High-hat cymbal stand and method of setting up the same

A high-hat cymbal stand of the type including a support pipe, a foldable leg assembly having a plurality of legs and a coupler which is mounted for movement along the support pipe and to which each of the legs are attached, a set screw for releasably locking the coupler to the pipe, and a pedal assembly having a weight-supporting member which shares the weight of the stand with the legs when the stand is set up for play utilizes a spring operatively connected between the support pipe and the leg assembly which when the stand is placed upright upon a floor or similar supporting surface holds the weight-supporting member of the pedal assembly in spaced relationship to the floor. An associated method of setting up the stand distributes the weight of the stand between the pedal assembly and the legs so that the stand does not wobble or creep across the floor during play.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates, generally, to the field of musical instruments and, 
more particularly, is concerned with a high-hat cymbal stand. 
A high-hat cymbal stand, also known as a sock stand, supports two cymbals 
in a cup-to-cup arrangement and includes a footboard or pedal for causing 
the cymbals to strike one another. Such a stand, as is shown and described 
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,757, typically includes a support pipe, a leg 
assembly for supporting the pipe in a generally perpendicular orientation 
relative to a floor or similar supporting surface, and a pedal assembly. 
The leg assembly includes a plurality of legs and a coupler to which each 
of the legs is connected. The coupler is attached about the support pipe 
so that the support pipe and the coupler are slidably movable relative to 
one another. The stand also includes locking means for releasably locking 
the support pipe and coupler together. 
The pedal assembly is attached to one end of the support pipe and includes 
a weight-supporting member which is adapted to rest against the floor and 
share the weight of the stand with the legs when the stand is set up for 
play. The weight-supporting member is connected to the support pipe in 
such a manner that it moves with the pipe as the pipe is moved relative to 
the coupler of the leg assembly. Therefore, when the stand is placed 
upright upon a floor and the support pipe is moved up or down relative to 
the coupler while the legs are maintained in engagement with the floor, 
the weight-supporting member of the pedal assembly moves away from or 
toward the floor. 
To prevent the stand from wobbling or creeping across the floor during 
play, the stand must carefully be set up so that the weight of the stand 
is stably distributed between the legs and the weight-supporting member of 
the pedal assembly. If there is too much weight upon the pedal assembly as 
compared to the weight upon the legs, the stand will wobble during play, 
and if there is too much weight upon the legs as compared to the weight 
upon the pedal assembly, the stand will creep across the floor during 
play. 
The stand weight is distributed, either stably or unstably, between the 
legs and the pedal assembly when the weight-supporting member of the pedal 
assembly and the legs are in engagement with the floor and the coupler of 
the leg assembly is locked at a selected location along the length of the 
support pipe. To readjust the stand to redistribute its weight between the 
legs and the pedal assembly, the coupler is relocated and locked at 
another location along the length of the support pipe. Due to differences, 
such as evenness and hardness, between floor surfaces, the location of the 
coupler along the length of the support pipe at which the stand weight is 
stably distributed is not necessarily the same when the stand is moved 
from one floor surface to another. Therefore, each time that the stand is 
set up, care must be taken when positioning the coupler along the support 
pipe. 
The present method of setting up such a stand includes a trail and error 
procedure by which the stand weight is stably distributed between the legs 
and the pedal assembly. The stand is initially placed upright upon the 
floor so that the legs and the pedal assembly are in engagement with the 
floor. The support pipe is then grasped with one hand and the coupler is 
grasped with the other hand and the coupler and support pipe are moved 
relative to one another. The coupler and support pipe are subsequently 
locked together with the locking means while the coupler is held at a 
selected position along the length of the support pipe. The user then 
tests the stand for stability, or the possibility that the stand will 
wobble or creep during play, by stepping upon the pedal a number of times 
and jostling the stand. If a determination is made that the stand is 
sufficiently stable, no readjustment or redistribution of the stand weight 
is necessary. If, on the other hand, a determination is made that the 
stand will wobble or creep, the coupler is relocated and locked at another 
position along the length of the pipe. The stand continues to be tested 
for stability and readjusted until the stand is determined to be 
sufficiently stable for play. A disadvantage associated with the 
aforedescribed method of set up is that the method is quite time-consuming 
if several readjustments are necessary before the stand is determined to 
be sufficiently stable for play. 
