Abstract:
Improvements in a drum practice pad are disclosed. The practice pad is intended for use with a mobile or shoulder mounted percussion instrument carrier or with a stand configured for use with a percussion instrument. The practice pad incorporates most or all of the geometry of a drum that is addressed by a player. This geometry includes a portion of the striking surface, and a portion of the drum rim. The sticking surface is adjustable within the portion of the drum rim to match the central playing area and the height of the playing surface to the rim of the drum. The assembly allows for attachment or mounting and use of a practice pad from a third party. The strike location of the practice pad is adjustable to simulate different diameter drums. The incorporation of the drum rim allows players to practice rim shots.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/358,717, filed on Jan. 23, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,812,235 issued on Oct. 12, 2010 which claims the benefit of Provisional 61/062,523 filed Jan. 25, 2008 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to improvements in a drum practice pad. More particularly, the practice pad is for use for a marching percussionist/drummer with a shoulder or mobile mounted carrier. The practice pad emulates a portion of the drum without the weight of the entire drum. The practice pad incorporates a pad that is struck with a standard drum stick and a portion of the drum rim to allow rim shots with the drum stick. The height, location and position of the drum pad are adjustable to closely simulate the playing surface of an actual drum 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     Most drum practice pads are designed for use to improve technique, drumming accuracy and speed. Practice pads often consist of flat surface that a drummer strikes with a drum stick, in some cases the practice pad has a raised edge that extends around the outside of the practice pad to simulate the rim of a drum. In a marching band a drummer practices standing, turning, walking, marching moving and possibly running while they continue to play a drum. In this form of practice a drummer must carry the entire weight of a drum while they are practicing both field drills and performance. The load of the drum places a load on the performer that can result in fatigue that will shorten the amount of time that a musician can practice without becoming fatigued. Practice drum pads provide a static playing surface, but none are specifically intended for use by a shoulder supported carrier. Some exemplary examples of flat practice pads are identified herein. 
     Examples of flat practice pads are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,929,354 issued Jul. 27, 1999 to Jimmy C. Davis, U.S. Pat. No. D465,510 issued Nov. 12, 2002 to Jason S. Edwards et al, and U.S. Pat. No. D320,035 issued Sep. 17, 1991 to Thomas O. Magruder. These practice pads all disclose a pad that is thin, smaller in size than a drum head and give a use the ability to practice striking that surface of the practice pad. These patents all lack a drum rim to practice rim shots, and are further not mountable onto a stand or shoulder mounted carrier. 
     Examples of drum practice pads that are worn by a user include U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,207 issued Sep. 27, 1983 to John J. Criscione and U.S. Pat. No. 2,338,816 issued Jan. 11, 1944 to L. M. Lockhart. Both of these two patents disclose securing systems to mount the practice pad onto the leg of a user. In operation these pads are strapped around the leg of the user in a location that is just above the knee. While these practice pads allow a user to practice drumming while they are seated, the practice pad can&#39;t be accurately played while the person is walking. The practice pad does not have a rim for practicing rim shots and further does not include provisions for mounting on a stand or shoulder mounted instrument carrier. 
     Examples of drum practice pads that are mounted on an erected stand include U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,823 issued Aug. 3, 1999 to Malcolm W. Jacobs, U.S. Pat. No. D386,780 issued Nov. 25, 1997 to Masaharm Ohno and U.S. Pat. No. D348,476 issued Jul. 5, 1994 to David O&#39;Conner. These three patents each disclose a practice pad on a fixed erected platform. Some of these patents further disclose a raised rim. While these patents disclose a stand mounted practice pad they are not usable in a mobile environment, and they do not disclose a method for mounting to a mobile or shoulder supported instrument carrier. 
     What is needed is a practice pad that is designed for use on a mobile or shoulder mounted instrument carrier. The drum pad should simulate the physical features that are addressed by a user including the drum rim and mounting structure for use on the instrument carrier. The practice pad should also be adjustable to simulate drums of different diameters. The proposed application satisfies there requirements with a practice pad that provides these entire user features without the weight of an actual drum. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the marching band practice pad with a portion of the rim attached to the practice pad. The rim is a portion of the actual counter hoop of a drum, and can range from the entire circular rim to only a sector of the rim. The inclusion of the rim portion allows a user to practice rim shots on the practice pad without the weight of the drum or the circumference geometry of the drum while practicing technique and marching formation. 
