Pedal sound modification device

Abstract

A pedal sound modification device is disclosed for varying an electrical signal. The device includes a plate pivotably coupled to a base. A slide potentiometer is coupled to the base and has a slider arm slidably engaging a linear potentiometer. The linear potentiometer extends between proximal slide end and a distal slide end. A linkage rod is pivotably coupled to the plate and the slide potentiometer for displacing the slide arm relative to the linear potentiometer upon a pivoting displacement of the plate relative to the base. The plate contacts the base for defining a proximal slide arm stop and positions the slide arm immediately adjacent to the proximal slide end for preventing damage to the slide potentiometer. The plate contacts the base for defining a distal slide arm stop and positions the slide arm immediately adjacent to the distal slide end for preventing damage to the slide potentiometer.

Claims

1. A pedal sound modification device for varying an electrical signal, comprising: a base having a first pivot support between a proximal base side and a distal base side; a base proximal stop in said proximal base side; a base distal stop in said distal base side; a plate having a pivot bracket between proximal plate side and a distal plate side; a plate proximal stop in said proximal plate side; a plate distal stop in said distal plate side; a pivot coupling said pivot support and said pivot bracket for pivoting said plate relative to said base; an electrical circuit coupled to said base for receiving the electrical signal; an electrical input connection electrically linked to said electrical circuit for inputting the electrical signal into said electrical circuit; an electrical output connection electrically linked to said electrical circuit for outputting the electrical signal from said electrical circuit; a slide potentiometer coupled to said base and having a slider arm slidably engaging a linear potentiometer for varying the electrical signal; said linear potentiometer extending between proximal slide end and a distal slide end; said slider arm slidably engaging said linear potentiometer between said proximal slide end and said distal slide end; a second pivot support coupled to said plate; a potentiometer pivot support coupled to said slider arm; a linkage rod pivotably coupled to said second pivot support and said potentiometer pivot support for displacing said slider arm relative to said linear potentiometer upon a pivoting displacement of said plate relative to said base; said plate proximal stop contacting said base proximal stop for defining a proximal slide arm stop and positioning said slider arm immediately adjacent to said distal slide end for preventing damage to said slide potentiometer; said plate distal stop contacting said base distal stop for defining a distal slide arm stop and positioning said slider arm immediately adjacent to said proximal slide end for preventing damage to said slide potentiometer; a mounting bracket slidably coupled to said base; said mounting bracket coupled to said slide potentiometer; and said slide potentiometer displaced relative to said base by said mounting bracket for adjusting said proximal slide end and said distal slide end and preventing damage to said slide potentiometer.

2. A pedal sound modification device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base includes a base plate, a primary vertical wall and a secondary vertical wall for defining a general U-shape member; and said electrical circuit and said slide potentiometer coupled within said generally U-shape member.

3. A pedal sound modification device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said base proximal stop includes a primary base proximal stop and a secondary base proximal stop in said general U-shape member; and said base distal stop includes a primary base distal stop and a secondary base distal stop in said general U-shape member.

4. A pedal sound modification device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said primary base proximal stop includes a primary proximal end declining sloping edge in said primary vertical wall for positioning said plate in an inclined orientation relative to said base; said secondary base proximal stop includes a secondary proximal end declining sloping edge in said secondary vertical wall for positioning said plate in an inclined orientation relative to said base; said primary base distal stop includes a primary distal end declining sloping edge in said primary vertical wall for positioning said plate in a declined orientation relative to said base; and said secondary base distal stop includes a secondary distal end declining sloping edge in said secondary vertical wall for positioning said plate in a declined orientation relative to said base.

