Drum carrier and vibration isolation support system

#Not Applicable.

#The present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying percussion musical instruments, particularly drums of various kinds, and more particularly, to an a carrier hardware providing an attachment structure for the tension members of percussion instruments and to a vibration isolation system for supporting the carrier on a person while standing, walking, or marching.

#The prior art discloses many examples of apparatus for supporting percussion instruments such as drums, but none providing the combination of features disclosed and claimed herein. Structures for carrying percussion musical instruments must provide a balance between the comfort of the person walking, standing, or marching while wearing the instruments, and the mounting of the instruments in a desired playing position. Where the instruments are rigidly maintained at a particular playing position, the straps or structure associated with the carrier can cause painful discomfort to the marcher. Thus it is important to provide an instrument carrier with an apparatus which maintains the playing instruments in a given playing position while at the same time providing an increased measure of player comfort. Additionally, the manner in which the instruments are mounted to the carrier is of great importance. The mounting should not affect the musical characteristics of the instruments nor position them in such a manner that the person carrying them cannot properly play the instruments. In the past, marching tom drums, for example, generally were mounted to support structures by drilling openings in the drum shell and making the interconnection to the support through the shell. I believe the breech of shell integrity may affect the sound characteristics of the drum. Even if that is not the case, however, attachments through the shell make it difficult to mount and/or remove the drum from the support structure.

#In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:

#FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the drum carrier and vibration isolation support system of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a front view of the drum carrier and vibration isolation support system of the present invention;

#Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

#The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shoulder supported percussion musical instrument carrier and vibration isolation support system of the present invention is shown generally at 10. The carrier comprises a belly-plate or vest portion 12 adapted to fit the torso of a wearer, a pair of shoulder straps 14, each secured to the vest portion 12 at a first end, and a back bar 16 linking the opposite ends of the shoulder straps 14 together. A pair of support rod receptacles 18 are secured to the front surface of the vest portion 12 by bolts or rivets 19. Support rods 20, preferably J-rods, are supported in the receptacles 18 and secured in position by set screws 21. Each J-rod 20 may be adjusted vertically and rotationally within the support rod receptacle 18, providing vertical movement for height adjustment, and rotational movement in a horizontal plane for altering the spacing between the opposite ends of the J-rods 20. A percussion instrument support frame 22 is secured to the J-rods 20, opposite the front surface of the vest portion 12.