Abstract:
A drumming system includes a percussion instrument; an inserting/retracting coupled to the percussion instrument for moving the first percussion instrument to a desired position with respect to a second percussion instrument; the inserting/retracting mechanism including a motor, an input device for receiving an operation instruction and generating an operation signal based on the operation instruction, a feedback mechanism for obtaining position information of the first percussion instrument and generating a feedback signal representative of the position information, and a controller electrically coupled to the input device, the motor, and the feedback mechanism for actuating the motor based on the operation signal and the feedback signal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to percussion instruments, and particularly to a system for inserting and retracting percussion instruments. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Percussion sets have been developed that produce a large variety of different sounds. Percussion sets may include, for example, drums, cymbals, bells, cowbells, hi-hats, tambourines, wood blocks, etc. Even among drums a large variety of different drums exists such as, for example, kettle drums, steel drums, bongo drums, tom-toms, bass drums, tenor drums, snare drums, etc. To add to the abundance of sounds produced by these different percussion instruments, different techniques (e.g., rim shots, etc.) for striking or beating these percussion instruments have been developed to obtain different sounds from any one instrument. 
     Conventionally, however, percussion instruments were located relative to the player (i.e., the percussionist) at fixed positions. Since the instruments take space, there was a limit in the amount of instruments that may form part of any one percussion set. Moreover, the fixed locations of each of the instruments limited the number of sounds that the percussion set could produce. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention disclosed herein provides a system for inserting and retracting percussion instruments from a percussion set. Using the systems disclosed herein players are able to produce broader ranges of sounds and rhythms because different arrangements of percussion instruments may be available to the percussionist as the percussionist is playing that otherwise would not be available. 
     Moreover, an arrangement may be set where, for example, drum beats occur from striking a first drum downwardly and a second drum, that has been inserted above the first drum by use of the systems disclosed herein, upwardly. This way, the percussionist may double the amount of resulting drum beats; i.e., the conventional beats from the downward strikes plus the beats that result from the upward strikes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example systems, methods, and so on, that illustrate various example embodiments of aspects of the invention. It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. An element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary insertable percussion system in the retracted position. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a top perspective view of the exemplary insertable percussion system of  FIG. 1  in the inserted position.  FIG. 2B  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the exemplary insertable percussion system of  FIG. 1  in the inserted position. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary first arm of the insertable percussion system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary second arm of the insertable percussion system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of an exemplary pedal for the insertable percussion system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary pedal for the insertable percussion system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of the exemplary pedal for the insertable percussion system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a magnified view of the exemplary pedal for the insertable percussion system of  FIG. 1  illustrating a latching mechanism. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary insertion/extraction mechanism. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a top view of the exemplary insertion/extraction mechanism of  FIG. 9  in the extracted position. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a top view of the exemplary insertion/extraction mechanism of  FIG. 9  in the inserted position. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective top view of an exemplary insertable percussion system in the retracted position. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a perspective top view of the exemplary insertable percussion system of  FIG. 12  in the inserted position. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a side view of the exemplary insertable percussion system of  FIG. 12  in the inserted position. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a side view of the exemplary insertable percussion system of  FIG. 12  in the retracted position set at an angle different from horizontal. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an enlarged view of the exemplary insertable percussion system of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary insertable percussion system of  FIG. 12  forming part of a drum or percussion set. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B  illustrate perspective views of an exemplary insertable percussion system  1 . The system  1  includes a percussion instrument  3 . In the illustrated embodiment, the percussion instrument  3  corresponds to a drum. In other embodiments, the percussion instrument  3  may correspond to percussion instruments different from a drum. The insertable percussion system  1  also includes a stand  5  that has a base or feet  5   a  for sustaining the stand  5  off a floor F. The stand  5  generally sustains the percussion instrument  3  vertically off the floor F. 
     The insertable percussion system  1  also includes an inserting/retracting mechanism  7  connected to the percussion instrument  3  and the stand  5 . The system  1  also includes a pedal  9  disposed on the floor F at or near the base  5   a  of the stand  5 . The stand  5  vertically separates the percussion instrument  3  and the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  from the pedal  9 . The insertable percussion system  1  also includes a cable  11  that connects the pedal  9  to the inserting/retracting mechanism  7 . Operation (i.e., pressing and releasing) of the pedal  9  up or down causes the pedal  9  to pull and release on the cable  11  which, in turn, causes the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  to move the percussion instrument  3  substantially horizontally. 
