Abstract:
A drum pedal has a base, a pivoting assembly, a rotating element, a beater holder assembly, a chain assembly, and a foot board. The pivoting assembly is mounted in the base. The rotating element, the beater holder assembly and the chain assembly are mounted in the pivoting assembly. The foot board is mounted between the chain assembly and the base. The base has a resilient element mounted concentric with a shaft of the pivoting assembly. A rotating element receives the resilient element. A torque of the resilient element is evenly matched with a swing caused by the beater holder and the chain assembly. Therefore, the beater holder and the chain assembly return to the original position immediately after the swing. Two drum pedals are manipulated to play respectively, and are connected by a coupling assembly to compose a drum pedal unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a drum pedal and a drum pedal unit, and more particularly to a return mechanism of the drum pedal and the drum pedal unit. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A drum pedal is a musical instrument. A user tramples on the drum pedal to beat a drum with his or her foot. When a drummer plays a tom-tom drum, a snare drum and a cymbal with his or her hands, the drummer still plays a bass drum at the same time with the drum pedal. 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , a conventional drum pedal  80  has a main base  81 , two brackets  82 , two assembling parts  83 , a pivot  84 , a holding base  85 , a beater holder  86 , an attaching element  87 , a tension spring  88  and a foot board  89 . The brackets  82  protrude from the main base  81  and are spaced apart at an interval. One of the two brackets  82  has a mounting part  821 . The assembling part  83  is formed in one of two ends of the bracket  82  and is located away from the main base  81 . The assembling part  83  has a hole defined in a center of the assembling part  83 . The pivot  84  is installed through and stands out of the hole of the assembling part  83 . The holding base  85  is mounted on an outer wall of the pivot  84  and has a chain  851  connected to the holding base  85 . The beater holder  86  is mounted on the outer wall of the pivot  84  and has a beater  861  mounted in the beater holder  86 . The attaching element  87  is mounted in one of two ends of the pivot  84 . The attaching element  87  is mounted in one of two ends of the tension spring  88 . The tension spring  88  has an adjusting element  881 , and the other end of the tension spring  88  is connected to the mounting part  821  of the bracket  82  by the adjusting element  881 . One of two ends of the foot board  89  is connected to the other end of the chain  851 , and the other end of the foot board  89  is mounted rotatably in the main base  81 . 
     With reference  FIG. 9 , when a drummer tramples on the foot board  89 , the chain  851  is driven to rotate the pivot  84 . Thereby, the beater holder  86  rotates with the pivot  84 , and the beater  861  beats a bass drum. The rotating pivot  84  pivots the attaching element  87  to stretch the tension spring  88 , and the tension spring  88  stops a rotation of the pivot  84 . Hence, the pivot  84  and the beater  861  return to an original position for a next trampling from the drummer. As the attaching element  87  rotates with the pivot  84 , the tension spring  88  does a pendulum motion affected by the attaching element  87 . However, a direction of the pendulum motion violates a principle of linear movement of the tension spring  88 . Then, the pivot  84  and the beater  861  cannot return to the original position in a minimum time. So the pendulum motion of the tension spring  88  is a low efficiency motion. The user&#39;s trampling cannot match up the returning of the beater  861  in tempo. Then the user is laborious in operation and wastes the trampling forces, and a touching feel between the foot and the foot board  89  is in-sensitive. As the user tramples on the foot board  89 , the trampling force cannot be transmitted directly and completely to the beater  861  for beating the bass drum. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a drum pedal and a drum pedal unit. A user operates the drum pedal easily and tramples on a pedal with keen sensitivity. A trampling force can be transmitted directly and completely to the beater by the foot board. The user manipulates two beaters of two drum pedals to beat the drum respectively. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, the drum pedal in accordance with the present invention comprises a base, a pivoting assembly, a rotating element, a beater holder assembly, a chain assembly, and a foot board. The base has a main plate, two brackets, and a mounting assembly. The brackets protrude from the main plate. One of the two brackets has an assembling part. The assembling part is formed on the bracket and is located away from the main plate. The mounting assembly is mounted on the other bracket and is located away from the main plate. The mounting assembly has a supporting part, a cap, an adjusting knob, an abutting element, and a resilient element. The supporting part has a recess defined in the supporting part and a guiding groove defined in the recess longitudinally. The cap covers the recess and is mounted in the supporting part. The cap has a slot defined through the cap longitudinally and a