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Timestamp: 2019-10-17 00:12:10
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Matched Legal Cases: ['art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 15', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'art 15', 'art 12', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'arts 12', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 15', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'arts 12', 'art 12', 'art 21', 'art 21']

Pedal device for keyboard instrument - Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
Pedal device for keyboard instrument
United States Patent 7858862
A pedal device of a keyboard instrument which makes it possible to stably secure a required action of a pedal, facilitate assembly thereof, and reduce manufacturing costs. A pedal device for a keyboard instrument of the present invention comprises a chassis 8 having a support portion 30, and a pedal 7 vertically pivotally mounted on the chassis 8, for a downward stepped-on operation. The pedal 7 has a cover 15 formed of a synthetic resin, and pivotally supported on the support portion 30 of the chassis 8, and a pedal body 14 fixed to the cover 15 in a state in which a rear part of the pedal body is covered by the cover 15, and protruding forward from the chassis 8. Further, the pedal device has a chassis 8 having an opening 29 which opens downward, the pedal 7 pivotally supported on the chassis 8 and protruding forward from the opening 29, a return spring 11 disposed under the pedal 7, for retuning the pedal 7 after the stepping-on operation, and a plate 12 fixed to the chassis 8 in a state in which the return spring 11 is interposed, in a manner blocking the opening 29.
Niitsuma, Shinji (Hamamatsu, JP)
11/912870
84/426
84/423R, 84/426, 84/422.1, 84/422.3, 84/422.2, 84/723-725, 84/730, 84/746, 84/72
Download PDF 7858862 PDF help
6528713 Keyboard musical instrument having height controllable pedals 2003-03-04 Maehara 84/426
6376759 Electronic keyboard instrument 2002-04-23 Suzuki
5905220 Method and apparatus for sensing pedal motion and actuating pedals in player pianos 1999-05-18 Lee et al.
3558793 EXPRESSION PEDAL ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT PREFERABLY WITH PRESSURE AND/OR LIGHT SENSITIVE SENSORS 1971-01-26 Nakada
3527134 PEDAL KEY ASSEMBLY OF AN ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 1970-09-08 Muraki
3365994 Bearing block 1968-01-30 Rutherford et al.
JP0584130 January, 1983
JP6217835 May, 1987
JP07219542 August, 1995 PEDAL DEVICE OF ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
JP09212160 August, 1997 PEDAL DEVICE
JP09305175 November, 1997 PEDAL DEVICE OF KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
JP200122355 January, 2001
JP2003223162A 2003-08-08 PEDAL DEVICE OF PIANO
JP200477521 March, 2004
JP2004151593A 2004-05-27 SUPPORTING DEVICE OF GRAND PIANO
JP200570565 March, 2005
JPH09305175A 1997-11-28
JPS6217835Y2 1987-05-08
JPS584130Y2 1983-01-24
JPH09212160A 1997-08-15
JPH07219542A 1995-08-18
JP2001022355A 2001-01-26
JP2005070565A 2005-03-17
JP2004077521A 2004-03-11
PCT/JP2006/307460 International Search Report w/English translation.
German Search Report with English Translation PCT/ISA/210 for PCT/JP2006/307460 with English Translation.
1. A pedal device for a keyboard instrument, including: a chassis having a support portion, and a pedal vertically pivotally mounted on said chassis, for a downward stepped-on operation, wherein said pedal comprises: a cover that is formed of a synthetic resin, and is pivotally supported on said support portion of said chassis; and a pedal body that is fixed to said cover in a state in which a rear part of said pedal body is covered by said cover, and protrudes forward from said chassis.
3. A pedal device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising an optical sensor provided inside said chassis, for detecting a stepped-on amount of said pedal, wherein a light-shielding portion is integrally formed with said cover, for blocking light from entering said optical sensor from outside of said chassis.
4. A pedal device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cover has a reflecting surface portion integrally formed therewith, and wherein said optical sensor is formed by a reflection-type optical sensor which has a light-emitting element, and a light-receiving element, and detects said stepped-on amount of said pedal by receiving light emitted from said light-emitting element and reflected from said reflecting surface portion, using said light-receiving element.
5. A pedal device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a coil spring for returning said pedal after the stepped-on operation, wherein said cover is integrally formed with a positioning protrusion for positioning said coil spring.
6. A pedal device for a keyboard instrument, comprising: a chassis; a pedal vertically pivotally supported on said chassis, for a downward stepped-on operation; an optical sensor provided inside said chassis, for detecting a stepped-on amount of said pedal; and a light-shielding member formed of a synthetic resin and integrally formed with said pedal, for blocking light from entering said optical sensor from outside of said chassis.
