Abstract:
In a support device for a set of marching tenor drums arrayed in an arc shape of at least four drums, the device being held on the body of a player, two or three consecutive drums of the array, format least one group. The device includes a holding mechanism for keeping the positions of the drums in each group constant relative to drums within the same group, and a turnable linking mechanism for linking the group and drums adjoining the group to be turnable relative to each other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a support device for percussion instruments, and more particularly to a support device for marching tenor drums.  
         [0002]     A set of marching tenor drums comprises four to six drums linked in an arc shape, and the player plays carrying these drums on his body while walking. This set of drums should keep its arc shape against the vibration occurring from the player&#39;s walking and beating, and yet the position and posture of each individual drum should be controlled as required.  
         [0003]      FIG. 16  shows such a drum set  121 . The drum set  121  comprises four larger-diameter drums  122  through  125  arranged in an arc shape and a small-diameter drum  126  surrounded by these larger-diameter drums  122  through  125 . A support device  131  supporting the drum set  121  comprises a frame  132  worn by the player and three hinge portions  133 ,  134  and  135  each turnably linking adjoining ones of the larger-diameter drums  122  through  125 .  
         [0004]     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the frame  132  comprises a pair of right and left arms  136  extending in the lengthwise direction and support pieces  137  each fitted to one end of the two arms  136  via an L-shaped holder  139 . A substantially cylindrical holding portion  138  forbearing a J-shaped rod of a drum carrier (not shown) protrudes from the holder  139 . The holder  139  is fixed to the support piece  137  and is slidable on the arm  136 . Each support piece  137  has an elongated hole  142 , and the elongated holes  142  allow a bracket  141  turnably supporting the larger-diameter drums  122  and  125 , situated at the two ends of the arc-shaped array, to slide.  
         [0005]     When the player wears the supporting device  131 , the larger-diameter drums  122  through  125  and the small-diameter drum  126  are positioned in front of him.  
         [0006]     In the support device  131 , when the brackets  141  are slid back and forth along the elongated holes  142 , the positions of the larger-diameter drums  122  through  125  can be adjusted back and forth. When the holders  139  are slid laterally relative to the arms  136 , the positions of the larger-diameter drums  122  through  125  can be adjusted laterally via the brackets  141 .  
         [0007]     In the support device described above, the larger-diameter drums  122  through  125  are turnably linked by the hinge portions  133 ,  134  and  135 . For this reason, if the drums are slid forward or backward to adjust their positions in the back-and-forth direction, the larger-diameter drums  122  through  125  will irregularly moved. Also when adjusting the positions of the drums laterally, the sliding of the holders  139  will cause the larger-diameter drums  122  through  125  to move irregularly.  
         [0008]     The aforementioned undesirable motions of the drums will be described below in more detail. Suppose that the larger-diameter drums  123  and  124  in the center area are in their desired positions in the back-and-forth direction and need to be controlled only laterally. If the holders  139  are slid here on the arms  136 , the larger-diameter drums  123  and  124  will move indeterminately to vary their positions in the back-and-forth direction.  
         [0009]     Further, if the holders  139  are slid on the arms  136  when adjusting the positions of the larger-diameter drums  123  and  124  laterally, since one end of a rod  200  supported by the holding portions  138  of the holders  139  is fitted to the carrier, the distance between the player and the frame  132  will vary, eventually changing the positional relationship between the player and each drum. Whereas the positions of the drums including the small-diameter drum  126  in the back-and-forth direction may be sometimes adjusted by sliding the holder  139 , the positional relationships of the drums will also vary in this case because sliding the holders  139  would vary the length of the frame  132 .  
         [0010]     In this way, when the position of each of the larger-diameter drums  122  and  125  at both ends is to be adjusted in the lateral direction or that of the whole drum set is to be adjusted in the back-and-forth direction, there is a problem that adjustment is difficult because sliding destabilizes the motions of the individual drums (especially the two larger-diameter drums  123  and  124  at the center).  
         [0011]     Further, when the holders  139  are slid in such a positional adjustment, the force working in the lateral direction due to that sliding acts as a torque on the hinge portions  133  through  135 . When a torque works on the hinge portions  133  through  135 , they turn in unpredictable manners. The support device  131 , having many such hinge portions, lacks in stability.  
         [0012]     Moreover, the configuration of the support device is complex, involves many members resulting in a heavy total weight for the device, imposing a heavy load on the player.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     An object of the present invention is to provide a support device for percussion instruments which allows easy positional adjustment of the individual drums while stably supporting the drums.  
