US1650004A - Drying pad for pianos - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,004

F. c. BlLLlNGs DRYING PAD FOR PIANOS Filed Sept. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fia.

Nov. 22, 1927.

1650 oo4` l F. c. BILLINGs DRYING PAD FOR PIANOS Filed sept. 1s. 192s l 2 sheets-sheet 2 Q e Q S e e J lll/1111111111.

Patented Nov. ZZ, 1927.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK C. BILLINGS, F MIAMI, FLORIDA..

DRYING PAD FOR PIANOS.

Application led September 16, 1926.l Serial No. 135,788.

My invention relates to improvementsl in drying pads for pianos, and has for its primary object a pad which is designed to be placed in pianos, and especially for preventing moisture from beingY absorbed by the pin block and the hammer mechanism, thereby preventing the piano from getting out of pitch 'and also preventing the sticking of the keys.

By preventing the accumulation of moisture in the working parts of the piano, these parts are always maintained y. in the ysame condition aswhen they leave the factory and since both the pin block and the major portion of the key mechanism are all constructed of wood, any absorption of moisture by these parts causes swelling. In the pin block, this swelling will in time affect the holes inv which the tuning pins are driven and cause the pins to become loosened so that the piano will not hold its pitch." In the `keyboard mechanism the parts are fitted fairlyclose together and any swelling causes a sticking of the keys and hammers and revente them from repeating rapidly. In ot er words, the key will have a sluggish return action and at times this action becomes so sluggishthat it is impossible to execute a trill, Also moisture will affect the leathers used in the action causing them to become soggy and stretch, and eventually causing them to rot, There are also numerous springs and pins used in the action, which moisture will cause to rust, thus hindering the ready action 3.3 thereof and also quickly deteriorating them. Another serious effect that moisture has in piano actions is to affect the polished graphite bearing surfaces causing the vaction to become sluggish and stick.

A still further object of' In device is to prevent theaccumulation of ustin the action and Aby its use I am also enabledv to employ insecticides, such as moth balls or the like, to preserve the 4telt on the ham mers and to prevent moths from attacking the same. f f

I have also discovered especially in grand pianos that the open space in which the hammers work acts. as a flue drawingin keys into the act-ion and thence passing it upward. My pad in addition to the advantages pointed out acts the same as a damper in a flue and retards this circulation Vto a great extent. i

My device is equally applicable to grand 0v moist air through the 'spaces between the pianos, uprights, and player pianos, and in the latter not only lperforms all of the func-v tions aforesaid but in additiony protects the delicate parts ot' the player mechanism, that is it keeps the metallic parts from rusting and it preserves the bellows. In addition to the above features of my device, it is so constructed and arranged that when in position, it will not in any way affect the tone volume or tone quality ol thel piano and there will be absolutely no rattling due to the vibrations. In tact my device when once in position can remain there indefinitely. In fact it is my intention that the device remain there permanently withthe exception that it be removed when the instrument is to be tuned.

vI lravealso found by the use offmy device that it prevents rusting of the strings and that a piano, in which it is installed, will remain in tune much longer than the ordinary piano.

My devicel is especially useful' in pianos in climates wherethere is a great amount of moisture as by its use I have found that I can keep' a piano at practically factory conditions throughout the yeary and the cost of keeping the same in this condition is only at the expenditure of a. small amount ofelectric current, the amount of expenditure being agreat deal less than the amount necessary to replace rustysprings and `to overhaul the action periodically due to the prence of moisture, and in addition to this, as aforesaid, the pin block is always kept in perfect condition so that when the piano is oncetuned, there will` be no loosening Aof the pins in the'pin block due to the swelling and contraction caused by the absorption and expulsion of the moisture.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan vie/wot my device; Fig. 2 is a similar viewY with the top cover removed;

Fig'. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken. on the line 4:-4 of Fig. 2 with the' ilap turned up; i y

Fig. 5is a fragmental top plan'viewofa piano with the-music rack removed showing my device in position gr Fig. 6 is a longitudinal view of the forj' t fit1 In the construction of my device I employ a bottom member 8 which is provided With retieulations or perforations 9. the bottom member S are longitudinally eX- tendingr loops 10 and 11 and laterally eri-- tending loops 12 and 13. The laterally extending loops 12 and 13 are ot such lengt-h as to abut the edges of the loops 10 and 1l. The loops 10 and 11 have stiliening` rods 14. passed therethrough` While the'loops 1.2 and 13 have stitfening rods 15 inserted in a similar manner. These stitl'ening rods may ie of various material. They may be wooden dowels. They may be solid rubber strips, or they maybe rubber tubes with a metallic core, which core may be either solid or in the form of a spiral spring. The Yloops 10, 11, 12 and 13 are secured to the bottom-'member 8y by means of stitching 1G. Parallel to the loops 12 and 13 and secured to the bottom S by means ot' stitching;r 17 are loops 1S and 19. These loops, however, are ot less length than the loops 13 so as toprovide passageways 2O between one end and the loop 11 and passegeways 21 between the opposite end of the loops and the loop 10. The bottom 8 extends forward so as to form a short 'flap 22 to which are secured portions of a glove or Snap fastener The remainingT portion ot these fasteners is secured to the flap 21 formed integral with the top 25. The top 25 is secured to the bottom 8 adjacent its rear edge by means ot stitching 26 and along its `sides by means ot stitching 27, the stitohingi27, howeveig'being so inter rupted `as to permit the insertion ot' the stiltening members 11i. Secured to the rear of the assembled pad is a flap 2S, the purpose of which will be explained in vdetail later.`

