Patents by Inventor Fumihiro Shigenaga

Fumihiro Shigenaga has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100186574
    Abstract: The distal structure of a leg for a musical instrument stand is constituted of a spike member installed inside the storage of a case having a ground portion whose ground surface is placed on the floor, a rotor interconnected to the spike member, and a single operator projected above the case. Upon a first depression, a presser of the operator depresses a projection of the rotor downward so that the spike member protrudes from the ground surface. In the protruded state of the spike member, the projection of the rotor is engaged with a receptor formed in a stepped interior of the storage. Upon a second depression, the presser of the operator depresses the projection of the rotor again so as to release the engagement between the projection and the receptor, so that the spike member moves to retract inside the storage of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: FUMIHIRO SHIGENAGA
  • Publication number: 20100170380
    Abstract: A spring holding mechanism is adapted to a foot pedal including a spring which applies a tensile force to a rotation shaft interconnected with a drum beater of a bass drum. It includes an external thread (i.e. a bolt) interconnected to one end of the spring, a support member having a hole allowing for the external thread running therethrough, and an internal thread (i.e. a fixing nut) that is engaged with the external thread so as to fix the support member in position, thus limiting the vertical movement of the external thread in an axial direction. A projection and a recess are formed in the support member and the internal thread respectively. The projection having an external slope is engaged with the recess having an internal slope so that the projection is received inside the recess when the internal thread is attached to the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: FUMIHIRO SHIGENAGA
  • Publication number: 20100147136
    Abstract: An angle adjusting structure adapted to a high-hat stand supporting the high-hat cymbals is constituted of a receiving member supporting high-hat cymbals, a first thread attached to the receiving member, a second thread which engages with the first thread and which is revolved to move the first thread up/down so as to adjust a tilting angle of the receiving member, a support member supporting the second thread, and a revolution limiting member limiting the revolution of the second thread. The revolution limiting member includes a plurality of first engagers (e.g. recesses) which are formed on the lower end of the second thread in its circumferential direction and a second engager (e.g. a projection) which is shaped to engage with the first engager and is attached to the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: FUMIHIRO SHIGENAGA
  • Patent number: 7381877
    Abstract: The present invention provides a foot pedal for a drum that can clamp a hoop regardless of a board thickness of a hoop, improves an operability, handling and moreover, appearance, and increases a freedom of a setting the angle of a foot board. A pedal frame provides a hoop pushing apparatus that clamps a drum hoop. The hoop pushing apparatus includes: a hoop clamp with rotatability; a bolt that is provided at a front edge portion of the hoop clamp, piercing the hoop clamp, and can be adjusted in height; a hoop holding and binding lever that is provided at a bottom side of the hoop clamp with rotability; and a clamp holding mechanism that rotates and holds the hoop clamp at a certain height. The hoop pushing apparatus, upon clamping, holds and binds the hoop with a hoop receiving member and the hoop holding and binding lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Publication number: 20060278060
    Abstract: The present invention provides a foot pedal for a drum that can clamp a hoop regardless of a board thickness of a hoop, improves an operability, handling and moreover, appearance, and increases a freedom of a setting the angle of a foot board. A pedal frame provides a hoop pushing apparatus that clamps a drum hoop. The hoop pushing apparatus includes: a hoop clamp with rotatability; a bolt that is provided at a front edge portion of the hoop clamp, piercing the hoop clamp, and can be adjusted in height; a hoop holding and binding lever that is provided at a bottom side of the hoop clamp with rotability; and a clamp holding mechanism that rotates and holds the hoop clamp at a certain height. The hoop pushing apparatus, upon clamping, holds and binds the hoop with a hoop receiving member and the hoop holding and binding lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 6951976
    Abstract: A high hat stand keeps high hat cymbals straight on a floor, and crashes the top cymbal against the bottom cymbal in response to player's fooling, wherein a toggle joint is connected between an extension rod connected to the top cymbal, a foot board depressed by the player and a stationary frame so as to achieve a large magnification ratio between the force exerted on the foot board and the force exerted on the extension rod, thereby improving the response to the player's footing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 6930232
