Patent Publication Number: US-8110730-B2

Title: Keyless drum tuning device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to devices for tuning musical instruments. More particular, this invention relates to devices for tuning a musical drum. Even more particularly, this invention relates a mechanism for keyless tuning or tensioning drum heads of musical drums to modify the sound of the drum. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Musical drums typically comprise a hollow cylindrical drum shell with a vibratory membrane or drum head stretched tightly over one end or both ends to define a resonant cavity within the shell. When a drum head is struck, it vibrates with a particular resonance, and this vibration is transmitted to the air within and outside of the cavity, as well as through the shell. The sum of these vibrations is perceived as the sounds produced by the drum. 
     Each of the drum heads has a larger diameter than the shell so that it may overlap the outer periphery of the shell and be secured against the periphery by a counter-hoop or rim that fits tightly over the end of the shell. Typically, the rims are bolted, or secured to a bracket that is affixed to the shell, or similarly fastened to the shell. The bolting or bracketing mechanisms typically require a key or wrench device that is used to tighten the rim to the shell so as to tension the drum head such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,172,578 (Gladstone), U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0046637 (Meinl), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,179 (Wright). 
     With the passage of time and as a drum is played, the tension of the drum heads on the shell may decrease due to stretching of the drum heads or loosening of tensioning devices that are attached to the shell. This change in tension will affect the sound produced, and will make it necessary to adjust the tension of the drum head to “tune” the drum to obtain the desired degree of tension, and consequently, the desired sound which the drum can produce. 
     Various keyless tuning mechanisms have been devised such as U.S. Pat. No. 775,711 (Turney), U.S. Pat. No. 1,995,066 (Hiers), U.S. Pat. No. 2,173,443 (Schuman), U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,988 (Mayo), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,463 (Bartlett). Each of these provide a complex mechanism that has many interlocking parts. Some of these parts are springs, inserts, and gears that will rattle and buzz when the drum head is struck causing corruption of the tonal quality of the drum. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of this invention is to provide a device for single handed keyless tuning of musical drum. 
     Further, another object of this invention is to provide a device for stationary in situ tuning of a drum in its operating stand or position. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a device for tuning a musical drum while preventing extraneous noise from inserts or springs. 
     Still further, another object of this invention is to provide a tuning device for a musical drum that allows ease of assembly and disassembly of the head from a musical drum. 
     To accomplish as least one of these objects, a keyless drum tuning device includes a lug bracket attached to a shell of the musical drum. The keyless tuning device has a tensioning fastener that is removably connected to a tensioning counter-hoop or rim of the musical drum and passes through an opening in the lug bracket. The keyless drum tuning device includes an adjustment mechanism that is affixed to the tensioning fastener. The adjustment mechanism is in contact with the lug bracket and is varied to modify the tension in the tension fastener. 
     In some embodiments, the lug bracket has an opening to accept a connecting fastener that joins the lug bracket to the musical drum shell. In some of these embodiments, the opening in the lug bracket is threaded to accept a threaded fastener having pan shaped head to secure the lug bracket to the drum shell. In some embodiments, the connecting fastener has a washer between its pan shaped head and the drum shell and the washer is sufficiently sound absorbent to acoustically cushion the drum shell from the lug bracket. In most embodiments, the connecting fastener is a metal fastener such as brass, stainless steel, or chromium plated steel. In various embodiments, the lug bracket has a connecting fastener formed within the lug bracket to be placed in an opening within the drum shell and secured to the drum shell with a fastening device to secure the lug bracket to the drum shell. In other embodiments where the drum shell is an acrylic plastic, the lug bracket is affixed to the drum shell with an adhesive. In still other embodiments where the drum shill is a metal such as brass or steel, the lug bracket is affixed with a brazed or welded bond. 
     In other embodiments, the tensioning fastener is a bolt having a locking head structure to secure the tensioning fastener to the tensioning counter-hoop of the musical drum. In alternative embodiments the tensioning fastener is a threaded rod having a locking mechanism to secure the tensioning fastener to the tensioning counter-hoop. In still other embodiments, the tensioning fastener is a metal, for instance brass, stainless steel, or chromium plated steel. 
     In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism is a knurled knob having fine thread to provide a fine adjustment of the tension of the head of the musical drum. In various embodiments, the adjustment mechanism has multiple detents that are seated into indentations of a bottom surface of the lug bracket to maintain the tension in the head of the musical drum to prevent the adjustment mechanism from being reversed and relaxing the tension in the head of the musical drum. 
