Keyboard apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10796672-B2
Application number	US-201815952674-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2018
Priority date	Oct 15, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A keyboard apparatus includes a plurality of keys each rotatable with a predetermined stroke, a support assembly which includes a support with one side rotatably arranged with a support rail and a jack with the one side rotatably supported by the support, and rotates with depression of any of the plurality of keys, a hammer unit which is operated by receiving an action of the jack, a shank rail which rotatably supports the hammer unit, and a jack stopper which makes contact with the jack which rotates with the depression of any of the plurality of keys, the jack stopper being placed on a rotation path of the jack and provided to a fixing portion which does not rotate with the depression any of the plurality of keys.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of keys each rotatable with a predetermined stroke;
a support assembly which includes a support with a first side rotatably arranged with a support rail and a jack with the first side rotatably supported by the support, and rotates with depression of any of the plurality of keys;
a hammer unit which is operated by an action of the jack;
a shank rail which rotatably supports the hammer unit;
a regulating portion which extends from the shank rail and makes contact with the support assembly; and
a jack stopper which makes contact with the jack which rotates with the depression of any of the plurality of keys,
wherein the jack stopper is placed on a rotation path of the jack and protrudes from the shank rail which does not rotate with the depression of any of the plurality of keys, and
wherein the shank rail, the regulating portion, and the jack stopper are arranged on a same side with respect to the jack.

2. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the jack stopper is shared by the plurality of keys.

3. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the jack stopper has a width in contact with the jack respectively arranged to the plurality of keys.

4. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the jack stopper has a width in contact with the jack respectively arranged to the plurality of keys for each octave units.

5. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the jack has, on a second side opposite to the first side, a rib projecting to a side of the hammer unit.

6. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the rib makes contact with the jack stopper when the jack is detached from the hammer unit by the depression of the key to rotate.

7. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the jack stopper has a contact surface which makes contact with the jack.

8. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the contact surface of the jack stopper is placed on the rotation path of the jack.

9. The keyboard apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the contact surface of the jack stopper includes a soft material.

Assignees

• Yamaha Corp

Inventors

• OHBA Akito

Classifications

• G10H1/34

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

• G10C3/12

  Keyboards; Keys · CPC title

• G10C3/18

  Hammers · CPC title

• G10H2220/305

  using a light beam to detect key, pedal or note actuation · 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