A drum has an attachment assembly for tensioning one or more drum heads, and for mounting drum peripherals without piercing the drum shell. The attachment assembly tensions the drum heads to the shell by use of a separate, circumferential tension hoop and gasket-like “isolators” that isolate the tension hoop from drum-shell vibrations. This assembly reduces tonal alterations inherent in drum designs of the art, in which components are rigidly fastened to the drum shell. Rather than using common tension rods and lugs, this attachment assembly enables tuning/tensioning via the tension hoop. The tension hoop obviates the use of multiple lugs and hardware that commonly pierce a drum shell and preserves a continuous and homogeneous resonant drum shell. The tension hoop also enables differing top- and bottom-head tensions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates in general to drums and more specifically to drum construction.

BACKGROUND

A drum is a musical device used to produce a percussive, resonant sound which gives rhythm, melody, and punctuation to music. A typical drum is constructed of a cylindrical shell (typically wood or metal), with two thin membranes stretched over each end. Each membrane is tuned (or “tensioned”) to resonate and compliment the other. The drum shell, top and bottom hoops, and all other parts resonate to produce the composite sound of the drum. Materials used for drum shells determine the drum's sound characteristics. The resonance of the shell itself is considered an important part of the drum tone.

Typical drum construction involves a drum shell with one or more drum heads which are attached and tensioned to the shell using a circumferential drum hoop and a series of fixed tension rods and lugs. Drum-mounted hardware such as lugs are attached with fasteners that typically pierce the drum shell. Tension rods attach to lugs, and lugs are typically bolted to the drum shell. Current manufacturing techniques use one lug for each tension rod and 1-3 fasteners per lug.

A drum support structure is an apparatus for supporting the drum on at least one leg, bracket, or stand, or for supporting ancillary drum components such as a snare strainers, kick pedals, percussion instruments (such as cowbells), cymbals, or recording/performance equipment (microphones).

Snare wire-tensioning systems and lugs are typically bolted to a drum shell [note tension rods are parallel to the drum axis and don't go through the shell (just into the lug)]. Other attachments (e.g., snare strainers, legs, feet), are typically attached to hardware that is bolted to the drum shell.

Any mounting hardware adds mass to a drum shell. Mass is a primary variable influencing the shell's resonant frequencies and damping characteristics. Minimizing mass additions to the drum shell ensures minimal alteration of the innate drum-shell tone. Drum-mounting hardware requires holes to be drilled into the drum shell. The holes interfere with the drum's desired resonance quality. Piercing the shell is an undesirable but commonly accepted practice in drum-making. To ensure that the drum projects the desirable shell tone, it is considered ideal to have minimal holes added to the shells for bolting on subsequent hardware, and minimal mass added since mass is a primary variable influencing the shell's resonant frequencies and damping characteristics.

The current state of the art offers drum designs in which top and bottom drum heads can be independently tensioned/tuned, but these designs pierce the drum shell. Some designs tighten drum hoops to themselves, but do not enable differing top- and bottom-head tensions.

The current state of the art offers other tensioning mechanisms that don't pierce the drum shell, but they fail to offer differing top and bottom tensions.

Some advances in the state of the art show “free floating” drum shell designs that enable differing top- and bottom-head These designs add an interface between the bearing edge (the circumferential edges at the top and bottom of the shell which contact the drum head) and the rest of the drum shell or structure. This alters and impedes resonance because the structure between the top and bottom heads is discontinuous.

In some innovations, sets of tuning lugs maintain the desired feature of differing top- and bottom-head tensions. However their drum lugs add unwanted mass to a drum shell, and alter the tone of the drum shell. Typical lugs rigidly couple the shell to the drum hoop in both axial and radial directions, further restricting shell resonance.

Without the use of rigidly attached, traditional drum lugs that pierce the drum shell, no designs in the state of the art enable strike energy on the drum-head to transmit unimpeded to the drum shell while at the same time enabling differing top and bottom tensions.

SUMMARY

A drum has an attachment assembly for tensioning one or more drum heads, and for mounting drum peripherals, without piercing the drum shell. The attachment assembly tensions one or more drum heads to the shell by use of a separate, circumferential tension hoop along with gasket-like “isolators” that isolate the tension hoop from drum-shell vibrations. This assembly reduces tonal alterations inherent in drum designs in the art, in which components are rigidly fastened to the drum shell. Rather than using common tension rods and lugs, this attachment assembly enables tuning/tensioning via the tension hoop. The tension hoop obviates the use of multiple lugs and hardware that commonly pierce the drum shell, preserving a continuous and homogeneous resonant drum shell. The tension hoop also enables differing top- and bottom-head tensions

A drum hoop is affixed to a tension hoop by bolts which are used to tighten the tension hoop, effectively adjusting the drum head's tension on the shell. During tensioning, as the drum hoop is forced toward the tension hoop, blocking protrusions (referred to as “interlocks”) on the outer surface of the drum shell stop the tension hoop from moving axially.

