Abstract:
The present invention provides a foot pedal for a drum that can clamp a hoop regardless of a board thickness of a hoop, improves an operability, handling and moreover, appearance, and increases a freedom of a setting the angle of a foot board. A pedal frame provides a hoop pushing apparatus that clamps a drum hoop. The hoop pushing apparatus includes: a hoop clamp with rotatability; a bolt that is provided at a front edge portion of the hoop clamp, piercing the hoop clamp, and can be adjusted in height; a hoop holding and binding lever that is provided at a bottom side of the hoop clamp with rotability; and a clamp holding mechanism that rotates and holds the hoop clamp at a certain height. The hoop pushing apparatus, upon clamping, holds and binds the hoop with a hoop receiving member and the hoop holding and binding lever.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a foot pedal for a drum for beating a drumhead on a bass drum by using the foot. 
   Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-167913, filed Jun. 8, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   This kind of foot pedal used for playing the bass drums has a hoop clamping apparatus for clamping a hoop (a frame for clamping) (for example, see Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H11-184461, Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H05-73032 and Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H08-248949). 
     FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4A-C  show an example of a foot pedal for a drum in a prior art. A foot pedal  1  of the drum has a hoop clamping apparatus  4  clamping a hoop (clamping frame)  3  of a drum  2 , and upon stepping on a footboard  5 , a leg-power transmission member  6  is pulled down and a rocker  7  is rotated to a direction of a bass drum  2 , therefore, a beater  9  attached to an end of a beater rod  8  beats a drumhead  10 . 
   The hoop clamping apparatus  4  includes a hoop clamp  13  provided with rotatability on a supporting bar base  12  of a pedal frame  11 , an adjuster bolt  14  attached at a back end side of this hoop clamp  13  (side of a player), a cam mechanism  15  rotating the hoop clamp  13  when the hoop  3  is clamped, and so on. The cam mechanism  15  has a cam  17  rotating the hoop clamp  13  and a clamp lever  18  rotating this cam  17 . The cam  17  is formed to be substantially rectangular upon viewing from a side or to be oval (elliptical) and is set to the supporting bar base  12  via a rotation shaft  16  so as to be just under the adjuster bolt  14 . The cam  17  is formed to have an external surface that is a cam-shaped surface, it is kept in a substantially horizontal state as shown in  FIG. 4A  when the hoop  3  is not clamped, and its upper surface touches an under surface of the adjuster bolt  14 . The clamp lever  18  is attached to one edge of the rotation shaft  16 . 
   When the hoop  3  is clamped by using the hoop clamping apparatus  4 , a height of the adjuster bolt  14  should be adjusted corresponding to a board thickness of the hoop  3  beforehand, and a gap between a hoop receiving portion  12 A of the supporting bar base  12  and the hoop clamp  13  should be larger than the board thickness of the hoop  3 . Next, the hoop  3  is inserted into the gap between the hoop receiving portion  12 A and the hoop clamp  13 , and a bottom of the hoop  3  is mounted on the hoop receiving portion  12 A. In this state, as shown in  FIG. 4B  or  4 C, the clamp lever  18  is rotated substantially 90 degrees clockwise, and the cam  17  is raised perpendicularly. When the cam  17  stands up, the adjuster bolt  14  is pushed up, and the hoop clamp  13  pushes the hoop  3  by rotating in a counterclockwise direction around an axis  19  as a center of the rotation, therefore, the hoop  3  is held by binding with both the hoop receiving portion  12 A and the hoop clamp  13 . In  FIG. 3 , a symbol  20  is a rotation axis (shaft) laying across laterally and rotatably between a pair of bars  21  set right and left of the pedal frame  11 , and a symbol  22  is an extension spring giving a constant rotational force to the footboard  5  and the beater  9  via the rocker  7  in a direction of returning.  FIG. 4B  is a figure showing a state in which a hoop with a large board thickness is held by binding, and  FIG. 4C  is a figure showing a state in which a hoop with a small board thickness is held by binding. 
   A setting angle α (height) of the footboard  5  of the foot pedal  1  for such a drum is varied in accordance with a preference of a player, and it is possible to adjust it by changing a length of the leg-power transmission member  6 . In this case, a moving distance (rotation angle) of the beater  9  to the drumhead  10  upon stepping on the footboard  5  is kept constant, therefore, a moving distance (falling distance) of the footboard  5  is also constant regardless of the setting angle α. 
   In accordance with the conventional hoop pushing apparatus  4  above, the adjuster bolt  14  is attached at a rear edge side of the hoop clamp  13 , therefore, in a case such that a setting angle α is small, when the footboard  5  is stepped on, there is a possibility that the footboard  5  may hit the adjuster bolt  14  or the hoop clamp  13 , and therefore, there is a problem in that an adjustment range of the setting angle α is limited. 
