This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35. U.S.C. §371 of International Application PCT/ES2015/070465, filed Jun. 12, 2015, which claims priority to Spanish Patent Application No. 201430915, filed Jun. 16, 2014.
The present invention relates to an adjustable support for control devices such as pedals and similar devices, for electronic musical instruments such as electric guitars, for example.
The support for control devices and pedals for electronic musical instruments according to the present invention is intended to overcome one of the drawbacks presented by the devices intended for similar purposes that are known at present.
Some of the adjustable supports known at present are characterised by a complex construction in which various longitudinal extruded profiles are attached by a system of nuts and bolts which are housed in guides in the above-mentioned longitudinal profiles, said longitudinal profiles each providing an upper surface intended to receive the electronic devices and pedals for the control of electric musical instruments such as guitars and similar instruments.
The object of the present invention is to disclose an adjustable support of great simplicity and flexibility of use, allowing a fast assembly of the various devices and an easy adjustment thereof at the positions where the user wishes to place said devices.
The adjustable character therefore extends to the electronic control devices and pedals and also to the slope of the support assembly, generally known as a ‘pedal board’, for supporting in a particular manner the control pedals which the user uses during his or her musical performance.
The support of the present invention is based on a board provided with parallel longitudinal grooves on the upper face thereof, which are capable of receiving movable attachment brackets provided with elements for attaching the electronic control devices and pedals, such as suction pads, which allows the various devices and pedals to be attached very easily in the appropriate position on the board, as it is easy enough to arrange the movable brackets in a suitable position and then slide the electronic devices and pedals on the board for the attachment thereof with the suction pads or other retaining elements of the movable brackets.
Optionally, said board may comprise parallel longitudinal grooves on the lower face thereof which are used to attach other types of elements along said grooves.
The board of the adjustable support of the present invention will be produced preferably, but not in a limiting way, as a single piece of a synthetic or metallic material, such as aluminium, for example, having multiple parallel grooves on the upper face thereof provided with flanges at the edges thereof for holding the bases of the brackets in any position along said grooves, which allows the attachment position of the bracket and thus the electronic devices and pedals for the electronic musical instrument to be located at any point on the board.
The individual attachment brackets preferably comprise small right-angled profiles which can be moved along the grooves of the board of the adjustable support, having means for attachment at the required position in any groove of the board. Said attachment means will comprise a small rotating part in the form of a key, which has a position for insertion in the groove and a position, after rotation through 90°, for example, for holding said means inside the groove, owing to the flanges that said grooves have along the upper edges thereof.
The means which the brackets have for holding the electronic control elements, pedals and other devices consist preferably of suction pads, which will allow the control devices or pedals to be easily held or applied once the brackets that carry said suction pads are fixed in the required positions.
As will be appreciated, the basic inventive concept lies in the arrangement of a board provided with longitudinal grooves with flanges at the edges, combined with brackets that can be moved along said grooves, said brackets having means of attachment at any required point in said grooves and other means for holding or retaining the control devices and pedals. The precise realisation of said brackets can vary provided that they comply with the characteristics of the invention.
In a preferred embodiment, the holding brackets will comprise a right-angled body in which one of the sides is intended to slide on the board, along the selected groove and has means for the attachment thereof along the groove which may consist, as mentioned above, of a part in the form of a rotating key, which has a position for its insertion into the groove and another transverse position in which it is held within the groove after rotation through a given angle, for example, 90°. The attachment means of the control device or pedal that is to be attached to the board of the adjustable support may consist, although not in a limiting way, of a suction pad attached to the side of the profile of the bracket which is arranged perpendicular to the board.
For a better understanding, the accompanying drawings show an explanatory example of the adjustable support for control devices, pedals and similar elements for electric or other musical instruments, according to the present invention.
As shown in the figures, the adjustable support -1- comprises basically a board, preferably made in one piece, provided with multiple grooves, for example -2-, -2′-, -2″-, etc., which, as can be seen in
The material used to produce the board may vary provided that it fulfils the functions for which it is intended by the present invention, non-limiting examples being a plastics material with adequate characteristics of hardness and mechanical strength or alternatively an easily extruded metal such as an aluminium alloy.
As is usual in the prior art, the board may have bottom height-adjustable stops (not shown) for adjusting the angle thereof.
The attachment brackets may be double, as shown in
The illustration in
Similarly, the attachment bracket -11- can be produced as a curved, die-cut profile or as a moulded part made, for example, of a plastics material, etc. In the version illustrated in the drawings, the bracket is shown in the form of a bent, die-cut metal profile forming an optional guide finger -23- to be inserted in the corresponding groove of the board. In the case of a moulded bracket, the structure could be similar, and may or may not have an extension finger for guiding the bracket and apertures for incorporating the lug of the attachment device or “key” and also the attachment element -22-, consisting of a suction pad or other attachment element.
As shown in
As will be appreciated, persons skilled in the art may include multiple variations in the elements of the adjustable support of the present invention, taking account of the teachings deduced from the description and the accompanying drawings, and said variants should be considered as falling within the scope of the present invention if they are within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
201430915 | Jun 2014 | ES | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/ES2015/070465 | 6/12/2015 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2015/193526 | 12/23/2015 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
6215055 | Saravis | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6459023 | Chandler | Oct 2002 | B1 |
20030061930 | Green | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20040250673 | Salerno | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20070295190 | Collins | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20110271821 | McKinney et al. | Nov 2011 | A1 |
20140131543 | Goto | May 2014 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2014114833 | Jul 2014 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20160171959 A1 | Jun 2016 | US |