Abstract:
A system for spacing structural members of a drum head of a drum apart from the drum shell, thereby eliminating a source of distortion to the tonal qualities of the drum. One or more adapting brackets having a series of inner and outer holes are provided. The bracket is fastened to the lugs of the drum shell using the inner holes. An oversize drum head is substituted for the conventional drum head.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority benefit of Ser. No. 61/462,772, titled “Integrated Floating Drum Head Bracket”, filed Feb. 8, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to musical percussion instruments, and more particularly to drums wherein drum heads of diameter different from those of conventional relationship to the drum shell are accommodated. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Musical drums are percussion instruments wherein sound is generated by striking a tightly stretched web supported on an annular drum shell. Conventional drums comprise three significant components, including the annular shell, an upper drum head, and a lower drum head. The upper drum head provides a first tightly stretched web which contacts the drum shell and is anchored to the drum by structure which is just outside the drum shell. 
         [0004]    A drum is a musical instrument. Therefore, as with all musical instruments, sound qualities are important. Precise tonal qualities of the sound of a drum may be modified by the user to a limited degree by adjusting tension of the drum head relative to the shell. However, due to the way contemporary drums are constructed, sound qualities are slightly degraded by incidental contact between the shell and the drum head. There remains a need in the art to reduce degradation of sound qualities of drums arising from conventional construction of drums. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the above stated need by eliminating some of the incidental contact of the shell with other components of a conventional drum. This may be accomplished by providing an adapting bracket system which spaces the connective components associated with the drum head from the drum shell. One or more adapting brackets are fastened to conventional lugs provided as part of the shell. These lugs are conventionally used to receive tension keys which draw the hoop or rim of the drum head towards and away from the lugs. The closer the hoop is drawn toward the lugs, the greater the tension on the web of the drum head. 
         [0006]    In the present invention, the screw hole pattern which receives the tension keys is spaced radially away from the center line or axis of the annular drum shell. This requires that a new drum head of greater nominal diameter or size be provided. However, this substitution eliminates deleterious contact between the shell and the components associated with the drum head, thereby improving audible tones produced by playing the drum. 
         [0007]    Obtaining the new drum head is easily accommodated since drum heads are produced in many sizes, widely stocked in music retail outlets, and thus are readily commercially available. 
         [0008]    The new drum head may be subjected to conventional tension adjustment, only with the tension keys being threaded into the adapting bracket rather than into the lugs as is conventionally performed. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to improve the tonal qualities of drums by eliminating incidental contact between the shell and those components of the drum associated with the drum head. 
         [0010]    Another object of the invention is to minimize use of novel components and otherwise mitigate costs of converting standard drums into drums displaying improved tonal qualities. 
         [0011]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0012]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a simplified exploded perspective view of a drum. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a diagrammatic exploded top plan view of a drum shell and several novel adapting brackets. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic top plan view corresponding to  FIG. 1 , but showing the adapting brackets in the position they would assume when assembled to the drum shell. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective view of one of the adapting brackets seen in  FIG. 1 , drawn to enlarged scale. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternative form of an adapting bracket. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic detail side view of a drum fitted with the novel adapting brackets, shown partially in cross section, and drawn to enlarged scale. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic side detail view of a prior art drum, shown partially in cross section, and drawn to enlarged scale. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1A  shows an annular drum shell  10  of a musical drum (not shown in its entirety), which is seen to comprise an annular wall  12 , a first open end  14 , and an opposed second open end  16 . An axis  18  extends from the first open end  14  to the opposed second open end  16 , and is oriented concentrically within the annular wall  12 . A first drum head  44  and a second drum head  46  (shown only representatively, without realistic detail) may be provided with a skin or web  48  (shown only for the drum head  44 , it being understood that the drum head  46  may be of similar, mirror image construction) having functional characteristics of the first drum head, which may be dimensioned and configured to close the second open end  16  of the drum shell  10 , and may provide a second striking surface or a sound modifying surface, which is mountable to the shell  10 . 
         [0022]    To provide necessary acoustic qualities as a percussion instrument, the web  48  is dimensioned and configured to close the first open end  14  and to be drawn tightly into abutment with the annular drum shell  10 . An attachment hoop  50  engages the web  48  and establishes a rigid, circular perimetric anchorage for the web  48  which enables the web  48  to be drawn taut. 
