Musical drum with molded bearing edge

A musical drum which has a drum shell constructed of wood, fiber composite structures using wood, paper, (Fiberglass) glass fibers and products made therefrom, and other fibers, plastics and the like, and other materials. At least one end of the shell which is to receive a drumhead has mounted and secured thereon a molded bearing edge fashioned from a resinous or some other suitable material, which preferable is substantially in the shape of an inverted "V," although several alternative shapes are disclosed. The molded bearing edge provides a considerable increase in the strength of the drum, provides desirable sound characteristics, and provides a flat, level and uniform plane with a consistent, structural integrity over which the drumhead is mounted and tensioned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to musical drums, and more particularly to a 
drum construction using a bearing edge comprising an edge made of a resin 
material provided on one or both ends of a drum shell. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The construction of musical drums varies. A typical drum comprises a 
cylindrical drum shell and a drumhead mounted over one or both ends. 
Latches or some other suitable devices are used to secure the drumhead to 
the end of the shell and then tension the head to the desired tonality. 
Drum shells have been constructed out of various materials, such as metal, 
wood, fiber materials and the like. 
Some modern day drum shells employ a composite construction including a 
shell formed of a pressed or laminated fibrous material to provide the 
basic rigidity and sound qualities, and which has a suitable outer coating 
provided for appearance. 
Drum shells made of various wood and composite materials, such as fiber or 
(Fiberglass) glass fibers and products made there from, tend to collapse 
at or along the edge of the shell over which the drumhead is mounted and 
stretched. The collapse of the edge usually occurs as a result of the 
concentrated stress buildup in that area brought about by the tensioning 
process and the constant pounding of the drumsticks on the drumhead 
surface. The collapsed edge usually appears cracked and buckled. In some 
cases, the fiber laminations will begin to separate and, thus, cause a 
further weakening of the edge. When this occurs, the sound qualities of 
the instrument begin to suffer dramatically. 
To resolve these problems, attempts have been made to add a cylindrical 
ring inside the shell at or near the top to provide rigidity to the end of 
the shell. Shells of greater thickness can be used also, but the increased 
thickness adds substantially to the weight of the shell and, consequently, 
the weight of the drum, making it difficult for some drummers (e.g., 
youngsters) to carry the drum in parades and the like. Other such efforts 
include the use of a metal bearing edge which conforms to the shape of one 
or both ends of a drum shell. However, metal is a relatively heavy 
material and adds to the weight of the instrument making it more 
difficult, for example, to carry and play the drum in a marching band. 
Metal bearing edges also required the use of screws or nails or some 
similar device to properly secure the metal to the drum shell. Thus, the 
process in utilizing a metal bearing edge can become extremely labor 
intensive adding substantially to the cost of manufacturing the 
instrument. 
The deterioration of drum shell edges made from wood and fibrous materials, 
as previously described, are not the only drawbacks associated with these 
materials. Edges fabricated from these substances require a significant 
amount of routing, sanding and shaping to achieve the kind of edge that is 
capable of effectively supporting the drumhead and assisting in producing 
the most desirable tonal qualities for the instrument. As with the metal 
bearing edge discussed previously, the process involved in the manufacture 
of a drumshell using wood or any suitable fibrous material is also 
extremely labor intensive. 
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide a bearing edge that can 
be fabricated using a technique that is not labor intensive, that can 
maintain its uniformity and structural integrity over time and will 
continuously resist the kind of deterioration that normally results from 
the severe stress buildup on the edge caused by the tensioning process and 
the constant striking of the drumhead surface. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a solution to the foregoing problems not 
addressed in the prior art and, in addition, enhances the sound produced 
by the drum. The present invention provides a molded resinous bearing edge 
or cap, preferable substantially in the shape of an inverted "V," which is 
secured in the context of any conventional molding process to the end of a 
drum shell formed of wood, fiber, (Fiberglass) glass fibers and products 
made therefrom, or the like, and the drumhead is suitably stretched over 
essentially the apex of the bearing edge. The molded resinous bearing edge 
strengthens the edge of the shell and eliminates the tendency of the edge 
to collapse upon the tightening of the drumhead. This edge also brightens 
the sound generated by the drum and, further, maintains the flatness of 
the plane or line contact with the underside of the drumhead. This 
invention also provides a minimal friction edge over which the drumhead 
can easily be tightened. Although the inverted "V" shape is preferred, 
almost any other shape of edge would be suitable, including a skewed 
shape, wherein the apex is offset to one side or another (radially in or 
out from the centerline of the edge), a somewhat rounded version, or even 
a flat plane. 
Thus, the present invention results in a considerable increase in the 
strength of the drum and provides desirable and improved sound 
characteristics. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
improved drum construction. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved bearing 
edge for one or both ends of a drum shell formed of wood, fiber, 
(Fiberglass), plastic or similar materials. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved bearing 
edge preferably substantially in the shape of an inverted "V" affixed to 
an end of a drum shell to strengthen the end of the drum shell, and 
provide a lower friction edge over which a drumhead may be stretched. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved 
bearing edge affixed to one or both ends of a drum shell that will 
maintain its uniformity of shape and structural integrity over time. 
