construction, when the key supported by the key support mechanism from below is depressed, the key pivotally moves about the virtual pivot located rearward of the rear end of the key. In this case, since the depressed key moves downward as a whole, the front end and the rear end of the key are located below their original positions before the key depression. When the key having been depressed is released, thereby returning to its original position where it was before the key depression, the rear end of the key moves into contact with the key rear-side stopper provided on the keyboard chassis from below before the upper limit position regulation portions provided on the lower portion of the front end of the key moves into contact with the upper limit stopper of the keyboard chassis from below. In short, after the rear end of the key moves into contact with the key rear-side stopper, the upper limit position regulation portion of the front end of the key moves into contact with the upper limit stopper. This makes it possible to reduce the speed and impact of the upper limit position regulation portion of the front end of the key when it hits against the key upper limit stopper. Consequently, it is possible not only to largely reduce noise generated by the upper limit position regulation portions hitting against the key upper limit stopper, but also to promptly bring the key having returned to its original position where it was before the key depression to a standstill. In addition, by promptly bringing the key to a standstill, it is possible not only to improve string striking repeatability of the key 2 but also to obtain an excellent touch feeling.

Preferably, the rear end of the key includes a contact surface for moving into contact with the key rear-side stopper in the key-released state, and a protrusion formed to protrude upward from the contact surface.

With the construction of this preferred embodiment, the rear end of the key is provided with the contact surface and the protrusion, and when the contact surface and the protrusion move into contact with the key rear-side stopper from below, the protrusion hits against the key rear-side stopper first, and then the contact surface hits against the key rear-side stopper. More specifically, compared with a case where the contact surface immediately hits against the key rear-side stopper, since the protrusion having an upper surface with a smaller area than that of the contact surface hits against the key rear-side stopper first, whereby it is possible to reduce impact noise generated when the rear end of the key hits against the key rear-side stopper.

More preferably, the protrusion has an upper surface thereof sloped with respect to the contact surface or formed into an arcuate shape convex upward.

With the construction of this preferred embodiment, the upper surface of the protrusion is sloped with respect to the contact surface or is formed into the arcuate shape convex upward, and hence when the protrusion moves into contact with the key rear-side stopper, the upper surface of the protrusion progressively hits against the key rear-side stopper. With this, compared with a case where the whole upper surface of the protrusion simultaneously hits against the key rear-side stopper, it is possible to further reduce impact noise generated when the protrusion hits against the key rear-side stopper.

Preferably, the keyboard device further includes a stopper support plate mounted on an upper portion of a rear end of the keyboard chassis, and the key rear-side stopper is fixed to a front end of a lower surface of the stopper support plate.

With the construction of this preferred embodiment, since the key rear-side stopper is fixed to the front end of the lower surface of the support plate which is mounted on the upper portion of the rear end of the keyboard chassis, it is possible not only to securely mount the key rear-side stopper on the keyboard chassis but also to easily dispose the key rear-side stopper at an appropriate location on the keyboard chassis.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a part (one octave section) of a keyboard device for an electronic piano to which the present invention is applied, in which FIG. 1A shows the appearance of the keyboard device and FIG. 1B shows a state in which keys other than a white key and a black key at the left end of the keyboard device are omitted;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the keyboard device shown in FIG. 1B in a state in which the white key and the black key are removed, together with respective key support mechanisms therefor, from a keyboard chassis;

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the keyboard device shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of the white key and the key support mechanism therefor, in which FIG. 4A shows the white key and the key support mechanism in a connected state and FIG. 4B shows the white key and the key support mechanism in an exploded state;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the black key and the key support mechanism therefor, in which FIG. 5A shows the black key and the key support mechanism in a connected state and FIG. 5B shows the black key and the key support mechanism in an exploded state;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views useful in explaining operation of the white key in the keyboard device, in which FIG. 6A shows a key-released state and FIG. 6B shows a key-depressed state;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are views useful in explaining operation of the black key in the keyboard device, in which FIG. 7A shows a key-released state and FIG. 7B shows a key-depressed state;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing a rear end of a key of the keyboard device and component parts therearound on an enlarged scale, in which FIG. 8A shows a key-released state and FIG. 8B shows a key-depressed state;

FIGS. 9A and 9B show an appearance of the white key, in which FIG. 9A is a perspective view and FIG. 9B is a right side view; and

