Pedal Assistance Device

Abstract

To provide a support pedal apparatus which can reduce discomfort when a player steps on a support pedal even if height of a pedal is raised.SOLUTION: A pedal support apparatus 1 used when a player's foot does not reach a pedal 5 of a musical instrument includes: a base part 10 fixed to the pedal 5; a support pedal 20; and a swing connecting member 30 for swingably connecting the support pedal 20 to the base part 10 about a horizontal swing shaft 40 in a width direction. The swing connecting member 30 includes a compression coil spring 42 which is installed in a compressed state and pushes the support pedal 20 to rotate to a tip side away from the pedal 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pedal assisting device that assists a pedal of a musical instrument. [Background technology]

[0002] When playing musical instruments with pedals such as pianos and organs, there are cases where the player is a child and cannot reach the pedals with his / her feet. In such cases, pedal assist devices have been provided that are attached to the pedals so that even children can operate the pedals of the musical instruments.

[0003] Such pedal assisting devices are disclosed, for example, in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3. In the following Patent Documents 1 to 3, an auxiliary pedal is fixedly installed to the pedal of the musical instrument so as to be adjustable in height, thereby raising the height of the pedal and enabling the pedal of the musical instrument to be operated via the auxiliary pedal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-56680 A [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3197741 [Patent Document 3] Utility Model Registration No. 3137551 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, if the height of the pedal is raised, the position of the auxiliary pedal is farther away from the center of the swing of the instrument pedal, and the distance the auxiliary pedal moves when pressed is greater than the distance the instrument pedal moves when pressed, causing the player to feel uncomfortable. It is believed that this feeling of discomfort increases the higher the height of the auxiliary pedal is raised.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and aims to provide an auxiliary pedal device that can reduce the discomfort felt by a player when stepping on the auxiliary pedal, even when the pedal height is raised. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the auxiliary pedal device according to the present invention is a pedal auxiliary device used when a player's foot cannot reach a pedal of a musical instrument, the pedal auxiliary device comprising: a base portion fixed to the pedal; an auxiliary pedal; When the extension direction of the pedal is the depth, The auxiliary pedal is pivotable relative to the base around a horizontal pivot axis in the width direction. The lower part of the auxiliary pedal is attached to the base part. and a swingable connecting member for connecting the auxiliary pedal to the auxiliary pedal. The top of The pedal From the roots of To the tip In the direction It is characterized by having a compression coil spring that pushes it to rotate. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the auxiliary pedal device of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the discomfort felt by the player when stepping on the auxiliary pedal. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pedal assist device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pedal assist device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the pedal assisting device according to the embodiment of the present invention is used. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connection block according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side view showing a connected state of the connection block according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a base side fixed part according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the swinging state of the swing connecting member according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a pedal assisting device (assist pedal) 1 will be described as a pedal assisting device that is attached to a pedal 5 of a piano when a child who cannot reach the pedal with his / her foot plays the piano (see FIG. 3).

[0011] The pedal assisting device 1 includes a base portion 10 that is attached and fixed to the piano pedal 5, an assisting pedal portion 20, and a swingable connection 30 that swingably connects the base portion 10 and the assisting pedal portion 20 (see Figures 1 and 2, etc.).

[0012] In this embodiment, in a plan view, the side of the pedal assisting device 1 that is attached to the piano pedal 5 is referred to as the base side, and the opposite side where the performer is positioned and away from the piano pedal 5 is referred to as the tip side, the direction connecting the base side and the tip side is referred to as the front-rear direction, and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction is referred to as the width direction.

[0013] The base portion 10 includes a base plate 11 and a pedal fixing portion 12 for fixing to the piano pedal 5. The base plate 11 is a metal plate that is bent twice at right angles in a stepped shape when viewed from the front, and has small holes for passing the springs 42 through and female screws for screwing formed in predetermined locations. The piano fixing portion 12 includes a piano pedal insertion frame 13, piano pedal fixing screws 14, and a pedal presser member 15.

[0014] An upwardly protruding piano pedal insertion frame 13 is provided on the lower stage 11b of the base plate 11. When the pedal assisting device 1 is attached to the piano pedal 5, the piano pedal 5 is inserted into the space surrounded by the lower stage 11b and the piano pedal insertion frame 13. A sheet-like cushioning material 11c is provided on the upper surface of the lower stage 11b.