5. A pedal sound modification device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base includes a first mounting aperture and a second mounting aperture; a first elongated groove and a second elongated groove in said mounting bracket; a first fastener engaging said first mounting aperture and said first elongated groove; a second fastener engaging said second mounting aperture and said second elongated groove; and said first fastener sliding within said first elongated groove and said second fastener sliding within said second elongated groove for adjusting said proximal slide end and said distal slide end relative to said base for preventing damage to said slide potentiometer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an upper front isometric view of a pedal sound modification device in a distal slide arm stop incorporating the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an upper rear isometric view of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a rear view of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line 7-7 in FIG. 4;

(9) FIG. 8 is a sectional view along line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

(10) FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line 9-9 in FIG. 6;

(11) FIG. 10 is an upper front isometric view of the pedal sound modification device in a proximal slide arm stop incorporating the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is an upper rear isometric view of FIG. 10;

(13) FIG. 12 is a top view of FIG. 10;

(14) FIG. 13 is a front view of FIG. 12;

(15) FIG. 14 is a front view of FIG. 10;

(16) FIG. 15 is a rear view of FIG. 10;

(17) FIG. 16 is a sectional view along line 16-16 in FIG. 13;

(18) FIG. 17 is a sectional view along line 17-17 in FIG. 14; and

(19) FIG. 18 is a sectional view along line 18-18 in FIG. 14.

(20) Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several Figures of the drawings.

DETAILED DISCUSSION

(21) FIGS. 1-18 illustrate a pedal sound modification device 10 for varying an electrical signal 12. Preferably, the electrical signal 12 is from a musical instrument such as an electric guitar, acoustic guitar, violin, or other musical instruments. The pedal sound modification device 10 may be used as a volume control, reverberation control or other sound modification control. The pedal sound modification device 10 may be active (dual buffer) and passive. Preferably, the pedal sound modification device 10 is positioned on a surface wherein the foot of an individual is placed on top for facilitating operation.

(22) The pedal sound modification device 10 includes a base 20 having a first pivot support 30 between a proximal base side 32 and a distal base side 34. A base proximal stop 40 is in the proximal base side 32. A base distal stop 50 is in the distal base side 34. A plate 100 has a pivot bracket 110 between a between a proximal plate side 106 and a distal plate side 108. The plate 100 further includes an upper surface 102 for engaging the foot of an individual and a lower surface 104. A plate proximal stop 120 is in the proximal plate side 106. A plate distal stop 122 is in the distal plate side 108. A pivot 130 couples the pivot support 30 and the pivot bracket 110 for pivoting the plate 100 relative to the base 20.

(23) An electrical circuit 150 is coupled to the base 20 for receiving the electrical signal 12. An electrical input connection 152 is electrically linked to the electrical circuit 150 for inputting the electrical signal 12 into the electrical circuit 150. An electrical output connection 154 is electrically linked to the electrical circuit 150 for outputting the electrical signal 12 from the electrical circuit 150.

(24) A slide potentiometer 170 is coupled to the base 20 and has a slider arm 172 slidably engages a linear potentiometer 174 for varying the electrical signal 12. The linear potentiometer 174 extends between proximal slide end 176 and a distal slide end 178. The slide arm 172 slidably engages the linear potentiometer 174 between the proximal slide end 176 and the distal slide end 178. The slide potentiometer 170 may include an audio certified slider pot 182. A flexible electrical wire 180 electrically couples the slide potentiometer 170 with the electrical circuit 150.

(25) A second pivot support 190 is coupled to the plate 100. A potentiometer pivot support 192 is coupled to the slide arm 172. A linkage rod 194 is pivotably coupled to the second pivot support 190 and the potentiometer pivot support 192 for displacing the slide arm 172 relative to the linear potentiometer 174 upon a pivoting displacement of the plate 100 relative to the base 20. The combination of the second pivot support 190, the potentiometer pivot support 192 and the linkage rod 194 defines a direct drive linkage 196 between the base 20 and the plate 100 for increasing the reliability and longevity of the pedal sound ratification device 10.

