US4491050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foot-controlled musical instrument
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-10-25
•
Granted: 1985-01-01
•
Expires: 2003-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A foot-controlled musical instrument, the control portion of which includes a heel rest mounted for rotation so that, while the heel of the playing person is firmly placed on the rest, the foot may easily be turned to various angular positions within a range of about 90 degrees, to bring the anterior part of the foot into position to make contact with any desired one of several (preferably six) pedal keys which, when activated, cause production of various sounds, e.g. according to a tonal scale. The pedal keys are mounted on a spring-loaded plate which may be depressed by foot pressure, the depression thereof serving to control certain characteristics of the produced sound. The heel rest plate is also mounted for movement in one or more linear directions in addition to its rotary movement, and these linear movements control other characteristics of the produced sound. Various other details of the control assembly are disclosed, as well as details of one form of sound production device appropriate for control by the control device or portion of the instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Rainer Franzmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:31
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D13/00; G10C; G10C3/00; G10C3/12; G10C3/14; G10D1/00; G10D1/04; G10D1/05; G10D1/08; G10D1/085; G10D3/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A foot-controlled musical instrument including means for emitting sounds, a control unit comprising a support structure (1), a heel rest (2,3, 84) on which the heel portion of a player's foot or shoe may rest while the instrument is being played, said heel rest being mounted for movement in at least one approximately horizontal direction relative to said support structure, a plurality of pedal keys (4, 83) arranged in an arc of a circle approximately concentric with said heel rest and positioned so that when said heel portion is on said heel rest, the foot may be rotated to enable the anterior portion of the foot to engage and activate any selected one of said pedal keys, and a mounting plate (19) on which said pedal keys are mounted, said mounting plate being arranged for upward and downward movement relative to said support structure, activation of said pedal keys serving to determine in part what sounds are emitted, first means responsive to movement of said heel rest in one approximately horizontal direction serving to vary one characteristic of the emitted sounds, and second means responsive to movement of said mounting plate serving to vary another characteristic of the emitted sounds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A foot-controlled musical instrument including means for emitting sounds, a control unit comprising a support structure (1), a heel rest (2,3, 84) on which the heel portion of a player's foot or shoe may rest while the instrument is being played, said heel rest being mounted for movement in at least one approximately horizontal direction relative to said support structure, a plurality of pedal keys (4, 83) arranged in an arc of a circle approximately concentric with said heel rest and positioned so that when said heel portion is on said heel rest, the foot may be rotated to enable the anterior portion of the foot to engage and activate any selected one of said pedal keys, and a mounting plate (19) on which said pedal keys are mounted, said mounting plate being arranged for upward and downward movement relative to said support structure, activation of said pedal keys serving to determine in part what sounds are emitted, first means responsive to movement of said heel rest in one approximately horizontal direction serving to vary one characteristic of the emitted sounds, and second means responsive to movement of said mounting plate serving to vary another characteristic of the emitted sounds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said heel rest is of approximately circular shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said heel rest is mounted for free rotation relative to said support structure, to facilitate angular turning of the anterior portion of a foot in order to touch a desired pedal key while said heel portion is firmly engaged with said heel rest.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention defined in claim 1, further comprising means responsive to changes in downward pressure exerted on said heel rest by a player for varying a characteristic of the emitted sounds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention defined in claim 4, wherein said means responsive to changes in downward pressure includes a pressure-sensitive converter (84).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The invention defined in claim 4, wherein said means responsive to changes in downward pressure includes mounting means mounting said heel rest for upward and downward movement, and a plurality of converters (45, 46) each responsive to a particular position of said heel rest within its range of upward and downward movement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said heel rest is mounted for approximately horizontal movement in directions along two axes at approximately a right angle relative to each other, said first means responsive to movement along one axis serving to vary one characteristic and a third means responsive to movement along the other axis serving to vary a different characteristic of the emitted sounds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention defined in claim 1, further comprising spring means tending to hold said mounting plate at an upper limit of a range of travel, said plate being depressible below said upper limit by downward pressure applied to said pedal keys by the anterior portion of the player's foot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The invention defined in claim 8, said second means further comprising light projecting means (31), a photoresponsive converter (32) positioned to receive light from said projecting means, said converter having an output which varies a characteristic of the emitted sounds, and a diaphragm controlling the amount of light which reaches said converter from said projecting means, said diaphragm being operatively connected to said mounting plate and arranged to vary the amount of light in accordance with the extent to which said mounting plate is depressed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
