Patent Publication Number: US-7915507-B2

Title: Methods and apparatus for mounting cymbals

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos.: 60/866,088 entitled “Method and Apparatus for Mounting Cymbals” filed Nov. 16, 2006; 60/912,520 entitled “Washer for Cymbal Mounting Arrangement” filed Apr. 18, 2007; 60/954,165 entitled “Cymbal Mounting Arrangement With Improved Strength,” filed Aug. 6, 2007; and 60/973,822 entitled “Cymbal Mounting Arrangement” filed Sep. 20, 2007. The disclosures in those provisional patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to improvements in mounting cymbals on cymbal stands. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional stands for mounting cymbals comprise a rod or pole having a threaded section at its upper end that is inserted through a central aperture in the cymbal. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.: 1,607,769 (Meyer); 3,994,198 (Herman); 4,216,695 (Hoshino); 4,526,083 (LeMert); and 5,808,217 (Liao). The disclosures in those patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The cymbal typically rests on an annular shoulder that may be formed as a diametrically widened section of the rod, and is secured to the rod by a wing nut, or the like, that threadedly engages the threaded upper section of the rod. It is conventional for an annular cushion of felt or similar material to serve as an intermediate support and is disposed about the rod immediately below the cymbal. The rod is typically provided with a tripod lower section for supporting the rod on a floor or other surface; see, for example, the aforementioned Herman patent. The wing nut arrangement permits the cymbal to be readily removed from the stand for storage or transport and to be mounted on other stands. 
     The cymbal, in use, must be mounted on the rod in a manner to prevent the mounting from damping the vibrations when the cymbal is struck. The extent to which the wing nut is tightened is often a matter of preference for each percussionist. In other words, the cymbal should be able to tilt or wobble somewhat when struck to the extent desired by the percussionist. When so mounted, the interior annular edge defining the cymbal aperture tends to wear against the rod as the cymbal wobbles until the aperture becomes irregular in shape and/or too large for suitable mounting purposes. This problem is tacitly recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 2,163,949 (Kiemle) in which a resilient rubber plug is disclosed and adapted to be mounted on the top of the cymbal stand. The plug includes a small diameter intermediate neck portion that extends through the cymbal aperture and requires a separate grommet to be inserted into the cymbal aperture and surround the plug neck. The Kiemle arrangement does not permit the cymbal to be readily removed from the stand and, if removed, the plug remains on the stand, not with the removed cymbal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a pliable and resilient mounting grommet is secured to a cymbal, rather than to the cymbal stand, in the cymbal central aperture and includes a relatively large diameter base or lower portion, a reduced diameter neck and an annular upper flange of greater diameter than the neck and the cymbal aperture. A central bore extends longitudinally through the grommet and has a diameter approximately equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the upper portion of a conventional cymbal support stand. The one-piece unit, preferably integrally molded, is mounted on the cymbal by resiliently distorting the upper flange while forcing that flange through the cymbal aperture. Once the grommet is inserted, the annular edge of the cymbal aperture is securely disposed between the grommet base and upper flange. In this manner the mounting grommet is readily removed from the stand along with the cymbal for storage, transport or mounting on another stand. The grommet protects the annular edge of the cymbal aperture from wear against the rod of the support stand during use without restricting desired tilt or wobble. The wing nut that threadedly engages the upper end of the rod can be tightened to the desired degree by resiliently compressing the upper flange of the grommet longitudinally downward along the rod. 
     In many instances it is desirable to utilize the grommet of the present invention with a washer disposed below the grommet on the support stand rod to provide a base support that prevents the grommet from slipping past the annular stop or shoulder that is provided on the rod to establish the vertical position of the cymbal. In some cases there is no such washer on the support rod due to the fact that it may have been lost or not provided when the stand was purchased. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a non-metal rigid washer may be permanently bonded to the bottom surface of the grommet to serve the function of preventing the grommet from slipping past the annular stop or shoulder. 
