US 4,691,613 A · Bass drum pedal

Abstract

A bass drum pedal includes a base frame with a pivotal footplate assembly for driving a rotatable shaft supported on the frame. A hammer is connected to the drive shaft, and is moved to impact on a drum head. A cable connects the footplate to a generally spiral shaped torque arm mounted to the drive shaft. The torque arm is adjustable to vary the amount of footplate movement per unit of hammer sweep. A spring and chain are connected between the frame and drive shaft to return the hammer to a resting position after being operated to impact on the drum. A pair of sprockets are eccentrically mounted with the chain wrapped around them such that the amount of footplate movement per unit of total spring tension can be increased or decreased throughout the hammer stroke. The footplate assembly includes a heel plate, arch plate and toe plate each adjustably attached to a pair of rails pivotally connected to the base frame at the heel end. The heel, arch and toe plates are specially contoured to support the foot and prevent "cupping" and rolling of the foot during high speed playing. An acoustic drum simulator assembly adjustably secured to the drive shaft is connected to one end of a coil spring wrapped around the drive shaft. The other end of the coil spring is attached to a collar which holds the hammer. The spring allows a limited amount of additional rotation of the drive shaft past the point at which the hammer contacts the drum head, to thereby simulate the feel of an acoustic drum when utilizing the pedal on an electronic drum.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A bass drum pedal comprising;

a base frame;
a footplate pivotally connected at a heel end to said frame;
a pair of upstanding support members projecting from said frame supporting a generally horizontally disposed rotatable drive shaft therebetween;
a hammer assembly, including a hammer carried at the end of a shaft connected to said drive shaft;
a drive assembly connecting said footplate and drive shaft, for rotating the drive shaft to move said hammer into contact with a drum when said footplate is depressed, said drive assembly including:
(a) flexible means adjustably connecting said footplate to a first end of a torque arm adjustably connected to said drive shaft;
(b) said torque arm having a general spiral shape with a groove in its perimeter for carrying said flexible means;
(c) said torque arm adjustably connected to said drive shaft and adapted for selective adjustment within a plane perpendicular to said drive shaft;
and
biasing means connected to said drive shaft, for resisting rotational movement of said drive shaft.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bass drum pedal

Life of this patent

Bass drum pedal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11