Patent Publication Number: US-6215055-B1

Title: Foot pedal boards for musical instruments

Description:
This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/906,700 filed Aug. 6, 1997. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in foot pedal sound effect generator mounting boards and more particularly to a pedal board of the type stated which allows for connection of a plurality of foot pedal operated sound effect generators in a desired array with respect to a musical instrument to thereby alter the sound created by the musical instrument. 
     2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, the use of sound effects generated in conjunction with music from a musical instrument has become quite popular. There are a variety of foot pedal operated sound effect generators which are operated by the players of musical instruments in conjunction with the playing of the instruments to generate a desired sound effect along with the music. Typical sound effects which can be generated include, for example, distortion, wah-wah sounds, so-called “screaming” effects and the like. 
     These sound effect generators are typically referred to as foot pedals or typically “pedals”. Generally, the pedals are used in conjunction with the instrument and an amplifier such that the musical instrument is connected to an amplifier for amplifying the sounds generated by the instrument and for playback on a speaker. The sound effect generators are connected to the amplifier so that the sound effects are mixed with the music generated by the musical instrument. In other cases, the sound effects are mixed with the music and introduced into other forms of auxiliary sound generating components, such as a tape recorder or a sound track, which may already have other prerecorded music thereon. These other auxiliary sound generating components may either amplify or otherwise capture sound, such as another sound effect processing unit. 
     A player of a musical instrument, such as a guitar, for example, may desire to obtain many different types of sound effects and therefore would be required to employ a plurality of foot pedal operated sound effect generators in conjunction with playing of the musical instrument. When the sound effect generators are employed, the musician typically places these foot pedals or generators on the floor of the facility in which the musician is playing. After the musician may engage one or more of the foot pedals on one or more occasions, the foot pedal tends to move and thus, are not in a position where the musician would expect the-foot pedals to be when next required for use. This is particularly a problem when a number of foot pedals are used in combination. Thus, the logistics of maintaining each of the foot pedals in a proper position so that the musician knows the location of those foot pedals by feel is quite complicated. 
     In addition to the foregoing, each of these foot pedals must be connected by a plurality of cables, either to one another or to the amplifier and to the guitar or other instrument. The plurality of cables interconnecting the various sound effect generators and the amplifier or other auxiliary sound generating component and musical instrument and the one or more speakers tend to become entangled with one another and often times will interfere with the ability of the musician to use his or her feet to engage the foot pedal operated sound effect generators. 
     There has been at least one proposed stand for foot pedal controls used in conjunction with a musical instrument, such as a keyboard, as for example, that device taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,415, dated May 1, 1984 to Izquierdo. This particular device proposes a case or box with a removable top which can be raised in the form of a stand to hold the keyboard and with the foot pedals operationally located beneath the keyboard. 
     While the device proposed in the Izquierdo patent does provide for the locating of a plurality of foot pedals, it is specifically limited to use with an instrument which is disposed on the keyboard stand and foot pedals located therebeneath. Moreover, the Izquierdo patent does not provide for any means to fixedly, but nevertheless removably, mount the foot pedal sound effect generators in a specific position. Finally, the device in the Izquierdo patent is designed to be constructed in the form of a stand when in use, which is not only time consuming but requires numerous movable parts. 
     There has also been a pedal board offered by a company known as the Roland Corporation of Los Angeles, Calif. which includes a base, such as a pedal board, along with a carrying case therefore. Moreover, the Roland device is also designed to hold foot pedals. However, in the case of the Roland device, the board is provided with a plurality of recesses or pockets molded into a plastic base and which are each suitably sized to receive a foot pedal. However, the base in the Roland device is not universally adaptable and is only designed to receive those specific foot pedals offered by Roland and used in conjunction with musical instruments offered by the Roland Corporation and which are specifically sized for use on the Roland pedal board. 
     The commercially available foot pedals which provide differing types of sound effects are frequently made by differing organizations and will often come in different sizes and shapes. Hence, the pocket arrangement of the type in the Roland device is not suitable to retain these other commercially available foot pedals and is therefore is limited only to use with the foot pedals offered by the Roland Corporation. 