Another disadvantage associated with such an aforedescribed prior art stand 
relates to readjustment of the stand, or a redistribution of the stand 
weight, during play or a performance. Such a readjustment may be desired 
if the stand creeps or wobbles during play. However, since two hands are 
generally required to reposition the coupler along the length of the 
support pipe, readjustment of the stand during play can be extremely 
difficult, if not impossible. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved high-hat stand which can be set up much more easily and readily 
than a prior art stand of the type with which this invention is concerned 
and a method of setting up the stand. 
Another object of the invention is to provide such a stand and method which 
obviates trial and error adjustments to achieve a stable weight 
distribution between the legs and the pedal assembly of the stand so that 
the stand does not wobble or creep during play. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a stand 
which does not require two hands for distribution of the stand weight 
during set up or redistribution of the stand weight following set up. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a high-hat cymbal stand and a method of 
setting up the stand. The stand includes a support pipe assembly adapted 
at one end to support a first cymbal and a leg assembly at the other end 
thereof for supporting the pipe assembly in a perpendicular orientation to 
a floor or similar support surface. The leg assembly includes a plurality 
of legs and a coupler to which each leg is connected. The coupler is 
attached to the support pipe assembly to permit sliding movement of the 
coupler relative to and along the length of the pipe assembly, and means 
for releasably locking the coupler to the pipe assembly are provided in 
the stand. The stand also includes a pedal assembly having a 
weight-supporting member for engaging the floor and for supporting at 
least a portion of the weight of the stand when the stand is set up. The 
weight-supporting member is connected to the support pipe for movement 
therewith as the pipe is moved relative to the coupler. Biasing means are 
included in the stand for imposing a force between the leg assembly and 
the support pipe so that when the stand is placed upright upon a floor and 
the support pipe and coupler are permitted to move relative to one 
another, the biasing means holds the weight-supporting member in spaced 
relationship with the floor. 
The method includes the steps involved in setting up of the stand of the 
present invention. The stand, with its coupler and support pipe permitted 
to move relative to one another, is initially placed upright upon a floor 
so that the biasing means of the stand support the weight-supporting 
member of the pedal assembly in spaced relationship to the floor. The 
weight-supporting member is then pressed firmly against the floor and the 
coupler and support pipe are locked together. The stand weight is thereby 
distributed between the legs and the pedal assembly so that the stand does 
not wobble or creep during play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 a 
high-hat cymbal stand, generally indicated 20, in accordance with the 
present invention. The stand 20 supports two cymbals 16,18 and is set up 
for play upon a substantially horizontal floor F. Included in the stand 20 
is a hollow support pipe assembly 22, a foldable leg assembly 24 and a 
pedal assembly 26. The support pipe assembly 22 is supported by the leg 
assembly 24 in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the 
floor F and is adapted at its upper end 23 to hold one, or the lower, 
cymbal 16 in a stationary position. 
Received through the hollow support pipe assembly 22 is a rod assembly 28 
including a clutch 29 near its upper end from which the other, or the 
upper, cymbal 18 is supported. The rod asssembly 28 is mounted within the 
support pipe assembly for lengthwise movement relative thereto between a 
lower position at which the cymbals 16 and 18 are in engagement and an 
upper position at which the cymbals are spaced from one another. A spring 
(not shown) is mounted internally of the support pipe assembly 22 in a 
manner well known in the art to bias the rod assembly 28 to its upper 
position. The pedal assembly 26 includes a footboard or pedal 30 which is 
operatively connected to the lower end of the rod assembly 28. When the 
pedal 30 is pressed downwardly, the upper cymbal 18 moves into engagement 
with the lower cymbal 16, and when the pedal 30 is released, the upper 
cymbal 18 returns, by means of the internally mounted spring, to a 
position spaced above the lower cymbal 16, as shown. 