191 words
A foot-controlled musical instrument including means for emitting sounds, a control unit having a heel rest on which a player's heel may be placed while playing the instrument, said heel rest being mounted for upward and downward movement in response to varying downward pressure exerted by the player's heel, means responsive to the upward and downward movement of said heel rest for varying a characteristic of the sounds emitted by said instrument, a series of control members arranged in an arc relative to said heel rest and positioned so that a forward part of a foot of a player may press upon any selected one of said control members while the heel of the foot remains on said heel rest and swings from side to side to position said forward part over the selected member, and means responsive to pressure on said control members for controlling sounds emitted by said instrument, said control members being knob-like members (4) and being mounted for adjustment along approximately radial lines toward and away from said heel rest, to accommodate the distance from the heel rest to the control members to feet of different sizes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
191 words
A foot-controlled musical instrument including means for emitting sounds, a control unit having a heel rest on which a player's heel may be placed while playing the instrument, said heel rest being mounted for upward and downward movement in response to varying downward pressure exerted by the player's heel, means responsive to the upward and downward movement of said heel rest for varying a characteristic of the sounds emitted by said instrument, a series of control members arranged in an arc relative to said heel rest and positioned so that a forward part of a foot of a player may press upon any selected one of said control members while the heel of the foot remains on said heel rest and swings from side to side to position said forward part over the selected member, and means responsive to pressure on said control members for controlling sounds emitted by said instrument, said control members being knob-like members (4) and being mounted for adjustment along approximately radial lines toward and away from said heel rest, to accommodate the distance from the heel rest to the control members to feet of different sizes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
205 words
A foot-controlled musical instrument including means for emitting sounds, a control unit having a heel rest on which a player's heel may be placed while playing the instrument, said heel rest being mounted for upward and downward movement in response to varying downward pressure exerted by the player's heel, means responsive to the upward and downward movement of said heel rest for varying a characteristic of the sounds emitted by said instrument, a series of control members arranged in an arc relative to said heel rest and positioned so that a forward part of a foot of a player may press upon any selected one of said control members while the heel of the foot remains on said heel rest and swings from side to side to position said forward part over the selected member, means responsive to pressure on said control members for controlling sounds emitted by said instrument, said heel rest being mounted for limited movement approximately horizontally in addition to its upward and downward movement, and means responsive to approximately horizontal movement of said heel rest for controlling sounds emitted by said instrument, said means responsive to movements of said heel rest and to pressure on said control members including electronic means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
205 words
A foot-controlled musical instrument including means for emitting sounds, a control unit having a heel rest on which a player's heel may be placed while playing the instrument, said heel rest being mounted for upward and downward movement in response to varying downward pressure exerted by the player's heel, means responsive to the upward and downward movement of said heel rest for varying a characteristic of the sounds emitted by said instrument, a series of control members arranged in an arc relative to said heel rest and positioned so that a forward part of a foot of a player may press upon any selected one of said control members while the heel of the foot remains on said heel rest and swings from side to side to position said forward part over the selected member, means responsive to pressure on said control members for controlling sounds emitted by said instrument, said heel rest being mounted for limited movement approximately horizontally in addition to its upward and downward movement, and means responsive to approximately horizontal movement of said heel rest for controlling sounds emitted by said instrument, said means responsive to movements of said heel rest and to pressure on said control members including electronic means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US613900A
Cited
US3126783A
Cited
US769853A
Cited
US1148719A
Cited
US1712638A
Cited
US3381565A
Cited
US3761598A
Cited
US3922944A
Cited
US3962945A
Cited
US4121488A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-01 | 1988-07-02 | 1989-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-01 | 1992-07-02 | 1993-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-01 | 1996-07-02 | 1997-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |