Topboard support device for grand piano

Abstract

A topboard support device for a grand piano, in which a topboard prop can be accommodated without placing the same on ribs of a frame. The topboard support device supports a topboard capable of opening and closing the top of a piano body, in an open state, and includes the topboard prop for supporting the opened topboard from below by a tip end portion thereof, and a prop support member for supporting the topboard prop via a base end portion thereof in a manner pivotally movable about vertical and horizontal axes. The topboard prop is pivotally moved by the prop support member between a position for being accommodated in a space between the ribs of the frame and an outer rim, in a substantially horizontal posture, and a position for supporting the topboard, in a posture tilted in a manner rising toward a tip end.

Claims

1. A topboard support device for a grand piano, for supporting a topboard in an open state, the topboard being pivotally mounted to a piano body including a frame having ribs each extending in a front-rear direction and an outer rim disposed in a manner surrounding sides of the frame, thereby being capable of opening and closing a top of the piano body, comprising: a topboard prop having a predetermined length and configured to support the topboard having been opened, from below, via a tip end portion thereof; and a prop support member provided inward of the outer rim of the piano body and configured to support said topboard prop via a base end portion thereof in a manner pivotally movable about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, respectively, wherein said topboard prop is configured to be pivotally moved by said prop support member between an accommodation position where said topboard prop is accommodated in a space between the ribs of the frame and the outer rim in a substantially horizontal posture, and a topboard support position where said topboard prop supports the topboard, in a posture tilted such that a tip end side thereof rises as said topboard prop extends to the tip end side, wherein said prop support member includes: a base secured to an upper surface of the frame, and a pivotal support member pivotally connected to an upper surface of the base by a connection bolt and is capable of rotating in a plane parallel to the upper surface of the base.

2. The topboard support device according to claim 1, wherein the frame has a flat part between the ribs and the outer rim, wherein the base of said prop support member is secured to an upper surface of the flat part of the frame, and wherein said pivotal support member is mounted on said base in a manner pivotally movable about the vertical axis and configured to support a base end portion of said topboard prop such that said base end portion can be pivotally moved about the horizontal axis.

3. The topboard support device according to claim 2, wherein said prop support member further includes a locking mechanism configured to lock said pivotally-movable support part, when said topboard prop is in the topboard support position, such that said pivotally-movable support part is pivotally immovable with respect to said base.

4. The topboard support device according to claim 3, wherein said prop support member is configured to prevent, when said topboard prop is in the accommodation position, said topboard prop from pivotally moving upward about the horizontal axis.

5. The topboard support device according to claim 2, wherein said prop support member is configured to prevent, when said topboard prop is in the accommodation position, said topboard prop from pivotally moving upward about the horizontal axis.

6. The topboard support device according to claim 1, wherein said prop support member is configured to prevent, when said topboard prop is in the accommodation position, said topboard prop from pivotally moving upward about the horizontal axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a grand piano with a topboard thereof held open.

(2) FIG. 1B is a view useful in explaining a positional relationship between an outer rim and a topboard prop, with respect to a frame of the grand piano.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prop support member.

(4) FIG. 3A is a front view of the prop support member shown together with a base end portion of the topboard prop.

(5) FIG. 3B is a plan view of the prop support member shown together with the base end portion of the topboard prop.

(6) FIG. 3C is a side view of the prop support member shown together with the base end portion of the topboard prop.

(7) FIG. 4A is a front view of the prop support member with the topboard prop in an accommodation position.

(8) FIG. 4B is a plan view of the prop support member with the topboard prop in the accommodation position.

(9) FIG. 5A is a side view of the prop support member having a pivotal motion-preventing member.

(10) FIG. 5B is a plan view of the prop support member having the pivotal motion-preventing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(11) The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof. FIG. 1A shows a grand piano to which is applied a topboard support device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1A, the grand piano 1 includes a piano body 2 supported from below by three legs 1a, and a topboard 3 that opens and closes the top of the piano body 2.

(12) In the front part of the piano body 2, there is disposed a keyboard 4 having a large number of white keys and black keys arranged side by side in a left-right direction. On the other hand, in the rear part of the piano body 2, there is disposed a metal frame 5 having a predetermined shape, and an outer rim 6 is disposed in a manner surrounding the sides of the frame 5.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1B, the frame 5 is formed into the predetermined shape by front and rear flat parts 7a and 7b spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in a front-rear direction, a plurality of ribs 8 each extending in the front-rear direction and connecting between the flat parts 7a and 7b, and so forth. Note that although not shown, in the frame 5, a large number of strings are stretched between the front and rear flat parts 7a and 7b in a manner extending in the front-rear direction, and below the frame 5, a large number of actions are arranged side by side in the left-right direction in association with the keys, respectively, each for striking an associated one of the strings in accordance with key depression.

