The present invention relates to a foldable keyboard sustain foot pedal stabilizer, and particularly to a foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer for use with a keyboard sustain foot pedal for use by musicians.
Typically, musicians will try to prevent the keyboard sustain foot pedal from moving and sliding on the floor by placing a heavy object such as a brick behind the keyboard sustain foot pedal.
What is needed is a keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer that does not have any moving parts, has no connection to the keyboard stand, is easy to use, requires no set-up time, is compact and readily transportable, and is compatible with any keyboard sustain foot pedal.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer that stabilizes either one or two keyboard sustain foot pedals.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an attachable pedal cover comprised of a rubber-type pad with an anti-slip means for preventing slipping of either one or two keyboard sustain pedal stabilizers engaging in a stable manner with the floor.
It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide stable footing for the musician on damp floors for one foot or both feet while providing a foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer that stabilizes either one or two keyboard sustain foot pedals.
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention addresses these needs and objectives.
A recess, as used herein, is a compressed section in an object formed by compressing the section in such a manner as to form a crater of a predetermined shape. The compressed section is then surrounded by the perimeter of the retaining structure that is not compressed. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer having almost the predetermined shape may be securely and snugly retained within the recess.
Similarly, an aperture, as used herein, is a hollowed-out or open section within the retaining structure as an object forming the hollowed-out section is pressed through the retaining structure in such a manner as to form an aperture of a predetermined shape. The hollowed-out section is then surrounded by sidewalls and end walls of the retaining structure. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer having almost the predetermined shape may be securely and snugly retained within the aperture.
As used herein, a “keyboard” instrument includes any instrument equipped with a keyboard, a row of levers which are depressed by the fingers to generate music. The most common of these are the piano, organ, and various electronic keyboards, including synthesizers and digital pianos. Other keyboard instruments, which are struck idiophones operated by a keyboard, which are usually housed in bell towers or belfries of churches or municipal buildings. In its broadest sense, the term keyboard instrument is applied to any instrument equipped with a keyboard and thus may be used to refer to accordions, percussion instruments and many electronic instruments—such as by way of non-limiting example, a celesta, a harpsichord, a virginal, and a carillon, a Moog synthesizer, a spinet keyboard and an Ondes Martenot.
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer is designed for use with either one keyboard sustain foot pedal or two keyboard sustain foot pedals.
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer comprises a stabilizer base, a pedal-retention area in cooperative engagement with the stabilizer base, a foldable section sandwiched between the stabilizer base and the pedal-retention area, and an underside having a non-slip surface.
The foldable section is made of a flexible material such that the pedal-retention area folds onto the stabilizer base for packaging and transporting in a compact manner. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer provides stable footing for the musician on damp floors for one foot or both feet while providing a foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer that stabilizes either one or two keyboard sustain foot pedals. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer has no moving parts and is compatible with essentially any keyboard sustain foot pedal.
The underside of the stabilizer base has a non-slip surface.
Preferably, the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention does not connect to the keyboard instrument in any way. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer is compatible with any keyboard sustain pedal. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer may be made by a 3D printing process. In one preferred embodiment, the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer is a black rigid polypropylene material, such as an oriented polyethylene terephthalate, or a simulated polypropylene material and preferably having a non-aggressive tread pattern.
For a complete understanding of the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and description in which the presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example. None of these drawings are to scale and are being presented to illustrate various preferred embodiments of the invention. The invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from spirit of essential characteristics thereof. It is expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings,
The first preferred embodiment of the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention [10] is designed for use with one keyboard sustain foot pedal [34].
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer [10] comprises a stabilizer base [12], a pedal-retention area [13] in cooperative engagement with the stabilizer base [12], a foldable section [28] sandwiched between the stabilizer base [12] and the pedal-retention area [13], and an undersurface [20] having a non-slip surface.
The undersurface [20] is depicted as a plurality of parallel treads that are useful in gripping the floor of the venue, approximately evenly spaced from each other.
The retaining structure [14] comprises a pair of sidewalls [16] essentially parallel to each other and an end-wall [22]. Positioned in the end-wall [22] is an end-wall notch for positioning an electrical cable extending from the keyboard sustain foot pedal [34].
The foldable section [28] is made of a flexible material such that the pedal-retention area [13] folds onto the stabilizer base [12] for packaging and transporting in a compact manner. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention provides stable footing for the musician on damp floors for one foot while providing a foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer that stabilizes a keyboard sustain foot pedal [34]. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention [10] has no moving parts and is compatible with essentially any keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] that is commercially available.
The non-slip undersurface [20] may also be a plurality of aligned nodes [123] as depicted in
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer [110] comprises a stabilizer base [112], a pedal-retention area [113] in cooperative engagement with the stabilizer base [112], a foldable section [128] sandwiched between the stabilizer base [112] and the pedal-retention area [113], and an undersurface [120] having a non-slip surface. The non-slip surface is depicted as a plurality of aligned nodes [123].
The keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] is positioned in the pedal retention area [113] within retaining structure [114].
The retaining structure [114] is positioned a recess [130] within the pedal retention area [113] of the retaining structure. The sidewalls of the recess [130] secure the keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] in place in a snug manner within the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention [110].
