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US 7,888,575 B1Granted
Percussion instrument
OwnerElisandro Toscanoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved drum construction in which sound hindering hardware is removed from the drum shell utilizing a unique tuning system that allows the drum skin to be tuned by rotating a counterhoop to bear pressure on an annular hoop securing the drum skin against a bearing rim. Rotation of the counterhoop drives the annular hoop deeper into an annular channel thereby increasing the tautness of the drum skin across the bearing rim. The bearing rim may be modified with adjustable bearing edges. The drum strainer is also removed from the drum shell and attached to the rim or counterhoop. Tone bridges and tone coats may be added to the drum shell to enhance sound production.
Claims37
A percussion instrument, comprising:
- a. a drum shell having a cylindrical, outer wall centered about a drum shell axis, the drum shell having a first end and a second end;
- b. a first drum skin and a second drum skin stretched across and covering the first end and the second end, respectively;
- c. a first tuning system and a second tuning system operatively connected to the first end and the second end, respectively, to secure the first and second drum skins to the first and second ends of the drum shell, each tuning system comprising:
- i. a tuning collar secured to the drum shell, wherein the tuning collar comprises:
- 1. a tuning rim having an externally, threaded outer surface,
- 2. an annular bearing rim disposed coaxially with the tuning rim and separated therefrom, and
- 3. a curved connecting region connecting the tuning rim and the bearing rim, the tuning rim, the annular bearing rim and the curved connecting region defining an annular channel, wherein the drum skin resides in contact with the bearing rim, the drum skin having a peripheral region extending radially outwardly beyond the bearing rim and into the annular channel;
- ii. an annular hoop of circular cross section secured to the peripheral region of the drum skin and residing in the annular channel, wherein the peripheral region of the drum skin is firmly attached to and immobilized relative to the hoop;
- iii. an annular counterhoop, having an inverted, generally U-shaped cross section formed with a downwardly facing, annular groove therein that receives the tuning rim, the counterhoop comprising
- 1. an outer tensioning band with radially inwardly directed screw threads defined thereon,
- 2. an inner, annular pressure ring that resides in the annular channel of the tuning collar and bears longitudinally against the hoop,
- 3. a bridging portion rigidly joining the tensioning band to the pressure ring, the bridging portion spanning the tuning rim and passing thereover in spaced, longitudinal separation therefrom, wherein the drum skin is tightened across the bearing rim by rotating the tensioning band in a first direction further onto the tuning rim and is loosened by rotating the tensioning band from the tuning rim in a second direction, opposite the first direction;
- d. a snare strainer system attached to the counterhoop of the second tuning system so that the snare strainer system is rotatable with the counterhoop of the second tuning system, wherein the snare strainer system, comprises:
- 1. a cradle having a length and a width;
- 2. a strainer stretched along and secured to the cradle, the strainer having a tension;
- and
- 3. a cradle adjustment system to move the cradle and the strainer against and away from the drum skin while maintaining the tension in the strainer, wherein the cradle adjustment system, comprise a first and a second endplate positioned on opposite ends of the cradle, each endplate comprising:
- a) a clamp to secure the endplate to the counterhoop;
- b) a throw-off lever operatively connecting the endplate to the clamp to toggle the endplate between a first position that places the cradle against the drum skin and a second position that places the cradle away from the drum skin;
- and
- c) a cradle adjustment member having a first and second end, the first end of the cradle adjustment member movably connected to the endplate and the second end of the cradle adjustment member connected to the cradle.
18 more elements
A percussion instrument, comprising:
- a. a drum shell having a cylindrical, outer wall centered about a drum shell axis, the drum shell having a first end and a second end;
- b. a first drum skin and a second drum skin stretched across and covering the first end and the second end, respectively;
- c. a first tuning system and a second tuning system operatively connected to the first end and the second end, respectively, to secure the first and second drum skins to the first and second ends of the drum shell, each tuning system comprising:
- i. a tuning collar secured to the drum shell, wherein the tuning collar comprises:
- a) a tuning rim having an externally, threaded outer surface,
- b) an annular bearing rim disposed coaxially with the tuning rim and separated therefrom, and
- c) a curved connecting region connecting the tuning rim and the bearing rim, the tuning rim, the annular bearing rim and the curved connecting region defining an annular channel, wherein the drum skin resides in contact with the bearing rim, the drum skin having a peripheral region extending radially outwardly beyond the bearing rim and into the annular channel;
- ii. an annular hoop of circular cross section secured to the peripheral region of the drum skin and residing in the annular channel, wherein the peripheral region of the drum skin is firmly attached to and immobilized relative to the hoop;
- iii. an annular counterhoop, having an inverted, generally U-shaped cross section formed with a downwardly facing, annular groove therein that receives the tuning rim, the counterhoop comprising
- a) an outer tensioning band with radially inwardly directed screw threads defined thereon,
- b) an inner, annular pressure ring that resides in the annular channel of the tuning collar and bears longitudinally against the hoop,
- c) a bridging portion rigidly joining the tensioning band to the pressure ring, the bridging portion spanning the tuning rim and passing thereover in spaced, longitudinal separation therefrom, wherein the drum skin is tightened across the bearing rim by rotating the tensioning band in a first direction further onto the tuning rim and is loosened by rotating the tensioning band from the tuning rim in a second direction, opposite the first direction;
- d. a snare strainer system attached to the counterhoop of the second tuning system so that the snare strainer system is rotatable with the counterhoop of the second tuning system, wherein the bearing rim comprises air vents intermittently dispersed throughout the bearing rim to enhance the sound characteristics of a rimshot.
10 more elements
A percussion instrument, comprising:
- a. a drum shell having a cylindrical, outer wall centered about a drum shell axis, the drum shell having a first end and a second end;
- b. a first drum skin and a second drum skin stretched across and covering the first end and the second end, respectively;
- c. a first tuning system and a second tuning system operatively connected to the first end and the second end, respectively, to secure the first and second drum skins to the first and second ends of the drum shell, each tuning system comprising:
- i. a tuning collar secured to the drum shell, wherein the tuning collar comprises:
- a) a tuning rim having an externally, threaded outer surface,
- b) an annular bearing rim disposed coaxially with the tuning rim and separated therefrom, and
- c) a curved connecting region connecting the tuning rim and the bearing rim, the tuning rim, the annular bearing rim and the curved connecting region defining an annular channel, wherein the drum skin resides in contact with the bearing rim, the drum skin having a peripheral region extending radially outwardly beyond the bearing rim and into the annular channel;
- ii. an annular hoop of circular cross section secured to the peripheral region of the drum skin and residing in the annular channel, wherein the peripheral region of the drum skin is firmly attached to and immobilized relative to the hoop;
- iii. an annular counterhoop, having an inverted, generally U-shaped cross section formed with a downwardly facing, annular groove therein that receives the tuning rim, the counterhoop comprising
- a) an outer tensioning band with radially inwardly directed screw threads defined thereon,
- b) an inner, annular pressure ring that resides in the annular channel of the tuning collar and bears longitudinally against the hoop,
- c) a bridging portion rigidly joining the tensioning band to the pressure ring, the bridging portion spanning the tuning rim and passing thereover in spaced, longitudinal separation therefrom, wherein the drum skin is tightened across the bearing rim by rotating the tensioning band in a first direction further onto the tuning rim and is loosened by rotating the tensioning band from the tuning rim in a second direction, opposite the first direction;
- d. a snare strainer system attached to the counterhoop of the second tuning system so that the snare strainer system is rotatable with the counterhoop of the second tuning system, the drum shell further comprising an external plating extending from the tuning collar parallel to a grain of the drum shell.
