Abstract:
To prevent the holding arms on a snare drum holder from interfering with either lug bolts on the side of a drum body or a snappy connected below the drum body, there are three snare drum support arms which extend from an upper annular member and are spaced at the unequal angles, not at 120 degrees, so that the arms supporting the snare drum do not pass over or interfere with either the lug bolts or the snappy. The snare drum holding arms are additionally supported by connecting links connected to a lower annular member which is movable along the post on which the upper annular member is held, collapsing or raising the arms for the drum as the lower annular member is moved up and down. The tilt angle of the snare drum holding arms is also adjustable at the post supporting the holder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a holding structure for a snare drum. 
     There are two types of snare drums, one having eight lug bolts and the other having 10 lug bolts. FIG. 6 of the attached drawings shows the lower side of a snare drum D 1  having eight lug bolts  112 . At each angular position that divides the outer periphery of the drum hoop  110  into eight equal parts, there is a lug bolt receiver  111  which protrudes radially provided and eight lug bolts  112  are inserted into the eight receivers for tightening the drum head H on the end of the drum body. 
     FIG. 7 shows a snare drum D 2  with 10 lug bolts. Lug bolt receivers  121  protrude at equidistant angular positions for dividing the outer periphery of the drum hoop  120  into 10 equal parts and the ten lug bolts  122  are inserted into the respective receivers  121  for tightening the drum head H on the drum body. 
     To hold either snare drum D 1  or D 2  on a stand, the outer periphery or hoop  110  or  120  at the lower surface of the drum is grasped by three snare drum arms  151 ,  152  and  153 . FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross sections in which the stand supporting the drum has been cut halfway. There is a center shaft  155 , a holding arm axial support  156  and a connective arm  157 . 
     The three conventional snare drum holding arms  151 ,  152  and  153  are provided at angular positions that divide the circumference into three equal parts around the center shaft  155 . This has caused a problem in that the receivers  111  and  121  for the lug bolts, which protrude from the hoops  110  and  120  and at least one of the snare drum holding arms  151 ,  152 , and  153  overlap, causing interference. 
     At an angular position where there is a mutual interference between one of the receivers  111  and  121  for the lug bolts and one of the snare drum holding arms  151 ,  152  and  153 , the holding of the snare drums D 1  and D 2  becomes incomplete, with the receiver rising or parts that strongly hold the drum being produced, thereby making it impossible to hold the drum with an even force. In this case, it is not only impossible to completely hold the snare drum but the sound produced by the drum is muted, creating an obstacle to smooth performance. 
     Locations for avoiding the interference were searched for by rotating the snare drums D 1  and D 2  with respect to the snare drum holding arms  151 ,  152  and  153 . However, only the respective positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 provide the least interference. For the drum D 1  having eight lug bolts shown in FIG. 6, receivers x and y show interference. For the drum D 2  having ten lug bolts shown in FIG. 7, receiver z shows interference. Thus, it has not been possible to position the drums without interference. 
     Meanwhile, the angle of the snare drum in the horizontal direction can be adjusted by an angle adjusting member of the stand as a performance requires. According to a conventional structure, however, the positions of the three snare drum holding arms are fixed with respect to that of the angle adjusting member, thereby making it impossible to freely change the positions of the snare drum holding arms. 
     In addition, a snappy S installed on the lower surface of the snare drum has a fixed side holder Sa and an operational side holder Sb which are naturally installed at such positions as will not interfere with the outer tips of the snare drum holding arms  151 ,  152  and  153 . 
     FIG. 8 shows the snare drum D 2  of FIG. 7 viewed from above. When the snare drum holding arms  151 ,  152  and  153  are fixed on the lower side of the drum as shown in this Figure, and the performer is in position P, the operational side holding part Sb of the snappy S is set at the position of Sb 1 , which is position R on the right side when the performer operates the lever with his right hand, or at position Sb 2  which is position L on the left side when the performer operates the lever with his left hand. Sa 1  and Sa 2  indicate the fixed side holding parts of the snappy S respectively for operational side holding parts Sa 1  and Sa 2 . 
     In such a situation, if the performer tries to rotate the operating side holding part Sb 1  or Sb 2  of the snappy S toward him or slightly toward one side, i.e., if the performer tries to rotate the drum D 2  in the circumferential direction, he rotates the stand because the position of the snare drum holding arm is fixed with respect to the angle adjusting member. Thereupon, the snare drum which has been set at a certain angle will also rotate at the same time, causing the beating surface to end up facing sideways. This has made it impossible to rotate the drum, thereby causing the performer to continue performing with a lower degree of operability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The holding structure for a snare drum in the prior art causes various problems, which the invention solves. It enables holding the snare drum without interference between the snare drum holding arms and the receivers for the lug bolts and wherein the position of the snare drum holding arms is made rotatable in connection with the angle adjusting member. 
