Auxiliary pedal device for footrest for keyboard instrument and footrest for keyboard instrument

Abstract

To provide an auxiliary pedal device which allows an auxiliary pedal to be easily fitted to a footrest body on which a player of a keyboard instrument places his or her feet while sitting on a chair, and a footrest for keyboard instrument which comprises the auxiliary pedal device.SOLUTION: A footrest 10 for keyboard instrument comprises a footrest body 100 and an auxiliary pedal device 200. The auxiliary pedal device 200 is used by a player to operate foot pedals of the keyboard instrument indirectly while sitting on a chair, and comprises a fitting part 201 and an auxiliary pedal mechanism 210. The fitting part 201 is a component which is fitted onto the top surface of the footrest body 100 to support the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210, and freely attached to / removed from the top surface of a foot support base 120 of the footrest body 100 on which the player places his or her feet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an auxiliary pedal device for a footrest that is attached to a footrest body on which a keyboard instrument player places their feet while seated in a chair, and to a footrest for a keyboard instrument that is equipped with this auxiliary pedal device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been footrests equipped with auxiliary pedals that allow keyboard players to operate the foot pedals of their keyboard instruments while seated in a chair. These footrests are primarily used to assist child players who are unable to operate the pedals directly with their feet while seated in a chair.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a footrest that includes a footrest section (hereinafter referred to as the "footrest main body") on which the player places his or her feet in the above-mentioned position, and a foot-contact pedal section (hereinafter referred to as the "auxiliary pedal section") for operating the piano's acoustic operation pedal (hereinafter referred to as the "foot pedal"), the auxiliary pedal section being detachably attached to the footrest main body. In this case, the auxiliary pedal section is connected to the side of the top board of the footrest main body (i.e., the plate thickness section) and to the side of a box-shaped member (support box) that forms the lower part of the footrest main body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] However, in the above Patent Document 1, the auxiliary pedal unit is attached to both the side of the top plate of the footrest body and the side of the box-shaped member, which means there are multiple attachment points, some of which have narrow attachment ranges, making the installation of the auxiliary pedal unit complicated.

[0005] The present invention has been made to address the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an auxiliary pedal device that makes it easy to attach the auxiliary pedal section to the footrest body, and a footrest for a keyboard instrument that is equipped with this auxiliary pedal device. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is characterized in that it provides an auxiliary pedal device for a footrest that is attached to a footrest main body on which a keyboard instrument player places their feet while seated in a chair, and that it comprises an auxiliary pedal section for indirectly operating the foot pedals of the keyboard instrument while the player is seated in a chair, and an attachment section for attaching the auxiliary pedal section to the footrest main body, and the attachment section is configured to be freely attached and detached to the top surface of the foot support base on which the player's feet are placed on the footrest main body.

[0007] According to this, the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest has an attachment portion that is detachable from the upper surface of the foot support base on which the performer's feet are placed on the footrest body, ensuring a sufficient attachment range and facilitating attachment work. Furthermore, the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest can have its attachment portion supported from below by the foot support base, thereby improving the stability of the auxiliary pedal unit when attached. Furthermore, the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest can have its attachment portion attached to any position on the upper surface of the foot support base, thereby expanding the attachment position of the auxiliary pedal unit.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is characterized in that it provides an auxiliary pedal device for a footrest that is attached to a footrest main body on which a keyboard instrument player places their feet while seated in a chair, and that it comprises an auxiliary pedal section for indirectly operating the foot pedals of the keyboard instrument while the player is seated in a chair, and an attachment section for attaching the auxiliary pedal section to the footrest main body, and the attachment section is configured to be detachable only from the foot support base on which the player's feet are placed on the footrest main body.

[0009] According to this, the auxiliary pedal device for the footrest has an attachment section that is configured to be detachable only from the foot support base on which the player's feet are placed on the footrest main body, so that the auxiliary pedal section can be attached to the footrest main body simply by attaching it to the foot support base, simplifying the installation work.

[0010] Another feature of the present invention is that in the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest, the attachment portion is formed of a plate-like body.

[0011] According to this, since the mounting portion of the auxiliary pedal device for footrest is constructed of a plate-shaped body, the mounting portion can be supported by the foot support base on a surface, thereby improving the stability of the auxiliary pedal portion when attached.

[0012] Another feature of the present invention is that in the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest, the attachment portion is formed to a size that covers the entire upper surface of the foot support base.

[0013] According to this, the auxiliary pedal device for footrest has an attachment portion formed to a size that covers the entire upper surface of the foot support base, so that the attachment portion can be supported from below by the entire upper surface of the foot support base, thereby improving the stability of the auxiliary pedal portion when attached.

[0014] In this case, the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest may have an attachment portion formed of a plate-like body large enough to cover the entire upper surface of the foot support base. This allows the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest to have a unified overall appearance after attachment, and the auxiliary pedal portion can be attached without compromising the design of the footrest body before attachment. Furthermore, because the attachment portion of the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest is formed of a plate-like body large enough to cover the entire upper surface of the foot support base, the area where the player's feet are placed can be made flat and without any steps, and the auxiliary pedal portion can be attached to the upper surface of the foot support base without compromising the usability of the footrest body.

[0015] In addition, there has been a conventional auxiliary pedal device that integrally comprises a foot support base on which a keyboard player places their feet while seated in a chair, and an auxiliary pedal unit for indirectly operating the foot pedals of the keyboard instrument while in that position. Here, in the above-mentioned auxiliary pedal device for a footrest, the attachment unit covers the entire upper surface of the foot support base and functions as a new foot support base, and also includes the auxiliary pedal unit, so that the auxiliary pedal unit can be attached to the footrest body without impairing the usability of the conventional auxiliary pedal device.