notch defined in the cap laterally. The adjusting knob is mounted inside the supporting part and the cap and has a mounting tube that is mounted through the supporting part and the cap. The mounting tube has an outer thread that is formed in an outer surface of the mounting tube. The abutting element is mounted inside the supporting part and the cap, is mounted around the mounting tube, and is capable of moving along the mounting tube. The mounting tube has a mounting hole, a guiding part, and a restricted element. The mounting hole receives the mounting tube and has an inner thread that is formed in an inner surface of the mounting hole and is engaged with the outer thread of the mounting tube. The guiding part protrudes from an outer surface of the abutting element, and is mounted slidably in the guiding groove. The restricted element is mounted in the abutting element, and extends slidably out of the slot. The resilient element is mounted inside the recess. One of two ends of the resilient element is mounted on the abutting element, and the other end of the resilient element extends out of the notch. The pivoting assembly is mounted between the assembling part and the mounting assembly. The rotating element, the beater holder assembly and the chain assembly are mounted on the pivoting assembly. The other end of the resilient element is mounted in the rotating element. One of two ends of the foot board is mounted in the chain assembly, and the other end of the foot board is mounted rotatably in the main plate. 
     Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a drum pedal in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view in partial section of the drum pedal in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a mounting assembly of the drum pedal in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a rotating element, a beater holder assembly, and a chain assembly of the drum pedal in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a drum pedal unit in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a beater holder assembly of one of two drum pedals of the drum pedal unit in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged rear view in partial section of the other drum pedal of the drum pedal unit in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a conventional drum pedal in accordance with the prior art; and 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the conventional drum pedal in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a drum pedal in accordance with the present application has a base  10 , a pivoting assembly  20 , a rotating element  30 , a beater holder assembly  40 , a chain assembly  50 , and a foot board  60 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the base  10  has a main plate  11 , two brackets  12 , and a mounting assembly  13 . 
     The brackets  12  protrude respectively from the main plate  11  and are spaced apart at an interval. 
     One of the two brackets  12  has an assembling part  121 . The assembling part  121  is formed on the bracket  12  and is located away from the main plate  11 . The assembling part  121  has a first accommodating part  1211  that is defined in the assembling part  121 . 
     The mounting assembly  13  is mounted on the other bracket  12  and is located away from the main plate  11 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the mounting assembly  13  has a supporting part  131 , a cap  132 , an adjusting knob  133 , an abutting element  134  and a resilient element  135 . 
     The supporting part  131  has a recess  1311  and a guiding groove  1312 . 
     The recess  1311  is defined in the supporting part  131 . The guiding groove  1312  is defined in the recess  1311  longitudinally. 
     The cap  132  covers the recess  1311 , is mounted in the supporting part  131 , and has a slot  1321  and a notch  1322 . 
     The slot  1321  is defined through the cap  132  longitudinally. The notch  1322  is defined in the cap  132  laterally. 
     The adjusting knob  133  is mounted in the supporting part  131  and the cap  132 , and has a mounting tube  1331  and a second accommodating part  1332 . 
     The mounting tube  1331  is hollow, is formed on and protrudes axially from the adjusting knob  133 , and is mounted through the supporting part  131  and the cap  132 . The mounting tube  1331  protrudes from one of two end surfaces of the adjusting knob  133 , and has an outer thread that is formed in an outer surface of the mounting tube  1331 . 
     The second accommodating part  1332  is defined in the other end surface of the adjusting knob  133 , and communicates with the mounting tube  1331 . 
     The abutting element  134  is mounted inside the supporting part  131  and the cap  132 , is mounted around the mounting tube  1331 , and is capable of moving along the mounting tube  1331 . The abutting element  134  has a mounting hole  1341 , a guiding part  1342 , an attaching hole  1343 , and a restricted element  1344 . 
     The mounting hole  1341  is defined in a center of the abutting element  134 , receives the mounting tube  1331 , and has an inner thread that is formed in an inner surface of the mounting hole  1341  and is engaged with the outer thread of the mounting tube  1331 . 
     The guiding part  1342  is mounted slidably in the guiding groove  1312 , and protrudes from an outer surface of the abutting element  134 . 