         [0014]     In order to achieve the object stated above, the invention provides a support device for supporting a set of marching tenor drums consecutively arrayed in an arc shape and including at least four drums, the device being held on the body of a player wherein two or three consecutive drums of the array, forms at least one group, and the device comprises a holding mechanism for keeping the positions of the drums in each group constant relative to drums within the same group and a turnable linking mechanism for linking the group and drums adjoining the group so as to be turnable relative to each other. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic plan showing how a support device for drums according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is used;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a plan view showing the configuration of a first adjusting mechanism  15  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a section taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4 , shows the configuration of a linking mechanism  17 , taken along section along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a left side profile view showing the fitting portion of a leg  21  disposed at the left end of the second longer side of a frame in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a plan view showing the fitting portion of the leg  21  disposed at the left end of the second longer side of a frame in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a front view of the structure of a holder  18  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8A  shows a section taken along line  8 A- 8 A in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8B  shows a section taken along line  8 B- 8 B in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8C  shows a section taken along line  8 C- 8 C in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  shows a section taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a plan view showing part of a fitting mechanism in a sectional view;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  shows a section taken along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  shows a section taken along line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a plan view showing a support device for marching tenor drums according to another preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 14  is a plan showing the arrangement of a small-diameter drum in the other embodiment of the invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 15  shows a perspective view of a holding portion for the embodiment of  FIG. 14 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 16  is a schematic plan showing one example of a conventional support device for marching tenor drums; and  
         [0033]      FIG. 17  shows a perspective view of the configuration of a frame, which is the principal component of the support device shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 12 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a drum set  1  comprises four larger-diameter drums  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  and two smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7 . The larger-diameter drums  2  through  5 , arrayed along a semicircle, surround the two smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7 .  
         [0036]     A support device  11  for the drum set  1  comprises a substantially rectangular frame  12  surrounding the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7 , a first fixing mechanism  13  surrounding the frame  12 , a second fixing mechanism  14 , a first adjusting mechanism  15 , a second adjusting mechanism  16 , a linking mechanism  17 , holders  18 , a smaller-diameter drum fitting portion  19  and legs  21 . The first fixing mechanism  13  links a pair of larger-diameter drums  2  and  3  adjoining each other on the right side at the barrel  37  forming the body of each drum  2  and  3  (see  FIG. 3 ) to be incapable of relative movement. The second fixing mechanism  14  links a pair of larger-diameter drums  4  and  5  adjoining each other on the left side at the barrel forming the body of each drum  4  and  5  to be incapable of relative movement. The right-side larger-diameter drums  2  and  3  form a first drum pair  22 , and the left-side drums  4  and  5  form a second drum pair  23 .  
         [0037]     The first adjusting mechanism  15  is positioned at the front right of the outside of the frame  12  and turnably links the first drum pair  22  to the frame  12 . The second adjusting mechanism  16  is positioned at the front left of the outside of the frame  12  and turnably links the second drum pair  23  to the frame  12 . The linking mechanism  17 , disposed between the larger-diameter drums  3  and  4 , turnably links the first and second drum pairs  22  and  23 . In the rear part of the frame  12 , a cylindrical sleeve  88  (see  FIG. 8C ) is formed on each of the two holders  18 . A J-rod  10 , one end of which is turnably fixed to the shank pad  9  of a carrier  8 , is inserted from underneath into each of the sleeves  88 , and the carrier  8  and the supporting device  11  are thereby linked with each other.  
         [0038]     A fitting member  19 , which supports the smaller-diameter drums substantially at the center of the rear part of the frame  12 , protrudes forward within the frame  12 .  
         [0039]     The legs  21  are fitted to the two ends of the rear part of the frame  12  and the linking mechanism  17 . Since the larger-diameter drums  2  and  3  are fixed to each other, the first drum pair  22  moves integrally when the positions of the drums  2  through  5  are adjusted. The second drum pair  23  also moves integrally.  
