Pedal device

A pedal device includes a pedal chassis 9 provided in a pedal case 8, a pedal 10 that moves by rotating in the up-down direction with respect to the pedal chassis 9, and a rotation holding mechanism 11 that holds the back portion of the pedal 10 to the pedal chassis 9 such that the back portion of the pedal 10 is movable in the up-down direction. Therefore, when the pedal 10 is depressed, the back portion of the pedal 10 is moved downward by the rotation holding mechanism 11, according to the rotational movement of the pedal 10.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-203673, filed Sep. 10, 2010, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pedal device used for a keyboard instrument such as an electronic piano or an electronic organ.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, keyboard instruments such as electronic pianos are structured to include an instrument case provided with a keyboard section, a leg section supporting the instrument case, and a pedal device which is provided in the leg section and positioned below the instrument case.

As a pedal device of a keyboard instrument such as that described above, a pedal device is known in which a fulcrum hole serving as a fulcrum section is provided in the instrument main body that holds the pedal, and a fulcrum shaft section is provided on the back end portion of the pedal so as to project rearward, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Publication No. 07-219542. The fulcrum shaft portion of the pedal is inserted into the fulcrum hole of the instrument main body, whereby the pedal is held so as to rotate in the up-down direction with respect to the instrument main body.

In a conventional pedal device such as this, when the depth of the keyboard section of the electronic piano is shortened and the depth of the instrument case is shortened thereby, the position of the pedal comes too close to the player. Therefore, the pedal is required to be shifted to the back side under the instrument case, or the length of the pedal in the front-back direction is required to be shortened.

However, merely shifting the pedal to the back of the instrument case as in the former instance may cause the pedal device to protrude from the back of the instrument case. Therefore, there is a problem in that the installation space of the overall instrument cannot be reduced even when the depths of the keyboard section and the instrument case are shortened.

Also, when the length of the pedal in the front-back direction is simply shortened as in the latter instance, the lengths of the fulcrum portion of the pedal and the front end portion of the pedal are shortened. Accordingly, when the pedal is depressed and the stroke of the pedal in the downward direction and the stroke of the pedal in the upward direction are the same, the rotation angle in the up-down direction of the pedal increases. Therefore, there is a problem in that the player feels an uncomfortable operational feeling when he or she performs the depressing operation of the pedal, and so cannot perform pedaling operations comfortably.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a pedal device by which an uncomfortable operational feeling is not created during the depressing operation of a pedal and pedaling operations can be performed comfortably even when the installation space of the overall instrument is reduced by the pedal being shortened.

In order to achieve the above-described object, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pedal device comprising: a pedal that moves by rotating in an up-down direction with respect to an instrument main body; and a rotation holding mechanism that holds a back portion of the pedal to the instrument main body such that the back portion of the pedal is movable in the up-down direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, an embodiment in which the present invention has been applied to a keyboard instrument will be described with reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 10.

As shown inFIG. 1, the keyboard instrument includes an instrument case1. The instrument case1includes a keyboard box2, a pair of side boards3provided on the left and right sides of the keyboard box2, and a back surface board4provided on the back surface of the keyboard box2.

As shown inFIG. 1, a keyboard section5, which is structured such that a plurality of keys5asuch as white keys and black keys are arrayed in the order of the musical scale, is provided inside the keyboard box2. The keyboard box2is provided with a keyboard cover6that openably and closably covers the keyboard section5. The pair of side boards3and the back surface board4also serve as a leg section supporting the keyboard box2.

As shown inFIG. 1, a pedal device7is provided in a lower portion inside the keyboard case1. As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the pedal device7includes a pedal case8, a pedal chassis9arranged inside the pedal case8, a plurality of pedals10that rotate in the up-down direction with respect to the pedal chassis9, and a plurality of rotation holding mechanisms11that hold the plurality of pedals10such that each pedal10can move in the up-down direction with respect to the pedal chassis9.

The pedal case8is made of synthetic resin, and arranged on the inner lower portion of the back surface board4so as to be positioned below the keyboard box2, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2. As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the pedal case8is formed into a box shape elongated in the left-right direction so that the plurality of pedals10can be arrayed in the left-right direction (the up/down direction inFIG. 3and in the array direction of the keys5aof the keyboard section5inFIG. 1) with their back portions (the right side portions inFIG. 2) being inserted into the pedal case8.

