Keyboard apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10672374-B2
Application number	US-201916392706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2019
Priority date	Oct 28, 2016
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard apparatus includes a key, a frame, and a connecting portion having a first flexible portion, a second flexible portion serially connected to the first flexible portion between the key and the frame, and a connector for connecting the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion to each other attachably and detachably, the connecting portion turnably connecting the key to the frame by utilizing flexibility of the first flexible portion or the second flexible portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard apparatus comprising:
a key;
a frame; and
a connecting portion having a first flexible portion, a second flexible portion serially connected to the first flexible portion between the key and the frame, and a connector for connecting the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion to each other attachably and detachably, the connecting portion turnably connecting the key to the frame by utilizing flexibility of the first flexible portion or the second flexible portion.

2. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion contain materials different from each other.

3. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the second flexible portion and the frame are attachable to and detachable from each other.

4. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the second flexible portion and the frame contain materials different from each other.

5. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flexible portion and the frame contain materials different from each other.

6. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
either of the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion can be bent in an in-plane having a normal line extending in a scale direction, and the other thereof is not bent in the in-plane.

7. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
either of the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion can be bent in an in-plane having a normal line extending in a scale direction and can also be bent in the scale direction, and the other thereof is not bent in the in-plane.

8. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flexible portion can be bent in a scale direction, and
the second flexible portion can be bent in an in-plane having a normal line extending in the scale direction.

9. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein
the first flexible portion is harder than the second flexible portion.

10. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flexible portion and the key are made from the same material.

11. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first flexible portion and the key are attachable to and detachable from each other.

12. A keyboard apparatus comprising:
a key;
a frame; and
a connecting portion having a first flexible portion, and a second flexible portion different in material from the first flexible portion and serially connected to the first flexible portion between the key and the frame, the connecting portion turnably connecting the key to the frame by utilizing flexibility of the first flexible portion or the second flexible portion.

13. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the second flexible portion and the frame are attachable to and detachable from each other.

14. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the second flexible portion and the frame contain materials different from each other.

15. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the first flexible portion and the frame contain materials different from each other.

16. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
either of the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion can be bent in an in-plane having a normal line extending in a scale direction, and the other thereof is not bent in the in-plane.

17. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
either of the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion can be bent in an in-plane having a normal line extending in a scale direction and can also be bent in the scale direction, and the other thereof is not bent in the in-plane.

18. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the first flexible portion can be bent in a scale direction, and
the second flexible portion can be bent in an in-plane having a normal line extending in the scale direction.

19. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein
the first flexible portion is harder than the second flexible portion.

20. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the first flexible portion and the key are made from the same material.

21. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the first flexible portion and the key are attachable to and detachable from each other.

Assignees

• Yamaha Corp

Inventors

• Ichiki Shunsuke

Classifications

• G10H2220/275

  Switching mechanism or sensor details of individual keys, e.g. details of key contacts, hall effect or piezoelectric sensors used for key position or movement sensing purposes; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• G10B3/12

  Keys or keyboards; Manuals · CPC title

• G10H1/346 Primary

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

• G10H1/34

  Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments · CPC title

• G10C3/12 Primary

  Keyboards; Keys · CPC title