US704498A - Foot-rest and pedal extension for pianos. - Google Patents

Description

No. 704,498. Patented 1u|y l5, |902. A. M. BATES. FOOT BEST AND PEDAL EXTENSION FOR PIANOS.

(Application med Mar. 26, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 704,498. Patented luly l5, |902. A. M. BATES.

FOOT REST AND PEDAL EXTENSION FDR PIANOS.

(Application filed Mar. 26, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

@MMI/M40, WWI

TN: ,Nonqls PETERS co., Pnoauwn.. WASHINGTON, n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ALONZA M. BATES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO E. A. BATES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECEFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,498, dated July 15, i902.

Serial No. 52,899. (No model-l T0 all wtmn it may] concern:

Beit known that I, ALoNzA M. BATEs, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Foot-Rest and Pedal Extension for Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to supplemental footstool and pedal attachments for pianos; and the object thereof is to provide a footsupport for children which shall be adjustable to different heights, protect the instrument from injury by the feet, and in connection and in combination therewith to provide adjustable pedal extensions by which the pedals of the instrument may be operated.

To operate the pedals of a piano properly and to enable the performer to have com plete control thereover, so as to obtain the full effect therefrom, the heel of the foot should be placed upon a solid foundation, so as to support and steady the body, while the pedal is operated by the muscular movement of the front part of the foot from the ankle of-the performer. The pedals of a piano are placed at such a height from the floor that this condition obtains in the case of adults of normal size; but children and short-limbed persons seated on a stool at the proper height to have the hands or arms in proper relation to the keyboard either cannot reach the pedals at all or reaching the same with the toes do not have the body properly supportedy from the heel.

Myinvention obviates the difficulties above described and is fully set out and described in the specification following, reference being had to the drawings, in which- Figure l represents atop View of my invention, portions being broken away to disclose the constructive features underneath. Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. l, taken from front to rear longitudinally through one of the pedals. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the same, together with a piano to which it is applied. Fig. 4 shows one form of adjustment of the pedal-extension rods, and Fig. 5 represents analternative form of construction of the extension=-pedah Further describing my device with refer ence to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote like parts throughout, A is the platform of an adjustable stool or footrest, composed of two parts u., which may be in the form of an inverted box, and abase d', comprising a suitable framing', and legs attached thereto which are fitted within the up per portion and made to telescope therein. A footboard A projects upwardly from the roar of the platform A at right angles thereto and forms a protection for thefront of the instrument against accidental marring or injury by the feetof the performer. Apractical form of adjustment for the two parts with relation to each other is provided in the bolt I3, which passes through an opening in the part a and a vertical slot b in the framing of the part ct and which is provided with a washer if and a wing-nut h, by which the two parts may be firmly clamped together. Pairs of apertures C, corresponding innumber to the number of pedals on the pianoto which my device is to be iitted, are provided in the upper portion A of the adjustable stool. Pedalactuating rods D and E are passed vertically through the said apertures, D-acting as a guide and to steady the action of the mechanism,while E is provided with an adjustment,as hereinafter described. A guide orbearing F for the rod D and through which it passes is secured to the lower portion a of the stool. The lower end of said rod is secured to a pedal-actuating foot or block G, and the upper portion thereof is socketed in the hollow portion 7L of the toe-rest 7L on the'pedal oxtension II. The upper portion of the rod E is rigidly secured to the pedal extension H and is threaded at its lower extremity, which passes through an eye in the clip I. A nut K is screwed on the rod E and is provided with the eXternally-tlu'eaded sleeve or nipn ple 7;, to which in turn is fitted the nut 7J. The eye in the clip I is sufficiently large to permit the nipple 7a to pass therethrough, so 95 that when the nut 7o' is turned up thereon the clip will be rigidly held in position. The lower part of the clip I is secured to the block G by the rivet t or other suitable means.` The pedals L of the piano pass through a suitable IQO opening in the rear portion m of the stooibase a. Guides or stops n are placed within the structure and secured thereto by a clamping-screw@ and wing-nut o', so as to comein close proximity to or to rest lightly against the pedals on either side when properly adjusted. A slot/u in the stop n provides means for adjusting the stop to the piano-pedals on either side, so that the entire structure will be held rigidly in position thereby. Cushionstuds p or other suitable means are provided to keep the structure out of contact with the piano-body to prevent resultant injury by crowding of the foot-rest against it.

In the use of my invention the desired height of the stool or foot-rest is first determined, and the two parts are fixed in rigid relation to each other by the bolts B and the wing-nuts b or such other means for securing the same as may be desired. The stops n are adjusted to the pedals of the instruinentoneithersidethereof. Theproperheight of the block G at which it would normally rest upon the piano-pedal L being determined, the proper distance therefrom of the extension-pedal H and of the latter to the top A of the footstool is iixed by means of the adj listing-nuts K and 7s on the rod E. The variations in the rod D with reference to the eXtension-ped al H and the overplus thereof are provided for in the socketed or hollow portion h of the extension-pedal H. Additional rigidity may bey given thereto, if desired, by the set-screw 7s", access to the same being given through suitable and corresponding apertures in the footboard A.

An alternative form of adjustment for the rod D is shown in Fig. 5, in which the extension-pedal is formed in two parts H and H. The foot portion H is apertured to allow the passage therethrough of the rod D, which is externally threaded. The toe-guard H" is made in a separate piece and internally threaded to screw over the end of the rod D as the same may be projected upwardly by the adjustment of the rod E. A supplemental nut 7L is screwed on the rod D below the 'foot portion of the pedal and may be adjusted to rigidly secure the same against the lower portion of the toe-guard H".

I have described my invention with reference to practical and operative embodiments thereof, as shown in the drawings.

I do not limit myself to the forms of construction shown; but

I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In combination with a piano and the pedals thereof, a foot rest or stool, means for adjusting the upper portion thereof to varyingheights, extension-pedals, pedal-engaging feet, rods supported by said stool to connect each of said feet to the extension-pedals, and means for adjusting the length of said rods, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a foot stool or rest for pianos having a base and top relatively adjustable to each other and adjustable pedal-moving mechanism mounted thereon, an opening in the rear of the stool-base and adjustable stops mounted on the base adapted to secure the same against side movement by contact with the piano-pedals, substantially as set forth.

In an adjustable foot rest or stool Vfor pianos having pedal-engaging feet, and adjustable rods connected thereto and mounted on the foot-stool, an extension-pedal having a hollow toe-guard adapted to receive the upward extension of one of the said rods, substantially as shown and described.

it. A foot rest or stool .for pianos comprising a top and base and means for giving relative vertical adjustment thereto, a pedalengagiug block, an extension-pedal with a hollow toe-guard above the stool and rods mounted on the stool to connect the said block to the said pedal, one of said rods being provided with an adjustable connection to tho said block, and the other of said rods socketcd at its upper end within the said hollow toeguard, substantially as shown and described.

5. An adjustable foot-stool vfor pianos having a pedal-engaging block and an extensionpedal, means for connecting said block and pedal comprising a clip attached to the block, a rod attached to the extension-pedal, an internally-threaded nut having an externallythreaded nipple screwed on said rod, and a nut screwed on said nipple adapted to clamp the clip when the nipple is passed therethrough, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZA M. BATES.

Witnesses:

C. K. CHAMBERLMN, A. PmLLirs.

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