The present invention relates generally to pedal apparatus for use in performance of a percussion instrument, such as a bass drum of a drum set, and more particularly to an improvement in a structure for mounting a transmission mechanism to a footboard.
Pedal apparatus for percussion instruments (hereinafter also referred to simply as “percussion instrument pedal apparatus” or “pedal apparatus”) are used to perform a percussion instrument, such as a bass drum of a drum set. The pedal apparatus are constructed to strike a drum head of the bass drum by transmitting pivoting force, responsive to a depressing operation on a footboard, to a pivot shaft via a transmission mechanism so that a beater mounted on the pivot shaft pivots in response to pivoting of the pivot shaft.
As an example of the transmission mechanism in the pedal apparatus, there has been known a “chain-drive” type transmission mechanism that comprises a chain member. In the pedal apparatus employing the chain-drive type transmission mechanism, the chain member is fixed at one end to the underside or reverse side (or bottom surface) of the footboard by screws or the like and connected at the other end to the pivot shaft (see, for example, FIG. 3 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2006-343459).
As another example of the transmission mechanism, there has been known a “direct-drive” type transmission mechanism that comprises a transmission rod formed of metal, such as aluminum. In the pedal apparatus employing the “direct-drive” type transmission mechanism, a link mechanism is pivotably connected at one end to the distal end of the footboard and connected at the other end to the pivot shaft (see, for example, FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2003-255927).
Various other types of transmission mechanisms than the aforementioned have also been known, such as a belt-drive type transmission mechanism using a belt formed of a rubber material, nylon material, leather material or the like. As well known, an operating feel of the pedal apparatus, i.e., characteristics of striking motion, such as a moved amount of a beater responsive to a user's depressing operation, differs depending on the type of the transmission mechanism employed. A pedal apparatus with what type of transmission mechanism should be used depends mainly on a preference of the user.
In the conventionally-known pedal apparatus, the transmission mechanism and the footboard are interconnected directly, whatever the type of the transmission mechanism is. Therefore, depending on the type of the transmission mechanism, engaging members, such as screws, used to directly interconnect the transmission mechanism and the footboard may undesirably project from (or beyond) the underside or reverse side of the footboard toward an under plate. Thus, with the conventionally-known pedal apparatus, there would arise the problems that an adjustable range of the depressed amount of the footboard (i.e., pedal stroke) decreases due to the engaging members projecting from the reverse side of the footboard, and that the projecting engaging members collide against the under plate to damage the under plate, produce noise and cause other inconveniences.
Further, generally, in the conventionally-known pedal apparatus, the transmission mechanism cannot be replaced with a different type of transmission mechanism. Thus, when the user wants to use a plurality of different types of transmission mechanisms, it is necessary to prepare a separate pedal apparatus for each of the different types of transmission mechanisms. In this regard, “Falcon Single Bass Drum Pedal PF1000-Self-Adjusting Hoop Clamp—Interchangeable Beater Weights” by MAPEX DRUMS US, INC., 2015, which is available from the Internet at http://mapexdrums.com/us/products/hardware/bass-drum-pedals/single/pf1000/, discloses a pedal apparatus where different types of transmission mechanisms can be used interchangeably. However, in this case too, the transmission mechanism and the footboard are interconnected in the conventionally-known manner as noted above. Namely, the chain is connected at one end directly to the reverse side of the footboard by means of a screw or the like in the case of the chain-drive type transmission mechanism, and the link mechanism is connected at one end directly to the distal end of the footboard in the case of the direct-drive type transmission mechanism.
In view of the foregoing prior art problems, the present inventor devised an improved pedal apparatus for a percussion instrument in which the transmission mechanism and the footboard can be connected without use of an engaging member projecting from the reverse side of the footboard, as well as improving the pedal feel by providing first and second adjusting mechanisms.
To accomplish this, the improved pedal apparatus for a percussion instrument includes a striking mechanism mounted on a pivot shaft and constructed to strike a striking surface of the percussion instrument in response to pivoting of the pivot shaft, a footboard adapted for a depressing operation, a connection member pivotably mounted to the distal end of the footboard, and a transmission mechanism having one end connected (coupled) to the connection member and another end connected (coupled) to the pivot shaft, the transmission mechanism transmitting, to the pivot shaft, pivoting motion, responsive to depression of the footboard, received via the connection member.
