Abstract:
Percussion instrument drive apparatus, comprising in combination first and second drives associated with first and second percussion instruments, respectively, and a foot actuated pedal and a pedal driven driver selectively movable to drive one or the other of the first and second drives, as the pedal is actuated, the driver being carried independently of the pedal.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/493,294 filed Jan. 28, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to accurately and controlled selective actuation of different percussion instruments; and more particularly concerns improvements in drive apparatus to realize these objectives. 
     There is frequent need for drummer&#39;s foot operation of different percussion instruments, as by means of pedal operation. What is needed is a simple, effective and reliable drive system that is pedal operated, and which enables single foot driven accurate operation of multiple pedals, forcefully to selectively actuate different instruments such as drums, cymbals, and cowbells, and other percussion instruments. No prior system of which we are aware incorporates the multiple advantages in construction, operation and results which are now provided by the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved percussion instrument actuating assembly meeting the above needs. Basically, the assembly comprises, in combination 
     a) carrier structure, 
     b) first and second pedals carried to extend in generally side-by-side relation and to independently pivot, 
     c) first rotary axle structure operatively connected to the first pedal to be rotated thereby, and having rotary motion output locations spaced apart along the axle structure and via which rotary motion is transmissible to actuate different percussion instruments in response to selected coupling of the first pedal to one or the other of such output locations, and pivoting of the first pedal, and 
     d) a second axle structure operatively connected to the second pedal to transmit motion for actuating an additional percussion instrument, in response to selected pivoting of the second pedal. 
     Accordingly, the user can quickly select which of different percussion instruments is to be actuated. Also, pivot integrity of each pedal, about a single axis, is maintained. 
     It is another object to provide first rotary axle structure that extends generally horizontally above the levels of the two pedals, and second axle structure that extends generally vertically to project above the level of the first rotary axle structure. In this regard, a guide tubing carried by the carrier may be provided, and within which the second axle structure extends, and including cymbals elements carried by the tubing and the second axle structure to clash in response to pivoting of the second pedal. Two support legs for the assembly may be carried by the tubing, and in such manner that a base plate typically supports the two pedals to independently pivot, the base plate also being separately pivotally connected to a tubing support frame so that the base plate can be folded upwardly with the pedals, for assembly storage and transport. 
     A further object is to provide for connection or connecting of a mallet, or mallets, to the first rotary axle structure at an intermediate and/or end location or locations on that axle structure. A percussion instrument support may be provided on the frame, and located in offset relation to the upright tubing and to the first axle structure, whereby a percussion instrument such as a cowbell may be carried and presented for impact by one such mallet. 
     Yet another object is to provide primary and secondary sections of the first axle structure, to be supported for independent rotation, a first mallet being connected to, or connectible to, one of said sections, the other of the sections being rotatable to transmit motion to actuate a different percussion instrument, via another of the rotary motion output locations. 
     In this regard, an auxiliary carrier may be provided as at a remote location, together with an auxiliary axle carried by the auxiliary carrier, to be rotated by said other section of the first rotary axle structure, the second mallet carried by the auxiliary axle, for rotation. 
     An additional object is to provide a clutch that is shiftable to transmit rotary motion to one or the other of said sections, in response to pivoting of the first pedal. A drive chain may be operatively coupled between one of the two pedals and a peripheral portion of the clutch. 
     An important further object is to provide percussion instrument drive apparatus, that comprises: 
     a) first and second drives associated with first and second percussion instruments, respectively, 
     b) a foot actuated pedal and a pedal driven driver selectively movable to drive one or the other of the first and second drives, as the pedal is actuated, 
     c) the driver being carried independently of the pedal. 
     As will be seen, the driver may be provided to be movable with the selected first or second drive that is driven by the driver. Additionally, the first and second drives, together with the driver, are typically and advantageously rotatable about a common axis, for simplicity and ruggedness, as is important in drum pedal apparatus repeatedly receiving high impact foot loading by the drummer. The drives and driver may be spaced upwardly of the pedal and coupled to it as by a chain and sprocket. 
     An added object is to provide for coupling of the driver to the first drive in response to displacement of the driver in a primary direction, and alternative coupling of the driver to the second drive, in response to displacement of the driver in a secondary direction. Such primary and secondary direction are typically substantially transverse in relation to the longitudinal direction of extent of the pedal. 
