Abstract:
A drum muting system is provided to be removably mounted on a drum which muffles the natural sound produced by the drum, thereby allowing the tone of the drum to be controlled. The drum muting system includes an outer frame, a muting element, an inner muting assembly, a drum mounting structure, and an adjustment mechanism. The outer frame supportably engages the inner muting assembly which includes the muting element and a muting element support member. The inner muting assembly is maintained in an operative position relative to the outer frame by a suspension assembly which includes at least one but preferably a plurality of biasing elements secured to the outer frame and inner muting assembly by biasing element anchors. The adjustment mechanism permits the muting element to be selectively positioned relative to the outer surface of the drum head to permit an increase or decrease in the muting effect achieved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is directed to a drum muting system which is mounted directly to a drum such that a muting element is maintained in direct contact with the outer surface of the drum head. The drum muting system provides a variable degree of muting which is obtained by selectively positioning the muting element relative to the outer surface of the drum head. The drum muting element muffles the natural sound produced by a drum when it is struck, thereby allowing the tone produced by the drum to be controlled. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A standard drum set typically includes at least one bass drum. The bass drum is usually the largest drum in the set and also the drum producing the lowest pitched sound, thus its name. Other drums normally present in a standard drum set include a snare drum, and an assortment of tom tom drums which may either be mounted above the bass drum, or floor mounted adjacent the other drums. With the exception of the snare drum, the basic difference between these various drums is the diameter and length of their bodies. 
     Typically, bass drums have a drum head covering each open end of the drum body. Each head is attached by a hoop or rim which secures the drum head to the body. The rim typically includes a variety of ‘tuning keys’ which allow a drummer to adjust how tightly the drum head is stretched across the open end of the drum to adjust the pitch produced by the drum when it is struck. The rear head of a bass drum is typically struck with a mallet-like assembly attached to a foot pedal, which causes the front head to vibrate, thus producing the sound that is heard. 
     Often times, however, a drummer may desire to alter other acoustic characteristics of a particular drum, perhaps due to the acoustics of the performance hall or recording studio, to compensate for the type of drum, or to achieve a unique tone. One common alteration is the reduction in both the amplitude and duration of the vibration of the front head of a bass drum in attempts to eliminate the ‘boominess’ normally associated with such drums, also known as dampening or muting. The dampening or muting of a drum effectively muffles the natural sound produced by the drum, thereby allowing the tone to be controlled. In some cases, it may be desirable to mute one or more of the tom toms as well. 
     There are several devices which have been employed in an attempt to mute a standard bass drum. One of the earliest being any one of a number of light weight materials which are placed directly inside the bass drum. The materials utilized for this purpose typically contain a significant amount of air in the interstitial spaces, such as pillows, loosely placed towels, foam rubber, and even thermal insulation material. While the placement of these materials inside of the body of the drum mute the sound to an extent, there is also a subsequent reduction in the quality of the acoustics of the drum as a result of the placement of foreign materials inside the body. Each drum is acoustically designed based on a specific diameter and height combination, which necessarily correspond to a specific internal to volume, and the placement of foreign material inside of the drum alters the internal volume, thus altering the internal acoustic characteristics of the drum, typically, in a negative manner. 
     In an attempt to avoid the pitfalls encountered by placing foreign material inside the body of a drum, several devices have been developed which are designed to be attached to the inner surface of the drum head to mute the drum. One device used for this purpose includes one or more flat strips of felt-like material, usually several inches wide, stretched taunt across one or, both heads of the drum. The material is usually stretched across the entire diameter of the drum head, however, placement of the material across less than the entire diameter is used to provide a lesser degree of dampening or muting. However, this device does not permit easy adjustment of the degree of muting over a continuous range. This is because both the amount of material placed over the drum head and the area of the drum head covered must be adjusted to change the degree of muting, and the amount of material is dependent on the width, thickness, and pieces of material used. In addition, this device requires at least partial removal and replacement of the drum head or heads, and it is, therefore, time consuming to make an adjustment. Because of all of the various factors that effect the degree of muting achieved, extensive trial and error may be required to arrive at the desired effect, which as noted above, may be very time consuming. 
