HK1066315A - Drumhead and tensioning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Drumhead and tensioning apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of musical instruments and, more particularly, to an improved device for tensioning and tuning a drumhead.

Background

Drumhead tuning devices have been known in the prior art for many years. Such as the "free floating shell" tension member commonly referred to previously, which is a combination of a metal flying ring, a conventional drumhead with a ferrule, and a die cast metal counterhoop. The drum shell is connected below the tensioning device or between two sets of devices (like a snare drum) for providing proper resonance and sound projection.

The prior art tensioning devices are most commonly used in marching bands and military bands where there is a constant demand and desire to increase the tension of the drumhead to provide greater clarity and sound projection of the drumhead in wide open gatherings such as stadiums and outdoor arenas. To achieve these goals, efforts are constantly being made to increase the drumhead's ability to adjust tension, which requires the use of higher strength materials for the head cover (head), such as Kevlar (Kevlar)^) It is also necessary to design and construct components that can withstand these greater tensions. The castings used in the past are naturally larger in size and/or weight and the number of tuning rods would need to be increased if greater tensioning capacity were to be provided. Unfortunately, it is a physical burden for musicians carrying these cumbersome and annoying instruments, especially for children in primary school, junior and even high school marching bands. The additional cost of these devices is also a problem because the components used are larger and more expensive, and their cost continues to increase proportionally.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a drumhead and tensioning device that: it can make the sound definition higher and make the sound projection effect of the sound better, especially in the open meeting occasion; lightweight, low cost, and more efficient designs of components are used, and these components have the same or higher strength and spring potential than corresponding components using prior art techniques.

Disclosure of Invention

In its preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an improved drumhead and tensioning device comprising a planar annular hoop having a generally planar upper member and a generally planar lower member disposed parallel to and spaced from the planar upper member. Disposed and secured between the planar upper and lower members is a material forming a substantially planar sound generating surface which, when joined together with the annular band, forms a generally uniform planar drumhead. The periphery of the drumhead has a plurality of holes for receiving a tension bolt with a threaded end.

A generally planar annular counterhoop and a separate, generally flat eye are also provided, each having a plurality of spaced apart openings for receiving and engaging the tension bolts. Typically, each hole in the eye is tapped to enable it to be threaded with each tie bolt. The eye supports a vertically projecting collar member having an upper edge portion. The collar member is provided as a separate and independent part and is supported at its base by the separate suspension ring. The collar member may also be made integral with or connected to the eye to form a single unitary structure.

The drumhead is disposed between the annular counterhoop and the suspension ring such that the sound outputting surface material is uniformly engaged with and pressed against the upper edge portion of the collar member. Inserting the tension bolts through the aligned holes in the annular counterhoop, the drumhead and the eye and rotating the threaded end of each bolt into the corresponding threaded hole in the eye compresses and engages the annular counterhoop and the eye to gradually stretch the sound surface material and increase its tension.

The drumhead structural member composition of this invention includes the use of a thin skin and high density fiberboard in various combinations. The layers are bonded using a suitable adhesive. Mechanical means may be used to increase the bond strength, such as, for example, appropriate stitching around the periphery of the drumhead. The bond, or more importantly, the strength of the drumhead increases as the annular flat band expands in width due to the increased surface-to-surface contact area between the drumhead material and the upper and lower members of the annular band.

The annular hoop and the eye are typically composed of a metal alloy, such as aluminum or other high strength and resilient material. If the collar member is provided as an integral part of the eye, it is composed of a similar metal alloy or other material.

While a circular shape is the preferred shape for the various components of the present invention, other shapes may be used, including oval, rectangular, square, triangular, and various other geometries.

