Patent Publication Number: US-7709726-B2

Title: Foot controlled effects knob and related methods

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/969,108, entitled “The Option Knob is a customized knob (of any make up i.e. plastic, fiberglass, nylon, steel, etc.) that allows the user to replace a factory knob, which can only be altered by using their hands, with the new knob design which allows the user to alter the knob with their feet. Specifically designed to be used on effects pedals utilized in the music industry,” filed on 30 Aug. 2007 and incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   Guitar players use effector pedals, also known as effects pedals, to produce sound effects such as delay, chorus, reverb and the like. The guitar connects to the effects pedal and then to an audio amplifier. The effects pedal has one or more control knobs disposed thereon for controlling and adjusting parameters of the sound effects. These control knobs are typically fitted to a spindle of a potentiometer during manufacture of the effects pedal and are finger (i.e., hand) operated. Thus, in order to control the sound effects of the effects pedal, guitar players must reach down (since the effects pedal is situated on the floor) and use their fingers to turn the control knobs, thereby releasing their fingers from the guitar. 
   A guitar player may adjust parameters of the sound effects at an interval during a live performance. However, the inability to adjust sound effect parameters during performance limits the usefulness of the effects pedal. 
   Some manufacturers have converted the effects pedal into an effects unit that is disposed inside the guitar. For example, in the 1970&#39;s, Saint Louis Music Company manufactured an electric guitar, called the Electra, including in-guitar effectors. The Electra included knobs and switches mounting on top of the guitar body to control the effects unit. Though the inclusion of an in-guitar effects unit improved the player&#39;s ability to make adjustments to the sound effects during a performance, the control knobs and switches on the front of the guitar body cluttered its appearance. To use the in-guitar effects unit, the player must still use their fingers to manipulate the knobs on the guitar, thereby releasing control of their instrument. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one embodiment, a foot controlled effects knob controls a variable electronic component. The foot controlled effects knob has a receptacle for coupling with a spindle of the variable electronic component and one or more wings extending from the receptacle to facilitate control of the spindle by an operator&#39;s foot. 
   In another embodiment, a method controls a variable electronic device. A key of a foot controlled effects knob is aligned with a key of a spindle of the variable electronic component. The foot controlled effects knob is coupled with the spindle, such that a foot may turn the foot controlled effects knob to control the variable electronic component. 
   In another embodiment, a collared wing controls a variable electronic component. The collared wing includes one or more wings and a collar attached to the one or more wings. The collar couples with a finger knob to facilitate control of the variable electronic component by a user&#39;s foot. 
   In another embodiment, a method uses a collared wing to control a variable electronic component. A collar of the collared wing is aligned with a finger knob which attaches to the variable electronic component. The collar is pushed onto the finger knob; and the wing attachment is used to control the existing factory-fitted knob, such that a foot may turn the wing attachment to control the variable electronic component. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  shows a front view of a foot controlled effects knob with two wings, according to an embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  shows a bottom view of the foot controlled effects knob of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of the foot controlled effects knob of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a front view of a foot controlled effects knob with a single wing, according to an embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  shows a front view of a foot controlled effects knob with two extended wings, according to an embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  shows a front view of a foot controlled effects knob having one extended wing with a pivoted plate, according to an embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of a foot controlled effects knob configured to attach to a spindle with a flat key, according to an embodiment. 
       FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of a foot control knob receptacle with a tapered channel for attaching to a spindle, according to an embodiment. 
       FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view of a foot control knob receptacle with a securing screw, according to an embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  shows an exemplary method for utilizing a foot controlled effects knob. 
       FIG. 11  shows an expanded top view of a foot controlled effects knob with a removable wing. 
       FIG. 12A  shows a bottom isometric view of a collared wing that attaches to a factory-fitted finger knob (not shown) used to control a variable electronic component that forms part of a musical sound effects device. 
       FIG. 12B  shows a cross-section through collared wing illustrating a tapered aperture that facilitates coupling of collared wing with the factory-fitted finger knob. 
       FIG. 13  shows one exemplary method for using collared wing of  FIG. 12A  to control a variable electronic component of a musical effects device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
   Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, where multiple elements within the figure may not be labeled for the sake of clarity, and the figures may not be drawn to scale. 
   The present disclosure relates to foot controlled effects knobs and related methods that allow a variable electronic component to be controlled by foot. 
     FIG. 1  shows a front view of a foot controlled effects knob  100  with two wings  104 . First and a second wing  104   a  and  104   b  attach to a receptacle  102  configured to attach to a spindle of a variable electronic component (e.g., a potentiometer of a musical effects device such as a guitar effect pedal). Wings  104   a  and  104   b  extend from opposite sides of receptacle  102  forming an angle α between wings  104 . Angle α is preferably 90 degrees or greater so that wings may be individually contacted by a foot. Wings  104   a  and  104   b  facilitate foot control of foot controlled effects knob  100 . For example, one wing  104  may be easily pushed by a user&#39;s foot, irrespective of the initial position of foot control knob  100 . Receptacle  102  is designed to mate with a spindle of a variable electronic component, such as a potentiometer (variable resistance) or a variable capacitor. 