It is. my intention to insert in.one` ot the compartments formed by the loops-1S and 19 and preferably in the center compartment an electric heating pad 29, which connecte ed by means ot electric conductors il() to any suitable 'source ot electrio energy.` This electric pad is a commercial article, which may be bought in the open market 'andV is at present used for medicinal. purposes to take the place ot a hot Water bottle f and. is equipped with means whereby various temperatures may be obtained and since'this'article can be readily bought. in the openmarket, its precise construction terms no part of my invention anch therefore, will not be. described in det-ail. i

Referring to Figs. and 6. 31 `represents the ease ot agrand piano, E12 the key hoard, and 33 the plate. The plate is provided with ribs 34 which support a forward plate 35 thus leaving a space 36 `vin which tha piano action including` the hammers 3T and dampers 38. operate. 30 is one ot the tuning' pins and oneo't the strings.; JW-hen my device is used in ay grand piano, it is placed s0 that it rests on` top ot tlicribs Bilanci als@ Secured to certain other portions of the plate and its securing means not shown.y which are common in the construction oit all pianos ot this type. The 'liront top cover designed to be folded liiackward as illustrated and to remain in this position at all times and the flap 2S is turned upi'fard as illnstrated in Fig. (iso as to rest against the edge et the cover 4-2. ln this Way it will be seen that the entire open spare 'lt together with the'tuning pins Si) ron'ipletely c0vered over thus eliminating dust and the possibility of'any foreign substances falling between the strings and enteringr the action. ln Fig. T Il?) represents the plate, 42 the piu block. 113 one of the strings, #14. a. hammer. .45 one ot the damp and fli a portion ot' the case. ln the ce ruction ot pad used Afor en uprifgjht `vor a player, the tlap 28 is made longer than tor a grand piano and hangs downward as illustrated in Fig. Teo as to be iietii'een the piano action or rather hammers and the itront of the piano.

Itis. my intention, ot course, that the entire pad be made oit itabric such as felt or the like and with the bottom member recticulated although it desired, the bottom member may be made oit open mesh material.

The operation ot my device is as follows:

lWhen the cover or pad-is received, the re inforeing' rods are lett ont and sont separate so 'that the first step'wvill be to slip the reintoreements into their proper loops. The electric heating. pad is next placed in position and the flaps 22 and 24 secured together bymea'ns of the glove or snap fasteners. The` device is then placed in the piano with the reticulated portion downward. and the electricity turned on. This heats the pad and in so doing heats the air between the eover andi -tbe bottom ot the piano pad., and on aecountotproviding the passages 20 and 21 a lcirculation ot' air is permitted through the various compartments thereby insuringr heat# ed air throughout the pad, the air becoming heated naturally will absorb nufistnre and this is accomplished by drawing: moisture through the retici:lat-ionsl Sl. The moistureI thus drawn through the reticulations in turn becomes warmed up vand passes upward Where it is absorbed by the top This top in turn beeoming `heated trom the electric padand the heated air will dryr the moisture. trom it or rather from its 11j-iper surface and therefore in a short time all o t' the moisture Within the vpiano ease or rather that around the action will bey thusl driven or pmnped out and before it has time to be absorbed by any otE the .working parts ot' the piano thereby preventing any swelling;v due to moisture or any-.Corrosion ot the metal parts :ind thus the piano action as well as the piu blos-.lc is always maintained in a substantially perfect condition. l

klt will also be noted from Figs. 6 and 7 that titl llt)

no part of the pad is in contact with the strings` or any of the working lparts and therefore does not in any Way ati'ectthem. Furthermore when playing a grand piano, the flap 28 is folded doivn so that it will not interfere With the tone by dampening it. IVhile in the upright practically all of the tone comes out through the bach as it is not customary under ordinary conditions to open either the front or top of the same and therefore its volume will not befdimin'ished in any Way by the employment of my pad.