FIG. 10A is a right side view of the rear end of a key, and FIGS. 10B to 10D are views useful in explaining variations of a protrusion, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof. FIG. 1A shows only one octave section of a keyboard device 1 for an electronic piano to which the present invention is applied. Note that in the following, a description will be first given of the basic arrangement of the keyboard device 1 and operation thereof, and then of an essential part of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a state of the keyboard device 1 shown in FIG. 1A, in which keys 2 other than a white key 2a and a black key 2b at the left end of the keyboard device 1 are omitted. FIG. 2 shows a state the keyboard device 1 shown in FIG. 1B in which the white key 2a and the black key 2b are removed together with respective key support mechanisms 6 therefor, from a keyboard chassis 4.

This keyboard device 1 is comprised of the keyboard chassis 4, the plurality of keys 2 including the white keys 2a and the black keys 2b and arranged in a state arranged side by side in a left-right direction, the plurality of key support mechanisms 6 each pivotally mounted on the keyboard chassis 4 for supporting an associated one of the keys 2 from below, and key switches 3 each for detecting key depression information of an associated one of the keys 2.

The keyboard chassis 4 includes a chassis body 4a formed as a resin molded article which is made e.g. by injection molding of a predetermined resin material (e.g. an ABS resin) into a predetermined shape. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the chassis body 4a has a front portion 11, an intermediate portion 12, and a rear portion 13, each extending in the left-right direction (in a left-right direction as viewed in FIG. 3A) as a whole. The front portion 11, the intermediate portion 12, and the rear portion 13 are integrally formed with each other by a plurality of ribs 14 disposed with a spacing therebetween in the left-right direction and each extending in the front-rear direction. Note that in the following description, the front portion 11, the intermediate portion 12, and the rear portion 13 of the chassis body 4a of the keyboard chassis 4 will be referred to as “the chassis front 11”, “the chassis intermediate 12”, and “the chassis rear 13”, respectively.

The chassis front 11 is mainly for guiding the white key 2a during depression thereof and restricting the upper limit position and the lower limit position of a front end of the white key 2a. On the chassis front 11, there are erected a plurality of white key guides 11a, each of which is inserted into each associated one of the white keys 2a from below so as to prevent lateral swing of the white key 2a, in a state arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Further, the chassis front 11 has engagement holes 11b and 11b, vertically extending therethrough, which are formed on the left and right sides of each of the white key guides 11a, respectively. A pair of left and right upper limit position regulation portions 21 and 21, referred to hereinafter, of the white key 2a are engaged with the respective engagement holes 11b and 11b in a state inserted therethrough. Furthermore, the chassis front 11 has a front end thereof formed with a stopper-mounting portion 11c that protrudes forward and extends along the entirety of the chassis body 4a in the left-right direction. A key upper limit stopper 16a and a key lower limit stopper 16b for the white key are mounted on a lower surface and an upper surface of the stopper-mounting portion 11c, respectively, such that they extend in the left-right direction. Note that a stopper-mounting portion 11d for the black key, which extends along the entirety of the chassis body 4a in the left-right direction, is provided at a predetermined location of the chassis front 11, rearward of each white key guide 11a, and that a key upper limit stopper 17 for the black key is mounted on the stopper-mounting portion 11d such that it extends in the left-right direction.

The chassis intermediate 12 is mainly for guiding the black key 2b during depression thereof and swingably supporting a first arm 31 and a second arm 32, described hereinafter, of each of a white key-associated key support mechanism 6a and a black key-associated key support mechanism 6b. The chassis intermediate 12 has a flat portion 12a in the form of a flat plate extending in the left-right direction, and a plurality of black key guides 12b erected on the flat portion 12a and disposed with an appropriate spacing therebetween in the left-right direction. Each black key guide 12b is inserted into an associated one of the black keys 2b from below to prevent lateral swing of the black key 2b. Further, the chassis intermediate 12 has a front portion thereof provided with a first arm support portion 18 for supporting the first arms 31 of the key support mechanisms 6. The first arm support portion 18 has a plurality of first pivot shafts 18a each of which is provided between each adjacent two of the ribs 14 and 14 such that the first pivot shaft 18a extends in the left-right direction. The first arms 31 are swingably supported on associated ones of the first pivot shafts 18a. Furthermore, the chassis intermediate 12 has a rear portion thereof provided with a second arm support portion 19 for supporting the second arms 32 of the key support mechanisms 6. The second arm support portion 19 has a plurality of second pivot shafts 19a each of which is provided between each adjacent two of the ribs 14 and 14 such that the second pivot shaft 19a extends in the left-right direction. The plurality of second pivot shafts 19a are arranged on the same axis extending in the left-right direction at a location rearward of and higher than the first pivot shafts 18a, and the second arms 32 are swingably supported on associated ones of the second pivot shafts 19a. Note that a first arm lower limit stopper 10b extending along the entirety of the chassis body 4a in the left-right direction is provided at a predetermined location of a middle rail 8, referred to hereinafter, disposed below the chassis intermediate 12.