   Moreover, the adjuster bolt  14  is set at a position under the footboard  5 , therefore, a hand should be inserted under the footboard  5  and the adjuster bolt  14  should be rotated (screwed, or wrenched) upon adjusting it, that is, there is a problem in that an adjusting operation is troublesome. 
   On the other hand, for example, foot pedals for the drum shown in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H05-73032 and Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H08-248949 are known. 
   With respect to the foot pedal for the drum described in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H05-73032, it is constituted from a connection portion that connects the hoop of the bass drum to the pedal frame and that includes two members, an upper portion and a lower portion, formed in a shape like an alligator&#39;s mouth. These two members are supported by a shaft and can be opened and closed. These two members are pierced and screwed together by a wing nut. Therefore, upon clamping the hoop, it is possible to hold and bind the hoop by the two members in the shape like an alligator&#39;s mouth by clamping the wing nut. However, in accordance with such a structure, the hoop should be clamped by using a clamping force in order to clamp the hoop, therefore, it is difficult to clamp the hoop with a large holding or binding force, and therefore, there is a problem in that the hoop is easily disengaged from the two members in the shape like an alligator&#39;s mouth because of vibrations and the like upon playing. 
   The foot pedal for the drum described in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. H08-248949 includes a cam member for rotating a hoop clamp body and a hoop clamp operation unit constituted from an adjuster bolt with a handle for rotating the cam member, which are on a base plate providing a front frame and their side of the adjuster bolt with the handle is protruding outward from an outer edge of the footboard while they are in a shape extended with an oblique angle in a direction from a front edge portion of the cam member to a side of the bolt with the handle. In accordance with such a structure, because the adjuster bolt is provided at a right or left side from the foot board, therefore, there is no interference between the footboard and the adjuster bolt even when the setting angle is small. Moreover, there is an advantage in that it is possible to clamp and release the hoop by operating at a right or left side of the foot pedal with good operability without being disturbed from the drumhead of the bass drum. 
   However, in a case of providing the hoop clamp operation unit protruding at the right or left side of the foot board, a larger setting space is needed for the foot pedal for the drum upon using, therefore, there is a problem in that settings of other drums or stands for music instruments are limited. In a case of providing the hoop clamp operation unit protruding at the right or left side of the foot board, there are problems such that it has a poor appearance and a larger space for storing is needed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention was devised in order to address the above-described problems, and has as an object of providing a foot pedal for a drum that can clamp the hoop reliably regardless of the board thickness of the hoop, that improves operability and a handling along with providing a good appearance, and that extends a freedom of a setting angle of the foot board. 
   In order to attain the objects above, the present invention provides a foot pedal for a drum, including: a hoop clamp that is provided on a supporting bar base of a pedal frame with a rotatability in a direction back and forth; a hoop of a bass drum that is provided at a front edge portion of the hoop clamp and is adjusted with respect to a height; a hoop pushing unit that pushes and fixes the hoop on a hoop receiving portion of the supporting bar base; and a clamp holding unit that rotates and holds the hoop clamp upon clamping the hoop. 
   In the above-described foot pedal for the drum, the hoop pushing unit may be a bolt that is screwed and set into a screw hole which is formed at a front edge portion of the hoop clamp. 
   In the above-described foot pedal for the drum, the clamp holding unit may include: a cam that is provided at the supporting bar base with rotatability and has a cam surface touching a bottom of a rear edge potion of the hoop clamp; and a clamp lever that rotates the cam. 
   The above-described foot pedal for the drum, may further includes: a hoop holding and binding lever that is provided at a bottom side of a front edge portion of the hoop clamp, has a rotatability upward and downward, and is pushed to the hoop by the hoop pushing unit; and an energizing unit that gives a force in a returning direction to the hoop holding and binding lever. 
   In accordance with the present invention, the hoop pushing unit is provided and its height can be adjusted, therefore, it is easy to adjust the height of the hoop pushing unit and it improves operability and handling of the foot pedal. There is no possibility that a footboard hits the hoop pushing unit, therefore, it is possible to apply the setting angle of the foot pedal smaller and to extend the range of the setting angle. 
   Moreover, the hoop clamp operation unit is provided such that it is not protruding at the right or left side of the foot board, therefore, its appearance is not harmed and space for storing can be smaller. 
