Percussion pads
OwnerWilliam Melville Wernickinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A percussion pad includes an upper surface 28 that may be struck to activate the pad and a lower surface 18 on which is mounted a sensor 20 for detecting when the upper surface 28 is struck. An enclosed cavity 24 is located above the region of the lower surface 18 on which the sensor 20 is mounted. The cavity 24 prevents the shock wave of an impact above the sensor 20 from being transmitted directly to the sensor 20. Because shock waves will not propagate significantly around the cavity or along oblique paths from other parts of the surface 28, the sensitivity of the pad is uniform over the surface 28. An outer layer 26 of the pad is preferably formed of rubber-like material to reduce the acoustic sound of an impact and give a drum-like feel.
Claims8
A percussion pad comprising:
- a base;
- a block including an upper surface and a lower surface having a cavity therein;
- at least one resilient support element supporting the block on the base while allowing freedom of movement of the block in any direction relative to the base, whereby when the percussion pad is struck the block vibrates as a rigid body on the at least one resilient support element;
- and
- a sensor for detecting the vibrations of the block, the sensor being mounted on a mounting area of the lower surface of the block and being located below the lower surface of the block;
- wherein the cavity is aligned in the block between the upper surface of the block and the mounting area of the lower surface of the block;
- the sensor located outside the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.