Patent ID: 6441286
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: G10D

Abstract:
A system for facilitating the tuning of a drum, the system comprising:a shell having a first mouth at a first end and a second mouth at a second end, the second end being opposite the first end along a radial axis of the shell; a drumhead covering the first mouth, the drumhead having a rim about its outer edge, the rim being positioned outside the shell; a tuning ring positioned over the drumhead, the tuning ring having an opening therein shaped to receive the first end of the shell and to prevent the rim from passing through the tuning ring; a plurality of levers pivotally coupled to the shell, each lever having a first portion projecting inside the shell and a second portion projecting outside the shell, and each lever being configured to pivot about a pivoting axis such that the second end of the lever moves toward and away from the first end of the drum; a plurality of linkages having first and second ends, the first end of each of the linkages being coupled to the tuning ring, the second end of each linkage being coupled to the second end of a corresponding lever; a connector member positioned inside the shell, the second end of each of the levers being coupled to the connector member; a retaining member coupled to the shell to remain longitudinally fixed with respect to the radial axis of the shell; a tuning linkage threadedly coupled between the retaining member and the connector member such that rotation of the tuning linkage moves the connector member longitudinally with respect to the radial axis and pivots the levers and, as a result, adjusts the tension of the drumhead; and a handle projecting from the tuning linkage toward the second end of the shell, the handle being fixed to the tuning linkage to rotate therewith about the radial axis, and being manually manipulable to tune the drumhead.