8. A pedal device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said light-shielding member has a reflecting surface portion integrally formed therewith, and wherein said optical sensor is formed by a reflection-type optical sensor which has a light-emitting element, and a light-receiving element, and detects said stepped-on amount of said pedal by receiving light emitted from said light-emitting element and reflected from said reflecting surface portion, using said light-receiving element.
9. A pedal device as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a coil spring for returning said pedal after the stepped-on operation, wherein said light-shielding member is integrally formed with a positioning protrusion for positioning said coil spring.
10. A pedal device for a keyboard instrument, comprising: a chassis; a pedal vertically pivotally supported on said chassis, for a downward stepped-on operation; an optical sensor provided inside said chassis, for detecting a stepped-on amount of said pedal; and a guide member formed of a synthetic resin and integrally formed with said pedal, for being guided by said chassis to thereby restrict a lateral movement of said pedal, wherein said guide member has a reflecting surface portion integrally formed therewith, and the pedal device further comprising a reflection-type optical sensor which has a light-emitting element, and a light-receiving element, and detects a stepped-on amount of said pedal by receiving light emitted from said light-emitting element and reflected from said reflecting surface portion, using said light-receiving element.
11. A pedal device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a coil spring for returning said pedal after the stepped-on operation, wherein said guide member is integrally formed with a positioning protrusion for positioning said coil spring.
12. A pedal device for a keyboard instrument, comprising: a chassis having an opening which opens downward; a pedal vertically pivotally supported on said chassis and protruding forward from the opening, for a downward stepped-on operation; a return spring disposed under said pedal, for retuning said pedal after the stepped-on operation; and a plate fixed to said chassis in a state in which said return spring is interposed therebetween, in a manner blocking the opening.
15. A pedal device for a keyboard instrument, comprising: a chassis having an opening which opens downward; a pedal vertically pivotally supported on said chassis and protruding forward from the opening, for a downward stepped-on operation; a return spring disposed under said pedal, for retuning said pedal after the stepped-on operation; a plate disposed under said return spring; provisional fixing means for provisionally fixing said plate, in a state in which said return spring is compressed, in a manner blocking the opening; and a screw for fixing said plate provisionally fixed by said provisional fixing means, to said chassis.
16. A pedal device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said provisional fixing means has: an engaging hole formed in one of said chassis and said plate; and a hook provided on the other of said chassis and said plate, for being engaged with said engaging hole.
18. A pedal device for a keyboard instrument, comprising: a chassis having an opening which opens downward; a pedal vertically pivotally supported on said chassis and protruding forward from the opening, for a downward stepped-on operation; a return spring disposed under said pedal, for retuning said pedal after the stepped-on operation; a plate formed of a metal and having a screw hole-provided protrusion formed by fluing, said plate being fixed to said chassis in a state causing compression of said return spring, in a manner blocking the opening; and an adjuster bolt screwed into the screw hole of said protrusion from below, for supporting load from said pedal.
The present invention relates to a pedal device for a keyboard instrument which is used to impart a pedal effect e.g. in an electronic piano or the like.
As a conventional pedal device for an electronic piano, there has been known one disclosed e.g. in Patent Literature 1. This pedal device is comprised of a pedal box having an inverted U shape in cross section and fixedly mounted between left and right legs of the electronic piano, a frame having a U shape in cross section and accommodated in the pedal box, and three pedals mounted to the frame. Each of the pedal box and the frame has a front wall thereof formed with openings through which the respective pedals are inserted. Further, the frame has a rear wall thereof formed with engaging holes for engagement with the respective pedals.
To attain the object, a pedal device for a keyboard instrument as claimed in claim 1 of the present invention includes a chassis having a support portion, and a pedal vertically pivotally mounted on the chassis, for a downward stepped-on operation, wherein the pedal comprises a cover that is formed of a synthetic resin, and is pivotally supported on the support portion of the chassis, and a pedal body that is fixed to the cover in a state in which a rear part of the pedal body is covered by the cover, and protrudes forward from the chassis.
FIG. 1 A perspective view of an electronic piano using a pedal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 4(a) a perspective view of the pedal as viewed from above, and (b) a perspective view of the pedal as viewed from below.
FIGS. 6(a) a perspective view of a cover as viewed from above, and (b) a perspective view of the cover as viewed from below.
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof. FIG. 1 shows an electronic piano 2 using a pedal device 1 to which the present invention is applied. This electronic piano 2 is comprised of a piano body 4 including a keyboard 3, and left and right legs 5, 5 supporting the piano body 4. The pedal device 1 is disposed in the central part of a pedal base 6 bridging between the lower parts of the respective left and right legs 5, 5, and has three pedals 7 (a loud pedal, a sostenuto pedal, and a soft pedal arranged from right to left in the mentioned order) each protruding forward from the pedal base 6.
