Abstract:
A pedal assembly includes a pedal, a base and two frames, a chain is connected between the front end of the pedal and a locking member on the shaft of the base. The rear end of the pedal is pivotably connected to the heel plate so that the pedal is pivotable along the stepping direction. The heel plate and the base are positioned by the respective frames which are fixed to the base and the heel plate by screws. By using the screws, the pedal assembly is stable and made at less material. The frames can be adjusted back and forth to meet different users&#39; needs such that the different sizes of the feet of the users can operate the pedal assembly efficiently.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a pedal assembly, and more particularly, to a light and adjustable pedal assembly for percussion instrument. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is important for a band having tens of music instruments to have each of the instruments to be light and easily assembled. 
   A conventional pedal assembly is shown in  FIG. 10 , and generally includes a base  71  and a heel plate  72  which is connected to a board  73 . The user steps on the pedal  74  pivotably connected to the front end of the heel plate  72  and the pedal  74  is pivoted by the force that the user applies to the pedal  74 . 
   The conventional board  73  is usually heavy so that it is difficult to transport the pedal assembly. Besides, the conventional pedal assembly requires a lot of time to be assembled and dis-assembled. Also, the heavy board  73  needs too much material which means high cost. 
   Furthermore, the pedal  74  needs to be adjusted according to the user&#39;s needs which are usually related to the size of the user&#39;s foot. However, the pedal  74  is connected to the base  73  by the heel plate  72 , it is difficult to move the pedal  74  inward or outward to meet the user&#39;s need. The difficulty relates to the efficiency of operation of the pedal  74 . 
     FIG. 11  shows another conventional pedal assembly which includes a U-shaped support frame  81  and the fixing section  82  of the support frame  81  is fixed to the heel plate  84  by a positioning member  83 . Multiple screws  85  are used to fix the fixing section  82  of the support frame  81 . Two ends  86  of the support frame  81  are inserted into the two side holes  88  of the base  87 . 
   Although the U-shaped support frame  81  is light and uses less material and can be easily disassembled, the U-shaped support frame  81  is not stable as expected. The unstable support frame  81  swings during use and causes noise which cannot be accepted for any music player. 
   The pedal  89  in  FIG. 11  is connected to the fixing section  82  of the U-shaped support frame  81  by the heel plate  84 , the positioning member  83  and screws  85 . The two ends  86  of the U-shaped support frame  81  are inserted into the sides holes  88  of the base  87 , the pedal  89  cannot be adjusted inward or outward. The drawback is the same as the pedal assembly disclosed in  FIG. 10 . 
   The present invention intends to provide a pedal assembly which is composed of a frame, a front board and a rear board, wherein the frame is light in weight and can be easily disassembled and carried. The pedal assembly requires less material and saves time to assemble. The frame of the pedal assembly of the present invention is stable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a pedal assembly which comprises a pivotable pedal and the pedal has a front end thereof connected with a first end of a chain and a rear end of the pedal is connected to a heel plate. A rear board is connected to an underside of the heel plate and two connection portions are located on two sides of the rear board. A base has two posts and a shalt is connected between the two posts. A locking member is connected to the shaft and a beater connection portion is connected to the locking member. A second end of the chain is connected to the locking member. A front board is located beneath the base and has an extension portion on each of two sides of the front board. The extension portions each have a passage defined longitudinally therethrough. An inclined restriction hole is defined in each of the extension portions and communicates with the passage corresponding thereto. Two frames each have an adjusting section on a first end thereof and the adjusting section is inserted into the passage. An adjusting screw extends through the inclined restriction hole and contacts against the adjusting section. A second end of the each of the frames is connected to the connection portion on the rear board corresponding thereto. 
   Another embodiment of the pedal assembly of the present invention comprises a pedal having a front end connected with a first end of a chain and a rear end of the pedal is connected to a heel plate which includes multiple positioning holes. The pedal is pivotable at the rear end thereof when the user steps on the pedal. A base has two posts with a shaft connected therebetween and a locking member is connected to the shaft on which a beater connection portion is connected. A second end of the chain is connected to the locking member. A front board is located beneath the base and has an extension portion on each of two sides of the front board. The extension portions each have a passage defined longitudinally through a rear end thereof which faces the heel plate. An inclined restriction hole is defined in each of the extension portions and communicates with the passage corresponding thereto. 
