Abstract:
A snare drum assembly is provided which enables the snare drum element to be positioned internally of a drum. In the preferred embodiment, the snare mechanism acts against the top drum head of a drum, and permits the drum manufacturer to eliminate the lower drum head and related structure, greatly simplifying drum construction and cost.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     U.S. Provision Patent Application No. 60/133,764 filed May 12, 1999, from which priority is claimed. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to snare drums, and in particular, to a device for positioning snare mechanisms internally of a drum which permits adjustment of both the tension on and the position of a snare assembly with respect to a drum head through a single adjustment device positioned externally of the drum. 
     Snare drums are used frequently in marching bands. These drums produce a unique sound due to the snare mechanism. The snares commonly are located externally of the drum, generally being positioned on the bottom of the drum against the lower drum head. Even when the snare mechanism is positioned internally of the drum, however, the conventional construction employed for these drums has left unsolved a number of problems associated with their construction. 
     For younger and older musicians in a marching band, for example, the snare drum can become heavy, especially after being carried over a long parade route. The largest part of the weight comes from the top and bottom head assembly and the snare mechanism. Also, the externally mounted snare mechanisms are subject to damage and detuning. Tuning of the snares is complex and presently performed prior to use. To obtain optimum sound quality, a snare tension adjustment and a head pressure adjustment are required. None of these adjustments are easy to accomplish in normal circumstances. They become more problematical if attempted during a parade, for example. 
     Several inventions have sought to improve the sound quality of snare drums by using various devices for snare mechanism attachment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,157 to Kasha describes a method for fine-tuning of the snares such that a portion of the snares can be adjusted without affecting the remaining snares. The mechanism was attached externally to the bottom of the drum where the mechanism is subject to get damaged. Also, single adjustment screws located on the mechanism do not allow for in use adjustment. The U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,081 to Freer, describes a mechanism using individual adjusting screws to solve tuning problems. This mechanism utilizes multiple adjustment screws to provide for the fine-tuning of the snares. 
     Other snare drum mechanism inventions have been made to improve the sound quality of the snare drums, however, none of the prior art of which we are aware has addressed the problem of reducing the weight of a snare drum by simplifying the mechanism and/or allowing removal of some drum parts. An additional benefit of the weight reduction with our invention is a potential cost saving in total snare drum costs. 
     Furthermore, the prior art does not disclose a method for attaching the snare mechanism internally of the drum structure where it may act on and in conjunction with the upper drum head and/or the lower drum head. The structure of our invention permits a manufacturer to eliminate the lower portion of the drum to reduce the weight and cost of the drum itself. Additionally, even when employed with convention drum constructions, the invention disclosed hereinafter employs a novel structure which permits tension and pressure adjustments of the snare mechanism simply and easily at any time, in manner substantially simpler than possible with prior art designs. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One important object of the present invention is to provide a simplified snare mechanism enabling a manufacturer to reduce substantially the overall weight of a snare drum. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a method and structure permitting the internal attachment of snare assembly for a drum. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an external tension adjustment on one side of a snare drum and a combined tension and height adjustment on the other side of the drum. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a snare mechanism which allows simultaneous adjustment of the height and tension applied to a snare assembly. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide an easy adjustment mechanism that can be operated while the drum is in use. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a snare mechanism construction that allows a manufacturer the choice of installing the snare mechanism on either the top or the bottom head of a drum. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a built in tone damper with a head over snare mechanism located on either the top or bottom of the drum. 
     In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a snare mechanism is provided for internal attachment of the snare mechanism to a drum structure. In the preferred embodiment, the drum includes a single upper drum head and the snare mechanism is adapted to operate in conjunction with the upper head. Drum construction is simplified, because the lower drum head and related structure is eliminated, resulting in significant reduction in cost and weight for the drum. 