The support pipe assembly 22 includes a lower support pipe 34 and an upper 
support pipe 36 coupled end-to-end by means of a connector 38. The rod 
assembly 28 includes an upper rod 40 and a lower rod 41 (shown in FIG. 2) 
coupled end-to-end in the vicinity of the connector 38. Because the 
support pipe assembly and rod assembly are each comprised of easily 
connectible components, the stand 20 can be readily assembled for play and 
easily disassembled for carrying or storage. 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pedal assembly 26 includes a pedal 30, 
mentioned above, and a brace arrangement having a yoke-like member 42, two 
elongated rods 44,44 and a base member 46. The yoke-like member 42 defines 
a central opening through which the lower support pipe 34 is received and 
is fixedly connected thereto at the lower end portion of the pipe 34 so 
that its opposite ends extend laterally from the pipe 34. The elongated 
rods 44,44 are arranged generally parallel to one another and each is 
connected at one end to the yoke-like member 42 and are connected at the 
other end to the base member 46. 
The base member 46 engages the floor F when the stand is set up and 
includes a floor-engaging anti-skid spike 48 to help prevent the stand 
from creeping across the floor during play. A heel rest 50, also included 
in the pedal assembly 26, is joined to the base member 46 by means of two 
brace rods 52 (only one shown). The brace rods 52 are each pivotally 
connected at one of its ends to the heel rest 50 and at its other end to 
the base member 46. The pivotal connections of the brace rods permit the 
pedal assembly to be folded for storage. 
The pedal 30 of the pedal assembly 26 includes a front end 56 and a back 
end 58 to which the heel rest 50 is pivotally connected. The front end 56 
of the pedal 30 is connected to the lower end of the rod assembly 28 by 
means of an elongated connecting element 60. The connecting element 60 is 
pivotally connected at its upper end to the lower end of the rod assembly 
28 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to the front end 56 of the 
pedal 30. Each of the aforedescribed pivotal connections of the connecting 
element 60 and the pedal 30 permit pivotal movement of the connected parts 
relative to one another about parallel axes, and when the stand 20 is set 
up as shown, the parallel axes are substantially horizontal. It will be 
understood from the above, that when the base member 46 and heel rest 50 
are in engagement with the floor F and the front end 56 of the pedal 30 is 
reciprocated, the rod assembly 28 is reciprocated, by means of the 
connecting element 60, within the support pipe assembly 22. 
The leg assembly 24 includes three legs 62,62 and a coupler 64 mounted 
about the lower support pipe 34. With reference to FIG. 1, the upper end 
of each leg 62 is pivotally attached to the coupler 64 by means of a pivot 
pin, and the lower end of each leg 62 is adapted to engage the floor F. 
The legs 62,62 are further secured to the support pipe 34 by means of 
linkages 66,66 and a collar member 68. The collar member 68 is fixed to 
the lower end of the support pipe 34 at a location along its length 
slightly above the yoke-like member 42. Each linkage 66 is pivotally 
connected at one end to the collar member 68 and is pivotally connected at 
its other end to a corresponding leg 62. Since the collar member 68 is 
fixed to the pipe 34, it follows that the leg assembly 24 is prevented 
from rotating about the pipe 34. 
The coupler 64 is mounted about the support pipe 34 for sliding movement 
relative to and along the length of the support pipe 34. When the coupler 
64 is moved from a position as shown in FIG. 1 upwardly along and relative 
to the support pipe 34, the lower end of the legs 62,62 move radially 
inwardly from a spread condition as shown toward one another. Movement of 
the coupler 64 to an uppermost limit of movement of the support pipe 34 
moves the legs 62,62 into a folded condition against the pipe 34 at which 
the longitudinal axis of the pipe 34 and the legs 62,62 are generally 
parallel to one another. Movement of the coupler 64 downwardly along the 
support pipe 34 from its uppermost limit moves the legs 62,62 from the 
folded condition toward their FIG. 1 spread condition. 