     Another aspect of the present invention involves strengthening the grommet to reduce wear and tear. In particular, a strengthening material is embedded in the neck or small diameter portion of the grommet, preferably by an insert molding process. The material is preferably a mesh sleeve which can be similar to woven steel braiding used for coaxial cable shielding but is preferably not metallic. Examples of preferred material for the mesh sleeve are carbon nanotubes, aramid (i.e., aromatic polyamide) fibers such as KEVLAR, high strength glass fibers, graphite fibers, graphite whiskers and silicon carbide fibers or graphite fibers. Metal, although not a preferable material, may also be used. Broadly speaking, the fiber material may be any fiber suitable for the described strengthening function and for embedding in the grommet during molding. 
     The grommet of the present invention is configured to have a radially small top flange so that the grommet can be installed easily in the cymbal aperture, and also to minimize the contact area with the cymbal surface. However, if a standard attachment wing nut is used, the “thumb wings” of the nut extend radially well beyond the circumference of the grommet top flange. In extreme circumstances a cymbal could deflect enough to contact one of the extended nut wings. One solution to this problem would be to place a standard felt washer between the grommet (or the cymbal mounted without such a grommet) and the attachment nut. Unfortunately the soft nature of the felt does not allow the proper mounting pressure to be applied to the grommet, resulting in reduced life of the grommet. There is also the issue of the larger diameter of the felt spacer overhanging the smaller top flange of the grommet and contacting the top of the cymbal. Thus, the reduced contact concept of the grommet of the present invention would be somewhat compromised. Additionally, it can be said that any object extending into a desired playing area of the cymbal reduces that available playing area. Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention involves the use of a thumbscrew, rather than a wing nut, having a rubber or plastic compound base section to contact the cymbal, or the grommet if the grommet is used. The thumbscrew is used to attach the cymbal and at the same time enhance the usefulness of the grommet the present invention, if such a grommet is used. The thumbscrew places a focused area of sufficient pressure on the grommet to minimize excessive tilt of the cymbal and thus improve the wear performance. Eliminating the need for a top felt washer means that fewer parts are required and also keeps the contact area of the mounting device on the cymbal to a minimum. Further, use of the thumbscrew allows for a percussionist to strike the cymbal closer to its center without impedance, if desired. 
     The above and still further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following definitions, descriptions and descriptive figures of specific embodiments thereof wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components. While these descriptions go into specific details of the invention, it should be understood that variations may and do exist and would be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the descriptions herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view in section of a prior art cymbal mounting arrangement. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view in section of a cymbal and a first embodiment of a grommet according to the present invention shown during the initial part of the procedure for attaching the grommet to the cymbal. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view in section of the cymbal and grommet of  FIG. 2  shown during a subsequent portion of the procedure for attaching the grommet to the cymbal. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view in section of the cymbal and grommet of  FIG. 2  shown with the grommet attached to the cymbal. 
         FIG. 5  is a view in perspective showing the grommet of the present invention being grasped by a hand prior to attachment of the grommet to a cymbal. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view in section of another grommet according to the present invention with a washer bonded thereto. 
         FIG. 7  is a view in perspective of the washer of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is an elevation view in section of the grommet of  FIG. 6  with an interior reinforcing member. 
         FIG. 9  is a view in perspective of the reinforcing member of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is an elevation view in section of a cymbal mounting arrangement using the grommet of  FIG. 6  tightened by a wing nut. 
