Abstract:
A strainer system includes an adjustable slide assembly that can be used as a strainer side assembly or a butt side slide assembly for tensioning a snare that will not detune due to sympathetic vibrations. The strainer system may also be configured to easily control the amount of snare contact with the bearing edge on both the strainer side and the butt side of the shell body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/330,519, filed on May 2, 2016. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to percussion instruments having a snare assembly, and more particularly relates to a snare strainer and tuning system for precisely tensioning the snare wires and controlling the snare wire contact with a bearing edge of the percussion instrument. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
         [0004]    A percussion instrument such as a drum includes a top side or batter head seated on an upper end of a shell body with an upper hoop and a bottom side or resonant head seated on a lower end of the shell body with a lower hoop. The upper and lower hoops are secured to the shell body with upper and lower tension rods threaded into tension posts attached to the side of the shell body. The tension rods are also used to adjust the pitch and tonal character of the drum. 
         [0005]    A drum may be provided with a snare for producing a sharp staccato sound when the head of the drum is struck. The snare includes a rattle element of wires, cables or gut strings that can be brought into contact with a head of a drum, typically the resonant head. A strainer assembly includes a strainer or snare side plate and a butt side plate secured to opposite sides of the shell body and is used to attach the snare to the drum. The snare side plate typically includes a throw-off mechanism for engaging and disengaging contact between the snare and the snare head. The snare side plate may also include a mechanism for adjusting the tension in the snare, which affects the tone of the snare. 
         [0006]    In some set-ups, the rattle element of the snare extends over the edge of the shell body. In these set-ups, the interface between a portion of the shell body edge, also called the bearing edge, and the snare can significantly affect the tone of the snare. Conventional percussion instruments have a stationary horizontal edge, typically formed on the strainer plate and butt plate castings, which are fixed at a predetermined position, and do not permit precise set-up of the bearing edge/snare wire interface for further adjusting the pitch and tonal character of the drum. 
         [0007]    Sympathetic vibration is a persistent issue that percussionists deal with on a regular basis. When a drum is struck multitudes of competing sympathetic vibrations are generated that will act to detune the drum heads and the strainer assembly. The tensioning mechanism in conventional designs tends to lose snare tension and thus detune as a result of the sympathetic vibrations generated when the drum is played. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a snare strainer system configured to precisely set and maintain the tension of the snare without any significant detuning due to sympathetic vibrations. 
         [0008]    In addition, it is desirable to provide a strainer system configured to easily control the amount of snare contact with the bearing edge of the shell body. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a strainer system includes an adjustable slide assembly that can be used as a strainer side assembly or a butt side slide assembly for tensioning a snare that will not detune due to sympathetic vibrations. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the adjustable slide assembly includes a slide platform having a slide rail with a channel formed therein and a bracket extending from the slide rail. A slide is supported on the slide platform and includes a body having a beam received in the slide rail channel and a pressure plate configured to secure the snare to the slide. A snare tensioner operably couples the slide to the slide platform to selectively position the slide thereon. The snare tensioner includes a tension rod having a first portion with at least one flat region formed therein and a threaded region extending to a first end of the tension rod. A second portion of the tension rod extends through an aperture formed in the slide rail bracket. A knob is disposed on a second end of the second portion of the tension rod. A collar is disposed around the tension rod and captures the slide rail bracket between the knob and the collar. An insert housing is fixed to the slide body and has a tangential slot and a longitudinal bore formed therein. The longitudinal bore includes a threaded portion receiving the threaded region of the tension rod. An elastic clip extends over the insert housing and has a detent section located in the tangential slot that extends into the longitudinal bore. The tension rod is rotatable in the insert housing to a detent position such that the detent section engages the flat region and the elastic clip resists further rotation or counter-rotation of the tension rod within the insert housing to eliminate detuning. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, a percussion instrument includes a drum having a shell body, a batter head seated on an upper end of the shell body with an upper hoop and a resonant head seated on a lower end of the shell body with a lower hoop. A strainer assembly includes a strainer slide assembly secured to the shell proximate the lower end, and a butt side slide assembly secured to the shell proximate the lower end and diametrically opposite the strainer slide assembly. A snare has a first end secured to the strainer slide assembly, a second end secured to the butt side slide assembly and a rattle extending between the first and second ends and in contact with the resonant head. Each of the strainer and butt side slide assemblies includes a slide platform having a slide rail with a channel formed therein and a bracket extending from the slide rail. A slide is supported on the slide platform and includes a body having a beam received in the slide rail channel and a pressure plate securing the ends of the snare to the slide. A snare tensioner operably couples the slide to the slide platform to selectively position the slide thereon. The snare tensioner includes a tension rod having a first portion with at least one flat region formed therein and a threaded region extending to a first end of the tension rod. A second portion of the tension rod extends through an aperture formed in the slide rail bracket. A knob is disposed on a second end of the second portion of the tension rod. A collar is disposed around the tension rod and captures the slide rail bracket between the knob and the collar. An insert housing is fixed to the slide body and has a tangential slot and a longitudinal bore formed therein. The longitudinal bore includes a threaded portion receiving the threaded region of the tension rod. An elastic clip extends over the insert housing and has a detent section is located in the tangential slot that extends into the longitudinal. The tension rod is rotatable in the insert housing to a detent position such that the detent section engages the flat region and the elastic clip resists further rotation or counter-rotation of the tension rod within the insert housing to eliminate detuning. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a strainer system is provided which is configured to easily control the amount of snare contact with the bearing edge on both the strainer side and the butt side of the shell body. 