[0015] The piano pedal fixing screw 14 has a male threaded portion (not shown) that is screwed into a female threaded portion (not shown) formed on the upper surface of the piano pedal insertion frame 13, with its tip protruding into the piano pedal insertion frame 13. A plate-shaped pedal presser 15 is connected to the tip of the male threaded portion. The pedal presser 15 is screwed to the tip of the piano pedal fixing screw 14 by a connecting screw (not shown) so as to be relatively rotatable around the screw axis.

[0016] With the piano pedal 5 inserted into the piano pedal insertion frame 13, when the piano pedal fixing screw 14 is rotated in the tightening direction to lower the tip of the male thread, the pedal presser 15 is pressed against the upper surface of the piano pedal 5. In other words, the piano pedal 5 is sandwiched and fixed between the pedal presser 15 and the cushion material 11c of the lower part 11b of the base plate 11, and the base part 10 is securely fixed to the piano pedal 5.

[0017] The auxiliary pedal section 20 includes an auxiliary pedal 21 and a plurality of types of connecting blocks 25, and the height of the auxiliary pedal 21 can be adjusted by changing the types and number of the connecting blocks 25 that are connected and stacked.

[0018] Fig. 4 shows the configuration of the connecting block 25 according to this embodiment, Fig. 4(A) is a front view of three types of connecting blocks 25 arranged side by side, and Fig. 4(B) is a side view of the three types of connecting blocks 25 arranged side by side. Fig. 5 is a side view of the auxiliary pedal unit 20, showing the state in which all three types of connecting blocks 25 are connected and stacked.

[0019] The auxiliary pedal 21 has a shape similar to that of a piano pedal, and includes a connecting recess 21b provided on the underside, and a slip-out prevention slider 22. The slip-out prevention slider 22 is provided so as to be slidable vertically between a slip-out prevention position where the entrance of the connecting recess 21b is closed, and an open position where the slider 22 moves upward to open the entrance.

[0020] In this embodiment, three types of connecting blocks 25 are prepared: one-stage, two-stage, and three-stage. The two-stage connecting block 25 is twice as high as the one-stage connecting block 25, and the three-stage connecting block 25 is three times as high as the one-stage connecting block 25. Figures 1, 2, and 8 show a state in which only the one-stage connecting block 25 is used.

[0021] A connecting protrusion 25a is formed on the upper surface of every connecting block 25, and a connecting recess 25b is formed on the lower surface. Every connecting block 25 is provided with a slip-out prevention slider 26. The slip-out prevention slider 26 is installed so as to be slidable vertically between a slip-out prevention position where the slider closes the entrance of the connecting recess 25b, and an open position where the slider moves upward to open the entrance.

[0022] All of the connecting protrusions 25a, 35a, including the connecting protrusion 35a installed on the upper surface of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35 of the swing connecting member 30 described later, have the same shape, and all of the connecting recesses 21b, 25b also have the same shape.

[0023] The connecting protrusions 25a, 35a can enter the connecting recesses 21b, 25b by moving horizontally from the side openings of the connecting recesses 21b, 25b. When the connecting protrusions 25a, 35a entirely enter the connecting recesses 21b, 25b, the members (connecting block 25, auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35) having the connecting protrusions 25a, 35a on their upper surfaces and the members (auxiliary pedal 21, connecting block 25) having the connecting recesses 21b, 25b on their lower surfaces are connected in the vertical direction.

[0024] This connection will not be released unless the connecting protrusions 25a, 35a move horizontally and come out of the connecting recesses 21b, 25b. Therefore, after the connecting protrusions 25a, 35a are inserted into the connecting recesses 21b, 25b, the anti-slip sliders 22, 26 are slid vertically to the anti-slip positions, whereby the connected state can be reliably maintained.

[0025] Here, in Fig. 4, the anti-slip sliders 26 are positioned in the upper open position in all of the connecting blocks 25. Also, in Fig. 5, the anti-slip slider 22 of the auxiliary pedal 21 that has already been connected is positioned in the lower anti-slip position, but the anti-slip sliders 26 of the three connecting blocks 25 are all positioned in the upper open position.