The connection member is pivotably mounted to the distal end of the footboard, and the transmission mechanism is connected at the lower end to the connection member and connected at the upper end to the pivot shaft of the striking mechanism. Pivoting motion or force responsive to a depression operation on the footboard is transmitted via the connection member to the transmission mechanism and then from the transmission mechanism to the pivot shaft. Then, in response to pivoting of the pivot shaft, the striking mechanism strikes the striking surface of the percussion instrument, such as a bass drum. Namely, the transmission mechanism is connected to the footboard via the connection member rather than being connected directly to the footboard. Therefore, whatever the type of the transmission mechanism employed in, or applied to, the pedal apparatus is, the transmission mechanism can be attached and detached to and from the connection member without the connection member being detached from the footboard. Thus, the mounting of the connection member to the footboard can be made fixed or semi-fixed, so that the present invention can eliminate a need for such a mounting structure where an engaging member, such as a screw, would undesirably project from the reverse side (underside or bottom surface) of the footboard. As a consequence, the transmission mechanism and the footboard can be interconnected without use of an engaging member projecting from the reverse side of the footboard. As an example, the connection member is pivotably mounted to the distal end of the footboard via a pivot (mounting shaft) extending in a generally horizontal direction. Because the pivot (mounting shaft) extends in a generally horizontal direction, it is possible to minimize a portion projecting vertically downward from the reverse side of the footboard.
The transmission mechanism can comprise a chain, a link mechanism or a belt. The connection member can be configured to interchangeably connect thereto different types of transmission mechanisms. Thus, a user can interchangeably use different types of transmission mechanisms on a single pedal apparatus, i.e., by possessing only one pedal apparatus. The connection member can include a position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a connected position between the connection member and the one end of the transmission mechanism. With such a simple position adjusting mechanism constructed to merely adjust the connected position between the connection member and the transmission mechanism, it is possible to adjust an angle of the footboard without changing an angle of the striking mechanism. The other end of the transmission mechanism includes another position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a connected position between the other end and the pivot shaft. By thus adjusting the connected position between the other end and the pivot shaft, it is possible to adjust a relative mounted position of the striking mechanism to the transmission mechanism.
In the percussion instrument pedal apparatus according to the present invention, as the transmission mechanism is connected to the footboard via the connection member, it is possible to remove any engaging member, such as a screw, that projects from the reverse side of the footboard, whatever the type of the transmission mechanism is mounted to the pedal apparatus. Thus, whatever the type of the transmission mechanism is mounted to the pedal apparatus, the present invention can provide a longer pedal stroke than the conventionally-known pedal apparatus where the transmission mechanism is connected directly to the footboard. Further, the present pedal apparatus can effectively prevent inconveniences, such as damage and noise, from occurring due to collision, against the under plate, of an engaging member, such as a screw, projecting from the reverse side of the footboard.
One aspect of the pedal apparatus includes the striking mechanism, which includes a rocker member mounted on the pivot shaft and configured to mount the beater, the footboard adapted for a depressing operation, the connection member, and the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism, in one embodiment, includes a transmission member, which can be a chain, a first position adjusting mechanism, and a second position adjusting mechanism.
The first position adjusting mechanism, which is detachably and adjustably connected to the rocker member and pivotally attached to an upper end of the transmission member, adjusts footboard depression characteristics. The first position adjusting mechanism includes an upper adjusting member that is pivotally attached to the upper end of the transmission member and movable relative to the rocker member to substantially linearly move an effective leveraging point, between the transmission member and the upper adjusting member at a resting position of the footboard, away from or toward the rocker member to adjust a pivoting-motion transmission path and adjust the footboard depression characteristics. The upper adjusting member is lockable to any one of a plurality of discrete positions relative to the rocker member
The second position adjusting mechanism is detachably and adjustably connected to the connection member and pivotally attached to a lower end of the transmission member and that adjusts an angle of the footboard at a resting position of the footboard. Changing the upper adjusting member to different positions among the plurality of discrete positions changes the angle of the footboard at the footboard resting position. The second position adjusting mechanism includes a lower adjusting member in which a position thereof is adjustable relative to the connecting member to compensate for the change in the angle of the footboard at the footboard resting position caused by the upper adjusting member changing to the different positions.