         [0013]    In yet another embodiment, a slide assembly includes a slide platform including a slide rail having a channel formed therein and a bracket extending from the slide rail. A slide includes a body having a beam received in the slide rail channel to slideably support the slide on the slide platform. A pressure plate is configured to secure the snare to the slide. A snare tensioner operably couples the slide to the slide platform and selectively positions the slide thereon. A plate is configured to secure the slide assembly to the percussion instrument. The plate includes a base attached to the slide platform in a fixed position, wherein the slide rail is spaced apart from the base. A pair of vertical straps extends from the base, and a horizontal slide tube extends between the pair of vertical straps and is vertically positionable along the pair of vertical straps for adjusting the amount of snare contact with the bearing edge of the shell body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a drum with a strainer assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a drum including the strainer assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a strainer slide assembly; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an expanded view of the strainer slide assembly shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross section taken through line V-V shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the butt side slide assembly; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an expanded view of the butt side slide assembly shown in  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a partial cross section taken through line VIII-VIII shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
       [0023]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. There is no intention to be limited by any principle presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a drum  10  includes a batter head (not shown) seated on a upper end of a shell body  12  with an upper hoop  14  and a resonant head  16  seated on a lower end of the shell body  12  with a lower hoop  18 . The upper and lower hoops  14 ,  18  are secured to the shell body  12  with upper and lower tension rods  20 ,  22  threaded into tension posts  24  attached to the side of the shell body  12 . The tension rods  20 ,  22  are also used to adjust the pitch and timbre/tone quality of the drum  10 . 
         [0026]    A strainer assembly  26  includes a strainer or snare side slide assembly  28  and a butt side slide assembly  30  secured to opposite sides of the shell body  12 , which are used to attach a snare  32  to the drum  10 . The snare side slide assembly  28  includes a throw-off linkage  46  for engaging and disengaging contact of the snare rattle  34  with the resonant head  16  and the snare bed  44 , thus minimizing or eliminating the effects of the snare  32  on the timbre/tone quality of the drum  10 . Except for the throw-off linkage  46 , the snare side slide assembly  28  and the butt side slide assembly  30  are structurally and functionally similar. As such, the term slide assembly may be used herein to refer to either the snare side slide assembly  28  or the butt side slide assembly  30 . 
         [0027]    A snare  32  includes a rattle  34  having a plurality of fine coiled wires  36  (or cables, or gut strings) and a plate  38  attached at each end of the snare wires  36 . A strap  40  extends from one plate  38  and is secured to the snare side slide assembly  28 . A strap  42  extends from the other plate  38  and is secured to the butt side slide assembly  30 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the plates  38  of the rattle  34  are located outboard of the shell body  12  such that the snare wires  36  extends over the snare bed  44  formed in the bearing edge  46  of the shell body  12 . The slide assemblies  28 ,  30  are configured to position the snare  32  into contact with the resonant head  16  for producing a sharp staccato sound when the batter head of the drum  10  is struck. 