     To provide more versatility in the adjustment of the muting effect, devices have been, once again, placed inside the body of the drum which include a muting element in contact with the inside of the drum head. However, as noted above, the placement of foreign material inside the body of the drum affects the internal acoustic characteristics of the drum, and is not generally desired. More significantly, placement of the device against the inside surface of the drum head permits the disassociation of the muting element from the drum head as it vibrates outward and away from the device. Thus, an inconsistent and perhaps intermittent degree of muting results depending on whether the drum is struck with greater or lesser force. 
     Therefore, a clear need exists for a drum muting system that is externally mounted so as not to interfere with the internal acoustic characteristics of a drum. 
     Additionally, a need exists for a drum muting system which provides a simple and easy means for adjusting the degree of muting over a continuous range. 
     There is further a need for a drum muting system that provides a consistent degree of muting regardless of the amount of force with which the drum is struck. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a drum muting system mounted on the outside of a standard drum which permits a drummer to adjust the degree of muting of the bass or other drum. Muting a drum effectively muffles the natural sound produced by the drum when it is struck, therefore, muting allows the tone of the drum to be variably controlled. In particular, the drum muting system includes a muting assembly having a muting element structured to alter the natural sound produced by the drum. The muting assembly includes an outer frame which supportably engages an inner muting assembly. The inner muting assembly includes a muting element. The inner muting assembly may also include a muting element frame and/or a support member. A drum mounting structure is provided to removably mount the system to most standard drums. 
     The muting assembly further includes a suspension assembly having at least one but preferably a plurality of biasing elements. The suspension assembly is structured and disposed to maintain the inner muting assembly in an operative position relative to the outer frame. The suspension assembly is further disposed to attenuate the movement of the inner muting assembly, which also results in the attenuation of movement of the drum head when the muting element is in operative engagement with the drum. The operative engagement of the muting element is defined when the muting element is oriented and maintained in substantially direct contact with the outer surface of the drum head as the drum head vibrates, such that the muting element is essentially tracking the oscillation of the drum head. Therefore, when the muting element is in operative engagement, it will at least partially absorb the vibration from the drum head when the drum is struck. Thus, vibrational energy is initially transferred from the drum head to the muting element from which it is transferred to and attenuated by the biasing elements of the suspension mechanism. 
     The present invention also includes an adjustment mechanism structured to adjust the effect of the muting assembly on the drum. As noted above, the muting element is structured to be in substantially direct contact with the outer surface of the drum head when oriented in operative engagement. The adjustment mechanism is utilized to force the muting element into operative engagement with the drum head and maintain it in operative engagement while the drum head vibrates. The greater the force applied to hold the muting element in operative engagement, the greater the muting effect observed, while the application of less force results in less of a muting effect. Thus, by permitting control over the amount of force applied to the muting element to maintain it in operative engagement with the drum head, the adjustment mechanism allows the degree of muting to be controlled. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum muting system which is completely externally mounted so as not to interfere with the internal acoustic characteristics of the drum. Further, the present invention includes an adjustment assembly which allows the degree of muting to be simply and easily adjusted over a continuous range. Additionally, the adjustment assembly of the present invention in combination with the suspension assembly provides for a consistent and continuous degree of muting regardless of the amount of force with which the drum is struck by maintaining the muting element in substantially direct contact with the outer surface of the drum head as the vibration is attenuated. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more clear when the drawings as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of one preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 along  2 — 2  thereof, oriented for minimal muting effect. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 along  3 — 3  thereof. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of another embodiment of the present invention illustrating an alternate configuration of the muting element. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 along  4 — 4  thereof, illustrating the muting element in operative engagement with the drum head. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 along  4 — 4  thereof, illustrating the inner muting assembly in an unstressed operative position. 
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the accompanying Figures, the present invention is directed to a drum muting system  10  for a drum as generally illustrated in FIG.  1 . The drum muting system  10  includes a muting assembly  20  having an inner muting assembly  30 , as generally shown in FIG.  1 . Additionally, the drum muting system  10  includes a drum mounting structure  40  and an adjustment mechanism  50 , as generally illustrated in FIG.  2 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of these components are externally mounted to a rim of a drum. 