In this instance, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the pedal case8is provided with a plurality of pedal insertion holes8ainto which the back portions of the plurality of pedals10(the right side portions inFIG. 2) are respectively inserted. As shown inFIG. 2, the inner upper surface of each pedal insertion hole8ais provided with an upper limit stopper12for setting the upper limit position of the pedal10. The upper limit stopper12is made of an elastic material such as rubber.

The pedal chassis9is made of a metal plate, and arranged in the lower portion of the pedal case8as shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 4. That is, as shown inFIG. 3, the pedal chassis9is formed into a shape elongated in the left-right direction so that the plurality of pedals10can be arrayed in the left-right direction (the up-down direction inFIG. 3). In this instance, the pedal chassis9includes a first supporting section9apositioned in the lower portion of the front surface of the pedal case8(the lower portion of the left side surface inFIG. 2), a second supporting section9bpositioned in the bottom portion adjacent to the back portion of the first supporting section9a, and a third supporting section9cpositioned to the rear of the second supporting section9b, as shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 4.

That is, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4, the first supporting section9ais structured such that an area corresponding to the pedal10bends upward along the front surface (the left side surface inFIG. 4) of the pedal case8, and this bent upper section projects towards the front (the left side inFIG. 4) of the pedal case8along the bottom surface of the pedal10. The second supporting section9bis provided in the bottom portion in back (the right side inFIG. 4) of the first supporting section9a. Also, a recess section9dis provided in an area corresponding to the pedal10.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4, the third supporting section9cis structured to be positioned in the back (the right side inFIG. 4) of the pedal chassis9and bent upward along the inner back surface of the pedal case8. The upper end portion of this bent portion is bent and projects towards the upper portion of the back side of the pedal10(the upper portion of the right side inFIG. 4) at a slight downward angle towards the front (a downward angle towards the left inFIG. 4), and this projecting front end section9eis formed into a comb shape.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 6, the plurality of pedals10are each formed into a shape elongated in the front-back direction (the left/right direction inFIG. 2). That is, as shown inFIG. 6, the pedals10are each formed such that the length (width) of the front portion (the lower left side portion inFIG. 6) of a top surface section10ain the array direction is slightly longer than the length of the back portion (the upper right side portion inFIG. 6) of the top surface section10ain the array direction, and a side wall section10bis provided downwardly on the edge of the outer periphery of the upper surface section10ato form almost a frame shape.

As shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 5, the plurality of rotation holding mechanisms11respectively hold the back portion (the right side portion inFIG. 2) of the pedals10to the pedal chassis9. In addition, the rotation holding mechanism11guides the back portion of the pedal10to move in the up-down direction along an arc centering on an imaginary fulcrum P that is on a rearward extension of the pedal10and positioned in back (to the right inFIG. 2) of the pedal chassis9.

That is, as shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the rotation holding mechanism11includes a guide holding member13provided on the pedal chassis9and a guide coupling member14provided in the back (the right side inFIG. 4) of the pedal10. As a result, the rotation holding mechanism section11is structured to guide the back portion of the pedal10in the up-down direction along the arc centering on the imaginary fulcrum P, in a state in which the guide coupling section14is held by the guide holding member13to be movable in the up-down direction, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4.

In this instance, as shown inFIG. 7andFIG. 8, the guide holding member13is structured such that both sides of a metal plate elongated in the vertical direction (the up-down direction inFIG. 8) are bent almost at a right angle towards the rear side (the right side inFIG. 8), and the lower portion is bent at almost a right angle towards the front side (the left side inFIG. 8). As a result, the guide holding member13has a front surface section13a, a pair of side surface sections13bprovided on both sides of the front surface section13a, and an attaching section13cprovided below the front surface section13a, as shown inFIG. 7andFIG. 8. The attaching section13cis structured to be attached onto the second supporting section9bof the pedal chassis9.