[0016] Another feature of the present invention is that in the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest, the mounting portion includes an auxiliary pedal support portion that supports the auxiliary pedal portion at a position that projects from the foot support base.

[0017] According to this, the auxiliary pedal device for the footrest is provided with an auxiliary pedal support part whose mounting part supports the auxiliary pedal part at a position that protrudes from the foot support base, so that the auxiliary pedal part can be attached while ensuring space for the player's foot to be placed on.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented not only as an invention of an auxiliary pedal device for a footrest, but also as an invention of a footrest for a keyboard instrument that is equipped with this auxiliary pedal device for a footrest.

[0019] Specifically, the footrest for a keyboard instrument is a footrest for a keyboard instrument on which a keyboard player places his or her feet while seated in a chair, and it is preferable that the footrest is equipped with an auxiliary pedal device for a footrest as described in claim 1 or claim 2.

[0020] According to this, the footrest for a keyboard instrument can be expected to have the same effects as the invention of the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest.

[0021] In this case, the footrest for a keyboard instrument has a foot support base with an attachment hole consisting of a through hole for attaching the attachment part, and the attachment part has an attachment hole consisting of a bottomed hole for attaching to the top surface of the foot support base, and the attachment hole and the attachment hole are preferably formed at the same position from the respective edges of the foot support base and the attachment part.

[0022] According to this, the footrest for keyboard instruments has mounting holes and mounting slots formed at the same positions from the respective edges of the foot support base and mounting part, so that by aligning the edge of the mounting part with the edge of the foot support base and placing it on the top surface of the foot support base, it is possible to easily align the mounting holes and mounting slots, simplifying the installation work. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the outline of the external configuration of a footrest according to the present invention, viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing the outline of the external configuration of the footrest shown in FIG. 1 when the foot support base of the footrest body is raised by the lifting mechanism, as seen obliquely from the front. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a rear view showing the outline of the external configuration of the footrest body shown in FIG. 2 from the rear. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically illustrating an outline of the internal configuration of the footrest shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a perspective view showing the outline of the external configuration of an auxiliary pedal device in the footrest shown in FIG. 1, viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration within a dashed circle 6 in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 7] 6 is a right side view showing the outline of the external configuration of the auxiliary pedal device shown in FIG. 5, viewed from the right side. FIG. [Figure 8] 6 is a perspective view showing the outline of the external configuration of the auxiliary pedal device shown in FIG. 5, viewed obliquely from behind. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing a state in which the footrest shown in FIG. 1 is used. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a footrest for a keyboard instrument (hereinafter simply referred to as "footrest") equipped with an auxiliary pedal device for a footrest (hereinafter simply referred to as "auxiliary pedal device") according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic external configuration of a footrest 10 according to the present invention, viewed obliquely from the front. In this embodiment, the depth direction of the footrest 10 is defined as the front-rear direction, the width direction of the footrest 10 perpendicular to the front-rear direction is defined as the left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to these front-rear and left-right directions is defined as the up-down direction (height direction of the footrest 10). Furthermore, in the schematic diagrams referred to in this specification, some components may be exaggerated to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and therefore the dimensions and proportions of the components may differ.

[0025] (Configuration of footrest 10) This footrest 10 is placed at the feet of a keyboard player when the player is seated in a chair to play the keyboard instrument, to help the player maintain proper posture while playing and to assist the player in operating the foot pedals of the keyboard instrument. Here, the term "player" refers primarily to a person whose feet do not touch the floor when seated in a chair to play a keyboard instrument. Specifically, players include primarily children, including infants. As shown in FIG. 1, this footrest 10 is primarily comprised of a footrest main body 100 and an auxiliary pedal device 200.

[0026] Footrest body 100 is a platform on which a keyboard player places their feet to stabilize their feet when seated on a chair, which are raised above the floor. As shown in Figure 2, footrest body 100 is primarily comprised of base body 101, lifting mechanism 110, and foot support base 120.

[0027] The base body 101 is a component for supporting the lifting mechanism 110 and the foot support base 120, and is configured as a cylindrical frame extending in the vertical direction by being surrounded on all four sides by plate materials. In this embodiment, the base body 101 is formed into a cylindrical shape by assembling wooden plate materials into a rectangular shape in a plan view. In this case, the top surface, outer peripheral surface, and bottom surface of the base body 101 are each covered by a cover body 101a (the lightest dot-hatched part in FIG. 4) made of a resin (for example, nylon) sheet material. The base body 101 configured in this manner has the lifting mechanism 110 attached to each of the inner surfaces of the front and rear surfaces.

[0028] The lifting mechanism 110 is a mechanical device for vertically displacing the foot support base 120 relative to the base body 101. Specifically, the lifting mechanism 110 is configured by connecting two resin or metal rods at their longitudinal center in a relatively rotatable manner, and is configured using a known X-link mechanism in which the length can be extended or contracted by changing the angle at which these two rods intersect with each other. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the lifting mechanism 110 has one end (lower in the figure) of the X-link mechanism connected to the base body 101 and the other end connected to the foot support base 120, and is configured so that the horizontal length of one end (lower in the figure) expands or contracts, thereby vertically contracting or contracting the other end (upper in the figure). Furthermore, when the lifting mechanism 110 is connected to the X-link mechanism, the X-link mechanism can be operated by rotating a height adjustment knob 111 provided on the side of the foot support base 120, thereby arbitrarily adjusting the vertical length of the lifting mechanism 110, i.e., the height of the foot support base 120.

