Organ Drop-in Key Assembly

Abstract

An organ is provided with a molded plastic case. The lower portion of the case has integral protuberances therein for supporting various structures including a key switch and key biasing assembly. All of the keys are preassembled on a single pivot rod, and the pivot rod is installed in saddles integral with the case whereby simultaneously to mount all of the keys, and to position the keys for cooperative action with the key switches and with the springs for biasing the keys, other structures likewise being simply dropped into place.

Description

In the manufacture of electronic organs it is common practice to provide a base or frame fabricated of wood, and individually to mount the various keys thereon. Some means generally is provided for individually connecting each key to one or more key switch contacts, and in the past, all of this has required rather considerable hand labor, thus resulting in a high production cost for such organs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic organ in which the cost of hand labor is held to a minimum.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic organ wherein the case is molded of plastic and is provided with integral structures for supporting various structures particularly including the keys and key switches.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic organ wherein all of the keys are preassembled on a single pivot rod and are subsequently mounted as a unit in the organ.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are attained by providing a molded plastic case or housing of essentially two-piece construction wherein the lower portion is provided with upstanding studs for receipt of a structure mounting key switches and key biasing springs. The lower portion of the housing further is provided with upstanding saddles and adjacent posts. A plurality of keys is preassembled on a single pivot rod which is then placed as a unit in the aforesaid saddles with the ends of the rod adjacent the posts. Spring clip retainers are placed over the tops of the posts to hold the pivot rod in seated position in the saddles. Furthermore, each key has on the bottom thereof a saddle or actuator with a pair of notches therein respectively receiving the key switches and the biasing springs, whereby the keys are automatically adapted for playing the moment they are inserted in the housing.

The invention will best be understood from a study of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through an electronic organ incorporating the principles of the present invention and taken substantially along the line 1--1 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front view as taken substantially along line 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end view partially in vertical section as taken substantially along the line 5--5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as taken substantially along the line 6--6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 3 with the key assembly removed;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal view similar to a portion of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale as taken substantially along the line 9--9 in FIG. 7.

Referring now in greater particularity to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1-3, there will be seen an electronic organ 20 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In one embodiment the organ is of a portable nature, on the order of a few pounds, and a foot or two in overall length, and includes a molded plastic housing or case 22 having a lower portion 24 and an upper portion 26. As will be brought out hereinafter, the lower portion 24 mounts most of the important parts of the organ, and on the outside thereof is provided at the bottom with supporting feet 27 which may be molded integrally with the remainder of the case lower half.

A plurality of keys comprising a shortened keyboard having the usual natural and sharp keys conventionally black and white, respectively, is supported by means hereinafter to be set forth in detail in the lower portion of the case. The upper portion of the case, which is connected to the lower portion by means hereinafter to be set forth, provides an opening exposing the keys 28. The upper portion also provides a cover for various controls 30 for turning the power supply on and off, for turning a vibrato on and off, for controlling volume, and for determining the organ voice to be played.

The top portion 26 also may be provided with an integral grill section (not shown) behind which a loudspeaker is mounted (not shown).

As will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the confronting edges of the bottom and top portions of 24 and 26 of the housing 22 are provided with complementary tongue and groove interlocking configurations at 36. A plurality of hollow bosses 38 is provided in the bottom portion 24, and opposed posts 40 are provided in confronting relation therewith. Screws 42 extend up through the hollow bosses 38 and are threadedly received in the posts 40 for retaining the two portions of the housing in assembled relationship.

Additional upstanding posts 44 are provided within the lower housing portion 24 for mounting a panel 46 carrying the controls 30. Adjacent to the rear of the lower portion 24 there is provided a pair of upstanding flanges 48 in parallel, spaced relation for positioning a row of batteries 50 supplying power for the organ. Toward the right end the portion of the case underlying the batteries 50 is in the nature of a trap door for installing batteries, while to the left the battery area is provided with an upstanding flange 52 (FIG. 3) for properly positioning the batteries. A helical contact spring 54 is provided adjacent to the left end for biassing the batteries into contacting engagement with a fixed contact 56 at the opposite end.

The lower portion of the case is provided with further integral protuberances which will be better understood at a somewhat later point.