That is, as shown inFIG. 3,FIG. 7andFIG. 8, the attaching section13cof the guide holding member13is formed continuously along the array direction (the up/down direction inFIG. 3) of the plurality of pedals10. In the attaching section13c, a plurality of screw holes15aare respectively provided between the pedals10, and a plurality of spring insertion holes22aare provided corresponding to the pedals10. As a result of this structure, when a screw15is fastened to the screw holes15afrom underneath the second supporting section9bof the pedal chassis9, the guide holding member13is attached onto the second supporting section9bof the pedal chassis9, as shown inFIG. 8.

In the front surface section13aof the guide holding member13, an opening section16into which the back portion of the pedal10is inserted is provided corresponding to the pedal insertion hole8aof the pedal case8, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 7. Also, in each of the pair of side surface sections13bof the guide holding member13, a guide plate17made of a synthetic resin having slidability, such as polyamide (PA) that is nylon (registered trademark) or polyacetal (POM), is embedded along the up-down direction, as shown inFIG. 7toFIG. 9.

This guide plate17is attached to each of the pair of side surface sections13bby being fitted into a mounting groove19that is provided along the up-down direction of each side surface section13bto form a substantially arc shape, as shown inFIG. 8andFIG. 9. That is, the guide plate17is attached to each side surface section13bby the edge portion of the mounting groove19in the side surface section13bof the guide holding member13being inserted and fitted into a fitting groove17aprovided continuously along the outer peripheral portion of the guide plate17, as shown inFIG. 9.

In the guide plate17, a guide groove18is provided to curve along the up-down direction, as shown inFIG. 2. This guide groove18has the shape of an arc centering on the imaginary fulcrum P that is on a rearward extension of the pedal10and positioned in back (to the right inFIG. 2) of the pedal chassis9. The imaginary fulcrum P is a point corresponding to the back end portion of the pedal10when supposing that the length of the pedal10in the front-back direction is formed sufficiently long, which is positioned on an imaginary line S extending posterior to the pedal10that is in an almost horizontal state, as shown inFIG. 2.

As shown inFIG. 4toFIG. 6, the guide coupling member14has a rising section14athat is provided upright on the back portion (the right side portion inFIG. 4) of the pedal10, a pair of side sections14bthat is provided on both sides of the rising section14aand bent towards the rear, and a back end section14cprovided in the back of the side wall section10bof the pedal10. As shown inFIG. 3, the guide coupling member14is arranged in the guide holding member13, or in other words, between the front surface section13aof the guide holding member13and the pair of side surface sections13b, without coming into contact therewith.

That is, the rising section14aof the guide coupling member14is formed such that its length in the up-down direction is shorter than the length of the front surface section13aof the guide holding member13in the up-down direction, as shown inFIG. 4toFIG. 6. In addition, the length of the rising section14ain the array direction of the pedals10(the up-down direction inFIG. 3) is slightly shorter than the length between the side surface sections13bof the guide holding member13, as shown inFIG. 3.

Also, the pair of side sections14bpositioned on both sides of the guide coupling member14is shorter than the length of the side surface section13bof the guide holding member13in the up-down direction, as shown inFIG. 4toFIG. 6. In addition, its length in the front-back direction (the left-right direction inFIG. 2) is shorter than the length of the side surface section13bof the guide holding member13in the front-back direction, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3. Also, the back end section14cof the guide coupling member14is formed in almost the same position as the rising section14a, or in other words, in the back of the side wall section10bof the pedal10below the rising section14a, as shown inFIG. 2,FIG. 4, andFIG. 5.

As a result of this structure, the guide coupling member14is arranged between the front surface section13aof the guide holding member13and the pair of side surface sections13bsuch that the rising section14afaces the front surface section13aof the guide holding member13, and the pair of side sections14band the back end section14cof the pedal10face the pair of side surface sections13bof the guide holding member13, without coming into contact therewith, as shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 5. Also, the guide coupling member14is arranged such that a space is formed that is sufficient for preventing the rising section14afrom coming into contact with the front surface section13aof the guide holding member13even when the pedal10is depressed and moved downward in a tilted state, as shown inFIG. 5.