[0029] The foot support base 120 is a component attached to the base body 101 via the lifting mechanism 110 so as to be able to move up and down freely, and is mainly composed of a foot rest portion 122, a front hanging portion 124, and a rear hanging portion 125.

[0030] The footrest 122 is a component on which the feet of a player seated on a chair are placed and to which the auxiliary pedal device 200, described later, is attached, and is constituted by a wooden plate-like body extending horizontally. The other end (upper in the figure) of the lifting mechanism 110 is connected to the underside of the footrest 122, and the footrest 122 is disposed opposite the base body 101. In this embodiment, the footrest 122 is formed in a rectangular shape that is larger than the base body 101 in a plan view, and covers the entire upper surface of the base body 101. The footrest 122 has four mounting holes 122a formed therein.

[0031] 4, the mounting holes 122a are portions through which bolts 123 for attaching the auxiliary pedal device 200 to the footrest portion 122 are passed, and are configured as through-holes that pass through the footrest portion 122 in the vertical direction (plate thickness direction). In this case, the four mounting holes 122a are formed in a line, two on each side, in the front-rear direction near both left and right ends of the footrest portion 122.

[0032] Front-side hanging portion 124 is a portion for blocking the view from the front side of the other end (upper end in the figure) of lifting mechanism 110 attached to footrest portion 122, and is configured as a strip-shaped plate extending the same length as the width of footrest portion 122. Front-side hanging portion 124 is provided hanging down from the front end of footrest portion 122. In this case, front-side hanging portion 124 is formed so that its lower end extends to a position slightly higher (a position farther away from the floor) than the lower end of base body 101 when footrest portion 122 is in the lowest position.

[0033] Rear hanging portion 125 is a portion that hangs down from the rear end of footrest portion 122 and is composed of a strip-like plate that extends the same length as the width of footrest portion 122. In this case, rear hanging portion 125 is formed so that its lower end extends to a position slightly lower than the upper end of base body 101 when footrest portion 122 is in the lowest position. This foot support base 120 is covered by cover body 126. In FIG. 4, cover body 126 is shown hatched with the darkest dots.

[0034] The cover 126 is a component for covering the surface of the foot support base 120 to improve its appearance, and is made of a resin (e.g., nylon) sheet material. In this embodiment, the cover 126 covers mainly the portion of the foot support base 120 that is exposed on the front side. More specifically, the cover 126 covers the upper surface of the foot rest portion 122, both left and right side surfaces of the foot support base 120 (both left and right side surfaces of the foot rest portion 122, both left and right side surfaces of the front hanging portion 124, and both left and right side surfaces of the rear hanging portion 125), the front and bottom surfaces of the front hanging portion 124, the rear and bottom surfaces of the rear hanging portion 125, and the edge portions of the inner surface of the foot support base 120 (the bottom surface of the foot rest portion 122, the rear surface of the front hanging portion 124, and the front surface of the rear hanging portion 125). In this case, before the auxiliary pedal device 200 is initially attached to the footrest portion 122, the cover body 126 covers each of the four mounting holes 122a opening on the upper surface of the footrest portion 122, thereby blocking each of these mounting holes 122a.

[0035] The auxiliary pedal device 200 is a device that allows a keyboard player to indirectly operate the foot pedal of a keyboard instrument while seated in a chair, and is mainly composed of an attachment portion 201 and an auxiliary pedal mechanism 210.

[0036] The mounting portion 201 is a component attached to the upper surface of the footrest body 100 to support the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210, and is composed of a wooden plate-like body extending horizontally. Specifically, the mounting portion 201 is formed in a trapezoidal shape that narrows toward the rear in a plan view, and has a mounting portion main body 202 that forms the front portion and an auxiliary pedal support portion 203 that forms the rear portion.

[0037] The mounting body 202 is a portion of the footrest body 100 that is attached to the foot support base 120, and is formed in a rectangular shape that is slightly smaller than the size of the foot support base 120 in a plan view. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the mounting body 202 has a shorter side that is shorter than the shorter side of the foot rest section 122 of the foot support base 120, and a longer side that is the same length as the longer side (width) of the foot rest section 122. The mounting body 202 has the same thickness as the foot rest section 122. In this case, the mounting body 202 is attached at a position where its front surface is flush with the front surface of the front hanging section 124 of the foot support base 120, and its left and right side surfaces are flush with the left and right side surfaces of the foot rest section 122. The mounting body 202 has four mounting holes 202a formed on its underside.

[0038] 6, the mounting holes 202a are formed as bottomed cylindrical holes with internal threads into which the bolts 123 are threadedly fitted. When the front end and both left and right ends of the mounting body 202 are positioned above the front end and both left and right ends of the footrest 122, respectively, the mounting holes 202a are formed at positions directly above the mounting holes 122a. In other words, the mounting holes 122a and 202a are formed at the same positions from the edges of the footrest 122 and the mounting body 202, respectively.

[0039] The auxiliary pedal support portion 203 is a portion that supports the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210 at a position that protrudes from the footrest portion 122. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, the auxiliary pedal support portion 203 extends from the rear end of the attachment portion main body 202, protrudes further rearward than the rear end of the footrest portion 122, and is configured with an inclined surface that is inclined upward. In other words, the auxiliary pedal support portion 203 is positioned relative to the footrest portion 122 via a gap S that gradually widens from the front side to the rear side.