     In another embodiment, the snare drum mechanism is positioned internally of the drum structure, but may be positioned to operate in conjunction of either the upper or the lower drum head. In either embodiment, the snare tensioning mechanism is designed so as to pivot into and out of a desired condition and/or position with respect to the associated drum head. 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the following disclosure and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in sections and partly broken away of a snare drum with a bottom mounted snare mechanism assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in. section of the preferred embodiment of the invention, shows a snare drum with a top mounted snare mechanism assembly according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a snare mechanism assembly according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section of an improved tensioning mechanism employed with the snare mechanism of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what we presently believe is the best mode of carrying out the invention. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, reference numeral  10  indicates a snare drum employing one illustrative embodiment of snare mechanism  80  of the present invention. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the drum  10  is conventional, and includes a shell  24 , a top hoop  16 , a bottom hoop  22 , a top drum head  12 , and a bottom drum head  14 . A set of tension rods  20  extend through and between the top drum hoop  16  and the bottom hoop  22 . The tension rods  20  are held in position be a series of lugs  18 . The lugs  18  are attached to the drum  10  along the top and bottom drum hoops  16  and  22  respectively, so as to apply tension on the drum heads  12  and  14  in a conventional manner. 
     The drum  10  also has the snare mechanism  80  associated with it. The mechanism  80  is attached to the drum shell  24 , in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, by attaching angles  72  which are in turn attached to the drum shell  24  by conventional threaded fasteners or screws  74 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other fastener methods and/or other attachment means are compatible with the broader aspects of this invention. 
     The snare mechanism  80  includes a tensioning knob  70 , a tensioner push nut  44 , a tensioner arm  38 , a lifter tensioner handle  68 , a lifter tensioner push nut  40 , a lifter tensioner  34 , an idler block  52 , a lifter push nut  42 , a lifter  36  and a wire snare assembly  26 , all described in greater detail below. These particular elements are associated with a snare housing or support structure  32 . 
     As may be observed in FIG. 1, the mechanism  80  is designed to work in conjunction with the bottom drum head  14 , and as shown, is positioned within the volume defined by the shell  24 . This is an important feature of our invention in that the mechanism  80  may be positioned for operation in conjunction with either the top or the bottom drum head, and the internal mounting acts to protect the mechanism  80 , and particularly the wire snare assembly  26  from damage. 
     As thus described, those skilled in the art will recognize that the snare mechanism  80  of the present invention works well with the drum head  14  embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and offers substantial advantages over prior art designs known to us. In addition, we have found, that the mechanism  80  of the present invention can be utilized to reduce the weight of a snare drum substantially. 
     Application of the mechanism  80  in such a reduced weight embodiment is shown in FIG.  2 . As there shown, a snare drum  10   a  includes the aforementioned shell  24 , the top hoop  16 , and the top drum head  12 . The tensioning rods  20  again pass through the top drum hoop  16 , but in the embodiment of FIG. 2, engage and are fastened to the shell  24  along a rim  19 . The lugs  18  and tensioning rods  20  apply tension to the top drum head  12  in a conventional manner. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, however, the snare mechanism  80  is adapted to work in conjunction with the top drum head  12 , so that the entire lower portion of the snare drum  10   a  is eliminated. This is a particularly useful weight saving feature that we have found does not perceptively effect the sound performance of the drum  10   a , and permits a manufacturer not only reduce the weight of the drum, but also to reduce the cost of the drum substantially. 
     Again, the mechanism  80  is attached to the drum shell  24  with attaching angles  72  and threaded fasteners  74 . With each of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the snare mechanism is mounted internally of the shell  24 . As indicated above, this arrangement protects the mechanism  80  against damage during drum use. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the mechanism  80  is shown in an exploded view. As there shown, the mechanism  80  has a tension end  150  and an adjustment end  151 . The ends  150 ,  151  interact with one another to provide proper snare operation of the drum  10   a . The tension end  150  is designed to maintain a predetermined tension on the wire snare assembly  26 , while the end  151  is designed to adjust the position of the snare assembly  26  with respect to the drum head with which the mechanism  80  is operatively associated, and to provide a precision tension adjustment of the snare assembly  26  during operational use. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the tensioning knob  70  is attached to a tensioner threaded rod  48 . The rod  48  is threadedly engaged with and through the tensioner push nut  44  and passes through an mounting idler block  50 . The rod  48  is held in position by a lock nut  54 . The mounting idler block  50  servers a number of purposes. The block  50  on the end  150  of the mechanism  80  threadedly receives attaching screws  64  which pass through the snare housing  32 , the mounting idler block  50  and through the angle  72 , in turn permitting attachment of the mechanism  80  to the shell  24 . 