Additionally, in the guide coupling member14, a first guide shaft20and a second guide shaft21are attached that move within the guide groove18of the guide holding member13according to the rotational movement of the pedal10, as shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 6. As shown inFIG. 6, the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21are both spring pins. The spring pin is formed into a pipe shape, and the surface thereof is formed into a wave shape along the axial direction. These first and second guide shafts20and21are structured so as to be fixed in an arbitrary position when inserted into respective attachment holes20aand21aof the guide coupling member14.

Of the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21, the first guide shaft20is attached by being inserted into the attachment hole20aprovided in the upper portion of each of the pair of side sections14bof the guide coupling member14, as shown inFIG. 4toFIG. 6. In this state, the end portions of the first guide shaft20are movably inserted into the upper portions of the guide grooves18of the guide plates17provided in the pair of side surface sections13bof the guide holding member13.

In addition, the second guide shaft21is attached by being inserted into the attachment hole21aprovided in the back end section14cof the guide coupling member14, or in other words, in the back end section14cof the side wall section10bof the pedal10, as shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5. In this state, the end portions of the second guide shaft21are movably inserted into the lower portions of the guide grooves18of the guide plates17provided in the pair of side surface sections13bof the guide holding member13.

As a result, the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21are movably inserted into the upper and lower portions of each guide groove18provided in each guide plate17of the guide holding member13, thereby holding the guide coupling member14provided on the back portion of the pedal10to the guide holding member13, as shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5. In this state, the guide coupling member14is moved in the up-down direction along the arc-shaped guide grooves18centering on the imaginary fulcrum P, whereby the pedal10is rotated and moved in the up-down direction with the imaginary fulcrum P as the center.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4, the plurality of pedals10are biased upwards by coil springs20that are biasing members. That is, the coil spring11is arranged between the bottom surface of the pedal10and the corresponding recess section9din the second supporting section9bof the pedal chassis9, through a spring insertion hole22aprovided in the attaching section13cof the guide holding member13. As a result of this structure, the coil spring22presses the pedal10upwards by its spring force, whereby the upper surface section10aof the pedal10comes into elastic contact with the upper limit stopper12provided on the inner upper edge of the pedal insertion hole8aof the pedal case8.

As shown inFIG. 5, when each of the plurality of pedals10is pressed down against the spring force of the coil spring22, the pedal10comes into contact with a lower limit stopper23. As in the case of the upper limit stopper12, this lower limit stopper23is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is provided on the first supporting section9aof the pedal chassis9. As a result, when the pedal10is depressed, the underside of the pedal10comes into elastic contact with the lower limit stopper23, whereby the lower limit position of the pedal10is set.

In this instance, as indicated by two-dotted chain lines inFIG. 2, the lower limit stopper23is structured such that, when the pedal10moves by rotating to the lower side and the underside of the pedal10comes into contact with the upper surface of the lower limit stopper23, the lower portion of the front end of the pedal10comes into contact with an installation surface K, such as a floor on which the instrument case1has been placed, at almost the same time. As a result, even if the lower limit stopper23is further depressed elastically by the pedal10after the underside of the pedal10comes into contact with the upper surface of the lower limit stopper23and the lower portion of the front end of the pedal10simultaneously comes into contact with the installation surface K such as a floor on which the instrument case1has been placed, the back portion of the pedal10does not move upward with the lower limit stopper23as a fulcrum.

On the other hand, the third supporting section9cof the pedal chassis9is provided with a switch section24, as shown inFIG. 2toFIG. 5. In this instance, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the third supporting section9cof the pedal chassis9is structured such that each comb teeth portion of the angled front end section9epositioned in the upper portion thereof is inserted between the pair of side sections14bof the guide coupling member14without coming into contact therewith, and the switch section24is provided in this insertion area.

The switch section24includes a switch board25and a dome-shaped bulging section26provided on the switch board25, as shown inFIG. 2. The switchboard25is provided on the third supporting section9cof the pedal chassis9continuously along the array direction (the up-down direction inFIG. 3) of the plurality of pedals10, as shown inFIG. 3. The dome-shaped bulging section26is an elastic sheet, such as rubber, formed to bulge outward, as shown inFIG. 4. In the bulging section26, a movable contact26ais provided and separably comes into contact with a fixed contact25aprovided on the switch board25.

