Abstract:
The invention is a sound modification device used for a percussion instrument. It is comprised of a rigid clip that is spring-based to a closed position and an integrated dampening material, leather or plastic etc., that comes in contact with the vibrating surface. Once the clip is pulled apart it can be released to firmly attach over the hoop of any drum. The musician can choose the size or material of the dampening component to eliminate unwanted ring and or change the resonant note of the drum. The thickness of the dampening component can also be chosen by the drummer to increase or decrease the dampening characteristics.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is in the technical field of music. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of sound modification. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of a sound modification device for any percussion instrument. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0005]    1. Sound modification device for a percussion instrument
       United States Publication number U.S. Pat. No. 8,541,675 B2   Mathew Ephram Strickland Sep. 30, 2009       
 
         [0008]    2. Muting and muffling of drums
       United States Publication number U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,807   Robinson David F Nov. 29, 1982       
 
         [0011]    3. Dampening device for a percussion instrument
       United States Publication number U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,630 B2 US   Robert A. Gatzen Feb. 34, 2004       
 
         [0014]    4. Sound modification system
       United States Patent Application 20070056428   Kind Code A1       
 
         [0017]    May; James H. J R. Mar. 15, 2007 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The sound modification device for a percussion instrument will be referred to as an “expressive damper” for the purpose of this application. The expressive damper is an invention for modifying the sound made by a vibrating surface, or membrane, such as a drumhead used for creating music. This new damper is comprised of a rigid clip that is spring biased for securing the damper to the frame of a vibrating surface such as a drumhead, and a sound dampening component that loosely contacts said surface which allows for said dampening component to rest or lift in response to how soft or hard said surface is struck when played depending upon the dampening component chosen. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the expressive damper; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is the perspective view of just the rigid spring clip of the damper; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a close up perspective view of the magnet within said damper; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is the perspective view of the assembled damper attached to rim of drum; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the change in size of the damper via ferrous rivets; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a distant perspective view of the storing of expressive damper within the scope of a full sized drum; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the intentional lifting “gated” open and closed movement of the expressive damper; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is the perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the damper; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is the perspective close up of the spring-biased clip in a closed position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is the perspective close up of the spring-biased clip in an open position; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Referring now to the expressive damper in more detail in  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the damper according to one embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The damper  10  is shown having a list of parts: spring clip  12  flexible surface  14  magnet  16  rivets  18  the firmer flexible surface  20 . The present device will be described more with  FIGS. 1  thru  10 . 
         [0030]    In further detail, still referring to the expressive damper of  FIG. 1 ; The rigid clip  12  may be wood, stone, hard plastic, alloy, or any sufficiently durable surface, but most preferably spring steel. The rigid clip  12  could be wavey, flat, holed, angled, textured, or any combination of these, but most preferably a smooth surface. The flexible surface  14  could be cotton, synthetic leather, plastic, or any combination of soft fibrous materials, but most preferably leather. The flexible surface could be of any weight, size, color, or thickness that best creates desired dampening effect. 
         [0031]    The construction details of the damper as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         [0032]    The form of the rigid clip  12  may be any shape: oval, round, square, triangular, etc, but preferably rectangular in shape. The size of the rigid clip  12  could be, but is not limited to, 10 mm wide×30 mm long×0.30 mm thick. The flexible surface  14  could be constructed out of one or more pieces of leather or a combination of leather and metal or plastic or both. The leather could be attached to a ferrous material and be attracted to the integrated permanent magnet  16  in the said damper. The flexible surface  14  could be attached to the rigid clip  12  by glue, screws, or hook and loop or a rivet  18 . The flexible surface  14  could be at least one piece of leather and arranged in any way with the magnet  16  but preferably in the center of leather damper. 
         [0033]    Referring now to the clip in  FIG. 2 ; which shows the perspective view of the rigid clip  12 . The construction details of the damper as shown in  FIG. 2 ; The rigid clip  12  could be constructed in pieces but most preferably one firm thin piece with a springy quality. It can have holes  15  to accept rivets for attaching the dampening device and opening mechanism. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 ; of the damper  10  the magnet  16  is shown in the center within the leather dampers&#39; flexible surface  14 . The magnet  16  could be any shape or thickness that best with device. The magnet  16  could be glued, riveted, screwed, or adhered in any way to the flexible surface  14  but preferably riveted  18 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 ; Still referring to the damper  10  the length of the perimeter of the flexible surface  14  could be curved or straight but preferably curved in a way to conform to the inside shape of a standard snare drum rim  22 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 ; any portion of flexible surface  14  can include ferrous materials like rivets  18  to help removeably adhere portions of flexible surface  14  to magnet  16  thus changing the size of expressive damper  10 . Within the scope of the construction of this invention, in addition to magnet  16 , other on/off fasteners comprised of hook and loop, buttons, zippers and any other fasteners could be used to change the amount of flexible dampening component that comes into contact with the surface of the drumhead. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 ; shows the expressive damper  10  being stored above the rim  22  of vibrating surface of said drumhead  24  with use of clip  12  and magnet  16 . Further construction details show the thinner firmer flexible surface  20  attached to the main leather body and supporting the weight of the damper and magnet  16  held on by its rivet  18 . 