Patent Publication Number: US-10319351-B2

Title: Device for preventing loosening of a drum&#39;s tension rod

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application relates and claims priority to Applicant&#39;s U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/469,561, filed Mar. 10, 2017, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is directed generally to tension rods on drums and more particularly to devices to prevent drum tension rods from loosening while playing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Drums, and particularly snare drums, include a set of tension rods that extend between the top and bottom heads of the drum and serve to tune the drum. Once at the desired tension/tuning, it is desirable that the rods not loosen, especially while playing. However, many drummers hit the drum head especially hard and when doing so, the vibration often causes the tension rods in the vicinity of the hit to loosen. This is particularly symptomatic when hitting rim shots as the additional vibration imparted to the rim will often cause the tension rod to loosen. 
     Various solutions have been created to combat the loosening of the tension rods. One is a lug lock that comprises a strip of metal with an opening slightly larger than a typical lug of the tension rod. The lug is passed through the opening and the strip of metal extends to and abuts or engages the rim serving to block/prevent rotation of the lug and hence tension rod. The lug lock will often come loose of the rim and rotate along with the tension rod, thus defeating its purpose. 
     Another solution is a tension rod designed to prevent rotation once set in position. While useful it requires complete replacement of the original drum tension rod with an after- market rod which is expensive and perhaps undesirable if the tuning effect of the after-market rod is less effective/different from that of the original rods. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device that effectively prevents loosening of the tension rods and is easy to install on existing drum hardware. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to a device for preventing loosening of a drum&#39;s tension rods. 
     According to an aspect is a device for use on a circular shaped drum defining a circumference, a drum head that extends in a first plane, a rim that extends around the circumference of the drum, and a plurality of tension rods each of which extends along a rod axis that is perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the device prevents rotation to a drum&#39;s tension rods when installed on the drum. The device generally comprises an elongated body extending along a first axis between first and second ends and having a first opening formed therethrough adjacent the first end and along a second axis that extends perpendicular to the first axis; first and second side edges that extend in spaced relation to one another and between the first and second ends; a second opening that extends through the first side and into the first opening along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes; and a set screw that is movably installed within the second opening and can extend into the first opening. 
     According to an embodiment, the second side comprises a contoured region that comfortably receives a finger to permit ease of turning. 
     In use, the device is placed such that the lug of a tension rod extends through the first opening (after the tension rod has been tuned to the desired tension). The elongated body is positioned with its second edge abutting the rim of the drum. If changing the tension of the tension rod is desired, the device can be removed from the tension rod, the first opening can be placed over the lug with the body extending radially outwardly away from the rim and the user can use it as a wrench to tighten or loosen the tension rod the desired amount. Once retuned, the device can be reinstalled on the tension rod with the second edge again abutting the rim to prevent rotation/loosening of the tension rod. The set screw can be tightened to engage the lug to further ensure the device does not inadvertently become dislodged from the lug. 
     These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the embodiments described below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a device for preventing the loosening of a drum&#39;s tension rod installed on a drum, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the device, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the device, in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure describes a device, designated generally by reference numeral  10 , for use on a circular shaped drum  12  defining a circumference, a drum head  14  that extends in a first plane, a rim  16  that extends around the circumference of the drum  12 , and a plurality of tension rods  18  each of which extends along a rod axis R-R that are perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the device  10  prevents rotation to a drum&#39;s tension rods  18  when installed on the drum  12 . 
     Device  10  comprises an elongated body  20  extending along a first axis X-X between first and second ends  22 ,  24 ; a first opening  26  (shaped as a star or other non-circular shape to permit it to effectively grip a lug head) formed through body  20  adjacent the first end  22  and along a second axis Y-Y that extends perpendicular to first axis X-X; first and second side edges  28 ,  30  that extend in spaced relation to one another and between first and second ends  22 ,  24 ; and a second opening  32  that extends through first side edge  28  and into first opening  26  along a third axis Z-Z that is perpendicular to first, X-X, and second, Y-Y, axes; and a set screw  34  that is movably installed within second opening  32  and is extendable into first opening  26  (where it can engage the lug  36  that is on the top of tension rod  18 ). Set screw  34  secures the connection of device  10  to drum  12  and prevents it from inadvertently coming loose from the tension rod  18 . An Allen key or other conventional wrenching device can be used to move set screw  34 . 
     To install device  10 , the intent is to place one over each lug  36  on drum  12 . A lug  36  is passed through opening  26  once tension rod  18  is at its desired tension. Body  20  is aligned such that axis X-X runs tangentially to the circumference of drum  12  with second side edge  30  abutting rim  16 . Once installed, set screw  34  can be adjusted such that it extends into engaged relation with lug  36 , thereby securing the position of device  10  on tension rod  18 . 
     The second side edge  30  comprises a contoured region  38  that comfortably receives a finger to permit device  10  to be used as a tool to easily tighten or loosen tension rod  18 . To do this, set screw  34  would be drawn back out of engagement with lug  36  and device  10  can be moved relative to tension rod such that it doesn&#39;t extend tangentially to the circumference of drum  10 , but rather radially. Device  10  can then be positioned back on lug  36  and used as a wrench to rotate tension rod  18  to tighten or loosen it as desired. 
     While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.