As a result, as shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the switch section24is structured such that, when the dome-shaped bulging section26is pressed from above and elastically deformed, the movable contact26aprovided therein comes into contact with the fixed contact25aof the switch board25, whereby the switch is operated and a switch signal is outputted. In this instance, the guide coupling member14is provided with a switch pressing member27that presses the bulging section26of the switch section24according to the rotational movement of the pedal10in the up-down direction, as shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 5.

The switch pressing member27includes an attaching piece27aattached by a screw28to the inner surface of the rising section14aof the guide coupling member14aand a pressing piece27bprovided on the lower portion of the attaching piece27avia reinforcement pieces27c, as shown inFIG. 4andFIG. 10. As a result, when the pedal10is depressed, and the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21move downward along the guide groove18of the guide holding member13, the switch pressing member27moves downward with the guide coupling member14, and the pressing piece27bpresses the bulging section26of the switch section24, as shown inFIG. 5.

Next, the mechanism of the pedal device7in a keyboard instrument such as that described above will be described.

In an ordinary state where the pedal10has not been depressed, the pedal10is being pressed upward by the spring force of the coil spring22, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4. Accordingly, the pedal10is positioned away from the lower limit stopper23in the upward direction, and is in elastic contact with the upper limit stopper12provided in the pedal insertion hole8aof the pedal case8. In this state, the upper limit position of the pedal10is being regulated.

In addition, because the back portion of the pedal10is also being pressed upward, the guide coupling member14is positioned on the inner upper side of the guide holding member13in an almost vertical state, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4. At this time, as a result of the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21being in their upper positions, the first guide shaft20is positioned near the upper end of the guide grooves18of the guide holding member13, and the second guide shaft21is positioned away from the lower end of the guide grooves18of the guide holding member13in the upward direction.

Moreover, the switch pressing member27provided on the guide coupling member14has been moved upward with respect to the switch section24, as shown inFIG. 4. Therefore, the bulging section26of the switch section24has been bulged in a dome-shape as a result of elastic return, and the movable contact26ainside the bulging section26has been separated from the fixed contact25aof the switch board25, whereby the switch section24has been turned OFF.

In this state, when the front portion (the left side portion inFIG. 2) of the pedal10is depressed against the spring force of the coil spring22, the pedal10is moved by being rotated downwards. At this time, because the pedal10moves downward while compressing the coil spring22, the guide coupling member14provided in the back portion of the pedal10moves downward along with it, as shown inFIG. 5. In addition, the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21move downward along the guide grooves18of the guide holding member13, along with the movement of the guide coupling member14.

That is, since the guide grooves18has the shape of an arc centering on the imaginary fulcrum P that is on a rearward extension of the pedal10and positioned in back of the pedal chassis9as shown inFIG. 2, the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21move downward along the guide grooves18. As a result, the overall pedal10moves by rotating around the imaginary fulcrum P.

At this time, the back portion of the pedal10moves downward with the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21, and also the front portion of the pedal10moves downward, as shown inFIG. 5. Therefore, even when the length of the pedal10in the front-back direction is shortened, the same rotational movement as that of when the length of the pedal10in the front-back direction is formed longer to reach the imaginary fulcrum P is performed. As a result, the rotation angle of the pedal10is reduced.

As just described, when the pedal10moves by rotating downwards, the guide coupling member14also moves downward along with it, whereby the switch pressing member27provided in the guide coupling member14presses the switch section24. As a result, the bulging section26of the switch section24is elastically deformed, and the contact point26atherein comes into contact with the fixed contact25aof the switch board25, whereby the switch of the switch section24is operated and a switch signal is outputted.

Then, when the pedal10moves by rotating further downward, the underside of the pedal10comes into elastic contact with the lower limit stopper23provided on the first supporting section9aof the pedal chassis9, whereby the lower limit position of the pedal10is set. As indicated by the two-dotted chain lines inFIG. 2, when the underside of the pedal10comes into contact with the upper surface of the lower limit stopper23, the lower portion of the front end of the pedal10comes into contact with the installation surface K, such as a floor on which the instrument case1has been placed, at almost the same time.

