Abstract:
An arrestor restricts the movement of a user operated device and is designed to allow flexible placement of the user operated device and subsequent locking to an adjacent object. While one function is to fix a foot pedal relative to a keyboard stand, the foot pedal arrestor can also be applied to any user operated device associated with a broad spectrum of applications. These range from musical instruments through foot operated industrial equipment and office equipment to in home devices such as sewing machines and recreational equipment such as boat motor controllers.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application takes priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/555,295 filed Nov. 3, 2011, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     When musical keyboards are played, whether in practice, for recreation, or in performance, foot pedals are often used to control various sound producing aspects of the instrument being played. Especially, though not solely, with electronic keyboards, these foot pedals are not anchored to the floor but are simply placed on the floor at a comfortably operable position where the foot of the player can easily reach them. Secured on the floor by at most a rubber pad attached to the bottom of the foot pedal assembly, the foot pedals are free to move and pressing on them with the foot while playing tends to move them about. This is especially so when the instrument or music being played causes the musician to move about. Sometimes the foot pedals move so much that they slide out of reach of the musician altogether with concomitant reduction in music quality as the musical composition often must continue without adjustment of the instrument set-up, especially a foot pedal on the floor. 
     In the past people have used various techniques to stop such movement of their musical instruments from tying ropes between the musical instrument or foot pedal and the musician&#39;s seat to placing ribbed pads on the floor with mechanical stops to keep the instrument foot pedals from moving out of reach of the musician. In some cases, often with keyboard instruments such as electronic organs or keyboards, foot pedals are secured to the instrument and are electrically connected to the instrument through the securing mechanism. However, when free floating foot pedals are used, a mechanism is needed to keep the foot pedal from moving. 
     Further, different musicians often find that they would like to locate their foot pedals in particular positions depending on the surroundings and playing situations at different performances. Alternatively, sometimes more than one musician plays the same instrument. In both of these situations it is desirable to not only statically locate the foot pedal, but it is desirable to be able to adjust the position of a foot pedal as needed. 
     The above considerations also hold for other situations where foot pedals are used such as in the control of industrial equipment. In the industrial situation it is often even more desirable to be able to move a foot operated device from one static position to another and have it remain static once located, since different operators often use the same equipment, for example, after shift changes. 
     The need also extends into the home where various foot pedal operated devices are used. An example of these would be a home portable sewing machine where a foot pedal is used to run the machine. Foot pedals supplied with such machines are often disposed at the end of a flexible electric cord, and they tend to move around when they are operated causing great frustration on the part of the operator. 
     From the above discussion it is clear that a foot pedal arrestor is needed that can adjust the position of a foot pedal to accommodate an operator and hold the foot pedal statically in place relative to the operator once positioned. 
     Electronic musical keyboards frequently have one or more foot pedals associated with them which rest on the floor and are electrically connected to the keyboard via a wired connection. Although usually equipped with a skid resistant pad the pedals are still prone to moving away from the musician as the pedals are repeatedly pressed. When this happens the musician has to pull the pedal back into position using his hands or feet, an especially annoying process in the middle of a performance. 
     Typically, musicians try to prevent this pedal movement by placing a brick or a piece of equipment or anything heavy behind the pedal, but there is no existing device available to specifically address the problem. 
     SUMMARY 
     An arrestor for user operated devices such as foot pedals is designed to allow flexible placement of a the device and subsequent locking to adjacent fixed structures such as a keyboard stand or other statically located object. While one function is to fix a foot pedal relative to a keyboard stand, the foot pedal arrestor can also be applied to any foot pedal associated with a broad spectrum of devices. These range from musical instruments through foot operated industrial equipment and office equipment to in home devices such as sewing machines and even to recreational equipment such as boat motor controllers. 
     A mechanical foot pedal arrestor is provided that is intended to restrict the movement of a foot pedal either resting on a surface or intended to be held in some other position by capturing the foot pedal in a fitting and fixing the location of the fitting relative to a fixed supporting element. The fixed supporting element can be a structural member or a part of an apparatus being operated by the foot pedal, or the supporting element can be independent of a device being operated by the foot pedal. 
     In embodiments where the foot pedal needs to be located statically in a position relative to the apparatus, this is accomplished by spanning the distance between the pedal capture fitting and the apparatus using an articulated structural arm which is connected to the apparatus by a fixed connection locator and comprises a locking joint connected to a capture fitting and structural apparatus for spanning needed separations between the point of attachment and the location of the foot pedal. 
