US Patent 8,624,099-Guitar Foot Pedal-Osborne-Jan. 7, 2014

8/16/2019 US Patent 8,624,099-Guitar Foot Pedal-Osborne-Jan. 7, 2014

1/9

US008624099B2

1 2 ) Unlted

States Patent

1 0 )

P a t e n t N 0 . 2

U S

8 , 6 2 4 , 0 9 9 B2

Osborne ( 4 5 )

Date

o f P a t e n t : J a n .

7 , 2014

54)

MUSICALEFFECTSFOOTCONTROL 3,530,224 A * 9/1970 Kushner

e t

a 1 .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

84/742

3 , 8 0 0 , 0 6 0 A * 3 / 1 9 7 4 H a l l m a n ,

J r .

8 4 / 6 7 2

4,491,050

A

1/1985

FranZmann

84/746

( 7 6 ) I n v e n t o r .

Andrew T

sborne,

T o r o n t o CA)

4 , 8 5 5 , 7 0 7

A

8 / 1 9 8 9

C l e m e n t 3 3 8 / 1 5 3

*

* ) N o t i c e : S u b j e c t t o a n y d i s c l a i m e r , t h e t e r m o f t h i s > 1 ‘ ( 5 7 3 1a t e n t

i s

e x t e n d e d o r a d j u s t e d u n d e r

3 5

6 , 6 1 1 , 2 5 0

B 1

* 8 / 2 0 0 3 P r i n c e

e t a 1 .

3 4 5 / 1 6 3

U_S_C_ 1 5 4 ( 1 ) )

by

135

d a y s _ 6 , 8 1 2 , 9 1 8 B2* 1 1 / 2 0 0 4 Yang . . . . . . . . . 3 4 5 / 1 6 7

7,709,726 B2 5/2010 Smith .. 84/626

2003/0128186 A1* 7/2003

Laker . . . . . 345/156

(21)

Appl

NO

13/373’620 2009/0056528 A1*

3/2009

Smith . . . . . . . .

.. 84/746

2009/0199700 A1* 8/2009 G ldt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84/746

( 2 2 )

F i l e d :

Nov. 2 2 ,

201 1 O S

em

* c i t e d by

examiner

( 6 5 )

P r i o r P u b l i c a t i o n Data

Us

OE/0125736

A1 May 3 ,

2013

Primary Exammer * avid . Warren

( 5 1 ) I n t - C l - ( 5 7 ) ABSTRACT

G10H / 3 2

( 2 0 0 6 . 0 1 )

A

o o t c o n t r o l

f o r

c o n t r o l

o f m u s i c a l e f f e c t s from

a

m u s i c a l

5 2 US. C l . i n s t r u m e n t , t h e i n s t r u m e n t h a v i n

an e l e c t r i c a l

s i n a l o u t

u t

g P

USPC

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. .

8 4 / 7 2 1 ;

84/746

o p e r a b l e

t o

send

s i g n a l s t o

a

s p e a k e r s y s t e m ,

t h e c o n t r o l

58 F i e l d

o f

Classi?cation Search haVin a housin

With t

l e a s t one s i d e W a l l ; a r o l l e r r o t a t a b l

) 8 8 y

USPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4 / 7 4 6 ,

721

mounted i n t h e h o u s i n g , a r o l l e r s u r f a c e p o r t i o n exposed and

S e e

a p p l i c a t i o n

? l e f o r c o m p l e t e s e a r c h

h i s t o r y .

e x t e n d i n g

aWay f r o m t h e

h o u s i n g f o r c o n t a c t b y

a

f o o t ,

t o

_ e n a b l e r o t a t i o n o f

t h e

r o l l e r

by h e f o o t ; a n d , c i r c u i t r y

W i t h i n

( 5 6 ) R e f e r e n c e s C l t e d t h e

b a s e

c o n n e c t a b l e W i t h t h e i n s t r u m e n t a n d o p e r a b l e i n

US. PATENT

DOCUMENTS

5/1951 Schmidt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84/692

Evans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 84/731

2,555,295 A

3 , 1 7 8 , 5 0 1

A

*

4/1965

r e s p o n s e t o r o t a t i o n o f

t h e

r o l l e r , t o V a r y

s i g n a l s

from

t h e

i n s t r u m e n t .

1 0 C l a i m s ,

5 Drawing S h e e t s


2/9

US. Patent J a n . 7 ,

2 0 1 4

S h e e t 1 o f 5 US , 6 2 4 , 0 9 9 B2


3/9

U

.

Patent

J a n . 7 ,

2 0 1 4

S h e e t

2 o f 5 U S 8 , 6 2 4 , 0 9 9 B2

1 4

23

22

F I G .

2


4/9

US. atent J a n . 7 ,

2 0 1 4

S h e e t

3

o f 5 US , 6 2 4 , 0 9 9 B2

14

F I G .

