Drum pillow and method for using same
OwnerTrent M. Norris JR.inventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drum pillow for use in a bass drum is disclosed herein. The drum pillow can be permanently or removably inserted into the interior of the bass drum shell. The preferred embodiment of the drum pillow is used to “deaden” or modify the sound, esp. overtones, of the bass drum during live performances, particularly when the drum is being struck by a typical foot-operated bass beater. An alternate embodiment is designed for use in studio recording sessions, where the situation calls for an even “deader” sound. Also disclosed herein is a method for using the drum pillow for the purposes described.
Claims20
A drum pillow, for use within a bass drum having a generally cylindrical drum shell defining an interior with an inside diameter and an axis therethrough and at least one drumhead fixed generally orthogonally to said axis on an end of said shell, comprising:
- a first generally crescent-shaped portion defining an outer surface having an outer diameter, said outer diameter being approximately equal to the inside diameter of the drum shell and said outer surface defining an approximately semi-circular arc, said first portion and said approximately semi-circular arc being generally symmetrical about a first main outer diameter and said first portion also defining two mating surfaces at the ends of said arc, such mating surfaces being generally planar and generally orthogonal to said first main outer diameter;
- a second generally crescent-shaped portion defining an outer surface having a outer diameter, said outer diameter being approximately equal to the inside diameter of the drum shell and said outer surface defining an approximately semi-circular arc, said second portion and said approximately semi-circular arc being generally symmetrical about a second main outer diameter and said second portion also defining two mating surfaces at the ends of said arc, such mating surfaces being generally planar and generally orthogonal to said second main outer diameter, and such second portion being removably mated with the first portion at the mating surfaces;
- and
- fastening means for attaching the first and second portions of the drum pillow to the interior of the drum shell.
A drum pillow, for use within a bass drum having a generally cylindrical drum shell defining an interior with an inside diameter and an axis therethrough and at least one drumhead fixed generally orthogonally to said axis on the end of said shell, comprising:
- a single piece of dense foam having contact, bottom, and top surfaces, such piece of foam being designed so that when placed inside the drum shell, the contact surface is generally coplanar with the drumhead and positioned adjacent thereto, the bottom surface is generally complementary to the inside diameter of and fitted to the drum shell, and the top surface is generally rounded and sloped between the drumhead and the drum shell and is designed to connect the edges of the contact and bottom surfaces;
- and
- fastening means for removably attaching the foam piece to the interior of the drum shell.
A method for using a drum pillow made of dense foam to dampen the vibrations in a bass drum which has been placed on the floor, such bass drum comprising a generally cylindrical drum shell defining an interior and a drumhead fixed on one end of said shell, when using a typical foot-operated bass beater to strike the drumhead at a predetermined strike point, comprising the steps of:
- placing the bass drum on the floor such that the drumhead is generally orthogonal to the floor;
- placing the bass beater such that the strike point is slightly above the geometric center of the drumhead;
- inserting the drum pillow within the interior of the drum shell;
- fastening the drum pillow to the inside of the drum shell;
- operating the bass beater so as to strike the drumhead.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.