         [0023]    Referring also to  FIG. 6 , a counterhoop  52  is provided to imposing force against the attachment hoop  50  to exert tension on the web  48 . The counterhoop  52  may comprise a structural body  54  forming a ring having an internal opening  56  greater in diameter than the exterior diameter (shown as arrow  58  in  FIG. 1A ) of the drum shell  10 . The counterhoop  52  bears openings spaced about the circumference of the counterhoop  52 . Each one of these openings (such as the opening  64  seen in  FIG. 6 ) is disposed to receive the shank of a fasteners such as the shank  60  of a tension key  62 . The openings pass the shanks of the fasteners in a direction parallel to the axis  18  of the annular drum  10 . The components listed thus far are present in conventional musical drums. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , which shows only the drum shell  10  from the conventional drum depicted in  FIG. 1A , a plurality of external lugs  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  are fixed to the shell  10 . Each one of the lugs  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28   30  has a threaded hole  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 , each of which is axially oriented parallel to the axis  18  of the drum shell  10 . The components listed thus far are present in conventional musical drums. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1B  shows novel adapting brackets  66 ,  68  which alter the geometry and nature of conventional drums to achieve improved acoustic performance. Turning momentarily to  FIG. 3 , the adapting bracket  68  is shown at greater scale and hence in greater detail than in  FIG. 1B . The adapting bracket  68  may comprise a body in the form of a plate  70  having sufficient thickness to impart sturdiness and a length, an inner lateral surface  72  which is concavely curved along the length of the adapting bracket  68  or which is otherwise configured to cooperate with the outer surface of the drum shell  10 , an opposed outer lateral surface  74 , a first end  76  disposed between the inner lateral surface  72  and the opposed outer lateral surface  74 , and a second end  78  disposed between the inner lateral surface  72  and the opposed outer lateral surface  74 , and which is located in opposition to the first end  76 . 
         [0026]    The plate  70  may comprise a first inner hole  80  located proximate the first end  76  and the inner lateral surface  72 , a second inner hole  82  located proximate the second end  78  and the inner lateral surface  72 , and a third inner hole  84  located proximate the inner lateral surface  72 , and between the first inner hole  80  and the second inner hole  82 . 
         [0027]    The plate  70  may have a first outer hole  86  located proximate the first end  76  and the outer lateral surface  74 , a second outer hole  88  located proximate the second end  78  and the outer lateral surface  74 , and a third outer hole  90  located proximate the outer lateral surface  84  and between the first outer hole  86  and the second outer hole  88 . 
         [0028]    The first inner hole  80 , the second inner hole  82 , and the third inner hole  84  are smooth walled and of greater diameter than the first outer hole  86 , the second outer hole  88 , and the third outer hole  88 . Moreover, the first outer hole  86 , the second outer hole  88 , and the third outer hole  88  comprise threading which matches the threading of the threaded holes  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  of the lugs  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 . The adapting bracket  66  may be similar to the adapting bracket  68 . 
         [0029]    Referring also to  FIG. 5 , the arrangement of the hole pattern of the adapting brackets  66 ,  68  assures that the inner holes such as the inner holes  80 ,  82 ,  84  will be axially aligned with the threaded holes  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  of the lugs  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  when the adapting brackets  66 ,  68  are installed to the drum shell  10 .  FIG. 1B  shows the drum shell  10  and the adapting brackets  66 ,  68  prior to installation. When installed, the adapting brackets  66 ,  68  are moved in the direction of the arrows A, and come to be positioned as seen in  FIG. 2 . The adapting brackets  66 ,  68  may then be fixed to the drum shell  10  by installing bolts or screws such as the screw  91  (see  FIG. 5 ), or alternatively, any other fastener element which may be disposed to fix the adapter bracket  68  to the external lugs such as the lug  20  of the drum shell  10  by engaging the original threaded holes such as the threaded hole  32  of the external lugs. 
         [0030]    This enables a drum head such as the drum head  44  to be placed over the drum shell  10  and secured thereto. However, the drum head selected for installation will be what may be regarded as an oversized drum head for the particular drum shell  10 . Drum heads are available in nominal diameters in increments of one inch within the nominal diameter range of six to forty inches, which sizes account for a great majority of drums in use toda. This situation is readily apparent when comparing  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The original drum head  44  ( FIG. 6 ) is replaced by a standard drum head  44 A ( FIG. 5 ) of the next greater nominal diameter.  FIG. 6  shows the prior art drum assembly, wherein it will be seen that the counterhoop  52  is coupled to the lug  20  by passing the tension key  62  through a hole  92  of the counterhoop  52  and threading the shaft  60  of the tension key  62  into the hole  32  of the lug  20 . Note that the attachment hoop  50  is in direct contact with the outer surface of the drum shell  10 . This contact adversely affects tonal qualities of the drum. 
         [0031]    However, and with reference to  FIG. 5 , with the hole pattern provided by the adapting brackets  66 ,  68 , the oversized drum head  44 A and the corresponding oversized counterhoop  52 A are shown installed on the original drum shell  10 . Displacement of the location of the tension keys such as the tension key  62  is indicated by arrow B, which represents the additional radial distance from the axis  106  of the threaded hole  32  to the axis  108  of the outer hole  90  of the adapting bracket  68 . 
         [0032]    The oversized attachment hoop  50 A of the oversized drum head  44 A is seen to be spaced away from the drum shell  10 , thus eliminating a major source of adverse influences on tonal qualities of the drum. 
         [0033]    It will be seen in  FIG. 5  that the inner holes of the adapting bracket  68 , such as the inner hole  84 , axially aligns with the threaded hole  32  of the lug  20 , thereby enabling the adapting bracket  68  to be mounted to the drum shell  10 . The adapting bracket  68  provides holes for receiving the threaded shank of the tension keys such as the tension key  62 , but at a greater radial distance from the axis  18  ( FIG. 2 ) of the drum shell  10 , thus accommodating the oversized replacement drum head  44 A. 