         [0040]     The supporting device  11  will next be described. The frame  12  comprises first and second longer sides  31  and  32 , respectively positioned in front and in back and extending in the lengthwise direction, and a pair of shorter sides  33  linking these first and second longer sides  31  and  32  at both ends.  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first adjusting mechanism  15  comprises elbow pieces  34  for fixing the larger-diameter drums  2  and  3 , a base  35  fixed to the frame  12 , and a bracket  36  capable of sliding on the base  35 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the elbow pieces  34  are fitted to the barrels  37  of the larger-diameter drums  2  and  3  from the insides thereof with two screws  38  each. The base  35  is fitted to the frame  12  with two screws  39  and  40 . One U-shaped end of the bracket  36  is so fitted as to cover the upper part of the base  35 , while the other end is fitted with a screw  44  to a shaft  43  turnably engaged with a hole  50  of the elbow piece  34 . The shaft  43  has a tapered portion  42  narrowing upward to absorb any fitting error between the shaft  43  and the hole  50 . A nut  46  fitted with a spring seat  41  and a washer  45  therebetween is screwed onto the upper end of the shaft  43  protruding from the upper part of the elbow piece  34 , and the first drum pair  22  is thereby turnably supported around the shaft  43  with appropriate friction.  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , an elongated hole  47  is formed in the top face  36   a  of the bracket  36 . An engaging shaft  48  pressed in from above the top face  36   a  of the bracket  36  is adhered at the bottom end thereof to the base  35 . A nut  51  is screwed, with a washer  49  therebetween, onto the outer circumference of the engaging shaft  48  protruding from the top face  36   a  of the bracket  36 .  
         [0043]     When the nut  51  is loosened, the bracket  36  can slide on the base  35  within the elongated hole  47 . The bracket  36  can move only along the elongated hole  47 , but its motion in any other direction is restricted. Therefore, the first adjusting mechanism  15  has a stable configuration in the absence of being irregularly moved by an external force.  
         [0044]     While the foregoing description referred to the first adjusting mechanism  15 , the second adjusting mechanism  16  is similar in configuration, and accordingly its detailed description will be dispensed with.  
         [0045]      FIG. 4  shows the configuration of the linking mechanism  17 . A first connecting member  55  is fixed to the barrel  37  of the drum  3 . A second connecting member  57  is fixed to the barrel  56  of the drum  4 . The first connecting member  55  is arranged over the second connecting member  57 , and a pin  58  is snapped into a through hole penetrating both members  55  and  57 . The pin  58  is screwed from underneath into the second connecting member  57  and protruded upward through the first connecting member  55 . A square-headed nut  61  is screwed onto the pin  58  with a washer  59  therebetween to link the first connecting member  55  and the second connecting member  57 .  
         [0046]     When the nut  61  is loosened, the first connecting member  55  is enabled to turn or rotate about the shaft  58 .  
         [0047]     Also, one of the legs  21  having a screw  62  at the upper end is screwed from underneath into the second connecting member  57 . The bottom end of the leg  21  is fitted with a rubber cap  63 .  
         [0048]     In addition, legs  21  are disposed at both ends of the second longer side  32  of the frame  12 .  FIG. 5  is a left side profile view showing the fitting portion of a leg  21  disposed at the left end of the second longer side  32 , and  FIG. 6  is a plan view thereof. As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , a leg  21  is fitted to a fixed member  64  fixed with a screw  65  to a side face of the frame  12 .  
         [0049]     The first fixing mechanism  13 , linking the drums  2  and  3 , has an arm shape having a curved part, and is fitted to the barrel  37  of the larger-diameter drums  2  and  3  with two screws (not shown) inserted from inside the barrel  37  of each drum  2  and  3 . The second fixing mechanism  14 , linking the drums  4  and  5 , has an arm shape having a curved part, and is fitted to the barrels  37  of the larger-diameter drums  2  and  3  with two screws (not shown) inserted from inside the barrel of each drum  2  and  3 . Since these configurations are substantially the same as the mode of fitting the elbow piece  34  (see  FIG. 3 ) in the first adjusting mechanism  15 , their detailed description will be dispensed with.  
         [0050]     The structure of the two holders  18  disposed on the second longer side  32  of the frame  12  will be described next. As shown in  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 9 , each of the holders  18  comprises a cylindrical portion  71  into which the J-rod  10  (see  FIG. 8A ) of the carrier  8  is inserted, a connecting portion  72 , a shaft  73  linking this connecting portion  72  and cylindrical portion  71  to be turnable relative to each other, and a bolt  74 .  
