Electronic Keyboard Pedal Guard Geometry for Finger Entrapment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pedal devices in musical instruments, such as pianos and electronic keyboard instruments, pose a risk of fingers getting caught between the opening portions and the upper surface of the pedals, leading to potential injury and compromising the device's appearance.
Innovation Solution
A pedal device with a restricting portion featuring a first restricting surface that inclines downward from the proximal end to the distal end of the pedal, positioned inside the pedal case, and a second restricting surface that connects at an obtuse angle, along with a tapered edge, to prevent fingers from entering the opening and maintain a compact size while ensuring visibility and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the opening portion is made larger to facilitate pedal operation, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of finger injury increases and appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting portion acts as an intermediary element between the opening portion and the pedal upper surface. It mediates the contradiction by providing a protective barrier that prevents direct contact between fingers and the hazardous gap, while still allowing the opening to remain sufficiently large for pedal operation. The restricting portion with its inclined surface guides fingers away from the dangerous area.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the restricting portion is made more prominent to enhance safety, then finger protection is improved, but device complexity increases and appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting portion is designed with local quality by providing protection only where it is most needed - at the critical area where fingers might enter the opening. The restricting portion is strategically positioned and shaped to provide maximum protection with minimum structure, rather than uniformly increasing the complexity of the entire pedal device.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the opening smaller to prevent finger entry (which would hinder operation), the invention inverts the approach by adding a restricting portion that actively guides and prevents finger entry while maintaining the opening size for proper pedal operation. The restriction is imposed by the added component rather than by reducing the opening.
3Shape
If the opening portion height is reduced to improve appearance, then aesthetic quality is improved, but the risk of finger entrapment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting portion serves as a mediator that allows the opening height to be reduced for aesthetic purposes while simultaneously preventing finger entrapment. It compensates for the reduced opening height by providing an additional protective element that guides fingers away from the narrowed opening, thus resolving the contradiction between appearance and safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
A pedal device (50) includes a pedal case (53) including an opening portion (53a); a pedal (52) projecting outwards of the pedal case (53) via the opening portion (53a) and provided rotatably; and a restricting portion (140) including a first restricting surface (141a) which inclines along a downward gradient from a proximal end side towards a distal end side of the pedal (52), and a second restricting surface (142a) which is provided above the first restricting surface (141a) inside the pedal case (53) while connecting to the first restricting surface (141a) at an obtuse angle.