Abstract:
An apparatus for adapting the size of a drum comprises a cylindrical body extending between first and second ends and having a central passage therethrough, the first end defining a first opening adapted to receive a first drum therein and the second end defining a second opening adapted to receive a second drum therein. A method for adapting the size of a drum comprises locating an input drum within a first opening through the first end and locating an output drum within a first opening through the second end. The input and output drums may have one face removed therefrom exposing an open end for insertion into the apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to drums general and in particular to an apparatus for reducing the input size of the bass drum, while maintaining a larger outboard face. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Kick drums are bass drums which are played with a beater attached to a pedal, providing the deep bass sound in a music ensemble. Bass drums may be in the range of 16-40 inches in diameter and have two heads or faces. The inboard face of a kick drum is directed towards the percussionist while the outboard face is directed towards the audience. A membrane stretched over the inboard face resonates when impacted with the beater, and the vibrations within the drum subsequently vibrate another membrane stretched over the outboard face. 
     To allow a percussionist to play multiple percussion instruments at once, an assortment of instruments are physically arranged together in a drum kit or drum set. Drum kits include several percussion instruments, which often include the bass drum, played with a foot pedal, a snare drum mounted on a stand in front of the player and played with drum sticks, two or more toms, also on stands, played with sticks or brushes, a hi-hat cymbal played with a foot pedal, and one or more cymbals played with sticks. More or less percussion instruments may be included in the drum kit. 
     The drum kit is commonly arranged such that the percussionist can access all instruments from one position. This may require that some of the instruments are “stacked” so that they may be within reach. In many drum kits, the snare drum and toms are positioned very close to, or above, the bass drum, depending on the size of the drummer. When the bass drum diameter is large, the other instruments may not be easily stacked above it as the resulting elevation of the instruments could not be easily accessed by the percussionist. In this case, the bass drum may be shifted away from the percussionist, resulting in a longer leg reach to the pedal. Therefore, with a larger bass drum, the increased elevation of the stacked instruments or the extended leg reach to access the bass drum is an inconvenience for the percussionist. Conversely, however, smaller bass drums may be less desirable for some drum kits and drummers due to the higher frequency of such drums. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a apparatus for adapting the size of a drum comprising a cylindrical body extending between first and second ends and having a central passage therethrough, the first end defining a first opening adapted to receive a first drum therein and the second end defining a second opening adapted to receive a second drum therein. 
     The first opening may be smaller than the second opening. The first opening may be axially offset from the second opening. An axis of the first opening may be lower than an axis of the second opening. 
     The first opening may be located in an entrance portion of the cylindrical body. The second opening may be located in an exit portion of the cylindrical body. The entrance portion may be positioned to have a bottom thereof proximate to a bottom of the exit portion. 
     The first opening may be secured to an input drum. The first opening may be sealed around the input drum. The second opening may be secured to an output drum. The second opening may be sealed round the output drum. The first and second opening may expand to distal edges thereof. 
     The apparatus may further comprise a frustoconical connecting portion between the entrance and exit sections. 
     According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a method for adapting the size of a drum comprising providing a cylindrical body extending between first and second ends and having a central passage therethrough, locating an input drum within a first opening through the first end and locating an output drum within a first opening through the second end. 
     The input drum may have an output face removed from an output end thereof prior to insertion within the first opening. The output end of the input drum may be inserted into the first opening. The input drum may have an input face removed from an input end thereof prior to insertion within the second opening. The input end of the output drum may be inserted into the second opening. 
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of a drum kit with the apparatus installed on the bass drum, 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the kick drum adaptor. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the kick drum adaptor of  FIG. 2  as taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an end view of the kick drum adaptor of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a drum assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of drum assembly of  FIG. 1  according to a further embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus for connecting two bass drums of differing diameters is generally shown at  10 , installed within a drum set  8 . A first or input drum  100  is positioned or aligned within a first end  12  of the drum adaptor  10 , while a larger second or output drum  102  is positioned or aligned within a second end  14 , as will be described in more detail below. The illustrated assembly allows for output drum  102  to be played using soundwaves generated when beater  104  strikes input drum  100 , thereby producing a lower frequency sound than would result from the smaller diameter input drum  100  alone. By utilizing an input drum  100  of smaller diameter than output drum  102 , the drum set can be configured as illustrated, with additional drums positioned above input drum  100 , mounted by any known means, such as on a bass drum mount or on stands, by way of non-limiting example. Wherein such additional drums may be positioned lower than otherwise possible. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , an apparatus  10  for connecting two bass drums of differing diameters comprises a body  20  extending between first and second ends,  12  and  14 , respectively, with a bottom generally indicated at  16  and a top generally indicated at  18 . The body  20 , has an interior surface  22  and an exterior surface  24 , and is comprised of an input portion  26  extending along an input axis  38  proximate to first end  12 , an output portion  30  extending along an output axis  39  proximate to the second end  14 , with a middle transition portion  28  therebetween. Input portion  26  and output portion  30  are both cylindrical in shape, with middle transition portion  28  having a generally oblique frustoconical shape, which may have an offset distance  32  between the input axis and output axis  38  and  39 , as shown in the illustrated embodiment. By way of non-limiting example, the offset distance may selected to be up to 8 inches (203 mm) although it will be appreciated that other dimensions may be useful to permit the input drum  100  to be spaced above the ground by a distance sufficient to facilitate being struck by a beater as is commonly known. Middle transition portion  28  could be stepped or have any other shape, as well. 
