Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a pedal assembly for a percussion instrument. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A typical pedal assembly for a percussion instrument is as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,259. The pedal assembly mainly includes two pedals and two hammers. The two pedals drive the two hammers respectively, so that the hammers can hit a drum. The two hammers are disposed on a single customized frame, which can&#39;t be easily separated by an untrained user. 
     In general, a rookie drum player usually plays a drum with a pedal assembly which has only one pedal and one hammer. As his/her skill is advanced, the player will probably buy another pedal assembly which has two pedals and two hammers. Thus, the former pedal assembly becomes useless, and such pedal assembly is often thrown away. 
     The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above mentioned disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main object of the present invention is to provide a pedal assembly which includes two pedals and two hammers, and the pedal assembly can be reconstituted into two separate pedal assemblies, which has one pedal and one hammer. 
     To achieve the above and other objects, a single-arm pedal assembly of the present invention includes two frames, a first main axle, a second main axle, a first linking element, a second linking element, two pedals, two transmission elements, a first resilient means, a second resilient means, a secondary axle, a clamping element, a linkage member and two hammers. Each frame includes a base plate, a supporting arm, and a pedal axle. Each supporting arm extends upward from one of the base plates. Each supporting arm has a distal end which splits into two rack poles. Each rack pole is formed with an axial hole. Each axial hole extends horizontally. The axial poles of each supporting arm are coaxial. Each pedal axle is disposed on one of the base plates. Each pedal axle extends horizontally. The axial holes and the pedal axle of each frame are non-coaxial. Each main axle is received in the axial holes of one of the supporting arms. Each main axle is rotatably disposed on one of the frames. Each main axle is rotatable about its longitudinal direction. The first linking element is disposed on the first main axle. The first linking element and the first main axle are in a rotational operative relationship. The second linking element is disposed on the second main axle. The second linking element and the second main axle are in a rotational operative relationship. Each linking element is adapted for a hammer to install thereon. Each pedal is pivotably disposed about one of the pedal axles. Each transmission element rotatably connects one of the pedals to one of the linking elements. The linking elements rotate during the movement of the transmission elements. The transmission elements move during the sway of the pedals. Each resilient means is for driving one of the pedals to return to its initial position. The secondary axle is removably disposed on the first main axle. The secondary axle includes a shaft. The shaft is rotatable with respect to the first main axle. The clamping element is disposed on the shaft. The clamping element and the shaft are in a rotational operative relationship. The clamping element is adapted for a hammer to install thereon. The linkage member removably connects the second main axle to the shaft, so that the second main axle and the shaft are in a rotational operative relationship. One of the hammers is disposed on the first linking element. The other hammer is removably disposed on the clamping element. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a single-arm pedal assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial breakdown drawing showing a single-arm pedal assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a breakdown drawing showing a first embodiment of a connecting mechanism between a first main axle and a secondary axle of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a profile showing a first main axle of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial profile showing a first embodiment of a single-arm pedal assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a single-arm pedal assembly of the present invention after it is reconstituted; 
         FIG. 8  is a breakdown drawing showing a fourth embodiment of a connecting mechanism between a first main axle and a secondary axle of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial profile showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a breakdown drawing showing a fifth embodiment of a connecting mechanism between a first main axle and a secondary axle of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a partial profile showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  for a first embodiment of the present invention. The single-arm pedal assembly, which can be horizontally placed on the floor, for a percussion instrument of the present embodiment includes two frames  1 ,  1 ′, a first main axle  2 , a second main axle  2 ′, a first linking element  3 , a second linking element  3 ′, two pedals  4 ,  4 ′, two transmission elements  5 ,  5 ′, a first resilient means  6 , a second resilient means  6 ′, a secondary axle, a clamping element  8 , a linkage member  9  and two hammers  10 ,  10 ′. 
     The frame  1  has a base plate  13 , a supporting arm  14  and a pedal axle  12 . The supporting arm  14  extends upward from the base plate  13 . The supporting arm  14  has a distal end which splits into two rack poles  141 ,  142 . Each rack pole  141 ,  142  is formed with an axial hole  11 ,  11 ′. Each axial hole  11 ,  11 ′ extends horizontally. The two axial holes  11 ,  11 ′ of the supporting arm  14  are coaxial. The pedal axle  12  is disposed on the base plate  13 . The pedal axle  12  extends horizontally. The two axial holes  11 ,  11 ′ and the pedal axle are non-coaxial. The frame  1 ′ has a similar structure to the frame  1 . 