The transmission mechanism is replaceable with another transmission mechanism that includes a different type of the transmission member, such as a linkage.
Another aspect of the present invention is a pedal apparatus kit that includes the pedal apparatus and two type of transmission mechanisms that are mountable to the same pedal apparatus and that provide different footboard depression characteristics.
The following will describe embodiments of the present invention, but it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and various modifications of the invention are possible without departing from the basic principles. The scope of the present invention is therefore to be determined solely by the appended claims.
Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
As shown in
As more clearly illustrated in
The footboard 2 is formed of a flat plate with a size large enough for the human player to place thereon his or her foot, and the footboard 2 is pivotably connected at its rear (proximal) end, via a hinge section 13, to a heel section 12 provided on an under or base plate 11. The connection member 20 is pivotably connected to the front or distal end of the footboard 2. Further, the chain-drive transmission mechanism 8 is detachably connected to the pivot shaft 4, more specifically, to the rocker member 5, via the upper connecting member 82 (see
The rocker member 5 is mounted on the pivot shaft 4 to pivot together with the pivot shaft 4, with no relative rotational movement therebetween. The rocker member 5 includes a shaft fixing section 51 that mounts the beater shaft 7. The striking mechanism, including the beater shaft 7 and the beater 6, is thus connected to the pivot shaft 4 by the beater shaft 7 being fixed to the shaft fixing section 51, which in turn is fixed to the rocker member 5, which in turn is fixed to the pivot shaft 4. Further, the pedal apparatus 10 can be mounted to a bass drum (not shown) using, for example, a hoop clamp 14, provided on a front end portion of the under plate 11, so that a striking surface of the bass drum is located in front of the pedal apparatus 10.
Next, an example construction of the connection member 20 will be described with reference to
The connection member 20 preferably is mounted to the front end portion 23 of the footboard 2 via a bearing (not shown). For example, the bearing (not shown) for pivotably supporting the mounting shaft 25 can be incorporated in the through-hole 24 of the connection member 20. In this case, the mounting shaft 25 is fixed at its opposite ends to opposed legs of the front end portion 23 of the footboard 2, while the connection member 20 is pivotable relative to the mounting shaft 25. As another example, bearings for pivotably supporting the opposite ends of the mounting shaft 25 can be incorporated in the legs of the front end portion 23 of the footboard 2. Namely, in such a case, the mounting shaft 25 would be pivotably mounted to the front end portion 23 of the footboard 2, and the connection member 20 would be pivotable relative to the footboard 2 together with the mounting shaft 25. Mounting the connection member 20 to the front end portion 23 of the footboard 2 via the bearing as noted above permits smoother pivoting movement of the connection member 20 relative to the footboard 2 and can thereby achieve an enhanced operability of the pedal apparatus 10.
Further, the connection member 20 includes a coupling section 26 for coupling or connecting to the lower adjusting member 81 of the chain-drive transmission mechanism 8. The coupling section 26, which extends from the one end portion 22 generally perpendicularly to the mounting shaft 25, has an upper surface 26a, left and right side wall portions projecting from the left and right side edges of the upper surface 26a, a rear wall portion projecting from the rear end edge of the upper surface 26a, and a screw hole 26b, which is an elongated slot, formed in a substantial central region of the upper surface 26a.
