JP2005173274A - Pedal assembling body for musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved pedal assembling body in which problems associated with the conventional pedal assembly body of a bass drum and high-hat cymbals such as inefficiency, inconsistency in the force used for controlling, noise and complexity or the like are eliminated. <P>SOLUTION: An elastic pedal plate is connected to a flat base plate with a tilted angle to receive a foot. A beater stick is connected to the tow end section of the pedal plate by a link mechanism which drives the beater stick to the bass drum when the pedal is pressed down. When the foot pressure is released, the pedal plate is returned to its normal position by the elasticity of the pedal plate. A striker pad limits the pressing down of the pedal plate to limit the force being applied to the drum by the beater stick. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates generally to musical instruments, and more particularly to a pedal assembly of the type used to play bass drums and hat cymbals.

  Pedal boards have been used by drummers since the early 1900s so that they can use their feet to strike bass drums with a stepped beater stick. Since that time, the basic structure of the pedal mechanism has hardly changed. A hinged footboard is actuated by the drummer's feet and is connected to a rotating shaft by a crank or cam connection when the pedal is depressed. The beater stick is attached to the shaft and is driven to rotate relative to the drum when the pedal is depressed.

  One of the main problems with this construction is that the tension spring returns the pedal to its original position and is necessary to pull the beater away from the drum when the pedal plate is released. The spring is connected to the shaft by an eccentric wheel so that the spring is pulled when the eccentric wheel is turned as the shaft is turned by depressing the pedal. The deformation of the spring causes the spring to return the components to their original positions when the drummer's foot pressure is lost.

  The resistance exerted by the spring is not constant as the spring stretch changes but is irregular. The more the tension spring is pulled, the greater the resistance it provides. In a drum pedal assembly, this can be quite a problem, as the spring is stretched to its maximum and provides maximum resistance, so that the beater stick is just before and at the moment the stick strikes the drum head. Excessive resistance is provided when the limit area is reached and therefore when the drum head is struck. The manner in which the spring is attached using an eccentric ring creates a pendulum type motion outside the stretch, which exacerbates the problem by complicating the motion where balance and alignment are most desirable. The result is that drummers struggle to achieve the consistent striking action of the drum.

  The springs can also create noise that can be picked up by nearby microphones often provided to receive bass drum sounds. Squeaks and other unwanted noise can occur throughout the spring stretching cycle, with the most prominent tendencies when the tension spring is struck and the least necessary at the maximum spring tension. Although felt strips and other noise suppression materials have been applied to the springs, the improvement in noise suppression is usually greater than the cancellation by interference with the smooth and repeatable recoil action of the felt spring.

  The spring is also prone to wear due to fatigue caused by repeated cycling of the spring. Fatigue rates are exacerbated by the additional pendulum movement caused by eccentric wheel mounting. Before the spring wears to break, its efficiency and repeatability can be significantly compromised due to wear. In addition, the spring is coupled to a roller cam that can be over worn and further aggravate the situation.

  The hinges required to attach the traditional drum pedal plate also create problems. Hinges wear out and tend to loosen or rattle as they wear out. Excessive noise and unpredictable motion can result from loose hinge connections. Also, the drummer must adjust his or her pedal operation as the hinge and / or spring wears down. A consistent and repeatable sound is difficult if not impossible to achieve under these conditions.

The need for springs and hinges creates the need for cams, bearings and shafts for springs and similar components apart from for hinges. This increases the potential for cost, complexity and mechanical problems as well as weight. Furthermore, the need for a large number of components detracts from the “feel” and the freedom of movement of the device that the drummer as a whole can perceive.

Hi-hat cymbals were generally controlled with a similar pedal structure. A similar problem occurs with hi-hat cymbals due to drawbacks associated with the use of springs and hinges in the pedal assembly.

  The present invention relates to an improved pedal assembly for use in the music field. The main objective of the present invention is to provide a pedal assembly constructed in a unique way that eliminates the need for springs and hinges with other problematic components (such as eccentrics).