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become 
better understood through a consideration of the following description 
taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 shows a drum shell 10 of conventional cylindrical form having an 
upper drumhead 11 and a lower drumhead 12 attached to the drum shell 10 by 
several sets of conventional latches 13 and 14. U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,931 
illustrates one form of an exemplary drum of the prior art. 
Drum shells are made from various materials including metal, wood, fiber 
material molded or layed up in a composite construction, including wood 
fibers, paper and/or (Fiberglass) fibers, plastic and the like. The 
present invention is directed to drums having drum shells of non-metallic 
construction and will be referred to herein and in the claims for 
convenience as "fiber"0 drum shells or drum shells of "fiber" construction 
to encompass wood, plastic, fibrous and other various non-metallic drum 
shells. Under the appropriate circumstances, however, the present 
invention may be employed with drum shells made of metal and a variety of 
other substances. 
FIG. 2 illustrates in a cross-sectional view a typical composite drum shell 
19 with a fiber shell 20 having a plastic outer cover 21. The shell 20 is 
conventional, and is formed from wood fiber in the form of a fiber tube. A 
typical construction uses fibrous paper material pressed together to 
comprise a laminate containing multiple revolutions and with a wall 
thickness of approximately three-sixteenths inch. The plastic outer layer 
21 can be any suitable thickness and color, and is primarily employed for 
appearance and to protect the outer surface of the shell 20. The layer 21 
preferably covers substantially the entire outer surface of the shell 21. 
When the drumhead is tightened across the end of a conventional fiber shell 
20, it frequently is necessary to substantially stretch the head, using 
any conventional tensioning mechanism. When this is done it is common over 
time for the edge of the shell to deteriorate, buckle and eventually 
collapse. Edge deterioration will accelerate as a result of the constant 
pounding of the drumstick on the drumhead surface. With drum shells 
produced in accordance with prior art methods, an inverted "V" 
configuration (not shown) has been provided at the end of wood shells to 
minimize the friction of the shell edge on the drumhead. However, the thin 
apex of the edge, because of its relative fragility, contributes even more 
to the shell's edge collapse. Certain fiber shells, due to this 
deterioration problem, soon begin to produce dull or offensive overtones, 
which detract from the overall sound quality of the instrument. 
FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred form of a molded resinous bearing edge 22 
according to the present invention. This molded resinous bearing edge 22 
has an inverted "V" configuration, extending downwardly from the apex into 
a pari of skirts 30 and 31. Configuration of the edge 22 can be such that 
the apex 24 can be offset to one side or the other or can be rounded as 
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or even somewhat flat (not shown), if desired. The 
bearing edge 22 is secured to the end 26 of the fiber shell 20 by way of 
the natural bonding that occurs between the outer surface of the end 26 
and the underside of the bearing edge 22 during the molding process. 
Adhesives (not shown), such as epoxy applied between the underside of the 
bearing edge 22 and the outer surface of the end 26, or some other 
suitable means of securing the bearing edge 22 to the shell 20, are 
usually unnecessary. The bonding between the bearing edge 22 and the outer 
surface of the end 26 is enhanced even further due to the constant 
downward pressure exerted upon the edge 22 onto the end 26 by virtue of 
the tightening of the drumhead by the tensioning mechanism. The other end 
(not shown) of the shell 20 as seen in FIG. 2 may have a similar 
construction and a molded resinous bearing edge 22 thereon. 
While any suitable resin material can be used to form the molded resinous 
bearing edge 22, it has been found that the chemical compounds 
polyurethane or polyurea using any conventional injection molding process 
to form the edge 22 to the shapes shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 is suitable. 
Molded resinous bearing edge 22 extends completely around the end 26 of 
the shell 20 to cover the entire end 26 and to provide a continuous 
circular, substantially line contact, by the apex 24 of the bearing edge 
22. This results in a flat plane or circular line contact with the 
underside of the drumhead and thereby maintains a flatness of the edge to 
head contact. 
Accordingly, the primary concepts of the present invention are the use of a 
molded resinous bearing edge, preferably of an inverted substantially "V" 
cross-sectional configuration, on a fiber drum shell. It has been found 
that this construction provides a significant gain in strength to the 
bearing edge allowing the drumhead to be tensioned around a standard 
thickness fiber shell without the usual risk and eventuality of a 
premature edge failure. The bearing edge 22 fashioned in accordance with 
the present invention is precluded from deteriorating and eventual total 
collapse while also providing the instrument with a brighter or sharper 
sound. 
Mechanically, the addition of the molded resinous bearing edge 22 
reinforces the end 26 of the shell 20 both diametrically and axially. The 
plane of the bearing edge at the apex 24 is maintained flat and the 
concentricity of the shell is maintained round because of the shape and 
persistent integrity of the bearing edge 22. The apex 24 provides 
essentially a single circular line contact point for the underside of the 
drumhead. The resulting drum will yield more varied and reliable 
frequencies and the resultant sound will be considered acoustically more 
acceptable. 
While the invention will be described in connection with a certain 
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not intended to 
limit the invention to that particular embodiment. Rather, it is intended 
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.