The stand 20 includes locking means for releasably locking the coupler 64 
to the support pipe 34 at a selected position along the length of the pipe 
34. The locking means includes a set screw 72 threadably received in an 
internally threaded bore in a side of the coupler 64. The shank end of the 
set screw 72 is movable into or out of engagement with the support pipe 34 
as the set screw is tightened or loosened. Therefore, when the set screw 
72 is loosened, the coupler and pipe are permitted to slidably move 
relative to one another, and when the set screw is tightened, the support 
pipe 34 is tightly clamped between the shank end of the set screw and a 
diametrically opposed portion of the coupler 64. The head end of the set 
screw 72 is in the shape of a tab so that the set screw can be tightened 
or loosened with the fingers. 
In accordance with the present invention and with reference to FIG. 2, the 
stand 20 includes biasing means, indicated generally 74, for acting 
between the support pipe assembly 22 and the leg assembly 24 so that when 
the legs 62,62 are in their FIG. 1 spread condition and the set screw 72 
is loosened, the base member 46 of the pedal assembly 26 is spaced above 
the floor F as shown. The biasing means 74 includes a ring clamp 76 and a 
compression spring 77. The ring clamp 76, as best shown in FIG. 4, 
includes a ring 78 having through bore 79 through which the support pipe 
34 is loosely received and a pair of locking levers 80,80. Each locking 
lever 80 is L-shaped and is mounted within one of two defined recesses 
82,82 in the upper surface of the ring 78. One leg 86 of each lever 80 is 
pivotally attached by means of a screw 84 to the ring 78, and the other 
leg 88 of each lever 80 is arranged generally perpendicular to the support 
pipe 34. Two compression springs 90,90, each having its opposite ends 
fixedly embedded within a corresponding lever leg 86 and a side of a 
recess 82, act between the ring 78 and the levers 80,80 to bias the lever 
legs 88,88 toward and into engagement with the sides, indicated 83,83, of 
the recesses 82,82. The free end of each lever leg 88 is received in a 
corresponding one of two slots 85,85 defined in the side of the support 
pipe 34 when the lever leg 88 engages the recess side 83, as shown in FIG. 
4, to thereby lock the ring clamp 76 to the support pipe 34. The free end 
of each lever leg 88 is withdrawn from its corresponding slot 85 to 
thereby unlock the ring clamp 76 and support pipe 34, for a reason 
hereinafter set forth, as the free ends of the lever legs 86,86 are 
manually pressed radially inwardly of the ring 78. 
The compression spring 77 of the biasing means 74 is loosely received about 
the support pipe 34 and is connected at one of its ends to the ring 78 and 
is connected at its other end to the coupler 64 so that the compression 
forces of the spring 77 act between the lower face of the ring 78 and the 
upper face of the coupler 64 and so that neither the spring 77 nor the 
ring 78 is permitted to rotate about the pipe 34. 
In FIG. 2, the stand 20 is set upright upon the floor F, the legs 62,62 are 
in their spread condition, and the coupler 64 is not locked to the support 
pipe 34. Under these circumstances, the compression spring 77 of the 
biasing means 74 supports the base member 46 of the pedal assembly 26 in 
spaced relationship with the floor F. It will be understood that when the 
legs 62,62 are in their spread condition, gravitational forces which would 
otherwise pull the base member 46 of the pedal assembly 26 toward the 
floor F, are counteracted by the biasing means 74. Therefore, the biasing 
means 74 holds the base member 46 in an elevated condition in opposition 
to the forces of gravity. 
To set up the stand 20, the stand is initially set upright upon the floor F 
in the aforedescribed FIG. 2 condition so that the biasing means 74 
supports the base member 46 above the floor F. Downward pressure is then 
applied to the base member 46 so that the support pipe assembly 22 moves 
downwardly relative to the coupler 64 and the spring 77 is compressed 
until the base member 46 is pressed into firm engagement with the floor F. 