[0026] The auxiliary pedal section 20 can appropriately adjust the installation height of the auxiliary pedal 21 relative to the base section 10 by changing the number and type of connecting blocks 25 to be installed. The installation height is lowest when the auxiliary pedal 21 is directly connected to the auxiliary pedal side fixing section 35 without using the connecting blocks 25. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, the installation height of the auxiliary pedal 21 is highest when all three types of connecting blocks 25 are installed by stacking them.

[0027] The swing connecting member 30 includes a base side fixing part 31, an auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35, a swing shaft 40, a spring 42 which is a compression coil spring, and a swing angle adjustment bolt 45. Fig. 6 shows the configuration of the base side fixing part 31, Fig. 6(A) is a perspective view seen from above, and Fig. 6(B) is a perspective view seen from below.

[0028] Fig. 7 shows the configuration of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35, Fig. 7(A) is a perspective view seen from above, Fig. 7(B) is a perspective view seen from below, and Fig. 7(C) is a front view showing a partial cross section. Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining the swing state of the swing connecting member 30, Fig. 8(A) shows a state in which the swing angle is horizontal 0°, Fig. 8(B) shows a state in which the swing angle is 5° toward the tip side, and Fig. 8(C) shows a state in which the swing angle is 3° toward the base side.

[0029] The base side fixing part 31 is a member fixed to the base part 10, and in the part toward the piano pedal 5 side (root side) of the center in the width direction, a spring storage part 32 which is a cylindrical recess that opens to the upper side is formed in order to store the spring 42.

[0030] A spring support shaft 32a, which is a vertical shaft that holds the spring 42 in an upright position by being inserted into the cylindrical coil spring 42, is installed in the center of the spring storage section 32. The base side fixing section 31 is fixed to the underside of the lower section 11b of the base plate 11 with a fixing screw 33.

[0031] The base side fixing part 31 has an H-shape in plan view, and its central part in the front-rear direction is narrowed in the width direction, and has an oscillation shaft insertion hole 31a extending in the width direction.

[0032] The auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35 is located on the upper surface of the upper part 11a of the base plate 11, and is connected to the base side fixing part 31 by a horizontal swing shaft 40 so as to be swingable. In this embodiment, when the upper surface of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35 is horizontal, that is, when the auxiliary pedal part 20 is in an upright state, the swing angle is set to 0° (see FIG. 8(A)).

[0033] The auxiliary pedal side fixing portion 35 has a connecting protrusion 35a on its upper surface. The connecting protrusion 35a is connected to the connecting recess 21b of the auxiliary pedal 21 or the connecting recess 25b of the connecting block 25.

[0034] The auxiliary pedal side fixing portion 35 has a pivot shaft insertion portion 36 on both sides in the width direction, which protrudes downward from the upper step portion 11a of the base plate 11. A pivot shaft insertion hole 36a is formed in the pivot shaft insertion portion 36, and both ends of the pivot shaft 40 are inserted into the pivot shaft insertion hole 36a.

[0035] A spring storage section 37, which is a cylindrical recess that opens to the bottom side, is formed in a portion of the underside of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35, which is located in the center of the width direction near the piano pedal 5 and faces the spring storage section 32 of the base side fixing part 31. A spring support shaft 37a is provided in the center of the spring storage section 37.

[0036] The lower surface of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35 is formed with an inclined surface that rises in the front-rear direction as it moves away from the center of the lowest part. The tip side is a first inclined surface 35b, and the base side is a second inclined surface 35c. The inclination angle of the inclined surfaces 35b and 35c is 5° upward. However, the second inclined surface 35c located on the piano pedal 5 side is further formed with a second protruding inclined surface 35d that is inclined upward by 3° and protrudes downward.

[0037] When the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35 swings around the swing shaft 40 and rotates toward the tip side away from the piano pedal 5, the first inclined surface 35b hits the upper surface of the upper part 11a of the base plate 11 and the rotation stops. The swing angle at this time is 5° toward the tip side from the 0° position where the upper surface of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35 is horizontal (see FIG. 8(B)).

[0038] Furthermore, when the auxiliary pedal side fixed part 35 rotates to the base side, the second protruding inclined surface 35d of the second inclined surface 35c hits the upper surface of the upper stage part 11a and stops rotating. At this time, the swing angle is 3° from the 0° position to the base side (see FIG. 8(C)).