3


5/9


2 0 1 4

S h e e t 4 o f 5 US , 6 2 4 , 0 9 9 B2

42


6/9


2 0 1 4

S h e e t 5 o f 5 US , 6 2 4 , 0 9 9 B2


7/9

US

8 , 6 2 4 , 0 9 9

B2

1

MUSICAL EFFECTS FOOT

CONTROL

FIELD

OF THE INVENTION

The

i n v e n t i o n

r e l a t e s t o a f o o t c o n t r o l f o r a

musical

i n s t r u

m e n t ,

Which can be p e r a t e d by one o o t t o

v a r y

and

r

c o n t r o l

v a r i o u s

m u s i c a l

e f f e c t s .

I n

p a r t i c u l a r

i t

r e l a t e s t o

a

movable

f o o t c o n t r o l connected t o t h e

i n s t r u m e n t ,

o r t o an e l e c t r i c a l

component i n a s o u n d

s y s t e m by

a

c a b l e , and

n c o r p o r a t i n g a

r o l l e r

c o n t r o l Which can

be

r o t a t e d

by

one f o o t .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I t

i s

W e l l

knoWn

o

p r o v i d e

a v a r i e t y o f

m u s i c a l

i n s t r u m e n t s

W i t h

s p e c i a l c o n t r o l s Which a n v a r y t h e m u s i c a l e f f e c t s o f h e

i n s t r u m e n t . F o r e x a m p l e t h e p i a n o h a s f o o t p e d a l s

Which

a n

v a r y t h e

e f f e c t s p r o d u c e d

b y t h e s t r i n g s .

H a r p s a l s o

i n c o r p o

r a t e s u c h a f o o t p e d a l .

E l e c t r i c g u i t a r s

a r e

a l s o p r o v i d e d W i t h a

f o o t c o n t r o l d e v i c e

Which c a n

v a r y

t h e

e f f e c t s

o f t h e g u i t a r . U s u a l l y

s u c h

f o o t

c o n t r o l s have b een

i n

t h e

form

of p e d a l of some k i n d . On

p i a n o

f o r example

h e

p e d a l o r p e d a l s a r e p i v o t e d on column

e x t e n d i n g

doWn

b e n e a t h

t h e p i a n o ,

i n

a

?xed

l o c a t i o n .

The

p l a y e r

s

u s u a l l y

l o c a t e d ,

p r e f e r a b l y s e a t e d ,

W h e r e

h e / h e

c a n

r e a c h t h e p e d a l s

F o o t c o n t r o l s

f o r

a

g u i t a r

a r e n o t i n c o r p o r a t e d

i n

t h e

g u i t a r

i t s e l f . The c o n t r o l i s

a s e p a r a t e

component.

I t

i s c o n n e c t e d t o

t h e

g u i t a r

by a n

e l e c t r i c

c a b l e .

I t

can be p o s i t i o n e d i n a c o n v e n i e n t l o c a t i o n on t h e ? o o r ,

c l o s e t o t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e p l a y e r ,

Who

may

be s t a n d i n g o r

s e a t e d .

T h i s a l l o W s

f o r g r e a t e r ? e x i b i l i t y i n

a r r a n g i n g

t h e v a r i o u s

p l a y e r s

o f

d i f f e r e n t i n s t r u m e n t s ,

a n d a l s o t a k e s u p

l e s s

? o o r

s p a c e t h a n c o n v e n t i o n a l c o n t r o l s .

HoWever

s u c h movable c o n t r o l s h a v e u s u a l l y b e e n b a s e d

on some kind of e d a l . E i t h e r t h e p e d a l Was s i m i l a r i n

o p e r a

t i o n t o a p i a n o

p e d a l ,

i . e .

i t

Was

h i n g e d

t o a b a s e , o r t h e p e d a l

Was

a

s o r t

of

i l t i n g

see-saW

d e v i c e ,

With

t h e

f o o t r e s t i n g

on

t h e s u r f a c e .

I n

o t h e r c a s e s

t h e

c o n t r o l Was

some kind

of

button

Which

c o u l d

s i m p l y

b e

d e p r e s s e d o r

r e l e a s e d .

These

c o n t r o l s o p e r a t e d some form o f

e l e c t r i c a l c i r c u i t .

The

range

of

movement

of

such

d e v i c e

Was

e s t r i c t e d by h e

r a n g e

o f

s W i n g i n g o f h e

p e d a l a b o u t i t s

t i l t a x i s .

As

r e s u l t t h e

of

range

of

movement Was

l i m i t e d .

T h i s

i n

t u r n

r e s u l t e d i n

t h e d e v i c e p r o v i d i n g a

someWhat

i n s e n s i t i v e d e g r e e o f

c o n t r o l

o v e r t h e m u s i c a l

e f f e c t .

C l e a r l y

t i s d e s i r a b l e

t o

p r o v i d e

s u c h a c o n t r o l i n Which h e

r a n g e o f p h y s i c a l

movement

a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e c o n t r o l i s

g r e a t e r t h a n

i n

s u c h

p r e v i o u s

c o n t r o l s . T h i s

W i l l

e n a b l e t h e

p l a y e r t o a c h i e v e

a

? n e r

d e g r e e

o f c o n t r o l o f v a r i a t i o n .

A n o t h e r d i s a d v a n t a g e o f knoWn

c o n t r o l s

Was t h a t

t h e y

W e r e r e l a t i v e l y b u l k y

a n d h e a v y .