    Abstract: An operating rod of a high-hat stand comprising an upper rod member and a lower rod member that are threadably connected to each other by a connecting assembly so that the operating rod is movable upward and downward by a foot pedal and causes a movable cymbal to move up and down with respect to a stationary cymbal. The connecting assembly includes an elastic section that is compressed upon connection of the upper and lower rod members and elastically recovers to its original shape when the upper and lower rod members are separated. The elastic section is formed inside the connecting assembly and can be provided on an exterior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 6900380
    Abstract: A foot pedal for a drum is basically constituted by a foot board, a depression transmission member, a pedal frame having a pair of support members, a rotation shaft, a rocker, a beater rod, and a beater. Herein, the rocker comprises a rocker body and a rod fixing portion having a fixing member receiving portion for receiving a fixing member. In assembly, the fixing member is attached to the beater rod and is then received by the fixing member receiving portion; thereafter, a bolt is deeply screwed into the rocker to press the beater rod to the interior wall of the rod insertion hole, so that the fixing member is correspondingly moved backwards and is completely engaged with the fixing member receiving portion. Thus, it is possible to reliably avoid unwanted axial rotation of the beater rod during the play of a bass drum with the foot pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 6765141
    Abstract: A foot pedal for a drum (e.g., a bass drum) is constituted by a pedal frame, a rotation shaft, a rocker, a beater rod having a beater, a foot board, a depression transmission member, and a base plate whose front portion is affixed to a frame body by use of a screw and whose back portion is affixed to a heel. The head and external thread portion of the screw are engaged with a through hole having a keyhole shape formed in the front portion of the base plate. The base plate and pedal frame are subjected to prescribed positioning using projections and engagement holes, which are engaged with each other when the base plate and frame body are fixed together by tightening the screw, which can be loosened to allow removal of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 6713667
    Abstract: A foot pedal unit for use in a drum set comprises a beater, a rotation shaft, a pair of support poles for rotatably supporting the rotation shaft, and a foot pedal connected to the rotation shaft. The foot pedal unit provides an automatic return structure that comprises a tension coil spring whose upper end is connected to a crank arm at one end of the rotation shaft via a first roller, an adjustment screw, and a second roller by which the lower end of the tension coil spring is connected with the adjustment screw. Due to the provision of the automatic return structure, the beater and foot pedal are automatically returned to their initial positions without causing unwanted friction or noise at the lower end of the tension coil spring that is expanded or contracted when the player depresses the foot pedal with his/her foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Publication number: 20030167545
    Abstract: A foot pedal for a drum is basically constituted by a foot board, a depression transmission member, a pedal frame having a pair of support members, a rotation shaft, a rocker, a beater rod, and a beater. Herein, the rocker comprises a rocker body and a rod fixing portion having a fixing member receiving portion for receiving a fixing member. In assembly, the fixing member is attached to the beater rod and is then received by the fixing member receiving portion; thereafter, a bolt is deeply screwed into the rocker to press the beater rod to the interior wall of the rod insertion hole, so that the fixing member is correspondingly moved backwards and is completely engaged with the fixing member receiving portion. Thus, it is possible to reliably avoid unwanted axial rotation of the beater rod during the play of a bass drum with the foot pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Publication number: 20030159563
    Abstract: A foot pedal for a drum (e.g., a bass drum) is constituted by a pedal frame, a rotation shaft, a rocker, a beater rod having a beater, a foot board, a depression transmission member, and a base plate whose front portion is affixed to a frame body by use of a screw and whose back portion is affixed to a heel. The head and external thread portion of the screw are engaged with a through hole having a keyhole shape formed in the front portion of the base plate. The base plate and pedal frame are subjected to prescribed positioning using projections and engagement holes, which are engaged with each other when the base plate and frame body are fixed together by tightening the screw, which can be loosened to allow removal of the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Publication number: 20030159550
    Abstract: A tuning key for a drum including a socket wrench element, which has a receiving opening that fits on the head of a tightening bolt used for tuning the drumhead, and a handle, which is attached to the socket wrench element. The handle is made of a hexagonal bar spanner element that has an L shape and is attached to the socket wrench element so that the spanner element is perpendicular to the axis of the socket wrench element. The socket wrench element is used as a turning handle when rotating a tightening bolt with the socket wrench element. The socket wrench element (and a part of the hexagonal bar spanner element) is used as a turning handle when rotating a hexagonal-hole bolt with the hexagonal bar spanner element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 6509518