(14) The outer rim 6 is formed of a predetermined material (e.g. wood or a synthetic resin), and is configured to have predetermined thickness and height. As mentioned above, the outer rim 6 is disposed in a manner continuously surrounding the left, right, and rear sides of the frame 5. Further, the height of the outer rim 6 is set such that the upper surface thereof becomes slightly higher than a highest position of the ribs 8. Further, the topboard 3 is mounted to a left portion of the outer rim 6 via front and rear topboard butt hinges 9 and 9 in a manner pivotally movable about a horizontal axis.

(15) The topboard 3 is comprised of a topboard rear 3a having approximately the same outside shape as the plan-view shape of the outer rim 6, and a topboard front 3b formed into a laterally elongated rectangular shape and foldably connected to the front side of the topboard rear 3a by hinges, not shown. In the right front part of the lower surface of the topboard rear 3a, there is formed a prop receiving portion 3c with which a tip end portion 11a of a topboard prop 11 is engaged when the topboard 3 is opened. On the other hand, the topboard prop 11 is formed of a predetermined material (e.g. wood or a synthetic resin) and has a predetermined length. A base end portion 11b of the topboard prop 11 is mounted to the frame 5 via a prop support member 12.

(16) FIGS. 2 and 3A to 3C show the prop support member 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A to 3C, the prop support member 12 is comprised of a base 21 having a circular shape in plan view, and a pivotal support member 23 pivotally connected to the base 21 by a connection bolt 22, for pivotally movably supporting the base end portion 11b of the topboard prop 11. The base 21 is formed of a metal plate having a predetermined thickness. The base 21 has a central portion thereof formed with a screw hole 21a into which the connection bolt 22 is screwed, and a locking recess 21b is formed at a location spaced from the screw hole 21a by a predetermined distance.

(17) On the other hand, the pivotal support member 23 is formed of a metal and has a predetermined shape. Specifically, the pivotal support member 23 is formed into a U shape in front view, which opens upward, by two left and right arms 24 and 24 opposed to each other with a predetermined space therebetween and each protruding upward by a predetermined length, and a connection wall 25 connecting between the lower ends of the respective arms 24 and 24.

(18) The arms 24 and 24 have upper portions thereof formed with through holes 24a, respectively, and a support shaft 26 horizontally extends through the through holes 24a of the respective arms 24 and the base end portion 11b of the topboard prop 11 in a state in which the arms 24 and 24 sandwich the base end portion 11b of the topboard 11 therebetween. This makes the topboard prop 11 pivotally moveable about the support shaft 26, i.e. about a horizontal axis. On the other hand, the connection wall 25 has a central portion thereof formed with a through hole 25a having a slightly larger diameter than that of the connection bolt 22, and the connection bolt 22 is loosely inserted in the through hole 25a. This makes the topboard prop 11 pivotally moveable about the connection bolt 22, i.e. about a vertical axis.

(19) Further, in the connection wall 25 of the pivotal support member 23, there is provided a locking mechanism 27 for immovably locking the topboard prop 11 in a predetermined angular position about the vertical axis when the topboard 3 is supported in an open state by the topboard prop 11. The locking mechanism 27 is implemented e.g. by a ball plunger. Specifically, the locking mechanism 27 is comprised of a ball 27a having a predetermined diameter and a spring 27b for urging the ball 27a downward. The ball 27a is configured to protrude and retract with respect to the bottom surface of the connection wall 25. When the lower half of the ball 27a is fitted in the locking recess 21b of the base 21, the pivotal motion of the pivotal support member 23 about the vertical axis is restricted, whereby the topboard prop 11 is locked in the predetermined angular position. Note that the locking mechanism 27 is configured such that when the topboard prop 11 in a locked state is forcibly pivotally moved about the vertical axis by applying an external force larger than a predetermined magnitude thereto, the locking is released.

(20) Next, a description will be given of how the topboard prop 11 and the prop support member 12 operate when opening and closing the topboard 3. FIG. 1A shows a state in which the topboard 3 in the open state is supported by the topboard prop 11. In this state, the topboard prop 11 (11A) is in a topboard support position in which it is tilted such that a tip end portion 11a side rises as it extends toward the tip end portion 11a side and that the tip end portion 11a and the topboard 3 form a substantially right angle therebetween. Further, in this state, the ball 27a of the locking mechanism 27 is engaged with the locking recess 21b of the base 21, as shown in FIG. 3A, whereby the topboard prop 11 is locked in a manner immovable about the vertical axis.

