US3962945A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foot actuated electronic organ
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-12-11
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Granted: 1976-06-15
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Expires: 1994-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A musical instrument including an electronic organ provided with sound generators of an upper manual, a lower manual, a bass and a rhythm section. The sound generators are connected electrically to control switches in a console, these control switches being actuated by spaced horizontal, arcuately disposed, rows of main, switch actuating, pedals selectively operable by a person's left foot. The main pedals are disposed also in vertical rows corresponding to a basic note of a chord while the horizontal rows correspond to the key of each basic chord. A diode logic, in cooperation with the sound generators and control switches, dictates a prescribed chord of the lower manual sound generator to be sounded when a main pedal is depressed. An auxiliary switch which is actuated by a rhythm pedal operated by the right foot of a person, is adapted, when the additional chords are programmed by depression of a control pedal, to energize the sound generators of the upper manual for producing such additional compatible chords. The main pedals also actuate circuits to the sound generators of the bass and a switch, actuated by sidewise movement of the rhythm pedal, actuates the rhythm section.
Inventors
- 👤 Wade E. Creager
- 👤 Albert P. Sheppard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:38
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/38; G10H1/386; G10H1/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/12; Y10S84/22; Y10S84/23; Y10S84/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
In an electronic organ of the type having note generating means, and a bass assembly the combination of: an array of foot pedals adapted for selection by foot depression; a control pedal adapted for operation by foot depression; first logic means connected with said note generating means for producing chords corresponding to selected notes; second logic means connected with said note generating means for producing chords corresponding to other selected notes; first switch means actuated by said foot pedals for energizing said first logic means, for enabling said second logic means and for energizing said bass assembly; and second switch means actuated by said control pedal for energizing said second logic means as enabled by said first switch means, whereby foot operation of said foot pedals and said control pedals provide chord accompaniment so as to free the musician's hands for playing a separate instrument.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
In an electronic organ of the type having note generating means, and a bass assembly the combination of: an array of foot pedals adapted for selection by foot depression; a control pedal adapted for operation by foot depression; first logic means connected with said note generating means for producing chords corresponding to selected notes; second logic means connected with said note generating means for producing chords corresponding to other selected notes; first switch means actuated by said foot pedals for energizing said first logic means, for enabling said second logic means and for energizing said bass assembly; and second switch means actuated by said control pedal for energizing said second logic means as enabled by said first switch means, whereby foot operation of said foot pedals and said control pedals provide chord accompaniment so as to free the musician's hands for playing a separate instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The musical instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said organ includes a rhythm section, and including a rhythm switch controlled by said rhythm pedal for selectively actuating said rhythm section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
189 words
In an electronic organic of the type having note generating means, the combination therewith of: a. a console; b. control switches disposed in said console; c. means connecting said switches to said not generation means for producing prescribed chords when a switch is actuated, certain of said switches being connected to said note generating means so as to cause said note generating means to produce, in different keys respectively, major chord combinations, certain other of said switches being connected to said note generating means so as to produce, in different keys respectively, minor chord combinations; d. a plurality of juxtaposed foot pedals means projecting from said console, said foot pedals means being disposed arcuately and in a plurality of horizontal rows one over the other, said foot pedals means being connected respectively to said switches for respectively actuating said switches; the foot pedals means in one row being connected to said certain switches which cause the note generating means to generate major chord combinations; the foot pedals means in a second row being connected to said certain other switches which cause the note generating to generate minor chord combinations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
189 words
In an electronic organic of the type having note generating means, the combination therewith of: a. a console; b. control switches disposed in said console; c. means connecting said switches to said not generation means for producing prescribed chords when a switch is actuated, certain of said switches being connected to said note generating means so as to cause said note generating means to produce, in different keys respectively, major chord combinations, certain other of said switches being connected to said note generating means so as to produce, in different keys respectively, minor chord combinations; d. a plurality of juxtaposed foot pedals means projecting from said console, said foot pedals means being disposed arcuately and in a plurality of horizontal rows one over the other, said foot pedals means being connected respectively to said switches for respectively actuating said switches; the foot pedals means in one row being connected to said certain switches which cause the note generating means to generate major chord combinations; the foot pedals means in a second row being connected to said certain other switches which cause the note generating to generate minor chord