Key guide structure for keyboard instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9940916-B2
Application number	US-201715459359-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2017
Priority date	Mar 22, 2016
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A key guide structure for a keyboard instrument, which is capable of stably and appropriately guiding a key pivotally moved by key depression without generating noise. The key guide structure has guide holders each erected below a guide recess of each key, and guide members mounted to tops of the guide holders, respectively, each for sliding contact with lateral inner side surfaces of the recess. Each guide member includes a body disposed between the lateral inner side surfaces of the recess with a predetermined clearance, two lateral flexible portions laterally flexible and extending from lateral ends of a front or rear surface of the body in a manner protruding in a front-rear direction, and two lateral contact portions which are provided at front ends of the flexible portions in a manner protruding sideward and are in contact with the lateral inner side surfaces of the recess.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key guide structure for a keyboard instrument having a front side and a rear side and including a plurality of keys each of which extends in a front-rear direction with a rear end thereof pivotally supported on a keyboard chassis and with a guide recess opening downward, the key guide structure being provided for guiding each key pivotally moved by key depression, the key guide structure comprising:
a plurality of key guide holders each erected on the keyboard chassis, in association with each key, at a location below the guide recess; and
a plurality of key guide members mounted to upper portions of said key guide holders, respectively, each for being brought into sliding contact with left and right inner side surfaces of the guide recess, wherein each of said key guide members comprises:
a key guide body formed in a plate shape which is rectangular as viewed from a front side and has a predetermined thickness, said key guide body being disposed between the left and right inner side surfaces of the guide recess with a predetermined clearance from each of the left and right inner side surfaces,
a left flexible portion and a right flexible portion which are flexible in a left-right direction and extend from respective left and right ends of one of a front surface and a rear surface of said key guide body in a manner protruding in the front-rear direction, and
a left contact portion and a right contact portion provided at respective front ends of said flexible portions in a manner protruding sideward therefrom, and in contact with the left and right inner side surfaces of the guide recess, respectively.

2. The key guide structure according to claim 1 , wherein said key guide member is made of a soft synthetic resin, and wherein each of said flexible portions is formed in a thin wall shape having a predetermined thickness in the left-right direction.

3. The key guide structure according to claim 1 , wherein each of said flexible portions and each of said contact portions extend vertically, and wherein each of said contact portions is capable of being in contact with the inner side surface of said guide recess over an entire vertical length thereof.

4. The key guide structure according to claim 2 , wherein each of said flexible portions and each of said contact portions extend vertically, and wherein each of said contact portions capable of being in contact with the inner side surface of said guide recess over an entire vertical length thereof.

Assignees

• Kk Kawai Gakki Seisakusho

Inventors

• Suzuki Akihiro

Classifications

• G10H1/32

  Constructional details · CPC title

• G10H2220/265

  Key design details; Special characteristics of individual keys of a keyboard; Key-like musical input devices, e.g. finger sensors, pedals, potentiometers, selectors · CPC title

• G10H1/34 Primary

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

• G10C3/12 Primary

  Keyboards; Keys · 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