# US 9,040,796 B2 · Drum > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,796 B2 - Document ID: US9040796B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/247,263 - Filed: 2014-04-08 - Published: 2014-10-16 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-15 - Assignees: Roland Corporation - Applicants: Roland Corporation - Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040796B2 ## CPC - G10D 13/16: Tuning devices; Hoops; Lugs - G10D 13/02: Drums; Tambourines with drumheads - G10D: STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H) ## Abstract A drum includes a fixing means for fixing an edge portion of the membrane member; an interval forming means for forming an interval between the edge portion, fixed by the fixing means, and the striking surface of the membrane member in a normal direction of a plane of the striking surface; and contact members in contact with a connection portion of the membrane member, which connects the edge portion and the striking surface. The contact members contact the connection portion respectively at different positions along a circumferential direction of the connection portion. The contact members are in contact with an inner side of the tension ring and are displaced toward a center of the striking surface as the diameter of the circle surrounded by the tension ring is reduced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drum adapted to apply tension to a membrane member, used for forming a striking surface, by reducing a diameter of a circle surrounded by a tension ring that is disposed along an outer circumference of the drum, the drum comprising: a fixing means fixing an edge portion of the membrane member; an interval forming means forming an interval between the edge portion, fixed by the fixing means, and the striking surface of the membrane member in a normal direction of a plane of the striking surface; and a plurality of contact members in contact with a connection portion of the membrane member, which connects the edge portion and the striking surface, wherein the plurality of contact members is disposed to contact the connection portion respectively at different positions along a circumferential direction of the connection portion, and the plurality of contact members are in contact with an inner side of the tension ring and are displaced toward a center of the striking surface as the diameter of the circle surrounded by the tension ring is reduced. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drum according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a portion of the plurality of contact members that is in contact with the tension ring and a portion of the tension ring that is in contact with the plurality of contact members is provided with a sliding facilitation configuration for facilitating sliding of the plurality of contact members in an inner circumferential direction of the tension ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drum according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of contact members is a fragment of a hollow disc-shaped member, and the drum further comprises a connection member provided for connecting adjacent contact members among the plurality of contact members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The drum according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of contact members is a fragment of a hollow disc-shaped member, and a connection member is provided for connecting adjacent contact members among the plurality of contact members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drum according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means comprises a front side fixing means and a back side fixing means that sandwich the plurality of contact members from two sides of the plurality of contact members in the normal direction of the plane of the striking surface, and a clearance is formed among the front side fixing means, the plurality of contact members, and the back side fixing means for allowing the plurality of contact members to displace toward a center side of the striking surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The drum according to claim 2, wherein the fixing means comprises a front side fixing means and a back side fixing means that sandwich the plurality of contact members from two sides of the plurality of contact members in the normal direction of the plane of the striking surface, and a clearance is formed among the front side fixing means, the plurality of contact members, and the back side fixing means for allowing the plurality of contact members to displace toward a center side of the striking surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drum according to claim 1, wherein, the shorter a distance between the connection portion and the striking surface in the normal direction of the plane is, the shorter a distance between the connection portion and the center side of the striking surface in a direction parallel to the plane becomes, thereby reducing the distance between the connection portion and the center of the striking surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The drum according to claim 2, wherein, the shorter a distance between the connection portion and the striking surface in the normal direction of the plane is, the shorter a distance between the connection portion and the center side of the striking surface in a direction parallel to the plane becomes, thereby reducing the distance between the connection portion and the center of the striking surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drum according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion of the membrane member is connected with a frame member, and the plurality of contact members are in contact with the frame member, and the contact members are L-shaped at a cross-section face perpendicular to the striking surface and passing through the center of the striking surface, and a short portion of the L-shaped portion is in contact with the connection portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The drum according to claim 2, wherein the edge portion of the membrane member is connected with a frame member, and the plurality of contact members are in contact with the frame member, and the contact members are L-shaped at a cross-section face perpendicular to the striking surface and passing through the center of the striking surface, and a short portion of the L-shaped portion is in contact with the connection portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The drum according to claim 1, wherein the tension ring comprises a groove portion on the inner side, and the plurality of contact members are fitted in the groove portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The drum according to claim 2, wherein the tension ring comprises a groove portion on the inner side, and the plurality of contact members are fitted in the groove portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The drum according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion of the membrane member is connected with a frame member, and the fixing means comprises a step portion for restricting displacement of the frame member toward the center side of the striking surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The drum according to claim 2, wherein the edge portion of the membrane member is connected with a frame member, and the fixing means comprises a step portion for restricting displacement of the frame member toward the center side of the striking surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The drum according to claim 1, wherein the membrane member comprises a mesh. ### Claim 16 A drum, comprising: a tension ring; a frame comprising a frame base, a step portion, and a striking surface support portion; a head comprising a membrane member, and an upper frame and a lower frame sandwiching the membrane member; and a plurality of contact members, wherein the membrane member comprises a striking surface and an edge portion, and a connection portion is formed between the striking surface and the edge portion for connecting the striking surface with the edge portion, the edge portion of the membrane member is sandwiched by the upper frame and the lower frame, and the lower frame is placed on the frame base, the step portion is connected with the frame base, and the striking surface support portion is connected with the step portion, an interval is formed between the striking surface and the edge portion in a normal direction of the striking surface by the striking surface support portion, inner circumferential surfaces of the plurality of contact members are in contact with the connection portion, and the plurality of contact members contact the connection portion respectively at different positions along a circumferential direction of the connection portion, and the plurality of contact members are applied with a force toward a center side of the striking surface due to the tension ring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The drum according to claim 16, wherein at least one of a portion of the plurality of contact members that is in contact with the tension ring and a portion of the tension ring that is in contact with the plurality of contact members is provided with a sliding facilitation configuration for facilitating sliding of the plurality of contact members in an inner circumferential direction of the tension ring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The drum according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of contact members is a fragment of a hollow disc-shaped member, and the drum further comprises a connection member provided for connecting adjacent contact members among the plurality of contact members. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The drum according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of contact members are in contact with a frame member, and the contact members are L-shaped at a cross-section face perpendicular to the striking surface and passing through the center of the striking surface, and a short portion of the L-shaped portion is in contact with the connection portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The drum according to claim 16, wherein the tension ring comprises a groove portion on an inner side, and the plurality of contact members are fitted in the groove portion.