Drumheads and tensioning devices are suitable for use on a wide variety of percussion instruments including net hammers (toss), snare drums, bass drums, tambourines (tambourines), conga drums (congas), bongos and miscellaneous ethnic drums (ethnic), marching drums (marching), and other types of drums. In essentially any embodiment functioning as a drum shell, the invention may also be used alone as a hand held drum with a collar member.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved drumhead and tensioning device that increases the clarity and sound projection of a slapping drum sound, which uses lightweight, inexpensive components that have the same or greater strength and elastic potential than their counterparts in the prior art.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved drumhead and tensioning device that combines a planar drumhead disposed between a planar counterhoop and an eye that includes a vertically projecting edge, and which is thus adapted to be pressed together to stretch and tension the sound-generating surface material.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved drumhead and tensioning apparatus that uses a loop having a vertically projecting edge as a separate member from the slinger but supported by the slinger.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved drumhead and tensioning device including a drumhead material member mounted and disposed between upper and lower members of a planar annular hoop having a width sufficient to increase the surface area of contact between the members and thereby increase the bond strength.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved drumhead and tensioning apparatus that is suitable for use as the drumhead of a variety of drums, including net hammers, snare drums, bass drums, conga drums, ethnic drums, march drums, and others.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved drumhead and tensioning device that is suitable for use with conventional drumheads.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved drumhead and tensioning device that is easy and cost effective to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following drawings and description thereof, and the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the drumhead and tensioning device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the drumhead and tensioning device of the present invention taken along line 2-2 of figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the drumhead and tensioning device of the present invention taken along line 3 in figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the drumhead and tensioning device of the present invention.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the drumhead and tensioning device of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of components of an alternative embodiment of the drumhead and tensioning device of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the drumhead and tensioning device of the present invention installed in a conventional drum shell.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the drumhead and tensioning device of the present invention taken along line 8-8 of figure 7.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 10. The drumhead and tensioning device 10 includes an annular hoop 12 having a generally planar horizontal upper member 14 and a generally planar horizontal lower member 16, the lower member 16 being parallel to the upper member 14 and spaced from the upper member 14. A sound generating surface forming material 18 is disposed and secured (using any suitable adhesive or fastening method) between the upper member 14 and the lower member 16 to form a planar drumhead 20 having a peripheral region 24 thereof distributed with a plurality of spaced apart holes 22, and respective tensioning bolts 26, typically with threaded ends, are insertable into the holes 22. The width of annular band 12 may vary from one inch to several inches, with the particular dimensions depending on the diameter of drumhead 20, the thickness of material 18, the method used to bond the components, and various other factors. In general, the wider the bonded portion of the annular cuff, the greater the surface-to-surface area contact that exists between the planar member of the cuff and the sound-generating surface material 18 disposed and secured between the planar member. The greater the surface area contact, the greater the ability of the drumhead to withstand the stresses caused by the increased tension, and to prevent the separation and failure of the drumhead components that normally ensue.

As previously described and depicted in the figures, the drumhead and tensioning device 10 of any of the embodiments may function alone as a drum or in combination with a conventional drum shell of any size and diameter, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In the latter application, the spine 50, which may be a separate component or integral with the drum shell 54, is fitted directly below the upper edge 52 of the drum shell 54 for supporting the drumhead and tensioning device 10 and securing it using any suitable method.

The drumhead and tensioning device 10 may also include a generally planar horizontal annular counter hoop 30 and a generally planar horizontal lifting eye 32. Each of the counter hoop and the suspension ring has a plurality of spaced apart holes 31, 33 for receiving and engaging the threaded tension rods 26. In accordance with the suspension ring 32, a vertically extending, annular projecting collar 34 is also provided as a separate component, which collar has an upper edge portion 36. In this embodiment of the invention, the sling 32 has the same outer or external dimensions as the counter hoop 30, but a slightly smaller inner or internal dimension, since the integral band 42 is wider. The ridge 44 formed around the inner edge of the band 42 acts as a support base for the collar 38.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention depicted in fig. 6, a collar may also be used as a component of the sling 32, such as the collar 38. The collar 38 includes an upper rim portion 40.

The drumhead 20 using any of the embodiments of the present invention is positioned between the annular counter hoop 30 and the suspension ring 32 so that the sound-outputting surface material 18 is uniformly engaged with the upper edge portions 36, 40 of the collars 40, 38, respectively.

By inserting the tension bolts 26 through the aligned holes 22 in the drumhead 20, the annular counterhoop 30, and the eye 32 (using the complete collar 34 or collar 38 as a separate component) and rotating the bolts 26 into engagement with the holes 22, the annular counterhoop 30 and eye 32 are compressed and engaged, thereby stretching and increasing the tension in the sound-generating surface material 18. Thus, with the device of the present invention, the ability of the tensioned drumhead to withstand some of the often predictable adhesive failure between the flat hoop component and the sound-generating face material, as well as the potential separation therebetween, is significantly improved over prior art devices.

While the invention has been described in connection with a certain preferred embodiment, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that particular embodiment. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. A drumhead and tensioning apparatus comprising:

an annular band having a generally planar horizontal upper member and a generally planar horizontal lower member parallel to and spaced from the planar upper member, the generally planar horizontal upper member and the generally planar horizontal lower member having disposed therebetween and secured thereto a material forming a sound generating surface forming a planar drumhead having a plurality of spaced apart apertures at a peripheral periphery thereof;

a plurality of tie bolts;

a generally planar horizontal annular counterhoop with a plurality of holes for mounting the tie bolts;

a generally horizontal eye having a plurality of apertures for receiving and engaging the tie bolt bolts and a vertically extending annular projecting collar member integrally formed therewith, the collar member having an upper edge portion;

