Quick action drum lug assembly and method

A musical drum lug for engaging a stopper adjustably coupled to a link when an opposing end of the link is anchored to a drum head, the stopper having generally oppositely facing tightening surfaces separated by a first distance, comprising:

• a three dimensional lug body having a top and a side;
• a recess formed as a longitudinally extending hollow portion in said lug body bounded by a seating surface toward said top for accommodating the stopper and first and second interior sidewalls;
• a first opening in said top for allowing the link to pass therethrough, the first opening extending from said recess proximate said seating surface and having a first width smaller than the first distance apart of the oppositely facing tightening surfaces on the stopper;
• a second opening in said side extending from said recess and disposed at least partially above said seating surface;
• said second opening having a second width between said first and second sidewalls larger than both said first width and said first distance;
• said second opening spaced from said seating surface;
• wherein the second opening forms a slot along the side of the lug body that engages the oppositely facing tightening surfaces of the stopper when the stopper is positioned too shallowly on the tension link for the stopper to enter the lug recess, but is disposed at least partially in said the opening.

A musical drum assembly comprising:

• a musical drum shell;
• a drum head releasably attached to said drum shell via a plurality of tension link assemblies;
• each tension link assembly including a tension link and an associated stop assembly adjustably coupled to said tension link;
• said stop assembly having a faceted portion that includes generally oppositely facing peripheral tightening facets separated by a first distance;
• a plurality of side-opening lug bodies fixedly connected to said drum body;
• each lug body comprising:
• a top facing said drum head and a first lateral side;
• a recess in bounded by a seating surface toward said top for accommodating the stop assembly;
• a first opening in said top extending from said recess for accommodating a tension link of said tension link assemblies and having a first width smaller than the first distance;
• a second opening in said first lateral side extending from said recess and having a second width larger than both said first width and the first distance;
• a plurality of engagement surfaces proximate said second opening and disposed to constrain rotation of said stop assembly by engaging the tightening facets when said stop assembly is positioned too shallowly on the tension link for the stop assembly to enter the lug recess;
• wherein at least one stop assembly of said tension link assemblies abuts a corresponding seating surface to apply tension to said tension link assembly so as to tighten said drum head.