US1918510A

US1918510A - Piano pedal extension

Info

Publication number: US1918510A
Application number: US613343A
Authority: US
Inventors: Woodall Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-05-25
Filing date: 1932-05-25
Publication date: 1933-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1950-07-18

Description

July 18, 1933. T. WOODALL PIANO PEDAL EXTENSION Filed May 25, 1932 m f a My i W i V p oo@ o o WW w M, MEG r L M; a 0 w rw 7 P l 2 2 v i \3 a & oo oQoQoQ 7/ 41* oo Q@0@0@ G. w E 5 4 m Patented July 18, 1933 PATENT OFFICE THOMAS WOODALL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PIANO PEDAL EXTENSION Application. filed ma 25,

This invention relates to an improved piano pedal extension, and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means whereby piano pedals may be conveniently operated by children or persons with short legs.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide an extension for piano pedals or the like which shall additionally include a foot rest whereby more accurate In operation of the pedalscan be accomplished and wherein the feet themselves are given adequate support at all times whether the device is being actively used or not.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a pedal extension for pianos and the like which is adjustable so as to be accommodated to various 7 individuals as desired and which adjustments are so arranged that there is no possibility of the device slipping or getting out of adjustment while in use.

Another and still further important object of the invention resides in the provision of means for attaching the extension to both the piano pedal and the piano itself so that the same will fdrm an integral part of the instrument without any danger of displacement or becoming loose.

A still further object of the invention in cludes the provision of elements in a pedal extension for pianos whereby the same can be disconnected from the pedal and used simply as a foot rest for use by small children especially beginners who have not as yet learned the operation of the pedals.

()ther and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is shown in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved piano pedal extension of this invention of which, of course, there may be two or three as desired or necessary.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the pedal extension showing particularly the base, foot .932. Serial No. 613,343.

rest, and means for attaching the same to the piano.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the main support for the extension together with the adjustable features.

Figure 4: illustrates in detail an associated embodiment of the invention whereby the pedal extension can be removed and clamped to the base forming a simple foot rest.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the base of the improved piano pedal eX- tension of this invention, the same being formed of wood or metal or other similar material and shaped to correspond to the requirements of the situation.

Mounted on the base 10 is an extension or extensions 12 comprising preferably a metal strip or the like as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, having its end bent upwardly as at let in Figure 1 and having an associated element 16 also formed with strip metal and having its end bent upwardly at 17, these upwardly bent ends having suitable openings through which a fastening bolt or the like 18 passes. A nut 19 is provided on the bolt, and when the same is tightened the upwardly extending ends 14 and 17 are adapted to suitably grip that port-ion 20 of the piano which. extends downwardly in the usual construction.

Suitable openings 22 are provided in the

elements

12 and 16 through which are passed bolts or the like 24 having nuts 26 on the end thereof and by fitting these bolts 24 into aligned openings, the metal strips can be so adjusted with respect to each other that various thicknesses of the element 20 can be accommodated.

A slot 28 is provided in that portion of the metal strip 12 which is adjacent the base element 10, and a pair of bolts or the like 30 are fitted through this slot extending into the base 10 whereby the position of the strip 12 with respect to the base may be adjusted, thereby adjustably mounting the entire device with respect to the piano and the pedals.

In this manner, the extension can be adapted for use with long or short pedals.

An angle element 32 is mounted on the base 10, the same having an upstanding face as best shown in Figure 3, the face being slotted as shown at 34 and into this slot is adapted to be fitted a pair of bolts or the like 36 which pass through suitable openings in the lower end of the plate 38. This plate has associated therewith another upstanding plate 40 which is also adjustably mounted thereon by means of bolts or the like 42. The slot 34: in the angle element 32 provides a lateral adjustment of the upstanding supports 3840 so that each pedal extension can be moved laterally with respect to the base so as to accommodate varying width between the piano pedals themselves.

A hinge element 44 is mounted at the top of the uppermost extension 40, and to this hinge element is secured the lower plate 46 of a foot rest.

This foot rest is provided with aheel support 48 shaped as best shown in Figure 1, and this heel support is adjustably mounted in the main. plate 46 by means of bolts or the like 50.

A toe plate 52 is also provided, this being adjustably mounted on the main plate 46 by means of bolts or the like 54;, and the toe plate is shaped as best shown in Figure 2.

A hinge element 56'is mounted on the forward end of the main supportin plate 46, this hinge element being similar to the corresponding element 44 and having attached thereto

extension elements

58 and 60 as best shown in Figure 1, these extension elements being adjustably connected to each other by means of bolts or the like 62.

At the lower end of the extension element 60 there is attached a hinged plate or the like 64 which in turn can be removably mounted on the piano pedal 66 by means of a clamping plate 68 and bolts and nuts 70.

As lest shown in Figure 4, the lower end of the plate 60 can be affixed to the base 10 by simply fastening the hinge plate 64 to the base 10 by means of suitable belts or screws '72, this mounting being for the purpose of supporting the foot rest in fixed position whenever the use of the pedal extension is not desired. but when it is d sired to support the feet of a person havi short legs such as for example, a very elementary student or be ginner. usually a smaller child.

It will be evident that herein is provided a pedal extension for pianos or the like which,

in addition to allowing a person with short legs to properly operate pedals also provides a very satisfactory support for the feet of such a person at all times whether the device is in use or not, and this constitues quite an improvement over the prior usage which simply allowed the dangling of the legs of children causing premature tiredness.

The device also eliminates undue stretching of the feet of persons having short legs in an attempt to reach the pedals, thereby allowing a full concentration on the work of the hands, while at the same time permitting of a very satisfactory pedaling, thereby producing a much better effect so far as the educational requirements are concerned. The universal nature of the adjustments with which the device is provided allows the same to be used with any instrument and with any operator, and the changes can be effected in a very short space of time, and after being effected, are positively fixed, precluding any necessity of continual adjustn'lent, and at the same time retaining the apparatus in proper steady supporting position for the feet and for the pedal operation.

Iain aware thatmany changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the spirit of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1.. A piano pedal extension including a base and a pedal extension, and means for adjustably affixing the base to the piano, said means comprising a clamp adapted to be mounted on the piano and a slide member integral. with the clamp, a similar slide member mounted on the base, and bolts for ad-- justably connecting the two slide members, together with means for adjusting the height of the pedal extension, said means comprising a pair of slides, and bolts for locking the same in fixed relationship to each other, and a foot support adjust-ably mounted on the base, the foot support connecting the base and the pedal extension, the connections of the foot support to the base and the pedal extension comprising hinged mountings, and a further hinged mounting between the pedal extension and the pedal clamp.

2. A piano pedal extension comprising a base, means for removably and adjustably affixing the base to a piano, a standard on the base means for adjusting the height of the standard, a foot support at the upper end of the standard, means foradjusting the length of the foot support, a pedal extension hingedly connected to the foot support, and means for removably and hingedly mounting the lower end of the pedal extension to a piano pedal, together with means for atiixing the lower end of the pedal extension to the base when pedal operation is not desired.

THOMAS WOODALL.