(19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 447 147 A3 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
16.06.1993 Bulletin 1993/24 |
(43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
18.09.1991 Bulletin 1991/38 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 11.03.1991 |
|
|
(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
DE FR GB IT NL SE |
(30) |
Priority: |
14.03.1990 US 494146 17.01.1991 US 643548
|
(71) |
Applicant: RODGERS INSTRUMENT CORPORATION |
|
Hillsboro,
Oregon 97214 (US) |
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Rohde, Mark Waldo
Scio,
Oregon 97374 (US)
- Kirkwood, George Thomas
Hillsboro,
Oregon 97214 (US)
- Schalk, Dick Gerret
Portland,
Oregon 97206 (US)
- Brown, Roger Thomas
Hillsboro,
Oregon 97123 (US)
- Smythe, Robert Lewis
Beaverton,
Oregon 97005 (US)
|
(74) |
Representative: Yelland, William Alan et al |
|
c/o H.N. & W.S. SKERRETT
Charles House
148/9 Great Charles Street Birmingham B3 3HT Birmingham B3 3HT (GB) |
|
|
|
(54) |
Pedal board for a musical instrument |
(57) A pedal board for musical instruments. Pedal mounting, guide, and electrical switch
mechanisms are provided in a pedal board for an electronic organ. Each pedal (50)
is mounted by a cylindrical pin (54) attached to the back end (56) of the pedal and
to the base (52) of the pedal board by an interference fit. A similar, guide pin (60)
is attached to the front end (62) of the pedal by an interference fit. The guide pin
fits loosely in an aperture which limits lateral movement of the pin and, thence,
of the pedal itself. The lower end of the guide pin actuates an elastomer electric
switch (68) when the pedal is pressed down. The elastomeric electric switch is mounted
on a printed circuit board (114), and includes a chamber (102) having a bell-shaped
wall (104) attached to a support strip by weakened edges (126) and may be enclosed
at the bottom by a diaphragm (124). The wall carries conductive elements (122). The
conductive element shorts contacts (118) on the printed circuit board when the chamber
is compressed by the guide pin. Pedal board tension and resiliency is providing by
the mounting pin and/or by a bias spring (148).