Keyboard device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9449586-B2
Application number	US-201514880116-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2015
Priority date	Oct 9, 2014
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A keyboard device includes: key units each including a coupler and white or block keys coupled to the coupler at their rear ends; and a key frame assembled to the key frame and supporting the couplers stacked on each other. The coupler of one of the key units is provided with a hook having an engaging portion. The coupler of each of at least one other key unit has a through hole at a position corresponding to the hook. The key frame has a through hole at a position corresponding to the hook. The couplers of the key units are secured on the key frame using the engaging portion in a state in which the hook extends through the through hole of the coupler of each of the at least one other key unit and the through hole of the key frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A keyboard device, comprising:
a plurality of key units each comprising (i) a plurality of white keys or a plurality of black keys and (ii) a coupler elongated so as to extend in a key arrangement direction in which the plurality of white keys or the plurality of black keys are arranged, rear ends of the plurality of white keys or the plurality of black keys being coupled to the coupler, the plurality of white keys or the plurality of black keys and the coupler being coupled in one unit; and
a key frame supporting a plurality of couplers of the plurality of key units, the plurality of couplers being stacked on each other, the plurality of key units being assembled to the key frame,
the coupler of one key unit of the plurality of key units being provided with a hook extending in an up and down direction, the hook comprising an engaging portion at an end portion of the hook, the hook being configured to fit within a length of the coupler of the one key unit,
the plurality of key units comprising at least one other key unit other than the one key unit, the coupler of each of the at least one other key unit comprising a through hole formed through the coupler in the up and down direction at a position corresponding to the hook,
the key frame comprising a through hole formed through the key frame in the up and down direction at a position corresponding to the hook,
the plurality of couplers of the plurality of key units being secured on the key frame using the engaging portion in a state in which the hook extends through the through hole of the coupler of each of the at least one other key unit and the through hole of the key frame.

2. The keyboard device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the coupler of the one key unit is located on an uppermost position among the plurality of couplers in a state in which the plurality of key units are assembled to the key frame,
wherein the hook protrudes downward from a lower surface of the coupler of the one key unit,
wherein the engaging portion protrudes in a horizontal direction at a lower end portion of the hook, and
wherein the hook extends downward through the through hole of the coupler of each of the at least one other key unit and the through hole of the key frame, and the engaging portion is engaged with a lower surface of the key frame.

3. The keyboard device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the coupler of the one key unit is located on a lower side of an uppermost one of the plurality of couplers in a state in which the plurality of key units are assembled to the key frame,
wherein the hook comprises:
a first hook protruding downward from a lower surface of the coupler of the one key unit and comprising a first engaging portion protruding in a horizontal direction at a lower end portion of the first hook; and
a second hook protruding upward from an upper surface of the coupler of the one key unit and comprising a second engaging portion protruding in the horizontal direction at an upper end portion of the second hook,

wherein the first hook extends downward through the through hole of the key frame or extends downward through the through hole of the coupler of the at least one other key unit which is located under the coupler of the one key unit and through the through hole of the key frame, and the first engaging portion is engaged with a lower surface of the key frame, and
wherein the second hook extends upward through the through hole of the coupler of the at least one other key unit which is located over the coupler of the one key unit, and the second engaging portion is engaged with an upper surface of the coupler located on an uppermost position among the plurality of couplers.

4. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler of the one key unit comprises a through hole opposed to the engaging portion in the up and down direction.

5. The keyboard device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a side surface of the hook is inclined such that a length of the hook decreases toward the end portion,
wherein a length of a portion of the through hole of the coupler of each of the at least one other key unit, which portion is opposed to the side surface of the hook, is greater than a length of a side surface of a portion of the hook, which portion is opposed to the through hole of the coupler of said each of the at least one other key unit,
wherein a length of a portion of the through hole of the key frame, which portion is opposed to the side surface of the hook, is greater than a length of a side surface of a portion of the hook, which portion is opposed to the through hole of the key frame, and
wherein a length of portions of (i) the through hole of the coupler of each of the at least one other key unit and (ii) the through hole of the key frame, which portions are opposed to the side surface of the hook, decreases toward the end portion of the hook.

6. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the hook is configured to fit within the length of the coupler of the one key unit in a front and rear direction perpendicular to the key arrangement direction.

7. The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler of the one key unit comprises a through hole extending through the coupler from an upper surface to a lower surface thereof.

8. The keyboard device according to claim 7 , wherein a front or rear surface of the hook and an inner surface of the through hole are located on an identical plane.

9. The keyboard device according to claim 8 , wherein the front surface of the hook and a rear inner surface of the through hole are located on an identical plane.

10. The keyboard device according to claim 9 , wherein the engaging portion extends frontward from the front surface of the hook.

11. The keyboard device according to claim 8 , wherein the rear surface of the hook and a front inner surface of the through hole are located on an identical plane.

12. The keyboard device according to claim 11 , wherein the engaging portion extends rearward from the rear surface of the hook.

Assignees

• Yamaha Corp

Inventors

• Yamamoto Shin
• Yoshizaki Yu
• Kitajima Mitsuru

Classifications

• G10C3/12 Primary

  Keyboards; Keys · CPC title

• G10H1/344

  Structural association with individual keys (electrically operated wind-actuated organs G10B3/22) · CPC title