In some embodiments, interlocks are integral to the drum shell. They may be welded to a metal drum shell or integrated into the lamination process that is commonly used in making a wood drum shell (or similarly in the process of making a fiber-reinforced polymer or plastic shell).

Isolators are damping fittings that reside between the tension hoop and the interlocks. In combination, the interlocks and isolators support the tension hoop. In this embodiment, no hardware pierces the drum shell; all attachments to the drum shell are made with the tension hoop. Both the tension hoop and the drum hoop are separated from the drum shell by the isolator, which, in combination with the tension hoop and interlocks, obviates the need for hardware that rigidly couples the drum hoop, tension rods and tension ring to the drum shell. An annular gap in the isolator further separates the tension hoop and drum hoop from the drum shell. Strike force applied to the drum skin or resonant membrane is transferred only to the drum shell.

In an iteration, interlocks comprise a first mounting bracket on the inner surface of a drum shell and a second mounting bracket on the outer surface, with a fastener passing through the drum shell to affix the first and second mounting brackets against the drum shell. Although this iteration involves piercing the drum shell, far fewer fasteners are required to support both batter-side drum head and resonant-side drum head than in common drum assemblies. A tension hoop can react to axial forces produced by the tensioning of the drum skin while allowing micromotions created by shell resonance in the isolator interface. Because it is coupled to the drum shell with minimal piercing and minimal mass, it does not alter the resonant tone of the drum; striking force is efficiently transmitted to the drum shell.

In this iteration, the tension hoop may be supported by three interlocks that require three through-holes. An isolating gasket separates the tension hoop from drum-shell vibrations. Hardware (e.g., mounts, feet, snare-wire mechanisms, cymbal mounts or percussion mounts) is mounted to the tension hoop rather than to the drum shell. During head swapping, tension hoops stay in place along with the interlock mechanism. One skilled in the art understands that a tension hoop may be affixed to the interlocks by way of clasps, clamps, mechanical joints or fasteners, so that it remains in place when swapping a head.

In some embodiments, hardware (mounts, feet, snare-wire mechanisms, auxiliary cymbal mounts or percussion mounts) is mounted to the tension hoop rather than to the drum shell.

In all embodiments, the drum construction enables differing top- and bottom-head tunings.

Other objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1-4depict an example embodiment100configured to fit a snare drum. On the batter side, the drum hoop112interfaces with the circumference of the batter skin124in a common arrangement. The drum hoop112is tensioned to a tension hoop114with common tension rod hardware111. The common tension rod hardware111consists of threaded bolts that, when tightened, force the drum hoop112toward the tension hoop114, tensioning the batter-side drum head. The tension hoop114rests against interlocks130. Interlocks are protrusions that stop the tension hoop from moving axially (FIG.3,108) as the drum hoop is forced toward the tension hoop when tightened by bolts111.

Isolators are gasket-like objects that allow relative motion and vibration between the tension hoop and the resonating drum shell. In combination, the protrusions and isolators support the tension hoop while allowing vibrations between the tension hoop and the drum shell. The tension hoop114is supported by the interlocks130which are integral to the drum shell and do not require fasteners; in this way they obviate piercing of the drum shell110.

A gasket (isolator)138between the interlock130and the batter-side tension hoop114isolates the tension hoop from the drum shell, mitigating unwanted vibration. An annular gap145in each isolator further separates the tension hoop and drum hoop from the drum shell. The drum hoop, tension hoop, and adhering interlocks comprise a drum-head tensioning system that couples with the drum shell with minimal contact. One skilled in the art understands that because the batter-side drum hoop112and tension hoop114are isolated from the drum shell, the striking force on drum head124is transferred only to the drum shell110, mitigating unwanted tonal effects. One skilled in the art understands that a gasket may be constructed of a wide range of materials of various durometers or hardnesses?.

In some embodiments, such as those used with metal-sided drum shells, interlocks are welded to the shell. In other embodiments, such as those used with wood or fiber-reinforced polymer drum shells, interlocks are formed in the shell's lamination process. Tension hoops contact isolators that are affixed to interlocks which are affixed to the drum shell with a no fasteners or a minimum number of fasteners.

The resonant side of the drum is configured the same way (do we specify somewhere that the resonant side is the non-strike side?); a resonant-side drum head123is affixed to a resonant-side drum hoop116. A resonant-side tension hoop118joins with a drum hoop112with common lugged hardware111. The resonant-side tension hoop118and resonant-side drum hoop116are similarly isolated from the drum shell.

Both the batter-side drum hoop112and the resonant-side drum hoop116may be independently adjusted against their respective tension hoops114/118.