     There has also been a pedal board arrangement offered by Fxperts Pedal Boards of Raleigh, N.C. However, although this pedal board arrangement does consist of a base board, it has no means for electrically connecting the pedal boards and no means to retain the pedals in exact fixed positions. In addition, it has no means for providing electrical power to the various pedals. In effect, this device primarily serves only as a carrying case. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a foot pedal operated sound effect generator support board for holding a plurality of foot pedals in a desired array and for enabling connection of the foot pedals to a musical instrument through the board itself. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a foot pedal operated sound effect generating retaining board which will allow for mounting of the foot pedals in a desired arrangement in order to enable the musician to know by feel where each of the foot pedals are located and for easy access thereto. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a foot pedal operated sound effect generating retaining board of the type stated which will allow for organizing and carrying of the foot pedals with a case lid releasably connected thereto and which contains sufficient power supply and signal loops. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a so-called “pedal board” of the type stated which can be constructed at a relatively low cost and which is easily usable and therefore widely available. 
     With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts and components presently described and pointed out in the claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A pedal board for releasably retaining a plurality of foot operated sound effect generators which are used in conjunction with a musical instrument, such as a guitar or the like. 
     The term “pedal board” is the term applied to that device of the present invention having a flat surface for receiving a plurality of the foot pedal operated sound effect generators. These sound effect generators are typically connected to the guitar or other instrument and frequently to an auxiliary sound generating component, such as an amplifier for amplifying the sound otherwise generated by the instrument itself. The sound effect generators are operated by the feet of the musician and are typically referred to as “foot pedals” or otherwise, as “pedals”. 
     The pedal board of the invention comprises a plate having a relatively flat upper surface. Means is associated with the upper surface of this plate to releasably hold a plurality of foot pedal operated sound effect generators such that the generators may be mounted on the upper surface of the plate in desired locations. In this way, the musician can easily and immediately locate each of the foot pedal operated sound effect generators by feel. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the means associated with the upper surface is a fiber fastening strip and typically is an enlarged fiber fastening area on the upper surface of the plate which allows a plurality of the foot pedal operated sound effect generators to be mounted thereon. The invention also provides a fiber fastening cooperative layer which is used for attachment to the underside of the sound effect generators. In this way, the fiber fastening attachment layers on the underside of the foot pedals are capable of being releasably attached to the fiber fastening strip on the upper surface of the plate. Typical fiber fastening members which may be used include those offered commercially under the name “Velcro”. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a carrying case, such as a lid, is provided for detachable connection to the pedal board. In this way, a carriable case is formed and allows for the storage of the generators therein when carried or stored. One of the important aspects of the present invention is the fact that the pedal board is designed to releasably mount essentially any commercially available type of pedal and is not limited to any particular model or size. Moreover, when mounted thereon, the pedals can be retained on the pedal board after the carrying is attached so that the pedal boards can be carried in precisely the positions in which they were mounted. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a wiring harness is associated with the board for allowing connection of the generator to the musical instrument and the amplifier directly through the board itself. In this respect, a housing is located beneath the upper surface of the plate and this housing is adapted to carry the wire harness therein. Moreover, plug-in jacks are located on the board and are connected to the wiring harness to allow connection of the generator to the instrument and an amplifier. 
     The pedal board of the present invention is also highly effective in that it provides a specific way to releasably hold a plurality of pedals and to allow those pedals to be transported in a carrying case arrangement from one location to another. Moreover, the pedals can be carried in precisely the arrangement as when mounted on the board so that a player can become accustomed to the precise location of the pedals on that pedal board without fear of having them moved during transport. In addition, the pedal board of the present invention provides a patch bay or patch arrangement for allowing each of the pedals to be connected to desired inputs and outputs for the sound. Further, the pedal board of the present invention also allows for delivery of electrical power directly to the foot pedals and through the patch bay in the pedal board. Consequently, the numerous wires which are frequently required in the prior art are now completely avoided. Thus, the power is provided in an integrated environment in the case. 
     This invention possesses many other advantages and has other purposes which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of the forms in which it may be embodied. These forms are shown in the drawings forming a part of and accompanying the present specification. They will now be described in detail for purposes of illustrating the general principles of the invention, but it is to be understood that such detailed description and the accompanying drawings are not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a pedal board of the present invention and a lid used therewith to form a carrying case in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the pedal board of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded side elevational view showing the means for releasably attaching a foot pedal to the pedal board; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the use of an attachment strip for location on the underside of foot pedals enabling attachment to the pedal board in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the various components forming part of the pedal board of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is one form of a schematic circuit diagram showing the arrangement of the various components forming part of the pedal board and an operative connection to an amplifier and guitar; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit diagram similar to FIG.  6  and showing an alternate arrangement of connection of foot pedals to a guitar and an amplifier; and 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate yet different connecting arrangements for a single amplifier and a guitar relative to the foot pedals. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention,  10  designates a pedal board which is frequently used in conjunction with a carrying case  12  of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. 