(21) When the topboard 3 is closed from this state, first, the topboard 3 is pivotally moved slightly upward, whereby the tip end portion 11a of the topboard prop 11 is disengaged from the prop receiving portion 3c of the topboard 3. Then, the topboard 3 is supported with one hand, and in this state, the topboard prop 11 (11B) is pivotally moved downward and clockwise about the vertical axis, whereby it is brought into a predetermined accommodation position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 1B. Note that in this case, the topboard prop 11 (11A) in the topboard support position is pivotally moved clockwise by an external force larger than the predetermined magnitude, whereby the ball 27a of the locking mechanism 27 is disengaged from the locking recess 21b of the base 21, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and is received into the connection wall 25 while pressing the spring 27b. As a consequence, the topboard prop 11 is released from the state locked in the manner immovable about the vertical axis.

(22) As shown in FIG. 1B, the topboard prop 11 (11B) in the accommodation position is accommodated in a substantially horizontal posture within a space between the ribs 8 and the outer rim 6 on the rear flat part 7b. In the accommodation position, the uppermost portion of the topboard prop 11 (11B) becomes lower than that of each of the ribs 8.

(23) After the topboard prop 11 is pivotally moved to the accommodation position as described above, the topboard 3 is placed on the outer rim 6, whereby the topboard 3 is closed in a horizontal posture. Note that the topboard 3 in the closed state can be opened with ease by following a procedure reverse to the above-described procedure.

(24) As described above, according to the present embodiment, the topboard prop 11 is supported via the base end portion 11b by the prop support member 12 in a manner pivotally movable about the vertical axis and the horizontal axis. When the topboard 3 is closed, the topboard prop 11 is accommodated in a substantially horizontal posture in the accommodation position, i.e. in the space between the ribs 8 of the frame 5 and the outer rim 6. In this accommodation position, the uppermost portion of the topboard prop 11 can be made lower in position than those of the ribs 8 differently from the prior art in which the topboard prop is accommodated in a state placed on the ribs 8 of the frame 5 (see the topboard prop 11 (11C) in FIG. 1B). Therefore, it is possible to lower the height of the upper surface of the outer rim 6. i.e. to reduce the dimension of height of the outer rim 6 in the vertical direction, compared with the prior art, to thereby slim down the piano body 2.

(25) Further, when in the topboard support position, the topboard prop 11 is locked by the locking mechanism 27 such that it is pivotally immovable about the vertical axis, and hence it is possible to stably support the topboard 3. Further, when the topboard prop 11 is pivotally moved about the vertical axis from the accommodation position to the topboard support position, the topboard prop 11 becomes pivotally immovable when the topboard prop 11 has reached the topboard support position. This makes it possible to easily position the topboard prop 11 in an angular position about the vertical axis, which corresponds to the topboard support position.

(26) Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be practiced in various forms. For example, in the present embodiment, when the topboard prop 11 is in the topboard support position, the locking mechanism 27 provided in the prop support member 12 locks the topboard prop 11 such that it is pivotally immovable about the vertical axis, but in addition to this, the topboard prop 11 may be also locked in the accommodation position such that it is pivotally immovable. This makes it possible, in the case of closing the topboard 3 in the open state, to easily position the topboard prop 11 in the accommodation position when the topboard prop 11 is pivotally moved from the topboard support position to the accommodation position.

(27) Further, it is preferred that when in the accommodation position, the topboard prop 11 is prevented from pivotally moving upward without any restriction. For example, it is possible to provide the prop support member 12 with a pivotal motion-preventing member 31 appearing in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The pivotal motion-preventing member 31 is formed into a generally L shape by a restriction part 31a extending substantially horizontally by a predetermined length and a standing part 31b continuous with one end of the restriction part 31a and extending vertically by a predetermined length, with a lower end of the standing part 31b being secured by screws to the base 21 at a predetermined location. This makes it possible to prevent the topboard prop 11, which is held in a substantially horizontal posture in the accommodation position indicated by solid lines in FIGS. 5A and 5B, from pivotally moving upward about the horizontal axis. Note that when pivotally moved in a counterclockwise direction through a predetermined angle from the accommodation position, the topboard prop 11 becomes capable of being pivotally moved upward about the horizontal axis. By providing the pivotal motion-preventing member 31 as described above, it is possible to prevent the topboard prop 11 from being accidentally raised from the accommodation position to thereby prevent the topboard 3 from being supported by the topboard prop 11 in an inappropriate position. Although in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the pivotal motion-preventing member 31 is mounted on the base 21, it is also possible to mount the same on the frame 5.

(28) Further, although in the present embodiment, the locking mechanism 27 is implemented by the ball plunger by way of example, the locking mechanism 27 is not limited to this, but it is possible to use any of locking mechanisms having various types of construction, so long as it can lock the topboard prop 11 in the topboard support position.

(29) Furthermore, the details of the construction of each of the topboard prop 11 and the prop support member 12 of the present invention are described only by way of example, and it is further understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.