Further, the above-mentioned key switches 3 are provided on a lower portion of the keyboard chassis 4 between the above-described chassis front 11 and chassis intermediate 12. The key switches 3 are formed by a laterally elongated printed circuit board 3a extending in the left-right direction, and a plurality of switch bodies 3b formed by rubber switches attached to the printed circuit board 3a on a key-by-key basis, for being pressed by associated ones of the first arms 31 upon key depression.

The chassis rear 13 is mainly for guiding the keys 2 by their rear ends in the vertical direction while preventing lateral swing of the keys 2 and for restricting the upper limit positions of the rear ends of associated ones of the first arms 31. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the chassis rear 13 has a plurality of partition walls 13a formed with a predetermined spacing therebetween in the left-right direction so as to separate each adjacent two of the keys 2 and 2 from each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, a first arm upper limit stopper 10a extending along the entirety of the chassis body 4a in the left-right direction is provided at a predetermined location of an upper portion of the chassis rear 13. The first arm upper limit stopper 10a and the first arm lower limit stopper 10b provided on the chassis intermediate 12 are for restricting the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the first arm 31, respectively, when the first arm 31 having a function as a hammer for adding a touch weight to the key 2 pivotally moves upward and downward. Furthermore, a metal cover plate 15 extending in the left-right direction along the entirety of the chassis body 4a and disposed to cover the rear ends of the keys 2 is mounted on the upper portion of the chassis rear 13.

As shown in FIS. 2 and 3A, the chassis body 4a of the keyboard chassis 4 constructed as described above is formed with a plurality of first openings 5a open upward and forward and a plurality of second openings 5b open upward. The first arms 31 of the key support mechanisms 6 are engaged with associated ones of the first pivot shafts 18a from outside via the above-mentioned first openings 5a, respectively. Further, the second arms 32 are engaged with associated ones of the second pivot shafts 19a from outside via the above-mentioned second openings 5b, respectively.

Further, in the above-described keyboard chassis 4, a plurality of chassis bodies 4a are connected to each other so as to be arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and are each screwed to a front rail 7, the middle rail 8, and a rear rail 9 in a state placed thereon, the rails 7, 8 and 9 each extending in the left-right direction and arranged with a predetermined spacing therebetween in the front-rear direction. The keyboard chassis 4 is fixed to a keybed, not shown, of the electronic piano via the front rail 7 and the rear rail 9.

Next, the keys 2 and the key support mechanisms 6 will be described. FIG. 4A shows the white key 2a and the key support mechanism 6a therefor on an enlarged scale, and FIG. 4B shows them in an exploded state. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the white key 2a is formed e.g. by injection molding of a predetermined resin material (e.g. an AS resin) into a hollow shape which extends a predetermined length in the front-rear direction and opens downward. The white key 2a has the front end thereof formed with the pair of left and right upper limit position regulation portions 21 and 21 which protrude downward from respective side walls of the front end of the white key 2a and each having a lower end thereof bent forward. As described hereinabove, the left and right upper limit position regulation portions 21 and 21 are engaged with the respective left and right engagement holes 11b and 11b of the chassis front 11 in a state inserted therethrough.

Further, at a predetermined location of a front portion of the white key 2a, rearward of the upper limit position regulation portions 21, there is formed a key front-side connecting portion 22 connected to the first arm 31 of the key support mechanism 6a. This key front-side connecting portion 22 includes a connecting recess 22a which has a U shape having a slot-like shape in side view and open forward. Further, the connecting recess 22a has a key-side noise suppressing member 20 attached thereto, which is formed to cover the whole inner peripheral surface of the connecting recess 22a, for suppressing generation of noise when a connecting shaft 35b, referred to hereinafter, of the first arm 31 slides in the connecting recess 22a.