InFIG.3a gap144can be seen between the tension hoop114and the drum shell110. This shows how the tension hoop is isolated and not rigidly coupled to the drum structure. Similarly, a gap146exists between the drum hoop112and the drum shell110, as is common in the art.

A snare strainer140(FIG.4) is affixed to the resonant-side tension hoop118. Tension hoops118/114are of sufficient structure to support various components commonly attached to drums, including legs and support structures. The elastomeric isolator138(FIG.3) separates the drum shell from extraneous vibrations or interference from components commonly attached to drums. One skilled in the art understands that hardware that pierces a drum shell reduces the performance of the drum. The tension hoops114and118provide the required structure to hold snare strainers and all other hardware without piercing the shell or rigidly coupling additional mass to the drum structure.

FIGS.5-6depict an example embodiment200configured to fit a bass drum. One skilled in the art understands how an apparatus that fastens a batter-side drum head and a resonant-side drum head on a snare drum may be used to fasten the same on a bass drum. Similar interlocks are part of the bass drum shell210. The bass-drum configuration has a similar batter-side tension hoop214and batter-side drum hoop212that is joined to the batter-side tension hoop214to support a batter-side drum head224(FIG.6). A similar, resonant-side tension hoop218and resonant-side drum hoop215support a resonant-side drum head225. The tension hoop214is joined to drum hoops212with common lugged hardware211.

A resonant-side tension hoop218is similarly mounted, joined with a drum hoop212with common lugged hardware211. The resonant-side tension hoop218and resonant-side drum hoop216are similarly isolated from the drum shell.

The drum-head tensioning mechanism has minimal contact with the drum shell. One skilled in the art understands that the striking force on a batter-side drum head224is transferred to the drum shell210through drum head225, drum hoop216and tension hoop218before reacting through the spurs or feet220and222. Similar to the snare strainer140, the tension hoop218can support spurs or feet. This allows them to be removed from the drum shell, reducing mass that is rigidly coupled to the drum shell, and reducing alteration of the drum shell's natural resonance.

The batter-side drum hoop212and the resonant-side drum hoop216may each be independently adjusted against their respective tension hoops214/218.

Legs222(FIG.6) are affixed to the resonant-side tension hoop218. A kick pedal mount248is affixed to the batter-side tension hoop212. Tension hoops218/214are of sufficient structure to support various components commonly attached to drums, such as legs and support structures. In some embodiments a gas spring242is affixed about a pivot to the legs222and to the resonant-side tension hoop218. The legs222pivot about hardware220, in an arrangement that allows them to be both held open and closed without fasteners. In other embodiments traditional bass drum legs or spurs provided by others can be fastened to the tension ring.

FIGS.7-8depict a third iteration300configured to fit a snare drum. A drum shell310has interlock hardware assemblies330(FIG.8) affixed to the shell. An interior mounting bracket334is fastened to an exterior mounting bracket336with a fastener332that passes through the drum shell310. An elastomeric gasket338resides between the exterior mounting bracket336and a batter-side tension hoop314. The tension hoop314is joined to a drum hoop312with common lugged hardware. The batter-side drum hoop312is affixed to the batter drum head324. One skilled in the art is familiar with methods and apparatuses that tighten a drum head324to a drum hoop312.

Drum hoops312/316are affixed to the drum head324, which is in contact with the bearing edge of the drum shell. A gap346resides between the drum hoop312and the drum shell310. Drum hoops312/316do not touch the drum shell310directly. Tension hoops314/318contact isolators338that are affixed to interlocks330which are affixed to the drum shell110with a minimum number of fasteners. A gap344resides between the tension hoop314and the drum shell310. Tension hoops314/318do not touch the drum shell310directly. An annular gap345in each isolator further separates the tension hoop and drum hoop from the drum shell.

snare strainer340(FIG.8) is affixed to the resonant-side tension hoop318.

A resonant-side tension hoop318is similarly mounted by way of interlock hardware assemblies330on the resonant side of the drum. Tension hoops318/314are of sufficient structure to support various components commonly attached to drums, such as legs and support structures.

The elastomeric gasket338isolates the drum shell from extraneous vibrations or interference from components commonly attached to drums. Interlock hardware assemblies330support tension hoops314/318such that most of the drum shell's310surface is uninterrupted. One skilled in the art understands that hardware that pierces a drum shell negatively affects the resonant qualities of a drum

A resonant-side drum head323affixes to a resonant-side drum hoop316. The drum-head tensioning mechanism has minimal contact with the drum shell. One skilled in the art understands that the striking force on a batter-side drum head324is transferred to the drum shell310without transferring to the isolated batter-side tension hoop312or batter-side drum hoop314. The resonant-side tension hoop318and resonant-side drum hoop316are similarly isolated. The batter-side drum hoop312and the resonant-side drum hoop316may each be independently adjusted against their respective tension hoops314/318.

These embodiments should not be construed as limiting.