     In various embodiments the tensioning fastener is a fiber reinforced plastic where the fiber is carbon fiber. In some embodiments where the tensioning fastener is a fiber reinforced plastic, the adjustment mechanism is a fiber reinforced plastic where the fiber is carbon fiber. 
     In other embodiments a musical drum has at least one vibratory membranous head. The at least one membranous head is secured to a drum shell of the musical drum with a tensioning counter-hoop that fits over a bearing edge of the drum shell. Where the tensioning counter-hoop forces the membranous head to stretch to tune the drum. 
     The musical drum includes a plurality of keyless drum tuning devices. Each of the keyless drum tuning devices includes a lug brackets attached to a shell of the musical drum. The keyless tuning device has a tensioning fastener that is removably connected to a tensioning counter-hoop of the musical drum and passes through an opening between a top surface and a bottom surface of the lug bracket. The keyless drum tuning device includes an adjustment mechanism that is affixed to the tensioning fastener. The adjustment mechanism is adjusted to contact the bottom surface of the lug bracket to modify the tension in the tension fastener. 
     In some embodiments, the lug bracket has an opening to accept a connecting fastener that joins the lug bracket to the musical drum shell. In some of these embodiments, the opening in the lug bracket is threaded to accept a threaded fastener having pan shaped head to secure the lug bracket to the drum shell. In some embodiments, the connecting fastener has a washer between its pan shaped head and the drum shell and the washer is sufficiently sound absorbent to acoustically cushion the drum shell from the lug bracket. In most embodiments, the connecting fastener is a metal fastener such as brass, stainless steel, or chromium plated steel. In various embodiments, the lug bracket has a connecting fastener formed within the lug bracket to be placed in an opening within the drum shell and secured to the drum shell with a fastening device to secure the lug bracket to the drum shell. In other embodiments where the drum shell is an acrylic plastic, the lug bracket is affixed to the drum shell with an adhesive. In still other embodiments where the drum shill is a metal such as brass or steel, the lug bracket is affixed with a brazed or welded bond. 
     In other embodiments, the tensioning fastener is a carriage bolt having a locking head structure to secure the tensioning fastener to the tensioning counter-hoop of the musical drum. In alternative embodiments the tensioning fastener is a threaded rod having a locking mechanism to secure the tensioning fastener to the tensioning counter-hoop. In still other embodiments, the tensioning fastener is a metal including brass, stainless steel, or chromium plated steel. 
     In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism is a knurled knob having fine thread to provide a fine adjustment of the tension of the head of the musical drum. In various embodiments, the adjustment mechanism has multiple detents that are seated into indentations of a bottom surface of the lug bracket maintain the tension in the head of the musical drum to prevent the adjustment mechanism from being reversed and relaxing the tension in the head of the musical drum. 
     In various embodiments the tensioning fastener is a fiber reinforced plastic where the fiber is carbon fiber. In some embodiments where the tensioning fastener is is a fiber reinforced plastic, the adjustment mechanism is a fiber reinforced plastic where the fiber is carbon fiber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  is an illustration of an embodiment of a musical drum showing keyless drum tuning devices. 
         FIG. 1   b  is a cross sectional diagram of an embodiment of a musical drum showing keyless drum tuning devices. 
         FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  are perspective drawings of lug brackets of embodiments of keyless drum tuning devices. 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are perspective drawings of the adjustment mechanism of various embodiments of the keyless drum tuning device. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of a tensioning fastener of various embodiments of the keyless drum tuning device. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the keyless drum tuning device. 
         FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are drawings of the tensioning hoop keyless tuning device illustrating locking features to secure the keyless tuning device to the counter-hoop for tuning the musical drum. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of a musical drum have multiple keyless drum tuning devices. Each of the keyless drum tuning devices includes a self-locking lug bracket that is secured to the hollow cylindrical shell of the musical drum. A tensioning mechanism is linked to a counter-hoop or rim of the musical drum and connected to the lug bracket. A fine adjustment device is attached to the tensioning mechanism and placed to be in contact with the lug bracket. The fine adjustment device is repositioned with respect to the tensioning mechanism to move the counter-hoop to increase the tension of the membranous head. In some embodiments, the lug is a cast or machined metal fastener having an opening to receive the tensioning mechanism. In certain embodiments, the tensioning mechanism is a threaded rod or bolt having fine threads and a locking feature. The locking feature secures the tensioning mechanism to the counter-hoop. The fine adjustment device in specific embodiments is a knurled knob that is threaded on the threads of the rod and adjusted to be in contact with a bearing surface of the lug bracket such that, when adjusted, the knurled knob increased tension in the tensioning mechanism to force the counter-hoop to stretch the membranous head to tune the drum to raise or lower the tonal pitch or the drum. 