     Pressing down on the pedal  9  causes the pedal  9  to pull on the cable  11  which, in turn, causes the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  to move the percussion instrument  3  substantially horizontally from a retracted position as shown in  FIG. 1  to an inserted position as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Releasing up on the pedal  9  causes the pedal  9  to release on the cable  11  which, in turn, causes the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  to move the percussion instrument  3  substantially horizontally from the inserted position shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  back to the retracted position of  FIG. 1 . 
     In one embodiment, the insertable percussion system  1  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B  forms part of a drum or percussion set. In the percussion set, the percussion instrument  3  may be inserted by operation of the pedal  9  as described above to make the percussion instrument  3  temporarily available to the percussionist to play. The percussion instrument  3 , for example, may be inserted above another instrument  103  in the percussion set to make the percussion instrument  3  available to the percussionist for playing instead of the other instrument  103 . Whenever the percussionist is ready to return to playing the other instrument  103 , the percussionist may remove or retract the percussion instrument  3  by operation of the pedal  9  to make the other instrument available for the percussionist to play. 
     In one embodiment, the insertable percussion system  1  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B  forms part of a drum or percussion set including another percussion instrument  103  intended to be played by being hit with a downstroke or downward motion of a beater or a drum stick  60 , as shown in  FIG. 2A . In this embodiment, the percussion instrument  3  may be intended to be played by being hit with an upstroke or upward motion of the beater or the drum stick  60 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . In this setting, the percussion instrument  3  may be inserted above the downstroke percussion instrument  103  to make the percussion instrument  3  available to the percussionist for playing in the upstroke in combination with the downstroke percussion instrument  103 . By operation of the pedal  9 , the percussion instrument  3  may be moved horizontally into the inserted position above the downstroke percussion instrument  103 . 
     In another embodiment, the roles are reversed; i.e., the percussion instrument  3  may be intended to be played by being hit with a downstroke or downward motion of the beater or the drum stick and the percussion instrument  3  is inserted under or below an upstroke percussion instrument. 
     The percussionist may strike the downstroke percussion instrument  103  in the downstroke motion and the upstroke percussion instrument in the proceeding (i.e., immediately after) upstroke motion. This way, the percussionist may double the amount of resulting drum beats; i.e., the conventional beats from the downward strikes plus the beats that result from the upward strikes of the percussion instrument  3 . Whenever the percussionist is ready to conclude playing in this upstroke/downstroke mode, the percussionist may remove or retract the percussion instrument  3  by operation of the pedal  9 . 
     In the upstroke/downstroke embodiment above, the inserted position of the insertable percussion system  1  may correspond to a position where a majority of a playing surface of the upstroke drum (e.g., the skin of the percussion instrument  3 ) faces or vertically overlaps a majority of a playing surface of the downstroke drum  103 . The retracted position of the insertable percussion system  1 , on the other hand, may correspond to a position where the majority of the playing surface of the upstroke drum (e.g., the skin of the percussion instrument  3 ) does not face or does not vertically overlap the majority of the playing surface of the downstroke drum  103 . In the illustrated embodiment, the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  includes a first arm  13  and a second arm  15 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary first arm  13 . The first arm  13  includes a percussion instrument end  13   a  that operably and rotably connects to the percussion instrument  3  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The first arm  13  also includes a joint end  13   b  that is distal the percussion instrument  3 . The joint end  13   b  operably and rotably connects to the second arm  15 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary second arm  15 . The second arm  15  includes a stand end  15   a  that operably and rotably connects to the stand  5 . The second arm  15  also includes a joint end  15   b  that is distal to the stand  5  and that operably and rotably connects to the joint end  13   b  of the first arm  13 . The second arm  15  may also include a pull position  15   c  at which the second arm  15  may be operably connected to the cable  11 . 
