Abstract:
The mounting device releasably mounts an accessory, such as a microphone, to a lug of a musical instrument such as a drum. The device includes a base, a lug-engaging connector mounted on the base and an accessory support mounted on the base. The accessory releasably attaches to the accessory support.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The invention relates generally to mounting devices, and more particularly to mounting devices used for attaching a microphone or other accessory onto a musical instrument. More specifically, the invention relates to a mounting device that is adapted to engage the lugs on the side of a drum.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    When bands perform, amplifying the sound of both the singer&#39;s voice and the musical instruments may be desirable so that the music and the singer may be clearly heard by the audience. In order for the sound of an instrument to be heard, a microphone may be positioned in close proximity to the instrument to clearly pick up the sound. At other times, the musician may wish to use other musical accessories such as bells, small music stands or the like. Free standing stands may be used, but the stands are easily knocked over if they get in the way of the performers.  
           [0005]    A number of devices have been suggested in the prior art for mounting accessories, such as microphones and other small instruments, directly onto musical instruments and more specifically onto drums. Examples of this prior art include U.S. patents granted to Cohen (U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,596) and Wolf (U.S. Pat. No. Des. No. 305,026).  
           [0006]    These devices have utilized clamping type jaws for grasping the rims of drums. While these devices have worked, they are somewhat time consuming to apply, requiring a fair amount of adjustment both during attachment and removal, and can potentially damage the rim of the drum if the user is not paying sufficient attention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The device of the present invention is an accessory mounting device that is adapted to be attached to a musical instrument, such as a drum. The device includes a base, a connector mounted on the base and an accessory support mounted on the base. When the device is mounted on a drum for example, the base engages the side of the drum and the connector engages a drum lug. The accessory, such as a microphone, is attached to the support. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles of the invention, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the accessory mounting device shown mounted onto a drum;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is plan view of the accessory mounting device;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a front view of the device when it is mounted on a drum;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a left-hand side view of the device shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a right-hand side view of the device shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view through line  6 - 6  of FIG. 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional plan view of the device as it is being brought into a position where it is ready to engage the drum;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view of the device showing the relationship of the components of the device as the foot of the second leg is moved into engagement with the side of the drum;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional plan view of the device as the hook is drawn into engagement with the drum lug;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional plan view of the device as the hook is locked into place. 
     
    
       [0019]    Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    The following description outlines how the mounting device of the present invention may be used in association with a drum. The mounting device may however be used to attach an accessory to other musical instruments.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 1, the accessory mounting device of the present invention, shown generally at  2 , is adapted to engage a drum lug  4  mounted on the side  6  of a drum  8 .  
         [0022]    Mounting device  2  includes a base  10  which may be manufactured from metal, plastic, wood or any other suitable material. Base  10  defines an inner surface  16  and an outer surface  20 . First and second legs  12 ,  14  extend from opposite ends of base  10 . First and second legs may be formed as an integral part of base  10  or may be mounted on base  10  by a suitable means. Alternatively, one of the first and second legs  12 ,  14  may be formed as an integral part of base  10 , while the other of the first and second legs  12 ,  14  may be mounted on base  10 . Base  10  defines a channel  18  in outer surface  20  of base  10 . Channel  18  may be shaped, being essentially flat ( 19 ) proximate second leg  14  and convexly curved ( 21 ) proximate first leg  12 .  
         [0023]    First and second feet  22 ,  24  extend from the ends of first and second legs  12 ,  14 . Feet  22 ,  24  may be manufactured from any resilient material such as rubber. First foot  22  may be glued onto the end of first leg  22  or may be received within a recess (FIG. 7) at the end of first leg  22 . First foot  22  may also be attached with a suitable connector such as a screw, a nail etc.  
         [0024]    Second leg  14  defines a longitudinal bore  26  through which a threaded or partially threaded shaft  28  is inserted. Shaft  28  has stopper  30  at one end and second foot  24  at the other end. Shaft  28  may be loosely received within longitudinal bore  26 . Stopper  30  prevents shaft  28  from being completely withdrawn from bore  26 . Second foot  24  is mounted on nut  32  so that foot  24  has a firm base. Second foot  24  is preferably a resilient pad which is shaped so as to enable it to more fully engage curved side  6  of drum  8 . A knurled adjuster nut  34  is disposed between nut  32  and inner end  36  of second leg  14 . When adjuster nut  34  abuts inner end  36  of second leg  14 , rotation of adjuster nut  34  causes second foot  24  to be moved toward or away from upper end  36 . Adjuster nut  34  engages threads  35  on shaft  28 . Shaft  28 , nut  32  and adjuster nut  34  are preferably made from a suitable metal.  
         [0025]    Base  10  further includes an accessory holder  37  for receiving and holding an accessory  90 . Base  10  defines an aperture  38  that receives a portion of holder  37 . A shock pin  40  inserted in aperture  38 . Aperture  38  is disposed in an area of base  10  adjacent first leg  12 . Shock pin  40  includes a shaft  42  having a first end  44 , a second end  46  and an area of greater diameter  48  proximate its middle. First end  44  of shaft  42  is externally threaded and second end  46  includes pin bore  50 . Shaft  42  is surrounded by a resilient shock absorber  52 . Pin  40  and absorber  52  are secured together at first end  46  of shaft  44  with a washer  54  and a connector  56  that prevents shaft  42  from moving upwardly with respect to connector  56 . Pin  40  and absorber  52  are frictionally held within aperture  38 .  