       FIG. 1   a  is an illustration of an embodiment of a musical drum showing keyless drum tuning devices.  FIG. 1   b  is a cross sectional diagram of an embodiment of a musical drum showing keyless drum tuning devices. The musical drum  5  has a hollow cylindrical body shell  10  or frame that is generally formed of wood or metal. In some embodiments, the body shell  10  may be a fiber reinforced plastic. A membranous head  15  is a covering constructed of a plastic membrane (i.e. mylar), an animal skin, or the like. A head hoop or flesh hoop  17  is attached to the periphery of the membranous head  15 . The membranous head  15  with its head hoop  17  is placed over one or both of the end openings of the body shell  10 . A counter-hoop  20  attached to the periphery of the membranous head  15  in contact with the head hoop  17 . The membranous head  15  is stretched to be tightened or tensioned by adjusting the tensioning fastener  35  such that when struck the drum provides a resonant sound. 
     Multiple keyless drum tuning devices  25  are secured to the body shell  10  and connected to the counter-hoop  20 . When the multiple keyless drum tuning devices  25  are adjusted, the counter-hoop  20  is moved is such a way the membranous head  15  is appropriately stretched to tune the membranous head to produce the desired sound. Each of the multiple keyless drum tuning devices  25  is adjusted separately to produce a more uniform sound over the surface of the membranous head  15 . 
     The multiple keyless drum tuning devices  25  each have a lug bracket  30  that is attached to the body shell  10 .  FIGS. 2   a - 2   d  are perspective drawings of lug brackets  30  of embodiments of keyless drum tuning devices. In the embodiments as shown, the lug bracket  30  is a block that has an opening  55  that is formed from a bottom surface  50  to a top surface  45  to receive the tensioning fastener  35 . The top surface  45  in some embodiments is angled (shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  or curved as shown herein. In other embodiments, the bottom surface  50  and the top surface  45  are parallel. The lug bracket  30  has a back surface  50  into which a threaded opening  65  is placed to receive a fastener  57  of  FIG. 1   b . The fastener  57  is, in some embodiments, a fine threaded pan headed screw and may have a washer  59  to provide a secure connection of the lug bracket  30  to the body shell  10  while providing sound insulation of the fastener  57  from the body shell  10 . Alternately, in other embodiments, the lug bracket may have a connecting fastener integrated into the back surface  50  (not shown). The integrated connecting fastener is passed through an opening in the body shell  10  and is secured by a fastening device such as a nut to secure the lug bracket  30  to the body shell  10 . In other embodiments where the drum shell is an acrylic plastic, the lug bracket is affixed to the drum shell with an adhesive (not shown). In still other embodiments where the drum shill is a metal such as brass or steel, the lug bracket is affixed with a brazed or welded bond (not shown). 
     The tensioning fastener  35  passes through the counter-hoop  20  and thence through the opening  55  of the lug bracket  30 . The tensioning fastener  35  is secured to the lug bracket with the adjustment device  40 . In some embodiments, the bottom surface  50  of the lug bracket  30  has a notch  70  or a bulge or lump to provide an increase in the retaining friction for the knurled knob  40 . Increasing the retaining friction of the knurled knob  40  inhibits the backing off or reversing the knurled knob&#39;s  40  position on the tensioning fastener  35 . 
       FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are perspective drawings of the adjustment device  40  of various embodiments of the keyless drum tuning device. The adjustment device  40  is a cylindrical knob that has a threaded opening  100  that will accept the tensioning mechanism  35  of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b . The cylindrical knob of the adjustment device  40  has is knurled grooves  110  or ridges. In still other embodiments, the cylindrical knob may have fluting on its side to provide a gripping surface for hand adjustment of the tension of the membranous head  15 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2   d  and  3   b , in some embodiments, the lug bracket  30  has at least one ridge  70  that mates with the grooves  115  impressed into the surface of the adjustment device  140 . As the adjustment device  140  is turned the ridge  70  of the lug bracket  30  slides over the top surface  155  to mate with the grooves  115 . The ridge  70  and the grooves  115  act as stops that prevent detuning of the drum during use. The tension of the membranous head  15  acts as a spring force that forces the ridge  70  into one of the grooves  115  to increase the friction and provide a positive feedback sensation during the tuning of the drum. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective drawing of a tensioning fastener  35  of various embodiments of the keyless drum tuning device. The tensioning fastener  35  is linked to the counter-hoop  20  of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b . of the musical drum  5  and is connected to the lug bracket  30 . The adjustment device  40  is attached to tensioning fastener  35  and placed to be in contact with the lug bracket  30 . The tensioning fastener is a metal rod and has a fine threaded region  90  that mates with the fine threads of the threaded opening  100  of the adjustment device  40 . In some embodiments, the fine threaded region  90  has a machine thread type of from approximately 20 threads per inch to approximately 40 threads per inch. The larger number of threads per linear inch of the fine threaded region  90  implies a finer adjustment in the tuning of the musical drum  5 . In various embodiments, the metal rod may be brass, stainless steel, or chromium plated steel. In various embodiments the tensioning fastener  35  is a fiber reinforced plastic where the fiber is carbon fiber. In some embodiments where the tensioning fastener  35  is a fiber reinforced plastic, the adjustment mechanism  40  is a fiber reinforced plastic where the fiber is carbon fiber. 