     It is an object of the marching band practice pad to include a practice pad that allows a user to practice striking the center of the drum while they are marching without the benefit of looking down at the practice pad/drum. The practice pad may exist concentric with the rim and occupies only a portion of the center of the drum. The practice pad can exist as small as a few inches in diameter to the full interior size of the rim. The position of the practice pad is also adjustable within the rim to simulate drums of different diameter. 
     It is an object of the structure that emulates a drum is to accommodate a practice pad from a third party. The user may have a practice pad that they prefer due to sound, responsiveness or feel, and the user can mount their preferred practice pad to the structure, adjust the position and height of the pad to the desired location to emulate the geometry of the drum. These third party practice pads can also include electronic practice pads that a user may have. 
     It is another object of the marching band practice pad is to make the practice pad adjustable to simulate drums of different diameters. This adjustment allows one practice pad to be used by a variety of different performers with some simple adjustment. The adjustments include the height of the playing surface and distance from the rim. In addition the height of the practice pad below the rim is adjustable to emulate the distance from the playing surface to the rim as it would exist on a complete drum. 
     It is another object of the marching band practice pad is to have an extruded anvil portion that where the practice pad is mounted. The extruded anvil portion is movable on the shank of the structure to move the practice pad closer or further from the user. The extruded anvil can be rotated on the shank to provide several different densities of the practice pad playing surfaces. 
     It is another object of the marching band practice pad to provide connection means for mounting the practice pad onto a musical instrument carrier. The mounting mechanism allows quick loading and unloading of the practice pad onto the carrier. The connection mechanism mimics the connection mechanism for an actual drum and allows a user to easily switch between the practice pad and an actual drum without the use of tools and without deviating from the height, angle or position of an actual drum. 
     It is another object of the marching band practice pad to provide a practice pad that is configurable to an array of drums and to an upright bass drum. 
     It is another object of the marching band practice pad to provide a practice pad that is transferable from a mobile or shoulder mounted carrier to a ground mounted stand or stadium hardware. 
     It is still another object of the marching band practice pad to provide a practice pad without the weight of the remainder of the drum. The reduced weight relieves the user from carrying the cantilevered weight of a drum while they practice movement and technique. 
     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the practice pad mounted on one configuration of an instrument carrier without the use of J-Rod/tubes. 
         FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of the practice pad mounted on a second configuration of an instrument carrier with the use of J-Rod/tubes. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing the components of the practice pad. 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of the practice pad mounted on an instrument carrier with J-Rod/tubes. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of the practice pad and structure. 
         FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the practice pad and structure. 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a sub plate platform in a first preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a sub plate platform in a second preferred embodiment with transducers. 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a sub plate platform in a third preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective back view of the platform from  FIGS. 7 and 8  mounted. 
         FIG. 11  shows a vertically mounted drum pad. 
         FIG. 12  shows a drum array of drum pads. 
         FIG. 13  shows the drum pad mounted on a T-Bar type carrier. 
         FIG. 14  shows the drum pad mounted on a vest type adjustable carrier. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the practice pad mounted on one configuration of an instrument carrier  10  without the use of J-Rod/tubes. The instrument carrier  10  is designed for use with a percussion instrument such as a drum. The components of the practice pad mount to the instrument carrier  10  in a similar manner as a percussion instrument is mounted. The ability to interchange the drum and the practice pad allows a user to quickly change the instrument, or practice pad, being played. The percussion instrument carrier  10  in this figure is described in prior patents from the same inventor that have priority to U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,492 and published patent applications US-2006-0137506. The instrument carrier has mobile or shoulder supporting member  11  that rest on the shoulders of a user. 
     The shoulder members  11  may be identified with various names such as shoulder straps, shoulder hooks, shoulder bars or other names but all include rigid or semi-rigid components that transfers the load of the carrier, and any mounted instrument, to the user. The shoulder supporting members may be considered in a number of configurations. Four contemplated configurations of the shoulder supporting members include first, two separate straps that connect to a back member and a separate front member. Second, as a combination of shoulder straps combined with the front member in a U, V, T or yoke as a single unit configuration as is shown and described in the inventors patent application US-2005-0183565. Third as a combination of the shoulder straps combined with the back member as a single unit. Fourth as a combination of the shoulder straps, front member and back member as a single unit. Obvious variations to these four combinations are also contemplated that include combinations of one shoulder strap with the back member, one shoulder strap with the front member, and one shoulder strap with the back and the front member. In addition, splitting the shoulder strap, back member and or the front member into numerous pieces are also contemplated. 