     The snare drum holding structure of the invention comprises a main stand which includes a main pipe and stand legs and a movable pipe which is supported in the main pipe such that the height of the movable pipe can be freely adjusted. The movable pipe supports a fixed side angle adjustment member at its top. A movable, side angle adjustment member is held such that its rotation angle can be freely adjusted with respect to the fixed side angle adjustment member. The movable member has a center shaft with an outside screw thread of a prescribed length. 
     A snare drum holder comprises an upper annular member with three holding arm axial support parts provided at angular positions which are not 120 degrees apart by plane sight and are located on the side of the upper annular member which is rotatably held at the top of the center shaft. 
     A lower annular member has three connective arm axial support parts which are provided at the same angular positions as the holding arm axial support parts of the upper annular member and located on the side of the lower annular member which is installed, freely rotatably, on the center shaft. Three snare drum arms are held to the radially inward ends of the holding arm axial support parts and have the receivers that hold the lower surface outer peripheral part of the snare drum at the tip. 
     Three connective arms are held by the connective arm axial supports at the lower annular member and are held by the three snare drum holding arms at the tip. 
     An upper fixed member fixes the upper annular member at the tip of the center shaft. An adjustment nut is arranged on the lower side of the lower annular member and is screwed to the outside screw part of the center shaft to adjust the height of the lower side annular member. 
     The holding arm axial supports are provided at angular positions of approximately 110 degrees, 115 degrees and 135 degrees by plane sight on the side of the upper tubular main body. 
     Other objects and features of this invention are explained with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a holding structure of a snare drum according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an oblique dismantled view. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section of part of the assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section thereof, as viewed from the lower surface of a snare drum having eight lug bolts. 
     FIG. 5 is the same cross section of a snare drum having ten lug bolts. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross section from below of a snare drum having eight lug bolts according to prior art. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross section from below of a snare drum having ten lug bolts according to prior art. 
     FIG. 8 shows a positional relationship between the snappy holding part of a conventional snare drum and a performer. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows an entire holding structure for a snare drum of the type having eight lug bolts (D or D 1 ) according to the invention, and FIG. 2 shows its essential parts dismantled. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the holding structure of the invention comprises a main stand body  10 , a movable pipe  20  telescopable in the body  10 , a movable side angle adjustment member  30  for a drum, a snare drum holding member  40 , an upper fixing assembly  70 , and an adjustment nut  75 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the main stand body  10  has a main pipe  11  and three stand legs  12  with the main pipe  11  at its center. There is a lower side fixed holding (tubular) part  13 , an upper movable holding (tubular) part  14  and an adjustment screw  15  for fixing the part  14  on the pipe  11 . 
     The movable pipe  20  is telescopably held, freely adjustable in height, on the main stand body  10 . The movable pipe  20  is inserted into the main pipe  11  as shown in FIG.  1  and is freely adjustably fixed as to its height by the adjustment screw  19 . A fixed side angle adjustment member  21  is provided at the top of the pipe  20 . 
     The fixed side angle adjustment member  21  at the top of the movable pipe  20  has a known, fixed side gear surface that meshes with a gear surface  32  on an adjacent movable side angle adjustment member  30  to set a desired tilt angle, as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The movable side angle adjustment member  30  is held at a freely adjustable angle with respect to the fixed side angle adjustment member  21 . In this example, the member  30  has a gear surface that meshes with the fixed side gear surface of the fixed side angle adjustment member  21 . The member  30  is held freely adjustable as to its rotation angle with respect to the fixed side angle adjustment member  21 . A bolt  23  in FIG. 2 serves as the rotation axis. A coil spring  24  is disposed between the adjustment members. A washer  25  is engaged by an adjustment nut  26 . 
     The movable side angle adjustment member  30  supports an upstanding shaft  31  with the outer screw thread  33  of a prescribed length provided on the center shaft  31 . The tip of the center shaft is a bar  34  without an outer screw thread  33  and with a diameter smaller than that of the screw thread  33 . Inside the tip of the shaft  31 , there is an opening with an inside screw thread  35  that receives the bolt  71  of the upper fixed member  70 . 
     The snare drum holder  40  has an upper side annular member  41 , a lower side annular member  44 , snare drum holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C and connective arms  60 A,  60 B and  60 C between the arms  50  and the member  44 . 
     The upper annular member  41  is comprised of an upper main tubular body  42  and three holding arm axial supports  43 A,  43 B and  43 C. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper side body  42  has an interior hole  42 A with a smaller diameter than that of the outside screw thread  33  of the shaft  31 . That diameter is suitable for insertion of the tip of the bar  34 , as shown in FIG.  3  and the body  42  is mounted on the bar  34  to be held freely rotatably on the shaft  31 . 