P l a y e r s o f

a n

i n s t r u m e n t

such

a s a

g u i t a r

W i l l Want o move rom o ne venue t o

another

a s f r e e l y a s p o s s i b l e . Given h a t

t h e i n s t r u m e n t

i t s e l f must be

o f

a

c e r t a i n s i Z e , i t

i s

d e s i r a b l e

t h a t

t h e

a u x i l i a r y d e v i c e s s h a l l

be

a s s m a l l

and compa ct

a s p o s s i b l e ,

s o a s t o render

them

e a s i l y p o r t a b l e When moved f r o m p l a c e t o p l a c e .

I t i s a l s o d e s i r a b l e t h a t , When i n

u s e

such a c o n t r o l s h a l l

oc c upy

a minimum

oor r e a , or “ f o o t p r i n t ” ,

o r

space on

t h e

c o n t r o l ;

b o a r d o f

t h e p l a y e r , t o

a v o i d

i n t e r f e r i n g W i t h

o t h e r

p l a y e r s ,

a n d

t h e i r e q u i p m e n t .

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

W i t h

a v i e W t o a n s W e r i n g t h e f o r e g o i n g c o n ? i c t i n g r e q u i r e

m e n t s ,

t h e i n v e n t i o n p r o v i d e s

a

f o o t c o n t r o l f o r c o n t r o l

o f

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

6 5

2

m u s i c a l e f f e c t s from a m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t , t h e

i n s t r u m e n t

h a v i n g a n e l e c t r i c a l

s i g n a l

o u t p u t

o p e r a b l e

t o s e n d s i g n a l s t o

a

s p e a k e r s ys t e m ,

s a i d c o n t r o l

c o m p r i s i n g

a b a s e a d a p t e d

t o

b e

p l a c e d

on h e ? o o r , t h e b a s e d e ? n i n g a t

l e a s t

one s i d e W a l l ,

a

n o t c h i n

t h e s i d e W a l l , a

r o l l e r r o t a t a b l y

mounted

n

t h e

b a s e

a n d

e x t e n d i n g o u t W a r d l y

f r o m

t h e

n o t c h , a n d

h a v i n g a r o l l e r

s u r f a c e

p o r t i o n

e x p o s e d aWay from h e

b a s e

f o r c o n t a c t

by

a

f o o t ,

a n d

i r c u i t r y

W i t h i n t h e b a s e

c o n n e c t a b l e

W i t h t h e

i n s t r u

ment and

p e r a b l e i n r e s p o n s e t o

r o t a t i o n

o f

h e

r o l l e r , t o v a r y

s i g n a l s

f r o m s a i d i n s t r u m e n t .

P r e f e r a b l y

t h e c o n t r o l W i l l

b e o f s u c h d e s i g n t h a t i t c a n

W i t h s t a n d a t

l e a s t some

o f t h e

body

W e i g h t o f t h e p l a y e r .

U s e f u l l y

t h e c o n t r o l W i l l have a r o l l e r

Which s

mounted on

a h o r i Z o n t a l r o l l e r a x i s , on an a x l e

c a r r i e d

by t h e b a s e .

U s e f u l l y t h e c o n t r o l

W i l l

h a v e h o u s i n g

o r

b a s e o f g e n e r a l l y

r e c t a n g u l a r box

l i k e s h a p e ,

de?ned by f o u r

s i d e

W a l l s

a n d a

t o p W a l l , a n d t h e

n o t c h

b e i n g formed i n o n e s i d e W a l l a n d i n

t h e t o p

W a l l

s o

t h a t

a

c u r v e d

s i d e s u r f a c e p o r t i o n o f t h e r o l l e r

i s e x p o s e d a n d e x t e n d e d o u t W a r d l y f r o m t h e b a s e , f o r c o n t a c t

b y t h e f o o t .

U s e f u l l y

t h e c o n t r o l W i l l

h a v e c i r c u i t r y

mounted i t h i n

t h e

box l i k e

h o u s i n g

s h a p e , a n d a c o n n e c t i n g c a b l e s a s n e e d e d

e x t e n d i n g

f r o m

t h e

b a s e

f o r

c o n n e c t i o n

t o

t h e i n s t r u m e n t ,

a n d

t o t h e s p e a k e r o r o t h e r e l e c t r i c a l e q u i p m e n t . P l u g i n j a c k s

o f

c o n v e n t i o n a l s i Z e a s

u s e d

i n

s u c h equipment

e n a b l e s t h e

device

t o be

moved

rom one

i n s t r u m e n t , o r

from one

com

p o n e n t , t o a n o t h e r , a s

n e e d e d .

U s e f u l l y t h e

c o n t r o l W i l l

have a t l e a s t

one

e l e c t r i c a l com

p o n e n t ,

t y p i c a l l y a p o t e n t i o m e t e r , f o r m i n g p a r t o f t h e c i r

c u i t r y , Which

s

r o t a t a b l e , and a g e a r o r

g e a r s

c o n n e c t i n g

t h e

r o l l e r W i t h

t h e

r o t a t a b l e e l e c t r i c a l

c o m p o n e n t .

T h i s compo

n e n t , f o r example p o t e n t i o m e t e r , may have a

r a n g e o r

a r c of

movement f s much s 3 0 0 or

more

egs.