   In accordance with the present invention, by applying the clamp holding unit, the hoop clamp is rotated upon clamping, the setting angle is not changed because of the board thickness of the hoop and it is possible to improve the freedom of changing of the setting angle of the foot board. 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the hoop clamp pushing unit is constructed from a bolt, therefore, products on a general market can be applied. 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the hoop clamp is provided with rotatability in backward and forward directions around a rotation shaft which is a fulcrum, therefore, it is possible to provide a large external force at a front edge portion by applying a leverage. Moreover, the clamp holding unit is constituted from the cam provided under a rear edge portion of the hoop clamp with rotatability and the clamp lever that rotates the cam, therefore, a larger external force can be provided on the hoop clamp. 
   In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the hoop holding and binding lever is further included, therefore, compared to a hoop pushing means constructed from a bolt, it is possible to extend a contact area and to clamp the hoop stably and reliably. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing a principal part of a foot pedal for a drum according to an embodiment of the present invention when not clamped. 
       FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the present invention in a state upon clamping a hoop with a large board thickness. 
       FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the present invention in a state upon clamping a hoop with a small board thickness. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional foot pedal for a drum in the prior art. 
       FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view showing the conventional foot pedal when not clamped. 
       FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view showing of the conventional foot pedal in a state upon clamping a hoop with a large board thickness. 
       FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view showing of the conventional foot pedal in a state upon clamping a hoop with a small board thickness. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Hereafter, the present invention is explained in detail based on an embodiment referring to figures. 
     FIG. 1  shows a principal part of a foot pedal for a drum of the present invention when not clamped, and  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show states upon clamping hoops with a large board thickness and a small board thickness. It should be noted that the same portions and/or parts are referred by using the same symbols (reference numerals) for a foot pedal of the prior art shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
   In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a foot pedal  30  of a drum of the present invention, as with the foot pedal for the drum of the prior art shown in  FIG. 3 , includes a pedal frame  11  in a square shape upon viewing from the front, a footboard  5  stepped on by a player with his/her foot, a beater  9  (see  FIG. 3 ) which beats a drum head  10  and the like. However, there is a difference in a hoop clamping apparatus  31  provided at a supporting bar base  12  of the pedal frame  11  and clamping a hoop  3  of a bass drum  2 , from a hoop clamping apparatus  4  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
   The hoop clamping apparatus  31  has a hoop receiving member  32  provided at the supporting bar base  12  for receiving the hoop and a hoop clamp  13  provided upward from the supporting bar base  12 . 
   The hoop receiving member  32  is formed in a inverted triangle shape upon being seen from a side, is set inside a slit (concave, depression or the like) portion  33  formed at a front edge of the supporting bar base  12  by horizontally providing a shaft  34  while being supported with rotatablility in a direction back and forth (in a direction up and down), and has the hoop  3  set on a upper surface  32   a . With respect to the shaft  34 , both edges are supported with rotatability by bearing apertures provided at both right and left side walls of the slit portion  33 , and the shaft  34  pierces an aperture (through-hole) provided at a center between a head and a tail and at slightly closer to a bottom of the hoop receiving member  32 . 
   The hoop clamp  13  has the same length as or longer than a length substantially from a head to a tail (horizontal length in figures) of the supporting bar base  12  and has an appropriate width. The hoop clamp  13  is supported by a rotation axis  19  at the approximate center in the longitudinal direction with rotatability back and forth. The rotation axis  19  is supported with rotatability by a pair of shaft receiving portions (not shown in figures) provided at the right and left while piercing surfaces of the supporting bar base  12 . A screw hole (tapped hole, screwed runner)  36  is formed at a front edge portion (on a side of the bass drum) piercing from an upper surface to a bottom. A bolt  37  constituting a hoop pressing means is screwed into and set into the screw hole  36  from the upper surface, and its lower edge appears out of the bottom of the hoop clamp  13 . 
   At the front edge of the hoop clamp  13 , on a side of the bottom, a hoop holding and binding lever  38  which holds the hoop  3  by binding it together with the hoop receiving member  32  is set. With respect to this hoop holding and binding lever  38 , its front edge is set at just under the bolt  37 , its rear edge is supported with rotatability in upward and downward directions by the rotation axis  19 , and its front edge is touching the bottom of the bolt  37  by pushing because it is always pushed upward by an energizing means  40 . A torsional coiled spring attached to the rotation axis  19  is applied to the energizing means  40 , its one end is hooked to the supporting bar base  12 , and another end is touching by pushing the bottom of the hoop holding and binding lever  38 . 
   The hoop clamping apparatus  31  is provided with a clamp holding mechanism (unit)  41 . This clamp holding mechanism  41  is a mechanism for keeping the hoop clamp  13  at a certain height by rotating the hoop clamp  13  upon clamping the hoop  3 , and is constituted from a cam  17  for rotating the hoop clamp  13  and a clamp lever  18  for rotating the cam  17 . 