In this state, when the pedal10is further depressed, the lower limit stopper23is elastically pressed downward by the pedal10. At this time, since the lower portion of the front end of the pedal10is in contact with the installation surface K, the pedal10rotates with the lower portion of the front end of the pedal10, which is in contact with the installation surface K, as the center. Therefore, the back portion of the pedal10does not move upwards as a result of the pedal10rotating with the lower limit stopper23as the fulcrum.

In this state, when the player takes his or her foot off the pedal10and the external force is released thereby, the pedal10is pressed upward by the spring force of the coil spring22and returns to its initial position. At this time as well, because the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21move upwards along the guide grooves18having the shape of an arc centering on the imaginary fulcrum P that is on a rearward extension of the pedal10and positioned in back of the pedal chassis9, the overall pedal10moves upward by rotating around the imaginary fulcrum P.

In addition, because the guide coupling member14also moves upward along with it, the switch pressing member27provided on the guide coupling member14moves upward away from the switch section24, and the switch section24is turned OFF. Then, the pedal10moves further upwards, and the upper surface section10aof the pedal10comes into elastic contact with the upper limit stopper12provided in the pedal insertion hole8aof the pedal case8, whereby the pedal10is set in the upper limit position and returns to its initial position.

As described above, the pedal device7includes the pedal chassis9provided in the pedal case8, the pedal10that moves by rotating in the up-down direction in relation to the pedal chassis9, and the rotation holding mechanism11that holds the back portion of the pedal10such that it can move in the up-down direction with respect to the pedal chassis9. Therefore, even when the pedal10is shortened and the installation space of the overall instrument is reduced, an uncomfortable operational feeling is not created during the depressing operation of the pedal10and pedaling operations can be performed comfortably.

That is, when the pedal10of this pedal device7is depressed, the back portion of the pedal10is moved downward by the rotation holding mechanism11, according to the rotational movement of the pedal10. Therefore, even when the length of the pedal10in the front-back direction is shortened, the rotation angle of the pedal10can be reduced because the overall pedal10moves downward. As a result, the pedal10can be shortened and the installation space of the overall instrument can be reduced. In addition, even when the pedal10is shortened, an uncomfortable operational feeling is not created during the depressing operation of the pedal10and pedaling operations can be performed comfortably.

In this instance, since the rotation holding mechanism11is structured to guide the back portion of the pedal10to move in the up-down direction along an arc centering on the imaginary fulcrum P positioned on a rearward extension of the pedal10, the pedal10can be rotated in the up-down direction, centering on the imaginary fulcrum P positioned on a rearward extension of pedal10. Therefore, even when the length of the pedal10in the front-back direction is shortened, pedal operation similar to that of a typical pedal whose length in the front-back direction is long can be performed. As a result, an uncomfortable operational feeling is not created during the depressing operation of the pedal10and pedaling operations can be performed more comfortably.

In addition, the rotation holding mechanism11includes the guide holding member13provided in the pedal chassis9and the guide coupling member14provided in the back portion of the pedal10. The guide holding member13has therein the guide grooves18having the shape of an arc centering on the imaginary fulcrum P positioned on a rearward extension of the pedal10, along the up-down direction. The guide coupling member14has the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21that move within the guide grooves10of the guide holding member13according to the rotational movement of the pedal10. As a result, the guide coupling member14provided in the pedal10can be coupled with the guide holding member13provided in the pedal chassis9by the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21so as to move in the up-down direction.

Accordingly, in the rotation holding member11, when the pedal10moves by rotating in the up-down direction, the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21move along the guide grooves18having the shape of an arc centering on the imaginary fulcrum P that is on a rearward extension of the pedal10and positioned in back of the pedal chassis9. As a result, the overall pedal10moves by rotating around the imaginary fulcrum P. Therefore, even when the length of the pedal10in the front-back direction is shortened, the rotation angle of the pedal10can be reduced, whereby an uncomfortable operational feeling is not created during the depressing operation of the pedal10and pedaling operations can be performed comfortably.

That is, since the back portion of the pedal10moves downward with the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21, and the front portion of the pedal10moves downward along with it, the same rotational movement as that of when the length of the pedal10in the front-back direction is formed longer to reach the imaginary fulcrum. P is performed even when the length of the pedal10in the front-back direction is shortened, and therefore the rotation angle of the pedal10can be reduced without any problem. Accordingly, even when the pedal10is shortened, pedal operation similar to that of a typical pedal whose length in the front-back direction is long can be performed without an uncomfortable operational feeling being created during the depressing operation of the pedal10, whereby pedaling operations can be performed comfortably.

