Music – Instruments – Drum and cymbal beaters
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-27
2001-05-01
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Drum and cymbal beaters
C084S422200, C084S422300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225543
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device having a pedal for actuating at least two percussion instruments, such as bass drum and cymbal.
It has a particularly important although not exclusive application in the field of double bass drum pedals for a percussion section.
A plurality of double bass drum pedal systems are already known, this accessory having indeed become essential to modern percussionists.
The principal disadvantage arises from the need to move the whole of the user's foot between the pedal which actuates, for example, the cymbals known as “Charleston” and that which actuates the bass drum.
This gives rise first to increased fatigue on the part of the percussionist and secondly to possible imperfections in the musical effect, having regard to the delay time involved by this need for the user's foot to be physically moved.
Also known (GB-A-275,499) is a device having a single pedal employing a transverse rod for the alternative or simultaneous lateral control of two instruments.
Such a device lacks precision.
The object of the present invention is to provide a device which meets practical requirements better than those previously known, especially in that it permits the effort by the percussionist to be minimized. It additionally permits greater fluidity, comfort and speed of execution for the user of the double bass drum and/or other instruments of the cymbal type known as “Charleston”.
A cymbal known as “Charleston” is a movable cymbal actuated vertically by a pedal arrangement in order to strike a second cymbal which is itself solidly fixed to said pedal arrangement.
To this end, the invention essentially proposes a device having a pedal, for at least two percussion instruments such as bass drum and cymbal, characterized in that it comprises a support pedestal formed from at least two moving pieces, respectively for striking each of said instruments, and in that it comprises only a single pedal for actuating said moving pieces, said pedal having a first end for supporting the heel of a user on the ground, said end being mounted in a doubly pivoting manner about a horizontal axis and vertical axis, and a second end provided with means suitable for interacting with means arranged so as to permit the user to actuate said moving pieces alternatively.
In advantageous forms of embodiment, furthermore, use is made of one and/or the other of the following arrangements:
the means suitable for interacting comprise a cylindrical tip of a rigid and sliding material, situated to project relative to, and in the extension of, the second end of the pedal;
the cylindrical tip is formed by a removable sleeve which is movable in rotation about its axis;
the means arranged to enable the moving pieces to be actuated alternatively comprise, for each moving piece, a system capable of displacing said piece between a position of rest, entirely away from the instrument, and an instrument contact or percussion position, said system having means for automatically restoring the piece to the position of rest;
each system possesses means for guiding the tip in the vertical plane comprising a stirrup solidly fixed to the moving piece, each stirrup being symmetrical with the other relative to a vertical plane, and being provided on one side with a socket for receiving the tip situated between the two stirrups, and on the other side with at least one groove for guiding said stirrup on a rail arranged to guide said stirrup in the vertical plane between said position of rest of the moving piece, completely away from the instrument, and said position of contact or percussion with the instrument;
the rails are in the form of a bow having a radius of curvature whose axis is merged with the horizontal axis of the pedal;
the two systems are separated from one another by a separation fitting whose upper part is rounded and situated at a height slightly greater than that of the lower lips of the sockets of said stirrups when the latter are in the position of rest, said upper part being arranged to permit the passage of the tip by lateral pivoting of the pedal about its vertical axis by sliding one socket toward the other, slightly relaxing the bearing of the user's foot on the pedal while causing it to pivot by bearing on the heel in contact with the first end of said pedal;
the fitting is mounted to slide on a support between a position allowing alternative actuation of the two instruments and a position for locking the device in an actuating position of one of said instruments only;
the two systems are directly adjacent to one another, the lower lips of the sockets of said stirrups when the latter are in the position of rest being face to face and being arranged so as to permit the passage of the tip by lateral pivoting of the pedal about its vertical axis by sliding one socket toward the other, slightly relaxing the bearing of the user's foot on the pedal while causing it to pivot by bearing on the heel in contact with the first end of said pedal;
the angle of pivoting of the pedal about its vertical axis is between 3° and 15°;
one of the systems is arranged to actuate a cymbal which is movable relative to a fixed cymbal, by actuation of a rod for displacing said movable cymbal relative to said fixed cymbal.
The invention also proposes a method for operating at least two percussion instruments such as bass drum and cymbal, by actuation of a pedal, characterized in that, at least two moving pieces, respectively for the percussion of each of said instruments, are actuated respectively and successively, depending on the music being played, by means of a single pedal for actuation of said moving pieces, by lateral pivoting of said pedal about a vertical axis through a predetermined angle between a first position for actuation of a first moving piece and a second position for actuation of a second moving piece.
Equally advantageously, the predetermined angle is between 3° and 15°.
In another advantageous form of embodiment, the lateral pivoting of the pedal about its vertical axis is undertaken by sliding from one position to the other, slightly relaxing the bearing of the user's foot on the pedal while causing it to pivot by bearing on the heel in contact with the first end of said pedal.
The invention will be better understood from a reading of the description of two forms of embodiment given below by way of non-limiting example.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4520710 (1985-06-01), Elliott, Jr.
patent: 5355761 (1994-10-01), Ward et al.
patent: 6011208 (2000-01-01), Hoshino
patent: 6031170 (2000-02-01), Hoshino
patent: 6049032 (2000-04-01), Liao
Larson & Taylor PLC
Lockett Kim
Nappi Robert E.
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