[0040] The top, front, left and right side surfaces and rear surface of this mounting portion 201 are each covered by a cover 201a made of a resin (e.g., nylon) sheet material (the dot hatched areas in Figure 4 are of a different density from cover 101a and cover 126).

[0041] The auxiliary pedal mechanism 210 is a mechanical device that receives a player's foot operation and transmits it to the foot pedal of the keyboard instrument, and is mainly composed of an auxiliary pedal main body 211, a vertical movement guide mechanism 212, and a pedal pressing unit 213. In this embodiment, two auxiliary pedal mechanisms 210 are provided at an interval in the width direction of the auxiliary pedal support unit 203. These auxiliary pedal mechanisms 210 correspond to the auxiliary pedal unit according to the present invention.

[0042] The auxiliary pedal body 211 is a component that receives foot operation by the player in place of a foot pedal of a keyboard instrument, and is configured as a metal plate extending horizontally on the auxiliary pedal support portion 203. That is, the auxiliary pedal body 211 is modeled after a foot pedal of a keyboard instrument and is formed in a shape at least similar to that of the foot pedal. In this case, the rear end of the auxiliary pedal body 211 is rotatably supported on the rear end of the auxiliary pedal support portion 203, and the front end side opposite the rear end, which extends toward the mounting portion body 202, forms a portion that is operated by the player's foot. Furthermore, an intermediate portion between the front and rear ends of the auxiliary pedal body 211 is supported by a vertical movement guide mechanism 212. As a result, the auxiliary pedal body 211 is supported on the auxiliary pedal support portion 203 so that its front end side can rotate up and down around the rear end.

[0043] The vertical movement guide mechanism 212 is a mechanical device for transmitting the foot operation on the auxiliary pedal body 211 to the pedal pressing portion 213, and is mainly configured to include a vertical movement rod 212a and a rod support 212b.

[0044] The vertically moving rod 212a is a component for transmitting the foot operation force on the auxiliary pedal body 211 to the pedal pressing part 213, and is configured as a hollow metal rod-shaped body extending in the vertical direction. In this case, the vertically moving rod 212a has its upper end connected to the auxiliary pedal body 211 with its axial center part supported by a rod support 212b, and its lower end connected to the pedal pressing part 213.

[0045] The rod support 212b is a component for guiding the vertically movable rod 212a in the up-down direction while elastically pushing it upward, and is configured as a metal cylindrical body that extends in the up-down direction and through which the vertically movable rod 212a passes. In this case, a bush that guides the vertically movable rod 212a so that it can slide vertically, and a coil spring that constantly pushes the vertically movable rod 212a upward are respectively provided within the rod support 212b. The rod support 212b is fixedly attached to a through-hole formed in the auxiliary pedal support part 203.

[0046] The pedal pressing unit 213 is a component for operating a foot pedal of a keyboard instrument, and is mainly composed of a pedal operating unit 213a and a shaft unit 213b.

[0047] The pedal operation unit 213a is a part that presses the foot pedal of a keyboard instrument and is configured as a metal plate-like body that extends along the depth direction of the foot pedal. In this embodiment, the pedal operation unit 213a is configured as an inclined surface that slopes upward along the depth direction of the foot pedal. This pedal operation unit 213a has a hanging part whose front end is bent downward and is configured so as to hook onto the front end of the foot pedal. In addition, a shaft part 213b is connected to the upper surface of the front end side of the pedal operation unit 213a. Felt fabric is attached to the surfaces of the pedal operation unit 213a that come into contact with the foot pedal (the lower surface of the pedal operation unit 213a and the inner surface of the hanging part).

[0048] The shaft 213b is a part that transmits the vertical displacement of the vertically moving rod 212a to the pedal operation part 213a, and is composed of a metal rod-shaped body that extends in the vertical direction. The upper end side of this shaft 213b is fitted into the vertically moving rod 212a via a shaft adjuster 214 so as to be slidable along the axial direction, and the lower end is connected to the pedal operation part 213a. In this case, the shaft 213b is formed to have a length that includes an adjustment margin so that the position of the pedal operation part 213a in the height direction can be changed.

[0049] The shaft adjuster 214 is a component for arbitrarily adjusting the insertion amount and insertion direction of the shaft 213b relative to the vertically movable rod 212a. In this embodiment, the shaft adjuster 214 is configured as a pin-shaped male screw that is threadedly fitted radially onto the lower end of the vertically movable rod 212a. A handle that can be held by hand is formed on the end of the shaft adjuster 214 opposite the end that is threadedly fitted onto the vertically movable rod 212a, and by rotating this handle, the shaft 213b can be fixed at a desired height and direction. The auxiliary pedal mechanism 210 configured in this manner is partially covered by a cover 220, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0050] The cover 220 is a component that covers part of the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210 to improve its appearance, and is mainly composed of a first cover 220a and a second cover 220b. The first cover 220a is a housing that is provided on the upper surface of the auxiliary pedal support part 203 and houses the rear parts of each auxiliary pedal body 211. On the other hand, the second cover 220b is a housing that is provided on the lower surface of the auxiliary pedal support part 203 and houses each rod support 212b.

[0051] (Operation of footrest 10) Next, we will explain the operation of the footrest 10 configured as described above. This footrest 10 can be used as a footrest on which a keyboard player places their feet when playing while seated in a chair, and can also be used as an auxiliary stand to assist the player in operating the foot pedals of the keyboard instrument.