         [0026]    A mount tube  82 , being internally threaded on one end  84  and externally threaded on the other end  86 , may be screwed onto end  44  of shock pin  40 . An internally threaded jam nut  88  is used to secure accessory  90  (such as a microphone) onto tube  82 .  
         [0027]    Shock pin  40  and mount tube  82  are shown as two separate components, but may be formed as a single unit without departing from the scope of this invention. Both shock pin  40  and mount tube  82  may be made from metal, plastic, wood or other suitable material.  
         [0028]    A slot  58  is provided in the inner surface  16  of base  10 , intermediate first and second legs  12 ,  14 . Slot  58  opens into channel  18 . A portion of latching member  60  for securing device  2  to drum lug  4  is received within slot  58 . Latching member  60  may be any suitable mechanism which engages and secures base  10  to lug  4 . In the drawings, latching member  60  includes a shaft  62  that has a hole  64  proximate one end. Hole  64  is normal to the longitudinal axis of shaft  62  and is adapted to receive a roll pin  66  therethrough. The other end of shaft  62  includes a hook  68  which extends between first and second legs  12 ,  14  when shaft  62  is received within slot  58 . Hook  68  may be configured with the curved end as shown in the drawings, or hook  68  may include a T-shaped end or a L-shaped end.  
         [0029]    Latching member  60  includes a lever  70  which is at least partially disposed within channel  18 . Lever  70  may be substantially “L” shaped having a first longer arm  72  and a second shorter arm  74 . Lever  70  includes a hole  76  which is adapted to align with hole  64  of latching member  60 . Lever  70  is secured to latching member  60  by roll pin  66  being inserted through hole  64  and hole  76 . Latching member  60  is prevented from being withdrawn from slot  58  by lever  70  and hook  68 . Shaft  62  of latching member  60  is loosely held within slot  58  so that hook  68  may be manipulated to engage drum lug  4 . Shaft  62  may be moved within slot  58  so that hook  68  is moved away from or drawn closer to the inner surface  16 . Additionally, shaft  62  can be rotated within slot  58  so that hook  58  opens either toward first leg  12  or second leg  14 . This allows the user to select in which direction they wish to capture drum lug  4 . Shorter arm  74  of lever  70  may engage the curved portion of channel  18  to lock lever  70  in the closed position as will be further described.  
         [0030]    While latching member  60  has been described above as including shaft  62 , hook  68  lever  70 , any other suitable lug engaging latching member  60  may be used. For example, a flexible cord (not shown) may be looped around lug  4 , drawn through slot  58  and secured by a clamp (not shown) that creates enough tension in the cord to hold base  10  on drum  8 . The clamp may be a nut and threaded rod combination that allows the user to vary the tensile force in the cord. In another embodiment, shaft  62  may have a threaded portion that receives a nut. Rotation of the nut against body  10  would create a tensile force in shaft  62  to hold body  10  in place. Various other tension-creating devices and arrangements may be used to hold body  10  onto drum  8 .  
         [0031]    Referring to FIGS.  7  to  10 , the device of the present invention is used in the following manner.  
         [0032]    Base  10  is brought into close proximity to side  6  of drum  8 . First foot  22  is placed against side  6  and hook  68  is moved behind drum lug  4  by manipulating lever  70  (FIG. 7). The user then rotates adjuster nut  34  to move second foot  24  into contact with side  6  as shown in FIG. 8. Longer arm  72  of lever  70  is rotated toward second leg  14  in the manner shown in FIG. 9. This draws hook  68  into contact with drum lug  4 . The user continues to rotate longer arm  72  until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 10 where lever  70  locks in a first position. Continued rotation of longer arm  72  until edge  78  contacts outer surface  80  of second leg  14  is possible. This movement brings shorter arm  74  into contact with the curved surface of channel  18  and also draws hook  68  further down toward the inner surface  16  of base  10 . When edge  78  contacts outer surface  80 , lever  70  is locked in a second position. This second position may be required in certain situations where drum lug  4  is not securely gripped when latching member  60  is in the position shown in FIG. 10. Care must be taken not to grip drum lug  4  too tightly as this may cause damage to the drum  8 . Microphone  90  is then secured to mount tube  82  by screwing jam nut  88  into place to grip it. In the situation where shaft  62  is rotated so that hook  68  opens toward second leg  14 , lever  70  is rotated in an opposite direction to that shown in FIGS. 7 through 10. Lever  70  is rotated by the user&#39;s finger (not shown).  
         [0033]    When hook  68  is fully engaged with drum lug  4  and is locked into position as shown in FIG. 10, the opposing action of second foot  24  engaging side  6  by virtue of shaft  28  being held in place by adjuster nut  34 , serves to urge base  10  into engagement with side  6  of drum  8 . This securely holds the device in place against side  6  of the drum  8  and provides a firm and secure footing for an accessory.  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS. 7 through 10, when microphone  90  is to be detached from drum  8 , jam nut  88  is loosened and microphone  90  is removed. If the user so desires, microphone  90  may be left attached to mount tube  82  and mount tube  82  is simply unscrewed from shock pin  40 . The user then rotates lever  70  in an opposite direction to that shown in FIGS. 10 and 9. As lever  70  rotates, hook  68  disengages from drum lug  4 . The user then moves second leg  14  off side  6  in such a manner that hook  68  clears drum lug  4 . First leg  12  is then pulled away from side  6  and the device may be stored for future use.  
         [0035]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
         [0036]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.