[0039] That is, the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35 can swing freely from the horizontal position where its upper surface is 0°, by 5° toward the tip side and 3° toward the base side, within a total range of 8°. When the auxiliary pedal part 20 is connected and fixed to the upper surface of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35, the upper surface of the auxiliary pedal 21 is horizontal with the upper surface of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35. When the swing angle is 0°, the auxiliary pedal 21 is in a horizontal state and is approximately horizontal with the piano pedal 5.

[0040] The lower end side of the spring 42 is stored in the spring storage section 32 of the base side fixed part 31, and the upper end side is stored in the spring storage section 37 of the auxiliary pedal side fixed part 35. The spring storage sections 32, 37 are installed on the root side of the swing shaft 40. The spring 42, which is a compression coil spring, is stored upright in a compressed state on the root side of the swing shaft 40, and the reaction force presses the lower surface of the root side upward so that the auxiliary pedal side fixed part 35 rotates toward the tip side.

[0041] Therefore, in the initial state where no external force is applied, the swing angle of the auxiliary pedal section 20 connected to the auxiliary pedal side fixing section 35 is 5° towards the tip side. On the other hand, when the performer depresses the auxiliary pedal 21, the auxiliary pedal section 20 rotates towards the base side against the elastic force of the spring 42, and can be rotated up to a position where the swing angle is 3° towards the base side.

[0042] In this way, the auxiliary pedal section 20 is pushed so as to rotate toward the tip by the spring 42, which is an elastic member, and when the auxiliary pedal 21 is stepped on by the performer, it is configured to be able to rotate toward the base against the elastic force. This reduces the distance the performer travels when stepping on the raised auxiliary pedal 21, thereby reducing the sense of discomfort compared to when stepping on the piano pedal 5 directly.

[0043] In addition, when the performer removes his / her foot from the auxiliary pedal 21, the pedal auxiliary device 1 rises in response to the rise of the piano pedal 5, and the auxiliary pedal part 20, which has rotated toward the base side, is pushed toward the tip side by the elastic force of the spring 42, returning to the initial state inclined 5° toward the tip side.

[0044] The swing angle adjustment bolt 45 is an initial swing angle adjustment member (screw member) that adjusts the swing angle in this initial state, and is screwed into the base plate 11 (base side fixed portion 31) from below so that the tip of the bolt protrudes above the base plate 11.

[0045] The tip of the swing angle adjustment bolt 45 is positioned within the angle adjustment recess 38 formed in the first inclined surface 35b of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35. By turning the swing angle adjustment bolt 45 in the screw feed direction, the tip rises and is screwed in until it hits the bottom surface of the angle adjustment recess 38, allowing the initial swing angle of 5° on the tip side to be appropriately adjusted in the initial state.

[0046] The swing angle adjustment bolt 45 is installed so as to be capable of being screwed up to a position where it comes into contact with the bottom surface of the angle adjustment recess 38 of the auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35 when it is in a swing state at a maximum swing angle of 3° toward the base side.

[0047] That is, the initial swing angle of the auxiliary pedal unit 20 can be adjusted from 5° toward the tip to 3° toward the base by the swing angle adjustment bolt 45. When the initial swing angle is adjusted to a position of 3° toward the base, the auxiliary pedal unit 20 is unable to swing.

[0048] As described above, this embodiment has been described. According to this embodiment, when a child who cannot reach the piano pedal 5 plays the piano, the pedal assisting device 1 can be attached to the piano pedal 5 to raise the height of the pedal, and even a child can indirectly operate the piano pedal 5 via the auxiliary pedal 21.

[0049] In addition, in this embodiment, the height of the auxiliary pedal 21 can be adjusted appropriately by changing the type and number of connecting blocks 25 installed in the auxiliary pedal section 20, and the raised height of the pedal can be appropriately adjusted to suit the length of the player's foot.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the auxiliary pedal section 20 is installed so as to be able to swing freely in the front-to-rear direction around the horizontal oscillating axis 40, and is constantly pushed towards the tip by a spring. Therefore, by raising the pedal, the discomfort felt by the performer when stepping on the auxiliary pedal 21 can be reduced.