     Looking to the muting assembly  20  it includes the inner muting assembly  30  supportably engaged by an outer frame  22 . The inner muting assembly  30  further comprises at least a muting element  32 . The muting element  32  may be constructed of a homogenous resilient material, or it may include both a muting portion  38  and a base portion  39 , as illustrated in FIG.  3 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the muting portion  38  is comprised of highly resilient latex foam rubber, although other materials including, but not limited to, other types of resilient synthetic foam, felt like materials, etc. may also be utilized. In embodiments including a base portion  39 , it is constructed from material which is less resilient than the muting portion  38 , such that the muting portion  38  gives or compresses under pressure before the base portion  39 . By way of example only, the base portion  39  may be comprised of denser foam rubber, natural rubber, pliable plastic, etc. 
     Further, in a preferred embodiment, the inner muting assembly  30  includes a support member  36  as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The support member  36  is preferably composed of substantially rigid material, for example, plastic, metal, wood, or other material of sufficient rigidity so as to maintain the interface  37  of the support member  36  and the muting element  32  in a substantially planar orientation. However, an alternate embodiment of the present invention may include a support member  36  composed of a flexible material, and another alternate embodiment includes no support member. In the preferred embodiment, the support member  36  essentially prevents the muting element  32  from being displaced, rather than compressed, when the muting element  32  is in operative engagement with the drum head as discussed below. The support member  36  is preferably sized so as to at least substantially cover the surface of the muting element  32  directly opposite the surface which contacts the drum head, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     In one embodiment, the inner muting assembly  30  includes a muting element frame  34 , onto which the muting element  32 , or base portion  39  thereof, is mounted. The muting element frame  34  is constructed of a rigid material, including but not limited to, for example, plastic, metal, wood, or other material of sufficient rigidity. FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of support member  36 ′, in which the support member  36 ′ is sized so as to substantially cover the surface of the muting element frame  34  opposite the surface facing the drum head. This embodiment provides additional support for the muting element  32 ′ by affixing the support member  36 ′ to the rear of the muting element frame  34 , by any standard mechanical fastening means such as screws, bolts, rivets, welds, solder, adhesive, etc. The embodiment of FIG. 4 also illustrates an alternate form of the muting element  32 ′ which comprises a dual rounded peak configuration and includes a muting portion  38 ′ and a base portion  39 ′. This configuration of the muting element  32 ′, as well as the single triangular peak configuration as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, are presented by way of example only, as there are numerous geometric configurations which may be utilized in the present invention to define the surface of the muting element  32  which contacts the drum head, including a plurality of rounded or triangular peaks, diagonally oriented peaks, crisscrossing peak patterns, or a planar surface, just to name a few. In-an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the muting element  32  may include one or more apertures formed between the surface which contacts the drum head and the opposing surface. 
     As previously noted, the inner muting assembly  30  is supportably engaged by the outer frame  22 . The present invention further includes a suspension assembly, generally shown as  60  in FIG. 1, which provides the means for the inner muting assembly  30  to be supportably engaged. The suspension assembly  60  comprises at least one, but preferably a plurality of biasing elements  62 . The biasing elements  62  may include any of the elements known in the art including elastic bands, elastomeric chords, springs, and/or other material which will allow the displacement of the inner muting assembly  30  as illustrated in FIG. 5 when the muting element  32  is oriented in operative engagement with the drum. Additionally, the suspension assembly  60  must be capable of returning the inner muting assembly  30  to an unstressed operative position relative to the outer frame  22 , as illustrated in FIG.  6 . 
     Each biasing element  62  is attached at opposing ends to each one of a corresponding pair of biasing element anchors  64 . Each pair of anchors  64  includes both a first anchor and a second anchor, wherein each first and second anchor is secured to a different one of the outer frame  22  and the inner muting assembly  30 . In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1,  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 , at least one of each pair of biasing anchors  64  is secured directly to the muting element frame  34 . However, the biasing anchors  64  may alternatively be attached directly to the support member  36  or muting element  32 . 