         [0028]    With reference now to  FIGS. 3-6 , the snare side slide assembly  28  will be described, and with reference to  FIGS. 7-10 , the butt side slide assembly  30  will be described. In this context, common elements found in the snare side slide assembly  28  and the butt side slide assembly  30  are given the same or similar reference numbers. In these figures, the snare side slide assemblies  28  and the butt side slide assembly  30  are collectively referenced as slide assembly  50 . The slide assembly  50  includes a plate  52 , a slide  54  and a snare tensioner  56 . The plate  52  has a base  58  configured to abut the shell body  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the snare side slide assembly  28  includes a slide platform  60 S having two posts  62 S extending from a slide rail  64 S and terminating at feet  66 S. As shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , the butt side slide assembly  30  includes a slide platform  60 B having two posts  62 B, extending from a slide rail  64 B and terminating at feet  66 B. Mounting bolts  68  extend through the feet  66 S/ 66 B, base  58  and shell body  12 . A washer, lock washer and nut (collectively  70 ) threadably engage the mounting bolts  68  for securing the slide assembly  50  to the shell body  12 . 
         [0029]    The plate  52  includes a pair of vertical straps  72  projecting generally perpendicular from the base  58  and terminating at a distal region  74 . A slot  76 , which is generally parallel to a plane define by the base  58 , is formed in the distal region  74 . A horizontal slide tube  78  extends between the pair of vertical straps  72 . A pair of shoulder bolts  80  extend through the slot  76  and are threaded into the slide tube  78 . The shoulder bolts  80  are configured to slide in the slot  76  such that the slide tube  78  is vertically positionable along the pair of vertical straps  72 . Once the slide tube  78  is located in a desired position relative to the snare bed  44 , the shoulder bolts  80  are tightened to secure the slide tube  78  therein. As presently preferred, the slot  76  extends for a length of 0.75″ for vertically adjusting the position of the slide tube  78 . 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIGS. 3-6 , a channel  82 S is formed in the side walls of the slide rail  64 S and a bearing slot  84 S is formed through the major face of the slide rail  64 S. An slider  86 S has a slide rail bracket  88 S extending therefrom. The slider  86 S is received in the bearing slot  84 S such that the slide rail bracket  88 S extends from the major face of the slide rail  64 S. The slide rail bracket  88 S has an aperture  90 S formed therethrough. With reference to  FIGS. 7-10 , a channel  82 B is form in the side walls of the slide rail  64 B. A slide rail bracket  88 B is affixed to and extends from a major face of the slide rail  64 B and has an aperture  90 B formed therethrough. 
         [0031]    With reference again to  FIGS. 3-10 , the slide  54  includes a slide body  92  having a longitudinal groove  94 , which defines an inner surface  96 , formed in a bottom face of the slide  54 . Channels  98  cut into opposite sides of the inner surface  96  and form a longitudinal beam  100  on each side of the longitudinal groove  94 . As best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 10 , the beams  100  are received in the slide rail  82 S/ 82 B to slideably support the slide  54  on the slide platform  60 S/ 60 B. A pressure plate  102  is releasably secured to a top face of the slide body  92  and is releasably secured to the slide  54  with a pair of machine screws  104 . The straps  40 ,  42  of the snare  32  are positioned between the slide body  92  and the pressure plate  102  and the machine screws  104  are tightened. In this way, the pressure plate  102  provides an attachment interface configured to secure the snare  32  to the slide  54 . 
         [0032]    The snare tensioner  56  operably couples the slide  54  to the slide platform  60 S/ 60 B to selectively position the slide body  92  on the slide rail  60 S/ 60 B. The snare tensioner  56  includes an insert housing  106  positioned within the longitudinal groove  94  and fixed to the slide body  92 . The insert housing  106  has a circumferential groove  108  and a longitudinal bore  110  formed therein. As portion of the circumferential groove  108  extends through the wall of the insert housing  106  to form a tangential slot  108 ′. An elastic clip  112  extends around the insert housing  106  in the circumferential groove  108 . The insert housing  106  may be welded into the longitudinal groove  94  of the body  92  after the elastic clip  112  is properly positioned. A detent section  114  of the elastic clip  112  is positioned in the tangential slot  108 ′ and extends into the longitudinal bore  110 . As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the middle portion of the elastic clip  112  is the detent section  114  and two legs  112 . 1 ,  112 . 2  wrap around the insert housing  106  and bias the detent section  114  into the tangential slot  108 ′. In this regard, the elastic clip  112  may be described as generally D-shaped. 
