Abstract:
Bongo drum apparatus that includes a stand, an integrating interconnection between the bongo drums, and a clamp for clamping the stand to the integrating interconnection.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/759,593, filed Jan. 17, 2006. 

   This invention relates generally to supporting of percussion instruments such as bongo drums during performances, and more particularly to collapsible support apparatus, that can be quickly extended to support such drums, during performances. 
   There is need for such apparatus that can be collapsed for transport, that can quickly be extended when needed, and that is adjustable, for example to change or adjust height of the drums to suit the drummer, and also to adjust lateral positioning and tilting of the drums. There is also need for a way to allow expansion of the apparatus to a pre-set, or pre-adjusted position, so that the drum support need not be adjusted each time the drummer installs his drumming equipment at performance locations. 
   Also needed is a way to adjustably support a pair of bongo drums, which are rigidly interconnected. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a major object of the invention to provide improved apparatus meeting the above need, and comprising: 
   a) a stand, 
   b) an integrating interconnection between the bongo drums, 
   c) and a clamp for clamping the stand to said integrating interconnection. 
   Another object is to provide the support to extend between the bongo drums, and positioned to be urged upwardly, with the two drums, and into engagement with a clamp member carried by the stand to engage an upper surface of the support. This allows for provision of a clamp adjuster extending from the clamp at an accessible level below the support. 
   A further object is to provide clamp linkage elements adjustable to exert upward loading on the drums to thereby urge the support upwardly against said member. Such linkage elements typically may include first links having pivotal operative connection to an upright component of the stand, to be swung upwardly beneath the levels of the drums and urge the drums and said support upwardly relative to said clamping member. The linkage elements may include second links having pivotal operative connection to the first links and connection to a pusher associated with said upright component, whereby upward displacement of the pusher relative to the stand causes said first links to be swung to urge the drums upwardly. 
   Yet another object includes provision of protective pads on the first links to engage lower edge portions of the drums, the first links extending generally oppositely relative to the stand. 
   An added object includes provision of a stand that includes a main upright post, said upright component offset laterally from said post. Adjustable means may be carried by the post, and carrying the upright component for controllably tilting the drums, in unison. As will be seen, the adjustable means may include a laterally extending part, and a bearing carried by the post, said part carrying the upright component and said bearing carrying said part to allow swiveling thereof about a lateral axis. 
   Further, level adjusting means may be provided to adjust the relative levels of said linkage elements whereby the levels of the drums are also adjustable during clamping of the support by said member. 
   A yet further object is to provide dual drum apparatus that comprises 
   a) a stand, 
   b) a structural support that extends between and connects to side walls of the dual drums, 
   c) and adjustable clamp means carried by the stand and clamping to said support and to bottom rims of the dual drums, to hold the drums in position relative to the stand. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 

   
     DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of apparatus incorporating a preferred form of the invention, the apparatus expanded or deployed for use; 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the  FIG. 1  apparatus in collapsed condition, as for transport; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged side view showing two bongo drums, and their interconnection; 
       FIG. 4  is a view taken on lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged plan view showing adjustable clamping means acting on the two drums and on a support that interconnects the drums; 
       FIG. 6  is an elevation taken on lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is another elevation taken on lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a percussion instrument stand  10  extends in upright position, to be supported by legs  11 - 13 . Those legs may be hinge connected to the stand  10 , as at hinge locations  11   a - 13   a , to be folded into generally parallel relation to the stand, as for transport. See  FIG. 2 . Stabilizing links  14  may be used, and hinge connected to the legs at  114   a , and to the stand lower extent at  114   b , enabling folding toward the stand. The stand  10  may have telescoping sections  10   a  and  10   b , with a set screw  18  to be tightened to hold the sections at selected extensions. 
   Linkage elements are provided, including first links  21  having operative connection to the stand, as via an upright component or shaft  22 , so that the links  21  are swingable upwardly beneath the levels of the drums, to urge the drums upwardly along with a structural support  23 . That support extends between the two drums  24  and  25  to rigidly interconnect them. The outer ends of the first links  21  carry struts  60  and  61  that in turn carry L-shaped protective L-shaped pads  26  and  27  that engage and support lower edge portions of the two drums. See  FIGS. 5 and 6  also showing link pivotal connections  21   a  to collar  21   b  on post  22 . 
   The linkage elements also include second links  28  with upper end pivotal operative connection to the first links, as at  28   a , and lower end pivotal operative connection at  28   b  to a pusher  30 . The pusher is associated with the upright component or shaft  22  which is offset laterally from the stand  10 . That offset relationship allows for inclusion of adjustment mechanism, generally indicated at  31 , and which enables adjustment swiveling of the upright component or post  22  and the drums, about X, Y and Z axes, which extend in a three-dimensional coordinate rectangular relationship, whereby the drums, such as bongo drums, may be adjustably swiveled universally, as well as swiveled, to best fit the drum player&#39;s arm position requirements and drum addressing requirements. 
   It will be noted that as the drums and structural support  23  are urged upwardly, they become clamped in a position spacially fixed relative to upright component  22 . See  FIG. 6 . This occurs because the upper surface  23   a  of support  23  comes into clamped engagement with the under surface  40   a  of an L-shaped clamping member  40 . The latter extends upwardly from a connection at  41  to the post  22  (see  FIG. 7 ), to a laterally extending portion  40   b  of member  40 , as shown. The linkages are urged upwardly by rotation of the pusher  30  (for example an adjusting nut). The latter may have threaded connection to post  22 , as at  44 , seen in  FIG. 7 , to be moved up or down as it is adjustably rotated. Use of threads prevents inadvertent up or down travel of the nut, and inadvertent tilting of the drums. 
   As referred to above, adjustable means is carried by the stand  10 , for carrying the post  22 , to adjust its position in multiple dimensions. For example, the post  22 , and drums, can be rotatably adjusted about multiple axes X and Y of the X-Y-Z rectangular coordinate system, thereby to selectively tilt the drums universally. 
   See for example laterally extending part  50  (such as a shaft) connected between the stand  10  and the post, and the bearing structure  51  located operatively between the part  50  and the stand  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , when a clamp handle  52  is loosened, the bearing allows part  50  to be rotated about the X axes, to tilt the drums about that axis. 
   The bearing structure also allows adjustment tilting of part  50  and post  22  about the Y axis, when the clamp handle  52  is loosened, that axis being at right angles to the X axis. The bearing structures may also allow rotation of the part  50 , post  22  and drums about an upright Z axis, defined by stand  10 , when the clamp handle is loosened. Tightening of that handle, fixes  20  and  50  in swiveled adjusted position, in space, whereby the drums are both swivel accommodated in multiple dimensions, to the drummer, and to be fixed in position. 
   The disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/933,443, filed Sep. 3, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.