     Pulling of the cable  11  by operation of the pedal  9  causes the second arm  15  to rotate about the stand end  15   a  and the joint end  15   b , and the first arm  13  to rotate about the joint end  13   b  and the percussion instrument end  13   a  to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  causing the percussion instrument  3  to move horizontally away from the stand  5  to the inserted position. 
     Releasing of the cable  11  by operation of the pedal  9  causes the second arm  15  to, in opposite direction as in the inserting, rotate about the stand end  15   a  and the joint end  15   b , and the first arm  13  to rotate about the joint end  13   b  and the percussion instrument end  13   a  to effectively contract the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  causing the percussion instrument  3  to move horizontally towards the stand  5  to the retracted position. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the insertable percussion system  1  includes two first arms  13  each having a percussion instrument end  13   a  proximate the percussion instrument  3  and a joint end  13   b  distal the percussion instrument  3 . In this embodiment, the insertable percussion system  1  also includes two second arms  15 , each having a stand end  15   a  proximate the stand  5  and a joint end  15   b  distal the stand  5 . In this embodiment, each of the joint ends  13   b  of the first arms is rotably connected to a respective one of the joint ends  15   b  of the second arm, and each of the first arms  13  is rotable about its percussion instrument end  13   a  and about its joint end  13   b , and each of the second arms  15  is rotable about its stand end  15   a  and about its joint end  15   b  to stretch or contract the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  into the inserted position or the retracted position. 
     In one embodiment (not shown), the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  includes a spring configured in the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  to bias the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  towards retraction (i.e., in the retracted position). In this embodiment, pulling of the cable  11  by operation of the pedal  9  defeats tension force in the spring extending the spring and causing the second arm  15  to rotate about the stand end  15   a  and the joint end  15   b , and the first arm  13  to rotate about the joint end  13   b  and the percussion instrument end  13   a  to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  causing the percussion instrument  3  to move horizontally away from the stand  5  to the inserted position. Releasing of the cable  11  by operation of the pedal  9  allows tension force in the extended spring to retract the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  into the retracted position such that the percussion instrument  3  is moved horizontally towards the stand  5 . 
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate front, perspective and side views, respectively, of an exemplary pedal  9  for the insertable percussion system  1 . The pedal  9  may include a foot platform  17  rotably connected to a base  19  at a rotating location  19   a . The foot platform  17  receives a foot or shoe of the person playing the insertable percussion system  1 . The pedal  9  may also include a rising portion  21  that may have installed therein a rod  23  and cable wheels  25  and  27  that rotate about the rod  23 . The cable wheel  27  is connected to the foot platform  17  by a cable  29 . The cable wheel  25  connects to the cable  11  which, as described above, connects to the inserting/retracting mechanism  7 . 
     Pressing of the foot or shoe of the person playing the insertable percussion system  1  causes the foot platform  17  to rotate about the rotating location  19   a . This rotation pulls on the cable  29  which causes the rod  23  and the cable wheel  25  to also rotate effectively pulling on the cable  11  and stretching the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  into the inserted position. 
     Releasing of the foot or shoe of the person playing the insertable percussion system  1  causes the foot platform  17  to rotate, in the opposite direction as insertion, about the rotating location  19   a . This opposite rotation releases the cable  29  which causes the rod  23  and the cable wheel  25  to also rotate effectively releasing on the cable  11  and retracting the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  into the retracted position. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a magnified view of the exemplary pedal  9 . Specifically,  FIG. 8  illustrates a locking or latching mechanism of the foot platform  17  while pressed. While pressed, the player or percussionist may move the foot platform  17  laterally or sideways to engage a latching tab  31  connected to the foot platform  17  to a latching bracket  33  connected to the rising portion  21 . This effectively latches the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  in the inserted position. 
     When the player or percussionist desires to retract the percussion instrument  3  to the retracted position, the player or percussionist may move the foot platform  17  laterally or sideways in the opposite direction as engagement to disengage the latching tab  31  from the latching bracket  33 . The player or percussionist may then release his foot or shoe from the foot platform  17  to retract the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  into the retracted position. 