  Flexible, allowing the pedal plate to be pushed down without the need for a hinge to attach and return to its normal position as a result of its inherent elasticity rather than requiring an independent spring system It is a unique feature of the present invention that it is composed of a resilient material. Springless and hingeless construction eliminates the inefficiency, instability, noise, wear, excessive weight and complexity previously plagued by the musical pedal assembly used in bass drums and hi-hat cymbals . Furthermore, the pedal structure of the present invention has a better feel and more freedom of movement.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a composite pedal plate is provided, which is composed of a resilient material that spontaneously returns to an undeformed state upon release of foot pressure. The pedal is fixed to the base plate and has a reduced thickness heel that usually extends at a certain slope so that it can successfully receive the drummer's foot. The clamping mechanism, which is preferably used to attach the pedal, can adjust the amount of exposure of the thin heel region to change the flexibility exhibited by the pedal.

  The ability to place a striker pad under the toe area of the pedal to limit the downward movement of the pedal is another important inventive feature. This results in limiting the allowable contact force of the beater stick to the drum while allowing the drummer to step on the pedal with the desired strength. This controls the volume level without disturbing active drumming. Also, the volume level is unchanged because it remains substantially the same regardless of the strength of the pedal operation. Even very aggressive drummers can achieve soft sounds as needed by adjusting the striker so that only relatively soft sounds are possible.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention for a bass drum, the toe area of the pedal is connected by a link which in turn pivotally connects to a cam arm fixed to the shaft at its opposite end. The beater stick is attached to a hub that is coaxial with the pivot connection to the cam arm of the link. This mounting arrangement produces a beater stick forward throw as well as rotation to enhance the striking action. Various adjustments may be made to connect the pedal to the link, the connection of the link to the cam arm, the effective length and throw of the beater stick and the rotational position of the rod on the beater hub. All of these adjustments provide a wide range of adaptability that accommodates individual behavioral freedom.

  The pedal assembly of the present invention is also useful for practicing hi-hat cymbals and “no sound” drums. In hi-hat applications, a resilient pedal can be connected with a cymbal control rod to eliminate the need for springs and other complications associated with conventional hi-hat pedals. In order to perform quiet bass drumming, the pedal can still give the feel of actually playing the drum, even when disconnected from the beater stick linkage. It can also serve as an electronic trigger device for an electronic drum, as well as a foot-operated mechanism for other percussion instrument sounds (eg, cowbells, woodcuts, etc.).

Existing footboards can be converted to springless and hingeless designs using the principles of the present invention. To accomplish this, a piece of flexible pedal board material can be attached to the existing footboard and the heel plate connected to the existing equipment footboard.

Other further objects of the present invention will emerge during the following description, along with the novelty features associated with it.

  Since the present invention uses a flexible and elastic material instead of a pedal configured using a spring or a hinge conventionally used in a foot pedal for musical instruments, the various types of components used in the conventional configuration are used. Eliminates problems such as inefficiencies, step force consistency, noise, wear, overweight and complexity caused by components.

  Turning now to the drawings in more detail, the numeral 10 is similar to other percussion instrument sounds including cowbells, wood blocks, etc., such as bass drum 12 (FIG. 4) or hi-hat cymbal assembly 14 (see FIG. 5)). 1 schematically shows a musical pedal assembly that is operated by a user's foot to play the instrument. The pedal assembly 10 includes a flat base plate 18 that rests on a floor, stage or other support surface. Attached to the base plate 18 is a pedal plate 20 made of a composite material that is essentially flexible and resilient. The pedal plate 20 may be rectangular and includes a heel portion 22 formed at one end of a body portion 24 of the pedal plate. The heel portion 22 is thinner than the body portion 24 as best shown in FIGS. If possible, the length of the heel portion 22 should be about 20% of the total length of the pedal 20. The body portion 24 ends in a toe portion 26 at the end of the pedal 20 opposite the heel portion 22.

