<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4134.600" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no href="mailto:Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no">Richard Brekne</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> September 14, 2002 1:11 = AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: The Steinway Bell Patent</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>To be sure Del, I suppose I should have included that. = I just thought the patents claim was interesting. It makes perfect sense that = it functions as a mass coupler as well. <P>But are you saying then that the plate is not actually stressed = upwards by the string pressure as the claim makes below ? <P>RicB </P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT>  <P dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>I can't see how it would. Considering = the stresses involved it might well bend it down a bit--most (if not all) = plates do to some extent. By itself, this presents no problem either = structurally or acoustically. </FONT> <P dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>One of the functions of the = nosebolt--probably their most important function--is to couple the plate to some belly = structure and prevent it (the plate) from vibrating. The bell/bolt arrangement is = simply another form of nosebolt.</FONT> <P dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080>Del</FONT> <P dir=ltr><FONT color=#000080></FONT>  <P dir=ltr> </P></BODY></HTML>