       FIGS. 9-11  illustrate a second embodiment of the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  for the insertable percussion system  1 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  includes the first arm  13  and a second arm  15 , which are similar to the first arm  13  and the second arm  15  of the first embodiment except that, in this second embodiment, the first arm  13  and the second arm  15  crisscross resulting in insertion and retraction of the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  to have a scissoring effect. 
     The first arm  13  includes a percussion instrument end  13   a  that operably and rotably connects to the percussion instrument  3 . In the illustrated embodiment, the exemplary insertable percussion system  1  includes a slide bracket  35  that operably and rotably connects the percussion instrument end  13   a  to the percussion instrument  3 . The first arm  13  also includes a joint end  13   b  that is distal the percussion instrument  3 . The joint end  13   b  operably and rotably connects to the second arm  15 . 
     The second arm  15  includes a stand end  15   a  that operably and rotably connects to the stand  5 . In the illustrated embodiment, the exemplary insertable percussion system  1  includes a slide bracket  37  that operably and rotably connects the stand end  15   a  to the stand  5 . The stand end  15   a  of the second arm  15  may be connected to the cable  11 . The second arm  15  also includes a joint end  15   b  that is distal to the stand  5  and that operably and rotably connects to the joint end  13   b  of the first arm  13 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 9-11 , the insertable percussion system  1  includes two first arms  13  each having a percussion instrument end  13   a  proximate the percussion instrument  3 , a joint end  13   b  distal the percussion instrument  3 , and a joint position  13   c . In this embodiment, the insertable percussion system  1  also includes two second arms  15 , each having a stand end  15   a  proximate the stand  5 , a joint end  15   b  distal the stand  5 , and a joint position  15   c . In this embodiment, each of the joint ends  13   b  of the first arms  13  is rotably connected to a respective one of the joint ends  15   b  of the second arm, each of the joint positions  13   c  of the first arm  13  is operably and rotably connected to the joint position  13   c  of the other first arm  13 , and each of the joint positions  15   c  of the second arm  15  is operably and rotably connected to the joint position  15   c  of the other first arm  15 . Each of the first arms  13  is rotable about its percussion instrument end  13   a , about its joint end  13   b , and about its joint position  13   c . Each of the second arms  15  is rotable about its stand end  15   a , about its joint end  15   b , and about its joint position  15   c  to stretch or contract the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  into the inserted position or the retracted position. 
     Pulling of the cable  11  by operation of the pedal  9  causes the second arm  15  to rotate about the stand end  15   a , the joint end  15   b , and the joint position  15   c . This causes the first arm  13  to rotate about the joint end  13   b , about the percussion instrument end  13   a , and about the joint position  13   c  to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  causing the percussion instrument  3  to move horizontally away from the stand  5  to the inserted position. 
     Releasing of the cable  11  by operation of the pedal  9  causes the second arm  15  to, in opposite direction as in the inserting, rotate about the stand end  15   a , the joint end  15   b , and the joint position  15   c . This causes the first arm  13  to rotate about the joint end  13   b , the percussion instrument end  13   a , and the joint position  13   c  to effectively contract the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  causing the percussion instrument  3  to move horizontally towards the stand  5  to the retracted position. 
     In one embodiment (not shown), the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  includes a spring configured in the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  to bias the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  towards retraction (i.e., in the retracted position). In this embodiment, pulling of the cable  11  by operation of the pedal  9  defeats tension force in the spring extending the spring and causing the second arm  15  to rotate about the stand end  15   a , the joint end  15   b , and the joint position  15   c . This causes the first arm  13  to rotate about the joint end  13   b , the percussion instrument end  13   a , and the joint position  13   c  to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  causing the percussion instrument  3  to move horizontally away from the stand  5  to the inserted position. Releasing of the cable  11  by operation of the pedal  9  allows tension force in the extended spring to retract the inserting/retracting mechanism  7  into the retracted position such that the percussion instrument  3  is moved horizontally towards the stand  5 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective top view of an exemplary insertable percussion system  100  in the retracted position.  FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate perspective top and side views of the exemplary insertable percussion system  100  in the inserted position. The system  100  may include the percussion instrument  3 , an inserting/retracting mechanism  105 , and a stand  113 . 