         [0051]     As shown in  FIG. 8B , the connecting portion  72  is fitted to the frame  12  by screwing a nut  79  onto the tip of each of the bolts  78  penetrating two elongated holes  77 , upper and lower, formed in the frame  12  from the surface  76  (the surface nearest toward the player) of the second longer side of the frame  12 . A plate  81  for connection use and a washer  82  are disposed between the surface  76  of the second longer side  32  and the bolts  78 . When the two bolts  78  are loosened, the connecting portion  72  can slide laterally within the ranges of the elongated holes  77 .  
         [0052]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the rotation shaft  73  is inserted from outside the second longer side  32  (from the left side in  FIG. 9 ) into the cylindrical portion  71  and the upper part of the connecting portion  72 . The cylindrical portion  71  is positioned on the surface  76  side of the second longer side  32 . On the outer circumference of the rotation shaft  73 , a plurality of washers  83 ,  84 ,  85 ,  86  and  87  are externally fitted, and the rotation shaft  73  and the connecting portion  72  can turn relative to the cylindrical portion  71  when in use. The washers  84 ,  85  and  86 , which come into contact with the connecting portion  72  and the cylindrical portion  71  are made of resin, and all these washers ( 83  through  87 ) are fastened with a nut  80  so that the connecting portion  72  may not be moved by its own weight and can be easily adjusted to any desired angle. This arrangement, when the player puts on the carrier  8  and fits the drums, prevents the connecting portion  72  from being turned inadvertently and thereby facilitates the fitting of the drums.  
         [0053]     As shown in  FIG. 8C , a hole  88  is formed in the cylindrical portion  71  to allow the J-rod  10  of the carrier  8  to be inserted from underneath. The carrier  8  and the supporting device  11  are linked to each other by the J-rod  10  inserted into the hole  88 . When the player is standing by during a performance session, if he lifts the frame  12  as indicated by the two-dot chain lines in  FIG. 8A , the rotation shaft  73  and the connecting portion  72  will turn by about 90 degrees to make the arrayed faces of the drums substantially parallel to the player&#39;s body. In this way, the drums can be kept out of the way while the player is standing by and the load on his shoulders can be reduced at the same time.  
         [0054]     Also, as shown in  FIG. 8A , the lower part of the cylindrical portion  71  is penetrated by the bolt  74  with a lock nut  89  therebetween. The tip of the penetrating bolt  74  is in contact with the plate  81 . Therefore, as the extent of protrusion of the tip of this bolt  74  is adjusted to thrust the frame  12  up or down, the angle of the frame  12 , i.e., of the drum set  1 , which is thereby finely adjusted.  
         [0055]     The fitting mechanism  19  for the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  will be described next. As shown in  FIG. 10  through  FIG. 12 , a base  92  is fitted to a connector  94  orthogonally crossing the second longer side  32  of the frame  12  from the longer side  32  and into the frame  12 . The drums  6  and  7  are fitted to a movable piece  93  with screws  96  inserted from inside the barrels  90  and  95 , and the drums  6  and  7  are thereby linked to each other.  
         [0056]     Further, the base  92  and an auxiliary plate  97  extend into the connector  94 . Two screws  98  inserted from above a connector  93  press through a slit  91  in the base  92 . The lower end of each of the screws  98  is screwed onto the auxiliary plate  97 , and the screws  98 , the connector  93  and the auxiliary plate  97  slide back and forth along the slit  91  in the base  92 .  
         [0057]     Behind the base  92 , the connector  94  is fitted by screws  101  inserted from above. A vertical plate  103  arranged behind this connector  94  (the left side in  FIG. 11 ) slides within a groove  102  in the connector  94 . Screws  106  inserted, with washers  105  therebetween, from behind a cover  104  shielding the surface  76  of the frame  12 , pass through slits  99  formed in the frame  12  and engage with the vertical plate  103 .  
         [0058]     When the screws  106  are tightened, the connector  94  is fixed, and held between the frame  12  and the vertical plate  103 . When the screws  106  are loosened, the force of holding the connector  94  between the frame  12  and the vertical plate  103  decreases, and the connector  94  is enabled to be able to slide up and down within the range of the width of the cover  104  in the perpendicular direction.  
         [0059]      FIG. 11  shows the drums  6  and  7  in their respective positions of use. Thus, the drums  6  and  7  are in their highest positions, the upper end of the connector  94  is in contact with the rear side of the upper end of the cover  104 , and the heights of the respective heads of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  and of the larger-diameter drums  2  through  5  are set to be equal. In this way, the upper end of the cover  104  functions as a stopper to indicate the prescribed height positions of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7 .  