     In addition to providing support for the inner muting assembly  30 , the suspension assembly  60  attenuates the vibrational energy transferred from the drum head to the muting element  32 , when the muting element  32  is oriented in operative engagement with the drum head. The operative engagement of the muting element  32  with the drum head is defined when the muting element  32  is positioned and maintained in substantially direct contact with the outer surface of the drum head as the drum head vibrates, such that the muting element  32  is essentially tracking the oscillation of the drum head. Additionally, the substantially direct contact is maintained independent of the amplitude of the vibration of the drum head, which varies with the amount of force with which the drum is struck. When in operative engagement, the muting element  32  will at least partially absorb vibrational energy from the drum head, which is then transferred from the inner muting assembly  30  to the suspension assembly  60 , where it is attenuated. The attenuation of the vibrational energy from the drum head occurs while the muting element  32  is maintained in substantially direct contact with the drum head. The attenuation by the suspension assembly  60  results in the attenuation of the vibrational movement of the inner muting assembly  30 , to which the muting element  32  is mounted, and as a result of the substantially direct contact between the muting element  32  and the drum head, the vibration is of the drum head is also attenuated, thereby producing the desired muting effect. 
     The suspension assembly  60  is structured such that greater force is required to displace the biasing elements  62  from their unstressed operative position, than is required to compress the muting element  32 . As a result, only a relatively small force is required to maintain the muting element  32  in substantially direct contact with the outer drum head. As the drum is struck, the outer surface of the drum head vibrates outwardly and the additional force further compresses the muting element  32 , while the suspension assembly  60  retains the inner muting assembly  30  in substantially the same position relative to the outer frame  22 . 
     The drum muting system  10  further includes a drum mounting structure  40  having a drum mounting bracket  42  and at least one drum mounting fastener  44 , which in a preferred embodiment is a threaded bolt which engages a threaded aperture through the drum mounting bracket  42 . The drum mounting bracket  42  is structured to include a generally U-shaped channel which will fit over the outer rim of most standard drums, as illustrated in FIG.  2 . After the drum mounting bracket  42  is positioned over the outer rim of the drum, the drum mounting fastener  44  is tightened down until the outer rim is secured between the drum mounting bracket  42  and the drum mounting fastener  44 . 
     The present invention also includes an adjustment mechanism  50 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The adjustment mechanism  50  includes an adjustment bracket  52  and an adjustment key  56 . The adjustment bracket  52  is secured to the outer frame  22  by at least one adjustment mechanism fastener  54  which may include screws, bolts, rivets, etc. In an alternate embodiment, the adjustment mechanism bracket  52  may be secured to the outer frame  22  by adhesive, solder or weld, or it may be fabricated as an integral component of the outer frame  22 . 
     The adjustment mechanism bracket  52  is structured to slidingly engage the drum mounting bracket  42 , as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The adjustment bracket  52  may be quickly, easily and selectively positioned, thus selectively positioning the muting element  32 , by sliding the adjustment bracket  52  along a guide channel secured to the drum mounting bracket  42 . The adjustment bracket  52  is locked into the position selected by the adjustment key  56 , which in a preferred embodiment includes a threaded bolt which engages a lock nut secured to the drum mounting bracket  42 . The adjustment key  56  is tightened down until the adjustment bracket  52  is secured in place between the adjustment key  56  and the drum mounting bracket  42 , as illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     The adjustment mechanism  50  permits the selective positioning of the muting element  32  in relation to the outer surface of the drum head by applying greater or lesser force to maintain the muting element in operative engagement with the drum head. The muting element  32  may be positioned closer to the drum head by applying greater force, as illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the muting element  32  is significantly compressed even while the drum head is not vibrating. This orientation of the muting element  32  provides a greater degree of muting effect when the drum is struck. Alternatively, the muting element  32  may be positioned such that it makes less contact with the drum head by applying less force and, therefore, it is minimally compressed while the drum head is not vibrating, as illustrated in FIG.  6 . This orientation of the muting element  32  provides a lesser degree of muting effect when the drum is struck. 
     Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
     Now that the invention has been described,