Kick drum pedal clamp mechanism

A method of operating a drum pedal, the method comprising:

• positioning the drum pedal with respect to a drum hoop, wherein the drum pedal comprises a base plate and a hoop clamp mechanism attached to the base plate adjacent a footboard pivotably coupled to the base plate, the footboard operable to drive a mallet to strike a drum, wherein the hoop clamp mechanism comprises a first lever arm adapted to couple the drum pedal to the drum hoop, a pivot assembly coupled to the first lever arm, and a second lever arm coupled to the first lever arm via the pivot assembly, the second lever arm comprising a lever actuator and adapted to operate the clamping mechanism;
• and
• applying a force to the lever actuator coupled to the hoop clamp mechanism adjacent the footboard, such that the drum hoop seats between the hoop clamp mechanism and the base plate of the drum pedal, responsive to the applied force being greater than an engagement threshold of the hoop clamp mechanism;
• wherein the hoop clamp mechanism applies a selected clamping force to seat the drum hoop responsive to the second lever arm pivoting relative to the first lever arm at the pivot assembly, wherein the selected clamping force is independent of the applied force being greater than the engagement threshold.

A drum pedal clamp apparatus comprising:

• an over-center clamp mechanism coupled to a drum pedal base;
• a clamp pad coupled to the over-center clamp mechanism at a front end of the drum pedal base, the clamp pad configured to engage a drum hoop with a selected clamping force;
• and
• a clamp lever actuator coupled to the over-center clamp mechanism at a rear end of the drum pedal base, the clamp lever actuator configured to selectively engage the clamp pad with the drum hoop in response to an applied force greater than an engagement threshold of the over-center clamp mechanism;
• wherein the over-center clamp mechanism comprises a first lever arm adapted to couple the drum pedal to the drum hoop, a pivot assembly coupled to the first lever arm, and a second lever arm coupled to the first lever arm via the pivot assembly, the second lever arm comprising the clamp lever actuator and adapted to operate the clamping mechanism to drive the first and second lever arms from a first bi-stable or unlocked position over center to a second bi-stable or locked position engaging the clamp pad of the over-center clamp mechanism with the drum hoop;
• and
• wherein the selected clamping force is independent of the applied force, when the applied force is greater than the engagement threshold.