Furthermore, the white key 2a has a rear portion thereof provided with a key rear-side connecting portion 23 connected to the second arm 32 of the key support mechanism 6a. The key rear-side connecting portion 23 has a plate-like connecting body portion 23a which hangs downward from a laterally central portion of the white key 2a and has a predetermined thickness in the left-right direction, and a pair of left and right engagement protrusions 23b and 23b which coaxially protrude from the left and right side surfaces of the connecting body portion 23a, respectively. Further, a rear portion of the white key 2a is formed with a tool insertion hole 24 which vertically extends through the rear portion, and is used to insert a predetermined tool from above for disconnecting the white key 2a from the second arm 32 of the key support mechanism 6a e.g. for maintenance of the keyboard device 1.

On the other hand, the key support mechanism 6a includes the first arm 31 and the second arm 32 which are engaged with each other and are connected to the key front-side connecting portion 22 and the key rear-side connecting portion 23 of the white key 2a, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the first arm 31 is comprised of an arm body 33 and two weights 34 and 34 attached to the arm body 33. The arm body 33 is formed as a resin molded article which is made e.g. by injection molding of a predetermined resin material (e.g. polyacetal resin) into a predetermined shape. This arm body 33 extends a predetermined length in the front-rear direction, and has a front end thereof formed with a first arm front-side connecting portion 35 connected to the key front-side connecting portion 22 of the white key 2a. The first arm front-side connecting portion 35 includes a box portion 35a having a box-like shape open upward and forward, and the connecting shaft 35b provided such that it extends in the left-right direction in a state connecting the front-side upper ends of left and right side walls of the box portion 35a to each other. The connecting shaft 35b is connected to the connecting recess 22a of the key front-side connecting portion 22 of the white key 2a such that the connecting shaft 35b is pivotally movable and is slidable in the front-rear direction.

Further, the arm body 33 has a bearing portion 36 formed at a predetermined location immediately rearward of the first arm front-side connecting portion 35. The bearing portion 36 has an inverted U shape open downward in side view, and is pivotally engaged with the first pivot shaft 18a of the keyboard chassis 4. Furthermore, the arm body 33 has a first arm rear-side connecting portion 37, which is connected to the second arm 32, at a predetermined location rearward of the bearing portion 36. Specifically, the first arm rear-side connecting portion 37 has a connecting shaft 37a which extends in the left-right direction with respective opposite ends thereof protruding outward from the left and right side surfaces of the arm body 33. The opposite ends of the connecting shaft 37a are engaged with connecting recesses 45b and 45b of a second arm front-side connecting portion 45, referred to hereinafter, of the second arm 32.

The two weights 34 and 34 formed as elongated and narrow plates are mounted on a weight mounting portion 38, which is a rear portion of the arm body 33, in a state sandwiching the weight mounting portion 38. Note that each weight 34 is made of a material (metal such as iron) having a larger specific gravity than the arm body 33, and is formed e.g. by pressing a metal plate into a predetermined shape.

The second arm 32 is formed as a resin molded article having a predetermined shape by injection molding of the same resin material as that of the arm body 33 of the first arm 31. The second arm 32 is shorter than the first arm 31 and extends a predetermined length in the front-rear direction. Further, the second arm 32 has a bearing portion 41 having a C shape open forward in side view at about a longitudinal center thereof. The bearing portion 41 is pivotally engaged with an associated one of the second pivot shafts 19a of the keyboard chassis 4.

Further, the second arm 32 has a rear portion thereof provided with a second arm rear-side connecting portion 42 connected to the key rear-side connecting portion 23 of the white key 2a. The second arm rear-side connecting portion 42 is formed into a bifurcated shape, and has two left and right connecting arm portions 43 and 43 which extend a predetermined length parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction of the second arm 32. Each connecting arm portion 43 has a rear end thereof formed with a connecting hole 43a extending through the connecting arm portion 43 in the left-right direction. The two connecting arm portions 43 and 43 sandwich the connecting body portion 23a of the key rear-side connecting portion 23 of the white key 2a between the rear ends thereof from the left and the right, and each connecting hole 43a has an associated one of the engagement protrusions 23b of the key rear-side connecting portion 23 pivotally fitted therein.