Further,
The lower adjusting member 81 has a complementary shape to fit the coupling section 26 of the connection member 20, i.e., fitting in the interior of the coupling section 26 located between the left and right side wall portions of the coupling section 26 and providing discrete mating positions. The lower adjusting member 81 also has a screw hole 81b formed in a substantial central region of the upper surface 81a thereof. To connect the chain-drive transmission mechanism 8 to the connection member 20, the upper surface 81a of the lower adjusting member 81 is abutted against the upper surface 26a (
The coupling section 26 of the connection section 20 includes a lower (second) position adjusting mechanism that adjusts the position where the coupling section 26 connects to the lower adjusting member, i.e., connected between the coupling section 26 and the chain 8a. The second position adjusting mechanism includes the screw hole 26b of the connection member 20 formed as an elongated hole, namely a slot as illustrated in
Such a simple adjusting mechanism constructed to adjust the connected position of the lower adjusting member 81 relative to the connection member 20 permits adjustment of a relative mounted position of the footboard 2 to the chain member 8. Thus, it is possible to adjust the angle of the footboard 2 relative to the floor surface without changing a pivotal position of the rocker member 5 (i.e., angle of the beater 6). More specifically, as the connected position of the lower adjusting member 81 relative to the connection member 20 is brought closer to the front end portion 23 of the footboard 2, the angle of the footboard 2 relative to the under plate 11 increases (namely, the front end portion 23 of the footboard 2 rises in position). Conversely, as the connected position of the lower adjusting member 81 is brought farther from the front end portion 23 of the footboard 2, the angle of the footboard 2 relative to the under plate 11 decreases (namely, the front end portion 23 of the footboard 2 lowers in position). Namely, the angle of the footboard 2 relative to the floor surface is made adjustable by the second position adjusting mechanism that adjusts the connected position of the lower adjusting member 81 relative to the connection member 20. This is particularly important, as it can compensate for the change in the footboard angle caused by the first position adjusting mechanism.
The upper end link of the chain 8a is pivotally mounted to the upper end bracket 8b, which is mounted to the upper adjusting member 82 and secured to the rocker member 5 using a screw/bolt 90 (schematically shown in
Referring to
At the footboard resting position and at the positions C1-C3, a terminal distal end 82te, which is the farthest point at which the upper adjusting member 82 can support the chain 8a, corresponds to an effective leveraging point between the chain 8a and the upper adjusting member 82. At the position C3, which is illustrated in
The chain-drive transmission mechanism 8 includes the first position adjusting mechanism that adjusts the connected position of the chain 8a at its upper end relative to the rocker member 5. The first position adjusting mechanism includes the screw hole 82d of the concave portion 82b of the upper adjusting member 82 that is formed as an elongated hole (slot). The elongated hole of the concave portion 82b extends (is elongated) along the length of the pivoting-force (pivoting-motion) transmitting path of the chain 8a. The connected position of the upper adjusting member 82 relative to the rocker member 5, in other words, the connected position between the upper adjusting member 82 and the pivot shaft 4, is adjustable within a range permitted by the length of the elongated hole of the concave portion 82b. Further, two sets of complementary positioning projections 82c and 52c are formed respectively on mutually-abutting surfaces of the concave portion 82b of the upper adjusting member 82 and the engaging portion 52 of the rocker member 5, so that the connected position of the upper adjusting member 82 relative to the rocker member 5 can be determined and adjusted (adjustably determined) stepwise among a plurality of positions, e.g., C3-C1 (see
By changing the connected position between the upper adjusting member 82 and the rocker member 5, it is possible to adjust the relative mounted position therebetween as illustrated in
The following describe behavior of the pedal apparatus 10 with the chain-drive transmission mechanism shown in
Because the chain 8a is connected to the footboard 2 via the connection member 20, the pedal apparatus 10 constructed in the aforementioned manner can eliminate the need for any component part, such as an engaging member like a screw, that is needed in the conventionally-known pedal apparatus to connect one end portion of the chain directly to the footboard but undesirably projects from the reverse side of the footboard. Thus, as compared to the conventionally-known pedal apparatus where the one end portion of the chain is connected directly to the reverse side of the footboard, the embodiment of the pedal apparatus 10 can provide a longer pedal stroke. Besides, the pedal apparatus 10 can effectively prevent inconveniences, such as damage and noise, from occurring due to collision, against the under plate 11, of a screw etc., projecting from the reverse side of the footboard 2.
