Patent Publication Number: US-8993865-B2

Title: Pedal beating apparatus for musical instruments

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a pedal beating apparatus for musical instruments and particularly to a pedal beating apparatus for drums with different drum hoops. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A beater aims to beat a drum to generate sound that determines the rhythm of music, which plays an important role in a music band. The timbre generated by beating a drum via the beater mainly is determined by the characteristics of the drum. Different drums have different timbres. Performers can change the drums according to their preferences and musical requirements during performance. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional beater  1  generally is installed on a pedal beating holder  2  controlled by a drummer&#39;s foot to get desired rhythm. To present different movement characteristics, the drums with different specifications and weights could be used. In order to fasten the drum hoop (not shown in the drawing) of a drum to the pedal beating holder  2 , the conventional pedal beating holder  2  generally has a clamp board  3  to tightly fasten the drum hoop by screwing. 
     However, such an approach of clamping the drum hoop is tedious and time-consuming. Users have to bend their backs for a long time to fasten or unfasten the screw that is troublesome and cannot fully meet requirements for usability and convenience. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pedal beating apparatus for musical instruments that can quickly clamp different types of drum hoops to meet requirements for usability and convenience. 
     To achieve the foregoing object, the pedal beating apparatus according to the invention comprises a pedal beating holder, an elevation adjustment tray and a clamp beam. The pedal beating holder has a fulcrum member. The elevation adjustment tray is movable against the pedal beating holder and has an elevation difference curved surface. The clamp beam is hinged on the fulcrum member and includes a clamp end and a leaning end at two ends thereof. A compression spring is interposed between the clamp beam and the pedal beating holder and located between the clamp end and the fulcrum member to allow the leaning end to move downwards to contact the elevation difference curved surface. The pedal beating holder further includes a clamp boss facing the clamp end. Through the structure set forth above, by moving the elevation adjustment tray, the position of the leaning end contacting the elevation difference curved surface can be adjusted to make the leaning end move upwards or downwards. Thus a seesaw structure is formed to drive the clamp end to move up and down. Hence the clamp end and clamp boss can be used to clamp drum hoops with varying thicknesses promptly, thereby meet requirements for usability and convenience. 
     The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional structure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary exploded view of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary side view of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the invention clamping a drum hoop. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the invention with the pulling portion being pulled upwards. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the present invention aims to provide a pedal beating apparatus for musical instruments. It comprises a pedal beating holder  10 , an elevation adjustment tray  20  and a clamp beam  30 . The pedal beating holder  10  has a fulcrum member  11 . The elevation adjustment tray  20  is movable against the pedal beating holder  10  and includes an elevation difference curved surface  21 . The clamp beam  30  is hinged on the fulcrum member  11  and includes a clamp end  31  and a leaning end  32  at two ends thereof. The leaning end  32  may have a leaning roller  321  located thereon. A compression spring  33  is interposed between the clamp beam  30  and the pedal beating holder  10  and located between the clamp end  31  and the fulcrum member  11  to allow the leaning end  32  to move downwards to contact the elevation difference curved surface  21 . The pedal beating holder  10  further includes a clamp boss  12  facing the clamp end  31 . 
     The elevation adjustment tray  20  is hinged on the pedal beating holder  10 . The pedal beating holder  10  includes a plurality of check teeth  13 . The elevation adjustment tray  20  includes a holding member  23  butting the check teeth  13  unidirectionally so that the elevation adjustment tray  20  is unidirectionally turnable against the pedal beating holder  10  to shrink gradually and irreversibly the distance between the clamp end  31  and clamp boss  12 . 
     The holding member  23  is hinged on the elevation adjustment tray  20 , and includes a butting portion  231  and a pulling portion  232 . The butting portion  231  and the elevation adjustment tray  20  are interposed by a thrust spring  233  which pushes the butting portion  231  to butt the check teeth  13 . The pulling portion  232  is pulled upwards to compress the thrust spring  233  to allow the butting portion  231  to separate from the check teeth  13 . 
     The pedal beating holder  10  includes a base board  40 , an upright pillar  41  fastened to the base board  40 , a foot pedal  42  hinged on the base board  40 , a rotary shaft  43  turnably hinged on the upright pillar  41 , a beater  44  fastened to the rotary shaft  43 , a drawing wire  45  connected to the foot pedal  42  and wound on the rotary shaft  43 , and a return spring  46  bridging the rotary shaft  43  and the base board  40 . The foot pedal  42  is movable against the base board  40  to draw the drawing wire  45  to drive the rotary shaft  43  to turn and drive the beater  44  to move. 
     The return spring  46  is connected to the base board  40  through a height adjustment rod  50  which runs through an adjustment ring  51  by screwing. The adjustment ring  51  is turnable against the base board  40  to change the elevation of the height adjustment rod  50  and alter the tension of the return spring  46 . The adjustment ring  51  is fastened to the base board  40  through a pliable pad  52  which provides shock absorbing effect to enhance structural stability. 
     The upright pillar  41  includes a housing space  411  to hold the height adjustment rod  50 , the return spring  46  and the adjustment ring  51  to provide protection thereof. The upright pillar  41  further includes an indication slot  412  for viewing the height adjustment rod  50 , an adjustment opening  413  for exposing the adjustment ring  51 , and a scale  414  adjacent to the indication slot  412  to indicate the elevation of the height adjustment rod  50  to facilitate changing of the elevation of the height adjustment rod  50  by turning the adjustment ring  51 , thereby the tension of the return spring  46  can be adjusted to meet use requirements. Furthermore, the base board  40  includes at least one set screw  60  threading through the base board  40  to increase traction of the base board  40  and prevent the base board  40  from sliding. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , by turning the elevation adjustment tray  20 , the distance between the clamp end  31  and clamp boss  12  can be shrunk gradually and irreversibly to clamp a drum hoop  70  (also referring to  FIG. 5 ). When unfastening is required, the pulling portion  232  is pulled upwards to compress the thrust spring  233  (referring to  FIG. 6 ) to allow the butting portion  231  to separate from the check teeth  13 ; meanwhile, the elevation adjustment tray  20  is turned reversely to increase the distance between the clamp end  31  and clamp boss  12 , thus the drum hoop  70  can be loosened. 
     As a conclusion, by moving the elevation adjustment tray, the position of the leaning end contacting the elevation difference curved surface can be adjusted quickly to make the leaning end move upwards or downwards. Thus a seesaw structure is formed to drive the clamp end to move up and down. Hence the clamp end and clamp boss can be used to rapidly clamp drum hoops with varying thicknesses, thereby meet requirements for usability and convenience.