| Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20100269665 | Hammer Stoppers And Use Thereof In Pianos Playable In Acoustic And Silent Modes - A piano hammer stopper system includes a blocking rail movable between a first position, allowing unobstructed movement of piano hammers, and a second position, blocking at least one piano hammer from striking any corresponding strings. The piano hammer stopper system includes a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the blocking rail, a drive arm attached to the drive shaft and engaging a drive fulcrum, and a travel guide directing movement of the blocking rail between its first and second positions. Rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive arm to engage the drive fulcrum for moving the blocking rail between its first and second positions. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20090282962 | Piano With Key Movement Detection System - A piano includes a plurality of keys having forward and rearward ends and an emitter and a detector both disposed adjacent the rearward end of each key. The emitter emits a signal directed toward a surface of the rearward end of the key. The detector receives a signal reflected from the surface of the rearward end of the key. A controller is in communication with the emitter and the detector and processes detection signals received from the detector to determine key movement. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090277318 | Wrestplanks - A wrestplank for use in a stringed instrument including first and second median working plies stacked in between first and second outer working plies. Each working ply defines a direction of grain. The working plies collectively define a tuning pin hole configured to securely receive a tuning pin, whereby the tuning pin is substantially surrounded by and in engagement with end wood of the working plies. The directions of grain of the outer working plies are oriented substantially parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis defined by the wrestplank. The grain direction of the first median working ply is oriented at an angle of between about 60° and about 75° with respect to the longitudinal axis, and the grain direction of the second median working ply is oriented at an angle of between about 105° and about 120° with respect to the longitudinal axis. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090211425 | PIANOS PLAYABLE IN ACOUSTIC AND SILENT MODES - A piano, playable in an acoustic mode and a silent mode, includes a series of keys, a series of key actions, and a series of rotatable hammers. Each key action is actuated by depression of a corresponding key. Each hammer defines a forward throw direction and has a corresponding string. The hammers are driven by corresponding key actions transferring forces from corresponding keys. The piano includes a hammer stopper system that has a blocking rail slidably disposed forward of the hammers. A linear actuator moves the blocking rail along a substantially linear path between a first position, allowing unobstructed movement of the hammers, and a second position blocking at least one hammer from striking its corresponding string. The linear actuator moves the blocking rail to the first position for acoustic play and to the second position for silent play. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090165628 | Upright piano - An upright piano includes a piano case having an upper front panel, a left side panel, a right side panel, and a top lid. The upper front panel is pivotally mounted below and generally abutting the top lid. A keyboard is supported by the piano case and has a plurality of keys. A keyboard lid has a width substantially equal to a width of the upper front panel. The piano includes left and right upper front panel strips disposed on the corresponding left and right side panels. The upper front panel is pivotally attached to the left and right upper front panel strips to rotate between a closed position and an open position. The upper front panel is substantially parallel to and substantially in between the left and right upper front panel strips while in the closed position. | 07-02-2009 |