U s e f u l l y t h e c o n t r o l

W i l l have a

d r i v e

g e a r on t h e

r o l l e r

a x l e ,

and a d r i v e n g e a r

on

t h e

r o t a t a b l e

component, and a t

l e a s t one

i n t e r m e d i a t e g e a r betWeen t h e d r i v e g e a r

and

t h e

d r i v e n

g e a r , t h e

r a t i o s

o f t h e

g e a r s

b e i n g s e l e c t e d t o p r o v i d e a

d e s i r e d

r a n g e

o f

r o t a t i o n

o f

t h e

r o t a t a b l e

e l e c t r i c a l

compo

n e n t .

U s e f u l l y t h e c o n t r o l may ave a r e s i l i e n t member con

n e c t e d t o t h e e l e c t r i c a l

r o t a t a b l e

c o m p o n e n t , Which s b i a s e d

t o

p r o v i d e

a p r e d e t e r m i n e d r o t a t i o n a l

p o s i t i o n .

I n some c a s e s i s may

e d e s i r a b l e t o

provide a non-hori

Z o n t a l

r o t a t i o n a l mounting f o r t h e r o l l e r , s u c h a s a v e r t i c a l

s h a f t ,

W i t h t h e r o l l e r

mounted

on an end

f

h e s h a f t e x t e n d i n g

a b o v e t h e

b a s e ,

o r W i t h a p o r t i o n

o f

t h e r o l l e r

e x t e n d i n g

o u t W a r d l y from

t h e

b a s e t o one

i d e ,

f o r

f o o t

c o n t a c t .

I n

t h i s

c a s e

t h e

f o o t c o u l d

r e s t on h e

? a t

s i d e of h e

r o l l e r ,

a n d b e

o p e r a t e d

b y

t W i s t i n g t h e f o o t ,

r a t h e r

t h a n

r o l l i n g

t h e

f o o t on h e c y l i n d r i c a l s u r f a c e o f t h e r o l l e r .

The v a r i o u s

f e a t u r e s o f

n o v e l t y Which

c h a r a c t e r i z e

t h e

i n v e n t i o n a r e

p o i n t e d

o u t W i t h

more

a r t i c u l a r i t y i n

t h e c l a i m s

annexed

o and forming a p a r t o f t h i s d i s c l o s u r e . For a

b e t t e r

u n d e r s t a n d i n g

o f t h e

i n v e n t i o n , i t s

o p e r a t i n g

a d v a n t a g e s

a n d

s p e c i ? c

o b j e c t s a t t a i n e d b y

i t s u s e , r e f e r e n c e s h o u l d b e made

t o t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g

d r a W i n g s

a n d d e s c r i p t i v e m a t t e r i n

Which t h e r e

a r e

i l l u s t r a t e d and d e s c r i b e d

p r e f e r r e d

embodi

ments

o f t h e i n v e n t i o n .

IN THE DRAWINGS

F I G .

1 i s

a g e n e r a l p e r s p e c t i v e shoWing a p l a y e r

W i t h

a

g u i t a r , a n d u s i n g a f o o t c o n t r o l

i l l u s t r a t i n g

t h e i n v e n t i o n ;

F I G .

2 i s a

p e r s p e c t i v e

o f

t h e f o o t

c o n t r o l o f F I G . 1 ;

F I G . 3 i s a n e x p l o d e d p e r s p e c t i v e o f t h e f o o t c o n t r o l ;

FIG.

4 i s a

schematic i l l u s t r a t i o n

of

an

a l t e r n a t e embodi

m e n t ;


8/9

US

8 , 6 2 4 , 0 9 9

B2

3

F I G .

5

i s an end vi eW on h e embodiment of I G . 4 ; a n d ,

F I G . 6 i s a p e r s p e c t i v e o f

an a l t e r n a t e

embodiment, shoW

i n g

a r o l l e r mounted W i t h o n e

? a t s i d e

u p p e r m o s t , e n a b l i n g

t h e

f o o t t o r e s t on t h e

upper

? a t s i d e

of

h e r o l l e r .

DESCRIPTION

OF A

PECIFIC EMBODIMENT

R e f e r r i n g t o F I G .

1

i t

W i l l

be s e e n

t h a t

t h e i n v e n t i o n i s

i l l u s t r a t e d h e r e , i n g e n e r a l , a s b e i n g u s e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n W i t h

an e l e c t r i c g u i t a r . Such

i n s t r u m e n t s

a r e

W e l l

knoW,

and t h e

d e t a i l s

a r e n o t

p a r t of t h e i n v e n t i o n . HoWever i n such an


and n

o t h e r s i n Which

l e c t r i c a l s o u n d s i g n a l s a r e

p r o d u c e d i t i s c u s t o m a r y t o p r o v i d e a f o o t c o n t r o l

by

Which

t h e e f f e c t s o f

s u c h s i g n a l s

c a n

be v a r i e d . E l e c t r i c a l

i n s t r u

ments o t h e r t h a n e l e c t r i c g u i t a r s may l s o u s e

a

f o o t

c o n t r o l

f o r

v a r y i n g s o u n d e f f e c t s .

I n F I G .