     In  FIG. 1  the back member  17  spans across the ends of the shoulder straps  11 . The back member  17  may be welded, fastened, secured, or removably secured to the shoulder straps  11 . The back member  17  may also be adjustable to different widths to accommodate different users. In the embodiment shown the back member  17  includes a fillable bladder that is adjustable through a nipple  19 . The air fillable bladder is described in a prior filed application by the inventor and published as US 2006-0186151. 
     The shoulder straps  11  are connected in the front of the carrier with hardware that connects the shoulder straps to drum securing hardware. In the embodiment shown, tubular members  18  join with tubular member  12  where they are further secured to a hinging or pivoting mechanism  14 . The hinging or pivoting mechanism is described in a prior issued patent by the inventor and is herein identified by U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,790. From the hinging or pivoting mechanism  14  tubular members  15  connect with the abdomen or belly plate  13 . 
     The abdomen or belly plate  13  rests against the abdomen, belly or stomach of a user. The abdomen or belly plate can be padded to cushion the plate to aid in comfort. A bifurcated structure  21  is connected to the abdomen or belly plate  13 . The bifurcated structure  21  is connected to a single or mono post  22  with a dovetail connection that allows the post  22  to slide on the bifurcated structure  21  and drum securing hardware  23  in a bypass arrangement. The drum securing hardware allows interchangeability of a percussion instrument (drum) or a practice pad. An exploded view of the components that secure the drum or practice pad are shown and described in more detail in  FIG. 3 . 
     For a basic understanding of the practice pad,  FIG. 1  shows the components as a counter hoop  25  and bead head pad (s)  33  and  34 . The practice pad has a number of different adjustments to make the practice pad height, diameter and feel identical to an actual drum without the weight of a drum. The adjustments include a T-bolt  91  that is use to slide the adjustable clamp  80  on the fluted adjustment tube  40  to set the diameter of the counter hoop  25 . Screws  51  and  52  are threaded through sliding collar  50  to adjust the position of the fluted adjustable tube  40 . A pair of anvil extrusions  30  and  31  is slidably secured to the fluted adjustable tube  40 . On the top of each anvil extrusion a bead practice pad  33  and  34  is located. 
     The carrier shown in most of the figures is made from tubular material. This is only one contemplated type of carrier, and other types of percussion instrument carrier construction methods are contemplated including but not limited to T-Bar, vest, monolithic and others. Some examples of these types of percussion instrument carriers are shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an isometric view of the practice pad mounted on a second configuration of an instrument carrier  10  with the use of J-Rod/tubes. The instrument carrier  10  is similar to the instrument carrier  10  that was shown and described in  FIG. 1 . It also includes shoulder straps  11  and an optional back member  17 , and a filling nipple  19  for filling an air bladder. The shoulder straps  11  connect to the front of the carrier with tubing  18  that connects into vertical tubes  12  and then into a hinging or pivoting mechanism  14 . The shoulder straps  11  and the upper portions of the carrier (tubes  18  and  12  are shown with individual pieces formed from rods or tubes, but these components could equivalently be formed from a single homogeneous material as a monolithic structure. In addition the hinging or pivoting mechanism  14  could be a vertically adjustable component that alters the distance between the upper portion of the carrier and the drum attaching hardware. 
     From the hinging or pivoting mechanism  14  tubular members  15  join into the abdomen or belly plate  13  with tube clamps  152  that clamp and secure the tubes  15 . A second set of tube clamps secures the J-Rod/tubes  16 . Screws  154  have a head configured to equate to a drum adjusting bolt to minimize the number of tools required to adjust the instrument carrier  10 . In this figure a practice pad  20  is shown mounted to the anvil extrusion  31 . The practice pad  20  can be supplied by the manufacturer or the anvil extrusion can accept practice pads that a user may currently be using. The practice pad  20  may also be an electric drum pad and include a power supply and speaker to simulate a drum sound when it is struck. The counter hoop  25  is shown with the practice pad. The counter hoop is shown as an arc segment instead of a complete counter hoop. The inclusion of the counter hoop  25  allows a performer to perform rim shots that they may be required to perform. In the preferred embodiment the counter hoop  25  is an arc segment of between 90 and 180 degrees and in the configuration shown the arc angle is 120 degrees. It is also contemplated that a complete counter hoop  25  could be used as well as two separate sections of counter hoops located on each side of the hardware that secures the practice pad to the instrument carrier. 