     The tensioning fastener  35  has a head  80  that is sufficiently large to secure the tensioning fastener  35  to the counter-hoop  20 . The head  80  may be a rounded head or flattened pan head and generally has no slot or philips drive region.  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are drawings of the musical drum  5  illustrating locking features  150  to secure the keyless tuning device  25  of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  to the counter-hoop  20  for tuning the musical drum  5 .  FIG. 6   a  shows a perspective view of the musical drum  5  without the adjustment device  40  of  FIG. 3   a  or  3   b  and the tensioning fastener  35  of  FIG. 4  in place. Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  6   a , and  6   b , the locking features  150  are openings in the counter hoop that are sufficiently large to allow the tensioning fastener  35  to pass through the opening. The tensioning fastener  35  has a locking element  85  formed under the head  80 . The locking feature  150  is sufficiently large to allow the locking element  85  of the tensioning fastener  35  to pass through counter hoop  20 . In the embodiment as shown, the locking element  85  is a square neck that prevents the tensioning fastener  35  from rotating. In some embodiments, the tensioning fastener  35  is commonly termed to be a carriage bolt. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the keyless drum tuning device  25  as positioned on a musical drum  5 . Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6   a , the tensioning fastener  35  is passed through the locking feature  150  and then through the opening  55  of the lug bracket  30 . The adjustment device  40  is placed on the tensioning fastener  35  and the adjustment device  40  is repositioned with respect to the tensioning fastener  35  to move the counter-hoop  20  to increase the tension of the membranous head  15  to tune the drum to raise or lower the tonal pitch of the musical drum  5 . 
     The keyless drum tuning device  25  with the lug bracket  30  attached to the shell  10  and the tensioning fastener  35  attached to the counter-hoop  20  and the lug bracket  30  with the adjustment device  40  offers a very precise, one hand, stationary fine tuning of any musical drum with better resistance to de-tuning. There are no overtones or buzzing to interfere with microphone recording or live performance sound, since there are no inserts or springs to rattle or buzz when the musical drum  5  is hit. The keyless drum tuning device  25  further provides for speed of assembly or disassembly for changing the membranous head  15 . The adjustment device  40  is quickly removed from the tensioning fastener  35  and the counter-hoop  20  to allow the removal of the counter-hoop  20  from the rim of the body shell  10 . The membranous head  15  can then be removed and another replaced over the rim of the body shell  10 . The counter-hoop  20  is then replaced and the tensioning fastener  35  is then placed through the locking feature  150  of the counter-hoop  20 . The adjustment device  40  is threaded on the tensioning fastener  35 . The adjustment device  40  on each of the keyless drum tuning devices  25  on the drum are then hand adjusted by the user turning the adjustment device  40  on the tensioning fastener  35  to tune the drum. 
     The keyless drum tuning device  25  permits in situ stationary tuning of the musical drum  5 . The musical drum  5  remains in its operational position on a stand or mount during the tuning process. In musical drums with top and bottom heads, this is particularly convenient in that the top and bottom heads are tuned while in place. This prevents the natural resonance of the body shell  10  of the musical drum  5  from being muted while being held by hand during tuning. This is especially valuable for tuning the bottom membranous head  15  of snare drums where the snare wires should not be in contact with the head and creating “snare buzz” during the tuning process. 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance the lug bracket  30  is shown as being secured with a single fastener  57  to the body shell  10  in  FIG. 1   b . In other embodiments there may be multiple fasteners securing the lug bracket  30  to the body shell. The tensioning fastener  35  is shown with a locking element  85  that is a square neck of a carriage bolt. In other embodiment the locking element  85  may have any desirable shape for securing the tensioning fastener  35  to the counter-hoop  20 .