   A U-shaped frame has two legs and a fixing section is connected between the two legs. Each leg includes an adjusting section which is located away from the fixing section. The adjusting sections of the two legs are inserted into the passages. Each inclined restriction hole includes a adjusting screw received therein which contacts against the adjusting section. A positioning member fixes the fixing section to an underside of the heel plate and multiple screws connect the positioning member to the positioning holes. 
   The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pedal assembly which is composed of frames, a front board and a rear board, wherein the frames are light and can be easily assembled and disassembled and carried. The pedal assembly is made at low cost and the frames are stable. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a pedal assembly wherein the front board includes two passages and the adjusting sections of the frames are adjustably inserted into the passages so as to adjust the position of the pedal to meet different users&#39; needs. 
   The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view to show the pedal assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view to show the pedal assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view to show the engagement of the passage in the extension portion and the frame; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view to show another embodiment of the connection portions of the pedal assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view to show the pedal assembly of the present invention disclosed in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  shows that the frames have circular cross section and the frames are to be inserted into the passages in the passages in the extension portions and the connection portions in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  shows that the frames are removed from the passages and the pedal is folded upward; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view to show the second embodiment of the pedal assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view to show the pedal assembly of the present invention disclosed in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view to show a conventional pedal assembly, and 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded view to show another pedal assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which show the first embodiment of the pedal assembly of the present invention and comprises a pedal  11  having a front end  111  thereof connected with a first end of a chain  12  and a rear end  112  of the pedal  11  is connected to a heel plate  13 . The pedal  11  is pivotable at the rear end  112  thereof when the user steps on the pedal  11 . A rear board  14  is connected to an underside of the heel plate  13 . The rear board  14  includes multiple first holes  141  and screws  193  extend through the first holes  141  so as to connect the rear board  14  to the heel plate  13 . In this embodiment, the screws  142  have a flat head. Two connection portions  15  are located on two sides of the rear board  14  and each connection portion  15  has multiple locking holes  151 , in this embodiment, there are two locking holes  151  in each connection portion  15 . 
   A base  16  has two posts  161  extending upward from two ends thereof and a shaft  162  is connected between the two posts  161 . A locking member  163  is connected to the shaft  162  and a beater connection portion  164  is connected to the locking member  163 . A second end of the chain  12  is connected to the locking member  163 . 
   A front board  17  is located beneath the base  16  and the front board  17  includes multiple second holes  171  and screws  172  extend through the second holes  171  so as to connect the front board  17  to the base  16 . In this embodiment, there are two second holes  171  and the screws  172  have a flat head. The front board  17  has an extension portion  18  on each of two sides of the front board  17  and the extension portions  18  each have a passage  181  defined longitudinally therethrough. The passages  181  are drilled in an end facing the rear board  14 . Each of the passages  181  extends through two ends of the extension portion  18  corresponding thereto as shown in  FIG. 3  and includes a rectangular section  181 A and a circular section  181 B which is located at a mediate portion of the rectangular section  181 A. An inclined restriction hole  182  is defined in each of the extension portions  18  and communicates with the passage  181  corresponding thereto. 
   In this embodiment, the two extension portions  18  extend upward and longitudinally from the two sides of the front board  17 . The two extension portions  18  are parallel to each other, although different arrangement can be used according to practical needs, such as to reduce the length of the extension portion  18  and have two open ends. This alternative arrangement saves material required and is convenient for adjustment of the pedal  11  back and forth. 
   Two frames  19  each have an adjusting section  191  on a first end thereof and the adjusting section  191  is inserted into the passage  181 . An adjusting screw  183  extends through the inclined restriction hole  182  and contacts against the adjusting section  191 . A second end of the each of the frames  19  is connected to the connection portion  15  on the rear board  14  corresponding thereto. In this embodiment, the adjusting screws  183  each have a square head. 
   It is noted that the rectangular section  181 A and the circular section  181 B accommodate a section having rectangular cross section and a section having circular cross section of the frame  19 . 
   In this embodiment, the two connection portions  15  each have multiple locking holes  151  and the second end of the frame  19  includes multiple through holes  192  which are located corresponding to the locking holes  151 . Screws  193  extend through the through holes  192  and are connected with the locking holes  151  so as to connect the frame  19  to the connection portions  15 . 