     The inner surface  22  of the body  20  defines an interior passage  40  therethrough having entrance opening  42  and exit opening  44 . The diameter of entrance opening  42  is less than the diameter of the exit opening  44 , with the middle transition portion  28  having a gradually increasing diameter, from a starting diameter equal to that of the diameter of input portion  26  to an ending diameter equal to that of the diameter of output portion  30 . The diameter of entrance opening  42  is sized such that the shell of input drum  100  fits within, allowing a slip fit. The diameter of exit opening  44  is sized such that the shell of output drum  102  fits within, allowing a slip fit. By way of non-limiting example the difference between such diameters may be selected to be up to ½ inch (13 mm) although it will be appreciated that other distances may be useful as well. As noted, the middle transition portion  28  may have an offset distance  32 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The offset distance  32  is such that the lower edges of input drum  100  and output drum  102  proximate to bottom  16  are offset a small distance, bottom offset distance  34 , such as, by way of non-limiting example, up to 8 inches (203 mm), raising input drum  100  off of the floor to allow for optimal placement of the foot pedal and beater  104 , while output drum  102  rests on the floor at bottom  16 , whereas the top offset distance  36  between the upper edges of input drum  100  and output drum  102  is larger, by way of non-limiting example, up to 16 inches (406 mm), although it will be appreciated that other offset distances may be useful, as well, depending on the diameters of input and output drums  100 ,  102 . 
     The length of body  20  may be, such as, by way of non-limiting example, in the range of 6-20 inches (152-508 mm), although it may be appreciated that other lengths may be useful, as well depending upon the size of the drums used as well the method of connecting thereto. The length of input portion  26  may be such as, by way of non-limiting example, in the range of 2 to 10 inches (51 to 254 mm), to allow for installation of the input drum  100 . The length of output portion  30  may be such as, by way of non-limiting example, in the range of 2 to 10 inches (51 to 254 mm), to allow for installation of the output drum  102 . The length of middle transition portion  28  may be such as, by way of non-limiting example, example, up to 16 inches (406 mm) although other distances may also be selected depending upon the transition shape and sizes of the input and output drums. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of the assembly of the bass drum of  FIG. 2 . To fit the drums  100 ,  102  into the drum adaptor  10 , the output head  110 , output head hoop  112  and the plurality of output head mounting lugs  114  of the input drum  100  must be removed prior to assembly. Output drum  102  is a similar configuration to input drum  100 ; the input batter head  120 , input batter head loop  122  and the plurality of input batter head mounting lugs  124  of the output drum  102  must be removed prior to assembly. The shell  130  of input drum  100  is engaged within input portion  26  through entrance opening  42 , leaving the input batter head  120  and associated mounting parts exterior to the drum adaptor  10 . The body  20  may also include one or more gasket  106  applied to the interior surface  22  within input portion  26  to allow for a sealed fit of input drum  100 . Fasteners  108 , as commonly known may also be included on the exterior surface  24  of input portion  26 , to which the drum shell  130  may be secured by any known means. The shell  132  of output drum  102  is engaged with exit opening  44 , leaving the output head  110  and associated mounting parts exterior to drum adaptor  10 . The body may also include one or more gasket  106  applied to the interior surface  22  within output portion  30  to allow for a sealed fit of output drum  102 . Fasteners  108  as commonly known in the art may be included on the exterior surface  24  of output portion  30 , to which the drum shell  132  may be secured by any known means. Although the illustrated embodiment of the invention allows for two bass drums to be mounted within drum adaptor  10 , it can be appreciated that the drum adaptor  10  could be configured in an alternate embodiment, including mounting lugs secured to the drum adaptor body  20  such that the input batter head  120 , input batter head hoop  122 , output head  110  and output head hoop  112  may be mounted directly onto drum adaptor  10 . It will also be appreciated that although the input and output drums are illustrated as being full length, the length of such drums may be shortened by removing a portion of the open ends thereof to reduce the overall length of the finished assembly. Body  20  may range in thickness from 1/32 to ½ inches (1 to 13 mm). Body  20  may be comprised of a wide variety of materials, such as, by way of non-limiting example, fiberglass, wood, composite wood fibre and resin or plastic, although it may be appreciated that other materials may be useful, as well. The body may be formed by any known method, such as, by way of non-limiting example, molding or machining. It will also be appreciated that the body  20  may be co-formed with the drums as a unitary construction. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a cross sectional view of the assembled drum is illustrated. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the body  20  may include one or more gaskets  106  on each of the input and output portions  26  and  30  to provide a sealed fit with the input and output drums  100  and  102 . The gaskets  106  may be adhered in place or otherwise secured between the body and the drums in by any known method. It will also be appreciated that other sealing methods may also be used. Although two gaskets are illustrated in  FIG. 6 , it will be appreciated that one or more than two on each end may also be useful. After insertion of the input and output drums therein, fasteners  108  may be passed through bores  109  in body  20  to pass through corresponding bores in the drums. It will be appreciated that the bores in the drums may comprise existing drums utilized for the previous assembly of the drum or may comprise newly bored holes therethrough for assembly with the body  20 . As set out above, the input and output portions  26  and  30  of the body may be substantially cylindrical. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , however, one or both of these portions may include a widening taper so as to be larger at the entrance and/or exit opening  42  and  44 . Such taper will facilitate ease of installation of the drums therein and ensure a snug fit by permitting the drum to be pressed into the body  20  until such a snug fit is reached. By way of non-limiting example it has been found that a taper of up to 1 inch (25 mm) increase in diameter has been useful although it will be appreciated that other dimensions may be useful as well. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.