     Various size practice pads  20  and bead pads ( 33  and  34  from  FIG. 1 ) can be secured to the anvil extrusions to simulate different diameter drums and surface textures. One method of securing the practice pad is with screws. In other contemplated securing method, magnets are used to allow the practice pad  20  to be solidly secured and also allow the practice pad  20  to be quickly removed. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing the components of the practice pad. Starting in the lower right corner of this view the J-Rod/tube receivers  150  are shown. These receivers slide onto the J-Rod/tubes shown in  FIG. 2 . The J-Rod/tube receivers  150  are secured onto the stationary hinge  140  with screws  55  and  56  or the like. The rotatable hinge  120  is slid onto elongated nipple(s)  130  located on the stationary hinge  140 . A securing screw  131  prevents rotation of the hinge. The rotatable hinge  120  is allowed to hinge on the stationary hinge  140 . The angle of the rotatable hinge  120  on the stationary hinge  140  is adjustable with angle adjustment screws  151  that are screwed into acorn nuts  57  that push on the back of the rotatable hinge  120 . 
     Tube clamps  100  and  110  are secured to the rotatable hinge with screws or the like and nut  58  holds the tube clamps in place on the rotatable hinge  120 . Note that the rotatable hinge can have slots to allow for angular adjustment of the tube clamp(s)  100  and or  110 . Rods or tubes  101  are secured to the counter hoop  25  and the rods or drum tubes  101  are clamped into the tube clamps  100  and  110 . Vertical adjustment hardware  60  is secured to the counter hoop  25  with screws  53  or the like. The vertical adjustment hardware  60  has a slot  61  where the sliding collar  50  is secured with screws  54  or the like. The sliding collar  50  is configured with dovetail grooves and edges for engagement with the fluted adjustment tube  40 . 
     The sliding collar is held in position with screws  54 . The thumb screws  51  and  52  allow for quick and easy adjustment for the location of the fluted adjustment tube. An adjustable clamp  80  also has dovetail grooves and edges to secure the adjustable clamp on the fluted adjustment tube  40 . The adjustable clamp  80  is secured in position on the fluted adjustment tube  40  with a T-bolt  91  that passes through a washer  90 . 
     The practice pad  20  is shown with above the anvil extrusions  30 ,  31  as it would be mounted in  FIG. 2 . The anvil extrusions  31  and  31  have fluted edges and grooves that engage onto the fluted adjustment tube  40 . In  FIG. 1  the anvil extrusions  30 ,  31  are mounted in an inverted orientation where the bead practice pads  33  and  34  are shown on top. The anvil extrusions  30 ,  31  can be inverted by sliding them off the fluted adjustment tube  40  or by removal of the fluted tube turning the tube  40  or the anvil extrusions 180 degrees and sliding them back into position. 