The cover 15 is formed by a molded article of a synthetic resin, such as a white polyacetal resin. As shown in FIG. 6, the cover 15 has a top wall 15a, left and right side walls 15b, 15b, and a rear wall 15c, and is formed into a hollow shape having open front and bottom faces. A front part 15d of the top wall 15a is formed with a screw hole 19. The front part 15d of the top wall 15a has a flat upper surface, and a portion of the upper surface opposed to the optical sensor 9 functions as a reflecting surface portion for reflecting light emitted from a light-emitting element 9a of the optical sensor 9. A rear part 15e of the top wall 15a is somewhat higher than the front part 15d, and the supported recess 20 semicircular in cross section is formed in the rear part 15e in a manner extending transversely entirely across the rear part 15e.
Further, the cover 15 has a front end erected as a guide part 21. The guide part 21 has larger width and height than those of the top wall 15a to form a flange shape, and is formed into an inverted U shape with left and right vertical parts 21a, 21a and a horizontal part 21b (light-shielding portion) bridging between the upper ends of the respective vertical parts 21a, 21a, such that the left and right vertical parts 21a, 21a and the horizontal part 21b define an opening 22. Fins 23 (light-shielding portions) protrude outward from the lower ends of the respective left and right side walls 15b, 15b of the cover 15. The fins 23 extend in the front-rear direction, and the front ends thereof are continuous with the lower ends of the respective vertical parts 21a of the guide part 21. Further, a hollow cylindrical positioning protrusion 24 is provided on the front portion of the lower surface of the top wall 15a of the cover 15, for positioning the coil spring 11.
As shown in FIG. 2, the printed circuit board 10 extends along the chassis 8 in the left-right direction, and is fixed to the top of the chassis 8 by screws 33 inserted through the respective holes 26 of the chassis 8. The printed circuit board 10 is connected to a sounding controller (not shone). Further, the optical sensor 9 is disposed on the reverse side of the printed circuit board 10 at a location corresponding to each pedal 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the optical sensor 9 is a reflection type having the light-emitting element 9a and the light-receiving element 9b. Specifically, the optical sensor 9 is configured to radiate light emitted from the light-emitting element 9a toward the reflecting surface portion, i.e. the front part 15d of the top wall 15a of the cover 15, and receive light reflected from the reflecting surface portion, using the light-receiving element 9b. The stepped-on amount of the pedal 7 is detected based on a time difference between light-emitting timing of the light-emitting element 9a and light-receiving timing of the light-receiving element 9b.
The presser plate 12 is fixed to the lower face of the chassis 8 in a manner blocking the pedal-holding sections 28 and the openings 29. The presser plate 12 holds the pedals 7 and the coil springs 11 so as to prevent them from falling off downward, and functions as a stopper for setting the lower limit position of the pedals 7. The presser plate 12 is formed by a bent steel plate, and is comprised of a main part 12a extending horizontally in the left-right direction, reinforcement parts 12b, 12b vertically extending upward from the respective front and rear ends of the main part 12a, and mounting parts 12c, 12c extending rearward from the upper ends of the respective reinforcement parts 12b, 12b.
The main part 12a of the presser plate 12 has three protrusions 42 formed at respective locations corresponding to the respective pedals 7, for positioning the coil springs 11, and a single protrusion 43 formed in the center thereof, for mounting an adjuster bolt 13. Each of these protrusions is formed by fluing, to protrude upward, and the protrusion 43 is formed with a screw hole 44. Further, two bolt holes 45 for use in inserting respective screws (not shown) for fixing the chassis 8 to the pedal base 6 are formed in the main part 12a at respective two predetermined locations.
Each of the mounting parts 12c of the presser plate 12 has a plurality of square engaging holes 46 formed at locations corresponding to the respective hooks 41 of the chassis 8, and a plurality of holes 47 formed at locations corresponding to the respective holes 27 of the chassis 8. Further, three cushions made of felt or hard rubber are affixed to the upper surface of the front mounting part 12 at locations corresponding to the respective pedals 7. Furthermore, similar cushions 35 are affixed to the upper edge parts, which are located above the upper surface of the front mounting part 12c, of the respective openings 29 of the chassis 8 (see FIG. 3).
The adjuster bolt 13 is disposed in the center of the pedal device 10 in the left-right direction, and is comprised of a bolt part 13a screwed into the screw hole 44 of the protrusion 43 of the presser plate 12 in a vertically movable manner, and a disk-shaped pressure-contact part 13b fixed to the lower end of the bolt part 13a. By turning the adjuster bolt 13, the pressure-contact part 13b is installed on a floor F in a state pressed against the same to support load acting downward when the pedal 7 is stepped on.