         [0060]     In the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 11 , the connector  94  is in its lowest position. The lower end of the connector  94  is in contact with the rear side of the lower end of the cover  104 . In this way, the lower end of the cover  104  functions as a stopper to prevent the connector  94  from falling down.  
         [0061]     By the same principle as described above, the connector  94  is enabled to slide within the range of the width in the horizontal direction of the slits  99  formed in the frame  12  by loosening the screws  106 . Therefore, the positions of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  in the right-and-left direction can also be adjusted.  FIG. 14  shows a case or alternate embodiment in which the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  need not be adjusted in the right-and-left direction, and a round hole  100  is used in place of the slits  99 .  
         [0062]     Next, the method of adjusting the positions of the drums  2  through  7  will be roughly described. A player holding the carrier  8  with the drums  2  through  7  fitted to the supporting device  11  first adjusts the back-and-forth positions of all the drums  2  through  7 . Once the back-and-forth positions of the drums  2  through  7  are set, the player next adjusts the lateral positions of the larger-diameter drums  2  and  5  at both ends. Then, he adjusts the back-and-forth and up-and-down positions of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  within the frame  12 , and finally adjusts the overall angle (the angle formed by the upright player&#39;s body and the arrayed faces of the drums).  
         [0063]     The method of adjusting the position in each aspect of the drums will now be described in detail. Before positional adjustment of the drums, the nuts  46  in the first adjusting mechanism  15  and the second adjusting mechanism  16  and the nut  61  in the linking mechanism  17  are loosened to some extent to allow the larger-diameter drums  2  through  5  to turn. For turning these nuts, a known tuning key, represented by the two-dot chain lines in  FIG. 4 , is used.  
         [0064]     The positional adjustment in the back-and-forth direction is accomplished by sliding the holder  18  along the second longer side  32 . When the two bolts  78  (see  FIG. 8B ) are loosened, the force to hold the second longer side  32  of the frame  12  can be adjusted. Therefore, the holder  18  is enabled to be slidable in the horizontal direction within the ranges of the elongated holes  77  in the frame  12 . One end of the J-rod  10  inserted into the cylindrical portion  71  is turnably fixed to the carrier  8 . For this reason, when the holder  18  is slid, the J-rod  10  turns right or left around one end of the carrier  8 . This varies the distance between the player and the frame  12  to adjust the back-and-forth positions of the drums  2  through  7 .  
         [0065]     If, for instance, the right and left holders  18  are slid from the state shown in  FIG. 1  to bring them closer to each other, the distance between the player and the frame  12  will increase. Therefore, the positions of the drums  2  through  7  are adjusted in the direction away from the player. After the adjustment of the back-and-forth positions, the bolt  78  should be tightened to fix the holding portion  18  against inadvertent sliding.  
         [0066]     Next, the positional adjustment of the drums  2  through  7  in the lateral direction is accomplished by sliding the bracket  36  of the first adjusting mechanism  15  (or the second adjusting mechanism  16 ) along the elongated hole  47  in the base  35 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , sliding the bracket  36  rightward would cause the elbow piece  34  to slightly turn counterclockwise around the shaft  46  and to move rightward as indicated by the two-dot chain lines in  FIG. 1 . Along with this, the rightmost larger-diameter drum  2  is adjusted rightward. When the bracket  36  is slid leftward, the drum  2  is adjusted leftward.  
         [0067]     Here, the larger-diameter drum  3  (of the first drum pair  22 ) and the larger-diameter drum  4  (of the second drum pair  23 ) are turnably linked by the linking mechanism  17 . Where the two drum pairs  22  and  23  are linked to be unable to turn relative to each other as in the conventional arrangement, the drum  4 , interlocked with the drum  3 , to be moved by the latter toward the player, is therefore apt to change its position. In this embodiment, however, as the two drums  3  and  4  are linked to be turnable, one of the drums is rarely affected by the motion of the other. As the two-dot chain lines in  FIG. 1  showing the positions of the drums after adjustment indicate, their motions are kept to a minimum. Thus, the earlier adjusted positions of the larger-diameter drums  3  and  4  in the back-and-forth direction hardly vary during the positional adjustment in the right-and-left direction.  
         [0068]     Further, in the conventional arrangement, sliding the holders would be accompanied by a corresponding variation in the distance between the player and the frame, resulting in a variation of the positional relationship between the drums and the player even in the back-and-forth direction. In this embodiment, however, the positional adjustment mechanism for the drums in the back-and-forth direction and that in the right-and-left direction are provided independent of each other, and such a problem cannot arise.  