   In an example of operation, receptacle  102  of foot control knob  100  attaches to a spindle  152  of a potentiometer  150  that controls a sound effect of a guitar effects pedal  150 . Foot control knob  100  allows a guitar player to adjust the controlled sound effects of guitar effects pedal  150  using one foot and while playing the guitar. 
   Although foot controlled effects knob  100  is shown with two wings  104 , the foot control knob  100  may include one, three or more wings without departing from the scope hereof. 
   There are three common formats for variable electronic component spindles. A first format has a slot formed in the end of the spindle to mate with a matching key in a controlling knob. A second format has a spindle with a flat running the length of the spindle that mates with a flat key formed within the controlling knob. A third format is a cylindrical spindle, upon which a controlling knob with a fixing screw attaches, the screw functioning to key the controlling knob to the spindle. Foot control knob  100  is illustratively keyed to fit the slotted spindle format although it may be configured to fit with other formats (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 7 and 9 ). 
   In particular,  FIGS. 2 and 3  show a bottom view and a side view of foot control knob  100 ,  FIG. 1 , respectively.  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  are best viewed together with the following description. Receptacle  102  is formed with a cylindrical channel  106  to accommodate insertion of spindle  152 . A key  108  is disposed within channel  106  to mate with slot  153  of spindle  152 . Key  108  operates to prevent foot control knob  100  from slipping on spindle  152  during operation. 
     FIG. 4  shows an exemplary side view of a foot controlled effects knob  400  with a single wing  406  connected to a receptacle  402  by a substantially horizontal arm  404 . Receptacle  402  is formed with a channel  410  and a key  408  for coupling with a spindle (e.g., spindle  152  of  FIG. 1 ). 
     FIG. 5  shows an exemplary side view of a foot controlled effects knob  500  with two extended wings  502  that connect to a receptacle  506  by two substantially horizontal arms  504 . Receptacle  506  is similar to receptacle  402  of FIG.  4 , and is formed with a channel  510  configured with a key  508  for mating with a spindle (e.g., spindle  152 ,  FIG. 1 ). 
   In an embodiment, wings, horizontal arms, and receptacles may be detachable so that foot control knob  500  is configurable for optimal foot control. For example, these components may vary in length and/or size for selectively coupling to meet the requirements of a particular installation. In another embodiment, wings may be hinged to a horizontal arm to allow folding of the hinged for efficient transport and packaging. 
   Any of wings  104 ,  406  and  502 , and arms  404  and  504  of foot control knobs  100 ,  400  and  500 ,  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 , respectively, may include grips fabricated from metal, plastic, or rubber that are textured to provide increased traction. The double arm configuration of knob  500  may facilitate bidirectional control as compared to knob  400  having a single horizontal arm. 
     FIG. 6  shows a front view of a foot controlled effects knob  600  having a receptacle  602 , an extended wing  604  and a pivoted plate  612 . Receptacle  602  connects to a first end of extended wing  604 , and pivoted plate  612  connects to the other end of extended wing  604  by a pivot  610  such that pivoted plate  612  may rotate freely about pivot  610 . Plate  612  serves as a rest for a user&#39;s foot while controlling foot controlled effects knob  600 . Receptacle  506  is similar to receptacle  402  of  FIG. 4 , and is formed with a channel  606  configured with a key  608  for mating with a spindle (e.g., spindle  152 ,  FIG. 1 ). 
     FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of an exemplary foot controlled effects knob  700  configured to attach to a spindle with a flat key format. Foot controlled effects knob  700  has wings  704   a  and  704   b  that extend from a receptacle  702  formed with a channel  706  that couples to a spindle (e.g., spindle  152 ,  FIG. 1 ). In particular, channel  706  includes a flat key  708  that matches the flat key of the spindle, thereby preventing foot control knob  700  from slipping (spinning) on the spindle. 
   In an embodiment, key  708  if formed of one or more spring plates that are inserted into channel  706  to secure foot controlled effects knob  600  to the spindle. 
     FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view  800  of a foot controlled effects knob receptacle  802  with a tapered channel  804 . Channel  804  is substantially cylindrical with a top portion (e.g., the top half of channel  804 ) having a taper of β, such that receptacle  802  may couple by friction fit to many spindles. For example, receptacle  802  may couple to spindle  152 ,  FIG. 1 , by a press fit. Angle β is small, for example between 0 and 5 degrees. Receptacle  802  may be formed with any of foot control knobs  100 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600  and  700  of  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 , respectively, to provide an alternate method of securing the foot controlled effects knob to the spindle. 
     FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view  900  of a foot controlled effects knob receptacle  902  with a securing screw. Receptacle  902  is formed with a substantially cylindrical channel  906  that accommodates insertion of a spindle. On one side of receptacle  902  is located a threaded hole  908  into which a grub screw  904  is screwed to secure the spindle once inserted into channel  902 . Receptacle  902  may be formed with any of foot control knobs  100 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600  and  700  of  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 , respectively, to provide an alternate method of securing the foot controlled effects knob to the spindle. 