Then, while the base member 46 is pressed against the floor F, the set 
screw 72 within the coupler 64 is tightened to lock the coupler 64 and the 
support pipe assembly 22 together. The weight of the stand 20 is thereby 
stably distributed between the legs 62,62 and the base member 46 so that 
the stand 20 does not wobble or creep across the floor F during play. Time 
consuming trial and error adjustments of the stand to stably distribute 
the stand weight are thereby obviated. It will be understood that the 
spring 77 is of such size and strength that the base member 46 can be 
pressed to the floor from its FIG. 2 elevated condition within the elastic 
limit of the spring 77. 
To press the base member 46 to the floor F, the pedal 30 can be simply 
stepped upon. Downward movement of the front end 56 of the pedal 30 first 
brings the upper cymbal 18 downwardly into engagement with the lower 
cymbal 16 and then, by means of the engaged cymbals, forces the support 
pipe assembly 22 downwardly with respect to the coupler 64. To tighten the 
set screw 72, one hand can be used. It follows from the above that two 
hands are not required to stably distribute the stand weight between the 
legs and pedal assembly during set up and that therefore if a user desires 
to readjust or redistribute the stand weight during play, he can make such 
an adjustment with little or no interruption in his performance because 
one of his hands is free to play. 
To take down the stand 20 from its set up condition, the set screw 72 is 
loosened to unlock the coupler 64 and support pipe assembly 22 and the 
legs 86,86 of the locking levers 80,80 are pressed so that the free end of 
the lever legs 88,88 move out of the support pipe holes 85,85. While the 
locking levers are held out of the support pipe holes, the ring clamp 76, 
spring 77 and coupler 64 are moved upwardly along the support pipe 34 to 
move the legs 62,62 into their folded condition. To return the stand to 
its FIG. 2 condition from its folded condition, the lower ends of the legs 
62,62 are moved radially outwardly from one another so that the coupler 64 
and ring clamp 76 move down the support pipe 34, and until the locking 
levers 80,80 snap within the corresponding holes 85,85 in the support pipe 
34. It will be understood from the above that the holes 85,85 of the 
support pipe 34 are so located along the length thereof so that the 
biasing means 74 holds the base member 46 in its FIG. 2 elevated condition 
when the stand 20 is initially set upright. Therefore, the stand 20 can be 
easily and readily set up from a condition at which the legs 62,62 are 
folded together. 
FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a high-hat cymbal stand, indicated 
91, in accordance with the present invention. The same reference numbers 
are used for previously defined elements. In this embodiment, the coupler 
to which the legs 62,62 are attached is indicated 93 and the biasing means 
for acting between the stand support pipe assembly and the leg assembly is 
indicated generally 94. The coupler 93 defines a plurality of through 
bores 95,95 as shown for a reason hereinafter apparent. The biasing means 
94 includes a ring clamp 76 and a plurality of push rods 98,98 and 
compression springs 100,100. A portion of each push rod 98 is loosely 
received within a corresponding bore 95 of the coupler 93. One end, or the 
upper end, of each push rod 98 is embedded within and fixedly attached to 
the ring clamp 76, and a nut 102 is fixed to the other end, or lower end 
of each push rod 98. Each nut 102 is of greater diameter than the diameter 
of the corresponding through bore 95 of the coupler 93 so that the coupler 
93 is thereby retained upon the push rods 98,98 between the nuts 102,102 
and the ring clamp 76. 
The springs 100,100 act between the lower face of the ring clamp 76 and the 
upper face of the coupler 93. The springs 100,100 are of sufficient 
collective strength so that when the stand is placed upright with its legs 
in a spread condition and the coupler 93 is permitted to move relative to 
the support pipe 34, the base member 46 of the pedal assembly is spaced 
from the floor. To complete the set up of the stand 91 when it is 
initially placed upright upon the floor in such a condition, the base 
member of the pedal assembly is pressed to the floor while the support 
pipe 34 moves downwardly relative to the coupler 93 and the springs 
100,100 compress. Then, with the base member pressed in engagement with 
the floor, the set screw 72 supported within the coupler 93 is tightened 
to lock the coupler 93 to the support pipe 34. The stand 91 is taken down 
from its set up condition in a manner identical to the manner, set out 
above, in which the stand 20 of FIGS. 1-4 is taken down. 