         FIG. 11  is an elevation view in section of a cymbal mounting arrangement using the grommet of  FIG. 6  tightened by a thumb screw according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a view in perspective of the thumb screw on  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is an elevation view in section of a cymbal mounting arrangement using the grommet of  FIG. 2  tightened by a wing nut, 
         FIG. 14  is a view in elevation of a cymbal stand with which the present invention is used. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed explanations of  FIGS. 1-14  and of the preferred embodiments reveal the methods and apparatus of the present invention. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 14 , a conventional prior art cymbal stand  1  typically includes a support rod or post  2  which terminates at its upper extremity in a reduced threaded end portion  3  over which a standard cymbal  4  can be fitted and secured in place by a wing nut fastener  5  ( FIG. 14 ). Wing nut fasteners are generally used in the music industry to secure the cymbal  4  in place on the conventional stand  1 . Alternatively, as described in the Hoshino patent and as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an internally threaded reversible fastener  7  ( FIG. 1 ) with a self-contained cymbal-retaining flange may be employed to secure the cymbal in place. A washer-like rounded metal disc or cup  8  is typically fitted against a small shoulder  9  on the rod  2  and serves as the vertical support for the cymbal  4 . A felt washer or pad  11  may be fitted over the reduced end portion  3  of the rod  2  so that it rests on the cup  8  to serve as a buffer to cushion the cymbal  4 . Conventional means are provided, as shown in  FIG. 14 , to tilt and raise or lower support rod to the percussionist&#39;s preference relative to a tripod floor mount. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-5  and  10 , a cymbal support member of the present invention is in the form of a grommet-like member  20  made of resiliently flexible material such as rubber or a suitable polymer. The grommet-like member  20  has a central longitudinal axis (see arrow  24 ) and includes a short generally cylindrical base portion  21  having an outside diameter larger than the diameter of the cymbal central aperture  17 . A top portion  22  of member  20 , having a cylindrical configuration, also has an outside diameter larger than the cymbal central aperture diameter. A neck portion  23  extends from and between the base and top portions, is generally cylindrical, and has an outside diameter smaller than the cymbal central aperture diameter. A central longitudinal bore  25  is defined along the central longitudinal axis through the entireties of the base, top and neck portions, and has a diameter equal to or slightly larger than the diameter the threaded section of the support rod. 
     Top portion  22  is resiliently flexible and is normally configured to permit it to be temporarily compressed between a person&#39;s thumb and forefinger (see  FIG. 5 ) and inserted through the cymbal central aperture  17  from the bottom surface of the cymbal.  FIG. 2  illustrates the initial deformation of the top portion immediately prior to its insertion through the aperture.  FIG. 3  illustrates the top portion deformed as it is passing through the aperture. Once the top portion has been extended fully through aperture  17  it is no longer compressed and is therefore permitted to resiliently return to its uncompressed quiescent or normal configuration. As a result, the neck portion  23  is disposed within aperture  17  and precluded from inadvertent removal therefrom by the flat flange-like configurations of the adjacent surfaces of the larger diameter top and base portions of the member. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , the entire grommet-like member  20  is molded or otherwise formed as a single unit of resilient flexible material. It will be appreciated, however, that only the top portion  22  is required to be resiliently flexible to permit it to be compressed and inserted through the cymbal aperture. Accordingly, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide the neck portion  23  and base portion  21  with different material characteristics, or even different materials, than the top portion material. 
     The resulting structure is a pliable mounting grommet attached to a cymbal at the rim of the cymbal aperture and includes a relatively large diameter base or lower portion, a reduced diameter neck and an annular upper flange top portion of greater diameter than the neck and the cymbal aperture. The cymbal is securely disposed between the grommet base and upper flange. In this manner the mounting grommet is readily removed from the stand along with the cymbal for storage, transport or mounting on another stand. The grommet-like member protects the annular edge of the cymbal aperture from wear against the rod of the support stand during use without restricting desired tilt or wobble. The wing nut that threadedly engages the upper end of the stand rod can be tightened to the desired degree by resiliently compressing the upper flange of the grommet longitudinally downward along the rod. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a felt washer may be used in conjunction with the grommet-like member and placed between the disc  8  and the base portion  21 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-5  and  10  the top surface of the mounting grommet base is a flat annular flange-like member of greater diameter than the upper flange. The top annular surface of the base is of greater diameter than the cymbal aperture so that the interior portion of the cymbal can rest on that surface. The bottom surface of the base is adapted to rest either on a convex support disc conventionally secured to the rod on the support stand or a centrally apertured cushion of felt or other material surrounding the rod in a position between the mounting grommet and the support disc. 
     In a second embodiment the base may have a frustoconical configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 13  wherein the base diverges downwardly and terminates in a relatively large diameter annular bottom surface adapted to rest either on the convex support disc secured to the rod on the support stand or the centrally apertured cushion of felt or other material. 