The pedal device 1 constructed as above is assembled in a procedure illustrated in FIG. 12. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12(a), the portion of each pedal 7 covered by the cover 15 is inserted into the associated pedal-holding section 28 of the chassis 8 in a state where the chassis 8 is inverted. Then, each coil spring 11 is fitted on the positioning protrusion 24 (see FIG. 4(b)) of the associated pedal 7. This causes the coil spring 11 to be positioned at a predetermined location on the associated pedal 7. Next, the presser plate 12 is placed on the three coil springs 11 in a manner spanning these. At this time, the three protrusions 42 for positioning the presser plate 12 are fitted in the respective coil springs 11, whereby the presser plate 12 is correctly positioned with respect to the coil springs 11.
Then, the presser plate 12 is pressed toward the chassis 8 while compressing the coil springs 11, to thereby fit the engaging holes 46 of the presser plate 12 on the respective hooks 41 of the chassis 8. Thereafter, the presser plate 12 is slid toward the pedal bodies 14 until the rear edge of each of the engaging holes 46 is brought into contact with the associated hook 41. This causes the engaging holes 46 to be brought into engagement with the respective hooks 41, with the spring forces of the respective coil springs 11 acting thereon (see FIG. 12(b)), whereby the presser plate 12 is provisionally fixed to the chassis 8 and positioned at the predetermined location on the chassis 8 in the front-rear direction.
When the pedal body 14 is stepped on from this non-stepped-on state, the pedal 7 pivotally moves downward about the support portion 30 against the spring force of the coil spring 11. The lower limit position of the pedal 7 is set by abutment of the pedal 14 against the cushion 34. When the pedal 7 pivotally moves, the other portion of the cover 15 than the guide part 21 passes through between the guide blocks 32, 32, and the left and right vertical parts 21a, 21a of the guide part 21 of the cover 15 are guided by the guide hole 31, whereby lateral movement of the pedal 7 is restricted.
The stepped-on amount of the pedal 7 at this time is detected by the optical sensor 9 as described hereinbefore. A signal indicative of the sensed stepped-on amount is delivered to the sounding controller via the printed circuit board 10, and a pedal effect is provided according to the stepped-on amount of the pedal 7. The fins 23, 23 of the cover 15 of the pedal 7 cover the guide blocks 32, 32 of the chassis 8 from below to thereby block external light from entering the chassis 8 from below. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal part 21b of the guide part 21 covers the front end of the printed circuit board 10 to thereby block external light from entering the chassis 8 from above.
Further, since the fins 23, 23 of the cover 15 and the horizontal part 21b of the guide part 21 prevent external light from entering the chassis 8 from below and above, it is possible to sufficiently limit the amount of external light received by the light-receiving element 9b of the optical sensor 9, whereby it is possible to secure a stable operation of the optical sensor 9 to accurately detect the stepped-on amount of the pedal 7.
Further, since the reflecting surface portion (the front part 15d of the top wall 15a of the cover 15) that reflects light emitted from the light-emitting element 9a of the optical sensor 9 is also formed of a synthetic resin, it is possible to avoid a malfunction caused by rust formed e.g. in a case where the pedal body 14 made of a metal is used as a reflecting surface portion, to thereby secure a stable operation of the optical sensor 9.
The guide part 21, the fins 23, the horizontal part 21b, the reflecting surface portion, and the positioning protrusion 24 having the respective functions described above are all integrally formed with the cover 15, which makes it possible to completely eliminate the need to use separate component parts having respective functions similar to those described above, whereby the manufacturing costs of the pedal device 10 can be largely reduced.
Furthermore, since the adjuster bolt 13 is mounted by being screwed into the screw hole 44 of the protrusion 43 formed on the pressure plate by fluing, a separate screwing member, such as an insert nut, can be dispensed with, which makes it possible to further reduce the manufacturing costs. Moreover, the presser plate 12 is formed of a metal and has the reinforcement parts 12b, 12b extending vertically from the main part 12a, which makes it possible to enhance the rigidity and strength of the presser plate 12. As a consequence, it is possible to sufficiently support load applied by the pedal 7 when it is stepped on and a reaction force received from the adjuster bolt 13 and sufficiently suppress deformation of the presser plate 12. In addition, the cushions 34 are affixed to the upper surface of the presser plate 12 before the presser plate 12 is attached to the chassis 8, which facilitates affixing of the cushions 34.
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but it can be practices in various forms. For example, although in the embodiment, the guide part 21, the fins 23, the horizontal part 21b, the reflecting surface portion, and the positioning protrusion 24 are integrally formed with the cover 15, any of these may be omitted as required, or provided as an separate component part.
The pedal device for a keyboard instrument according to the present invention is used e.g. in an electronic piano, and secures a required pedal action. Further, the pedal device is easy to assemble, and is useful in reducing manufacturing costs.
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