Electronic percussion instrument

An electronic percussion instrument that detects vibration due to hits and outputs a corresponding signal comprising:

• a body with an inner area and an outer surface, the body further having a rim part;
• a head with an upper surface and lower surface, the head further having an inner area and an outer area;
• a head support member arranged to provide a force to the lower surface of the head;
• a head tension member arranged to provide a force to the upper surface of the head, the head tension member further having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• a head sensor arranged to detect vibrations of the head;
• a frame connected to the head support member;
• a plurality of bolts arranged to secure the head tension member to the body, the bolts are threaded to a plurality of internal threads formed in the frame;
• and
• a generally annular rib on the body between the rim part of the body and the head support member;
• the rim part arranged to not directly contact the head;
• the head positioned in an area closer to a central axis of the body than the rim part;
• the force from the head tension member for providing tension to the head;
• and
• the head tension member having bolt head accommodating holes for receiving heads of the bolts, so that the heads of the bolts do not protrude from the upper surface of the head tension member;
• and
• the head tension member further having a generally annular slot in which the generally annular rib is received.

A method of manufacturing an electronic percussion instrument that detects vibration due to hits and outputs a corresponding signal, the method comprising:

• providing a body part forming an area, the body part further having a center and an outer surface;
• locating a head with within the area formed by the body part, the head further having an upper surface and a lower surface, the head further having an inner edge and an outer edge;
• positioning a rim part on the body part at a distance further from the center of the body part than the distance of the outer edge of the head from the center of the body part;
• supporting the lower surface of the head with a head supporting member;
• providing a generally annular rib on the body between the rim part and the head support member;
• providing a head tension member having a generally annular slot and arranging the head tension member to receive the generally annular rib within the generally annular slot, the head tension member further having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• imparting a force on the upper surface of the head with the head tension member;
• creating tension in the head through the force from the head tension member;
• and
• locating a head sensor to detect vibrations of the head;
• wherein creating tension in the head through the force from the head tension member comprises:
• connecting a frame to the head support member;
• and
• securing the head tension member to the body part by arranging a plurality of bolts that are threaded to a plurality of internal threads formed in the frame;
• wherein securing the head tension member comprises providing bolt head accommodating holes for receiving heads of the bolts on the head tension member so the heads of the bolts do not protrude from the upper surface of the head tension member.

An electronic percussion instrument that detects vibration due to hits and outputs a corresponding signal comprising:

• a body having a hollow circular cylindrical shape with an outer circumference and an inner circumference, the body further having a rim part with an upper edge on the outer circumference;
• a head having a generally flat surface with a lower surface and an upper surface positioned lower than the upper edge of the rim part and inside the inner circumference of the body, the head further having an inner circumference and an outer circumference;
• a head support member having a generally cylindrical shape and positioned within the inner circumference of the body, the head support member is arranged to contact the inner circumference of the lower surface of the head;
• a generally annular rib on the body between the rim part of the body and the head support member;
• a hoop part having a ring shape that surrounds the outer circumference of the head and provides tension to the head at the inner circumference of the body, the hoop part further having an upper surface and a lower surface, the hoop part further having a generally annular slot in which the generally annular rib is received;
• and
• a head sensor arranged to detect vibrations of the head;
• wherein the upper surface of the hoop part is substantially flush with the upper surface of the head.