     The device can statically position a foot pedal on a fixed surface such as a floor or in a suspended position, and locates the foot pedal in adjustably fixed position with respect to the object to which a fixed connection locator is attached. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding and appreciation of this invention and many of its advantages, reference should be made to the following, detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a portion of a foot pedal arrestor of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a foot pedal arrestor of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  depicts the foot pedal arrestor of  FIG. 2  attached to a keyboard stand; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a portion of a foot pedal arrestor of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a foot pedal arrestor of the invention; 
         FIG. 6A  depicts a ball element according to the invention; 
         FIG. 6B  depicts the ball element of  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a foot pedal arrestor of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  depicts the foot pedal arrestor of  FIG. 7  attached to a keyboard stand and securing a foot pedal of a keyboard in position; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a foot pedal arrestor of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the foot pedal arrestor of  FIG. 9  and small, medium, and large adapter inserts for use therewith. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a portion of a foot pedal arrestor  100  of the invention comprising a foot pedal capture fitting  101 , an adjustable joint  102 , a distance spanning shaft  103  which comprises a lockable extension shaft  104 , and a compression lock  105 . In the embodiment shown, the foot pedal capture fitting  101  comprises a foot pedal pocket  106  for engaging a foot pedal, not shown, to limit the foot pedal&#39;s movement and prevent the foot pedal from sliding free. 
     In use a foot pedal apparatus would be placed in the foot pedal pocket  106 . The foot pedal capture fitting  101  comprises a foot pedal engagement element  107  fixedly mounted on a bottom board  108  either of which can attach to the adjustable joint  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom board  108  is attached to the adjustable joint  102 . 
     The bottom board  108  helps hold the foot pedal in the pocket  106  and keeps the foot pedal from slipping out of the arrestor  100 . 
     The foot pedal arrestor  100  can be attached to a static element in the vicinity of the foot pedal arrestor  100  as discussed above. In  FIG. 1  no attachment mechanism is shown. However, the static attachment point  109  of the foot pedal arrestor extension shaft  104  could be attached to the static element using a simple clamp, such as a “C” clamp, or the arrestor  100  could be bolted to a static element or could be attached in some other way. 
     Should the foot pedal arrestor  100  or the static attachment point  109  move during operation of the foot pedal, the bottom board  108  keeps the foot pedal from slipping out of the capture fitting  101 . 
     The adjustable joint  102  and the extendable shaft  103  allow positioning of the foot pedal and foot pedal pocket  106  as desired for ease of operation of the foot pedal by a user. 
     The adjustable joint  102  can be built with varying degrees of stiffness to allow the joint  102  to be more or less movable as desired. 
     Another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 2 , which is a foot pedal arrestor  200  comprising a foot pedal capture fitting  201 , a foot pedal capture lock  202 , a distance spanning shaft  203 , a locking spherical joint  204 , and a fixed connection locator  205 . 
     The foot pedal capture fitting in the embodiment shown is a clevis capture fitting comprising a “U” shaped yoke  206  with two pins  207  for capturing a foot pedal within the yoke  206 . The pins  207  could be thumb screws or could be spring loaded locking pins or some other lockable mechanism that would restrict the movement of the foot pedal in the capture fitting  201 . As shown, the fitting  201  also comprises a locator bumper  208  which is added to further restrict the movement of the foot pedal in the fitting  201  as the pedal is operated. 
     The capture lock  202  is connected to the capture fitting  201  by a threaded bolt  209  which runs through the capture fitting  202  and is in threaded communication with a locking knob  210 . The locking knob  210  can be used to eliminate rotation of the capture fitting  201  relative to the capture lock  202  when tightened securely or, by minimizing the tightening torque, can be used to make the connection between the capture fitting  201  and the capture lock  202  rotationally free about the bolt  209  resolving the rotational position of the capture fitting  201  by its contact with the floor. 
     The capture lock  202  also comprises a pinch knob  211  which can further immobilize the fitting  201  by frictionally locking the shaft  203  to the capture fitting  201 . Frictional locking is accomplished by pressing the friction fitting  213  and friction disk  212  together using the pinch knob  211  as shown, the pinch knob  211  having a threaded bolt running through the friction fitting  213  and friction disk  212  for the purpose of drawing them together. It should be noted that the surfaces of the friction fitting  213  and friction disk  212  could comprise splines, teeth or other treatment to enhance frictional locking. 