[0052] Here, a keyboard instrument refers to an instrument that is played by pressing keys and has pedals that change the sound when the player steps on them. Examples of keyboard instruments include pianos, upright pianos, electronic pianos, and synthesizers.

[0053] Footrest 10 can be used as a footrest when the performer plays a piece that does not use a foot pedal, or when the performer is unable to use a foot pedal due to a physical characteristic (such as an injury, illness, or disability).Footrest 10 can be used as an auxiliary stand when the performer plays a piece that uses a foot pedal.

[0054] In this embodiment, first, a case where the footrest 10 is used as a footrest will be described. In this case, the user uses the footrest main body 100 that constitutes the footrest 10, but does not use the auxiliary pedal device 200. Here, the user may be the player who uses the footrest 10 to play a keyboard instrument, or someone who assists or supports the player's performance (for example, the player's family or an instructor who teaches the player how to play a keyboard instrument), or an accompanist who plays with the player while the player is playing.

[0055] Before installing the footrest body 100, the user adjusts the position and height of the chair for the keyboard instrument in advance according to the preference of the player.

[0056] Next, the user prepares the footrest body 100 and then places it in front of the foot pedals of the keyboard instrument (in this embodiment, a grand piano). In this case, the user places the footrest body 100 in a position where the player can sit with their feet on the footrest body 100 in a posture suitable for playing the keyboard instrument. Specifically, the user places the footrest body 100 in a position where the player's feet (parts below the ankles) are located directly below the knees or slightly closer to the foot pedals than directly below the knees when the player is seated on a chair.

[0057] Next, the user adjusts the height position of the foot support base 120 on the footrest main body 100. Specifically, the user adjusts the height position of the foot support base 120 to a height where the player's feet touch the top surface of the footrest section 122 while seated on a chair (preferably a height where the entire soles of the player's feet touch the top surface of the footrest section 122). In this case, the user rotates the height adjustment knob 111 provided on the side of the footrest section 122 to operate the link mechanism of the lifting mechanism 110 and raise or lower the height of the foot support base 120.

[0058] By performing these operations, the user can prepare the footrest 10 for use as a footrest. Then, the performer can use the footrest 10 as a footrest by placing their feet on the footrest portion 122 of the footrest main body 100 while seated.

[0059] Next, a case where a keyboard player uses the footrest 10 as an auxiliary stand will be described. In this case, the user first prepares the footrest main body 100 and the auxiliary pedal device 200.

[0060] Next, the user attaches the auxiliary pedal device 200 to the footrest body 100. Specifically, the user places the auxiliary pedal device 200 upside down on a table or other platform with the mounting body 202 extending horizontally, and then places the footrest body 100 on the mounting body 202 upside down to align them.

[0061] In this case, the user places the auxiliary pedal device 200 with the top surface of the mounting body 202 in contact with the table top and with the auxiliary pedal support portion 203 extending outward from the edge of the table top. Then, the user places the footrest body 100 in a position where the front surface of the foot support base 120 (the front surface of the front hanging portion 124) of the footrest body 100 is flush with the front surface of the mounting body 202 and both left and right side surfaces of the foot support base 120 are flush with both left and right side surfaces of the mounting body 202. As a result, the four mounting holes 122a formed in the foot rest portion 122 of the foot support base 120 are concentrically positioned on the four mounting holes 202a formed in the mounting body 202.

[0062] Next, the user opens the openings of the four mounting holes 122a that are blocked by the cover 126 on the upper surface of the footrest portion 122. Specifically, the user forms cuts or through holes with a tool such as a cutter or awl in the portions of the cover 126 that block each mounting hole 122a from the underside of the footrest portion 122, thereby connecting the mounting holes 122a to the mounting holes 202a.

[0063] Next, the user inserts the four bolts 123 into the mounting holes 122a from the back side of the footrest portion 122, and screws them into the mounting holes 202a to tighten them. Then, the user turns the connected footrest main body 100 and auxiliary pedal device 200 upside down to return them to their original position. This allows the user to attach the auxiliary pedal device 200 to the foot support base 120 of the footrest main body 100.

[0064] Next, the user adjusts the height position of the pedal pressing unit 213 in advance to prevent the pedal pressing unit 213 from colliding with the foot pedal of the keyboard instrument when installing the footrest main body 100 (footrest 10) with the auxiliary pedal device 200 attached. Specifically, the user rotates the shaft adjuster 214 to raise the pedal pressing unit 213 toward the vertically movable rod 212a.

[0065] Next, as shown in Figure 9, the user places the footrest 10 in front of the foot pedal and adjusts the height of the mounting portion 201. Specifically, the user places the footrest 10 in a position where the player can place their feet on the mounting portion main body 202 in a posture suitable for playing a keyboard instrument, just as in the case of the footrest described above. Then, just like in the case of the footrest described above, the user adjusts the height of the foot support base 120 to a height where the player's feet will touch the top surface of the mounting portion main body 202 when seated on a chair.

[0066] Next, the user adjusts the height position and orientation of pedal operating unit 213a relative to the foot pedal. Specifically, the user rotates shaft adjuster 214 to release shaft 213b from the fixed state, and pulls shaft 213b out from inside vertically movable rod 212a until the underside of pedal operating unit 213a contacts the upper surface of the foot pedal. Next, the user rotates shaft 213b to adjust the orientation so that pedal operating unit 213a extends along the depth direction of the foot pedal and the inner surface of the hanging portion of pedal operating unit 213a is oriented to contact the front tip portion of the foot pedal, and then tightens shaft adjuster 214 to fix the height position and orientation of pedal pressing unit 213.