     The inserting/retracting mechanism  105  may include a base  110 , a first arm  121  and a second arm  123 . The base  110  operably couples the first arm  121  and the second arm  123  to the stand  113 . The first and second arms  121  and  123  have percussion instrument ends  121   a  and  123   a , proximate the percussion instrument  3  and free end  121   b  and  123   b  distal the percussion instrument  3 . The percussion instrument ends  121   a  and  123   a  may be coupled to a holding element  115 , e.g., a U-shaped metal or plastic rod, which attaches to the side surface of the percussion instrument  3 . The holding element  115  couples the percussion instrument  3  to the inserting/retracting mechanism  105 . The first and second arms  121  and  123  may slide through the bushing elements  117   a - d  of the base  110  in the directions shown by the arrow A. 
     The inserting/retracting mechanism  105  may include an input device  125 , a motor  127 , a gear mechanism  131 , and a feedback mechanism  133 . 
     The input device  125  may include one or more switching elements (e.g., touch pads)  125   a  and  125   b , for receiving an operation instruction and generating an operation signal to activate the inserting/retracting mechanism  105 . For example, a hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switching element  125   a  may correspond to an instruction to insert the percussion instrument  3  while a hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switching element  125   b  may correspond to an instruction to retract the percussion instrument  3 . In another example, a first hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switching element  125   a  may correspond to an instruction to insert the percussion instrument  3  while a second hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switching element  125   a  may correspond to an instruction to retract the percussion instrument  3 . In yet another example, the input device may be disposed near the floor  F  such that it may receive an operation instruction in the form of a user/player pressing the one or more switching elements with her foot. 
     The inserting/retracting mechanism  105  may also include a controller  137 . The controller  137  may receive the operation signal from the input device  125  and determine the current position of the percussion instrument  3  by use of the feedback mechanism  133 . 
     The feedback mechanism  133  may include Hall-effect sensors  133   a  and  133   b  disposed on the base  110  and a permanent magnet  133   c  disposed on the first arm  121 . The feedback mechanism  133  determines the position of the first arm  121  along its travel relative to the base  110  and, thus, the position of the percussion instrument  3 . For example, when the permanent magnet  133   c  is aligned with the Hall sensor  133   b , the percussion instrument  3  may be at or in proximity, e.g., 5-10 cm, to the retracted position. See  FIG. 1 . On the other hand, when the permanent magnet  133   c  is aligned with the Hall sensor  133   a , the percussion instrument  3  may be at or in proximity, e.g., 5-10 cm, to the inserted position. See  FIG. 2 . The sensors  133   a  and  133   b  generate feedback signals corresponding to whether the percussion instrument  3  is in the inserted position, the retracted position, or somewhere in between. The controller  137  generates a command signal based on the operation signal and the feedback signal. For example, if the percussion instrument  3  is at the inserted or retracted position, the controller  137  may stop the motor  127 . If, instead, the percussion instrument  3  is merely in proximity to the inserted or retracted position as detected by the feedback mechanism  133 , the controller  137  may cause the motor  127  to slow down and eventually stop when the percussion instrument  3  reaches the inserted or retracted position. 
     The controller  137  may be a microcontroller PIC 12F683 manufactured by Microchip Technology Inc. of Independence, Ohio. However, the controller  137  may include any type of controller sufficient for receiving and generating the above-described signals. The Hall-effect sensors  133   a  and  133   b  may be micro-power ultra-sensitive Hall-effect switches manufactured by Allegro MicroSystems, LLC of Worcester, Massachusetts. However, the Hall-effect sensors  133   a  and  133   b  may be any other type of Hall-effective sensors sufficient for detecting the permanent magnet  131   c  and generating the above-described signals. Indeed, the feedback mechanism  133  may include any other type of sensors suitable for detecting relevant position information. 
     The stand  113  supports and sustains the percussion instrument  3  and the inserting/retracting mechanism  105  vertically off the floor F. The stand  113  may include a fixing element  113   a  that couples to the inserting/retracting mechanism  105 . The stand  113  may also include a joint  113   b , a base  113   c , and a latch  113   d . The joint  113   b  may allow for the inserting/retracting mechanism  105  and the percussion instrument  3  to be adjusted and set at an angle different from horizontal and for collapsing the system  100  for storage. See  FIG. 15 . Thus, the inserting/retracting mechanism  105  may insert and retract the percussion instrument  3  along an axis different from horizontal. The stand  113  may also be telescopic for height adjustment. The latch  113   d  may be used to secure the height of the stand  113 . 