     The attaching hole  1343  is defined in the abutting element  134 . 
     The restricted element  1344  is mounted in the attaching hole  1343 , extends slidably out of the slot  1321 , and has a flange  1345  that is formed annularly on an outer surface of the restricted element  1344 . The flange  1345  abuts an outer surface of the cap  132 . 
     The resilient element  135  is mounted inside the recess  1311 . One of two ends of the resilient element  135  is mounted on the abutting element  134 , and the other end of the resilient element  135  extends out of the notch  1322 . Specifically, the resilient element  135  is a torsion spring. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the pivoting assembly  20  is mounted between the assembling part  121  and the mounting assembly  13 , and has a shaft  21 , a sleeve  22 , a first bearing  23 , a second bearing  24 , a third bearing  25 , a fourth bearing  26 , a fifth bearing  27 , and a retaining ring  28 . 
     The shaft  21  is mounted through the assembling part  121  and the mounting assembly  13 , and has an attaching part  211  and two connecting recesses  210 . 
     The attaching part  211  extends out of the assembling part  121 , and is formed in one of two ends of the shaft  21 . 
     The connecting recesses  210  are defined radially in an outer wall of the shaft  21 , and are spaced apart at an interval. 
     The sleeve  22  is mounted rotatably on the outer wall of the shaft  21 , and has two connecting holes  221 , two mounting grooves  222 , and an embossed part  223 . 
     The connecting holes  221  are radially defined in an outer surface of the sleeve  22 , and correspond to the connecting recesses  210  respectively. 
     The mounting grooves  222  are defined respectively in two end surfaces of the sleeve  22 . 
     The embossed part  223  is formed in the outer surface of the sleeve  22 . 
     The first bearing  23  is mounted inside the first accommodating part  1211 , and receives the attaching part  211  of the shaft  21 . 
     The second bearing  24  is mounted inside one of the two mounting grooves  222 , and receives the shaft  21 . 
     The third bearing  25  is mounted inside the other mounting groove  222 , and receives the shaft  21 . 
     The fourth bearing  26  is mounted between the supporting part  131  and the cap  132 , corresponds to the third bearing  25  axially, and receives the shaft  21 . 
     The fifth bearing  27  is mounted inside the second accommodating part  1332 , and receives the shaft  21 . 
     The retaining ring  28  receives the shaft  21 , is mounted between the third bearing  25  and the fourth bearing  26 , and abuts the third bearing  25  and the fourth bearing  26  respectively. Specifically, the above-mentioned bearings are mounted firmly on the shaft  21  by a C-ring  271 . For example, the fifth bearing  27  is abutted by the C-ring  271  that is mounted on the shaft  21 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 , the rotating element  30  is mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve  22 , receives the other end of the resilient element  135 , and has a through hole  300 , a clamping part  31 , and a combining element  32 . 
     The through hole  300  is defined through the rotating element  30 , and receives the sleeve  22 . 
     The clamping part  31  protrudes from the rotating element  30 . 
     The combining element  32  is mounted on the clamping part  31 , and abuts the other end of the resilient element  135 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the beater holder assembly  40  is mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve  22 , and has a beater holder  41  and a beater  42 . 
     The beater holder  41  is mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve  22 , and has a first assembling hole  410  and a first rough surface  411 . 
     The first assembling hole  410  is defined axially through the beater holder  41 . 
     The first rough surface  411  is formed inside the first assembling hole  410 , and abuts the embossed part  223 . 
     The beater  42  is mounted in the beater holder  41 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , the chain assembly  50  is mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve  22 , and has a holding base  51  and a chain  52 . 
     The holding base  51  is mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve  22 , and has a second assembling hole  510  and a second rough surface  511 . 
     The second assembling hole  510  is defined axially through the holding base  51 . 
     The second rough surface  511  is formed inside the second assembling hole  510 , and abuts the embossed part  223 . 
     One of two ends of the chain  52  is mounted in the holding base  51 . 
     The foot board  60  is an elongate plate. One of two ends of the foot board  60  is rotatably mounted on the main plate  11 , and the other end of the foot board  60  is mounted in the other end of the chain  52 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , a drum pedal unit comprises two drum pedals of the present invention and a coupling assembly  70 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , one of the drum pedals has two connecting elements  29  and a minor sleeve  43 . 