The transmission rod 83 includes a lower adjusting portion (member) 83a formed on its lower end for connecting to the connection member 20. The lower adjusting member 83a has a shape fitting (complementary with) the coupling section 26 (see
The second position adjusting mechanism adjust the connected position between the connection member 20 and the transmission rod 83 within a range permitted by the length of the elongated hole 26b extending (or elongated) along the length of the pivoting-force (pivoting-motion) transmitting path from the first end to the second end of the link mechanism 80. Further, similar to the arrangement in the chain-drive transmission mechanism, a plurality of engaging or positioning projections 83c are also formed on the lower adjusting member 83a, so that the connected position between the connection member 20 and the lower adjusting member 83a can be determined and adjusted stepwise among a plurality of positions defined by the two sets of engaging projections 26c and 83c of the coupling section 26 and the lower adjusting member 83a. With the conventionally-known direct-drive type pedal apparatus, where a link mechanism is connected directly to the footboard, adjustment of the connected position between the link mechanism and the footboard cannot be achieved with a simple mechanism. In contrast, in the present direct-drive type pedal apparatus 10 provided with the direct-drive transmission mechanism 80, it is also possible to adjust the mounted position of the footboard relative thereto with a simple mechanism of adjusting the connected position thereof.
Further, similar to the arrangement of the upper adjusting member 82, the upper adjusting member 84 is provided at the upper end of the direct-drive transmission mechanism 80 and includes a concave portion 84b formed in its underside 84a and engageable with the engaging portion 52 (see
The direct-drive transmission mechanism 80 also includes the first position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the connected position of the transmission rod 83 relative to the rocker member 5. Namely, the screw hole 84d of the concave portion 84b is formed as an elongated hole extending along the length of the pivoting-force transmitting path, and the connected position of the transmission rod 83 relative to the rocker member 5 can be adjusted within a range permitted by the length of the elongated hole 84c. Further, as shown in
The connection member 20 employed in the present invention can interchangeably connect thereto different types of transmission mechanisms, more specifically the aforementioned chain-drive transmission mechanism 8 and the direct-drive transmission mechanism 80. Namely, the coupling section 26 of the connection member 20 is configured to match both the lower adjusting member/portion 81 and 83a provided at the end portions of the chain 8a and the transmission rod 83. Thus, the user can selectively create either the chain-drive pedal apparatus or the direct-drive pedal apparatus by merely changing the transmission mechanism. Attachment and detachment of the transmission mechanisms 8 and 80 to and from the connection member 20 can be effected with utmost ease by attaching and detaching the screw 27, 28 to and from a desired position of the coupling section 26 located forward of the front end of the footboard 2. Thus, the user can easily attach and detach the transmission mechanisms 8 and 80 to and from the connection member 20 without performing cumbersome operation, such as extending a hand under the footboard 2 to attach and detach the screw.
As known in the art, the chain-drive type pedal apparatus and the direct-drive type pedal apparatus differ from each other in operating feel, such as characteristics of striking motion of the beater 6, such as a moved amount of the beater responsive user's depressing operation. Allowing the user to select any one of different types of transmission mechanisms is very convenient to the user in that any one of different types of pedal apparatus, differing from each other in operating feel, can be used easily without involving cumbersome labor, such as preparing in advance different types of pedal apparatus and then replacing one type of pedal apparatus with another as needed.
Similarly,
At the footboard resting position and at the positions D1-D3, the pivot shaft 85, which is the connection point of the upper adjusting member 84 and the transmission rod 83, corresponds to the effective leveraging point between the transmission rod 83 and the upper adjusting member 84. Unlike the upper adjusting member 82 of the chain-drive transmission mechanism, the pivot shaft always remain be in contact with the transmission rod 83. That is, as the pivot shaft 4 is pivoted, the effective point of leverage will substantially remain at the pivot shaft 85 instead of changing along the curved surface 82e of the chain-drive transmission mechanism. The location of the pivot shaft 85 thus controls the pedal feel characteristics.
At the position D3, which is illustrated in
At the footpedal rest position, the upper adjusting member 84 is almost horizontally extending, but not quite horizontal. The upper adjusting member 84 and the transmission rod (linkage) 83 pivotally connecting to the upper adjusting member 84 form an angle α that is not greater than 90° as shown in
Table 1 and
Table 2 and
The Tables 1-2 reveal that the direct-drive transmission mechanism exhibits a heavier pedal feel than the chain-drive transmission mechanism when comparing respective positions C1 to D1, C2 to D2, and C3 to D3.