The pedal plate 20 is attached to the base plate 18 by a bent plate 28 with a flat base portion 30 with an inclined portion 32 bent forward at an inclination angle selected to tilt the pedal plate 20 forward. It has been. Base portion 30 is secured over the heel region of base plate 18 by suitable fasteners (eg, screws 34 (FIG. 2)). Screws or other fasteners may be extended upward through the base plate 18 and threaded into the base portion 30 of the plate 28.

  The heel portion 22 of the pedal 20 is fixed between the inclined plate 32 and the clamp plate 36. The heel portion 22 is placed on the inclined plate 32 under the clamp plate 36 and firmly sandwiched therebetween. Referring to FIG. 1, the heel portion 22 includes a pair of spaced slots 38 between the inclined plate 32 and the clamp plate 36. A fastener, such as a screw 40, can pass through the opening in the clamp plate 36, through the slot 40, and into the threaded opening in the underlying inclined plate 32. When the screw 40 is tightened, the heel portion 22 of the pedal plate is firmly fixed between the plates 32 and 36. By providing a slot 40, the heel portion 22 can be adjusted up or down to change the length of the exposed heel portion 22 beyond the clamp plate 36. As a result, this allows adjustment of the flexibility of the pedal 20, and the greater the exposed portion of the heel portion 22, the greater the flexibility exhibited by the pedal.

  The heel pad 41 is glued or otherwise secured on the base portion 30 of the bent plate 28. Heel pad 41 is where the drummer's foot heel on pedal 20 is received.

When used to play a bass drum, a small plate 42 is secured to the toe portion 26 of the pedal 20. One or more fasteners 44, such as bolts, are inserted through holes in the plate 42 and slots 46 (FIG. 3) formed through the toe portion 26 of the pedal. A nut 48 (FIG. 4) can be fitted to the end of the bolt 44 to secure the plate 42 in place on the pedal plate 20.

  As best shown in FIG. 3, a small tab 50 projects upward from one edge of the plate 42. The lower end of the rigid link 52 is pivotally attached to the tab 50 by a pivot coupling 54. The link 52 can pivot about a horizontal pivot that is determined by the coupling 54.

  The upper end portion of the link 52 is rotatably connected to one end of the short cam arm 56. A threaded rod 58 is inserted through the holes in the link 52 and arm 56 and screwed into one end of the beater hub 60 (FIG. 3). A nut 64 is screwed into the rod 58 and is tightened against the link 52 so that the link 52 and the arm 56 can pivot relative to each other about a horizontal pivot defined by the rod 58.

  An end of the cam arm 56 opposite to the rod 58 is provided with a hole through which the horizontal shaft 66 passes. The opposite ends of 66 are supported by a frame made up of a pair of upstanding legs 68 that are suitably secured to the base plate 18 at their bottom ends. The shaft 66 includes a bearing 70 that allows it to rotate about the leg 68 about a horizontal axis that coincides with the axis of the shaft 66.

  The pair of mounting screws 72 are tightened against a flat portion provided on the shaft 66 in order to firmly fix the end of the arm 56 to the shaft 66 when screwed into the cam arm 56. The mounting screw 72 is loosened and the arm 56 is rotated to adjust the rotational position of the arm on the shaft 66. The front end of the arm 56 includes a slot 74 (FIG. 1) through which the threaded rod 58 passes so that the effective length of the arm 56 from the shaft 66 can be adjusted.

The beater stick 76 includes a beater head 78 that is used to strike the head of the base drum 12. The beater stick 76 is extended through the hole in the hub 60 and can be rigidly secured to the hub by tightening the mounting screw 80 (FIG. 3). When the mounting screw 80 is loosened, the stick 76 can slide into and out of the hub 60 to change the effective length and throw of the stick 76. A striker pad 82 is attached to the toe portion of the base plate 18 at a location below the toe region 26 of the pedal 20.

  The striker pad 82 is preferably constructed of rubber or similar material. As best shown in FIG. 2, the underside of the toe portion 26 of the pedal 20 includes a wedge block 84 that strikes the pad 82 when the pedal 20 is fully depressed. The block 84 can be adjusted up and down to change the permitted depression range of the pedal 20 before it contacts the pad 82 to prevent additional depression of the pedal.

