Abstract:
An aspect of the present invention is a drum kit. The drum kit includes a base portion, at least one connecter arm capable of being coupled to the base portion and A plurality of drum pad portions capable of being coupled to the at least one connecter arm wherein each of the plurality of drum pad portion includes a sound reducing material.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to musical instruments and more particularly to a drum kit.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Drummers typically find themselves in situations where they would like to warm up or practice in a location where loud noises are objectionable. For example, it is going to be problematic for a drummer living in an apartment complex or a dormitory to practice with a normal drum set due to the loud noise. Another illustration would be a group of students in a school music class where several students are taking drum lessons at the same time. In such cases, it would be desirable for the drummer to practice without making loud drum sounds.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, what is needed drumming system that addresses the above outlined issues The drumming system should be simple, inexpensive and capable of being easily adapted to existing technology. The present invention addresses this need.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     An aspect of the present invention is a drum kit. The drum kit includes a base portion, at least one connecter arm capable of being coupled to the base portion and A plurality of drum pad portions capable of being coupled to the at least one connecter arm wherein each of the plurality of drum pad portion includes a sound reducing material.  
         [0005]     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The drawings referenced herein form a part of the specification. Features shown in the drawing are meant as illustrative of only some embodiments of the invention, and not of all embodiments of the invention, unless otherwise explicitly indicated, and implications to the contrary are otherwise not to be made.  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows an assembled drum kit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a more detailed illustration of the base portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention  
         [0009]      FIG. 3   FIG. 3  is a more detailed illustration of the connector arm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a more detailed illustration of a drum pad portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a more detailed illustration of another drum pad portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     The present invention includes a drum kit. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.  
         [0013]     The present invention comprises a drum kit. In an embodiment, the drum kit is designed to be fully adjustable and incorporates sound reducing elements. Accordingly, a drummer can practice her craft in locations where loud noises are objectionable (apartments, dormitories, etc.).  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an assembled drum kit  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The drum kit  100  includes a base portion  110 , two connector arms  120 ,  130  and a plurality of drum pad portions  140 - 190 . The connector arms  120 ,  130  are coupled to the base portion  110  and the plurality of drum pad portions  140 - 190  are coupled to the connector arms  120 ,  130 .  
         [0015]     In an embodiment, the base portion  110 , the two connector arms  120 ,  130  and the plurality of drum pad portions  140 - 190  are comprised of a wood material. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that a variety of different materials could be utilized while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a more detailed illustration of the base portion  110 . The base portion  110  includes a bottom piece  111  coupled to a central piece  114 . The base portion  110  also includes bottom stabilizing elements  112 ,  116  and top stabilizing elements  113 ,  115 . In an embodiment, both the bottom stabilizing elements  112 ,  116  and the top stabilizing elements  113 ,  115  are coupled to the central piece  114  via securing bolts  115 . However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize the stabilizing elements  112 ,  113 ,  115 ,  116  could be coupled to the central piece  114  via a strong adhesive or any of a variety of other means while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a more detailed illustration of the connector arm  120 . It should be understood that the described connector arm  120  is similar to the connector arm  130 . The connector arm  120  includes a slit  121 . The slit  121  allows the connector arm  120  to be connected to either one of the top stabilizing elements  113 ,  115  (See  FIG. 2 ) via a removable bolt (not shown) or similar adjustable connection means. Accordingly, the connector arm  120  can be slidably adjusted based on the physical characteristics of the user by removing the bolt, slidably adjusting the connector arm  120  and re-attaching the bolt.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a more detailed illustration of the drum pad portion  140 . It should be understood that the described drum pad portion  140  is similar to the drum pad portions  150 - 170 . The drum pad portion  140  includes a first piece  141  and a second piece  144  wherein the first and second pieces  141 ,  144  respectively include slits  142 ,  145 . The first and second pieces  141 ,  144  are coupled together via a removable bolt  143 . Accordingly, the first and second pieces  141 ,  144  are capable of being slidably adjusted via the slits  142 ,  145  by loosening the bolt  143  and slidably adjusting the first and second pieces  141 ,  144 .  
         [0019]     The drum pad portion  140  further includes a support element  146  and a sound reducing element  147  wherein the support element  146  is coupled to the second piece  144  and the sound reducing element  147  is coupled to the support element  146 . The sound reducing element  147  is a soft, pad-like material that when struck by a drum stick, generates a low (under 3 decibel) sound. In an embodiment, the soft, pad-like material is gum rubber or the like. The drum pad portion  140  is capable of being slidably coupled to either one of the connector arms  120 ,  130  (see  FIG. 1 ) via a mounting bolt  148 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a more detailed illustration of the drum pad portion  180 . It should be understood that the described drum pad portion  180  is similar to the drum pad portion  190 . These drum pad portions can be referred to as central drum pad portion. Central drum pad portion  180  includes a slit  181 , a support element  182  and a soft, pad like sound reducing element  183 . The support element  182  is coupled via a removable securing bolt (not shown) and the sound reducing element  183  is coupled to the support element  182  via an adhesive or other suitable means. The slit  181  allows the central drum pad portion  180  to be slidably connected to either one of the connector arms  120 ,  130  (see  FIG. 1 ) via a mounting bolt (not shown). Additionally, the slit  181  allows the support element  182  to be slidably adjusted by a user thereby increasing the flexibility of the drum kit.  
         [0021]     A drum kit is disclosed. In an embodiment, the drum kit is designed to be fully adjustable and incorporates sound reducing elements. Accordingly, a drummer can practice her craft in locations where loud noises are objectionable (apartments, dormitories, etc.). Additionally, since the drum kit includes detachable pieces, the drum kit can be easily disassembled and stored away for later use.  
         [0022]     Without further analysis, the foregoing so fully reveals the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. Therefore, such applications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the following claims. Although this invention has been described in terms of certain embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of this invention, as defined in the claims that follow.