     As shown, the capture lock  202  also comprises a floor bumper  214  that supports the lock  202  and gives the distal end of the capture fitting  201 /capture lock  202  assembly additional stability so that as the foot pedal is operated repeatedly, stress on the capture lock  202  will not tend to loosen the capture lock  202  and allow the foot pedal to move. The capture fitting  201  also comprises two additional floor bumpers  215 ,  216  on the proximal end of the capture fitting  201  and can provide three-point contact with the floor through the floor bumpers  214 ,  215 ,  216 . 
     The shaft  203  is immovably attached to the friction disk  212  and spans the distance between a locking spherical joint  204  and the capture lock  202 . The shaft  203  is attached to the locking spherical joint  204  which provides adjustability both rotationally and linearly along the length of the shaft  203  and also allows the bottom assembly  201 ,  202  to be positioned against the floor as needed. By releasing a locking knob  217  the shaft  203  is free to move within the clamp  218  and the spherical insert  219  can be positioned as needed. Once in position the joint  204  is immobilized when the knob  217  is tightened to eliminate movement of both the insert  219  and the shaft  203  by frictionally binding the elements together. 
     In  FIG. 2  the fixed connection locator  205  is attached to the spherical joint clamp  218  and comprises a clamping mechanism  220  which can be used to attach the entire foot pedal arrestor  200  to a fixed object. The clamping mechanism  220  includes two clamp arms  230  connected at a clamp pivot  232  for engaging the fixed object. A clamp knob  234  allows the clamp arms to be tightened and locked in fixed engagement with the fixed object. The fixed object can be fixed with respect to the device being operated or played such as a connection to a keyboard stand would provide. This type of connection would allow the foot pedal arrestor  200  to remain in a fixed position relative to the keyboard stand, which in most cases could still be moved if needed. 
     For example,  FIG. 3  depicts the foot pedal arrestor  200  of  FIG. 2  typically positioned and secured to a keyboard stand  301  with the foot pedal capture fitting  201  resting on the floor. The clamping mechanism  220  is shown tightened to secure the foot pedal arrestor  200  to an approximately diagonally oriented leg  304  of the stand  301 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , alternatively, the locator  205  can be attached to an independent object and immobilized to remain in fixed position with respect to that object. 
     In other embodiments the floor bumpers  214 ,  215 ,  216  can be optionally eliminated from the foot pedal arrestor  200  and the lockable mechanisms  201 ,  202 ,  204  of the foot pedal arrestor  200  can be locked in position to suspend a foot pedal at any position with respect to the position of the fixed connection locator  205  within the limits of the physical size and reach of the components comprising the arrestor. In some embodiments, the materials and elements of the foot pedal arrestor can be made of materials and sizes that are robust enough to support a foot pedal suspended in an arbitrary position allowing for the forces that are applied to the apparatus when in use. 
       FIG. 4  depicts an embodiment foot pedal capture fitting  401  and foot pedal capture lock  402  of a foot pedal arrestor  400  in which the yoke  406  of the foot pedal capture fitting  401  attaches to the capture lock  402  via an anti-rotation joint  422 . The anti-rotation joint  422  is formed from a yoke friction segment  424  having an increased surface contact area for engaging with a corresponding increased surface contact area of a lock friction segment  426  of the foot pedal capture lock  402 . When the locking knob  410  is turned to tighten the bolt  409 , the increased surface areas of the yoke friction segment  424  and lock friction segment  426  engage tightly to prevent rotational movement of the yoke  406  about the axis of the bolt  409 , even when the foot pedal capture fitting  401  is suspended above the floor by the distance spanning shaft  403 , although floor bumpers  414 ,  415 , and  416  are still provided in case it is desired to rest the foot pedal capture fitting  401  on the floor. 
     Although it is contemplated that in some embodiments, the contact surfaces (not shown) of the yoke friction segment  424  and lock friction segment  426  are smooth to maximize contact friction, it will be appreciated that in other contemplated embodiments, toothed, geared, notched, or other such interconnection surface configurations are possible to further prevent undesired rotation of the yoke  406  about the axis of the bolt  409 . When the pinch knob  411  is then turned to tighten the friction disk  412  to the friction fitting  413  of the foot pedal capture lock  402 , the yoke  406  can be essentially set to a fixed, immobilized position with respect to the spanning shaft  403 , even when the yoke  406  is suspended above the floor. Securing a foot pedal to the yoke  406  with pins  407  thereby allows the pedal to be set to a fixed position with respect to the arrestor  400 , and its attached stand or object, even if said position leaves the pedal suspended above the floor. 