     The carrying case  12  is adapted for releasable connection to the pedal board  10  so that the pedal board  10 , in effect, serves as a bottom to a type of suitcase arrangement. In this way, a plurality of pedal operated sound effect generators  14  may be stored and carried in a compartment formed by the attached carrying case over the pedal board  10 . Hinge elements  17  can connect the case  12  to the board  10 . 
     The carrying case  12  may be suitably provided with one or more handles  16  and latches  18  which cooperate with suitable latch elements  20  on the pedal board, in the manner as shown in FIG.  1 . It should also be observed that suitable releasably locking latch  18  and latch elements  20  are also located on the opposite side of the pedal board so that the carrying case  12  can be locked to both longitudinal sides of the pedal board  10 . 
     The pedal board  10  is preferably formed of a relatively light weight yet durable plastic, such as a polypropylene or acetylbutylstyrene, or the like. However, the pedal board may be made of a suitable metal, if desired, or for that matter it may be made of wood or other structural material. The carrying case  12  could also be made of any of the aforesaid materials. Light weight plastics are preferred, although the releasable latches  18  and  20  are preferably formed of a light weight stainless steel. 
     The pedal board is provided with an a top plate  22  adapted to receive one or more of the pedal operated sound effect generators  14 . These sound effect generators  14  are conventional in construction and are designed to provide various different types of sound effects to the music which is generated through the musical instrument. However, each of the foot pedal operated sound effect generators  14  include a base housing  24  and a foot pedal  26  which, when depressed, will enable generation of a sound effect. Typically, the sound effect generating mechanism is included within the housing  24  and actuated when the foot pedal  26  is depressed. 
     The top plate  22  is provided with a releasable attachment mechanism, such as a fiber fastening surface  28 . In like manner, the underside of the housing  24  forming part of the sound effect generator  14  is provided with a cooperative fiber fastening attachment strip  32 , as best shown in FIG.  3 . In this way, when the foot pedal  14  is placed upon the fiber fastening surface  28 , it will immediately and physically adhere to the fiber fastening attachment surface  28 . The fiber fastening attachment surface  28 , as well as the attachment strip  32 , will be cooperative with one another such that one will have a loop-type arrangement and the other will have a hook-type arrangement so that the two can be releasably hooked to one another. One suitable type of fiber fastening attachment surface which may be used in accordance with the present invention is that type commercially offered under the name and mark “Velcro”. 
     The foot pedal operated sound effect generators  14  typically are not provided with an attachment surface on their underside when commercially sold. For this purpose, the present invention provides a plurality of cooperating attachment strips  32  which are more fully illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing. These cooperating attachment strips  32  comprise a layer  34  of the fiber fastening loops or hooks forming part of the fiber fastening attachment mechanism. This layer  34  having the fiber fastening loops or hooks is provided on its upper surface with an adhesive layer  36  and which is, in turn, releasably covered with a release backing  38 , all as best shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. In this way, when the user of the pedal board desires to mount a pedal onto the pedal board, the user will remove the releasable backing strip  38  and cause an adhesive attachment of the cooperative attachment strip  32  to the underside of the foot pedal  14 . This will enable the fiber fastening portion of that strip to releasably adhere to the fiber fastening attachment strip  28  on the upper surface of the pedal board. 
     The pedal board of the present invention is highly effective in that enables the use of a large number of pedals each offering different types of sound effects to be used on the pedal board. Moreover, since the foot pedal operated sound effect generators or so-called “foot pedals” are located in a specific position on the board, they are immediately available and accessible for the musician to operate without having to look for these pedals. They, in effect, remain in precisely the same position in which they were mounted on the board. Moreover, they are not movable without physically engaging the foot pedal and pulling the same from the upper surface of the board. 
     Also mounted on the pedal board  10  is an electrical patch housing  40  having an interior compartment designed to hold a wiring harness  42  of the type more fully illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 of the drawings. This wiring harness allows for connection of the various foot pedal operated sound effect generators  14  to a guitar, schematically shown by reference numeral  44  in FIG. 6, and to an auxiliary sound generating component which, in this case, is shown to be an amplifier  46 , also schematically shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. 
     The auxiliary sound generating component may frequently adopt the form of an amplifier. However, this auxiliary sound generating component may adopt the form of another effect processing unit, a tape recorder or the like. Guitars and other musical instruments are frequently connected to these other forms of auxiliary sound generating components in order to either record, broadcast, or otherwise vary the effects of the musical output. Thus, the pedal board will have an outlet jack (hereinafter described) for connection, as may be desired, to any one or more of these additional auxiliary sound generating components. 