Furthermore, the second arm 32 has a front portion thereof provided with the second arm front-side connecting portion 45 connected to the first arm rear-side connecting portion 37 of the first arm 31. The second arm front-side connecting portion 45 has a pair of left and right connecting portions 45a and 45a arranged with a predetermined spacing in the left-right direction. The connecting portions 45a and 45a are each formed with the connecting recess 45b which has a U shape having a slot-like shape in side view and open forward. The left and right connecting portions 45a and 45a of the second arm front-side connecting portion 45 are pivotally and slidably engaged with the respective opposite ends of the connecting shaft 37a of the first arm 31 via the connecting recesses 45b and 45b thereof.

FIG. 5A shows the black key 2b and the key support mechanism 6b therefor on an enlarged scale, and FIG. 5B shows the black key 2b and the key support mechanism 6b in an exploded state. The black key 2b is formed e.g. by injection molding of the same resin material as that of the white key 2a into a hollow shape which extends in the front-rear direction by a predetermined length shorter than that of the white key 2a and opens downward. The black key 2b has a front-side lower end thereof provided with a key front-side connecting portion 26 formed substantially similar to the key front-side connecting portion 22 of the white key 2a. This key front-side connecting portion 26 has a connecting recess 26a which has a U shape having a slot-like shape in side view and open forward. Further, the key front-side connecting portion 26 has an extension portion 26b on a lower-side front end of the connecting recess 26a. The extension portion 26b extends a predetermined length forward of the front surface of the body of the black key 2b. This extension portion 26b functions as an upper limit position regulation portion of the black key 2b. Note that in the following description, the components of the black key 2b and the key support mechanism 6b having the same configurations as those of the above-described white key 2a and key support mechanism 6a are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The key support mechanism 6b supporting the black key 2b is constructed substantially similar to the above-described white key-associated key support mechanism 6a. Specifically, the arm body 33 of the first arm 31 of the key support mechanism 6b and the second arm 32 of the same are constructed exactly similar in shape and size to the arm body 33 and the second arm 32 of the white key-associated key support mechanism 6a. Note that two left and right weights 34 and 34 of the black key-associated key support mechanism 6b differ from the weights 34 of the white key-associated key support mechanism 6a in the shape of the rear portion thereof.

Next, a description will be given of the operation of the keys 2 and the key support mechanisms 6 of the keyboard device 1 constructed as described above. FIGS. 6A and 6B are views useful in explaining the operation of the white key 2a and the key support mechanism 6a associated therewith. FIGS. 7A and 7B are views useful in explaining the operation of the black key 2b and the key support mechanism 6b associated therewith.

When the front end of the white key 2a is depressed by a player with his/her finger from a key-released state shown in FIG. 6A, the key front-side connecting portion 22 of the white key 2a moves downward, whereby the first arm 31 is pivotally moved in a counterclockwise direction about the first pivot shaft 18a. Further, in accordance with the pivotal movement of the first arm 31, the second arm front-side connecting portion 45, which is engaged with the connecting shaft 37a of the first arm 31 via the connecting recesses 45b and 45b, moves upward. With this, the second arm 32 is pivotally moved in a clockwise direction about the second pivot shaft 19a. Then, in accordance with this pivotal movement of the second arm 32, the key rear-side connecting portion 23, which is connected to the second arm 32 via the second arm rear-side connecting portion 42 formed at the rear end of the second arm 32, is pulled down, whereby the rear end of the white key 2a is moved downward.

Note that during the above-mentioned pivotal movement of the first arm 31, the box portion 35a of the first arm front-side connecting portion 35 moves downward, and accordingly, the switch body 3b of one of the key switches 3, which is associated with the depressed key 2, is pressed from above by the bottom wall of the box portion 35a. As a consequence, in the electronic piano, key depression information of the depressed key 2 is detected, and based on the detected key depression information, sound is generated from a speaker, not shown.

As described hereinabove, in the case where the white key 2a is depressed, in accordance with the counterclockwise pivotal movement of the first arm 31, the weight 34 of the first arm 31 is tilted such that the weight 34 becomes higher as it extends rearward, whereby the rear end of the weight 34 is brought into contact with the first arm upper limit stopper 10a from below, as shown in FIG. 6B. This prevents further pivotal movement of the first arm 31. When the front end of the white key 2a is depressed to its lowest position, the front end of the white key 2a is brought into contact with the key lower limit stopper 16b, which blocks further depression of the white key 2a.