         [0034]    In summary, the arrangement of the hole pattern of the adapting brackets  66 ,  68  is such that when the inner holes such as the inner holes  80 ,  82 ,  84  are axially aligned with the threaded holes  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  of the lugs  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 , the outer holes such as the outer holes  86 ,  88 ,  90  are axially alignable with the openings such as the opening  92 A of the oversize counterhoop  52 A. The function of the adapting brackets  66 ,  68  is then to enable the openings of the oversize counterhoop  52 A to be located at radial distances from the axis  18  of the drum shell  10  which are greater than the radial distances of the threaded holes  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  of the lugs  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  38 ,  30  from the axis  18 . The superseding radial distances correspond to those of an oversize counterhoop such as the counterhoop  52 A. 
         [0035]    To perform their functions, each of the inner holes  80 ,  82 ,  84  of the adapting bracket  68  is smooth walled or otherwise configured to pass the shank of a tension key such as the tension key  62  in close cooperation therewith, while obstructing passage of the head of the tension key, and of greater diameter than the outer holes  86 ,  88 ,  90 , since they must pass the threaded shaft of the fastener such as the screw  91 . Each of the outer holes  86 ,  88 ,  90  of the adapting bracket  68  is threaded, and matches the dimensions and the threading of the threaded holes  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  of the lugs  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  38 ,  30 , so that the originally provided tension keys such as the tension key  62  may be reused. 
         [0036]    Adapting brackets such as the adapting brackets  66 ,  68  may be formed from any suitable strong and rigid material, such as steel, aluminum, or brass, or a suitable plastic such as a thermoplastic polycarbonate resin of the type sold as Lexan® for example. 
         [0037]    The invention may be thought of as a drum having an oversized drum head, as that concept has been described above, together with adapter brackets such as the adapter brackets  66 ,  68 , which enable attachment of the oversized drum head to the drum shell. In another aspect, the invention may be thought of as the adapter brackets such as the adapter brackets  66 ,  68  which enables an oversized drum head such as the oversized drum head  52 A to be operably fitted to a drum shell of a drum, such as the drum shell  10 . According to still another aspect, the invention may be thought of as a method of converting a conventional drum to an improved drum wherein the attachment hoop such as the attachment hoop  50 A is spaced apart from the drum shell such as the drum shell  10 . The method of converting a conventional drum to an improved drum may start with the step of providing a conventional drum shell such as the drum shell  10 , and removing the original standard size drum head if present. Another step is providing one or more adapter bracket which has attachment elements enabling the adapter bracket to be mounted to the lugs of the drum shell, and threaded holes located at radial distances from the axis of the drum shell which enable the tension keys to be threaded to the threaded holes of the adapter bracket when the adapter bracket is mounted to the lugs. This may be accomplished by providing the adapter brackets  66 ,  68  or functional substitutes therefore. A further step may be that of providing an oversized drum head and an oversized counterhoop having holes disposed to receive the tension keys. As mentioned prior, this may be accomplished by purchasing a standard drum head and counterhoop from ordinary retail outlets, where such items are readily available at reasonable cost. Another step may be that of installing the oversized drum head onto the drum shell. A further step may be that of securing the oversized drum head to the drum shell by installing the original tension keys in the oversize counterhoop and threading the tension keys to the threaded holes of the adapter bracket or functional substitute, such that the tension keys are located at a greater radial distance from the axis of the drum shell than the radial distance of the tension keys from the axis when the tension keys were mounted to the lugs of the drum shell. Web or skin tension may then be adjusted in conventional manner to produce desired acoustic characteristics. 
         [0038]    It should be noted that adapter brackets according to the principles of the present invention may take forms other than the adapter brackets  66 ,  68  described herein. For example, a single circular adapter bracket (not shown) having the appropriate hole characteristics may be provided. In other examples predicated on the drum shell  10 , three adapter brackets each having two inner holes and two outer holes could be provided. If desired, and referring to  FIG. 4 , adapter brackets such as an adapter bracket  96  could each be arranged to extend the effective radius of only one threaded hole of a lug such as the threaded hole  32 , thereby enabling an oversized drum head to be operably fitted to the drum shell  10 . The adapter bracket  96  may comprise a plate  98  having a length  100 , an inner hole  102  located at one end of the plate, and an outer hole  104  located at an opposite end of the plate  96  along the length of the plate  96 . The inner hole  104  is smooth walled and of greater diameter than the outer hole  102 . The outer hole  102  comprises threading matching the threading of a threaded hole of a lug of a musical drum, such as the threaded hole  32  of the lug  20  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0039]    It would also be possible to utilize an asymmetric arrangement of adapting brackets. The adapting brackets  66 ,  68  are seen as symmetrical in that each is essentially a mirror image of the other. The adapting bracket  66  has inner holes  110 ,  112 ,  114  and outer holes  116 ,  118 ,  120  which may be structural and functional equivalents of their similarly named counterparts of the adapting bracket  68 . 
         [0040]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.