The first single bass drum pedal was introduced in 1900. A bass drum pedal operates a footplate which is pressed to pull a chain, belt, or metal drive mechanism downward, bringing a beater or mallet forward into the drumhead. The beater head is usually made of either felt, wood, plastic, or rubber and is attached to a rod-shaped metal shaft. The pedal and beater system are mounted in a metal frame. A tension unit controls the amount of pressure needed to strike and the amount of recoil upon release.
This dual action pedal device is an improvement over a standard bass pedal as it provides many new percussive ideas to a drummer. The dual action pedal device was designed to provide a way of utilizing three actions with two feet on a dual set of musical bass drum pedals
Also used in combination with the dual action pedal device is a drummers hi-hat. A hi-hat is a tubular metal structure standing vertically with a tube clamped inside a larger tube (for height adjustment purposes) which is pressed into a two tower base with area enough laterally between the towers to have a hi-hat center rod extending downward having a chain or link attached mechanically thereto which when pulled downward applies pressure to a foot board mounted between the towers. At the top of the said center rod is a cymbal mounted in its upward position being held open from a bottom cymbal by spring pressure. When the said foot board is pressed it pulls the upper and lower cymbals together as to create a clicking or splashing cymbal sound when struck with a drum stick. The purpose of this invention is to eliminate the said foot board and replace it with a section of the new dual action pedal device. In observation of drummers at clubs and concerts there was usually one foot on the right bass pedal of a double bass drum set and the other foot would operate the hi-hat with the exception of a solo or special musical segment.
There is a need to create what is now the dual action pedal device which combines the use of one foot to operate the bass drum with the forward section of a foot and the hi-hat with the heel section of a foot utilizing a spring loaded piston with a rod inserted which pulls a cable to close hi-hat cymbals and allows them to open under spring pressure upon lifting their heel. This way a drummer can operate two bass drums and still make use of the hi-hat at the same time.
The dual action of this device is what makes it superior over standard bass drum pedals.
The scope of this dual action pedal device is to provide a musical drum pedal which utilizes both the heel and the toe of a single human foot on one pedal to perform two actions. The toe depressing a foot board causes a beater to strike a musical bass drum and the heel of same said human foot presses on a piston to close hi-hat cymbals allowing the same said cymbals to open under spring pressure upon lifting the heel. This foot board/piston combination will make it much easier for drummers to operate two bass drum pedals and also be able to close and allow open hi-hat cymbals without having to move their foot from one pedal to another. There are also many new percussive beats which can be created by using this dual action pedal device. This pedal device can be used by right footed or left footed drummers. It can also be used by a person who has lost a foot or a leg yet still wants to learn how to play drums. This is made possible by having this pedal perform two actions with one human foot, the toe to operate a bass drum foot board and the heel to operate a piston device which closes hi-hat cymbals and allows them to open upon lifting.
The use of this dual action musical drum pedal can be utilized in different fashions. As originally designed it is to be used with either a double bass musical drum set or a single bass musical drum set with a set of double pedals. It can also be utilized on a single pedal to play a musical drum set with one human foot performing two actions, leaving the other foot free to perform other percussive actions. There are many new types of beats that can be created with the toe and heel control of this pedal device. Drummers who perform with two bass drum pedals are using only one pedal batting the bass drum and the other pedal used is the one attached to the hi-hat in order to allow open hi-hat cymbals under spring pressure and to close the same aforementioned cymbals by pushing the hi-hat foot board downward with a human foot, thus leaving the secondary bass drum pedal unused except in the event of a drum solo or other temporary use.
With this pedal device a drummer can permanently keep their feet on both bass drum pedals and keep hi-hat cymbals closed only to allow a cymbal open position on command by lifting their heel.
Primary “L” bracket 12 has secondary “L” bracket 16 mounted thereto and has drive cable actuator rod 17 passing through a slotted hole as to pull actuator cable 13 through actuator cable housing 8 which is flexible and leads to actuator cable housing support rod 9 which is mounted through two drilled holes in converted dual action pedal device hi-hat assembly 23. Actuator cable 13 is supported in place by actuator cable end clamp 10. Upon pressing actuator piston assembly 7, drive cable actuator rod 17 pulls actuator cable 13 through actuator cable housing 8 to pull closed open hi-hat cymbals under spring pressure. Pressing downward on bass pedal foot board 3 pulls a link which rotates bass pedal rotating collar 4 which rotates drive shaft 15 which has swivel provided by drive shaft universal joint 14. Shaft rotation is provided within bass drum shaft bearings 6. Bass pedal to base plate clamp 24 supports bass pedal to bass pedal base plate 5. Bass pedal foot board 3 is returned to upward position by a font board return spring which is housed inside a bracket assembly 33 which has a pivot provided by ball bearings on an axle that has a clamp which supports secondary bass pedal 28. Bracket assembly 33 is mounted to
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6320109 | Kuppers | Nov 2001 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170358282 A1 | Dec 2017 | US |