     The tensioner  38  also is positioned on the end  150 . The tensioner  38  has a body  80  having a first end  100  and a second end  102 . The second end  102  has a channel  103  formed in it, which permits passage of the rod  48 . The pusher nut  44  abuts the tensioner  38  along the end  102  of the tensioner. The tensioner  38  is attached to the snare housing  32  by threaded fasteners  56 . The fasteners  56  permit the tensioner  38  to pivot about them and to rotate with respect to the housing  32 , as later described. The second end  100  of the tensioner  38  has an angled tab  58  form in it, which extends outwardly upwardly from it, reference to FIG. 3, for purposes later described in greater detail. 
     The lifter  36  has a body  82  having a first end  84  and a second end  86 . End  86  has a channel  104  formed in it, which permits the passage of the rod  46  in applicational use. The end  86  of the lifter  36  is attached to the snare housing  32  by a pair of the pivot screws or fasteners  56 . The fasteners  56  permit the lifter  36  to pivot about them and to rotate with respect to the housing  32 , as latter described. The end  84  of the lifter  36  has a pair of adjusting elements  60  mount to it, which in the embodiment illustrated are large headed threaded fasteners or screws held in position with respect to the lifter  36  by lock nuts  62 . 
     A lifter pusher nut  42  is mounted on the rod  46  and is position to abut the end  86  of the lifter  36  during operation of the mechanism  80 . As will be appreciated by those skill in the art, the components of the mechanism  80  along each of the ends  150  and  151  are similar to one another, and like part may be substituted for one another during assembly of the mechanism  80 . 
     The idler block  52  functions to provide support for the rod  46  over the length of the housing  32 . The idler block  52  is maintained in position with respect to the housing  32  by threaded fasteners  66  which pass through the housing  32  and are threadly engaged with the block  52 . 
     As indicated above, the end  151  of the mechanism  80  has a lifter tensioner  34  associated with it. As best seen in FIG. 3, the lifter tensioner  34  is substantially similar to the lifter  36 , and like reference numerals are used to indicate like components. A detailed description of the lifter tensioner  34  is not repeated for brevity&#39;s sake. However, the lifter tensioner  34  performs both a tension function and a lifting function, combining both functions in a single element. Again, the lifter tensioner  34  is attached to the snare housing  32  by pivot screws  56 , permitting the lifter tensioner  34  to rotate about the screws  56  and pivot with respect to the housing  32 . Adjusting screws  60  also are threaded into the lifter tensioner  34  and locked into place with adjusting screw lock nuts  62 . 
     Wire snare assembly  26  includes a number of helical wires that are attached at each of their ends to a snare plate  30 . Each snare plate  30  includes a snare assembly receptacle  28 . The wire snare assembly  26  is attached to the tensioner  38  at one end, by passing the snare assembly receptacle  28  over the angle tab  58 . The opposite end of the wire assembly  26  is attached to the lifter tensioner  34  by passing the snare assembly receptacle  28  over the angle tab  58  of the lifter tensioner  34 . 
     The handle  68  is attached to the rod  46  at the end  151  of the mechanism  80 . The end  151  of the rod  46  passes through the mounting idler block  50 , and is threadedly engaged with the lifter tensioner pusher nut  40  and the locking nut  54 . The lifter tensioner pusher nut  40  on the end  151  of the mechanism engages the end  86  of the lifter tensioner  34  during operation of the mechanism  80 . The handle end of the rod  46  also passes through a second mounting idler block  50  and the rod  46  is secured to the handle  68  by any convenient method. 
     As with the opposite end of the mechanism  80 , mounting screws  64  pass through the housing  32 , are threadedly received by mounting idler block  50 , and pass through the attaching angle  72 , to which they are secured with threaded fasteners  78 . 