[0067] By performing these operations, the user can make the footrest 10 usable as an auxiliary stand. Next, the player operates the auxiliary pedal main body 211 of the auxiliary pedal device 200 while seated on a chair.

[0068] Specifically, the player places his / her heel on the mounting portion main body 202 and uses his / her toe to step on the front end of the auxiliary pedal main body 211. This stepping operation causes the front end side of the auxiliary pedal main body 211 to rotate downward with the rear end as the base point, and the stepping force is transmitted to the pedal pressing portion 213 by the vertical movement guide mechanism 212 connected to the underside of the auxiliary pedal main body 211.

[0069] Specifically, the vertical movement guide mechanism 212 transmits the foot operation force received from the auxiliary pedal body 211 to which the vertical movement rod 212a is connected at its upper end by sliding downward against the coil spring in the rod support body 212b, thereby transmitting the foot operation force to the pedal pressing part 213 connected to its lower end.

[0070] As a result, the pedal pressing unit 213 receives the downward displacement of the vertically moving rod 212a through the shaft 213b and transmits it to the pedal operating unit 213a, so that the underside of the pedal operating unit 213a presses downward on the foot pedal of the keyboard instrument to perform a pressing operation.

[0071] As a result, the footrest 10 can indirectly change the sound of the keyboard instrument in response to the player's operation of the auxiliary pedal body 211 (for example, the pressing force or pressing time).

[0072] Furthermore, when the player separates the pedal operation part 213a from the foot pedal by releasing the toe from the auxiliary pedal body 211, the auxiliary pedal body 211 is displaced upward and returns to its original position. Specifically, the auxiliary pedal body 211 returns to its original position by the vertically movable rod 212a sliding upward due to the elastic restoring force of the coil spring in the rod support body 212b.

[0073] Furthermore, when the user wishes to use the footrest 10 as a footrest again, the user can use the footrest 10 as a footrest again by loosening the bolt 123 and removing the auxiliary pedal device 200 from the footrest main body 100. In other words, the footrest 10 can be switched between being a footrest or an auxiliary stand and used repeatedly according to the user's wishes.

[0074] Furthermore, when the user has finished using the footrest 10, the user can remove the footrest 10. In this case, the user may remove the footrest 10 with the auxiliary pedal device 200 still attached to the footrest main body 100, or may remove the footrest 10 after detaching the auxiliary pedal device 200 from the footrest main body 100. Furthermore, if the user does not remove the footrest 10, the user may store the footrest 10 in the installed state, or may transport the footrest 10 to a storage location and store it there. Here, when transporting the footrest 10, the user can transport the footrest 10 with the auxiliary pedal device 200 still attached to the footrest main body 100, or with the auxiliary pedal device 200 detached from the footrest main body 100.

[0075] As can be understood from the above description of operation, according to the above embodiment, the footrest 10 has the attachment portion 201 of the auxiliary pedal device 200 configured to be detachable from the upper surface of the foot support base 120, ensuring a sufficient attachment range and facilitating attachment work. Furthermore, the attachment portion 201 of the footrest 10 is supported from below by the foot support base 120, which improves the stability of the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210 when attached. Furthermore, the attachment portion 201 of the footrest 10 can be attached to any position on the upper surface of the foot support base 120, which also increases the number of attachment positions for the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210.

[0076] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the description of each modification, the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0077] For example, in the above embodiment, the attachment portion 201 of the footrest 10 is configured to be detachable only to the foot support base 120 of the footrest main body 100, so the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210 can be attached to the footrest main body 100 simply by attaching it to the foot support base 120, simplifying the work. However, if the attachment portion 201 of the footrest 10 is configured to be detachable from the top surface of the foot support base 120, the attachment portion 201 can be configured to be detachable from a portion other than the top surface of the foot support base 120, in addition to the top surface of the foot support base 120.

[0078] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the mounting portion 201 of the footrest 10 is formed to be large enough to cover the entire upper surface of the foot support base 120, and therefore the mounting portion 201 can be supported from below by the entire upper surface of the foot support base 120, thereby improving the stability of the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210 when attached. However, the mounting portion 201 need only be large enough to be attached to the upper surface of the foot support base 120 and support the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210, and is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the mounting portion 201 can be formed to be smaller than the upper surface of the foot support base 120 and to cover a portion of the upper surface.

[0079] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the attachment portion 201 is configured as a plate-like body that forms both the portion where the auxiliary pedal device 200 is attached to the upper surface of the footrest main body 100 and the portion where the player's feet are placed. With this, the attachment portion 201 of the auxiliary pedal device 200 is configured as a plate-like body, so that the attachment portion 201 can be supported by the foot support base 120 on a surface, thereby improving the stability of the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210 when attached. However, the attachment portion 201 may be configured in any way as long as it can be attached to the foot support base 120 and support the auxiliary pedal mechanism 210, and is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0080] For example, the mounting section 201 can have an L-shaped cross section as a whole, with the mounting section main body 202 being configured as an upright plate-like body that makes surface contact with the rear surface of the foot support base 120, and the auxiliary pedal support section 203 being configured as a flat surface that extends from the upper end of the mounting section main body 202 flush with the upper surface of the foot support base 120. In this case, the mounting section main body 202 forms only the portion for mounting the auxiliary pedal device 200 to the footrest main body 100, and the portion on which the player's feet are placed is formed by the foot support base 120 (footrest section 122).

