Music – Instruments – Drum and cymbal beaters
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-16
2001-08-07
Hsieh, Shih-Yung (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Drum and cymbal beaters
C084S422200, C084S422300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271450
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a double acting beater arrangement particularly, but not exclusively, for a bass drum.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a beater pedal arrangement, comprising a first and a second beater each arranged to follow a respective striking arc in which the arrangement is also provided with a disactivating means operable by a user to prevent at least one of the beaters from striking by retaining that beater at a position along its striking arc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Each beater may be arranged to impact a drum skin of, for example, a bass drum when it follows its striking arc; the beaters may be arranged to impact the same drum skin.
The beaters may be arranged such that:
a. upon the beater pedal being moved in a first direction, the first beater is moved along its striking arc to strike a drum skin whilst the second beater is moved along its striking arc away from the drum skin; and
b. upon the beater pedal being moved in a second direction, the second beater is moved along its striking arc to strike a drum skin whilst the first beater is moved along its striking arc away from the drum skin.
Each beater may be moved by the beater pedal by drive means which may take the form of a belt, a cord, a chain, a gear or a linkage.
The or at least one of the beaters may have a spring return. At least one of the beaters may be strikable against the drum skin by means of its spring return.
The disactivating means is preferably operable by the user whilst playing, for example, a drum using the beater arrangement. It may be foot activated; it may be heel activated and is preferably activated by being pressed downwardly. The disactivating means may have a click on/off arrangement such that it is engaged by being depressed once and disengaged by being pressed once. It may be pressed in the same direction for both engaging and disengaging; in this form, it may be similar to the arrangement for a retractable ballpoint pen.
The disactivating means may be electrically, hydraulically, pneumatically or mechanically operated.
According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a beater pedal arrangement comprising a first and a second beater each arranged to follow a respective striking arc in which the arrangement comprises a disactivating means operable by a user to disactivate at least one of the beaters, and in which the disactivating means is alternatively engageable and disengageable by being depressed through a single line of action.
According to a third aspect, the present invention provides a beater pedal arrangement comprising at least one beater arranged to follow a striking arc in which the arrangement has opposing first and second resilient means which together act to bias the beater towards a neutral position along its striking arc.
One or each of the resilient means may be provided by a spring.
The beater may have an associated arm arranged to pivot so as to permit rotation of the beater along its striking arc. The opposing resilient means may be arranged on respective first and second sides of the pivot point of the arm.
The opposing resilient means may facilitate return of the beater to its neutral position. The arrangement may smooth the beat of the beater and reduce “waggle” of the beater.
According to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a beater pedal arrangement having a first beater arranged to follow a first striking arc about a first axis of rotation and a second beater arranged to follow a second striking arc about a second axis of rotation in which the first and second axes of rotation are inclined.
The beaters may be arranged to strike, for example, a drum skin in adjacent positions. Alternatively, the beaters may be arranged to strike a drum skin in the same or substantially the same position.
This arrangement may enable each of the beaters to hit the sweet spot of the drum.
According to a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a beater pedal arrangement comprising a first and a second beater in which the beater pedal has a split foot board, a first portion of the foot board being arranged to play the first beater and the second portion of the foot board being arranged to play the second beater.
The beaters may be playable independently. The beater pedal arrangement may have disactivation means to disactivate at least one of the beaters and/or at least one of the portions of the foot board.
The first and second beaters are preferably playable together, at the option of the user, by the user simultaneously operating the first and second portions of the foot board with his or her foot.
The foot board may be split such that it has a left hand portion and a right hand portion. The right hand portion may be arranged to play the right hand beater and the left hand portion may be arranged to play the left hand beater.
According to a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a beater pedal arrangement having a first and a second beater and comprising a compensation means arranged such that the sound produced by each of the beaters is substantially similar.
A problem than can occur with known double acting drum pedals, especially when a first beater is driven to strike by action of the footplate and a second beater is caused to strike by action of a return spring, is that the return beater sounds more softly than the first beater.
The compensation means may be provided by a compensation weight; this may be an additional weight associated with the second beater compared with the weight associated with the first beater. The compensation weight may be provided on the beater shaft and/or in the beater pad. The compensation weight may be an integral part of the second beater; alternatively, it may be removable and it may be adjustable.
The compensation means may be provided by arranging the second beater at a height above the first beater; this may increase the impact momentum of the second beater by increasing its striking arc.
The height of at least one of the beaters may be adjustable, for example, by means of wing nuts.
According to a seventh aspect, the present invention provides a removable insert for a footplate of a beater pedal arrangement.
The removable insert may be adapted to be used with an existing footplate. Alternatively, the removable insert may be used as a replacement for an existing footplate.
The removable insert may be decorated.
According to an eighth aspect, the present invention provides an arrangement comprising a floor mounted drum and a floor mounted beater pedal arrangement in which the drum is arranged on a removable spacer to adjust the relative heights of the drum and the beater pedal arrangement.
This arrangement may ensure that the beater hits the drum exactly in its sweet spot.
The spacer may be height adjustable.
According to a ninth aspect, the present invention provides a spacer for use in an arrangement in accordance with the eighth aspect of the invention.
According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a beater pedal arrangement comprising an attachment means for attaching a beater pedal arrangement to a portion of a drum, in which the attachment means provides for attachment to a drum at more than one height.
The attachment means may be variable in height or a plurality of attachment means at different heights may be provided.
According to a tenth aspect, the present invention provides a beater pedal arrangement comprising a first and a second beater rotatable about a common axis of rotation in which the first beater is adapted to strike a striking surface by means of rotating in a first direction about the axis and the second beater is adapted to strike a striking surface by means of rotating in an opposite direction about the axis of rotation.
The first and second beaters may be adapted to strike the same striking surface.
The first and second beaters may be arranged substantially 180 degrees from each other about the axis rotation. The axis of rotation may be substantially horizontal.
Preferab
Hsieh Shih-yung
Ratner & Prestia
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