   The cam  17  is formed in an oval (elliptical) shape seen from a side, is set inside of a slit (depression, or concave) portion  43  which has an aperture (through-hole) at a center through which a rotation shaft  16  is provided and which is formed at a rear edge of the supporting bar base  12 , and is set under a rear edge of the hoop clamp  13 . The cam  17  has a first cam surface  44   a  and a second cam surface  44   b  substantially crossing at right angles. The first cam surface  44   a  is a surface close to a center of the cam  17 , and is set upward from the rotation shaft  16  and touching a bottom of a rear edge of the hoop clamp  13  when the hoop  3  is not clamped. On the other hand, the second cam surface  44   b  is a surface apart from the center of the cam  17 , and is set at a side of the hoop  3  from the rotation shaft  16  when the hoop  3  is not clamped. 
   The cam  17  is fit and fixed to the rotation shaft  16  by using a setscrew  45 . Both edges of the cam  17  are supported with rotatability by bearing apertures provided at both right and left side walls of the slit portion  43 , and the clamp lever  18  is set at a side of one edge. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the clamp lever  18  is kept in a state of standing substantially up right. In this state, the hoop clamp  13  is kept so as to have a rear edge side at a lower position than a front edge side because the hoop clamp  13  is rotated clockwise by a restoring force from the hoop holding and binding lever  38  due to the energizing means  40 . When the clamp lever  18  is rotated clockwise and substantially at 90 degrees from this state, the cam  17  stands up and the second cam surface  44   b  pushes up the bottom of the rear edge of the hoop clamp  13 , therefore, as shown in  FIG. 2B  or  2 C, the hoop  3  is kept in a substantially horizontal state regardless of the board thickness of the hoop  3 . It should be noted that, in  FIG. 1 , a symbol  46  is a bolt for fixing a plate that is not shown in the figures at a bottom of the supporting bar base  12 . 
   When the hoop  3  is clamped by using the hoop clamping apparatus  31 , by adjusting a height where the bolt  37  is fixed corresponding to the board thickness of the hoop  3 , a gap between the hoop receiving member  32  and the hoop holding and binding lever  38  is set to be larger than the board thickness of the hoop  3 , more accurately, it is set to be substantially the same as a value obtained by adding a difference between heights of the cam surfaces  44   a  and  44   b  to the board thickness of the hoop  3 . As shown in  FIG. 2B  or  2 C, when the clamp lever  18  is rotated clockwise and substantially at 90 degrees in this state, the cam  17  stands up. When the cam  17  stands up, the second cam surface  44   b  pushes up the bottom of the rear edge of the hoop clamp  13 , therefore, the hoop clamp  13  is rotated counterclockwise around the axis  19  as a center and is kept in a substantially horizontal state. When the hoop clamp  13  is rotated, the hoop holding and binding lever  38  is rotated in a manner such as being one unit with the hoop clamp  13  and pushes the hoop  3 , therefore, the hoop  3  is held by binding between the hoop receiving member  32  and the hoop holding and binding lever  38 . 
   As described above, with respect to the foot pedal  30  of the drum, because the bolt  37  which constitutes the hoop pushing means is attached to the front edge side of the hoop clamp  13 , the footboard  5  does not hit a top portion of the bolt  37  or a rear portion of the hoop clamp  13  while the bass drum  2  is played and the footboard  5  is stepped on, therefore, it is possible to improve operativity of the foot pedal  30  of the drum upon playing. 
   In the present invention, in accordance with the structure, the clamp holding mechanism  41  keeps the hoop clamp  13  at a certain height regardless of the board thickness of the hoop  3 , and moreover, the bolt  37  is attached at a front edge side of the hoop clamp  13 , therefore, it is possible to keep and hold the hoop clamp at a lower position than the prior art. Therefore, it is possible to increase the setting angle α of the footboard  5 . 
   In the present invention, the clamp holding mechanism  41  constituted from the cam  17  and the clamp lever  18  is provided, therefore, upon clamping the hoop  3 , it is possible to give a large force for holding by binding to the hoop receiving member  32  and the hoop holding and binding lever  38  even though an operational force is small. 
   It should be noted that, in the embodiment above, the hoop holding and binding lever  38  is provided at a bottom side of a front edge of the hoop clamp  13  in order to prevent damaging to a large surface of the hoop clamp  3  upon holding and binding. Therefore, if such a mechanism is provided by the hoop pushing means  37  itself, it is possible to omit the hoop holding and binding lever  38  and to give a rotational constant force in a returning direction to the hoop  13  directly from the energizing means  40 . 
   In the present invention, the clamp holding mechanism  41  is constituted from the cam  17  and the clamp lever  18 , however, this is not a limitation and it is possible to apply various modifications. 
   While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.