GB2259395A - Drum with quick release snare - Google Patents

Abstract

A snare drum has a snare 22 tensioned between a first snare clamp 24 and a second snare clamp 26. The first snare clamp 24 is operatively attached to a point on the outer surface of the drum shell (10 fig 1) so that it can be moved by lever means 34 between a first position in which tension is applied to the snare 22 and a second position (Figure 3) in which the tension is released. The second snare clamp 26 is releasably attached to the outer surface of the drum shell at a point substantially diametrically opposite to the point of attachment of the first snare clamp 24. The arrangement permits simple removal of the snare for replacement of the bottom head. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Ouick Release Snare The invention relates to an improved snare drum, in particular to a snare drum in which an improved mechanism for release and retensioning of the snare is provided.

A musical drum generally consists of a cylindrical drum shell over the open ends of which respective drum heads are tensioned.

Each drum head consists of a circular "skin" having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the drum shell, a flesh hoop being secured to the periphery of the skin. The skin rests against an annular bearing edge of the drum shell with the flesh hoop lying alongside the outer surface of the drum shell. In order to tension the skin, pressure is applied to the flesh hoop in a direction away from the bearing edge.

In the type of musical drum known as a snare drum, a "snare" lays across the bottom head of the drum under tension. It is a disadvantage of current designs of snare drum that the snare has to be removed for the bottom head to be replaced and the snare then has to be retensioned. Replacement of the bottom head, with consequent removal and retensioning of the snare is thus an inconvenient and time-consuming process.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved snare drum in which the above disadvantages are reduced or substantially obviated and in which replacement of the bottom drum head can be achieved more conveniently.

The invention provides a snare drum which comprises a cylindrical drum shell over the open ends of which top and bottom drum heads respectively are tensioned, each drum head consisting of a circular "skin" having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the drum shell, a flesh hoop being secured to the periphery of the "skin" and the "skin" resting against an annular bearing edge of the drum shell with the flesh hoop lying alongside the outer surface of the drum shell, and a snare which lays across the bottom head of the drum under tension, characterised in that the snare is tensioned between a first snare clamp and a second snare clamp, the first snare clamp being attached directly or indirectly to a point on the outer surface of the drum shell so that it can be moved by lever means between a first position in which tension is applied to the snare and a second position in which the tension is released and the second snare clamp is releasably attached directly or indirectly to the outer surface of the drum shell at a point substantially diametrically opposite to the point of attachment of the first snare clamp.

The first and second snare clamps are preferably attached to the drum shell by means of fixing blocks mounted on an outer cage for the drum. Alternatively, the first and second snare clamps may be attached directly to the drum shell.

The fixing blocks for the first and second snare clamps preferably incorporate snare levelling devices, suitably in the form of plates or ridges which extend downwards from the fixing block to approximately the level of the plane of the bottom drum head.

The lever means for moving the first snare clamp between the first and the second positions preferably comprises a throw-off lever which is pivotally attached to the fixing block for the first snare clamp.

The second snare clamp is preferably attached to the fixing block by means of a threaded bolt received in the snare clamp, a nut or hand wheel securing the snare clamp to the fixing block.

An embodiment of a snare drum according to the invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a snare drum according to the invention; Figure 2 is a diametric cross-section through the snare drum shown in Figure 1, showing the snare under tension; Figure 3 is a diametric cross-section through the snare drum shown in Figure 1, showing the snare in the detached position; Figure 4A is a fragmentary side elevation of the drum shown in Figure 1 with the snare mechanism secured to the drum cage; Figure 4B is an underside plan view of the drum illustrated in Figure 4A; Figure 5A is a fragmentary side elevation of an alternative snare drum in which the snare mechanism is secured directly to the drum shell; and Figure 5B is an underside plan view of the drum illustrated in Figure 5A.

As can be seen in Figure 1, a snare drum 2 comprises a cylindrical drum shell 10 over the open ends of which respective drum heads 4,6 are tensioned. Each drum head 4,6 is tensioned by tensioning bolts 8,12 which, in the case of the top drum head 4 extend from a top counterhoop 14 to an intermediate hoop 16, and in the case of the bottom head 6 extend from the bottom counterhoop 18 to the intermediate hoop 16. The drum 2 can be mounted on a support stand (not shown).

A snare 22 is laid across the bottom head 6 of the drum and, as can be seen from Figure 1, one end of the snare 22 is attached by means of a first snare clamp 24. The other end of the snare 22 is attached to the opposite side of the drum, as can be seen more clearly in Figure 2 by means of a second snare clamp 26.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the first snare clamp 24 comprises clamp jaws 28 which hold the snare 22 and can be adjusted by means of a clamp screw 30. The snare clamp 24 is pivotally mounted on a fixing block 32 and can be moved between a first, raised, position in which the snare 22 is held under tension and a second, lowered, position in which the snare tension is released. The snare clamp 24 is moved between the first and second positions by means of a throw-off lever 34, the tensioning position of which is shown in solid lines in Figure 2 and the released position of which is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 and in solid lines in Figure 3. A fine adjustment screw 36 is provided for making fine adjustment to the tension of the snare 22.