     The position of the sliding collar  50 , fluted adjustment tube  40 , adjustable clamp  80 , anvil extrusions  30 ,  31 , and the practice pad  20  are all quickly and easily adjustable to set the location of the practice pad in a vertical and horizontal position relative to the instrument carrier and the counter hoop  25 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a front view of the practice pad mounted on an instrument carrier with J-Rod/tubes.  FIG. 5  shows a side view of the practice pad.  FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the practice pad. These three views provide a greater clarity of the assembled practice pad on an instrument carrier. From  FIG. 4  the abdomen or belly plate  13  is shown connected to tubular members  15 . The clamps  152  hold the tube  15  onto the abdomen or belly plate  13  with screws or bolts  154 . The J-Rod/tubes and or the mounting hardware from  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  have been removed in these three figures for clarity. From  FIG. 6  the rods or tubes  101  is shown inside tube clamps  100  and  110  with the nut  58  that is used to clamp onto the rotatable hinge ( 120  in  FIG. 3 ). The fluted adjustment tube  40  is shown extending from the sliding collar  50  and the vertical adjustment hardware  60 . The locking thumbscrews  51  and  52  are shown extending from the sliding collar  50  in the figures. The washer  90  and the T-handle bolt  91  is secured to the adjustable clamp  80  (not visible). The counter hoop  25  is visible in all the figures extending partially around the practice pad  20 . From  FIG. 6  the anvil extrusions  30  ( 31 ) are shown with the bead practice pad  33  and  34 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a sub plate platform in a first preferred embodiment,  FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a sub plate platform in a second preferred embodiment with transducers,  FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a sub plate platform in a third preferred embodiment and  FIG. 10  shows a perspective back view of the platform from  FIGS. 7 and 8  mounted. This acoustic platform  35  provide a structure with different acoustical sound based upon where the practice pad  20  that sits on top of the acoustic platform  35  is struck. In the preferred embodiment the platform is made from an extrusion, but other type of fabrication are contemplated including but not limited to casting, assembly, molding, machining or combination thereof. The mid area  70  of the acoustic platform  35  is more solid than the outer wings  71  that are supported within lower ribs  72  to create a hollow area under the outer wings  71 . This hollow area results in a different sound, and or feel, when the practice pad  20  is struck. In  FIG. 7  the top surface of the platform is progressively thinned with supporting ribs  75  to alter the sound as the platform is struck further from the mid area  70 . In  FIG. 9 , the acoustic platform has a solid core with progressively deeper slots or relief cavities  74  are placed into the top of the acoustic platform to alter the acoustic properties as the acoustic platform is struck further from the mid area  70 . 
     The underside of the acoustic platform  35  is formed with a tube connector  26  having engaging reverse turned dovetail teeth  62  that grip onto the fluted adjustable tube  40 . To allow for liner temporal positioning of the acoustic platform  35  and the practice pad  20  on the fluted adjustable tube  40 . The top outer ends of the acoustic platform  35  have a raised lip  73  for centering of the practice pad  20 . In one embodiment the acoustic platform  35  or the practice pad  20  has an acoustical pickup. A recess(s)  81  are shown set into the acoustic platform  35  to provide clearance for the pickup(s). In the preferred embodiment the pickup is piezo electric, but other types of mechanical and or electrical pickups are contemplated. The top of the extrusion shows locations for three pickups, but as few as one to more than three are contemplated. The pickup(s) transducers or pressure sensors are wired  82  to a connection point  83  where they can be connected to a pre-amplifier, amplifier, speakers or the pickup(s) may be self-powered with a built-in sound processor and or sound card to allow for connection with headphones. 
     A sliding connector  59  allows the drum hoop or drum hoop sector  25  to be positionable on the fluted adjustable tube  40  to simulate drums of different diameter drum hoops. The height of the drum hoop  25  above the drum pad  20  can also be adjustable. The fluted adjustable tube  40  is connected to a fixed or rotatable hinge  120  that is securable onto a back bar or instrument carrier as shown in mounting arrangements shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  11  to  14 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a vertically mounted drum pad. This embodiment uses the mobile or shoulder mounted carrier from  FIG. 1  with an upright portion of a drum to form the drum pad(s)  20 . The mounting structure for the upright drum pads  20  is described in a prior patent application by the inventor and is herein identified by the inventor&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 7,326,842. The vertically mounted practice pad configuration two practice pads  20  are placed on opposite sides of the two counter hoops  25 . The counter hoops  25  are secured to the carrier at or near the location where the shoulder straps are connected, and the lower portion of the upright drum practice pads are positioned on the post  22  that is secured to the abdomen or belly plate  13 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a drum array of drum pads. This embodiment uses the mobile or shoulder mounted carrier from  FIG. 2  with a drum pad array using a number of drum pads  20  with each drum pad  20  in a portion of a counter hoop  25 . It should be noted that each counter hoop  25  and each practice pad  20  may have the same or different diameters. The mounting structure for the drum array is connected to the abdomen or belly plate of the carrier  13  on a tenor rail  132 . The securing of the array of drums to an instrument carrier is shown and described in a prior patent application by the inventor and is herein identified by published application US-2005-0103183. 
       FIG. 13  shows the drum pad mounted on a T-Bar type carrier and  FIG. 14  shows the drum pad mounted on a vest type adjustable carrier. These figures show that the practice pad is can be used with a variety of different type and configuration of instrument carriers and is not limited for use on a tubular constructed carrier. 
     Thus, specific embodiments of a marching band practice pad with structure that emulates a drum have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.