US1374890A - Pedal device for pianos and other purposes - Google Patents

Description

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, I919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

BENJAMIN I-I. JEFFERSON AND WALTER I. KIRK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO LYON & HEALY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PEDAL DEVICE FOR PIANOS AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 15, 1919. Serial No. 297,379.

To all to 7mm it may concern Be it known that we, BENJAMIN H. JEF- FERSON and VVALTER I. KIRK citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pedal Devices for Pianos and Other Purposes, of which the following is a full,

clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

Our invention .relates to pedal devices, such as are used for pianos and for other purposes.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pedal device of the class mentioned which can be acted upon at a point or position above the one which is usually or normally acted or pressed upon.

Another object of the invention is to permit the pedal device to be operated by acting upon it at such usual or normal position, as well as at such elevated point or position.

Another object of the invention is to secure these pressing surfaces at different horizontallevels by means of a construction similar in general shape and character to the usual piano pedal.

Another object of the invention is to secure the different level pressing surfaces in a piano-pedal-like construction by adjustable devices contained largely within such construction.

Another object of the invention is to arrange for the easy, ready and quick adjustment of such relatively adjustable parts.

Another object of the invention is to secure simplicity and practicability of construction and operation.

Another object of the invention is to accomplish the foregoing and other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lower part of' the front of a piano provided with three pedal devices embodying our present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the front of a piano is indicated at 1 and there are three pedal devices shown numbered respectively 2, 3 and 4. The pedal devices 2 and 3 are in condition to be acted upon and operated in the manner normal or usual for piano pedals. The third pedal device, A, is in con dition to be acted upon and operated at a point above the normal or usual pressing surface. Each of the pedal devices referred to consists of a rear portion or shank 5, (Fig. 2), which is firmly and securely mounted to the usuallpedal bar '6 which is understood to extend to some part of the piano mechanism'which will be actuated by the pedal device. Each pedal device also has a main or body part or pedal member 7, having a rear portion 8 which extends lengthwise of the shank 5, and a horizontal portion 9 extending forwardly from the portion 8. This horizontal portion 9 is preferably in the form of the usual piano pedal, so that its toe portion 10 provides a pressing surface which maybe contacted with and acted upon by the foot of the person playing the piano.

The body portion 7 is mounted so that it can be moved or swung upwardly to permit the toe portion 10 to provide an elevated pressing surface. As one arrangement said portion 7 may be hinged or pivoted at 11 to Patented Apr. 12, 1921'. is

the upper end of the shank 5 so that said I order to hold the member 7 in this elevated position, we provide a link member 12 pivoted at 13 to the pedal bar 6 and arranged to fit in a longitudinal slot or groove 14 in the member 7,'as shown in Fig. 3. This link 10 is provided with two recesses or notches 15 and 16 located at its opposite ends, and the pedal member 7 is provided with a pin 17. A spring 18 is arranged within the slot 14 above the link 12. The rear end 20 of said spring 18 is inserted into a notch in the portion 8 and the front end 21 is arranged to move freely with ref erence to the member 17.

Thus when the pedal member 7 is in the normal pedal position, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 2, the notch 15 in the link 12 will be in engagement with the pin 17 and the spring 18 will tend to hold said link in such engagement, thereby locking the pedal member 7 in such normal or lowered position. When, however, the link 12 is disen- 7 may be swung upwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 2. At the upper limit of said swinging movement, the pin 17 will come into engagement with the notch 16 in the link 12 and the spring 18 will force said link into engagement with said pin, thereby locking the link 12 and the pedal member 7 in the upper adjustment, in which upper adjustment the upper portion of the toe part 10 of the pedal device will form a pressing surface substantially above the pressing surface of the pedal device in its normal or usual condition.

As an arrangement for permitting the engagement and disengagement of the link 12 with reference to the pin 17, said link 12 is provided with a shank 22 which projects downwardly and outwardly through the slot 14 so that an end portion is exposed so that it may be pushed inwardly against the action of the spring 18 by means of the finger or thumb. Thus by pressing in the end 21 the link 12 maybe disengaged from the pin 17, no matter in which of the notches 15 and 16 said pin is engaged, and when so disengaged the part 7 may be adjusted up or down as desired, to bring said part into its lowered or elevated position to provide the lower and upper actuating or pressing surfaces.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

l. A pedal device having a pressing surface mounted for vertical adjustment and means for holding said surface in different adjustments, said holding means comprising a spring controlled link and a pin for engaging a recess in said link. J

1 2. A pedal device in the form of a piano pedal, the rear end of which is pivotally mounted so as to permit the front end to be raised and lowered, and means for holding said pedal in different vertically adjusted positions, said pedal being provided with a recess below its pressing surface and said holding means being arranged within said recess. n

3. A pedal device in the form of a piano pedal, the rear end of which extends up wardly and is pivotally mounted at its upper end so as to permit the front end portion of said pedal to be raised and lowered.

t. A pedal device in the form of a piano pedal, the rear end of which extends upwardly and is pivot-ally mounted at its upper end so as to permit the front end portion of said pedal to be raised and lowered, and means for holding said pedal in different vertically adjusted positions.

5. A pedal device in the form of a piano pedal, the rear end of which extends upwardly and is pivotally mounted at its upper end so as to permit the front end portion of said pedal to be raised and lowered, and means for holding said pedal in dillerent vertically adjusted positions, said means comprising a link pivotally mounted to the pedal support and a. pin carried by the pedal and adapted to engage a recess in said link.

6. A pedal device provided with an adjustable member hinged at its rear end so that its front end may be swung up and down to provide pressing surfaces at difierent horizontal levels, and means for locking said member in such different horizontal levels, said means comprising a pivoted link provided with notches and a pin on said member for engaging said notches. V

7. A pedal device comprising a shank adapted to be secured to a pedal bar, an adjustable pedal member having its rear end hinged to said shank, a link pivoted to said pedal bar and arranged within a slot or groove in said member, said link being provided with notches, and a pin carried by said member and extending across the slot or groove therein, said pin being positioned and adapted to engage the. notchesfin said link to lock said member in adjusted position, and a spring acting upon saidlink to hold it in looking engagement with said pin. v.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 21th day of April, A. D. 1919.

BENJAMIN n. JEFFERSON. WALTER I. KIRK.

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