     The gear mechanism  131  may include a rack  131   a  and a pinion  131   b . A shaft (not shown) of the motor  127  may be operably coupled to the pinion  131   b  of the gear mechanism  131  so as to actuate the pinion  131   b  to turn in a direction to cause a linear actuation of the rack  131   a  in the directions shown by the arrow A. The motor  127  receives the command signal and actuates the gear mechanism  131 . The rack  131   a  is fixedly coupled to the first arm  121  (or the second arm  123 ) of the inserting/retracting mechanism  105  so that the first arm  121  may slide through the bushings  117   b  and  117   c  as the rack  131   a  pushes or pulls the percussion instrument  3 . The second arm  123  moves in unison with the first arm  121 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an enlarged view of the base  110 , the gear mechanism  131 , and the stand  113  with the percussion instrument  3  in the retracted position. The shaft (not shown) of the motor  127  may be operably coupled to the pinion  131   b  so that the pinion  131   b  rotates to cause the rack  131   a  to linearly actuate. For example, the controller may cause the motor  127  to rotate in a direction to actuate the pinion  131   b  to rotate counter-clockwise as shown by the arrow B. The pinion  131   b  then causes the rack  131   a  to actuate linearly as shown by the arrow C. As the rack  131   a  moves, the first and second arms  121  and  123  slide in the same direction, moving the percussion instrument  3  from the retracted position to the inserted position. Reverse operation of the motor  127  actuates the gear mechanism  131  in the opposite direction moving the percussion instrument  3  from the inserted position back to the retracted position. 
       FIG. 17  illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary insertable percussion system  100  of  FIG. 12 , forming part of a drum or percussion set. In the percussion set, the percussion instrument  3  may be inserted by operation of the motor  127  as described above to make the percussion instrument  3  temporarily available to the percussionist to play. The percussion instrument  3 , for example, may be inserted above a second percussion instrument  103  in the percussion set to make the percussion instrument  3  available to the percussionist in addition to the second percussion instrument  103 . The inserted position corresponds to a position where a majority of a playing surface of the first percussion instrument  3  faces or vertically overlaps a majority of a playing surface of the second percussion instrument  103 . Such a percussion set reduces the playing space, increases variety in sounds played, and thus, increases the enjoyment of play and or listening to performance of the percussion set. As another example, the second percussion instrument  103  may be replaced with another type of instrument. Whenever the percussionist selects to play the other instrument alone, the percussionist may remove or retract the percussion instrument  3  by operation of the motor  127  to make the other instrument available for the percussionist to play. 
     The term “percussion instrument” as used herein refers to musical instruments in which sound is generally obtained by striking the instrument with hands, beaters, sticks, etc. and their electronic equivalents. Examples of percussion instruments include drums, cymbals, bells, cowbells, hi-hats, tambourines, wood blocks, kettle drums, steel drums, bongo drums, tom-toms, bass drums, tenor drums, snare drums, etc. The term “drum” as used herein corresponds to any type of percussion musical instrument having at least one stretched membrane to generate sound by acoustic vibration when the stretched membrane is struck or their electronic equivalent (e.g., electronic drum pad.) 
     While example systems, methods, and so on, have been illustrated by describing examples, and while the examples have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the systems, methods, and so on, described herein. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details, and illustrative examples shown or described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the preceding description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     To the extent that the terms “in” or “into” are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to additionally mean “on” or “onto.” Furthermore, to the extent the term “connect” is used in the specification or claims, it is intended to mean not only “directly connected to,” but also “indirectly connected to” such as connected through another component or components. An “operable connection,” or a connection by which entities are “operably connected,” is one by which the operably connected entities or the operable connection perform its intended purpose. For example, two entities may be operably connected to each other directly or through one or more intermediate entities. 
     To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is employed in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed in the detailed description or claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both”. When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (3D. Ed. 1995).