Patents Examined by Jeffrey Doneis
  • Patent number: 7608771
    Abstract: A system for the controlled hitting of a percussion instrument such as a drum including an implement such as a bass drum pedal is described herein. The system comprises a controller for receiving a signal indicative of a beat and for sending triggering command, and an actuator for coupling to the implement and to the controller for receiving the triggering command from the controller and for causing the implement to move at the beat in response to a triggering command from the controller. According to an illustrative embodiment, the actuator includes a motor coupled to the controller so as to be controlled therefrom and a drive mechanism connected to the motor and to the implement for causing the motor to trigger the implement at the beat in response to the triggering command. The system is connected and controlled by a click through a MIDI connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventors: Claude Fournier, Paul Seney
  • Patent number: 7544874
    Abstract: A key assembly for a saxophone includes an elongated body adapted to be pivotal relative to a saxophone body and having a key formed on one end of the elongated body for selectively closing a hole in the saxophone body in response to the pivotal movement of the elongated body, a casing formed on the other end of the elongated body, a sliding block movably received in the casing from the top opening of the casing and having multiple positioning holes defined in a side face thereof, a key finger button to move simultaneously with the sliding block and a locking block threadingly extendable into the casing and having a locking pin to be extendable into one of the positioning holes of the sliding block so as to secure position of the sliding block as well as the key finger button relative to the elongated body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: K.H.S. Musical Instrument Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wu-Hong Hsieh