1

t h e i n s t r u m e n t ,

i n t h i s

c a s e a e l e c t r i c

g u i t a r , i s

shoWn a s

( 1 0 ) .

I t i s

c o n n e c t e d

t o

t h e f o o t c o n t r o l ( 1 2 ) by

an

e l e c t r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n c a b l e s ( 1 4 ) .

The i n s t r u m e n t i s

a l s o

c o n n e c t e d t o

a

s p e a k e r ( 1 6 ) . T h e r e

may

e o t h e r

e l e c t r i c a l

components s u c h a s

an

a m p l i ? e r ( n o t

s h o W n ) ,

c o n n e c t e d

a s

W e l l ,

i n

knoWn

a n n e r .

The

l a y e r

W i l l

o f t e n be l a y i n g W i t h a g r o u p . The s p a c e f o r t h e

g r o u p

may be

r e s t r i c t e d .

The

f o o t c o n t r o l s a v a i l a b l e

i n t h e p a s t h a v e

b e e n l a r g e

a n d

c u m b e r s o m e .

T h e y

o c c u p i e d

s i g n i ? c a n t s p a c e . T h e y

W e r e

a l s o added

e i g h t . The

r a n g e

o f c o n t r o l

o f s u c h

c o n t r o l s Was

l i m i t e d .

The

f o o t c o n t r o l

i l l u s t r a t i n g

t h e i n v e n t i o n ,

i n t h i s c a s e

c o m p r i s e d a h o u s i n g ( 2 0 ) o f

g e n e r a l l y r e c t a n g u l a r

s h a p e .

W i t h i n

t h e

h o u s i n g t h e r e a r e e l e c t r o n i c components

i n d i c a t e d

g e n e r a l l y a s

( 2 2 )

on b a s e p l a t e ( 2 3 ) . T h e s e

c o m p o n e n t s

W i l l

b e

d e s i g n e d a n d

s p e c i ? e d

t o

p e r m i t a

r a n g e

o f

a r i a t i o n s

i n t h e

musical

e f f e c t of h e i n s t r u m e n t , o r i n some c a s e s t o c o n t r o l

t h e p a r a m e t e r s o f o t h e r c o n t r o l s .

Such

components may

v a r y from one i n s t r u m e n t t o

a n o t h e r . They

may

a l s o

v a r y , d e p e n d i n g

on h e t y p e

o f e f f e c t

t o be c o n t r o l l e d .

Thus

t h e c o n t r o l may

be

s i m p l y t h e c om

p a r a t i v e

s o u n d s , s u c h a s v o l u m e , o r t o n e , o r t h e y c o u l d b e

t r e b l e / b a s s s o u n d s , o r t h e r e may be

any c o m b i n a t i o n of

e f f e c t s , o r

o t h e r e f f e c t .

Such

i r c u i t s and

components a r e knoW

e r

s e ,

and

e q u i r e

no

s p e c i a l d e s c r i p t i o n . The

v a r i a t i o n i n

s u c h

c o n t r o l

i s p r o

d u c e d

b y t h e

c o n t r o l

s h a f t ( 2 4 ) e x t e n d i n g

f r o m

t h e compo

n e n t s ( 2 2 ) .

R o t a t i o n o f h e s h a f t W i l l c h a n g e t h e c o n t r o l e f f e c t .

I n t h e

p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n s u c h r o t a t i o n i s p r o c u r e d b y

t h e

r o l l e r ( 2 6 )

R o l l e r ( 2 6 ) ,

i n

t h e

embodiment

i l l u s t r a t e d

i n F I G S . 1 ,

2 ,

and 3 i s

mounted

on a h o r i Z o n t a l a x l e s h a f t ( 2 8 )

r o t a t a b l y

mounted betWeen u p r i g h t W a l l s ( 2 5 ) Which a r e

s e c u r e d t o

p l a t e

( 2 3 )

i n

t h e

h o u s i n g

( 2 0 ) .

Housing ( 2 0 )

i s

formed

i t h an

opening

o r r e c e s s , o r

n o t c h

( 3 0 ) , a n d

t h e r o l l e r

( 2 6 )

i s l o c a t e d W i t h i n

s u c h

o p e n i n g . The

a x l e ( 2 8 )

i s p o s i t i o n e d s u c h t h a t

a

p o r t i o n a t l e a s t

o f t h e

r o l l e r

( 2 6 )

p r o j e c t s

o u t W a r d l y f r o m h o u s i n g ( 2 0 ) .

T h e

r a d i u s o f h e

r o l l e r i s

l a r g e r

t h a n

t h e

s p a c e betWeen

h e

r o l l e r

a x l e a n d t h e

e d g e s o f

h e

h o u s i n g .

I n t h i s

Way

h e r o l l e r s u r f a c e

W i l l

p r o j e c t

a b o v e a n d

aWay f r o m t h e h o u s i n g , a n d i s t h u s

e x p o s e d f o r

e a s y c o n t a c t b y t h e f o o t . P r e f e r a b l y t h e r o l l e r ( 2 6 ) W i l l p r o j e c t

b o t h a b o v e and o

o n e

s i d e

o f

t h e h o u s i n g ( 2 0 ) . The

a x l e W i l l

b e

s t r o n g

enough o p e r m i t

t h e

p l a y e r t o r e s t h i s

f o o t

on

t h e

r o l l e r ,

d u r i n g

p l a y .

