Abstract:
An effects pedal mounting bracket designed to securely mount musical effects pedals to bases is provided. The effects pedal mounting bracket works in conjunction with both the existing hardware on a musical effects pedal and the secure mounting hardware provided. The embodiments disclosed herein provide a secure and solid bond between the effects pedal and the base.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/637,365, filed Mar. 3, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and all commonly owned. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to musical effects pedals, and more particularly to systems and methods for securing musical effects pedals to bases. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Musical effects pedals are electronic devices that alter how a musical instrument or other audio source sounds. Effects pedals are used during live performances, in the recording studio, or during practice at home, typically with electric guitar, keyboard, and bass guitars. While most frequently used with electric or electronic instruments, effects can also be used with acoustic instruments, drums and vocals. Examples of common effects units include wah-wah pedals, fuzzboxes, and reverb units. 
         [0004]    A musical effects pedal is typically a small metal or plastic box placed on the floor in front of the musician and connected to his or her instrument that contains electronics that alter the sound of the instrument played by the musician. 
         [0005]    The standard method for attaching effects pedals to a pedal board includes the use of adhesive backed hook and loop fabric strips. There are, however, several disadvantages to this method. 
         [0006]    First, hook and loop fabric uses adhesive backing to adhere to the pedal board and the effects pedal. Because the bottom portions of the effects pedal housing tend to not be flat and level, the adhesive backing of the hook and loop fabric strips do not adhere well to the effects pedals. The adhesive does not offer a permanent solution for mounting effects pedals to pedal boards. The adhesive backing leaves sticky glue residue on both the bottom of the guitar effects pedal and the pedal board when removed, creating a messy sticky film on the pedal and pedalboard. Ultimately the adhesive backing is not long lasting and has limited utility. 
         [0007]    For the most part, the hook and loop fabric adheres to itself very well and thus pulls the adhesive back strips from the pedal and pedal board when removing the pedal. Over time the adhesive backed hook and loop fabric strips need to be removed and replaced. When removing the strips there is adhesive residue left behind. This damages the effects pedals. The adhesive and the hook and loop fabric also collects dirt dust and other debris. 
         [0008]    Another issue commonly associated with hook and loop fabric when used for this application is that hook and loop fabric does not affix the effects pedals to the pedal board securely for travel. When traveling, the hook and loop fabric on the pedals and the pedal boards separates and the pedals become dislodged from their initial desired position. The pedals have to be reset in place and can become damaged in transport. 
         [0009]    Finally the use of hook and loop fabric for this application does not discourage theft. Musical effects pedals and pedal boards are sometimes left for hours unattended and can fall victim to theft. 
         [0010]    The embodiments disclosed herein are aimed at overcoming these and other limitations in the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The embodiments disclosed herein include an effects pedal mounting bracket for use in conjunction with the existing housing screws on an effects pedal and the mounting screws to securely and solidly mount an effects pedal to a base. The embodiments described herein create a stable bond, or connection, between an effects pedal and an associated base. This invention can be manufactured in many different materials, sizes, colors, and shapes. 
         [0012]    There are many advantages of the embodiments disclosed herein. First, the embodiments do not utilize an adhesive for attaching an effects pedal to a pedal board. This allows for the effects pedal to be mounted securely without leaving adhesive residue on the effects pedal or the pedal board. Second, an embodiment of an effects pedal mounting bracket is long lasting, unlike the use of adhesive backed hook and loop fabric strips. The use of the effects pedal mounting bracket will keep the effects pedal securely mounted without using adhesives for as long as needed with no damage to the effects pedal. These and other benefits of one or more aspects will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. 
         [0013]    Yet another advantage of the embodiments disclosed herein includes providing a system and method for securing effects pedals to bases without using adhesive backed hook and loop fabric strips and providing a secure and solid bond between the effects pedal and the base with no damage to the effects pedal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the invention showing the mounting of the pedals; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the pedal and mounting; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and example. This invention may, however, be embodied in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numerals refer to like elements. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a view from above of an effects pedal ( 14 ) being affixed to a pedalboard base ( 18 ) with the use of the effects pedal mounting bracket ( 10 ). As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the base of an effects pedal ( 15 ) contains existing pedal housing screws ( 23 ). These existing pedal housing screws ( 23 ) are loosened, removed and threaded through a guitar pedal mounting bracket ( 10 ).  FIG. 1  also shows how several effects pedals ( 14 ) can be linked together in a chain using multiple effects pedal mounting brackets ( 10 ). The effects pedal mounting bracket ( 10 ) is affixed to a pedalboard base ( 18 ) with the use of bracket mounting screws ( 12 ) and base mounting holes ( 20 ). In one embodiment, an instrument patch cable ( 16 ) is used to connect an electric musical instrument to an effects pedal ( 14 ). 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows how an embodiment of the effects pedal mounting bracket ( 10 ) is attached to an effects pedal ( 14 ). The effects pedal mounting bracket ( 10 ) is attached to the housing of an effects pedal ( 15 ) by utilizing the bottom plate of unit ( 22 ), the existing pedal housing screws ( 23 ) and the clearance holes in the plate ( 24 ). 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional view taken on line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . This embodiment shows an effects pedal mounting bracket ( 10 ) mounted to the housing of the effects pedal ( 15 ) on the bottom plate ( 22 ) using the existing pedal housing screws ( 23 ), the clearance holes ( 24 ) in plate ( 22 ) and the threaded holes ( 25 ) of housing ( 15 ). The clearance of the effects pedal mounting bracket is illustrated in item ( 28 ). 
         [0023]    One embodiment of the guitar pedal mounting bracket ( 10 ) of the present disclosure is depicted in  FIG. 4 . The bracket ( 10 ) comprises a body ( 26 ) and a pair of opposing clearance holes ( 28 ). 
         [0024]    The effects pedal mounting bracket ( 10 ) is used to mount effects pedals ( 14 ) to bases ( 18 ). The effects pedal mounting bracket ( 10 ) is used conjunction with the existing effects pedal housing screws ( 23 ) and the mounting hardware ( 12 ) to mount the effects pedal ( 14 ) securely and without damaging the effects pedal ( 14 ) or base ( 18 ). 
         [0025]    It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that at least one embodiment of the effects pedal mounting bracket provides a completely reliable and highly secure mounting option for musicians of most any type. 
         [0000]    Although the invention has been described relative to various selected embodiments herein presented by way of example, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims hereto attached and supported by this specification, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. For example, the mounting brackets, systems, and methods of the present disclosure may be provided in different sizes, materials of construction, shape, and color. In one embodiment, the effects pedal mounting bracket may be manufactured from steel, plastic, nylon, or any other suitable material without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The effects pedal mounting bracket can also be manufactured in any color or variation of color including red, orange, yellow, blue, green, indigo, violet, black, and white. Different lengths, widths, and thicknesses can also be used in the manufacture of this device. Different shapes can also be employed to accommodate different effects pedals construction. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should be limited not by the embodiment(s) illustrated.