Myrpad is also very valuable in extremely dry climates as I have found that a piano is also effected by extreme dry air. This causes the action to loosen up necessitating all screws to be tightened, theA pin block contracts causing the pin holes to Widen so that the pins will not hold the tension of the strings. The same also applies to all center pin bearings and the key center of the balance rail and front guide pins, and as the dry air entersthe piano similar to the moisture, that is along the spaces between the keys, the circulation of this dry air through the piano is also prevented by the damper effect of the pad. In addition I have discovered that in the eXtreme north Where pianos are in unheated rooms, frost will accumulate on the strings and metal parts and when a room is heated, the frost melts and causes the metal `parts to rust.y

My device will prevent the accumulation of frost by absorbing the moisture and, on account of the heating pad, which is placed inside of my pad, the piano can be kept dry at all times and Without the necessity of eX- pending a large amount of fuel to keep an un-used room in which the piano may be placed Warm at all times. lieved that even without the electric pad, the device Will keep the piano dry and prevent the accumulation of frost for the reason that the circulation of cold air through the piano is greatly retarded, if not altogether stopped, by the pad. This also makes my device useful in shipping pianos as the manufacturer' can place a pad therein and protect the instrument While. in transit, and When moth balls are placed Within the pad, the top cover being imperforate will prevent the odor of the moth balls from being diffused throughout the room but at the same time the felt parts of the piano will be pro tected thereby against the ravages of these pests and in addition to preventing the entrance of trinkets, such as pencils and the like from falling in between the strings and into the action, the entrance of dust is also prevented to a great extent.

In extremely dry temperatures Where the action has become loosened on account of shrinkage of the various Wooden parts, I may place a damp towel or other cloth in the chamber of my pad thereby restoring mois- In fact it is be- Having fully described my invention, what Y l. claim is :H

l. ,A drying pad for pianos comprisingan absorbent member having a spaced apart top and bottom. reinforcing members interposed.

between the top and bottoni for stilfening said pad, and a flap secured to said pad along one of its longitudinal edges.

A drying pad `for pianos coi'nprising a member having a spaced apart top and bottom, reinforcing members located between said top and bottom Afor stidening said pad, a tlap secured to said pad along one of its longitudinal edges, and means for supplying heat between said top and bottom.

3. A drying pad for pianos ycomprising a member having a. retieulated bottom and a top spaced apart therefrom, reinforcing members removably located between said top and bottom for stiffening said pad, and a fla-p secured along one longitudinal edge of said pad.

et. A drying pad for pianos comprising a.

member having a reticulated bottom and a top in spaced apart relation to each other, reinforcing members for stilfening said pad, a flap secured to said pad along one of its longitudinal edges, and means for introducing heat Within the pad and between said top and bottom. n 5. A drying pad for pianos comprising a member having a reticulated bottom and a top spaced apart from each other, reinforcing members for stiifening said pad, means for dividing said pad into a plurality of communicating chambers, and a flap secured along one of the longitudinal edges of said pad.

6. A drying pad for pianos comprising a member having a reticulated bottom and a top spaced apart from each other, reinforcing members f'or stiiiening said pad, mea-ns for dividing said pad into a plurality of communicating chambers, a flap secured along one ofthe longitudinal edges of said pad. and means for introducing heat into one of said chambers.

7. A drying pad for pianos rectangular in shape and composed of absorbent material and being of a length substantially the length'of the inside of a piano casing, and a flexible flap secured along vone of the side margins of said pad, said Hap being more flexible than the pad. n n

8. A drying pad for pianos composed of librous absorbent materiel being of :i size to @over the pin blocl: end hammer und damper action of e piano, und a flexible flap secured along one edge oit seid pad for restricting the circulation ot air over sind around said hammer end dm'nper notion und the pin bloel.

9. A drying pad for pianos rectangular in shape and Composed ot lAbsorbent material and being of a length substantially the length ol the inside of :.1 piano easing'`v u fleXt ble liep .secured alone` one of the side inergins of said pmb seid liep being;V more flexible than the pad, and means for stilleningT seid pad.

10. A drying pad 'for pianos composed of an upper and a ,lower layer of absorbent Inziterial, seid layers beine; secured together @long three edges, reinforcingT nieinbers eX- tending laterally land longitudinally of said pad for Stilfening the sanne end spacing the layers apart whereby pockets are it'orniied be* tween the layers, means carried by the unse- Cured edges of said layers so that they can be detaehably secured together and access had to said pockets, and ay flexible flap secured along,r the edge of said pad opposite seid last mentioned edges.

ll. A drying pad for pianos composed of nn ilniiertornte upper and n perforated lower layer of absorbent material rectangular in shape, said lnyers being' secured together along' three edges. reinforcingr members ex tending laterally and loilgitntlilinlly of said psd 'for stilliening the same and spacing the layers apart whereby pockets are formed between the layers, means carried by the nnsectnfed edges of said layers so that they can be deteehnbly secured together end access had to said pockets, and n liexible flap secured along the edge of said pad opposite seid last mentioned edges.

In testimony whereof' I here ultixed my signature.

FREDERICK C. BILLINGS.

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