[0081] Alternatively, the mounting portion 201 may have a mounting portion main body 202 formed from an angle member having an L-shaped cross section, and the auxiliary pedal support portion 203 formed from a flat surface extending from the rear end of the foot support base 120 and flush with the upper surface of the foot support base 120. This mounting portion 201 can mount the auxiliary pedal device 200 to the footrest main body 100 by connecting the rear surface of the foot support base 120 and the lower surface of the auxiliary pedal support portion 203 to each other via the mounting portion main body 202. In this case, the portion on which the player's feet are placed is formed by the foot support base 120.

[0082] Alternatively, the attachment section 201 may be configured such that the auxiliary pedal support section 203 is a plate-like member having a flat surface extending from the rear end of the foot support base 120 flush with the upper surface of the foot support base 120, and the attachment section main body 202 is configured with two rod-like members extending forward from the front surface of the auxiliary pedal support section 203. This attachment section 201 can be attached to the footrest main body 100 by fitting the attachment section main body 202 into two bottomed holes formed in the rear surface of the foot support base 120. In this case, the portion on which the player's feet are placed is formed by the foot support base 120.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the size of the attachment body 202 of the footrest 10 is slightly smaller than the size of the foot support base 120 in a plan view. However, the size of the attachment body 202 can be the same as or larger than the size of the foot support base 120 in a plan view.

[0084] In the above embodiment, the footrest 10 is formed so that the thickness of the attachment body 202 is the same as that of the footrest portion 122. However, the thickness of the attachment body 202 can be formed to be different from that of the footrest portion 122.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the foot support base 120 is configured to include the foot rest 122, the front hanging portion 124, and the rear hanging portion 125. However, the foot support base 120 is not limited to the above embodiment as long as it includes a portion on which the player's feet are placed. Therefore, for example, the foot support base 120 can be configured with only the foot rest 122, omitting the front hanging portion 124 and the rear hanging portion 125. Alternatively, the foot support base 120 can be configured with the foot rest 122 and either the front hanging portion 124 or the rear hanging portion 125.

[0086] In this case, the attachment body 202 in the auxiliary pedal device 200 can be configured to include a strip-shaped plate-like body that hangs down from the front end and / or the rear end and extends in the width direction of the attachment body 202. In other words, the attachment body 202 can be configured to include a portion that corresponds to the front-side hanging portion 124 and / or the rear-side hanging portion 125 that are omitted in the foot support base 120.

[0087] In the above embodiment, the base body 101, foot support base 120, and mounting portion 201 of the footrest 10 are each made of wood. However, the base body 101, foot support base 120, and mounting portion 201 of the footrest 10 can also be made of a metal material other than wood or a resin material.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the footrest 10 is configured such that the base body 101, the foot support base 120, and the attachment portion 201 are covered by the cover 101a, the cover 126, and the cover 201a, respectively. This allows the footrest 10 to improve the aesthetic appearance of the base body 101, the foot support base 120, and the attachment portion 201. However, the footrest 10 can be configured such that all or part of the cover 101a, the cover 126, and the cover 201a are omitted.

[0089] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the footrest 10 is configured with a gap S formed between the footrest portion 122 and the auxiliary pedal support portion 203. This makes it easy to remove the mounting portion 201 of the footrest 10 from the foot support base 120 by inserting a tool or fingers through the gap S to peel off the attached cover 201a of the mounting portion 201 and the cover 126 of the foot support base 120. However, the footrest 10 can be configured without the gap S. Specifically, the footrest 10 can have the auxiliary pedal support portion 203 configured as a plate-like body extending from the rear end of the mounting portion main body 202 parallel (horizontally) to the footrest portion 122.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the footrest 10 has the mounting holes 122a and 202a formed at the same positions from the edges of the foot support base 120 and the mounting portion main body 202. This allows the footrest 10 to be placed on the upper surface of the foot support base 120 by aligning the edge of the mounting portion 201 with the edge of the foot support base 120, thereby facilitating alignment of the mounting holes 122a and 202a and simplifying the mounting work. However, the footrest 10 can also have the mounting holes 122a and 202a formed at different positions from the edges of the footrest 122 and the mounting portion main body 202.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the lifting mechanism 110 is configured as a known X-link mechanism in which two rods are connected at the center in the longitudinal direction so as to be capable of relative rotation. However, the lifting mechanism 110 is not limited to the above embodiment as long as it is configured to be able to raise and lower the foot support base 120 relative to the base body 101.

[0092] In the above embodiment, the footrest 10 is configured with two auxiliary pedal mechanisms 210 arranged side by side in the width direction. This allows the footrest 10 to indirectly operate two foot pedals of a keyboard instrument via the auxiliary pedal mechanisms 210. However, the footrest 10 is not limited to the above embodiment as long as it is configured to be able to operate at least one foot pedal. Therefore, the footrest 10 can be configured with one or more auxiliary pedal mechanisms 210.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the vertical movement guide mechanism 212 is configured to include the vertical movement rod 212a and the rod support 212b. However, the vertical movement guide mechanism 212 is not limited to the above embodiment as long as it is configured to transmit the player's foot operation force received from the auxiliary pedal body 211 to the pedal pressing section 213.

[0094] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when attaching the auxiliary pedal device 200 to the footrest body 100, the user placed the upside-down footrest body 100 on the attachment portion body 202 of the auxiliary pedal device 200, which was also upside-down. However, the user can perform the attachment work without having to upside-down the vertical orientations of the footrest body 100 and the auxiliary pedal device 200. For example, the user can attach the auxiliary pedal device 200 to the footrest body 100 by raising the footrest portion 122 with the lifting mechanism 110 to form a space below the footrest portion 122 for the attachment work, and then placing the attachment portion body 202 on the footrest portion 122.