[0051] In addition, in this embodiment, a compression coil spring is used as the spring 42, which is an elastic member that presses the auxiliary pedal unit 20, so that the spring can be installed inside the swing connecting member 30. This improves the appearance of the pedal assisting device 1 and prevents the danger of the coil spring being exposed.

[0052] In addition, in this embodiment, the swing range of the auxiliary pedal portion 20 can be appropriately adjusted by the swing angle adjustment bolt 45, so that the discomfort felt when stepping on the auxiliary pedal 21 can be reduced in various situations.

[0053] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the shape, size, material, etc. of the members constituting the pedal assist device can be appropriately changed.

[0054] In addition, in the above embodiment, the base side fixing portion of the swing connecting member, which connects the auxiliary pedal to the base portion so that it can be freely rotated, is fixed to the base portion (base plate), but the base side fixing portion may be formed integrally with the base portion, and it is sufficient if the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion is configured to be swingably connected to the base portion by a swing axis.

[0055] In addition, in the above embodiment, a swing angle adjustment bolt with its tip protruding between the base portion and the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion was used as a swing angle adjustment member that limits the rotation of the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion toward the tip side. However, any member that is interposed between the base portion and the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion at the tip side of the swing shaft and can limit the rotation of the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion toward the tip side can be used as an appropriate swing angle adjustment member.

[0056] Also, the swing angle adjustment bolt may be screwed to the auxiliary pedal fixing portion, rather than to the base portion, with its tip being in contact with the upper surface of the base portion.

[0057] Furthermore, the pedal assisting device can be attached not only to piano pedals, but also to organ pedals, drum pedals, or other musical instrument pedals that need to be raised as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 Pedal assist device 10 Base 11 Base plate 11a Upper section 11b Lower section 11c Cushioning 12 Pedal fixing part 13 Piano pedal insert frame 14 Piano pedal fixing screw 15 Pedal retainer 20 Auxiliary pedal section 21 Auxiliary pedal 21b Connection recess 22 Anti-slip slider 25 Connecting Blocks 25a Connecting protrusion 25b Connection recess 26 Anti-slip slider 30 Swinging connecting member 31 Base side fixing part 31a Oscillating shaft insertion hole 32 Spring storage section 32a Spring support shaft 33 Fixing screw 35 Auxiliary pedal side fixing part 35a Connecting protrusion 35b First slope 35c Second slope 35d Second protruding slope 36 Swing shaft insertion part 36a Swing shaft insertion hole 37 Spring storage section 37a Spring support shaft 38 Angle adjustment recess 40 Swing Axis 42 Spring 45 Swing angle adjustment bolt 5 Piano Pedals

Claims

1. A pedal assist device used when a player's foot cannot reach the pedal of an instrument, A base portion fixed to the pedal; Auxiliary pedals, a swing connecting member that connects a lower portion of the auxiliary pedal to the base portion so that the auxiliary pedal can swing relative to the base portion around a horizontal swing axis in a width direction when the extension direction of the pedal is defined as a depth, The pedal assisting device is characterized in that the swing connecting member is provided with a compression coil spring that is installed in a compressed state and pushes the upper part of the auxiliary pedal to rotate in a direction from the base of the pedal toward the tip side.

2. The swing connecting member is an auxiliary pedal side fixing portion that is connected and fixed to a lower portion of the auxiliary pedal and is connected to the base portion so as to be swingable around the swing shaft; The pedal assisting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the compression coil spring is installed between the base portion and the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion, closer to the base of the pedal than the pivot shaft, and presses the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion so that the upper portion of the auxiliary pedal rotates in a direction from the base of the pedal toward the tip side.

3. The pedal assisting device according to claim 2, further comprising a swing angle adjustment member that is installed between the base portion and the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion on the tip side of the swing axis in a direction from the base of the pedal to the tip side, and that limits the rotation of an upper portion of the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion in the direction from the base of the pedal to the tip side.

4. The pedal auxiliary device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pivot angle adjustment member is a pivot angle adjustment bolt screwed into the base portion or the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion, the tip of which protrudes between the base portion and the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion and contacts the lower surface of the auxiliary pedal side fixing portion or the upper surface of the base portion to limit rotation.

5. 5. The pedal assisting device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of connecting blocks that are detachable from one another and that can be stacked to adjust the height of the auxiliary pedal.

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