BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to improvements in percussion equipment; more particularly, the invention provides an enhanced pedal system having a detachable pedal assembly that may be stored in a docking station to thereby enhance storage and transport of the equipment.
b) Description of Related Art
Current hi-hat systems include a drive chain or strap directly connecting the foot pedal to a vertically movable rod that drives an upper movable cymbal to strike a lower fixed cymbal. Prior art FIGS. 1 and 2 typify such a foot pedal assembly.
The percussion instrument 10 includes multiple, relatively telescoping sections. These include for example upper section 11 telescopically receivable within the lower section 12. A clamp 14 mounted at 15 on the upper section of section 12 is manually operable to clamp a friction ring against the side of section 11, thereby to retain the sections in the position shown. When the clamps are loosened, the sections are relatively telescopically movable from a collapsed position to a desired extended position, as manually controlled by the musician when he or she sets up the equipment.
FIG. 2 also shows two collapsible legs 26 with links 26a attached at 27 to ring 25 on the lower section and at 28 to a slide ring 29 slidable axially on the lower section. A clamp 30 clamps the ring to that section. Rings 25 and 29 are rotatable on 12 to selectively position the legs relative to the foot-operated pedal assembly 40 and associated upright posts 52. As will be described in more detail below, a foot pedal assembly is centrally located with respect to the collapsible legs 26. Also schematically shown in FIG. 2 is a lower cymbal 31 attached at 32 to the upper tubular section 11. A vertically movable rod 34 is attached at 35 to a movable, upper cymbal 36. As the rod 34 is drawn in a downward direction by action on the foot pedal assembly 40, the upper cymbal 36 strikes the lower cymbal 31.
This structure of hi-hat cymbal has drawbacks. Because the foot pedal is perpendicularly extended from a foot pedal holder assembly at the bottom side of the center shaft, it tends to be damaged during transportable of the hi-hat cymbal. Further, because the foot pedal mechanism is not collapsible, the hi-hat cymbal occupies much storage space when not in use.
The need therefore exists for a hi-hat cymbal frame whereby the foot pedal mechanism is mounted to the upright stand in a stable manner during use and is mounted to a docking station for storage and transport in a compact arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A percussion system for a percussion instrument, comprising: a cymbal or other percussion mechanism; an upright elongated support; a base frame from which the support extends upwardly; a drive linking system movable to actuate the sound generating mechanism; and a foot-operated pedal assembly. The pedal assembly actuates the sound generating mechanism through the drive linking system with the pedal assembly being selectively connected to the base frame in one of a play mode or a docking mode. In the play mode, the pedal assembly is connected to a post clamp in a horizontal orientation along a ground surface in which the pedal is adapted to actuate the sound generating mechanism, and in the docking mode the pedal assembly is connected to a docking station on the upright posts in a vertical orientation along the base frame whereby the pedal assembly is connected to the docking station for ease of storage and transport.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional hi-hat assembly;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a conventional hi-hat assembly;
FIG. 3 illustrates a partial cross sectional view of the percussion apparatus instrument incorporating the invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged view of the pedal assembly and one post clamp which consists of a seating portion and clamping portion.
FIG. 5 illustrates the pedal assembly inserted into the post clamp at an angle.
