Improved Organ Pedal.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
PRO ISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Organ Pedal.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM BARKER, of 151 Strand, Middlesex, Patent Agent, (a
communication to me from abroad by Grace L. Foster, of Milford Iowa, United States
of America), do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This my invention has reference to an improved Organ Pedal, and it consists in
the parts and combination of parts hereinafter described.
The upper and lower portions of the pedal are connected by toggle-jointed arms
both transversely and longitudinally. Suitable connecting rods connect the arms
aforesaid, and are adapted to fold in the same direction. A suitable pawl is adapted
to engage with notches in one of the said parts, in combination with a finger piece by
means of which it can be engaged and disengaged, and whereby the pedal may be
expanded or contracted to regulate its height to the requirements of the operator.
Dated this 14th day of September 1889.
HORN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Organ Pedal.
I FREDERICK WILLIAM BARKER of the firm of Horn and Son of 151 Strand London
(a communication to me from abroad by Grace L. Foster of Milford, Iowa, United
States of America Gentlewoman) do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This my invention relates more particularly to the pedals of organs, though it is
capable of being applied to other instruments-as sewing machines and the like-and
the object of my invention is to make the pedal adjustable vertically so as to be
adapted to the size of the performer or operator.
The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,
as bereinafter fully set forth and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a side
elevation of a device embodying my invention as applied to an organ the case of
which is in vertical section so as to show the arrangement of the parts. Fig. 2 is a
side elevation of the pedal on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the same as
seen from the outer end; Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of the same in the line ab of
Fig. 3: Fig. 5 a transverse section of the same in the line c d Fig. 4, as seen from the
left of said figure; and Fig. 6, an elevation of a modified form of frame for the pedal.
Similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A common difficulty experienced in the operation of instruments or machines in
which a pedal or treadle is used arises from the fact that the height of the pedal or
treadle is adjusted to the height of an adult person and cannot be either raised or
depressed. This difficulty is more especially apparent in the case of an organ which
is operated by people of all ages. The relative height of the pedal and the key-board
being in all cases practically the same a double disadvantage arises when a child
performs on an instrument. The seat must be depressed to bring the feet within reach
of the pedal, and this brings the arms and hands of the performer far too low for easy
and natural execution. This invention is designed to obviate this difficulty by
providing for an adjustment of the pedal to the relative height of the performer.
Referring to the drawings 1 is the case of an organ of conventional style, which
need not be particularly described, 2 is the bellows connecting by a strap 3 with the

page_text: necting the leaf of one of
king a three-jointed hinge,
of the pedal. Two of the
tudinal thereto, the effect of
both directions while at the
lower part of the pedal 4 which corresponds essentially with the pedal in common use
and is suitably hinged to the lower part of the organ-case. To this lower portion of
the pedal is connected by a system of toggle-joints 5 and, a supplementary piece 7,
of pratically the same shape and size as the lower one en 1 this serves as the bearing
for the foot of the performer. In practice, the tog joints are made like two
common hinges with an extra interlocking hinge-joint
the hinges to the corresponding leaf of the other, thus
which is suitably screwed to the upper and lower boar
hinges 5 are set transverse to the pedal, and two 6 lonte
this arrangement being to brace the parts of the pedal
same time admitting free vertical movement of the same.
The longitudinal hinges are preferably made to fold wardly as shown in Fig. 5
and need not be connected. The transverse hinges, o the other hand, should both
fold in the same direction, and be connected by one or more straps or rods 8 to keep
them in the same relative position. In practice two of these are preferred one at
each side connected with the middle joint of the toge by the pin
which passes
through the hinge. In Fig. 5 a single connecting rods shown mounted near the
middle of the hinges. In the middle of one of the inges is pivotally mounted a
pawl 10 which engages with notches 11, formed on the upper side of the lower portion
of the pedal 4. This pawl is controlled by a finger piecs 12 of thin metal connecting
pivotally with the under side of said pawl and passing under the adjacent hinge. Thus
constructed the pedal is adapted to be expanded or contracted and thereby elevated or
depressed to any desired extent, according to the needs of the operator.
1
By a suitable reduction in the size of the parts, the pedal may be applied to pianos
as well as organs, and the same is equally applica le to the treadles of sewing
machines, footlathes and other small foot power machinery.
The construction already described is such as to cause the parts to expand or
contract perpendicularly to the plane of the pedal, and this form is in practice
preferred; but the construction may be modified with t departing from the general
idea of the invention, and one of these modifications is shown in Fig. 6. In this case
parallel arms 13 are employed instead of the toggle-joints above described, it being
understood that the parts are held in position by a pawl in the same manner as
above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A pedal composed of upper and lower portions 4 and 7 pivotal arms connecting
said parts, a pivotal pawl adapted to engage with notches in one of said parts, and
means, substantially as described, for engaging and disengaging said pawl, whereby
the pedal may be expanded or contracted to regulate its height to the requirements of
the operator substantially as set forth.
2. In a pedal the combination of the parts 4 and 7 forming the bottom and top
thereof, respectively toggle-jointed arms connecting said parts, notches formed on one
of said parts, a pawl pivotally connected with said toggle arms, and a finger piece
connected with said pawl and adapted to engage and disengage the same, all sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a pedal the combination of the parts 4 and 7 forming the top and bottom of
the same, toggle jointed arms 5 and 6 connecting the parts 4 and 7 transversely and
longitudinally connecting rod or rods 8 connecting with the arms 5 which fold in the
same direction, a pawl 10 engaging with notches 11 and means, substantially as
described for engaging and disengaging the same.
Dated this 4th day of January 1890.