10 more elements
A percussion instrument, comprising:
- a. a drum shell having a cylindrical, outer wall centered about a drum shell axis, the drum shell having a first end and a second end;
- b. a first drum skin and a second drum skin stretched across and covering the first end and the second end, respectively;
- c. a first tuning system and a second tuning system operatively connected to the first end and the second end, respectively, to secure the first and second drum skins to the first and second ends of the drum shell, each tuning system comprising:
- i. a tuning collar secured to the drum shell, wherein the tuning collar comprises:
- a) a tuning rim having an externally, threaded outer surface,
- b) an annular bearing rim disposed coaxially with the tuning rim and separated therefrom, and
- c) a curved connecting region connecting the tuning rim and the bearing rim, the tuning rim, the annular bearing rim and the curved connecting region defining an annular channel, wherein the drum skin resides in contact with the bearing rim, the drum skin having a peripheral region extending radially outwardly beyond the bearing rim and into the annular channel;
- ii. an annular hoop of circular cross section secured to the peripheral region of the drum skin and residing in the annular channel, wherein the peripheral region of the drum skin is firmly attached to and immobilized relative to the hoop;
- iii. an annular counterhoop, having an inverted, generally U-shaped cross section formed with a downwardly facing, annular groove therein that receives the tuning rim, the counterhoop comprising
- a) an outer tensioning band with radially inwardly directed screw threads defined thereon,
- b) an inner, annular pressure ring that resides in the annular channel of the tuning collar and bears longitudinally against the hoop,
- c) a bridging portion rigidly joining the tensioning band to the pressure ring, the bridging portion spanning the tuning rim and passing thereover in spaced, longitudinal separation therefrom, wherein the drum skin is tightened across the bearing rim by rotating the tensioning band in a first direction further onto the tuning rim and is loosened by rotating the tensioning band from the tuning rim in a second direction, opposite the first direction;
- d. a snare strainer system attached to the counterhoop of the second tuning system so that the snare strainer system is rotatable with the counterhoop of the second tuning system, wherein the second counterhoop further comprises threads configured to engage a threaded shell ring of a second drum.
10 more elements
A percussion instrument, comprising
- a. a drum shell having a cylindrical, outer wall centered about a drum shell axis, the drum shell having a first end and a second end;
- b. a tuning system, comprising:
- i. a first ring having an inverted, generally U-shaped cross section formed with a downwardly facing, annular groove therein, the first ring, comprising:
- 1. an outer tensioning band with radially inwardly directed screw threads defined thereon,
- 2. an inner, annular pressure ring parallel to the outer tensioning band and positioned radially inward relative to the outer tensioning band,
- 3. a bridging portion rigidly joining the outer tensioning band to the pressure ring, thereby forming the downwardly facing, annular groove;
- ii. a second ring operatively connected to the first ring, the second ring, comprising:
- 1. a tuning rim insertable into the downwardly facing, annular groove of the first ring, wherein the tuning rim comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end having an externally threaded, radially outwardly facing, outer surface with screw threads operatively engageable with the radially inwardly directed screw threads of the tensioning band, the second end having an internally threaded, radially inwardly facing, inner surface with screw threads defined coaxially thereon relative to the drum shell axis,
- 2. a first bearing rim disposed coaxially with the tuning rim and separated therefrom,
- 3. a connecting region rigidly joining the tuning rim and the first bearing rim, wherein the tuning rim, the first bearing rim and the connecting region defines an upwardly facing, annular channel configured to receive the inner annular pressure ring of the first ring;
- iii. a third ring operatively connected to the second ring, the third ring comprising
- 1. externally-facing threads,
- 2. a second bearing rim, and
- 3. a connecting arm, rigidly fixing the second bearing rim relative to the exernally-facing threads, the internally-facing threads of the second ring operatively engaging the externally-facing threads of the third ring such that rotation of the second ring about the third ring in a first direction brings the bearing edge of the third ring closer to the drum skin;
- c. a drum skin residing in contact with the first bearing rim throughout its circumference, the drum skin having a peripheral region extending radially outwardly beyond the first bearing rim and into the channel;
- wherein the drum skin is tightened across the first bearing rim by screwing the tensioning band further onto the tuning rim and is loosened by unscrewing the tensioning band from the tuning rim;
- d. a closed, annular hoop of circular cross section secured to the peripheral region of the drum skin and residing in the channel, wherein the peripheral region of the drum skin is firmly attached to and immobilized relative to the hoop.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.