     The first main axle  2  is rotatably received in two axial holes  11 ,  11 ′ of the supporting arm  14 . The second main axle  2 ′ is rotatably disposed on the other flame  1 ′. Each main axle  2 ,  2 ′ is rotatable about its longitudinal direction. The first main axle has an inner surface. A penetrating hole is defined in the inner surface so that the first main axle is a tube-shaped axle. Please refer to  FIG. 3A . The penetrating hole has a first end  21 , a second end  22 , a first section  23 , a second section  24  and a third section  25 . Each section  23 ,  24 , and  25  of the penetrating hole has an inner diameter. The inner diameter of the second section  24  is smaller than those of the other sections. The first main axle  2  forms a first abutting surface  26  between the first section  23  and the second section  24 . The first main axle  2  forms a second abutting surface  27  between the second section  24  and the third section  25 . The second main axle  2 ′ can be a solid axle or a hollow axle, which is similar to the first main axle  2 . 
     The first linking element  3  is disposed on the first main axle  2  in a rotational operative relationship. The second linking element  3 ′ is disposed on the second main axle  2 ′ in a rotational operative relationship. Each linking element is adapted for a hammer to install thereon. More particularly, each linking element  3 ,  3 ′ may include a chunk, which is adapted for a hammer. Or, the first linking element  3  may include a sprocket  31  and a chunk  32 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The first main axle  2  and both the sprocket  31  and the chunk  32  are in a rotational operative relationship. 
     Each pedal  4 ,  4 ′ is pivotably disposed about one of the pedal axle  12 ,  12 ′. Thus, the pedals  4 ,  4 ′ can pivot with respect to the frames  1 ,  1 ′. 
     Each transmission element  5 ,  5 ′ may be a linking bar. Each transmission element  5 ,  5 ′ rotatably connects one of the pedals  4 ,  4 ′ to one of the linking elements  3 ,  3 ′. The linking elements  3 ,  3 ′ rotate during the movement of the transmission elements. The transmission elements  5 ,  5 ′ move during the sway of the pedals  4 ,  4 ′. Please refer to  FIG. 5 . The transmission element  5  may also be a belt or a chain when the first linking element  3  includes the sprocket  31 . The sprocket  31  is adapted for the belt or the chain to coil thereon. 
     The first resilient means  6  is adapted for driving a pedal  4  to return to an initial position. The second resilient means  6 ′, similar to the first resilient means  6 , is adapted for driving the other pedal  4 ′ to return to another initial position. More specifically, the first resilient means includes a fixing piece  61 , a swaying piece  62  and a spring element  63 . The fixing piece  61  may be fixed on the base plate  13  or the supporting arm  14 , so that the fixing piece  61  is firmly disposed on the frame  1 . The swaying piece  62  is removably disposed on the first main axle  2  in a rotational operative relationship. The spring element  63  connects the swaying piece  62  to the fixing piece  61 . The spring element  63  provides a resilient force to rotate the swaying piece  62 , so that the first main axle  2  and the first linking part  3  rotate together. Thus, the pedal  4  moves to an initial position. The second resilient means  6 ′ is provided with a similar structure to the first resilient means  6 . For example, the second resilient means  6 ′ may include a fixing piece  61 ′, a swaying piece  62 ′ and a spring element  63 ′. The fixing piece  61 ′ is firmly disposed on the frame  1 ′. The swaying piece  62 ′ is removably disposed on the second main axle  2 ′ in a rotational operative relationship. The spring element  63 ′ connects the swaying piece  62 ′ to the fixing piece  61 ′. The spring element  63 ′ provides another resilient force to rotate the swaying piece  62 ′, so that the second main axle  2 ′ and the second linking part  3 ′ rotate together. Thus, the pedal  4 ′ moves to another initial position. The fixing piece  61  of the first resilient means  6  may further include a main fixing lump  611  and a secondary fixing lump  612 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Both the main fixing lump  611  and the secondary fixing lump  612  are adapted for a spring element to connect thereon. 