  In use, the pedal assembly 10 is placed at a position where the head of the bass drum 12 is struck on the stage or floor. The drummer places his or her foot 86 (FIG. 4) on the pedal 20 and depresses the pedal with foot pressure to strike the drum head. As the pedal 20 is depressed from the normal position shown in FIG. 2 to the depressed position, the bottom end of the link 52 is pulled downward by the pedal toe 26 and thus the cam arm 56 is moved to the position shown in FIG. To the position shown in FIG. 4 in the counterclockwise direction. This movement also rotates the hub 60 so that the stick 76 is turned and pressed against the drum 12 to give the beater head 78 a striking action against the drum.

  When the foot pressure is released, the pedal 20 assumes its normal position, which is the position shown in FIG. The beater stick is therefore returned to its normal position shown in FIG. 2 along with all of the other components.

  It can be seen that when the pedal 20 is fully depressed, the block 84 contacts the striker pad 82 which serves as a stop to limit the depression of the pedal. Thus, regardless of how hard the pedal is depressed by the drummer, this configuration limits the harshness of the beater head 78 against the drum. Block 84 adjusts the extent of depression allowed for the pedal, and thus moves up and down along the bottom surface of the toe region 26 of the pedal 20 to adjust the amount of force that can be applied to the drum 12. It can be adjusted in the direction.

  Additional adjustments can be made by adjusting the bottom end of the link 52 by the slot 46, the effective distance from the axis 66 of the top end of the link 52 by the slot 74, and the effective length of the beater stick 76 from the pivot shaft 58. This is done so that it can be adjusted by a slip fit in the beater stick hub 60 and the rotational position on the axis 66 of the cam arm 56 can be adjusted. By setting all of these adjustments appropriately, the pedal assembly can be “fine tuned” so that each individual drummer provides the desired beater action on the drum 12. Further, the amount of deflection shown by the pedal 20 can be adjusted by the slot 38.

  FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the pedal assembly 10 used in the hi-hat cymbal 14. The toe portion 26 of the pedal 20 is pivoted at the lower end 88 of a vertical rod 90 to which the upper cymbal 92 is attached. The rod 90 fits inside a vertical sleeve 94 that can be slidably attached to a floor or other support surface by a tripod leg 96. The top end of the sleeve 94 carries a lower cymbal 98 that is normally spaced below the upper cymbal 92. However, when the pedal 20 is depressed by the user's foot, the rod 90 is pulled downward, causing the upper cymbal 92 to collide with the lower cymbal 98. When the foot pressure is released, it returns to the normal position due to the inherent elasticity and flexibility of the pedal 20, where the rod 90 moves upward and the cymbal 92 is in the position shown in FIG. Separated above 92.

  The pedal structure of the present invention is also useful in constructing a contrabass drum having an auxiliary pedal that activates a secondary beater. This type of system eliminates the need for a second bass drum by providing a pair of beaters that strike a single drum head surface. This and other variations using a resilient pedal are within the scope of the present invention.

  From the above, it can be seen that the striker pad is well suited to accomplish all of the above-mentioned objectives and with other advantages inherent in the present structure. Let's go.

It will be appreciated that certain features and subcombinations are useful and can be used regardless of other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Since many possible embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the scope thereof, all matter described herein or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative. It should be understood that it is not meant to be limiting.

  The configuration of the present invention can be widely applied to devices that perform control by stepping operation.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals, which are part of the specification and read together with the rice, are used to indicate the same parts in the various views:
1 is a perspective view of a bass drum and pedal assembly constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the pedal assembly shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the pedal assembly viewed from the right side of FIG. 2. It is a side view similar to FIG. 2 except showing the pedal plate pushed down by the user's foot. 1 is a schematic elevational view showing a pedal assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention applied for use in a hi-hat cymbal. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

18 Base plate
20 Pedal plate 22 Heel portion 24 Pedal body portion 52 Link 56 Cam arm 76 Beater stick 78 Beater head 82 Strike pad

Claims (20)