The white key 2a depressed as above operates such that it pivotally moves about a virtual pivot P located rearward of the rear end thereof. The location of the virtual pivot P is set such that a distance from the front end of the white key 2a becomes approximately twice as long as the length of the white key 2a itself, for example. With this, when the front end of the white key 2a is depressed to the lowest position, compared with the case where the white key 2a is in the key-released state shown in FIG. 6A, the front end of the white key 2a is located lower by a predetermined key stroke (e.g. 10 mm) and the rear end of the white key 2a is located lower by a distance (e.g. 5 mm), which is approximately half of the above key stroke.

On the other hand, when the finger is released from the white key 2a being depressed, the first arm 31 of the key support mechanism 6a pivotally moves in a direction opposite to the above-mentioned direction, by the own weight of the weight 34, and in accordance therewith, the second arm 32 as well pivotally moves in a direction opposite to the above-mentioned direction. In accordance with this pivotal movement of the second arm 32, the white key 2a pivotally moves upward about the virtual pivot P. Then, a predetermined portion of the first arm 31, rearward of the first pivot shaft 18a, moves into contact with the first arm lower limit stopper 10b from above, and both of the upper limit position regulation portions 21 and 21 of the white key 2a move into contact with the key upper limit stopper 16a from below, whereby further pivotal movement of the white key 2a is blocked, and the white key 2a returns to its original key-released state.

Further, operation in response to depression of the black key 2b is performed similar to the above-described operations of the white key 2a and the key support mechanism 6a in response to depression of the white key 2a. More specifically, when a front end of the black key 2b is depressed from a key-released state shown in FIG. 7A, the first arm 31 is pivotally moved in the counterclockwise direction about the first pivot shaft 18a, and the second arm 32 is pivotally moved in the clockwise direction about the second pivot shaft 19a. With this, the black key 2b operates such that it pivotally moves about a virtual pivot Q located rearward of the rear end thereof. Note that similar to the above-mentioned virtual pivot P of the white key 2a, the location of the virtual pivot Q is set such that a distance from the front end of the black key 2b becomes approximately twice as long as the length of the black key 2b itself, for example. Therefore, when the front end of the black key 2b is depressed to its lowest position, compared with a case where the black key 2b is in the key-released state shown in FIG. 7A, the front end of the black key 2b is located lower by a predetermined key stroke and the rear end thereof is located lower by a distance which is approximately half of the above key stroke.

On the other hand, when the finger is released from the black key 2b having been depressed, the first arm 31 and the second arm 32 of the key support mechanism 6b pivotally move in a direction opposite to the above-mentioned direction, and in accordance therewith, the black key 2b pivotally moves upward about the virtual pivot Q. Then, the extension portion 26b of the key front-side connecting portion 26 of the black key 2b moves into contact with the key upper limit stopper 17 from below, whereby further pivotal movement of the black key 2b is blocked, and the black key 2b returns to its original key-released state.

Next, the essential part of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 10D. The essential part of the present invention is that a key rear-side stopper 51, with which the rear end of the key 2 moves into contact from below, is provided at the rear end of the keyboard chassis 4.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show the rear end, denoted by reference numeral 52, of the key 2 and component parts therearound, described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 6A to 7B, on an enlarged scale. FIG. 8A shows a key-released state of the key 2 and FIG. 8B shows a key-depressed state of the same. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the key rear-side stopper 51 mentioned above is fixed by bonding to a front end of a lower surface of the above-described cover plate 15 (stopper support plate). The key rear-side stopper 51 is made of an elastic material and formed into a block shape which extends in the left-right direction along the entirety of the cover plate 15 and has a predetermined thickness in the vertical direction.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show the appearance of the white key 2a, in which FIG. 9A is a perspective view and FIG. 9B is a right side view. Note that the rear end 52 of the white key 2a and that of the black key 2b are constructed similar to each other, and therefore, the following description is given of the white key 2a regarded as a representative of the keys 2.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the rear end 52 of the key 2 has a lateral width shorter than the width of a portion forward thereof. Further, the upper surface of the rear end 52 of the key 2 is integral with the upper surface of the key 2 itself, and forms a contact surface 52a which is in contact with the key rear-side stopper 51 from below, in the key-released state. Furthermore, the rear end 52 of the key 2 is provided with a protrusion 53 which extends along the longitudinal direction of the key 2 on the contact surface 52a and protrudes upward from the contact surface 52a. The upper surface of the protrusion 53 is formed in parallel with the contact surface 52a, and has a smaller area than the contact surface 52a.