         [0069]     To elaborate, the position of the larger-diameter drum  5  at the left end in the lateral direction is also adjusted by sliding the bracket of the second adjusting mechanism  16  rightward or leftward. After the adjustment of the drum in the lateral direction, the nuts  46  in the first adjusting mechanism  15  and the second adjusting mechanism  16 , the nut  51  and the nut  61  of the linking mechanism  17  are tightened to fix all the larger-diameter drums  2  through  5  to the frame  12 .  
         [0070]     Next, the positional adjustment of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  in the back-and-forth direction is accomplished by loosening the screws  98  of the fitting mechanism  19  and sliding the movable piece  93  (see  FIG. 11 ) within the slit  91  in the base  92  so as to bring it closer to or farther away from the player. This causes the positions of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  connected to the movable piece  93  to be adjusted. Incidentally, after this positional adjustment, the screws  98  are tightened to fix the movable piece  93  against sliding.  
         [0071]     The positional adjustment of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  in the up-and-down direction is accomplished by loosening the screws  106  of the fitting mechanism  19  and sliding the connector  94  up or down (see  FIG. 11 ) and the base  92  and the movable piece  93 , both linked to the connector  94 . Therefore, the positions of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  in the up-and-down direction are adjusted. Incidentally, after the positional adjustment of the drums  6  and  7 , the screws  106  are tightened to fix the connector  94 .  
         [0072]     The angles of the drums are adjusted by turning the bolts  74  (see  FIG. 8A ) of the holders  18 . For instance, tightening the bolts  74  would cause their tips to thrust the frame  12  upward, and accordingly the drums are so adjusted in angle that portions closer to the player are inclined farther downward than elsewhere.  
         [0073]     According to the invention, the larger-diameter drums forming the drum pairs  22  and  23  are fixed to be unable to turn relative to each other. Therefore, when the positions of the larger-diameter drums  2  through  5  are to be adjusted, only three mechanisms act. Accordingly, the larger-diameter drums  2  through  5  would not move indeterminately when their positions are adjusted in the right-and-left direction. This contributes to the stability of the frame  12  and facilitates positional adjustment of the drums. Moreover, the reduction in the number of movable mechanisms results in a smaller overall number of members, which contributes to reducing the weight of the whole device.  
         [0074]     The first adjusting mechanism  15 , the second adjusting mechanism  16  and the linking mechanism  17 , which are all movable, can move the larger-diameter drums  2  through  5  smoothly during their positional adjustment because the drums (or the frame  12 ) are linked to be movable relative to each other.  
         [0075]     The fitting mechanism  19  disposed on the second longer side of the frame  12  is provided with a mechanism for positional adjustment of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  in the back-and-forth and up-and-down directions. For this reason, the positional adjustment of only the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  within the frame  12  can be accomplished in the back-and-forth and up-and-down directions independent of the larger-diameter drums  2  through  5 .  
         [0076]     The provision of the three legs  21  enables the drum set  1  to be stably arranged on the floor or the like when in transit or in storage. It is also possible to roughly adjust the positions of the drums in a state in which the drum set  1  is arranged on the floor. Moreover, the legs  21  are detachable. Therefore, it is possible to use the drum set with the legs removed, so that there is no possibility for the legs  21  to obstruct performance.  
         [0077]     The present invention can also be implemented in the following mode.  
         [0078]     Although the frame  12  in the foregoing embodiment is supposed to be formed in a rectangular shape, it is possible to dispense with the first longer side  31 .  
         [0079]     In the first adjusting mechanism  15 , only one larger-diameter drum  2  is supported by the elbow piece  34 . In this configuration, too, as the larger-diameter drum  2  and the larger-diameter drum  3  are fixed by the first fixing mechanism  13 , the larger-diameter drum  3  can be interlocked with the larger-diameter drum  2 .  
         [0080]     The first fixing mechanism  13  and the second fixing mechanism  14  are dispensed with. Thus, as the elbow piece  34  in the linking mechanism  15  also functions as means of fixing the relative positions of the larger-diameter drum  2  and the larger-diameter drum  3 , there can be no adverse effect on the operations of the drums  2  and  3 .  