In this instance, the guide grooves18are formed in the synthetic resin guide plate17having slidability which is provided in the guide holding member13. Therefore, when moving within the guide grooves18according to the rotational movement of the pedal10, the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21can smoothly and unfailingly slide by the slidability of the guide plate17, whereby the depression operability of the pedal10can be improved.

In addition, the pedal device7includes the spring coil22as a biasing member that constantly biases the pedal10upwards. As a result, the pedal10can always be pressed upwards to a predetermined position (upper limit position) when the pedal10is not being operated. Therefore, when depressing force is released after the pedal10is depressed against the spring force of the coil spring22and moved downward by being rotated around the imaginary fulcrum P, the pedal10can automatically return to its original predetermined position by being pressed upwards by the spring force of the coil spring22.

In this instance, the pedal case8is provided with the upper limit stopper12that elastically sets the upper limit position of the pedal10. Therefore, when the pedal10is pressed upwards by the spring force of the coil spring22, the upper limit position of the pedal can be regulated by the upper limit stopper12. In addition, this upper limit stopper12is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and so the pedal10comes into contact with the upper limit stopper12elastically. Therefore, abnormal noise does not occur, whereby pedaling operations can be performed comfortably.

In addition, the pedal device7includes the lower limit stopper23that elastically sets the lower limit position of the pedal10. Therefore, when the pedal10is depressed and moved downward by being rotated around the imaginary fulcrum P, the pedal10can be regulated to be stopped at the lower limit position. In addition, the lower limit stopper23is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and so the pedal10comes into contact with the lower limit stopper23elastically. Therefore, abnormal noise does not occur, whereby pedaling operations can be performed comfortably.

In this instance, when the pedal10is depressed and comes into contact with the lower limit stopper23, the lower portion on the front end of the pedal10comes into contact with the installation surface K on which the instrument case1has been installed. As a result of the lower limit stopper23being elastically pressed downward by the pedal10in this state, the underside of the pedal10comes into contact with the upper surface of the lower limit stopper23and, at almost the same time, the lower portion of the front end of the pedal10comes into contact with the installation surface K which is the floor on which the instrument case1has been placed.

Therefore, when the lower limit stopper23is elastically pressed downward by the pedal10, since the lower portion of the front end of the pedal10is in contact with the installation surface K, the pedal10rotates with the lower portion of the front end of the pedal10, which is in contact with the installation surface K, as the center. Therefore, the back portion of the pedal10does not move upwards as a result of the pedal10rotating with the lower limit stopper23as the fulcrum, whereby the pedal operability can be can be improved.

Moreover, the pedal device7includes the switch section24that operates the switch according to the rotational movement of the pedal10. Therefore, musical tone can be successfully controlled according to the depressing operation of the pedal10. In this instance, the guide coupling member14is provided with the switch pressing member27that presses the switch section24according to the rotational movement of the pedal10. Therefore, when the pedal10is depressed, the switch section24is unfailingly and successfully pressed by the switch pressing member27for the operation of the switch.

In the above-described embodiment, the guide grooves18of the guide holding member13are formed into the shape of an arc centering on the imaginary fulcrum positioned on a rearward extension of the pedal10. However, the guide grooves18are not necessarily required to be arc-shaped, and may be formed in an almost vertical straight line, or a straight line or a curved line angled in the vertical direction.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the coil spring22is used as the biasing member that presses the pedal10upward. However, the coil spring22is not necessarily required to be used, and a flat spring, a torsion spring coil, or an elastic member such as rubber may be used instead thereof.

Furthermore, of the first guide shaft20and the second guide shaft21that are attached to the guide coupling member14and move within the guide grooves18of the guide holding member13, the second guide shaft21is attached to the back end section14cof the side wall section10bof the pedal10which is the guide coupling member14. However, the structure is not limited thereto, and the second guide shaft21may be attached to the lower portion of the pair of side sections14bof the guide coupling member14.