Further, in the keyboard device 1, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the key rear-side stopper 51 is disposed via the cover plate 15 at a predetermined location above the chassis rear 13. As shown in FIG. 8A, in the key-released state, the contact surface 52a and the protrusion 53 at the rear end 52 of the key 2 are in contact with the key rear-side stopper 51 from below. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, in the key-depressed state, the rear end 52 of the key 2 moves downward, whereby the contact surface 52a and the protrusion 53 are downward separated from the key rear-side stopper 51.

When the key 2 depressed is released and returns to its original position where it was before the key depression, before the upper limit position regulation portions 21 and 21 of the front end of the key 2 move into contact with the key upper limit stopper 16a from below, the contact surface 52a of the rear end 52 of the key 2 moves into contact with the key rear-side stopper 51 from below. Further, in this case, before the contact surface 52a of the key 2 moves into contact with the key rear-side stopper 51, the protrusion 53 hits against the key rear-side stopper 51. Note that in the black key 2b, the above-described extension portion 26b and black key-associated upper limit stopper 17 correspond to the upper limit position regulation portion 21 and the key upper limit stopper 16a for the white key 2a, respectively.

As described heretofore, according to the keyboard device 1 to which the essential part of the present invention is applied, when the key 2 depressed returns to its original position where it was before the key depression, the upper limit position regulation portions 21 and 21 of the front end of the key 2 move into contact with the key upper limit stopper 16a after the rear end 52 of the key 2 moves into contact with the key rear-side stopper 51, and hence it is possible to reduce the speed and impact of the upper limit position regulation portions 21 and 21 of the key 2 when the upper limit position regulation portions 21 and 21 hit against the key upper limit stopper 16a. As a consequence, it is possible not only to largely reduce noise generated by the upper limit position regulation portions 21 and 21 hitting against the key upper limit stopper 16a, but also to promptly bring the key 2 having returned to its original position where it was before the key depression to a standstill. In addition, by promptly bringing the key 2 to a standstill, it is possible not only to improve string striking repeatability of the key 2 but also to obtain an excellent touch feeling.

Further, when the rear end 52 of the key 2 moves into contact with the key rear-side stopper 51 from below, the protrusion 53 hits against the key rear-side stopper 51 first, and then the contact surface 52a hits against the key rear-side stopper 51. More specifically, compared with a case where the contact surface 52a of the key 2 immediately hits against the key rear-side stopper 51, since the protrusion 53 having an upper surface with a smaller area than that of the contact surface 52a hits against the key rear-side stopper 51 first, it is possible to reduce impact noise generated when the rear end 52 of the key 2 hits against the key rear-side stopper 51.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but it can be practiced in various forms. For example, although in the above-described embodiment, in the rear end 52 of the key 2, the upper surface of the protrusion 53 is formed in parallel with the contact surface 52a, the present invention is not limited to this, but it is possible to employ various shapes of the upper surface of the protrusion 53.

FIG. 10A is a right side view of the rear end 52 of the key 2 described above, whereas FIGS. 10B to 10D show variations of the protrusion 53, respectively. As shown in FIG. 10A, the above-mentioned upper surface of the protrusion 53 is formed in parallel with the contact surface 52a, whereas in a protrusion 53A shown in FIG. 10B, an upper surface thereof is sloped downward toward the front of the contact surface 52a (sloped downward to the left as viewed in FIG. 10B), and in a protrusion 53B shown in FIG. 10C, an upper surface thereof is sloped downward toward the rear of the contact surface 52a (sloped downward to the right as viewed in FIG. 10C). Further, in a protrusion 53C shown in FIG. 10D, an upper surface thereof is formed into an arcuate shape convex upward. When these protrusions 53A, 53B and 53C move into contact with the key rear-side stopper 51 from below, differently from the protrusion 53 of which the whole upper surface simultaneously moves into contact with the key rear-side stopper 51, the upper surfaces of the protrusions 53A, 53B and 53C progressively hit against the key rear-side stopper 51. With this, compared with the case where the protrusion 53 moves into contact with the key rear-side stopper 51, it is possible to further reduce impact noise.

Further, details of the constructions of the rear end 52 and the key rear-side stopper 51 of the key 2 shown in the embodiment are given only by way of example, and they can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the subject matter of the present invention.

KEYBOARD DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT

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