wherein the drumhead is disposed between the generally planar horizontal annular counterhoop and the generally planar horizontal suspension ring such that the sound-generating face material uniformly engages the upper edge portion of the vertically oriented annular projecting collar member, the tension bolts are inserted through aligned apertures in the annular counterhoop, the drumhead and the suspension ring and rotated each of the bolts into engagement with a corresponding threaded aperture in the suspension ring, the annular counterhoop and the suspension ring being compressed and engaged to stretch the material and increase the tension in the material.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the drumhead and tensioning device are adapted to mate with a drum shell.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the annular counter hoop and the lifting ring are comprised of a metal alloy.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of the planar horizontal upper and lower members comprises one or more layers of material.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein the material comprises fiberboard.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the material forming a sound generating surface is comprised of polyester.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the planar horizontal upper and lower members and the material forming a sound emitting surface are secured by adhesive.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the planar horizontal upper and lower members and the material forming a sound emitting surface are sewn together.

9. A drumhead and tensioning apparatus comprising:

an annular band having a generally planar horizontal upper member and a generally planar horizontal lower member, the lower member being parallel to and spaced apart from the planar upper member, the generally planar horizontal upper and lower members having disposed therebetween and secured thereto a component sound-emitting surface material, the band and the material being joined to form a drumhead;

a plurality of tension bolts, each bolt having a bolt end;

a generally planar horizontal annular counterhoop having a plurality of holes for receiving the tie bolts;

a generally planar horizontal eye having a plurality of threaded holes for receiving and engaging the tension bolts and integrally formed therewith a vertically extending annularly projecting collar member having an upper edge portion;

wherein the drumhead is disposed between the generally planar horizontal annular counterhoop and the generally planar horizontal lifting eye such that the sound-generating face material engages an upper edge portion of the vertically oriented annular projecting collar, the tension bolts are inserted through aligned apertures in the annular counterhoop, the drumhead and the lifting eye and each bolt is rotated into engagement with a corresponding threaded aperture in the lifting eye, the annular counterhoop and the lifting eye being progressively compressed thereby stretching the material and increasing its tension.

10. A drumhead and tensioning apparatus comprising:

a hoop having a generally planar upper member and a generally planar lower member parallel to and spaced from the generally planar upper member, the generally planar horizontal upper and lower members having disposed therebetween and secured thereto a sound-generating surface material which in combination forms a drumhead;

a plurality of tightening rods with screw teeth and matching nuts;

a generally planar counterhoop member having a plurality of holes for receiving the tie bolts;

a suspension base member having a plurality of threaded holes for receiving and engaging the tension bolts and a vertically projecting collar member integrally formed therewith, the collar member having an upper edge portion;

wherein the drumhead is disposed between the generally planar hoop member and the suspension base member such that the sound-generating face material uniformly engages an upper edge portion of the vertically projecting collar member, the tension bolts are inserted through aligned apertures in the hoop and suspension base member, and each bolt is rotated into engagement with a corresponding nut, the hoop member and suspension base member being compressed, thereby stretching the material and increasing the tension of the material.

11. A drumhead and tensioning apparatus comprising:

a drumhead on which a material constituting a sound emitting surface is arranged;

a plurality of tension rods with screw teeth;

a generally planar annular counterhoop having a plurality of holes for receiving the tension bolts;

a suspension ring having a plurality of screw holes for mounting and engaging the tension bolts and a vertically annularly projecting collar member integrally formed therewith, the collar member having an upper edge portion;

wherein the drumhead is disposed between the generally planar annular counterhoop and the eye such that the sound generating face material uniformly engages the upper edge portion of the vertically projecting collar member, the threaded tension rod is inserted through the aligned holes in the annular counterhoop and the eye and each of the bolts is rotated to engage a corresponding threaded hole in the eye, the annular counterhoop and the eye are compressed thereby stretching the material and increasing the tension in the material.

12. A drumhead and tensioning apparatus comprising:

an annular band having a generally planar horizontal upper member and a generally planar horizontal lower member, the lower member being parallel to and spaced from the planar upper member, the generally planar horizontal upper and lower members being arranged and secured therebetween a material forming a sound generating surface forming a planar drumhead having a plurality of spaced apart apertures at a peripheral periphery thereof;

a plurality of tension rods with screw teeth;

a generally planar horizontal annular counter hoop having a plurality of holes for receiving the threaded tightening rod;

a generally horizontal eye having a plurality of threaded holes for receiving and engaging the tension bolts;

a vertically annularly projecting collar member having an upper edge portion;

wherein the drumhead is disposed between the generally planar horizontal annular counterhoop and the generally planar horizontal suspension ring such that the sound generating face material uniformly engages the upper edge portion of the vertically oriented annular projecting collar member, the tension bolt is inserted through aligned apertures in the annular counterhoop, the drumhead and the suspension ring, and each threaded rod is rotated into engagement with a corresponding threaded aperture in the suspension ring, the annular counterhoop and the suspension ring being compressed thereby stretching the material and increasing its tension.