T o p r e v e n t

a c c i d e n t a l

o v e r

r o t a t i o n s t o p ( 3 2 ) may b e p r o

vided t o p r o v i d e a

l i m i t

t o t h e a r c

of

o t a t i o n of h e

r o l l e r .

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

6 5

4

I t

t h i s Way h e

r o l l e r

( 2 6 ) i s r e a d i l y a c c e s s i b l e t o t h e s o l e o f

a s h o e ,

F I G . 1 .

By

r e s t i n g t h e s h o e on

t h e

r o l l e r

( 2 6 )

a n d

moving t h e s h o e f o r W a r d o r b a c k , t h e r o l l e r ( 2 6 ) c a n b e

r o t a t e d i n e i t h e r d i r e c t i o n .

F l o o r

f r i c t i o n

e l e m e n t s ( 3 4 ) a r e

p r o v i d e d

on h e u n d e r s i d e

o f p l a t e ( 2 3 ) .

T h e s e

may

b e

o f

r u b b e r , o r f o r

e x a m p l e ,

o f

V e l c r o

( t r a d e

Mark)

m a t e r i a l , o r a n y o t h e r s u i t a b l e f r i c t i o n m a t e r i a l .

W i t h i n h o u s i n g ( 2 0 ) t h e r e

i s

a

g e a r t r a i n c o m p r i s i n g

a

? r s t

d r i v e

g e a r

( 3 6 ) a n d a

s e c o n d

d r i v e n

g e a r

( 3 8 ) .

T h i s i s m e r e l y

b y

Way

o f e x a m p l e a n d i l l u s t r a t i o n .

The

g e a r

t r a i n c o u l d

b e

o n l y

tWo

g e a r s ,

o r could include h r e e o r more

g e a r s , depending

on h e

c h o i c e o f

t h e

c o m p o n e n t s .

The f u n c t i o n

o f

t h e g e a r

t r a i n

i s t o t r a n s m i t

r o t a t i o n o f

t h e

r o l l e r ( 2 6 ) t o

t h e

e l e c t r o n i c

c o m p o n e n t

s h a f t ( 2 4 ) ,

Which

n

t h i s c a s e i s

a p o t e n t i o m e t e r .

I n d o i n g

s o t h e

g e a r t r a i n

W i l l

p r e f e r a b l y , a l t h o u g h n o t

e s s e n t i a l l y , p r o v i d e f o r a

g r e a t e r

a r c

of

o t a t i o n o f t h e c om

p o n e n t s h a f t ( 2 4 ) ,

t h a n W o u l d b e p o s s i b l e b y a

s i m p l e d i r e c t

c o n n e c t i o n

b e t W e e n

t h e

r o l l e r s h a f t ( 2 8 ) a n d

t h e component

s h a f t

( 2 4 ) .

I n

t h i s

Way

t h e

a r c

o f

o p e r a t i o n o f

t h e

r o l l e r i t s e l f ,

Which

may y p i c a l l y b e l i m i t e d , i n o r d e r

t o p e r m i t

o p e r a t i o n b y t h e

f o o t , t o

betWeen

9 0 a n d

1 8 0

d e g s , f o r e x a m p l e , W i l l

a c h i e v e

a

v a r y i n g r a n g e o f r o t a t i o n o f t h e component

s h a f t

( 2 4 ) ,

u p

t o

300 o r more degs i f

d e s i r e d , and t h u s p r o v i d e f o r

a more

p r e c i s e d e g r e e

o f

v a r i a t i o n and g r e a t e r

r a n g e

o f v a r i a t i o n o f

t h e

m u s i c a l

e f f e c t .

A u r t h e r embodiment s

shoWn

i n F I G .

4

and F I G . 5 .

I n

some

a s e s

t h e

musician

may

nd

h a t i t

i s more

convenient

o

use

t h e

c o n t r o l

With h e

r o l l e r i n

a

v e r t i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n .

I n

t h i s

c a s e s he

Would

s i m p l y

p l a c e h i s f o o t on h e

end on

h e r o l l e r ,

and W i s t

h i s

f o o t from s i d e t o s i d e .

T h i s

W i l l

produce a

r o t a t i o n o f t h e r o l l e r

s h a f t , and

h u s

a

v a r i a t i o n

o f

t h e

m u s i c a l

e f f e c t . I n

t h i s

embodiment h e

h o u s

i n g

( 4 0 ) h a s a r e c e s s

( 4 2 ) , a s b e f o r e ,

b u t t h e r e c e s s i s open

s

a t ( 4 4 )

on o n e

s i d e ( o r e n d )

o f

t h e

h o u s i n g .

The

o u s i n g Would r e f e r a b l y h a v e ? o o r f r i c t i o n e l e m e n t s

( 4 0 ) on both t s underside and on

one

e n d ,

a s

shoWn.