     Each connecting element  29  is mounted in the connecting hole  221 ′ of the sleeve  22 ′ and the connecting recess  210 ′ of the shaft  21 ′, making the sleeve  22 ′ mounted firmly in the shaft  21 ′. 
     The attaching part  211 ′ of the shaft  21 ′ extends out of the adjusting knob  133 ′. 
     The minor sleeve  43  is mounted firmly on the outer surface of the shaft  21  of the other drum pedal, and has multiple first fastening elements  431  that are mounted through the minor sleeve  43  and abut the shaft  21 . 
     The beater holder assembly  40 ′ of the drum pedal that has the connecting elements  29  is mounted on an outer surface of the minor sleeve  43 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the coupling assembly  70  connects the drum pedals, and has a connecting sleeve  71 , two sticks  72 , and two universal joints  73 . 
     The connecting sleeve  71  is hollow. 
     The sticks  72  are mounted in two ends of the connecting sleeve  71 . 
     Each universal joint  73  is mounted in the stick  72 , and has an attaching recess  731  that is defined in the universal joint  73 . Specifically, the universal joints  73  are located at two ends of the coupling assembly  70 . 
     The attaching recess  731  receives the attaching part  211 ,  211 ′ of the shaft  21 ,  21 ′ of the drum pedal. 
     When a user tramples on the foot board  60 , the foot board  60  drives the holding base  51  and the chain  52 . Then, the holding base  51  drives the sleeve  22  to rotate relative to the shaft  21 , and the rotating element  30  and the beater holder  41  rotate at the same time. Because of a rotation of the beater holder  41 , the beater  42  beats a drum. The rotating element  30  twists the resilient element  135 . The resilient element  135  affected by the rotating element  30  provides a responsive torque. When an external driving force of the sleeve  22  is removed, the torque of the resilient element  135  drives the beater holder assembly  40  and the chain assembly  50  to return to the original position in a short time. The responsive torque of the resilient element  135  is evenly matched with the torque of the beater holder assembly  40  and the chain assembly  50  in a different direction. Therefore, the rotation of the sleeve  22  is stopped effectively. Then, the user tramples on the foot board  60  again easily and quickly. 
     The torque of the resilient element  135  is adjustable. When the user manipulates the adjusting knob  133 , the adjusting knob  133  drives the abutting element  134  to move towards or away from the resilient element  135 . Then, the abutting element  134  compresses or releases the resilient element  135 . Therefore, a spring constant of the resilient element  135  is adjusted. Thereby, a deformation of the resilient element  135  is changed. The responsive torque of the resilient element  135  is adjustable according to the user&#39;s requirement. Then, a damping of the resilient element  135  that stops a rotation is adjustable, and a touching feel between the user&#39;s foot and the foot board  60  is changed. 
     The guiding part  1342  of the abutting element  134  is mounted slidably in the guiding groove  1312 , and the restricted element  1344  extends slidably out of the slot  1321 . Therefore, the abutting element  134  moves axially and stably inside the supporting part  131  and the cap  132 . 
     The second bearing  24  and the third bearing  25  are mounted in both ends of the sleeve  22  respectively. The second bearing  24  is mounted firmly in the shaft  21  in an axial direction by a C-ring. The third bearing  25  is mounted firmly in the shaft  21  in an axial direction by the retaining ring  28 . Thereby, the sleeve  22  is mounted in the outer wall of the shaft  21  firmly in an axial direction. 
     When the user tramples on the foot board  60  of one drum pedal to drive the beater  42  by his or her right foot, the foot board  60 ′ of the other drum pedal is trampled on by the user&#39;s left foot. 
     Because the sleeve  22 ′ is mounted on the shaft  21 ′ firmly by the connecting element  29 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , the chain assembly  50 ′ drives the sleeve  22 ′ and the shaft  21 ′ to rotate simultaneously. Then the shaft  21 ′ connects the shaft  21  to drive the beater  42 ′ with the coupling assembly  70 . The shaft  21  is mounted through the sleeve  22 , and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the shaft  21  rotates relative to the sleeve  22 . Thus, the beater  42  and the beater  42 ′ are driven to beat the drum respectively by the user&#39;s feet. 
     Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.