combinations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The electronic organ of claim 3 wherein said foot pedals means includes a third horizontal row and includes other switches actuated by said foot pedals means in said third row, means for connecting said other switches to said note generating means so as to cause said note generating means to produce, in different keys respectively, seventh chord note combintions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The electronic organ of claim 4 wherein said foot pedals means includes a fourth horizontal row and includes still other switches actuated by said foot pedal means in said fourth row, means for connecting said still other switches to said note generating means so as to cause said note generating means to produce, in different keys respectively, diminished chord note combinations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The electronic organ of claim 5 wherein said foot pedals means includes a fifth horizontal row and includes additional switches actuated by said foot pedals means in said fifth row, means for connecting said additional switches to said note generating means so as to cause said note generating means to produce, in different keys respectively, augmented chord note combinations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
195 words
In an electronic organ which includes an upper manual, a lower manual, a bass assembly, note generating means connected to said upper manual, said lower manual and said base assembly for producing musical notes selected at said upper manual, said lower manual and said bass assembly, and speaker means for sounding notes produced by said note generating means, the combination of: an array of foot pedals adapted for selection by foot depression; a control pedal adapted for operation by foot depression; first logic means connected with said note generating means for producing chords corresponding to selection of notes at said lower manual; second logic means connected with said note generating means for producing chords corresponding to selections at said upper manual; first switch means actuated by said foot pedals for energizing said first logic means, for enabling said second logic means and for energizing said bass assembly; and second switch means actuated by said control pedal for energizing said second logic means as enabled by said first switch means, whereby foot operation of said foot pedals and said control pedals provide chord accompaniment so as to free the musician's hands for playing a separate instrument.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
195 words
In an electronic organ which includes an upper manual, a lower manual, a bass assembly, note generating means connected to said upper manual, said lower manual and said base assembly for producing musical notes selected at said upper manual, said lower manual and said bass assembly, and speaker means for sounding notes produced by said note generating means, the combination of: an array of foot pedals adapted for selection by foot depression; a control pedal adapted for operation by foot depression; first logic means connected with said note generating means for producing chords corresponding to selection of notes at said lower manual; second logic means connected with said note generating means for producing chords corresponding to selections at said upper manual; first switch means actuated by said foot pedals for energizing said first logic means, for enabling said second logic means and for energizing said bass assembly; and second switch means actuated by said control pedal for energizing said second logic means as enabled by said first switch means, whereby foot operation of said foot pedals and said control pedals provide chord accompaniment so as to free the musician's hands for playing a separate instrument.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The musical instrument defined in claim 7 wherein said boat pedals are disposed in a plurality of horizontal rows, said rows being spaced vertically from each other and said boat pedals being sufficiently close to each other that they may be engaged selectively by one foot of a person seated adjacent thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The musical instrument defined in claim 7 in which said first logic means includes a gate matrix the gates of which connect to individual circuits of the note generating means, a plurality of said gates being connected to said first switch means so that the closing of any one of said switches will simultaneously make a plurality of said individual circuits to cause said note generating means to produce a chord each time a selected foot pedal is depressed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
130 words
The musical instrument defined in claim 7 including a console, said foot pedals being mounted in said console for movement respectively from a normal position to a depressed position, said foot pedals being arranged in a plurality of horizontal rows, each horizontal row being spaced vertically above the next adjacent horizontal row, the respective foot pedals in one row being in general alignment vertically with the respective foot pedals of other rows, the foot pedals of one horizontal row being respectively actuatable for causing said note generating means to produce major chords in varying keys corresponding to the selected foot pedal, the foot pedals of another horizontal row being respectively actuable for causing the note generating means to produce, in the respective keys of the foot pedals therebelow, minor chords.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The musical instrument defined in claim 10 wherein the boat pedals of the other rows are actuatable for respective causing the note generating means to produce sevenths chords in response to actuation of the boat pedals of one row, augmented chords in response to the actuation of pedals of a second row, and diminished chords in response to the actuation of boat pedals in a third row.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The musical instrument defined in claim 7 wherein said organ includes a rhythm section, and including a rhythm switch controlled by said control pedal for selectively actuating said rhythm section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-15 | 1979-12-15 | 1980-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-15 | 1983-12-15 | 1984-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-15 | 1987-12-15 | 1988-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |