Piano pedal operating device for people with disabilities

Abstract

Piano pedal operating device for people with disabilities, which allows for said operation by pressure exerted by the back of a user, wherein said piano comprises a first, vertical axis that may move longitudinally operated by means of the right pedal; a second, transverse axis joined to the first axis; strings operated by means of keys, designed to produce sounds; and dampers operated by the second axis, designed to prolong or extinguish the sounds produced by the strings. The device comprises a magnet attached to the first axis; an electro-permanent suction cup placed above the magnet, which it attracts in order to move the dampers away from the strings; a cable that conducts an electric current to the electro-permanent suction cup, in order to annul its attraction over the magnet, and thus bring the dampers closer to the piano strings; and a switch designed to cut the current flow.

Claims

1. Piano pedal operating device for people with disabilities, wherein the piano is equipped with keys, a right pedal and a resonance box that contains the following: a first, vertical axis that may move longitudinally and, in general, is operated by means of the right pedal, a second, transverse axis, which is jointly attached to the first axis, a plurality of strings operated by the keys, designed to produce a plurality of sounds, and a plurality of dampers, which act on the plurality of strings by means of the second axis, in order to prolong or extinguish the sounds produced by the strings, wherein said device comprises: a magnet which may be attached to an upper end of the first axis, an electro-permanent suction cup placed above the magnet, which it attracts to itself as a result of its own electromagnetic field, in order to move the dampers away from the strings, a cable designed to conduct a flow of electric current from an electrical outlet to the electro-permanent suction cup, in order to annul its own electromagnetic field and its attraction over the magnet, thereby bringing the dampers closer to the piano strings, and a switch, which allows for or prevents the flow of electric current circulating through the cable, designed to be placed on the back of a bench, in order to be operated by the pressure exerted by a person's back.

2. Piano pedal operating device for people with disabilities according to claim 1, wherein the electro-permanent suction cup is supplied by a flow of direct current.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to supplement the description being made, and to contribute to a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached to said description as an integral part thereof, where the following is represented for illustrative, non-limiting purposes:

(2) FIG. 1.—Shows a schematic perspective view of the device, wherein its main constituent elements may be observed.

(3) FIG. 2.—Shows a schematic view of a cross-section of the piano's resonance box, which shows the electromechanical device in the rest position.

(4) FIG. 3.—Shows a schematic view of a cross-section of the piano's resonance box, which shows the electromechanical device in the active position.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(5) With the aid of the aforementioned figures, below we provide a detailed explanation of a preferred embodiment of the object of the present invention.

(6) The piano pedal operating device for people with disabilities being described, schematically shown in FIG. 1, is composed of an electromechanical device inserted inside a piano's resonance box, which comprises, in the first place, a magnet (1) that is removably attached to the upper end of a first axis (2), usually operated by the right pedal (3) of the piano when it is pressed by a person's foot. In turn, the first axis (2) is attached to a second axis (4), which operates the piano's dampers (5), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in order to mute the sound of the strings (6).

(7) An electro-permanent suction cup (7) is placed immediately above the magnet (1). The electro-permanent suction cup (7) is connected to a cable (8) that conducts a flow of electric current from an electrical outlet (9) to said electro-permanent suction cup (7) located inside the piano.

(8) The circulation of electric current through the cable (8) is regulated by interposing a switch (10) that is located on the back (11) of a bench (12) used by the person during the performance. Said switch (10) is designed to be operated by means of a slight pressure exerted by the person when moving the dorsal part of his/her back, generally the scapula area.

(9) In those cases wherein the selected electro-permanent suction cup (7) operates with direct current, a rectifier (13) may be incorporated in order to transform the alternating current originating from the electrical outlet (9) into a direct current suitable to operate said electro-permanent suction cup (7).

(10) Moreover, a transformer, not represented in the attached figures, may be interposed, in order to convert the voltage of the current originating from the electrical outlet (9) into a voltage suitable for correct operation of the device.

(11) When the device is in a rest position, as schematically shown in FIG. 2, the switch (10) is not operated and this prevents the flow of electric current through the cable (8) towards the electro-permanent suction cup (7), which therefore attracts the magnet (1) as a result of its own electromagnetic field. Said position of the magnet (1), which is magnetically attached to the electro-permanent suction cup (7), entails an upper longitudinal movement of the first axis (2) and the second axis (4) whereto it is attached, such that the dampers (5) are away from the strings (6), thereby causing a longer duration of the sound obtained from striking the strings (6) upon pressing the piano keys. Therefore, the rest position of the device thus described substitutes for the effect caused by pressing the right pedal (3).

(12) When the device is in an active position, as schematically shown in FIG. 3, the switch (10) is operated and this allows for the flow of electric current through the cable (8) towards the electro-permanent suction cup (7). Said flow produces an excitation in an internal coil of said electro-permanent suction cup (7), which annuls a large part of its own electromagnetic field, with the consequent interruption of the magnet's (1) attraction; as a result, due to the effect of gravity, the latter moves longitudinally towards a lower position. Said movement of the magnet (1) causes the first axis (2), to whose upper end it is removably attached, to move in the same direction, and, in turn, causes the second axis (4) to move, such that the dampers (5) come closer to the strings (6) until they come in contact with them, thereby producing an extinction of the sound obtained. Therefore, the active position of the device thus described substitutes for the effect caused by non-operation of the right pedal (3).