FIG. 6 illustrates still another embodiment of a high-hat stand, indicated 
104, in accordance with the present invention. The same reference numbers 
are used for previously defined elements. The stand 104 includes biasing 
means, generally indicated 106, comprised of a spring arrangement mounted 
internally of the support pipe 34. The support pipe 34 defines two 
internally threaded holes 110,110 and two vertically elongated slots 
112,112 for a reason hereinafter apparent. The biasing means 106 includes 
an upper spring rest 114, a lower spring rest 116 and a compression spring 
118 fixed at its upper end to the upper spring rest 114 and fixed at its 
lower end to the lower spring rest 116. The upper spring rest 114 defines 
a central through bore through which the rod assembly 28 is loosely 
received and two recesses 120,120. Two set screws 122,122 are each 
tightened within a hole 110 of the support pipe 34 and against the base of 
a corresponding recess 120 of the upper spring rest 114 to hold the spring 
rest 114 securely in place. 
The lower spring rest 116 defines an internally threaded bore 124 within 
which a threaded plug 126 is threadably received. Between the head of the 
plug 126 and the lower spring rest 116 is fastened a locking member 128. 
As best shown in FIG. 7, the locking member includes an upper ring portion 
130, positioned and secured between the plug 126 and spring rest 116, and 
two arms 132,132 extending downwardly therefrom. The locking member 128 is 
constructed of a resilient material, such as steel, and is shaped as shown 
in FIG. 6. A portion of each arm 132 of the locking member 128 forms a tab 
134 of such shape to be received within a corresponding slot 112 of the 
support pipe 34 and, which when received therethrough, is engageable with 
the upper surface of the coupler 64, as shown. 
When the stand 104 is placed upright upon a floor with its legs in spread 
condition and the coupler 64 is permitted to move relative to and along 
the length of the support pipe 34, the biasing means 106 supports the base 
member of the stand pedal assembly in spaced relationship with the floor 
as the tabs 134,134 press against the upper surface of the coupler 64. To 
complete set up of the stand 104 when initially placed in such an upright 
condition, the base member of the pedal assembly is pressed to the floor 
while the support pipe 34 moves downwardly relative to the coupler 64 and 
the spring 118 compresses. Then, with the base member pressed against the 
floor, the set screw supported within the coupler 64 is tightened. 
To take down the stand 104 from its set up condition, the set screw 
supported within the coupler 64 is loosened and the tabs 134 of the 
locking member 128 are pressed radially inwardly so that the coupler is 
thereby permitted to move upwardly along the support pipe and the legs of 
the stand are permitted to be moved into their folded condition. The 
coupler 64 holds the tabs 134,134 inboard of the support pipe surface 
while the coupler passes upwardly over the tabs and permits the tabs to 
spring radially outwardly to the FIG. 6 position after the coupler has 
passed over them. 
To place the stand upright from its folded condition, the coupler 64 is 
initially moved, downwardly as viewed in FIG. 6, along the support pipe 34 
so that the legs move from a folded condition into a spread condition. As 
the coupler continues to be moved downwardly, the coupler 64 engages the 
tabs 134,134 and presses them radially inwardly. The coupler 64 is ceased 
to be moved downwardly along the support pipe when it reaches a position 
therealong below the tabs 134,134 at which the tabs 134,134 spring 
radially outwardly to their FIG. 6 position. 
FIG. 8 illustrates still another embodiment of a high-hat stand, indicated 
140, in accordance with the present invention. The same reference numbers 
are used for previously defined elements. The stand 140 includes biasing 
means, generally indicated 142, comprised of a compression spring 144 and 
push rod assembly 146. The coupler to which each leg 62 (only one shown) 
is connected is indicated 148 and includes two bores 150,150 as shown. The 
push rod assembly 146 includes a ring plate 152 and two push rods 154,154 
fixed at one end to the ring plate 152 and loosely received at its other 
end by a corresponding bore 150 in the coupler 148. Each of the push rods 
154 define a notch 156 along its length for a reason which will be 
hereinafter apparent, and is threaded at its lower end for retaining a 
threaded nut 158 thereon. 