A pedal assembly for operating a musical instrument using a human user's foot,
The pedal assembly includes a base plate for use as a support surface and a flexible pedal having an elastic structure and a heel end, and the heel end is normal in which the pedal is inclined upward from the heel end. Connected to the base plate so that it can bend between a position and a depressed position where the pedal is displaced from the normal position, and the elastic structure of the pedal is displaced from the normal position; Pushing the pedal toward the normal position, and also connecting the pedal to the instrument configured to activate the instrument when displaced by the user's foot from the normal position to the depressed position. A pedal assembly for musical instruments. 2. The pedal assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pedal has a main body portion connected to the heel end portion and thicker than a thickness of the heel end portion. The pedal assembly according to claim 2, wherein the connecting portion includes a clamp that is firmly clamped to the heel end portion. 4. A pedal assembly according to claim 3, including adjustment of the clamp to allow adjustment to move the body portion of the pedal toward and away from the clamp to change the flexibility of the pedal. The connecting portion is connected to the base plate, and at least a portion thereof is inclined in a direction away from the base plate, and the heel end portion of the pedal is disposed between the mounting plate and the portion of the clamp plate. The pedal assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a clamp plate for fixing. 6. The pedal assembly of claim 5, wherein the mounting plate comprises a generally flat base portion secured to the base plate and a curved plate having a portion projecting upward from the base portion. The pedal assembly of claim 6, comprising a heel pad on the base portion of the mounting plate. The pedal assembly according to claim 2, wherein the heel end portion occupies approximately 20% of a length dimension of the pedal. The pedal assembly of claim 1 comprising a heel pad on the base plate adjacent to the heel end of the pedal. On the base plate where the pedal has a toe end opposite the heel end thereof and where it is contacted by the toe portion in the depressed position of the pedal to limit depression of the pedal The pedal assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a striker pad. A base plate for use as a support surface, and a flexible pedal having an elastic structure and a heel end, wherein the heel end is in a normal position where the pedal is inclined upward from the heel end; It is connected to the base plate in such a way that it can be deflected between a depressed position displaced from a normal position, and the elastic structure of the pedal causes the pedal to move to the normal position when displaced from the normal position. For music comprising a striker pad on the base plate where it is contacted by a pedal in the depressed position of the pedal to limit displacement of the pedal from the normal position Pedal assembly. 12. The pedal assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pedal assembly is effective as a practice device for playing a bass drum, and includes a striker attached to the toe portion of the pedal and the toe portion for hitting the striker pad. Pedal assembly. A bass drum / beater / stick pedal assembly comprising a base plate for use on a support surface and a flexible pedal having an elastic structure and a heel end, the heel end from the heel end. It is connected to the base plate so as to be able to bend between a normal position inclined upward and a depressed position where the pedal is displaced from the normal position, and the elastic structure of the pedal is When the pedal is displaced from the normal position, the pedal is pushed toward the normal position, and a link that is pivotally connected to the pedal adjacent to a toe end opposite to the heel end of the pedal. In effect, the cam arm connected to the link on the horizontal pivot shaft and the cam arm displaced from the pivot shaft. A bass drum beater comprising a frame mounted on the base that is mounted to rotate about an axis, wherein the beater stick is connected to the cam arm at the pivot shaft Pedal assembly. 14. A pedal assembly according to claim 13, comprising means for adjusting the link along a distance dimension of the pedal. 15. A pedal assembly according to claim 14, comprising means for adjusting the position of the pivot shaft along the length dimension of the cam arm. 16. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 15, comprising means for adjusting the length of the beater stick measured from the pivot axis. The pedal assembly according to claim 16, comprising means for adjusting a rotation angle at which the beater stick extends from the pivot shaft. 15. A pedal assembly according to claim 14, comprising means for adjusting the length of the beater stick measured from the pivot shaft. 14. A pedal assembly according to claim 13, comprising means for adjusting the position of the pivot shaft along the length dimension of the cam arm. 20. A pedal assembly according to claim 19, comprising means for adjusting the length of the beater stick measured from the pivot shaft.

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