         [0033]    The snare tensioner  56  further includes a tension rod  116  with a first portion  118  extending from a first end  120  and having threaded regions  122  with interposed flat regions  124  formed therein. A collar  126  is located onto the tension rod  116  at the end of the first portion  118  opposite the first end  120  and secured there with a roll pin  128 . A second portion  130  of the tension rod  116  extending from the collar  126  to a second end  132  is inserted through the aperture  90  formed in the bracket  88 S/ 88 B. A knob  134  is secured to the second end  132  of the tension rod  116  there with a roll pin  128 . It will be noted that the bracket  88 S/ 88 B is positioned between the collar  126  and the knob  134 . As shown herein, two threaded regions  122 . 1 ,  122 . 2  (collectively  122 ) are formed on diametrically opposite sides (i.e. 0° and 180° as shown in  FIG. 5 ) along the length of the first portion  118  of rod  116 . Two flat regions  124 . 1 ,  124 . 2  (collectively  124 ) are formed on diametrically opposite sides (i.e. 90° and 270° as shown in  FIG. 5 ) along the length of the first portion  118  of tension rod  116 . 
         [0034]    The tension rod  116  is rotatable in the insert housing  106  such that every half turn the detent section  114  engages a flat region  124  (i.e., a detent position). In this way, the elastic clip  112  resists further rotation or counter-rotation of the tension rod  116  within the insert housing  106  to prevent unwanted detuning of the snare  32 . If a tension adjustment is desired, the tension rod  116  is rotated and the threaded region  122  elastically deforms the clip  112  and forces the detent section  114  out of the longitudinal bore  110 . Continued rotation each half turn will position the tension rod  116  back into in a detent position. One skilled in the art will recognize that the number of flat sections may vary depending on the number of detent positions per rotation as required for a given specification or configuration. 
         [0035]    As presently preferred, the tension rod  116  has a relatively large diameter (e.g., 5/16″) and a relatively fine thread count ( 24  threads per inch) for maximum engagement between the elastic clip  112  and the tension rod  116 . In addition, the insert housing  106  and the tension rod  116  are preferably made using 0/1 tool steel, which will not only maintain structural/functional tolerance but will also significantly reduce the likelihood that the tension rod  116  may become cross-threaded in the insert housing  106 . As a result, these parts will have an increased dimensional stability, higher strength, and thus increased functionality for eliminating detuning of the snare  32 . 
         [0036]    As mentioned above, the snare side slide assembly  28  includes a throw-off linkage  46  for engaging and disengaging contact of the rattle  34  with the resonant head  16  and the snare bed  44 . With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the throw-out linkage  46  is configured as a sliding rocker mechanism including a throw-out lever  136  and a pivot link  138  in combination with the slider  86 S supported in the bearing slot  84 S. The throw-out lever  136  is a class  2  lever pivotally connected to the slide rail  64 S at a point on an axis defined by the butt side slide  84 S (i.e., the bearing slot axis) with a shoulder bolt  140 . 1 . A handle  142  is attached to a second end of the throw-out lever  136  with a machine screw  144 . A lobe  146  is formed at an intermediate point on the throw-out lever  136  (i.e., between the two ends). The pivot link  138  is pivotally connected at one end to the slider  86 S with a shoulder bolt  140 . 2  and pivotally connected at the opposite end to the lobe  146  with a shoulder bolt  140 . 3 . 
         [0037]    In a snare-engaged position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the throw-out lever  136  rests against the post  62 S and the throw-out linkage  46  is in an over-center position to lock in the snare-engaged position. Specifically, the geometry of the throw-out linkage  46  is such that in the snare-engaged position, the slider  86 S is near the top of the bearing slot  84 S and the pivot defined by shoulder bolt  140 . 3  has been rotated past the bearing slot axis to place the throw-out linkage  46  (specifically the pivot defined by shoulder bolt  140 . 3 ) in the over-center position. To disengage the snare  32  (i.e., a snare-disengaged position), the throw-out lever  136  is rotated in a clockwise direction (as seen in  FIG. 1 ), which counter-rotates the pivot link  138  and moves the slider  86 S down in the bearing slot  84 S. The snare-disengaged position is defined by the length of the bearing slot  84 S, which sets the travel of the slider  86 S in the slide rail  64 S. As described above, the slide  54 , which is coupled to the slider  86 S through the snare tensioner  56  and the bracket  88 S, is operable for enabling selective contact of the snare  32  to the resonant head  16  based on positioning of the throw-out lever  136 . 
         [0038]    The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.