     The invention also contemplates variations in the connection locator and the accommodation of foot pedals of different shapes and configurations. For example,  FIG. 5  depicts an embodiment foot pedal arrestor  500  of the invention having a fixed connection locator  505  connected to the locking spherical joint  504  where the connection locator  505  includes a clamping mechanism  520  in which tightening the clamp knob  534  allows the clamp arms  530  to engage a stand or object in a vise fashion as one clamp arm moves along rails  532 . The locking spherical joint  504  is an external clamping mechanism in which the knob  517  is used to tighten or adjust a strap clamp  536  around the clamp housing segments  538  and  539  surrounding the spherical insert  519  of the joint  504  to secure positioning of the distance spanning shaft  503 . The foot pedal capture lock  502  includes a ball element  540  including two friction segments  513 . 
     Referring briefly to the ball element views in  FIGS. 6A  and B, the friction segments  513  are connected to a stem portion  542  of the ball element  540 . A knob hole  543  extends through both friction segments  513 , and a flat surface  545  allows for the attachment of a pinch knob  511  as best understood with comparison to  FIG. 5 . Relief cuts  544  are added in the stem portion  542 . Further comparing  FIGS. 6A  and B with  FIG. 5 , the relief cuts  544  form narrow material areas  547  that act like hinges to allow the inside surfaces  546  of the friction segments  513  to remain parallel when they are squeezed by the pinch knob  511  against the friction disk  512  attached to the distance spanning shaft  503 . Overall stabilization is therefore improved as the foot pedal capture lock  502  involves the squeezing of four joint surfaces rather than two. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , the yoke  506  of the foot pedal capture fitting  501  is constructed with a universal shape including inside contact contours  548  that allow for the proper fitting to most available foot pedals without further adjustment, eliminating the need for adjustment pins. 
     Additional components can also be substituted within the anticipated scope of the invention to allow for variations in the stand or object to which the foot pedal arrestor is attached. For example  FIG. 7  depicts a reconfigured foot pedal arrestor  600  that is constructed using the foot pedal capture fitting  501 , foot pedal capture lock  502 , and distance spanning shaft  503  of the foot pedal arrestor  500  of  FIG. 5 . In the reconfigured foot pedal arrestor  600  of  FIG. 7 , the ball element  540  and pinch knob  511  have been rotated so that the pinch knob  511  is adjustable from the opposite side of the foot pedal arrestor  600  as shown. 
     The reconfigured foot pedal arrestor  600  of  FIG. 7  includes a substituted fixed connection locator  605  and also includes a knob  617  for adjusting a strap clamp  636  around the clamp housing segments  638  and  639  surrounding the spherical insert  619  of the locking spherical joint  604  to secure positioning of the distance spanning shaft  503 . The clamp housing segment  639  contains clamp mount feet  649  to which the clamping mechanism  620  is affixed with mounting screws  650 . The clamping mechanism  620  is a two-piece wrap-around clamp that includes two clamp halves  652  joined together with a band clamp  654  which is itself adjustable with knob  634 . Each of the clamp halves includes a cut out section that forms a portion of the engagement notch  656  which tightens around a stand or other object. Referring briefly to  FIG. 8 , the clamping mechanism is shown engaging an approximately diagonally-oriented leg  858  of a keyboard stand  860  to secure the foot pedal arrestor  600  in position. A foot pedal  862  of a keyboard is also shown secured in position by the foot pedal capture fitting  501 . 