The spring 144 is fixedly attached at its upper end to the connector 38 and 
is fixedly attached at its lower end to the ring plate 152 so that the 
biasing forces of the spring act between the lower face of the connector 
38 and the upper face of the ring plate 152. 
The coupler 148 includes a set screw 72 for releasably locking the coupler 
to the support pipe assembly 22, and further includes spring-biased 
locking levers 157,157 which cooperate with the notches 156,156 in the 
push rods 154,154 to releasably lock the coupler 148 and push rods 154,154 
together. Each locking lever 157 is mounted in a recess in the coupler 148 
and is biased into engagement with the push rods. When the push rods 
154,154 are permitted to move axially along the bores 150,150 and relative 
to the coupler 148 so that the locking levers 157,157 align with a 
corresponding notch 156 in the push rods 154,154, the levers 157,157 snap 
into the notches 156,156 and releasably lock the coupler 148 to the push 
rods 154,154. The coupler 148 can be unlocked from the push rods 154,154 
by pressing the levers 157,157 radially inwardly so that the levers 
157,157 withdraw from the notches 156,156. 
When the stand 140 is placed upright with its legs in spread condition, the 
coupler 148 is permitted to move relative to the support pipe assembly 22, 
and the coupler 148 locked to the push rods 154,154, as shown, the base 
member of the pedal assembly is spaced from the floor. The stand 140 can 
be set up from such an upright condition by pressing the base member of 
the pedal assembly against the floor and then tightening the set screw 72. 
The stand 140 can be taken down from its set up condition by loosening the 
set screw 72 and pressing the locking levers 80,80 radially inwardly to 
permit the coupler 148 to move relative to the push rods 154,154. As the 
coupler 148 is moved upwardly relative to and along the length of the push 
rods 154,154, the legs 62 move into their folded condition. To return the 
stand 140 to its FIG. 8 upright condition from its folded condition the 
coupler 148 is simply moved downwardly relative to and along the length of 
the push rods until the locking levers 157,157 snap within the notches 
156,156 of the push rods 154,154. 
It will be understood that many modifications can be had to the 
aforedescribed embodiments without departing from the spirit of the 
invention. For example, although one end portion of the biasing means of 
the aforedescribed embodiments has been described and shown as being 
directly attached to the coupler of the stand leg assembly and the other 
end portion of the biasing means has been described and shown as being 
directly attached to the support pipe so that the biasing means act 
between the support pipe assembly and the leg assembly, biasing means in 
accordance with this invention are not necessarily so attached. With 
reference to the leg assembly 24 of FIG. 1, biasing means which bias its 
end portion toward one another can, in accordance with this invention, be 
attached between an upper portion of a leg 62 and a corresponding linkage 
66 of the leg assembly. Biasing means attached between such leg assembly 
components bias the upper portion of the leg 62 and the linkage 66 
together so that the support pipe assembly is biased upwardly relative to 
the coupler and so that the base member of the pedal assembly is supported 
in spaced relationship with the floor. 
Furthermore, although the biasing means of the aforedescribed embodiments 
have been described and shown as including a compression spring, biasing 
means in accordance with the present invention can include other 
force-imposing means such as a tension spring or a sealed piston/cylinder 
assembly containing gas under pressure. It will be understood, however, 
that each of such biasing means includes two end portions between which 
the biasing force of the biasing means acts and is so connected between 
high-hat stand components that the biasing force holds the base member of 
the pedal assembly in spaced relationship to the floor in opposition to 
the forces of gravity when the stand is placed upright and the coupler and 
support pipe are permitted to move relative to one another. Accordingly, 
the aforedescribed embodiments are intended as illustration and not as 
limitation.