     The secondary axle is removably disposed on the first main axle  2 . The secondary axle includes a shaft  71 . The shaft  71  is rotatable with respect to the first main axle  2 . More specifically, the secondary axle may include the shaft  71 , a first bearing  72 , a second bearing  72 ′ and a threaded element  73 . The shaft  71  has a working portion  711  and a constructing portion  712 . One end of the working portion  711  forms a stepped surface  7111 . The constructing portion  712  extends axially from the stepped surface  7111 . The constructing portion  712  may includes a bigger diameter section  7121  and a smaller diameter section  7122 . The bigger diameter section  7121  connects the smaller diameter section  7122  to the working portion  711 . A distal end of the constructing portion  712  is formed with a threaded hole. The shaft  71  has a third abutting surface  713  located between the bigger diameter section  7121  and the smaller diameter section  7122 . The first bearing  72  includes an outer ring  721  and an inner ring  722 , which is received in the outer ring  721 . Several balls may be disposed between the outer ring  721  and the inner ring  722 . Or, the outer ring  721  may slidably contact to the inner ring  722 . Thus, the outer ring  721  is rotatable with respect to the inner ring  722 . The second bearing  72 ′ has a similar structure to the first bearing  72 . The second bearing  72 ′ includes an outer ring  721 ′ and an inner ring  722 ′, which is received in the outer ring  721 ′. The outer ring  721 ′ of the second bearing  72 ′ is rotatable with respect to the inner ring  722 ′ of the second bearing  72 ′. The constructing portion  712  is received in the penetrating hole from the first end  21 . The first bearing  72  is radially disposed between the constructing portion  712  and the first main axle  2 . The first bearing  72  is axially disposed between the third abutting surface  713  and the first abutting surface  26 . The threaded element  73  mates with the threaded hole of the constructing portion  712  from the second end  22 . The second bearing  72 ′ is axially disposed between the second abutting surface  27  and the threaded element  73 . Thus, the two bearing  72 ,  72 ′ is disposed between the shaft  71  and the first main axle  2 . In other embodiment of the present invention, the shaft  71  may slidably contact to the first main axle  2  directly. 
     The clamping element  8  is disposed on the shaft  71  in a rotational operative relationship. The clamping element  8  is adapted for a hammer to install thereon. Wherein, the clamping element  8  may be disposed on the working portion  711 . 
     The linkage member  9  removably connects the second main axle  2 ′ to the shaft  71  in a rotational operative relationship. Thus, the second main axle  2 ′ and the shaft  71  can rotate simultaneously. 
     One of the two hammers  10  is removably disposed on the first linking element  3 , so the hammer  10  and the linking element  3  can rotate together. The other hammer  10 ′ is removably disposed on the clamping element  8 . In other possible embodiments of the present invention, the hammer  10  may be firmly disposed on the first linking element  3 . 
     Accordingly, the single-arm pedal assembly can be used to percuss a drum, in which the two pedals  4 ,  4 ′ can drive the two hammers respectively. When users need only one pedal and one hammer, the secondary axle and the linkage member can be removed. Also, the hammer  10 ′ may be repositioned on the second linking element  3 ′. In the event, the single-arm pedal assembly is reconstituted into two single-hammer pedal assemblies. Each single-hammer pedal assembly has only one pedal and one hammer, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the shaft may include a rod  714  and a sleeve  715 . The rod  714  has two ends. One end of the rod  714  is received in the sleeve  715 . The rod  714  is rotatable with respect to the sleeve  715 . The other end of the rod  714  extends axially forming the constructing portion  712 . The working portion, which is disposed the clamping element  8  thereon, is formed with the sleeve  715 . The rod  714  may connect slidably to the sleeve  715 . Or, several bearings  716 ,  716 ′ may be disposed between the rod  714  and the sleeve  715  so that the rod  714  is rotatable with respect to the sleeve  715 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 10  to  FIG. 12 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the constructing portion  712  may include a bigger diameter section  7121 , a smaller diameter section  7122 , a screw section  7123  and a stretching section  7124 . The bigger diameter section  7121  connects the smaller diameter section  7122  to the working portion  711 . The screw section  7123  connects the stretching section  7124  to the smaller diameter section  7122 . The smaller diameter section  7122  is received in the second bearing  72 . The threaded element  73  mates with the screw section  7123 . The stretching section  7124  passes through the second end  22  of the penetrating hole. As a result, the swaying piece  62 ′ of the second resilient means may be repositioned on the stretching section  7124 . The spring element  63 ′ of the second resilient means can connect the swaying piece of the second resilient means to the secondary lump of the fixing piece  61  of the first resilient means. The spring element  63 ′ of the second resilient means can make the swaying piece  62 ′ of the second resilient means and the shaft  71  rotate.

Technology Category: 3