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 ; is a perspective view of the intentional open and closed movement  26  of the flexible surface  14  of the expressive damper  10  vibrating up and away from surface of said drum  24 . The amount of lift of dampening component is dependent on the force produced by hitting said drumhead  24 , and the density and/or thickness of materials used in said flexible surface  14 . The construction details of damper  10  can be such that an adhered flexible surface  20  can be sized to give firmness under the damper  10 , preventing lift of the damper from the area to which it was added but extending lift to the lighter and more flexible parts of the damper. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 ; Still referring to the damper  10  this alternate damper  30  could have different embodiments. In this embodiment, the clip  12  is made from flexible hard plastic as well as the surface  14  which has creased areas  32  with different thickness to allow for movement when drumhead  24  is played. Plastic damper  14  will dampen drum when played quiet and lift off drumhead  24  slightly when played hard. The size of this plastic surface  14  can cover the full drum or part of the drum adding to the dampening properties even further. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 ; is the perspective close up of the spring-biased clip  12  in a closed position; the leather or plastic damper material  14  runs under the clip  12 . The leather damper material  14  is stamped with  2  holes as to accept the rivets  16  from under damper  14  for fastening to clip  12 . When opening the clip for installation, grooves  34  are used to spread open clip  12  enough to get damper material  14  with male rivets  16  into holes of clip  12 . Once clip  12  is open enough to accept dampening material, the top rivets are added and stamped closed. The instillation grooves  34  are no longer necessary and the opening of the clip  12  is now transferred to pulling tab  38  and damper  14  apart and securing over rim of drum. The rolled metal  36  of clip  14  is designed to prevent the dampening material  14  from ripping at the sharp edges where metal touches damper material in a repetitious way. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 ; is the perspective close up of the spring-biased clip in an open position; it shows the clip  14  being pulled apart with tab  38  and damper material  14 . This creates an opposing force  40  and  42  that along with the binding of clip  12  and damper  14  via rivets  16 , the spring-biased clip  14  opens. Once the spring biased clip  14  is open, it can be selectively attached to any part of a drum rim. 
       Method of Use 
       [0042]    Pick a spot on the vibrating surface to begin the expressive dampening. Attach the spring-clip on the rim of the drum, using the tab in the back of the clip to open the clip so that the clip can be fitted over the rim of the drum hoop. Push the clip down until the dampening surface makes full contact with the drum skin. Release tab so that spring-clip attaches firmly to hoop. Play the drum and listen for the desired sound change. Try moving the clip to different positions on the drum hoop to test for desired dampening effect before attempting the other dampening options. With soft playing, the flexible dampening surface will move very little when the drum&#39;s vibrating surface is struck. With hard playing the flexible dampening surface will lift off the vibrating surface for a more open and “expressive” drum sound, matching the drummers&#39; natural dynamics. To control the amount of dampening: The flexible dampening surface is comprised of two wings, one on each side of the clip. Leave both wings flat against the drum head for the most dramatic sound modification. To decrease the amount of dampening, fold one wing of the dampener so that the corner rivet and center magnet come together to attach. This creates less overall surface contact to the drum head and will lessen the dampened effect of the drum. If the least dampening option is required, fold both left and right sides of the leather containing rivets onto the center magnet. This orientation will damper the percussive sound very little, keeping the drum in its most lively state. For testing, tuning, storage, and, if desired, during play, flip up the entire dampening leather flap component and attach the imbedded center magnet to any part of the ferrous metal clip. The damper is now completely off the drum head, and will not change the sound of the drum. This allows the drummer to quickly go back to the original unaltered sound of the drum, even during the same song! 
       Advantages 
       [0043]    The 1st advantage of the expressive damper is that it allows a change of dampening options depending upon how a drummer strikes the drum. By mixing different materials and working with gravity this new flexible damper can open and close like a gate when the drum is played. The amount of ‘opening’ and closing&#39; can be controlled by the percussionist&#39;s decision to play softer or harder. Current dampers are designed to be “all on” or “all off” the drum head. 
         [0044]    The 2nd advantage is that this expressive damper is particularly robust in both construction and materials used. By choosing the right materials: spring clip for the hoop attachment (no screws, glues or braces) hard and soft leather or plastic (which insures both flexibility and durability) the expressive damper will be effective despite weather conditions, will resist breaking and is constructed to last a long time. 
         [0045]    The 3rd advantage is that it is both reliable and easy to replicate the sound desired. Once this expressive damper is adjusted via the position on the rim and the position of its material dampening wings to produce the desired sound with the magnet, it is possible to quickly replicate these specific effects at any later time. No longer will a drummer need to cut the right size tape, or gel to get an ideal sound. They can fold or open the flexible leather of the dampening component on any part of the drum head frame. 
         [0046]    The 4th advantage is that this expressive damper can be produced for a price that makes it affordable even for beginners. 
         [0047]    The 5th advantage is the option to quickly and easily go from a desired dampening state to a state of having no dampening at all. This is achieved by flipping up the dampening surface and securing it away from the drum head by touching the center magnet to the spring-clip. A drummer can play a ringing, jazzy sound, then switch to a rock and roll “thud” tone in the middle of a song. 
         [0048]    The 6 th  advantage is that the tab extension allows for the spring-biased clip to be easily opened and allowed to close. This permits the spring-biased clip to be quickly and easily moved to any desired position on the rim of the drum hoop and stays. It eliminates the age old problem of loosening screws or gels that unstick or extruded rubber that loses its position by stretching over time and becoming buzzy with drum head contact. 
         [0049]    In a broad embodiment, the present device is an invention for modifying the sound made by a vibratable surface of a percussion instrument controlled “during” play by the drummer. The invention should not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.