Section A-A is taken thru
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer [210] comprises a stabilizer base [212], a pedal-retention area [213] in cooperative engagement with the stabilizer base [212], a foldable section [228] sandwiched between the stabilizer base [212] and the pedal-retention area [213], and an undersurface [220] having a non-slip surface. The non-slip surface is depicted as a plurality of nodes, approximately equidistant from each other.
The keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] is positioned in the pedal retention area [213] within retaining structure [214].
The retaining structure [214] is positioned an aperture [232] within the pedal retention area [213] of the retaining structure. The sidewalls of the aperture [232] secure the keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] in place in a snug manner within the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention [210].
Section B-B is taken thru
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention [10] is designed for use with a pair of keyboard sustain foot pedals [34] positioned side-by-side and parallel to each other, separated by a common sidewall [317].
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer [310] comprises a stabilizer base [312], a pedal-retention area [313] in cooperative engagement with the stabilizer base [312], a foldable section [328] sandwiched between the stabilizer base [312] and the pedal-retention area [313], and an undersurface [314] having a non-slip undersurface [320].
The undersurface [320] is depicted as a plurality of parallel treads that are useful in gripping the floor of the venue, approximately evenly spaced from each other.
The retaining structure [314] comprises a pair of sidewalls [316] essentially parallel to each other, a common sidewall [317] and an end-wall [322]. The common sidewall [317] is essentially parallel to the pair of sidewalls [316] and equidistant between them. Positioned in the end-wall [322] are a pair of end-wall notch [322] for positioning electrical cables extending from each keyboard sustain foot pedal [34].
The foldable section [328] is made of a flexible material such that the pedal-retention area [313] folds onto the stabilizer base [312] for packaging and transporting in a compact manner. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention provides stable footing for the musician on damp floors for one foot while providing a foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer that stabilizes a keyboard sustain foot pedal [34]. The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention
has no moving parts and is compatible with essentially any keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] that is commercially available.
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer [410] comprises a stabilizer base [412], a pedal-retention area [413] in cooperative engagement with the stabilizer base [412], a foldable section [428] sandwiched between the stabilizer base [412] and the pedal-retention area [413], and an undersurface [414] having a non-slip surface. The non-slip surface is depicted as a plurality of nodes, approximately equidistant from each other.
Each keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] is positioned in the pedal retention area [413] within retaining structure [414].
Each retaining structure [414] is comprised of a recess [430] within the pedal retention area [413]. The sidewalls of each recess [430] secure each respective keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] in place in a snug manner within the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention [410].
Section C-C is taken thru
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer [510] comprises a stabilizer base [512], a pedal-retention area [513] in cooperative engagement with the stabilizer base [512], a foldable section [528] sandwiched between the stabilizer base [512] and the pedal-retention area [513], and an undersurface [520] having a non-slip surface. The non-slip surface is depicted as a plurality of nodes, each being approximately equidistant from each other.
The keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] is positioned in the pedal retention area [513] within retaining structure [514].
The retaining structure [514] is positioned an aperture [532] within the pedal retention area [513] of the retaining structure. The sidewalls of the aperture [532] secure the keyboard sustain foot pedal [34] in place in a snug manner within the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer [510].
Section D-D is taken thru
Preferably, the pedal retention area, the foldable section, and the stabilizer base are all made of the same material and preferable are of one-piece construction.
Preferably, the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer has a one-piece construction.
The foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer [10 and 310] preferably has a uniform thickness of one-quarter inch.
The other preferred embodiments of the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer [110, 210, 410, and 510] of the present invention have the pedal retention area [113, 213, 410, and 513] with a thickness of one-half inch, the foldable section [128, 218, 418, and 518] with a thickness of one-quarter inch, and the stabilizer base [112, 212, 412, and 512] with a thickness of one-half inch.
As used herein, non-slip means any suitable forms, such as cross-hatching, or a series of closely spaced nubs which extend over the underside of the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention, or other indentations such as swirls which provide an anti-slip surface across the underside of the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention, which form a textured surface that is adapted to provide a secure engagement with the floor.
Throughout this application, various Patents and Applications are referenced by number and inventor. The disclosures of these documents in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.
It is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations of the foldable keyboard sustain pedal stabilizer of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure herein. It is intended that the metes and bounds of the present invention be determined by the appended claims rather than by the language of the above specification, and that all such alternatives, modifications, and variations which form a conjointly cooperative equivalent are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of these claims.
This Application is related to and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/978,303, entitled “Dual Keyboard Sustain Pedal Stabilizer” (Palmer), filed on Nov. 1, 2022; U.S. Pat. No. 11,493,947, entitled “Keyboard Sustain Pedal Stabilizer” (Palmer), filed on Aug. 20, 2020; to U.S. Pat. No. 10,755,680, entitled “Keyboard Sustain Pedal Stabilizer” (Palmer), filed on Feb. 7, 2019; U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/631,671, entitled “Keyboard Sustain Pedal Stabilizer” (Palmer), filed on Feb. 17, 2018; and to U.S. D880,578, entitled “Stabilizer for Supporting a Foot-Sustain Pedal” (Palmer), filed on Feb. 15, 2018.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17978303 | Nov 2022 | US |
Child | 18106678 | US | |
Parent | 16998490 | Aug 2020 | US |
Child | 17978303 | US | |
Parent | 16270428 | Feb 2019 | US |
Child | 16998490 | US |