June 17, 1952
Filed May 12, 1950
H. G. NICKEL
PIANO CONSTRUCTION
2,600,910
3 Sheets-Sheet i
21
28
28
15
I0
18
17 16
20
29
12
i6
INVENTOR.
HAL G. NICKEl_
BY
June 17, 1952
Filed May 12, 1950
H. G. NICKEL
PIANO CONSTRUCTION
2,600,910
3 Sheets-Sheet 2
15
19
2O
IA
23
25/23
21
/22
fNVENTOR.
HAL G. NICKEL
BY
June 17, 192
Filed May 12, 1950
H. G. NICKEL
PIANO CONSTRUCTION
2,600,910
3 Sheets-Sheet 3
21
21 " 14
14
16 17
13
Il /
I
I0
1NVENTOR.
HAL G. NICKEL
BY
Patent«l June 17, 1952 2,600,910
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
2,600,910
PIANO CONSTRUCTION
Hal G. Nickel, B/Iilwaukce, W.
Applictiony 12, 1.950, Serial No. 161.,580
2 Clalms. (CI. 84--177)
1
]oey invention relates fo impl«ovements in piano
construction and more particularly fo the con-
struction of a case for an upright type of piano.
The object of my invention is fo provide a sec-
tional case that will enclose the string plate and
mechafical parts of the instrument.
Another object of my invention is to provide a
mcans for constructing a case for an upright
piao which is easily assembled and provides
cess to the interior of the piano without mechani-
cal changes.
A still further object of my invention is to pro-
vide a case which may be varied in design by at-
taching various accessories.
$itl another object of my invention is fo pro-
vide a device that is ornamental, serviceable,
economical o manufacture and lends itself to a
great any advantages due to ifs unusual con-
struction and the abflity to change it into various
designs.
It is manifest to anyone famfliar with the art
ttoEat due to many demands and personal opin-
ions, deaters are compelled to carry a large in-
ventory of instruments to suit individual tastes.
The device described, illustrated and claimed
herei is a means fo enable the dealer to carry
a few instruments and a variety of accessories
that will enabte the same instrument to be
changed ito a variety of designs.
Otheï and further objects of my invention will
become more apparent as the description pro-
ceeds and when taken in cojunction with the
drawing in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled
case.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of
a case as shown in Figure 1 with the accessories
attached thereto.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of
a cae showing the accessories placed in posi-
tion ready for attaching.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view
oî a case having a fragmentary section of a side
plate attaehed thereto and fllustrating the man-
nm' of its attachment.
Fi,ure 5 is a perspective view of the frame con-
trucion of the case with the top plate, the base
molding, and the key board forming a part there-
of, nd
oeiu'e G is a formed frooEt section of a size and
contour to fit the frot oî the frame structure.
Sire!far characters of ïeferece indicate cor-
espo!]ding parts throughout the several views
o.nd refeïring now fo the same, the character
I 9 show's front plate or section which is $ormed
2
af ifs ends 1 and ' fo fit.the.particular con-
tour of the piano case being constructed. The
front plate is provided with an e!ongated
aperture t3 which accommodates tl]e key board
5 show as |, which forms a part of the frame
structure as show in Figure 5. This frame
structure consists of vertical members 4 sup-
porting a top plate and being supported af the
bottom by a base molding 6. The frame struc-
10 turc supports tb.e string plate, hot shown, and
the mechafical parts which constitute the in-
strument.
The base molding is cut out af to ac-
commodate the conventional foot pedal shown
15 as . There is a ledge 19 on the key board
which is arranged to support a support for sheet
music. This support is shown as . There are
end portions on the key board which are
provided with angular sïots . The vertical
20 standards are provided with bolts shown as
and the side plates are shown provided with
hook membeïs . which threadedly engage the
inserts within the side plates , and the bolts
3 through the vertical standards threadedly
5 engage inserts which are imbedded into the
plate .4.
Obviously, the side plates may be varied in
design and inasmuch as they are a conspicuous
portion of the assembly, if is possible to change
30 the general appearance of the case by their at-
tachment. This also appties fo the support 0
for the sheet music which must be of the same
general design as the side plates . This varia-
tion in design is shown in Figures 2 and 3.
35 It wili be manifest to anyone familiar with
piano case construction that the arrangement
shown and described will lend itself readily for
the puïpose intended, inasrnuch as the mechani-
cal unit may be supported by the frame structure
40 I show in Figure 5, and the front panel is
formed fo a contour to fit the base and the
top plate of the frame structure and may be
placed into position over the key board as
shown in Figure 1.
4 The panel 0 may be attached by means of
bols in the vertical standards and these bolts
may be covered with ornamental plates shown
as 2 in Figure i.
0 If the general arragement and design of the
unit is o be changed, varied side plates 4 may
e attached by mearm oï the hook bolts . which
engage the slots 2. in the end portions ', and
they may be attached fo the îront of the panel
9 by means of the screws or bolts 3 and mourir-
2,600,910
3
ed on the standards 4 passing through the
panel
The sheet music support 2[} maY be attached
as shown as 29 in Figure 2. This support may
be of any design to match the side plate 24. In
this manner the saine piano case may be made to
assume varied designs by varying the side plates
and the sheet music support.
In the chosen embodiments of my invention
there are features not heretofore disclosed in
the prior art, and although I have shown a spe-
cific arrangement and contour of the component
parts, I am fully cognizant of the fact that many
changes in the form and configuration of these
parts may be made without effecting their opera-
tiveness, and I reserve the right to make such
changes without departing from the spirit of
my invention or the scope of the appended claims.
ttaving thus described my invention, what I
claire and desire fo secure by Letters Patent in
the United States is:
1. An enclosure to be used in combination
with a piano construction which comprises a
frame structure, a top plate, a base molding and
a key board, said enclosure comprising, a vertical
plate, said plate formed fo a contour correspond-
ing to the front and sides of the frame structure
of said piano construction, said plate provided
with an e]ongated aperture arranged to receive
the key board on said piano construction, remov-
able end portions, means for attaching said end
portions to said front plate and key board, a re-
movable sheet music support, and means for
mounting said sheet music support to the key
board forming a part of the piano structure.
4
2. A device of the character described to be
used in combination with a piano construction
comprising, aframe structure to house the me-
chanical unit of said instrument, said frame
5 structure consisting of a vertical standard, a top
plate supported by said vertical sructure, a base
molding and a key board, said device compris-
ing, a vertical front plate, said plate of a con-
tour to fit the front and sides of said frame struc-
10 ture, said plate provided with an elongated aper-
ture to accommodate said key board arrangement
of said piano structure, a pair of removable end
members attached on the vertical front plate of
the key board arrangement of said piano con-
15 struction to support said end members, a remov-
able sheet music support, and means on the key
board arrangement forming a part of said piano
construction for attaching said sheet music sup-
port.
20 HAL G. NICKEL.
REFERENCES CITED
The following references are of record in the
file of this patent:
25 UNITED STATES PATENTS
3O
35
Number
2,220,225
2,263,839
2,505,805
2,505,806
Number
180,769
Name Date
Farny .............. Nov. 5, 1940
Farny ............ Nov. 25, 1941
Stein .............. May 2, 1950
Stein .............. May 2, 1950
FOI%EIGN PATENTS
Country Date
Great Britain ....... June 7, 1922