     It should also be understood that a printed circuit board or other form of electrical circuit arrangement could be located within the electrical patch housing  40 . In this way, the typical wiring arrangement of numerous cables connecting various foot pedals to an amplifier and a musical instrument can be completely avoided. Moreover, the attendant problems of the musician having his or her feet caught up in the cables is similarly avoided. 
     The housing  40  is also provided on its exterior surface with a plurality of cooperating pairs of sound effect generating patch jacks  50  and a plurality of sound effect patch jacks  52 . In this way, the musical instrument  44  and the amplifier  46  or other auxiliary sound generating component may be connected directly to the pedal board by cables  56  and  58 , respectively, in the manner as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. 
     The inlet jacks  50  are designed to receive an input directly from the musical instrument, such as the guitar  44 . The jacks  52  would be connected by means of patching cords to the auxiliary sound generating components  46 , such as the amplifier, as shown. 
     The housing  40  is also provided with a DC power inlet  60  and a plurality of DC power outlet jacks  62 . The DC power inlet jack  60  may be connected directly to a power supply which is, in turn, provided with a source of electrical current in order to enable each of the jacks  62  to provide a desired DC power source, as for example, a nine volt DC source of power. Although the power supply may be independently mounted directly to a wall socket, it should be understood that the power supply could be directly incorporated within the housing  40  and connected to the inlet jack  60  so that when a source of power is received, a desired nine volt regulated power can be delivered to each of the outlet jacks  62 . 
     One preferred form of a pedal board construction is more fully illustrated in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 5 of the drawings. In this case, it can be seen that one preferred pedal board construction utilizes a sheet metal frame  70  having upturned side wall forming peripheral retaining flanges  72 . Disposed on the sheet metal frame  70  is a plastic base  74  which generally carries the upstanding electrical patch housing  40 . Integrally formed with the plastic base  74  is a reinforcing structure comprised of a plurality (four as shown) of transversely extending frame ribs  80 . 
     Disposed on and supported by the frame ribs  80  is a relatively rigid wooden board  82  and which is preferably formed of a masonite other form of fiberboard type material. Finally, disposed on the upper surface of the masonite or other fiberboard  82  is a layer of carpet  84 . This carpet serves as the loop section of the fiber reinforcing layers and cooperates with a Velcro layer on the underside of the pedals  14 . 
     In addition, and latched on the upper surface of the electrical patch housing  40 , is a printed label  86  and which may be secured to the patch housing  40  by any suitable means. The various other components are also secured together by suitable means as known in the art. 
     A pair of the foot pedal operated sound effect generators  14  are mounted on the support surface  22  of the pedal board, as shown in FIG.  6 . These two foot pedals  14  are connected directly to the inlets and outlets, as shown in FIG.  6 . In this way, it can be seen that one of the foot pedals is electrically connected in series between the guitar and the amplifier and the other foot pedal  14  is also connected in a series relationship with respect to the amplifier  46  and the guitar  44 . 
     In FIG. 7, it can be seen that a similar wiring arrangement is employed, although patch cables are used to connect each of the individual foot pedal sound effect generators  14  to one another and in a series arrangement with respect to the guitar  44  and the amplifier  46 . In this case, one of the foot pedals receives an input directly from the guitar  44  and the second of the foot pedals receives an input from the first of the foot pedals only the second foot pedal has outputs to one or more amplifiers, as shown in FIG.  7 . This type of arrangement will provide a somewhat different sound than that provided in the arrangement of FIG.  6 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate still other arrangements of connecting a musical instrument, such as a guitar  44 , to one or more auxiliary sound generating components, such as the amplifiers  46 , as shown. Again, it can be seen that patch cords would be used for connection to the various jacks  50  and  52 . In like manner, all of FIGS. 6-9 show the connecting of the various foot pedal sound effect generators  14  to the DC power outlet jacks  62  so that they may be operated by a proper current and voltage level. 
     The circuit arrangements illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 are only exemplary and designed to show the numerous possibilities of connecting the various foot pedals to the musical instrument and to the amplifier. Moreover, all of these connections can be made without a maze of conductors extending between the amplifier and the foot pedal and the musical instrument. 
     Thus, there has been illustrated and described a unique and novel sound board which enables the releasable mounting and fixed location of a plurality of foot pedals thereon and which also enables the connecting of the foot pedals with respect to an auxiliary sound generating component and a musical instrument in a desired arrangement. The present invention thereby fulfills all of the objects and advantages which have been sought. It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings. Therefore, any and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention.