ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,626,675, issued on May 12.
"Wippen or repetition flange bushing" was invented by Kirk Burgett (Sacramento, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An injection molded wippen or repetition flange bushing for a grand piano action where the bushing has four supports posts or elongated appendages projecting outward from the outer surface of the sleeve member of the injection molded wippen or repetition flange bushing. The four supports posts help reduce or eliminate shrinkage of the sleeve member during the cooling stage in the manufacturing of the injection molded wippen or repetition flange bushing. This occurs because shrinkage occurs in the...