The keys 28 are generally of conventional appearance insofar as they can be seen in the complete organ. As will be seen better with reference to FIG. 5, and also with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, each key is of molded plastic and has a molded plastic keyframe 58 integral therewith including a rearwardly projecting shank 60. In assembled position each rearwardly projecting shank 60 overlies and butts on its underside against a pad 62 of suitable material such as polyvinyl chloride glued or otherwise suitably secured on top of an upstanding rib 64 integral with the bottom wall of the bottom portion 24 of the case of the housing. A similar downstop 63 is glued to the bottom wall beneath depending forward portions of the keys. Each shank 60 further has an upstanding transverse boss 66 receiving a pivot rod 68. The pivot rod is common to all of the keys and has C-washers 71 received in peripheral slots adjacent to opposite ends thereof to retain the keys assembled on the pivot rod.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, each key is provided on one side thereof with a spacing protuberance. Preferably this comprises partial arcuate protuberance 65 concentric with the pivot rod. Additionally (or alternatively) a protuberance 67 is provided near the rear or inner end of each key and a protuberance 69 is provided near the outer or front end of each key. In each case the protuberance molded integrally with the key is of small area whereby to form a low-friction engagement with the smooth sidewall of the adjacent key. Accordingly, the keys are self-spacing on the pivot rod 68.

A pair of saddles 70 upstands from the bottom wall of the case lower portion, and each such saddle has a notch 72 opening upwardly at its upper end. The pivot rod is received adjacent its opposite ends in the upwardly opening notches 72 of the saddles 70.

Outboard of each saddle 71 there is provided an upstanding post 74 formed integral with the bottom wall of the case lower portion. A spring clip, sometimes known as a push nut 76 is installed over the top of each post 74 in overlying relation with the adjacent end of the key pivot rod 68. As will be apparent, particularly with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, the post 74 positions the pivot rod longitudinally of itself, while the push nuts 76 hold the pivot rod down on the saddles 70.

Under the forward portion of each key, there is provided a depending transverse saddle 78 each having two downwardly opening notches 80 and 82 therein (FIGS. 2 and 4) for purposes shortly to be described.

The bottom wall of the bottom portion 24 is provided with four integral upstanding posts 84 (FIG. 1) intermediate the saddles 70 on which are mounted a printed circuit board 86 having certain electrical components thereon, and also two insulating bases 88, preferably made of a suitable plastic material, the bases 88 and the printed circuit board 86 being held down by screws 90 extending therethrough and threaded into the respective posts 84. The bases 88 each carry a plurality of spaced apart, parallel spring wires 92 extending in the same direction. Each of the spring wires 92 is received in a notch 80 of a respective key saddle 78. In addition, the bases 88 carry a plurality of resilient contact wires 94 parallel to one another, and also parallel to and extending in the same direction as the spring wires 92. The contact wires 94 are longer than the spring wires 92, and preferably are of a butt-welded two piece construction as disclosed in Howard G. Bauer U. S. Pat. No. 3,330,916. However, it is contemplated that the contact wires 94 could be stiff enough to act as bearing springs with the discreet bearing springs 92 being omitted. In addition, the rear end of each of the contact wires 94 extends rearwardly of the base 88 and is bent down extending through a suitable aperture of the printed circuit board 86 for solder connection to printed circuit wiring thereon.

Adjacent to the forward portions of the contact wires 94 there are provided four spaced upstanding saddles 96 each integral with the bottom wall of the housing bottom portion 24 and having an upwardly opening notch 98 at the upper end thereof. A fixed contact bus 100, comprising a conductive wire member, extends across the saddles 96 and is held in place by heat staking the upper ends of the saddles. As will be seen particularly in FIGS. 1 and 7 the fixed contact 100 is far enough forward that it will be engaged by any one of the contact wires 94 when the respective key is depressed, but will be clear of the corresponding key biassing spring wire 92.

With the foregoing structure in mind, it will be seen that assembly of keys and key switches with the organ housing or case is remarkably simple. The keys are preassembled on the common pivot rod with the C-washers 71 retaining the keys thereon. The keys substantially abut one another for positioning by the protuberances 65, 67, and 69. The bases 88 carrying the spring wires and the spring contacts along with the printed circuit boards 86 are simply placed on top of the posts 84 and secured thereon by means of the screws 90. Just previous to installation of the bases 88, etc., the fixed contact wire 100 is placed on the saddles 96 and heat staked in place. Thereafter the common pivot rod 68 is placed on the saddles 70 and the push nuts 76 are installed over the posts 74. As this is done, the notches 80 and 82 in the key saddles 78 engage the spring wires 92 and contact wires 94. Since the sides of the notches taper slightly, the initial positioning need not be perfect.