     Variations that incorporate simplifications to various invention components are also anticipated to be within the contemplated scope of the invention. For example,  FIG. 9  discloses a foot pedal arrestor  900  of the invention in which the fixed connection locator  905  and locking joint  904  are integrated into a combined fixed connection locator and locking joint for attachment to a keyboard stand or other affixed object. The distance spanning shaft  903  has a square cross sectional shape to allow for direct engagement with the clamping mechanism  920 . The clamping mechanism  920  includes two clamp halves  952  joined together with a strap clamp  936  tightened with a knob  934 . Each of the clamp halves  952  of the clamping mechanism  920  includes one of two engagement notches  956  for accommodating and engaging either the distance spanning shaft  903  or a structural member of an attached keyboard stand or other object when the strap clamp  936  is tightened around the clamping mechanism  920 . Two strap clamp depressions  962  are provided along approximately perpendicular planes to allow the strap clamp  936  to be reoriented to move the knob  934  to a more convenient adjustment position according to the user&#39;s preference or specific space constraints due to positioning of the foot pedal arrestor  900 . A strap attachment screw  953  further secures the strap clamp  936  within the clamp depression  962 . The strap attachment screw  953  can be removed and screwed to a corresponding location on the opposing clamp half  952  to allow for more optimal positioning of the tightening knob  934  for some installation requirements. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the foot pedal arrestor  900  of  FIG. 9 . Also depicted in  FIG. 10  are a large member adapter insert  966 , a medium member adapter insert  967 , and a small member adapter insert  968 , any one of which can be inserted into the clamping mechanism  920  and affixed with screws  970  to the inside of an adjustment notch  956  to allow for variations in the cross sectional size of a structural member of an attached keyboard stand or attached object.  FIG. 10  also depicts positioning lugs  972  and corresponding positioning holes  973  to properly align the two halves  952  of the clamping mechanism  920  when assembled with the strap clamp  936 . As shown, the clamping mechanism  920  would position the distance spanning shaft  903  at approximately 90 degrees to the major inline dimension of a structural member of a keyboard stand or attached object. 
     The distance spanning shaft  903  also includes an extender arm  960  that allows for a longitudinal positioning that is offset from the foot pedal capture fitting and from the axis of the spanning shaft  903 . As best understood by comparing  FIG. 9  with the exploded view of  FIG. 10 , the engagement arm  964  leads from the offset of the extender arm  960  to engage a quick release pin  974  of the foot pedal capture fitting  901  at the engagement arm hole  965 . This direct attachment forms the foot pedal capture lock  902  of an integrated and combined capture lock  902  and foot pedal capture fitting  901 , the configuration of which also allows for several optional configurations of the foot pedal arrestor  900  by the user. 
     For example, the relative positioning of the engagement arm hole  965  and quick release pin  974  allow for the foot pedal capture fitting  901  to be rotated 180 degrees for optional placement of a pedal to either side of the distance spanning shaft  903 . The spanning shaft  903  itself can also be removed from the clamping mechanism  920 , rotated about its major axis 180 degrees, and reinserted into the clamping mechanism  920  so that the quick release pin  974  engages the engagement arm hole  965  and thereby repositions the foot pedal capture fitting  901  at a different position that is equal to approximately two lengths of the extender arm  960  away from the previous position. The spanning shaft  903  can also be removed and reinserted upside down in the clamping mechanism  920  so that spanning shaft hole  976  at the opposite end of the spanning shaft instead engages the quick release pin  974 , allowing the point of connection between the spanning shaft  903  and foot pedal capture fitting to be located along the major dimensional axis of the spanning shaft  903 . In addition, the possible mounting of the arrestor  900  to a keyboard stand having several structural members, such as the keyboard stand  301  in  FIG. 3  and keyboard stand  860  in  FIG. 8 , provide several optimal mounting locations. By mixing and combining such different mounting options, numerous different positionings of the foot pedal capture fitting and any positioned foot pedal can be achieved. 
     The foot pedal arrestor of  FIGS. 9 and 10  also features a yoke  906  of the foot pedal capture fitting  901  similar to that depicted in  FIG. 5  and constructed with a universal shape including inside contact contours  948  that allow for the proper fitting to most available foot pedals without further adjustment, eliminating the need for adjustment pins. 
     It will be further appreciated that in some contemplated embodiments, the invention can also be used to capture and provide static positioning of devices other than a foot pedal. For example, the arrestor could be used to suspend a computer or calculator at a convenient position for operation with respect to another apparatus. When needed, the capture fitting can be modified to accommodate whatever device or apparatus might need to be captured and held in a static position. 
     Because the arrestor can be robustly built, it is ideal for use as a positioning support for apparatuses other than foot pedals. For example, with modification to the capture fitting such as making it wider and/or deeper, the apparatus can be used as a position adjustable computer support. 
     Additionally, for example, the arrestor apparatus can be modified and used to suspend musical instruments in a multi-instrument performance configuration where the position of each instrument needs to be adjusted for the physical reach and size of a musical performer. 
     In other contemplated embodiments, the arrestor can be configured to position something as simple as a common switch adjustably within reach of a user. 
     This invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments. Many modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such alterations and modifications in so far as they come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims or the equivalents of the claims.