(26) As shown in FIGS. 10-18, the plate proximal stop 120 contacts the base proximal stop 40 for defining a proximal slide arm stop 200 and positioning the slide arm 172 immediately adjacent to the distal slide end 178 for preventing damage to the slide potentiometer 170. As shown in FIGS. 1-9, the plate distal stop 122 contacts the base distal stop 50 for defining a distal slide arm stop 202 and positioning the slide arm 172 immediately adjacent to the proximal slide end 176 for preventing damage to the slide potentiometer 170.

(27) A mounting bracket 210 is slidably coupled to the base 20. Preferably the mounting bracket 210 defines a general L-shape 212. The bracket 210 is coupled to the slide potentiometer 170. The slide potentiometer 170 is displaced relative to the base 20 by the bracket 210 for adjusting the proximal slide end 176 and the distal slide end 178 and preventing damage to the slide potentiometer 170.

(28) The base 20 includes a base plate 22, a primary vertical wall 24 and a secondary vertical wall 26 for defining a general U-shape member 28. The electrical circuit 150 and the slide potentiometer 170 are coupled within the generally U-shape member 28. The first pivot support 30 includes a primary pivot aperture 36 in the primary vertical wall 24 and a secondary pivot aperture 38 within the secondary vertical wall 26. The pivot bracket 110 includes a pivot bracket aperture 112. Preferably, the further includes a second pivot bracket 114 including a second pivot bracket aperture 116. A fastener 132 traverses the primary pivot aperture 36 and into the pivot bracket aperture 112. Furthermore, a fastener 132 traverses the secondary pivot aperture 38 and into the second pivot bracket aperture 116. The combination of the pivot bracket 110 and the second pivot bracket 114 provides a stable pivoting coupling between the base 20 and the plate 100.

(29) The base 20 may further include a distal front wall 60 having a first plug aperture 62 and a second plug aperture 64. The first plug aperture 62 may receive a first plug receptacle 156. Similarly the second plug aperture 64 may receive a second plug receptacle 158. The primary vertical wall 24 may include a third plug aperture 70 for receiving a third plug receptacle 160. Furthermore, the secondary vertical wall 26 may include a switch wall aperture 72 for accessing an electrical switch 162 that is mounted on the electrical circuit board 150. The first plug receptacle 156, the second plug receptacle 158 and the third plug receptacle 160 receives a male audio electrical plug for electrically coupling the electrical circuit 152 other electrical components.

(30) The base proximal stop 40 includes a primary base proximal stop 42 and a secondary base proximal stop 44 in the general U-shape member 28. The base distal stop 50 includes a primary base distal stop 52 and a secondary base distal stop 54 in the general U-shape member 28.

(31) As shown in FIGS. 10-18, the primary base proximal stop 42 includes a primary proximal end declining sloping edge 46 in the primary vertical wall 24 for positioning the plate 100 in an inclined orientation 49 relative to the base 20. The secondary base proximal stop 44 includes a secondary proximal end declining sloping edge 48 in the secondary vertical wall 26 for positioning the plate 100 in an inclined orientation 49 relative to the base 20.

(32) As shown in FIGS. 1-9, the primary base distal stop 52 includes a primary distal end declining sloping edge 56 in the primary vertical wall 24 for positioning the plate 100 in a declined orientation 59 relative to the base 20. The secondary base distal stop 54 includes a secondary distal end declining sloping edge 58 in the secondary vertical wall 26 for positioning the plate 100 in a declined orientation 59 relative to the base 20.

(33) The base 20 includes a first mounting aperture 80 and a second mounting aperture 82. A first elongated groove 214 and a second elongated groove 216 are in the bracket mounting bracket 210. A first fastener 220 engages the first mounting aperture 80 and the first elongated groove 214. A second fastener 222 engages the second mounting aperture 82 and the second elongated groove 216. The first fastener 220 slides within the first elongated groove 214 and the second fastener 222 slides within the second elongated groove 216 for adjusting the proximal slide end 176 and the distal slide end 178 relative to the base 20 for preventing damage to the slide potentiometer 170.

(34) The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.