Keyboard device and keyboard instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10347223-B2
Application number	US-201815919920-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2018
Priority date	Mar 16, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A keyboard device where at least one of a transmission rail and a hammer rail is favorably supported, and a keyboard instrument including the keyboard device are provided. A transmission support pole for supporting the transmission rail and a hammer support pole for supporting the hammer rail are each arranged in a gap between two keys adjacent to each other among a plurality of keys, arranged in a hole provided in at least one of the plurality of keys, or arranged at a position corresponding to a key support shaft which supports at least one of the plurality of keys. As a result, at least one of the transmission support rail and the hammer support rail is favorably supported.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard device comprising:
a plurality of keys;
a transmission rail which holds a plurality of transmission members that are rotated in response to key depression operations on the plurality of keys, along an array direction of the keys; and
a transmission support pole which supports the transmission rail,
wherein the transmission support pole is (i) arranged in a gap between two keys adjacent to each other among the plurality of keys, (ii) arranged in a hole provided in at least one of the plurality of keys, or (iii) arranged at a position corresponding to a key support shaft which supports at least one of the plurality of keys.

2. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein both ends of the transmission rail are supported by rail support members, and
wherein the transmission support pole is provided on at least one portion of the transmission rail between the rail support members excluding the both ends of the transmission rail.

3. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the transmission support pole is smaller than a length of each key in the array direction of the keys.

4. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keys each have a shape that is linear in a direction perpendicular to the array direction.

5. A keyboard device comprising:
a plurality of keys;
a hammer rail which holds a plurality of hammer members that are rotated in response to key depression operations on the plurality of keys, along an array direction of the keys; and
a hammer support pole which supports the hammer rail,
wherein the hammer support pole is (i) arranged in a gap between two keys adjacent to each other among the plurality of keys, (ii) arranged in a hole provided in at least one of the plurality of keys, or (iii) arranged at a position corresponding to a key support shaft which supports at least one of the plurality of keys.

6. The keyboard device according to claim 5 , wherein both ends of the hammer rail are supported by rail support members, and
wherein the hammer support pole is provided on at least one portion of the hammer rail between the rail support members excluding the both ends of the hammer rail.

7. The keyboard device according to claim 5 , wherein an outer diameter of the hammer support pole is smaller than a length of each key in the array direction of the keys.

8. The keyboard device according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of keys each have a shape that is linear in a direction perpendicular to the array direction.

9. A keyboard instrument comprising:
the keyboard device according to claim 1 ; and
a sound emitting section which emits a musical sound in response to a key operation on the keyboard device.

10. A keyboard device comprising:
a plurality of keys;
a transmission rail which holds a plurality of transmission members that are rotated in response to key depression operations on the plurality of keys, along an array direction of the keys; and
a transmission support pole which supports the transmission rail,
a hammer rail which holds a plurality of hammer members that are rotated in response to the key depression operations on the plurality of keys, along the array direction of the keys; and
a hammer support pole which supports the hammer rail,
wherein the transmission support pole is (i) arranged in a gap between two keys adjacent to each other among the plurality of keys, (ii) arranged in a hole provided in at least one of the plurality of keys, or (iii) arranged at a position corresponding to a key support shaft which supports at least one of the plurality of keys, and
wherein the hammer support pole is (i) arranged in a gap between two keys adjacent to each other among the plurality of keys, (ii) arranged in a hole provided in at least one of the plurality of keys, or (iii) arranged at a position corresponding to a key support shaft which supports at least one of the plurality of keys.

11. The keyboard device according to claim 10 , further comprising:
rail support members which are provided to sides of the plurality of keys in the array direction of the keys so as to support the transmission rail and the hammer rail,
wherein at least one transmission support pole and one hammer support pole are provided between the rail support members.

12. The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein an outer diameter of the transmission support pole and an outer diameter of the hammer support pole are smaller than a length of each key in the array direction of the keys.

13. The keyboard device according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of keys each have a shape that is linear in a direction perpendicular to the array direction.

Assignees

• Casio Computer Co Ltd

Inventors

• Taniguchi Hirokazu

Classifications

• G10C3/12 Primary

  Keyboards; Keys · CPC title

• G10C3/04 Primary

  Frames; Bridges; Bars · CPC title

• G10C3/18

  Hammers · CPC title

• G10H1/346

  Keys with an arrangement for simulating the feeling of a piano key, e.g. using counterweights, springs, cams · CPC title