[0095] In addition, in the above embodiment, when attaching the auxiliary pedal device 200 to the footrest body 100, the user forms a cut or a through-hole in the cover 126 to connect the mounting hole 122a to the mounting hole 202a. However, the user can remove part or all of the cover 126 that covers the top surface of the foot support base 120 by cutting off a part of the cover 126 with a tool such as a cutter or peeling it off entirely, thereby connecting the mounting hole 122a to the mounting hole 202a.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the footrest 10 is configured such that the cover 126 covers the upper surface of the footrest portion 122 and blocks each of the four mounting holes 122a formed in the footrest portion 122. However, the cover 126 can be configured to cover the upper surface of the footrest portion 122 except for the portions where the four mounting holes 122a are located. Specifically, the cover 126 can be configured by forming four holes in the portions where the four mounting holes 122a are located. This eliminates the need to form cutouts or through-holes in the cover 126 to connect the mounting holes 122a to the mounting holes 202a when attaching the auxiliary pedal device 200 to the footrest main body 100, thereby simplifying the attachment process.

[0097] In the above embodiment, the footrest body 100 is configured to include the base body 101, the lifting mechanism 110, and the foot support base 120. This allows the footrest body 100 to change the height position of the foot support base 120 relative to the base body 101 depending on the player. However, the footrest body 100 is not limited to the above embodiment as long as it is a platform on which a keyboard instrument player can place their feet while seated on a chair. Therefore, the footrest body 100 can be configured without the lifting mechanism 110.

[0098] In the above embodiment, the auxiliary pedal device 200 is attached to the footrest body 100 having the mounting hole 122a for mounting the auxiliary pedal device 200. However, the footrest body 100 may be configured to allow a keyboard instrument player to place their feet while seated in a chair. Therefore, the footrest body 100 may be configured using any commercially available platform provided that it has a portion capable of supporting the player's feet at a distance from the floor. Therefore, the auxiliary pedal device 200 may be attached to a commercially available platform instead of the footrest body 100 specifically designed for the auxiliary pedal device 200. In this case, the mounting hole 202a formed in the mounting portion 201 of the auxiliary pedal device 200 may be omitted, and the auxiliary pedal device 200 may be attached to the footrest body 100 using the mounting portion 201 equipped with adhesive, adhesive tape, double-sided tape, hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] S...gap 10...Footrest, 100... Footrest body, 101... Base body, 101a... Cover body, 110...lifting mechanism, 111...height adjustment knob, 120...foot support base, 122...foot rest, 122a...mounting hole, 123...bolt, 124...front hanging part, 125...back hanging part, 126...covering body, 200...Auxiliary pedal device, 201...mounting portion, 201a...covering body, 202...mounting portion main body, 202a...mounting hole, 203...Auxiliary pedal support part, 210... auxiliary pedal mechanism, 211... auxiliary pedal body, 212... vertical movement guide mechanism, 212a...up-and-down moving rod, 212b...rod support, 213... Pedal pressing portion, 213a... Pedal operating portion, 213b... Shaft portion, 214...shaft adjustment tool, 220...cover, 220a...first cover, 220b...second cover.

Claims

1. An auxiliary pedal device for a footrest is attached to a footrest body on which a keyboard player places his / her feet while seated on a chair, an auxiliary pedal unit for indirectly operating a foot pedal of the keyboard instrument while the player is seated on a chair; a mounting portion for mounting the auxiliary pedal portion to the footrest body, The mounting portion is 1. An auxiliary pedal device for a footrest, which is configured so as to be detachable from the upper surface of a foot support base on which the player's feet are placed in the footrest body.

2. An auxiliary pedal device for a footrest is attached to a footrest body on which a keyboard player places his / her feet while seated on a chair, an auxiliary pedal unit for indirectly operating a foot pedal of the keyboard instrument while the player is seated on a chair; a mounting portion for mounting the auxiliary pedal portion to the footrest body, The mounting portion is 1. An auxiliary pedal device for a footrest, characterized in that the auxiliary pedal device is detachably attached only to a foot support base on which the player's feet are placed in the footrest body.

3. 3. The auxiliary pedal device for a footrest according to claim 1 or 2, The mounting portion is An auxiliary pedal device for a footrest, characterized in that it is made up of a plate-shaped body.

4. 2. The auxiliary pedal device for a footrest according to claim 1, The mounting portion is The auxiliary pedal device for a footrest is formed in a size that covers the entire upper surface of the foot support base.

5. 3. The auxiliary pedal device for a footrest according to claim 1 or 2, The mounting portion is an auxiliary pedal support portion that supports the auxiliary pedal portion at a position that protrudes from the foot support base;

6. A footrest for a keyboard instrument on which a keyboard player places his / her feet while seated on a chair, 3. A footrest for a keyboard instrument, comprising the auxiliary pedal device for a footrest according to claim 1 or 2.

7. 7. The footrest for a keyboard instrument according to claim 6, The foot support base is a mounting hole formed as a through hole for mounting the mounting portion; The mounting portion is a mounting hole formed as a bottomed hole for mounting on the upper surface of the foot support base; The mounting holes and the mounting holes are 10. A footrest for a keyboard instrument, wherein the foot support base and the mounting portion are formed at the same position from the respective edges of the foot support base and the mounting portion.

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