Further, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiments and may be modified variously within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the claims, specification and drawings.
For example, the connection of the transmission mechanism 8 or 80 to the connection member 20 are not limited to the screw and screw hole as set forth above and may be any conventionally-known engagement means as long as they can appropriately connect the transmission mechanism 8 or 80 to the connection member 20. Further, the coupling section 26 of the connection member 20 can have any other shape than illustrated in the drawings.
Further, the lower or second adjusting mechanism for adjusting the connected position between the connection member 20 and each of the transmission mechanisms 8 and 80 is not necessarily limited to the one where the screw hole 26b is formed as an elongated hole extending along the length of the pivoting-force transmitting path, and can be one where the screw hole 81b or 83b of each of the transmission mechanisms 8 and 80 rather than the screw hole 26b is formed as an elongated hole. As another example, the respective abutting surfaces of the coupling section 26 of the connection member 20 and the lower adjusting member/portion 81 or 83a of each of the transmission mechanisms 8 and 80 can be formed as fitting surfaces having mutually-engageable projections and recesses (concavities and convexities) and either the screw hole 26b of the connection member 20 or the screw hole 81b or 83b of each of the transmission mechanisms can be formed as an elongated hole extending along the length of the pivoting-force transmitting path so that the connected position between the connection member 20 and the transmission mechanism 8 or 80 can be determined and adjusted (adjustably determined) stepwise among a plurality of fitting positions on the fitting surface. As still another example, at least one of the connection member 20 or the transmission mechanism 8 or 80 can include a plurality of screw holes formed therein in a row extending in a connected-position adjusting direction (i.e., along the length of the pivoting-force transmitting path) so that the connected position between the connection member 20 and the transmission mechanism 8 or 80 is adjustable stepwise by engagement means, such as a screw, engaging any one of the screw holes.
Furthermore, the upper or first position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the connected position between each of the transmission mechanisms 8 and 80 and the pivot shaft 4 also can be modified variously similarly to the aforementioned various modifications of the position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the connected position between the connection member 20 and each of the transmission mechanisms 8 and 80.
Furthermore, whereas the foregoing have described the positioning mechanism where the connected position between the connection member 20 and the transmission mechanism 8 or 80 is adjustably determined by the projections 26c and the projections 81c or 83c, each having a saw tooth shape for example, that are complementary in shape, the positioning mechanism can be constructed in any other manner. For example, the positioning mechanism may comprise a combination of other forms of projections and recesses (convexities and concavities) having desired shapes and yet fittingly engageable with each other, as long as it permits engagement between the connection mechanism 20 and the transmission mechanism 8 or 80 selectively at any one of predetermined positions.
Furthermore, whereas the foregoing have described the positioning mechanism where the connected position between the transmission mechanism 8 or 80 and the rocker member 5 is adjustably determined by the projections 82c or 84c, each having a saw tooth shape for example, that are complementary in shape, the positioning mechanism can be constructed in any other manner. For example, the positioning mechanism can comprise a combination of other forms of projections and recesses (convexities and concavities) having desired shapes and yet fittingly engageable with each other, as long as it permits engagement between the transmission mechanism 8 or 80 and the rocker member 5 selectively at any one of predetermined positions.
Furthermore, the coupling section 26 employed in the present invention need not necessarily be a single coupling section capable of interchangeably connecting thereto different types of transmission mechanisms. Namely, in the present invention, separate coupling sections, differing in shape and construction from one another, can be employed for the individual types of transmission mechanisms, with each of the coupling sections having a shape and construction unique to any one of the types of transmission mechanisms.
Furthermore, the transmission mechanisms employed in the present invention are not limited to the chain-drive type and the direct-drive type and can be any other conventionally-known types, such as a belt-drive type that uses a belt formed of a rubber material, nylon material, leather material or the like.
This application is based on, and claims priority to, JP PA 2015-206379 filed on 20 Oct. 2015. The disclosure of the priority application, in its entirety, including the drawings, claims, and the specification thereof, are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-206379 | Oct 2015 | JP | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15291695 | Oct 2016 | US |
Child | 16598407 | US |