# US 10,311,840 B2 · Curved pedal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,840 B2 - Document ID: US10311840B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/530,680 - Filed: 2016-11-01 - Published: 2018-05-03 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-01 - Applicants: Matthew Guyre - Inventors: Matthew Guyre - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311840B2 ## CPC - G10D 13/11: Pedals; Pedal mechanisms - G10D: STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H) ## Abstract A curved pedal having a pedal reference plane and having a width direction and a length direction may comprise an actuatable region disposed at a top surface of the curved pedal; and at least one curvature profile in the length direction within at least one portion of the actuatable region. Slope at the top surface relative to the pedal reference plane may vary smoothly within the at least one portion of the actuatable region. Radius of curvature of the top surface within the at least one portion of the actuatable region may, for example, be not less than one-half of the length of the actuatable region. The actuatable region may comprise at least one first convexity, at least one first concavity, and/or at least one second convexity. Where present, the at least one first concavity may be disposed centrally in the length direction between the at least one first convexity and the at least one second convexity. The curved pedal may be mounted in a pedal assembly and used to operate a drum or other such percussion instrument, or any of a wide variety of foot-actuated devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A curved foot-actuated percussion musical instrument pedal having a pedal reference plane and having a width direction and a length direction, the curved pedal comprising: an actuatable region disposed at a top surface of the curved pedal; and at least one curvature profile in the length direction within at least one portion of the actuatable region; wherein a slope at the top surface relative to the pedal reference plane varies smoothly within the entire actuatable region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein a second spatial derivative with respect to position in the length direction within the at least one portion of the actuatable region is not greater than 30° per inch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein a second spatial derivative with respect to position in the length direction within the at least one portion of the actuatable region is 11.25° per inch±75%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein radius of curvature within the at least one portion of the actuatable region is not less than 3″. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein radius of curvature within the at least one portion of the actuatable region is 8″±75%. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein the at least one curvature profile is more or less sinusoidal with wavelength 10″±50% and amplitude 0.30″±75%. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein the at least one curvature profile is more or less elliptically arcuate with radius of curvature 8″±75% and has an extremum of height 0.30″±75% as measured from the pedal reference plane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein the at least one curvature profile is more or less circularly arcuate with radius of curvature 8″±75% and has an extremum of height 0.30″±75% as measured from the pedal reference plane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein the at least one curvature profile is approximated by a polynomial curve of order not less than three with radius of curvature 8″±75% and has an extremum of height 0.30″±75% as measured from the pedal reference plane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein the actuatable region comprises at least one first convexity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The curved pedal according to claim 10 wherein the at least one first convexity is substantially a half-lobe that extends in the length direction not more than 25% peripherally past an extremum of the at least one first convexity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein the actuatable region comprises at least one flat portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein the actuatable region comprises at least one first concavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The curved pedal according to claim 11 wherein the actuatable region comprises at least one first concavity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The curved pedal according to claim 14 wherein the actuatable region comprises at least one second convexity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The curved pedal according to claim 15 wherein the at least one first concavity is disposed centrally in the length direction between the at least one first convexity and the at least one second convexity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein length of actuatable region in the length direction is not less than 12″. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The curved pedal according to claim 1 wherein the curved pedal comprises a heel end having at least one feature permitting mounting to a heel hinge; and a toe end having at least one feature permitting mounting to at least one pivoting linkage arm. ### Claim 19 A pedal assembly comprising: a curved foot-actuated percussion musical instrument pedal associated with a pedal reference plane and having a heel end and a toe end; a baseboard associated with a baseboard plane and having a heel end and a toe end; a heel hinge; and a motion transmission linkage; wherein the heel end of the curved pedal is pivotably mounted by way of the heel hinge to the heel end of the baseboard so as to permit the toe of the curved pedal to operate the motion transmission linkage; and wherein slope at a top surface of the curved pedal varies smoothly relative to the pedal reference plane within an entire actuatable region in a length direction of the curved pedal. ### Claim 20 A drum set comprising at least one percussion instrument actuated by a pedal assembly comprising: a curved foot-actuated percussion musical instrument pedal associated with a pedal reference plane and having a heel end and a toe end; a baseboard associated with a baseboard plane and having a heel end and a toe end; a heel hinge; and a motion transmission linkage; wherein the heel end of the curved pedal is pivotably mounted by way of the heel hinge to the heel end of the baseboard so as to permit the toe of the curved pedal to operate the motion transmission linkage; and wherein slope at a top surface of the curved pedal varies smoothly relative to the pedal reference plane within an entire actuatable region in a length direction of the curved pedal.