Pedal Carried Patents (Class 84/231)
  • Patent number: 7432429
    Abstract: A pedaling aid is combined with an acoustic piano, and assists a physically handicapped person in performing a piece of music on the acoustic piano; the pedaling aid includes a human interface, a pedal actuator and a controller, and the pedal actuator is equipped with a locator and a coupling device; a user moves the pedal actuator in the vicinity of the acoustic piano, and couples the pedal actuator to the acoustic piano at a proper position with the assistance of the locator and coupling device; while the physically handicapped person is fingering on the acoustic piano, the human interface is kept around the head so that the physically handicapped person manipulates the human interface with the chin, mouth, teeth or tongue; since the human interface produces a signal representative of a target position, the controller makes the pedal actuator to move the pedal to the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Muramatsu, Yasuhiko Ohba, Hiroyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 6164410
    Abstract: An exhaust gas muffler for an internal combustion engine, especially in a manually guided implement such as a power chain saw and the like, is provided. The muffler has a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet for engine exhaust gas. An essentially cylindrical spark killer screen is fixed in position at a wall opening of the muffler housing that forms the outlet. The spark killer screen projects into the interior of the muffler housing. Adjoining the spark killer screen on the outer side of the muffler housing as an extension of the cylindrical spark killer screen is an exhaust gas pipe. This pipe is provided with threads and serves as a fastening device with which the spark killer screen and the exhaust gas pipe, as a fire protector, are fixed in position in the wall opening of the muffler housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventors: Peter Linsbauer, Jochen Kramer, Peter Bauer
  • Patent number: 4736664
    Abstract: A piano pedal activator assembly 12 is provided for actuating a sustaining pedal 14 of a piano 10. The piano pedal activator assembly 12 includes a reversible motor 28 including a shaft 30. A control circuit 62 is provided to activate the motor 28 and rotate the shaft 30. A pedal actuating lever 46 is coupled to shaft 30 through a worm gear assembly 32. Upon activation of the motor 28 to rotate the shaft 30 in one direction the worm gear assembly 32 causes the pedal actuating lever 46 to move downwardly to displace the sustaining pedal 14. When the motor 28 is actuated to turn the shaft 30 in the reverse direction the worm gear assembly 32 causes the pedal actuating lever 46 to move upwardly to release the sustaining pedal 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Inventors: J. D. Hinsley, Bobby Norwood
  • Patent number: 4450733
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal extension device for the demountable attachment to a pedal of a machine, such as a piano, and which permits a user to manipulate an otherwise unreachable or difficult to reach foot pedal. The device includes a body frame having a supporting structure with an open end for receiving a pedal and an adjustable clamping member for securing the supporting structure to a pedal. A horizontal extension means is adjustably attached by a first securement means to the body frame, and a vertical extension means is adjustably secured to the horizontal extension means by a second securement means. The vertical extension means has a generally horizontal portion extending outward at its upper end to receive the foot of a user. The horizontal and vertical extension means are generally interchangeable L-shaped members having leg portions of varying lengths to effectuate a wide range of pedal extension distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Inventor: Larry A. Rantapaa
  • Patent number: 4206677
    Abstract: Pedal actuator and connection assemblies for electronic vorsetzer player piano units incorporating universal connection members between the electronic assemblies and foot pedals for converting a conventional piano to an electronic player piano are disclosed. The connection assemblies include a foot member, one for each foot pedal, which are adapted to transmit actuating forces transmitted from the player piano unit downwardly and on the rear portion of the pedal member pivoting the foot member in the second ball joint to cause an upward force on a lower pedal-engaging surface to thereby engage the lower side of the pedal therewith and thereby permit upward and downward movement of the foot without it slipping off the pedal. At the same time, since there is no positive securement of the connection assembly to the foot pedal, the vorsetzer may be easily and quickly positioned on the piano for converting a standard piano to an electronic player piano.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Vernon B. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 4164885
    Abstract: A foot pedal of a console type musical instrument is provided with a lift attachable to the pedal to raise its effective height for the benefit of small people such as children. The lift is a member to be placed on top of the foot block of the pedal and is attached to the pedal by a U-shaped bracket which passes beneath the pedal and has sides which extend upwardly to a position of attachment to the lift. Provision is made for tensioning the sides of the bracket which may be done by a camming surface on the lift or by bowing the bracket sides. Provision is also made for preventing twisting of the lift on the pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1979
    Inventor: Thomas P. Averette
  • Patent number: 4018128
    Abstract: An attachment for pianos to allow a paraplegic to operate pedals of a piano with his forearms while playing the piano normally. It employs a pivotal arm securable to a keyboard or other convenient location on the piano and includes an operator bar extending along a length of the piano keyboard at approximately the level of the keyboard. The pivotal arm is connected to a push rod while extending downward into the region of the pedals. Attachment means for the rod to operate the sustain pedal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1977
    Inventor: Robert Luther Megee