System for playing percussion instruments with feet
OwnerPaul B. Vandervoortinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method whereby a musician may play drums with his/her feet is disclosed. Foot pedals are provided, which are pressed by the underside of the musician's feet, such as heels or toes. Various linkages may transfer downward pedal movement to a drum-striking mechanism. The drum-striking mechanism includes a striking device which may resemble the drum-striking end of a drumstick, and a drive mechanism, which may include an escapement, e.g., resembling a piano hammer-action mechanism. A system which plays an open/closed hi-hat is disclosed, as well as a system which plays a rim shot.
Claims20
An apparatus for playing multiple percussion instruments by foot comprising:
- a multiplicity of percussion instrument manipulation devices,
- a horizontally-disposed rigid sheet base member incorporating a multiplicity of motion transfer systems, at least two of said systems respectively corresponding with at least two of said percussion instrument manipulation devices, each of said two systems comprising:
- a master rotor and a slave rotor, each rotor pivotally attached to said base member on a substantially horizontal rotational axis, and each rotor including a drive contact point and a line contact point,
- a line including a master end and a slave end, each end anchored to its corresponding rotor and extending substantially horizontally away from its corresponding rotor's line contact point, whereby
- master rotor rotation resulting from downward force applied to said master rotor drive contact point results in horizontal movement of said line, rotation of said slave rotor and upward movement of said slave rotor drive contact point, and
- said corresponding percussion instrument manipulation device is driven by said upward movement of said slave rotor drive contact point.
A system for playing a percussion instrument by foot comprising:
- a striking device pivotally mounted to strike said instrument, said striking device driven toward the percussion instrument by a drive mechanism,
- said drive mechanism including a mechanical movement input member,
- a foot pedal which moves downward from a rest position to a release position and further downward to a lower limit of travel position as downward force is applied, and
- linkage means for transferring downward movement of said pedal to said drive mechanism input member wherein
- said drive mechanism includes an escapement whereby
- said striking device is disengaged from said drive mechanism when said pedal is below said release position.
An apparatus for playing a hi-hat by at least one foot comprising:
- a stationary cymbal,
- a moveable cymbal disposed substantially coaxially with said stationary cymbal and mounted to reciprocate between a first position and a second position,
- a striking device swingably mounted to strike one of said cymbals,
- a first foot pedal linked to said striking device whereby downward movement of said first pedal causes said striking device to strike one of said cymbals, and
- a second pedal linked to said moveable cymbal whereby downward movement of said second pedal from its rest position to its depressed position causes said moveable cymbal to move from said first position to said second position, wherein
- said moveable cymbal exerts more pressure against said stationary cymbal when said moveable cymbal is in said first position than when said moveable cymbal is in said second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.