The o l l e r ( 4 6 ) i s

mounted

i n t h e n o t c h ( 4 4 ) a n d e x t e n d s

o u t W a r d l y from

t h e

h o u s i n g b o t h

on t s upper

and

s i d e s u r

f a c e s , and t one end s u r f a c e . I t

may

ave

a

f r i c t i o n a l

s u r f a c e

m a t e r i a l ,

t o

f a c i l i t a t e c o n t r o l by t h e

s o l e o f

a

s h o e W i t h o u t

s l i p p i n g .

A

u t t o n ( 4 8 ) may

e p r o v i d e d

on h e e x p o s e d

e n d

s u r f a c e

o f

t h e r o l l e r , f o r c o n v e n i e n t o p e r a t i o n

o f

t h e r o l l e r , i n i t s

u p r i g h t m o d e .

T h i s same f u n c t i o n c o u l d

a l s o be

a c h i e v e d

i n t h e a l t e r n a t e

embodiment shoWn

i n

F I G . 6 . I n t h i s c a s e

t h e

h o u s i n g ( 5 0 )

h a s a

someWhat

d i f f e r e n t

p r o ? l e , b e i n g l o W e r , a n d t h e r o l l e r

( 5 2 )

i s

mounted

on

v e r t i c a l

s h a f t ( n o t

s h o W n ) . The p p e r ? a t

s i d e

s u r f a c e ( 5 4 ) o f h e r o l l e r h a s a f r i c t i o n s u r f a c e ,

f o r c o n t a c t

b y

t h e s h o e .

F r i c t i o n s t r i p s ( 5 6 ) on h e u n d e r s i d e

W i l l

h o l d t h e h o u s i n g

s t e a d y

When

s e d . I n f a c t t h e y

may

r i p

on

t y p i c a l

m o u n t i n g

p a n e l o r b o a r d , ( n o t

s h o W n )

s u c h a s i s W e l l knoWn

n d

u s e d b y

v a r i o u s p l a y e r s .

A

t o p ( 5 8 ) l i m i t s t h e a r c o f

t r a v e l

o f t h e

r o l l e r .

The e f f e c t v a r i a b l e c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e c o n t r o l l e r , may b e

v a r i e d b y , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e k n o b ( 6 0 ) . An n / o f f

s W i t c h

( 6 2 )

may e

p r o v i d e d ,

Where

t

W i l l

b e o f

a s s i s t a n c e .

The f o r e g o i n g i s

a d e s c r i p t i o n

o f

a p r e f e r r e d

embodiment

o f t h e i n v e n t i o n

W h i c h

i s

g i v e n

h e r e

b y

Way o f e x a m p l e o n l y .

The i n v e n t i o n i s n o t t o be t a k e n a s l i m i t e d t o any of t h e


9/9

US

8 , 6 2 4 , 0 9 9

B2

5

s p e c i ? c

f e a t u r e s a s

d e s c r i b e d ,

b u t

c o m p r e h e n d s

a l l s u c h

v a r i a t i o n s

t h e r e o f

a s

come W i t h i n t h e scope o f t h e appended

c l a i m s .

What s c l a i m e d

i s :

1 . A o o t

c o n t r o l

f o r c o n t r o l of

m u s i c a l e f f e c t s

from a

m u s i c a l

i n s t r u m e n t , t h e

i n s t r u m e n t h a v i n g a n e l e c t r i c a l s i g n a l

o u t p u t o p e r a b l e

t o

s e n d

s i g n a l s

t o

a

s p e a k e r s y s t e m ,

s a i d

c o n t r o l

c o m p r i s i n g ;

a h o u s i n g a d a p t e d

t o

b e

p l a c e d on

t h e ? o o r , t h e h o u s i n g

d e ? n i n g a t

l e a s t one

s i d e

W a l l ;

a

r o l l e r

r o t a t a b l y

mounted

i n t h e

h o u s i n g ;

a r o l l e r s u r f a c e

p o r t i o n e x p o s e d a n d

e x t e n d i n g aWay f r o m

s a i d

h o u s i n g

f o r c o n t a c t by a f o o t ,

t o e n a b l e r o t a t i o n o f

s a i d r o l l e r b y s a i d f o o t ;

a n d ,

c i r c u i t r y W i t h i n

s a i d

h o u s i n g c o n n e c t a b l e W i t h

s a i d

i n s t r u

ment and p e r a b l e i n

r e s p o n s e

t o r o t a t i o n o f h e r o l l e r , t o

v a r y

s i g n a l s f r o m s a i d i n s t r u m e n t ;

W h e r e i n s a i d h o u s i n g i s

o f

g e n e r a l l y r e c t a n g u l a r b o x l i k e

s h a p e ,

d e ? n e d b y

s i d e W a l l s ,

e n d

W a l l s ,

a n d

a

t o p

W a l l ,

and

a notch e i n g formed i n a t

l e a s t one

of a i d

s i d e

and

end

a l l s

and i n

t h e t o p

W a l l

s o

t h a t s a i d

s u r f a c e

p o r t i o n

o f

s a i d r o l l e r i s

e x p o s e d

a n d e x t e n d e d

o u t W a r d l y

f r o m

t h e h o u s i n g ,

f o r

c o n t a c t

b y

t h e

f o o t .