     Another object is to provide the first and second drives and driver to be independently rotatable about a common axis which extends generally transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of extent of the pedal. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 
    
    
     DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the actuator assembly, which is preferred; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged frontal elevation, taken on lines  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3, is a plan view, taken in section on lines  3 — 3  of FIG. 2, and showing clutch drive of a first shaft; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation taken on lines  4 — 4  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a pivoting mode of the apparatus, as for storage; 
     FIG. 6 is a view showing further details of the pivoted or folded mode; 
     FIG. 7 is a section taken on lines  7 — 7  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevation to illustrate one clutching and drive mode; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on lines  9 — 9  of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 8, but showing another clutching and drive mode; 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing details of a driver; 
     FIG. 12 is a section taken on lines  12 — 12  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 13 is an elevation taken on lines  13 — 13  of FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In FIGS. 1 and 2, a carrier structure  10  is shown to include a generally horizontal base plate  11  on which first and second pedals  12  and  13  are carried to extend forwardly and upwardly in side-by-side relation. The pedals have pivoted support at their rearward ends, as indicated at  12   a  and  13   a.  Such support is preferably provided by a roller bearing or bearings, as for example is disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,627,332, incorporated herein by reference. The two pedals pivot independently, whereby the drummer&#39;s foot or shoe can operate either pedal, independently. 
     In accordance with the invention, first rotary axle structure is operatively connected to the first pedal to be rotated thereby, and having rotary motion output locations spaced apart along the axle structure and via which rotary motion is transmissible to actuate different percussion instruments in response to selected pivoting of the first pedal; and in addition, a second axle structure in operatively connected to the second pedal to transmit motion for actuating an additional percussion instrument, in response to selected pivoting of the second pedal. 
     In the example, as shown as in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 , first or primary axle structure is indicated generally at  14 , and includes a first section  14   a  supported at horizontally spaced bearings  15  and  16 . The latter are carried by a frame  17  supported by upright pedestals  18  and  19  respectively carried by the base plate. A second section  14   b  of the first axle structure extends endwise of and coaxially with  14   a.  A bearing  21 , spaced from bearings  15  and  16 , supports section  14   b  of the axle structure  14  for rotation, independently of  14   a.  Bearing  21  is carried by a horizontal extension  17 ′ of frame  17 . Frame lug sections  17   a,    17   b  and  17   c  carry the bearings  15 ,  16 , and  21 , those lug sections being longitudinally spaced apart, in the axial direction of the axle structure  14 , and attached to longitudinally extending frame member  17 ′. 
     A mallet or drum beater  20  is operatively connected to the first axle structure as at a motion output location  20   a.  The beater may include an arm  20   b  to which a beater head  20   c  is attached. The opposite end of the arm is shown as connected to a rotor  21 ′ attached at  21   a  to the axle section  14   a.  See FIG.  2 . Arm  20   b  extends diagonally away from a vertical tube  26 , so as to position the beater head  20   c  to strike a percussion instrument  23  in response to rotation of the shaft section  20   a,  effected by down pivoting of the first pedal  12 . 
     Instrument  23  may for example comprise a cow bell shell indicated at  23   a,  carried by the frame  17 , to open upwardly, offset from vertical tubing  26 . FIGS. 1 and 2 show a support  25  under the shell  23   a  lower end, and removably attached at  27  to a strut  28  supported by and projecting upwardly from the frame  17 . A drive chain  29  is connected at one end  29   a  to the forward end of pedal  12 , and at the chain upper end to a driver rotor in the form of a sprocket  30 . See also FIGS. 7 and 8. That sprocket is shown in FIG. 9 as rotatable about coaxial guide extensions  14   a ′ and  14   b ′ of the axle sections  14   a  and  14   b  to rotate as the pedal  12  moves downwardly. See also sprocket bearing  30   a  retained in position between axle end shoulders  14   a ″ and  14   b ″. 