   In the first embodiment, when disassembling the frames  19 , the adjusting screws  183  are first unscrewed and the adjusting sections  191  of the frames  19  are removed from the passages  181 . The adjusting screws  183  do not need to remove from the extension portions  18  to remove the adjusting sections  191  of the frames  19 . By this specific arrangement, the users may avoid from lost of small parts when disassembling the pedal assembly. Besides, if the user&#39;s foot is too big or small, the adjusting sections  191  of the frames  19  can be adjusted back or forth by loosening the adjusting screws  183  to meet the requirements of the different users. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each of the connection portions  21  may have a passage  211  defined in a front end thereof which faces the front board  17 . The second ends of the frame  19  are inserted into the passages  211 . Each of the connection portions  21  includes an insertion hole  212  which includes a bolt  213  received therein so as to contact against the second end of the frame  19 . Each passage  211  includes a rectangular section  211 A and a circular section  211 B which is located at a mediate portion of the rectangular section  211 A. The rectangular section  211 A and the circular section  211 B accommodate a section having rectangular cross section and a section having circular cross section of the frame  19 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the frames  19  are cylindrical rods and have circular cross section, the frames  19  are inserted into the passages  211 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the extension portions  18  of the front board  17  and the frames  19  are separated, the heel plate  13  can pivoted toward the locking member  163  to fold the pedal assembly. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  show the second embodiment of the pedal assembly of the present invention which comprises a pedal  11  having a front end  111  thereof connected with a first end of a chain  12  and a rear end  112  of the pedal  11  is connected to a heel plate  13  which includes multiple positioning holes  131 . In this embodiment, there are two positioning holes  131 . The pedal  11  is pivotable at the rear end  112  thereof. 
   A base  16  has two posts  161  extending upward from two ends thereof and a shaft  162  is connected between the two posts  161 . A locking member  163  is connected to the shaft  162  and a beater connection portion  164  is connected to the locking member  163 . A second end of the chain  12  is connected to the locking member  163 . 
   A front board  17  id located beneath the base  16  and the front board  17  includes multiple second holes  171 , multiple screws  172  extend through the second holes  171  and are connected to an underside of the base  16 . The screws  172  have a flat head. An extension portion  18  extends upward and longitudinally from the two sides of the front board  17 . The extension portions  18  each have a passage  181  defined longitudinally through a rear end thereof which faces the heel plate  13 . An inclined restriction hole  182  is defined in each of the extension portions  18  and communicates with the passage  181  corresponding thereto. Each of the passages  181  extends through two ends of the extension portion  18  corresponding thereto and includes a rectangular section  181 A and a circular section  181 B which is located at a mediate portion of the rectangular section  181 A. 
   A U-shaped frame  23  has two legs  231  and a fixing section  232  which is connected between the two legs  231 . The U-shaped frame  23  has circular cross section. Each leg  231  includes an adjusting section  233  which is located away from the fixing section  232 . The adjusting sections  233  of the two legs  231  are inserted into the passages  181 . The circular section  181 B accommodates the adjusting section  233  of the frame  23 . Each inclined restriction holes  182  including an adjusting screw  183  received therein which contacts against the adjusting section  233 . Each adjusting screw  183  has a rectangular head. A positioning member  24  fixes the fixing section  232  to an underside of the heel plate  13 . Multiple screws  241  extend through the positioning holes  242  in the positioning members  24  and connect the positioning member  24  to the positioning holes  131 . In this embodiment, there are two screws  241  and the screws  251  have a flat head. 
   In this second embodiment, a rear board  25  is located beneath the positioning member  24  and includes multiple third holes  251 . Multiple screws  252  extend through the third holes  251  and are connected to the underside of the heel plate  13 . The screws  252  have a flat head. 
   When disassembling the frames  23 , the adjusting screws  183  are first loosened from the front board  17  and the adjusting sections  233  of the frames  23  can be removed from the passages  181  of the extension portions  18 . By operating the chain  12 , the heel plate  13  can be pivoted toward the locking member  163  to fold the pedal assembly as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   When adjusting the pedal  11  as disclosed in the first embodiment, the adjusting screws  183  are first loosened and the adjusting sections  233  of the frames  23  can be adjusted within the passages  181  of the extension portions  18 . 
   While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.