US572897A - Sounding-board for pianos - Google Patents

Description

(llo Kadal;) I 2 Sheets-sheet 1,

W. H. HOWE. r SOUNDNG BOARD POR PIANOS.

No. 572397. Patented Dec. 8, 1896.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-'sheet 2.

W. H. HOWE. SOUNDING BOARD FOR PIANOS.

No.-572, 897. Patented Dec. 8, 1896;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILLIAM H. IIOXVE, OF XVATERTOXVN, MASSACIIUSETTS.

SOUNDlNG-BOARD FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572397, dated December 8, 1896.

Application filed April 9, 1896. Serial No. 5S6,7'70. (No model&

To cZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W ILLIAM H. Hou '13,016 XVatertown, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvementin Sounding-Boards for Pianos, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representin g like parts.

Sounding-boards for pianos have been made of many different shapes and sizes, but so far as I am aware they have been made of a gradually-increasing thickness from one end of the board to the other.

Sounding-boards so made of a graduallyincreasingthickness from end to end do not respond with equality over all to the vibratons of the strings, some parts of the board vibrating more than other parts, and in fact it appears that some parts of the board more or less remote from the bridge or bridges over which the strings pass vibrate but little, if at all. As a consequence the resonance of the different tones varies, that is to say, the different tones do not possess equal carrying or singing quality, as, for instance, in ordinary pianos the diminution of resonance of the higher tones is usually very marked.

This invention has for its object to construct a sounding-board for pianos and the like which will vibrate with equality or with substantial equality over all, that is to say, from end to end of the scale, resulting in the production of more resonant tones, which by their augmented carrying or singing quality are more pleasing to the ear, and what is, perhaps, more important resulting in equaliz- 'ing the resonance or carrying or singing Sounding-boards of ordinary upright pianos are substantially rcctangular in 'orn, the strings crossing and recrossing it diagonally, and hence the scale, as it is called, runs diagonally or nearly so across the soundingboard, and I preferably enploy several grad utions, or grad uated portions, and arrange theni diagonally across the sounding-board in such a manner as to accord with the diagonal arrangement of the strings and thereby correspond to or accord with the scale.

Figure 1 shows in front View a soundingboard graduated in a manner to enbody the broad features of thisinvention 5 Fig. 2, a cross-section of the same, taken on the curved dotted line cc a', looking downward; Fig. 3, a rear side view of a sounding-board graduatcd diiferently, yet designed to accomplish the same result; and Fig. 4, a rear side View of a sounding-board graduated in still another way.

The sounding-board a is or may be of any usual shape and size, and it may have upon it any usual or suitable bridges a', over which the strings pass. v

In graduating the sounding-board, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, I establish a series of points at suitable distances apart, as at 2, 3, a, 5, and 6, said established points beginning near the lower or base end of the board and gradually coming nearer together as they approach the upper or treble end, and then I gradually reduce or diminish the thickness of the board radially from these established points, said radial graduations from each point covering an area which may be described by a circle which may be clearly defined in the board, if desired, and herein represented in Fig. l by dotted lines b, c, d, e, and f., As the established points are located nearer together as they approach the treble end of the scale, the circles will of course become smaller in diameter. At the established points the boardmay and preferably will be made of less thickness for each point as they approach the upper or treble end. Herein five established points are represented, although I do not limit my invention to any particular number, nor do I desire to limit ny invention to having the radial graduations confined to covering a circle, as it is IOO &1

obvious that they may extend to the edge of the board, if desired, or to any predctcr mined line.

I find that a single large graduated portion, such as Z), will alone produce manybeneficial results when arranged with the bridge or bridges over which the strings pass, extending diametrically across it, and hence, while I consider it preferable to einploy a series of graduated portions, I do not desire to thus limit my invention.

Instead of graduating the board by working it out or cutting away the material I inay take a thin board and build up the graduated portions.

In Fig. 3 I have represented a thin board having circular portions defined by niargi nal strips it, and across said eircular portions, preferably running crosswise the grain of the wood, brace-bars n' are placed, which are made of varying thiekness, so that when (30111- pleted the central part of each eircular portion is of greatest thickness, strength, stiffness, or resistance, fron which part or point the strength or resistance gradually diniinishes to the narginal strips. In this case it will be seen that the same results are acconplished as in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 4 a thin board is shown, having thereon marginal strips n, defining certain circular portions, within each of which the board is built up with a series of thin circular dsks or veneers, each of less diameter than the one upon which it is placed, and each laminated portion thus fornied is made of a predeternined thickness at the center, producing substantially the same results as are acconplished in the figures previously described. Therefore I desire it to be understood that wherever I refer to graduated portions I desire to include within the spirit and scope of this invention any form or Construction of such portion or portions.

I claiml. A sounding-board having two or more graduated portions extending across the board to 'accord with the scale, one of said graduated portions being of greatest strength or 'esistanee at the middle, and gradually dininishing toward the edge, and a bridge over which the strings pass extending across said graduated portions, substantially as described.

2. A sounding-board having several grad nated portions, extending from the base toward the treble end of the board, and bridges over which the strings pass extending across said graduated portions, substantially as described.

A sounding-board having a graduated portion confined within a narginal strip of an established thickness, said graduated portion being made of greater strength or resistance at the middle than at the edges, substantially as described.

4. A sounding -board having a series of graduated portions, extending across the board to accord with the scale, and confined within narginal strips of an established thickness, and bridges dianetrically crossin g said graduated portions, substantially as d escribed.

5. A sounding board having a series of graduated portions, extending 'from the base toward the treble end of the board, each portion having an established point of a certain thickness, strength or resistance, and each portion being gradually reduced in thiekness, strength or resistance, froni its established point.

0. A sounding-board having a series of circular graduated portions, each portion having an established point of a certain thickness, strength or resistance, and each portion rcduced in thickness, strength or resistancc radially fron such point.

7. A sounding-board having a series of graduated portions, extending from the base to the treble end of the board, each portion toward the treble end covering less area than the preceding portion, and each portion having an established point of a certain thickness, strength or resistance, fron which point the board is dininished or reduced radially, substantially as described.

8. A sounding board having a series of graduated portions, extending from the base to the treble end of the board, each portion toward the treble end covering less area than the preceding portion, and each portion having an established point of a certain thickness, strength or resistance, froni which the board is dininished or reduced radially, the thickness, strength or resistance of the board at each established point of the series as they approach the treble end being less than the preceding one, substantially as described.

In testiinony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

lVILLIAM II. IIO\VE.

lVitnesses:

B. J. NoYEs, F. II. DAVIS.

IOO

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