FIG. 6 illustrates the pedal assembly fully inserted into the post clamp and locked in place.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the inwardly facing tang of the fastening means that is disposed on each elongated strut.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the docking station with the pedal assembly shown in the docking mode.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the docking station on the upright post.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to FIG. 3, the foot-operated pedal assembly 40 illustrated herein includes a pair of forwardly longitudinally elongated struts 42 to which a foot-operated pedal 44 is pivotally attached. Each elongated strut is provided with detachable fastening means 43 at its forward end. The fastening means 43 permits the pedal assembly 40 to be attached/detached from the pair of upright posts 52 through a male-female connector assembly. The fastening means 43 on the pedal assembly consists of forwardly facing hubs 43a and inwardly facing tangs 43b. The inwardly facing tangs 43b engage post clamps 52a provided on each upright post 52 by inserting the tangs 43b at an angle α in the direction of arrow A then rotated in the direction position shown by arrow B (see FIGS. 4 to 6). The inwardly facing tangs 43b are locked in place by rotating the pedal assembly 40 in the direction of arrow B (see FIG. 6) and by tightening the locking screw or nut member 51a threadingly disposed on the post clamps 52a disposed on upright posts 52. To disassemble the foot-operated pedal assembly 40 from the post clamps 52a and upright posts 52, a user loosens the screw or nut member 51a, rotates the pedal assembly 40 opposite to the direction of arrow B (FIG. 6) then slides the elongated struts in the rearward direction of arrow A (see FIG. 4) to disengage the inwardly facing tangs 43b from the post clamps 52a. In this manner, the user pulls the foot-operated pedal assembly 40 away from the post clamps 52a to thereby disengage the foot-operated pedal assembly from the post clamps 52a and the upright posts 52.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of one post clamp 52a which consists of a seating portion 53 and clamping portion 54. In the preferred embodiment, each upright post 52 is formed with the post clamp illustrated in FIG. 4. The seating portion 53 is generally formed with a slot 53a disposed at an angle α with a locking notch 53b. The clamping portion 54 is hinged at one end 54a and includes the locking screw 51a.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the inwardly facing tang 43b of the fastening means 43 that is disposed, preferably, on each elongated strut 42. The inwardly facing tangs 43b are preferably formed as a rectangular projection with substantially flat sides to keep the stand at 90 degrees relative to the floor or ground surface when the fastening means is disposed in the post clamp(s) 52a. Moreover, the inwardly facing tangs 43b are formed to alternately be clamped into the docking station in a docking mode as will be described below. To this end, the tangs 43b are formed with a hollow inner section 44a and an aperture 44b in one sidewall for mounting to the docking station.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the docking station 60 with the pedal assembly 40 shown in the docking mode. The docking station 60 primarily consists of a mounting bracket disposed on the upright posts 52 and having mounting protrusions 62 and fastening brackets 64 to firmly mount the pedal assembly 40 in the docking mode for transport and/or storage. See FIG. 9. More specifically, the pedal assembly 40 is capable of being dislodge from the post clamps 52a then docked at the docking station 60 by press-fitting the tangs 43b onto the mounting protrusions 62. Specifically, the mounting protrusion 62 is press fit into the aperture 44b provided on the inwardly facing tangs 43b. Then, the pedal assembly is held in place by tightening the bolt 66 to clamp the pedal assembly 40 to the docking station 60. More specifically, as the bolt 66 is tightened, the fastening brackets 64 are disposed within the hollow inner section 44a of the tangs 43b, thereby locking the pedal assembly 40 into place on the docking station 60. As the bolt 66 is tightened by turning it in the clockwise direction C (see FIG. 9), the bracket 64 translates in the direction of arrow D (see FIG. 9). The physical interaction of the aperture 44b with the mounting protrusion 62 and the hollow inner section 44a with the bracket 64 locks the pedal assembly 40 onto the docking station and into the docking mode. By loosening the bolt 66, the pedal assembly 40 is released from the docking station 60.
In the preferred embodiment, the docking station 60 is disposed at a position proximate the pivot shaft 68 and pivot hub 69 for the drive mechanism of the percussion instrument. Such drive mechanisms 68, 69 are known in the art; see for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,866 which is incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, it is preferred that the docking station 60 be cast or otherwise integrally formed with the upright legs 52. Of course, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that that docking station 60 may be bolted, screwed, welded or otherwise affixed to the upright legs 52 at a suitable location.
From the foregoing description, it is clear that the present invention provides a unique and effective system for alternately disposing the pedal assembly in a play mode for playing the instrument and/or a docking mode for storage and transportation. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made to the preferred embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the exact configuration of the fastening means 43 and post clamps 52a may be varied depending on the specific configuration of the instrument, and the specific location and arrangement of the docking station may be varied.
Patent Grant
7371952