     Snare housing  32 , in the embodiment illustrated, is a channel shaped member sized to fit functionally with the particular drum with which it finds application. The width of the channel of the housing is not critical, the width being chosen to provide stability to the parts being attached to it. Other designs for the housing  32  will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     In utilizing the snare assembly  80  with the drum  10  or  10   a , the assembly is inserted through two slots cut at opposite sides into the drum shell  24 , and attached to the drum shell  24  through the attaching angles  72 . Each end of the wire assembly  26  is attached to the angle tab  58  through the snare assembly receptacle  28 . The end  150  of the mechanism  80  is adjusted to permit attachment of the snare assembly  26  to the respective tensioner elements. The end  150  also allows for course adjustment of the desired tension by turning the tensioner knob  70 , which is connected to the tensioner threaded rod  48  passing through the end  150  mounting idler block  50 . The idler block  50  is locked into place with the locking nut  54 , allowing the tensioner rod  48  to spin freely in the mounting idler block  50 . 
     The mounting idler block  50  attaching screws  64  passed through the snare housing  32  and thread into the mounting idler block  50 , making it stationary. The tensioner push nut  44  is attached to the tensioner threaded rod  48 , and rotation of the tensioner nut  70  causes the tensioner push nut  44  to push against the end  102  of the tensioner  38 , in turn causing the tensioner  38  to pivot on or about pivot screws  56 . This motion itself allows a wide range of tension adjustment on the wire snare assembly  26 . 
     The end  151  of the wire snare assembly  26  is attached to the angle tab  58  on the lifter tensioner  34  along its respective snare assembly receptacle  28 . The lifter tensioner handle  68  is connected to the lifter tensioner threaded rod  46 . The rod  46  passes through the end  151  mounting idler block  50 . The mounting idler block  50  is locked into position by locking nut  54 , allowing the lifter tensioner threaded rod  46  to spin freely in the mounting idler block  50 . 
     The pusher nut  40  on the end  151  is positioned to abut the end  86  of the lifter tensioner  34 . When the lifter tension handle  68  is turned, the lifter tension push nut  40  and the lifter push nut  42  push against the lifter tensioner  34  and the lifter  36  at the same time. As the pusher nuts bear on the lifter tensioner  34  and lifter  36 , they pivot on or about the pivot screw  56 , raising the adjusting screws  60  against the snare assembly plate  30 , which in turn pushes the wire snare assembly  26  against the bottom drum head  14  (FIG. 1) or the top drum head  12 , (FIG.  2 ). As the lifter tensioner  34  pivots upwardly, it also pivots away from the tensioner  38 , producing a fine tension adjustment. In addition, the adjusting screws  60 , which are mounted into the lifter tensioner  34  and lifter  36 , can be adjusted to insure equal points of contact for the snare assembly  26  when engaged against the bottom head  14  (FIG. 1) or the top drum head  16  (FIG.  2 ). After the last mentioned adjustment, the adjusting screws  60  are then locked into place with adjusting screw lock nuts  62 . As will be appreciated, rotation of the handle  68  in the opposite direction causes the wire snare assembly  26  to move in a direction away from its associated the drum head. 
     An alternative embodiment for course tensioning of the snare assembly  26  is shown in FIG.  4 . As there shown, the rod  48  has the push nut  44  threadedly mounted to it, and the nut  44  is positioned against the tensioner  38 . A spring  110  is biased between the push nut  44  and the mounting idler block  50 . The spring  110  exerts a spring force against the end  102  of the tensioner  38 . The force exerted on the tensioner  38  may be adjusted through the tension nut  70 , but in operational use, the tension on the tensioner  38  is maintained automatically under the force of the spring  110 . That force is altered through the operation of the handle  68 . As the handle  68  is rotated to lift the snare assembly  26  into operational position with its associated drum head, the end  102  of the tensioner  38  compresses the spring  110 , which exerts a greater spring force on tensioner  38 , thereby increasing the tension on the snare assembly  26 . Rotation of the handle in the opposite direction has the opposite effect on the snare assembly  26 . This action occurs automatically with a single adjustment of the handle  68 . 
     Numerous variations, within the scope of the appended claims, will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Merely by way of example, while conventional threaded fasteners were described as being utilized in conjunction with the various aspects of the invention, other fastening means may be employed, if desired. Likewise, the design silhouette of various components described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment may vary in other embodiments of this invention. For example, the design of the housing  32 , the push nuts and the adjusting screws  60  all may vary in other embodiment of the invention, either individually or in various combinations. Other designs for attaching the mechanism  80  to the drum shell  24  may be used. Likewise, other convention drum components may be utilized with our invention. These variations are merely illustrative.