Pedal for playing an instrument and pedal components
OwnerMichael Packerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pedal for a percussion instrument, such as a bass drum, has a base plate and a foot plate pivotally mounted the base plate which is operably connected to an instrument striker. The pedal either has no heel plate or has a very short heel guide and is adapted so that when the tip of the player's foot is at an optimal position or “sweet spot” on the foot plate, the player's heel extends to the playing surface.
Claims12
A foot-actuated assembly for inclusion in a foot pedal that comprises said foot-actuated assembly and an instrument-sounding assembly, which foot pedal operates to sound a musical instrument, said foot-actuated assembly comprising:
- (a) a base plate having a front end and a rear end, said base plate being adapted to lie on a flat playing surface,
- (b) a foot plate having a front location and a rear location, said front location having means for connection to said instrument-sounding assembly, said rear location of said foot plate being hinged adjacent to said rear end of said base plate to define a pivotal axis such that said foot plate can swing, when depressed by pressure from the foot of a player, from a rest position at a first acute angle to said base plate to a striking position at a lesser second acute angle to said base plate, wherein said foot plate is constructed with an optimal spot for placement of the tip of a player's foot, and wherein said foot plate is configured such that when the foot of a player is flat against said foot plate in said rest position with the tip of the player's foot in said optimal spot, the heel of the player's foot rests on the playing surface, such as a floor, stage or ground, on which said assembly is placed for playing.
A method of playing a musical instrument comprising
- providing a foot pedal for playing the musical instrument, the pedal comprising a foot-actuated assembly and an instrument-sounding assembly,
- said foot-actuated assembly comprising
- (a) a base plate having a front end and a rear end, said base plate being adapted to lie on a flat playing surface,
- (b) a foot plate having a front location and a rear location, said front location having means for connection to said instrument-sounding assembly, said rear location of said foot plate being hinged adjacent to said rear end of said base plate to define a pivotal axis such that said foot plate can swing, when depressed by pressure from the foot of a player, from a rest position at a first acute angle to said base plate to a striking position at a lesser second acute angle to said base plate, wherein said foot plate is constructed with an optimal spot for placement of the tip of a player's foot, and wherein said foot plate is configured such that when the foot of a player is flat against said foot plate in said rest position with the tip of the player's foot in said optimal spot, the heel of the player's foot rests on the playing surface such as a floor, stage or ground, on which said assembly is placed for playing,
- and, playing the percussion instrument by operating the pedal with the tip of the player's foot on said optimal location of said foot plate and the player's heel resting or positioned to rest on the playing surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.