2 . A o o t c o n t r o l f o r c o n t r o l of

m u s i c a l

e f f e c t s from a

m u s i c a l

i n s t r u m e n t , a s

claimed i n c l a i m 1

Wherein

a

r o l l e r

a x i s a x l e

i s

c a r r i e d

b y s a i d h o u s i n g .

3 . A o o t c o n t r o l f o r c o n t r o l of

m u s i c a l


m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t ,

a s

c l a i m e d i n c l a i m

1

i n c l u d i n g a d r i v e

r e d u c t i o n s y s t e m

i n

s a i d h o u s i n g c o n n e c t i n g

s a i d

r o l l e r W i t h

s a i d c i r c u i t r y .

4 .

A o o t c o n t r o l

f o r

c o n t r o l of m u s i c a l e f f e c t s from a

m u s i c a l


a s c l a i m e d i n c l a i m 1 i n c l u d i n g a n

e l e c

t r i c a l c o m p o n e n t f o r m i n g p a r t o f s a i d c i r c u i t r y , W h i c h s r o t a t

a b l e ,

and a t

l e a s t one

g e a r

c o n n e c t i n g

s a i d r o l l e r

W i t h

s a i d

r o t a t a b l e

e l e c t r i c a l

c o m p o n e n t .

5 .

A o o t c o n t r o l f o r c o n t r o l of m u s i c a l e f f e c t s from a

m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t ,

a s c l a i m e d i n

c l a i m 4

i n c l u d i n g

a

d r i v e

g e a r

on

t h e

r o l l e r a x l e ,

and

a

d r i v e n g e a r

on

t h e r o t a t a b l e

20

25

30

35

6

component,

and

a t l e a s t one

i n t e r m e d i a t e

g e a r betWeen t h e

d r i v e g e a r and

t h e

d r i v e n g e a r ,

t h e

r a t i o s o f

t h e g e a r s

b e i n g

s e l e c t e d t o p r o v i d e

an

extended a n g e of o t a t i o n of h e r o t a t

a b l e e l e c t r i c a l c o m p o n e n t .

6 . A

o o t

c o n t r o l f o r c o n t r o l of

m u s i c a l


m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t , a s claimed i n c l a i m 1 Wherein

an end

p o r t i o n

o f s a i d

r o l l e r i s

e x p o s e d

o u t W a r d l y f r o m

o n e

W a l l o f

s a i d h o u s i n g , f o r

c o n t a c t

by

a

f o o t .

7 .


f o r


m u s i c a l


a s c l a i m e d i n

c l a i m

1 i n c l u d i n g f r i c t i o n

e l e m e n t s

on

s a i d

h o u s i n g

f o r

c o n t a c t i n g

a ? o o r .

8 . A o o t c o n t r o l

f o r


m u s i c a l


a s c l a i m e d

i n

c l a i m

1

Wherein s a i d c i r

c u i t r y i n c l u d e s a p o t e n t i o m e t e r , and

r o t a t a b l e

s h a f t e x t e n d

i n g f r o m s a i d

p o t e n t i o m e t e r .

9 . A

o o t

c o n t r o l f o r c o n t r o l of

m u s i c a l


musical


a s

claimed claim 6

i n c l u d i n g

a b u t t o n on

an

end

of

h e r o l l e r .

1 0 .


f o r

c o n t r o l

of

m u s i c a l


m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t , t h e i n s t r u m e n t h a v i n g a n l e c t r i c a l

s i g n a l

o u t p u t

o p e r a b l e t o

s e n d s i g n a l s

t o a s p e a k e r

s y s t e m , s a i d

c o n t r o l c o m p r i s i n g ;

a

h o u s i n g a d a p t e d

t o

b e

p l a c e d

o n

t h e ? o o r , t h e

h o u s i n g

d e ? n i n g a t

l e a s t one s i d e W a l l ;

a

r o l l e r

r o t a t a b l y

mounted

i n

t h e

h o u s i n g ;

a n o t c h i n

s a i d

s i d e W a l l, and Wherein

s a i d

r o l l e r i s l o c a t e d

p a r t i a l l y

W i t h i n

s a i d n o t c h ;

a

r o l l e r

s u r f a c e

p o r t i o n e x p o s e d a n d

e x t e n d i n g aWay

f r o m

s a i d h o u s i n g f o r c o n t a c t by a f o o t ,

t o e n a b l e

r o t a t i o n

o f

s a i d r o l l e r b y s a i d

f o o t ;

a n d ,

c i r c u i t r y

W i t h i n

s a i d

h o u s i n g

c o n n e c t a b l e W i t h s a i d i n s t r u

ment

n d o p e r a b l e i n r e s p o n s e t o r o t a t i o n

o f

h e r o l l e r ,

t o

v a r y

s i g n a l s f r o m

s a i d

i n s t r u m e n t ;

a

p o t e n t i o m e t e r

f o r m i n g p a r t o f s a i d c i r c u i t r y ;

a

r o t a t a b l e s h a f t

e x t e n d i n g f r o m s a i d

p o t e n t i o m e t e r ;

a n d ,

a t

l e a s t one g e a r c o n n e c t i n g

s a i d

r o l l e r

W i t h

s a i d r o t a t a b l e

s h a f t .

Documents

US Patent 8,624,099-Guitar Foot Pedal-Osborne-Jan. 7, 2014