         [0081]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a link  111  turnably fitted to the frame  12  is used in place of the bracket  36  in an alternate embodiment in accordance with the invention. In this configuration, the link  111  turns and moves while turning the elbow piece  34 , and accordingly the drum  2  moves rightward.  
         [0082]     As also shown in  FIG. 13 , the linking mechanism  17  is fixed to the frame  12  to cause it to move linearly in the back-and-forth directions. More specifically, the linking mechanism  17  is positioned within a slit  113  in a plate  112  extending forward from the frame  12 . In this case, in adjusting the left and right larger-diameter drums  2  and  5  in the lateral direction, the two larger-diameter drums  3  and in the center area  4  are prevented from deviating sideways. Therefore, the positions of the drums  3  and  4  in the lateral direction can be kept constant relative to the frame  12  all the time.  
         [0083]     Furthermore, the stability of the supporting device against external forces is also increased. Moreover, the four turning portions to the right and left (the turnable portions at both ends of the link  111 ) can be turned without being shaky. Since this configuration requires no locking mechanism, screwable adjustment is done only in one central position, and the operation is therefore easy.  
         [0084]     Furthermore in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the larger-diameter drum  3  and the larger-diameter drum  4  are fixed by the linking mechanism  17  to be unable to move relative to each other. The first adjusting mechanism  15  and the second adjusting mechanism  16  link, out of the larger-diameter drums  2  and  3  (or  4  and  5 ), the drum  2  or  5  to be able to turn independently. The first adjusting mechanism (or the second adjusting mechanism) is configured of the single link  111  for turnably linking the larger-diameter drums  2  and  5  to the frame  12 , and the linking mechanism is fixed to the frame  12 . In adjusting the positions of the left and right larger-diameter drums  2  and  5  in the lateral direction, the two central larger-diameter drums  3  and  4 , as they are fixed to each other, cannot be displaced in the back-and-forth direction.  
         [0085]     The positions of the legs  21  can be altered as appropriate. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 13 , they can as well be positioned at three points on the frame  12  in a well balanced way.  
         [0086]     The legs  21  may be of another type instead of a screw arrangement. If they are not shaky when fitted and can be readily detached, any other appropriate configuration will be acceptable. For instance, in order to prevent shakiness, rubber cushions can be placed in the fitting positions of the legs  21 .  
         [0087]     The number of the smaller-diameter drums  6  and  7  may be only one. Even in this case, a single drum can be arranged by using the fitting mechanism  19  as shown in  FIG. 14 . In this arrangement, a cap  107  (indicated by a two-dot chain line in  FIG. 14 ) can be placed in the drum-absent part of the connector  93 . Furthermore, the number of larger-diameter drums  2  through  5  can also be altered as appropriate.  
         [0088]     In each of the holders  18 , the cylindrical portion  71  and the connecting portion  72  may as well be separately configured. More specifically, a base plate  108  independent of the frame  12  is disposed as shown in  FIG. 15 . The cylindrical portion  71  is arranged to be slidable in the lateral direction along a slit  109  formed in this cylindrical portion base plate  108 . Further, the connecting portion  72  having the rotation shaft  73  is fixed to the base plate  108 , and a hook  110  disposed on the frame  12  is engaged with the rotation shaft  73  from above. This configuration enables the cylindrical portion  71  to be independently slidable.  
         [0089]     In this other embodiment, the movement direction of the right and left cylindrical portions  71  is limited to the lateral direction. Accordingly, there will be no deviation of the cylindrical portions  71  in the right-and-left direction, with the result that the J-rod  10  of the carrier  8  can be readily linked to the cylindrical portions  71 .  
         [0090]     Furthermore, a player can first link to the J-rod  10  a mechanism configured of the cylindrical portions  71 , the plate  108  and the connecting portion  72 , and fit the drum set  1  by engaging the hook  100  on the rotation shaft  73  from above. In other words, the procedure needs only the step of fitting the base plate  108  to the carrier  8  and that of fitting the frame  12  supporting the drums to the plate  108 , and fitting is therefore much facilitated.  
         [0091]     The sequence of positional adjustment of the drums can be altered as appropriate. For instance, rough positional adjustment in the back-and-forth and right-and-left directions can be accomplished in a state with the drums placed on the floor, followed by fitting of the drum set  1  supported by the support device  11  and fine adjustment procedures including the adjustment of angles. The positions of the drums can be adjusted in the back-and-forth direction after they are adjusted in the lateral direction.  
         [0092]     The embodiments described herein are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.