    Abstract: A connecting device for a drum set that connects a high-hat stand to a drum foot pedal comprising a first connecting element and a second connecting element. The first connecting element is fastened to the frame of the high-hat stand so that a supporting column of the frame is held between the first fastening portion of the first connecting element, and a plate and the first fastening portion and a plate are connected by two bolts. The second connecting element is fastened to the frame of the drum foot pedal so as to be held by a clamp. The second fastening portion of the first connecting element is placed on the second connecting element so that the slots overlap each other. A bolt is passed through these slots and a nut is attached to the bolt, thus connecting the first and second connecting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Publication number: 20020152873
    Abstract: A foot pedal unit for use in a drum set comprises a beater, a rotation shaft, a pair of support poles for rotatably supporting the rotation shaft, and a foot pedal connected to the rotation shaft. The foot pedal unit provides an automatic return structure that comprises a tension coil spring whose upper end is connected to a crank arm at one end of the rotation shaft via a first roller, an adjustment screw, and a second roller by which the lower end of the tension coil spring is connected with the adjustment screw. Due to the provision of the automatic return structure, the beater and foot pedal are automatically returned to their initial positions without causing unwanted friction or noise at the lower end of the tension coil spring that is expanded or contracted when the player depresses the foot pedal with his/her foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 6437225
    Abstract: A high hat stand has a foot pedal connected to an extension rod slidable inside of a telescopic guide for crashing a top cymbal connected to the extension rod against a bottom cymbal connected to the telescopic guide, a foot member is located in an area opposite to the area occupied by the foot pedal with respect to the telescopic guide, and the foot member is connected to the telescopic guide by means of a single leg so that a player can arrange drums in crowed fashion together with the high hat cymbals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corp.
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 6380468
    Abstract: Skins are stretched over circular apertures of a composite shell, and are fastened to the composite shell, wherein the composite shell has a monolithic woody cylindrical member and metallic bars embedded in the monolithic woody cylindrical member in such a manner as to be exposed to the end surfaces thereof so that the vibrating skins concurrently give rise to vibrations in the monolithic woody cylindrical member and the metallic bars for producing new beat sound between the beat sound produced through a woody shell and the beat sound produced through a metallic shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Publication number: 20020017186
    Abstract: A connecting device for a drum set that connects a high-hat stand to a drum foot pedal comprising a first connecting element and a second connecting element. The first connecting element is fastened to the frame of the high-hat stand so that a supporting column of the frame is held between the first fastening portion of the first connecting element, and a plate and the first fastening portion and a plate are connected by two bolts. The second connecting element is fastened to the frame of the drum foot pedal so as to be held by a clamp. The second fastening portion of the first connecting element is placed on the second connecting element so that the slots overlap each other. A bolt is passed through these slots and a nut is attached to the bolt, thus connecting the first and second connecting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Publication number: 20010052282
    Abstract: An operating rod of a high-hat stand comprising an upper rod member and a lower rod member that are threadably connected to each other by a connecting assembly so that the operating rod is movable upward and downward by a foot pedal and causes a movable cymbal to move up and down with respect to a stationary cymbal. The connecting assembly includes an elastic section that is compressed upon connection of the upper and lower rod members and elastically recovers to its original shape when the upper and lower rod members are separated. The elastic section is formed inside the connecting assembly and can be provided on an exterior thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 6211448
    Abstract: The bass drum of a drum set provided with drum heads at both ends of the cylindrical shell comprising first and second shell segments which can be split in the axial direction and detachably coupled so that the interior of the bass drum can hold, for instance, drum attachment fixtures, tom-toms, snare drums and so on. The bass drum is provided with auxiliary legs, a handle, a height adjuster leg, and the like attached on the outer surface of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiro Shigenaga, Takashi Hagiwara