   The above-described foot controlled effects knobs  100 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600  and  700  may be fabricated from one or more materials selected from metals, metal alloys (e.g., stainless steel), plastics, rubber, carbon fiber, fiberglass, wood, ceramics and combinations thereof. Foot control knobs  100 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600  and  700  may be conveniently produced by injection molding. 
     FIG. 10  shows one exemplary method  1000  for using a foot controlled effects knob  100  to control a variable electronic component. As previously disclosed, the variable electronic component may represent one of a potentiometer, a variable capacitor, or other such controllable electronic component, of a musical sound effects device (e.g., a guitar effects pedal). 
   Step  1002  is optional, depending whether a finger knob is fitted to the variable electronic component. In step  1002 , method  1000  removes a finger knob from a spindle of the variable electronic component. In one example of step  1002 , a factory-fitted finger knob is removed from spindle  152  of guitar effects pedal  150 ,  FIG. 1 . In step  1004 , method  1000  aligns a key of the foot controlled effects knob with a key of the spindle. In one example of step  1006 , key  108  of foot controlled effects knob  100  is aligned with slot  153  of spindle  152 . In step  1006 , method  1000  couples (e.g., pushes) the foot controlled effects knob onto the spindle. In one example of step  1006 , foot controlled effects knob  100  is pushed onto spindle  152 . In step  1008 , a foot turns the foot controlled effects knob to control the electronic device. In one example of step  1008 , a guitar player uses a foot to push one of wings  104  of foot controlled effects knob  100  to turn spindle  152  and adjust sound effects of guitar effects pedal  150 . 
     FIG. 11  shows an expanded top view of a foot controlled effects knob  1100  with a removable wing  1104 . A receptacle  1102  has at least one keyed slot  1108  formed to receive a keyed end  1110  of removable wing  1104 . For example, keyed end  1110  of removable wing  1104  may slide vertically into slot  1108  to form a secure friction fit. Receptacle  1102  includes a cylindrical channel  1106  that couples to a spindle (e.g., spindle  152 ,  FIG. 1 ). Receptacle  1102  is shown with four slots  1108 , although receptacle  1102  may include more or fewer slots  1108  without departing from the scope hereof. 
   Once coupled with receptacle  1102 , removable wing  1104  facilitates foot control of foot control knob  1100 . Foot controlled effects knobs  1100  components may be fabricated from one or more materials selected from metals, metal alloys (e.g., stainless steel), plastics, rubber, carbon fiber, fiberglass, wood, ceramics and combinations thereof. Wing  1104  and receptacle  1102  may be conveniently produced separately by injection molding. Removable wing  1104  and slotted receptacle  1102  may facilitate packaging of foot controlled knob  1100 . 
     FIG. 12A  shows a bottom isometric view of a collared wing  1200  that attaches to a factory-fitted finger knob (not shown) used to control a variable electronic component that forms part of a musical sound effects device. Collared wing  1200  is formed with a round collar  1202  and an attached wing  1204 .  FIG. 12B  shows a cross-section through collared wing  1200  illustrating a tapered aperture  1206  that facilitates coupling of collared wing  1200  with the factory-fitted finger knob.  FIGS. 12A and 12B  are best viewed together with the following description. Although shown with a single wing  1204 , collared wing  1200  may include additional wings positioned around collar  1202  without departing from the scope hereof. 
   Collared wing  1200  couples with the factory-fitted finger knob by a press fit. That is, collar  1202  is pushed over the finger knob and remains in place by virtue of a friction fit between tapered aperture  1206  and the finger knob. Tapered aperture  1206  has a taper angle δ such that collar  1202  fits many factory-fitted finger knobs. In one embodiment, collar  1202  is elastic to allow collared wing  1200  to attach to finger knobs of various sizes and shapes. For example, angle δ is between 0 and 5 degrees. Once coupled with the factory-fitted finger knob, collared wing  1200  facilitates control of the finger knob (and hence the variable electronic component connected to the factory-fitted finger knob) by foot. That is, the user may use a foot to manipulate wing  1204  to control sound effects of the musical sound effects device. 
   Collared wing  1200  may be fabricated from one or more materials selected from metals, metal alloys (e.g., stainless steel), plastics, rubber, carbon fiber, fiberglass, wood, ceramics and combinations thereof. Collared wing  1200  may be produced by injection molding. 
     FIG. 13  shows one exemplary method  1300  for using collared wing  1200  of  FIG. 12A  to control a variable electronic component of a musical effects device. In step  1302 , method  1300  aligns collar  1202  of collared wing  1200  with an existing finger knob that controls a variable electronic component of the musical effects device. For example, collar  1202  aligns with a factory-fitted finger knob of spindle  152 , of  FIG. 1 . That is, when using collared wing  1200  it is not necessary to remove the finger knob from the spindle. In step  1304 , method  1300  pushes collar  1202  onto the finger knob such that the variable electronic components may be controlled by a user&#39;s foot manipulating the wing. 
   Changes may be made in the above methods and system without departing from the scope hereof. It should thus be noted that the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The following claims are intended to cover all generic and specific features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present methods and systems, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.