     In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, a coupler is carried by the driver  30  and is shiftable to transmit rotary motion to one or the other of axle sections  14   a  and  14   b,  via drive rotors  114   a  and  114   b  coupled to the axle sections, in response to downward pivoting of the pedal  12 . Rotor or sprocket  30  provides such a preferred coupler, as by means of an axially extending through opening  32  (see FIG. 9) through the rotor hub  30   b,  and operable to receive the axle and extensions  14   a ′ and  14   b ′, as referred to above. FIGS. 2 and 8 show the coupler  130  in leftward shifted position, with its wing  130   a  coupled at  36  to drive rotor  114   a  as via reception in a slot  36   a  in that rotor. See also FIG.  11 . FIG. 10 shows the coupler  130  shifted to the right, to de-couple from  114   a,  and to couple to  114   b,  as via reception of wing  130   b  in a slot  36   b  in  114   b.  A fastener  140  retains  130  to driver  30  as seen in FIGS. 8,  10 ,  12  and  13 . A pin  142  on  30  is received in a groove  141  in  130  to limit angular shifting. Therefore, operation of pedal  12  serves to rotate axle section  14   a,  and mallet  20 , or to rotate axle section  14   b,  and operate remote mallet  50 , that strikes a remote percussion instrument such as a drum  51 , to be described, and as seen in FIG. 1. A dog  330  projects from the coupler  330  to be engaged by the drummer&#39;s show, to shift the coupler, as described. 
     The second or secondary section  14   b  of the axle structure in effect provides a second rotary motion output location, as for example at the protruding end  14   bb  of the section  14   b.  See FIG.  3 . The second mallet  50  is operatively connected to axle section end  14   bb,  as via an elongated extension or intermediate shaft  60  that can be coupled at  61  to end  14   bb,  as shown. A universal joint connection is shown at  61   a.  The opposite end of shaft  60  is coupled at universal joint  62  to rotary axle  63  to which mallet  50  is connected, at  64 . Axle  63  is supported for rotation at bearings  65  and  66  carried by upright pedestals  67  and  68 , the lower ends of which are supported by an adjustable position auxiliary base plate  70 , as shown. Accordingly, pedal  12  may be operated to cause selective beating of drum  51 , or beating of the cow bell  23 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2  and  8 , second pedal  13  is operatively connected to a second axle structure, to actuate an additional percussion instrument, such as cymbals  75 . The illustrated second axle structure  76  is shown as extending vertically in sidewardly offset relation to above first section  14   a  of the first axle structure. A chain  77  is connected between the forward end  13   a  of pedal  13 , and the lower end  76   a  of vertical axle or rod  76 , to lower the latter as the pedal is pushed downwardly. A compression spring may be employed to urge the axle  76  upwardly, as after its downward displacement. See in FIG. 4 the spring  78  positioned beneath a flange  79  on the axle, and guided vertically by the bore  80  of protective tubing  26 ; the tubing protecting the axle as it moves up and down to displace cymbals upper disc  81  up and down. Tubing  26  also supports the cymbals lower disc  82 , to be struck or clashed by the upper disc. The lower end  26   a  of the tubing is supported at  84  by the frame  17 , between lugs  17   a  and  17   b,  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     A further feature is the provision of two support legs  110  and  111  pivotally carried by tubing  26 . Note collars  112  and  113  extending about and coupled to the tubing, and pivotally connected at  114  and  115  to the support legs. This allows extension of the legs for vertically stabilized support of the apparatus as in FIG. 1 position, or collapse of the legs for transport, as shown in FIG. 6, with the legs extending alongside the tubing  26 . This is further facilitated by pivotal connection at  120  and  121  of the base plate  11  to the lower end portions  18   a  and  19   a  of the pedestals  18  and  19 , as shown in FIGS. 2,  4  and  5 . When the pedestals or tubing  76  extend upright, a projection  124  or projections, on the pedestal  18  lower end portion is received in guide slot  126  defined by the base plate upright section  11   b.    
     Finally, a tension spring  230  is provided to rotatably urge the first axle section  14   a  in restoring rotary direction, tending to elevate the forward end of the pedal  12 . The lower end of the spring is connected as at  232  to the lower portion of upright  18 ; and the spring upper end is connected as via a loop  135  (see FIG. 4) to an over-center or eccentric lever  234  coupled to the end  14   a ′ of axle section  14   a,  proximate upright  18 , as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 10, tending to restore the beaters to retracted positions. Apparatus as seen in FIGS. 1-9 is preferred.