Hammer assembly and keyboard instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10825427-B2
Application number	US-201916562571-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2019
Priority date	Mar 24, 2017
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A hammer assembly includes: a weight; and a pivot member including a first weight supporter configured to support the weight in a first direction, a second weight supporter configured to support the weight in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a coupling portion configured to couple the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter to each other. A distance from the first weight supporter to the weight and a distance from the second weight supporter to the weight increase with decrease in distance to the coupling portion in at least a portion of a region of the weight.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hammer assembly, comprising:
a weight; and
a pivot member comprising a first weight supporter configured to support the weight in a first direction, a second weight supporter configured to support the weight in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a coupling portion configured to couple the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter to each other,
wherein a distance from the first weight supporter to the weight and a distance from the second weight supporter to the weight increase with decrease in distance to the coupling portion in at least a portion of a region of the weight.

2. The hammer assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first weight supporter comprises a first inner rib extending from a first facing surface opposed to the second weight supporter, and
wherein the second weight supporter comprises a second inner rib extending from a second facing surface opposed to the first weight supporter.

3. The hammer assembly according to claim 2 ,
wherein the weight comprises a first edge portion contactable with the first inner rib, and a second edge portion contactable with the second inner rib, and
wherein when the weight is inserted between the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter, a distance from the first inner rib to the first edge portion increases with decrease in distance to the coupling portion in at least a portion of a region of the first edge portion, and a distance from the second inner rib to the second edge portion increases with decrease in distance to the coupling portion in at least a portion of a region of the second edge portion.

4. The hammer assembly according to claim 2 , wherein each of the first inner rib and the second inner rib extends in a direction intersecting a pivot plane on which the pivot member pivots.

5. The hammer assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first inner rib and the second inner rib extends in a scale direction.

6. The hammer assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein when the weight is not inserted between the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter, a distance between the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter is set to a first dimension,
wherein when the weight is inserted between the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter, the distance between the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter is set to a second dimension, and
wherein the second dimension is greater than the first dimension.

7. The hammer assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first weight supporter comprises a first outer rib protruding from an outer surface in a direction in which the pivot member pivots, and the second weight supporter comprises a second outer rib protruding from an outer surface in the direction in which the pivot member pivots.

8. A keyboard instrument, comprising:
a plurality of the hammer assemblies each hammer assembly comprising:
a weight; and
a pivot member comprising a first weight supporter configured to support the weight in a first direction, a second weight supporter configured to support the weight in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a coupling portion configured to couple the first weight supporter and the second weight supporter to each other,
wherein a distance from the first weight supporter to the weight and a distance from the second weight supporter to the weight increase with decrease in distance to the coupling portion in at least a portion of a region of the weight; and
a plurality of keys each configured to cause pivotal movement of a corresponding one of the plurality of hammer assemblies when pressed.

9. The keyboard instrument according to claim 8 , further comprising a first stopper with which the first weight supporter is brought into contact by pivotal movement of the hammer assembly when one of the plurality of keys is pressed,
wherein the contact of the first weight supporter with the first stopper limits a range of the pivotal movement of the hammer assembly.

10. The keyboard instrument according to claim 8 , further comprising a second stopper with which the second weight supporter is brought into contact by pivotal movement of the hammer assembly when one of the plurality of keys is released,
wherein the contact of the second weight supporter with the second stopper limits the range of the pivotal movement of the hammer assembly.

Assignees

• Yamaha Corp

Inventors

• Takahashi Ken
• Ichiki Shunsuke

Classifications

• G10C3/12

  Keyboards; Keys · CPC title

• G10C3/18 Primary

  Hammers · CPC title