Telescopically extendable collapsible pedalboard

{
  "publication_number": "US10163430B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Telescopically extendable collapsible pedalboard",
  "abstract": "An expandable collapsible pedalboard for supporting effects pedals or other audio processing units features a first section having a first platform, and a second section having a second platform of lesser elevation and width than said first platform. The second section is telescopically mated with the first section for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction between a retracted position placing at least a majority of the second platform beneath said first platform, and an extended position reaching outwardly beyond an end of said first section to reveal more of the second platform from beneath said first platform. Multiple pedalboards can be laid out side-by-side and fastened together to collectively form a larger modular pedalboard. A hollow space delimited between side walls of the second section can accommodate one or more power supply components for the effects pedals or other audio processing units.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An expandable collapsible pedalboard for supporting effects pedals or other audio processing units, said pedalboard comprising: a first section having a first platform; and a second section having a second platform of lesser elevation and width than said first platform, said second section being telescopically mated with the first section for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction between a retracted position placing at least a majority of the second platform beneath said first platform, and an extended position reaching outwardly beyond an end of said first section to reveal more of the second platform from beneath said first platform; wherein: the first section comprises a first pair of side walls running longitudinally of and depending downwardly from said first platform on opposing sides of the second platform section to allow longitudinal extension and retraction of the second section while constraining said second section against lateral displacement in a direction transverse to said longitudinal extension and retraction; the second section comprises a second pair of side walls running longitudinally of and depending downwardly from said second platform at locations disposed between and in close proximity to said first pair of side walls; and the second section comprises a hollow space delimited between the second pair of side walls to accommodate one or more power supply components for the effects pedals or other audio processing units.",
    "2. The pedalboard of claim 1 in combination with a power supply component removably coupled to an underside of the second platform via hook and loop fastener.",
    "3. The pedalboard of claim 1 comprising aligned slots in the first and second platforms via which wiring from the one or more power supply components is routable to various locations atop the first and second platforms at various degrees of extension or retraction of said second platform.",
    "4. An expandable collapsible pedalboard for supporting effects pedals or other audio processing units, said pedalboard comprising: a first section having a first platform; and a second section having a second platform of lesser elevation and width than said first platform, said second section being telescopically mated with the first section for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction between a retracted position placing at least a majority of the second platform beneath said first platform, and an extended position reaching outwardly beyond an end of said first section to reveal more of the second platform from beneath said first platform; wherein: the first section comprises a first pair of side walls running longitudinally of and depending downwardly from said first platform on opposing sides of the second platform section to allow longitudinal extension and retraction of the second section while constraining said second section against lateral displacement in a direction transverse to said longitudinal extension and retraction; the second section comprises a second pair of side walls running longitudinally of and depending downwardly from said second platform at locations disposed between and in close proximity to said first pair of side walls; and the pedalboard further comprises side wall spacers disposed between the first and second pairs of side walls to prevent direct contact therebetween.",
    "5. An expandable collapsible pedalboard for supporting effects pedals or other audio processing units, said pedalboard comprising: a first section having a first platform; and a second section having a second platform of lesser elevation and width than said first platform, said second section being telescopically mated with the first section for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction between a retracted position placing at least a majority of the second platform beneath said first platform, and an extended position reaching outwardly beyond an end of said first section to reveal more of the second platform from beneath said first platform; wherein: the first section comprises a first pair of side walls running longitudinally of and depending downwardly from said first platform on opposing sides of the second platform section to allow longitudinal extension and retraction of the second section while constraining said second section against lateral displacement in a direction transverse to said longitudinal extension and retraction; the second section comprises a second pair of side walls running longitudinally of and depending downwardly from said second platform at locations disposed between and in close proximity to said first pair of side walls; and the pedalboard comprises a first set of longitudinal slots in a first one of either the first pair of side walls or the second pair of side walls, and guide pins engaged to a second one of either the first pair of side walls or the second pair of side walls and received in the first set of longitudinal slots to constrain relative motion of the second section to said sliding movement in the longitudinal direction.",
    "6. The pedalboard of claim 5 wherein the first set of longitudinal slots are provided in the first set of side walls, a second set of longitudinal slots are provided in the second set of side walls, and the guide pins are received in both said first and second sets of longitudinal slots.",
    "7. The pedalboard of claim 5 wherein each guide pin comprises a threaded shaft mated or matable with a respective threaded opening in a cooperating member such that tightened engagement of said cooperating member on said threaded shaft locks the second platform at a selected degree of extension in the longitudinal direction.",
    "8. The pedalboard of claim 7 wherein said cooperating member comprises an elongated bracket having a plurality of threaded openings therein at spaced positions therealong for mating of each threaded opening with a respective one of the guide pins.",
    "9. The pedalboard of claim 4 wherein said spacers comprise reduced friction material of lesser frictional coefficient than a constituent material of the sections to reduce friction between during said sections during the sliding movement of the second section.",
    "10. The pedalboard of claim 6 in combination with a second matching pedalboard of the same type recited in claim 6, wherein said pedalboards are laid out side-by-side and fastened together to collectively form a larger modular pedalboard via one or more fastened connections made through aligned pairs of the longitudinal slots in said pedalboards.",
    "11. The pedalboard of claim 7 in combination with a second matching pedalboard of the same type recited in claim 7, wherein said pedalboards are laid out side-by-side and fastened together to collectively form a larger modular pedalboard via, where each guide pin and the respective cooperating member are mated together in a tightened state forming a respective fastened connection between the pedalboards though an aligned pair of the longitudinal slots of said pedalboards."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates generally to pedalboards for supporting effects pedals or other foot-controllable audio processing units, and more particularly to expandable collapsible pedalboards for accommodating growth or reduction of a musician's equipment collection or preferred gig-setup over time.\n\nAn effects pedal is an electronic device which adds a sonic effect to the audio signal of an electronic instrument. The pedal is turned on or off using a footswitch and is very useful for on-the-fly activation. Due to the foot-based operation of such pedals, they are also sometimes referred to as stomp boxes. Some typical electronic instruments that are compatible with effects pedals include electric guitar/bass, keyboard/synthesizer, lapsteel, resonator and organ.\n\nTypically, the instrument would be plugged into the pedals in series using ¼″ audio cables, then from the pedals into an amplifier, PA system or soundcard, though the placement of an effects pedal in the overall audio path can vary from this particular example. Pedals can vary in size, though the size of a typical pedal might average around 110 mm long×55 mm wide×40 mm high. Some of the standard effects these pedals produce would be chorus, flange, delay, overdrive, distortion, tremolo and vibrato.\n\nIn the instance of a musician with a collection of multiple pedals, particularly in the case of a recording or gigging musician who has a need to transport the pedals between venues, studios, home, practice space, etc., it is commonplace to mount the pedals to a pedalboard that can be carried from place to place and simply seated on the ground, floor, stage etc.",
  "cpc": [
    "G10H 1/348"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G10H 1/34",
    "G10H 1/32"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Danny Ray Jashyn"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-04-11",
  "publication_date": "2018-12-25",
  "grant_date": "2018-12-25",
  "priority_date": "2017-04-13",
  "application_number": "US-201815950521-A",
  "family_id": "63790254",
  "cited_by_count": 10,
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}