     A screw hole  42 B provided in the side of the tubular body  42  receives a fixing screw  49  which contacts the bar  34  at the tip of the center shaft  31 . This enables prevention of the rotation of the upper tubular body  42 , to fix it. 
     The three holding arm axial supports  43 A,  43 B and  43 C of the upper annular member  41  are for fixing three snare drum holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C to the upper annular member  41 . As shown in FIG. 4, the three axial supports  43 A,  43 B and  43 C are arrayed around upper main tubular body  42  spaced at angles other than 120 degrees apart. In this example, they are spaced at angles of 110 degrees, 115 degrees and 135 degrees apart around the upper tubular body  42  as the center. Various parts of the snare drum D 1  and the snappy S are identified with the same reference numbers as earlier noted. 
     The lower annular member  44  is comprised of a lower main tubular body  45  and three connective arm axial supports  46 A,  46 B and  46 C. As shown in FIG. 3, the main lower side tubular body  45  has a diameter sufficient for insertion of the outer screw thread  33  of the shaft  31 , to be freely rotatable thereon. The height position of the member  44  is adjustable because it is supported from below by an adjustment nut  75 . 
     The three connective arm axial supports  46 A,  46 B and  46 C of the lower annular member  44  hold the three connective arms  60 A,  60 B and  60 C on the lower annular member  44 . These three connective arm axial supports  46 A,  46 B and  46 C are arrayed around the lower side tubular body  45  at the same angle positions as the three holding arm axial supports  43 A,  43 B and  43 C above them. 
     The snare drum holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C hold the snare drum D 1 . They are made of three platelike members bent up by 90 degrees. The tips of the snare drum holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C have the bent up receivers  55 A,  55 B and  55 C that contact the lower side outer periphery of the snare drum D 1 . The receivers  55 A,  55 B and  55 C comprise the platelike members which are bent upward in the shape of an L and are covered with rubber, etc. In addition, the radially inward or rear parts of the arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C are held to the axial supports  43 A,  43 B and  43 C. 
     The connective arms  60 A,  60 B and  60 C support the snare drum holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C from below. The arms  60  comprise three platelike members. The tips of the arms  60 A,  60 B and  60 C are attached at the middle of the respective ones of the three holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C and are also held at their lower ends to connective arm axial support parts  46 A,  46 B and  46 C. 
     As is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper fixed member  70  is rotatable to install the upper annular member  41  of the snare drum holder  40  at the bar  34  at the tip of the shaft  31 . The upper member  70  is comprised of a bolt  71 , a washer  72 , and a spring washer  73 , wherein the bolt  71  is screwed into the interior screw thread  35  in the tip of the shaft  31  through the spring washer  73 , the washer  72  and the upper main tubular body  42 . 
     The adjusting nut  75  is arranged below the lower side annular member  44  and the nut  75  is screwed on the outer screw thread  33  of the center shaft to set the height of and to support the lower side annular member  44 . As the adjusting nut  75  is moved up and down, the height of the lower annular body  44  is adjusted. This makes it possible to hold the snare drum D 1  and to loosen its holding. 
     When the adjusting nut  75  is twisted to move it upward, the lower annular member  44  shifts upward, collapsing the connective arms  60 A,  60 B and  60 C toward each other and contracting the snare drum holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C inwardly. If the adjusting nut  75  is twisted to move it downward, on the other hand, the lower annular member  44  moves downward, opening the connective arms  60 A,  60 B and  60 C apart and making it possible for the snare drum holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C to be expanded outwardly. 
     A washer  76  is arranged between the adjusting nut  75  and the lower annular member  44 . 
     In the holding structure of the snare drum described above, three arm axial supports are provided so that the three snare drum holding arms, in particular, may be positioned at angular positions which are not 120 degrees apart so that there will be no interference between the lug bolt receiving part  111  and the snare drum holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C, as contrasted with a snare drum D 1  having eight lug bolts  112  held as shown in FIG. 4, for example. 
     When a snare drum D 2  of the type having ten lug bolts  122  is being held, as shown in FIG. 5, there is no interference between the receiving part  121  for the lug bolts and the snare drum holding arms  50 A,  50 B and  50 C in contrast with past designs. 
     Because the upper side main tubular body  42  is freely rotatable with respect to the center shaft  31 , the position of the snare drum holding arms may be rotated with respect to the angle adjusting member. This makes it possible, for instance, to change the position of the operating side holding part of the snappy according to the wishes of the performer. 
     The holding structure for a snare drum of the invention makes it possible to firmly hold the snare drum without any interference between the snare drum holding arms and the receiving parts for the lug bolts. As the position of the snare drum holding arms is freely rotatable with respect to the angle adjusting member, moreover, the performer may shift the operating side holding part of the snappy to a position where it is easier for the performer to position himself. In this manner, various problems surrounding the snare drum holding can be solved all at once. 
     Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.