The fixing block 32 is provided with a mounting plate 38 for mounting on the drum structure, suitably to the post of the drum cage 31 (see Figure 4). A snare levelling plate 40 extends downwardly, as viewed, from the fixing block 32 substantially into the plane of the tensioned snare 22.

The second snare clamp 26 similarly comprises clamp jaws 42 which hold the snare 22 and can be adjusted by means of a clamp screw 44. The snare clamp 26 is releasably mounted on a fixing block 46 which comprises a location boss 48 for engagement with a location recess 50 on the snare clamp 26 to ensure the correct alignment of the snare clamp 26 on the fixing block 46. The snare clamp 26 is secured to the fixing block 46 by means of a threaded bolt 52 which passes through an unthreaded aperture in the snare clamp 26 and is received in a threaded aperture 54 in the fixing block 46. A hand wheel 56 is attached to the free end of the threaded bolt 52. In an alternative construction (not shown) the bolt 52 is cast with the fixing block 46 and then threaded for its exposed length.

In a similar way to the fixing block 32, the fixing block 46 is provided with a mounting plate 58 for mounting on the drum structure, suitably posts of the drum cage 31. A snare levelling ridge 60 extends from the fixing block 46 substantially into the plane of the tensioned snare 22.

In use, a snare 22 is clamped between the first and second snare clamps 24,26, with the first snare clamp 24 in the released position and the second snare clamp 26 detached from the threaded bolt 52, i.e. in the state shown in Figure 3. The second snare clamp 26 is then placed over the threaded bolt 52 with the location recess 50 located on the boss 48. The hand wheel 56 is then tightened on the bolt 52 until the clamp 26 is held firmly on the fixing block 46.

The first snare clamp 24 is then moved to the tension position by raising the throw-off lever 34 to the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2. The snare 22 is thus tensioned between the two snare clamps 24,26 and bears against the snare levelling plate 40 and snare levelling ridge 60.

When it is necessary to replace the bottom drum head 6, the above procedure is carried out in reverse order, the drum head 6 is replaced and the above-described procedure repeated. The snare 22 is thus returned to the tensioned position and retains the desired tension. A major advantage of the invention lies in the feature in that a tension set in the snare is retained when the bottom drum head has been replaced - the snare release mechanism has a "memory".

Whereas in the previously described embodiment of the invention the snare has not included any fixing or fitting directly to the drum shell 10, in the embodiment of Figures 5A and 5B, the snare assembly is bolted directly to the drum shell 10. Thus, fixing bolts 62 each pass through the drum shell to secure the two fixing blocks 32, 46 which carry the snare 22.

Claims (9)

1. A snare drum 10 comprises a cylindrical drum shell 10 over the open ends of which top and bottom drum heads 4,6 respectively are tensioned, each drum head consisting of a circular "skin" having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the drum shell 2, a flesh hoop being secured to the periphery of the "skin" and the "skin" resting against an annular bearing edge of the drum shell 2 with the flesh hoop lying alongside the outer surface of the drum shell 2, and a snare 22 which lays across the bottom head 4 of the drum 10 under tension, characterised in that the snare 22 is tensioned between a first snare clamp 24 and a second snare clamp 26, the first snare clamp 24 being attached directly or indirectly to a point on the outer surface of the drum shell 2 so that it can be moved by lever means 34 between a first position in which tension is applied to the snare 22 and a second position in which the tension is released and the second snare clamp 26 is releasably attached directly or indirectly to the outer surface of the drum shell 2 at a point substantially diametrically opposite to the point of attachment of the first snare clamp 24.

2. A snare drum according to claim 1 characterised in that the first and second snare clamps 24,26 are attached to the drum shell 2 by means of fixing blocks 32,46 mounted on an outer cage for the drum.

3. A snare drum according to claim 2 characterised in that the fixing blocks 32,46 for the first and second snare clamps 24,26 incorporate snare levelling devices 40,60.

4. A snare drum according to claim 3 characterised in that the snare levelling devices 40,60 comprise plates 40 or ridges 60 which extend downwards from the fixing block 32,46 below the plane of the bottom drum head 6 and terminate in the plane of the snare 22 when the snare is under tension.

5. A snare drum is claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 characterised in that the lever means 34 for moving the first snare clamp 24 between the first and the second positions comprises a throw-off lever 34 which is pivotally attached to the fixing block 32 for the first snare clamp 24.

6. A snare drum according to any of claims 2 to 5 characterised in that the second snare clamp 26 is attached to the fixing block 46 by means of a bolt 52.

7. A snare drum according to claim 6 characterised in that cooperating location means 50, 48 are provided on the second snare clamp 26 and the fixing block 46 to enable clamp 26 to be quickly and accurately reset in position.

8. A snare drum according to claim 7 characterised in that the cooperating location means comprises a location boss 48 on the fixing block 46 and a location recess 50 on the second snare clamp 26.

9. A snare drum substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.