The specific structure as herein shown and described is by way of illustration. Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and will be understood as forming a part of the present invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A keying assembly for an electronic musical instrument comprising a base, keyswitch means supported from said base, key biassing means supported from said base, upstanding support means on said base adjacent to said keyswitch plurality of switch operators each engaging a switch contact member and a spring member from the same side thereof.

2. A keying assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upstanding support means, comprises a plurality of saddles open at the top with the pivot rod received in the open tops.

3. A keying assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upstanding means comprises studs and each retaining means is a push-on retainer on a respective stud.

4. A keying assembly for an electronic musical instrument comprising a base, keyswitch means supported from said base and comprising a plurality of parallel metal contacts extending in the same direction, key biassing means supported from said base and comprising a plurality of parallel springs extending in the same direction and substantially parallel to the keyswitch contacts, upstanding support means on said base adjacent said keyswitch means, a common pivot rod, a plurality of keys of a keyboard pivotally mounted on said common pivot rod, said support means having edge openings therein transverse to said common pivot rod and said common pivot rod being received and supported in said edge openings of said upstanding support means, said keys each overlying at least one of said springs and one of said keyswitch contacts and in operative engagement therewith for actuation of said keyswitch means contacts and for biassing of said keys to rest position, and means retaining said pivot rod on said upstanding support means, each contact comprising a wire and each spring comprising a wire, and each key having a saddle thereunder with at least two downwardly directed notches respectively engaging a spring wire and a contact wire.

5. A keying assembly as set forth in claim 4 and further including a common support supporting said contacts and said springs.

6. A sub-combination for use in an electronic musical instrument keying assembly comprising an insulating base, a plurality of resilient switch contact members extending therefrom in the same direction and parallel to one another substantially in a common plane, a plurality of spring members extending from said base in the same direction and parallel to one another and to said switch contact members substantially in the same common plane as said switch contact members, pairs of spring members and contact members being of relative lengths to be engaged and deflected by a common operator, each contact member extending beyond the respective spring member, and a common bus disposed transversely of said members and positioned for selective engagement by all of said contact members but beyond all of said spring members, and a means, a common pivot rod, a plurality of keys of a keyboard pivotally mounted on said common pivot rod, said support means having edge openings therein transverse to said common pivot rod and said common pivot rod being received and supported in said edge openings of said upstanding support means, said keys co-operating with said keyswitch means for operation thereof and with said key biassing means for biassing of said keys to rest position, means upstanding from said base adjacent said support means blocking endwise movement of said pivot rod, and means mounted on said last mentioned upstanding means opposite said edge opening recesses retaining said pivot rod on said upstanding support means.

7. The sub-combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said spring members all are of the same length, and said contact members all are of equal length greater than the length of said spring members.

8. The sub-combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said spring members and said contact members are wires.

9. The sub-combination set forth in claim 7 wherein the spring members and the contact members are wires.

10. The method of assembling a keyswitch assembly in an electronic musical instrument which comprises providing a base having a plurality of spaced upstanding support means, each having upwardly opening recess means, positioning a plurality of keyswitch means on said base adjacent said upstanding support means, pivotally assembling a plurality of playing keys on a common pivot rod, and subsequently moving said pivot rod with the keys mounted thereon transversely of said rod and vertically down into the recess means of said upstanding support means with said keys in operative relation to said keyswitch means, and thereafter positioning hold-down means above said rod to hold said rod in said recess means.

11. The method of assembling a keyswitch assembly as set forth in claim 15 including the further step of positioning key biassing means on said base adjacent to said upstanding support means, and the further step of bringing means on said keys into engagement with said keyswitch means and said key biassing means.

12. A keying assembly for an electronic musical instrument comprising a base, support means integral with said base and having edge opening recesses, a common pivot rod, a plurality of keys of a keyboard pivotally mounted on said common pivot rod, said common pivot rod being received and supported by the recesses of said support means, resilient means mounted on said support means and operatively engaged by said keys and deflectible thereby, means upstanding from said base adjacent said support means blocking endwise movement of said pivot rod, means mounted on said last mentioned upstanding means opposite said edge opening recesses retaining said pivot rod on said support means.

13. A keying assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said resilient means comprises keyswtich means.

14. A keying assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said resilient means comprises key biassing means.

15. A keying assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said resilient means comprises keyswitch means and key biassing means.

16. A keying assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein the keyswitch means and the key biassing means engagable by each key comprises a common resilient member.