     For either embodiment, the top portion of the mounting grommet of the present invention can be hand-pressed or snapped through the cymbal aperture such that the neck portion firmly resides in the aperture, allowing the cymbal and grommet to be removed from a support stand as a unit and placed on other support stands. 
     The mounting grommet-like member is compatible with most cymbal mounting systems. If the threaded portion of the support rod is not long enough, a spacer may be used to raise the grommet to a point where the wing nut can make contact with the upper flange of the mounting grommet. 
     Another advantage of the mounting grommet-like member of the present invention is the reduction in mounting parts required compared to prior art mounting arrangements. 
     The mounting grommet  20  contacts the cymbal along a relatively smaller annular area than that occupied by the thick felt spacers commonly employed. This tends to decrease the damping effect on the natural resonance of the cymbal, thereby improving tonal effects. 
     The height of the neck of the mounting grommet is selected to be greater than the thickness of the cymbal at the aperture  17  to allow the cymbal to freely move (i.e., tilt and wobble) in the neck portion. However, the same pliant resilience of the mounting grommet that facilitates its insertion into the cymbal aperture also permits the upper flange to be downwardly compressed by the wing nut sufficiently to restrict tilt and wobble to the extent desired by the percussionist. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a non-metal rigid washer may be permanently bonded to the bottom surface of the grommet-like member to serve the function of preventing the grommet from slipping past the annular stop or shoulder on the support rod.  FIG. 6  also illustrates a different possible configuration for the top portion of the grommet member, which configuration is not limited to use with the bonded washer. More specifically, grommet-like member  30  includes a short generally cylindrical base portion  31  having an outside diameter larger than the diameter of the cymbal central aperture  17 . A top portion  32  of member  30 , having a frustoconical configuration, also has an outside diameter at its bottom end larger than the cymbal central aperture diameter. A neck portion  33  extends from and between the base and top portions, is generally cylindrical, and has an outside diameter smaller than the cymbal central aperture diameter. A central longitudinal bore  35  is defined along the central longitudinal axis of the member through the entireties of the base, top and neck portions, and has a diameter equal to or slightly larger than the diameter the threaded section of the support rod. Bore  35  widens in a single stepped manner proximate the lower end of base portion  31  to define a downwardly-facing recessed annular shoulder. A washer  34  is in the form of a flat annular disc having a central aperture with a diameter corresponding to that of aperture  35 . A raised annular section  36  on the top surface of the washer is configured to fit precisely against the recessed annular shoulder in the bottom surface of member  30  when the washer and member  30  are placed in abutting relation. Washer  34  is bonded to member  30  by any suitable means depending on their materials. Since the washer is preferably non-metal, the parts may be bonded during a molding process. Alternatively one may use adhesive, heating, ultrasonic welding, or any other suitable technique. The raised annular section  36  provides enhanced lateral stability for the washer relative to member  30 . The washer enhances the duty life of the grommet-like member. By using non-metal material for the washer, the washer is rendered more compatible than a metal washer for use with the rubber or polymer grommet-like member. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, and as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , strengthening material is embedded in the neck or small diameter portion of the grommet-like member. In the preferred embodiment the strengthening material takes the form of a mesh sleeve that, for example, can be similar to woven steel braiding used for coaxial cable shielding but preferably not metallic. Examples of preferred material for the mesh sleeve are carbon nanotubes, aramid (i.e., aromatic polyamide) fibers such as KEVLAR, high strength glass fibers, graphite fibers, graphite whiskers and silicon carbide fibers or graphite fibers. Broadly speaking, the fiber material may be any fiber suitable for the described strengthening function and for embedding in the grommet during molding. The sleeve is embedded in the grommet-like member during the member molding process, typically using conventional insert molding techniques. In particular, mesh sleeve  40  of strengthening material is embedded primarily in the neck portion  32  of the grommet-like member, and may extend into the top portion  32  and base portion  31 . Although the strengthening material is preferably in the form of a sleeve to facilitate molding, it can be of any configuration that will provide the strengthening feature without sacrificing the resilient flexibility required for the top portion  32  to be inserted through the cymbal aperture. 
     Another feature of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , involves the use of a thumbscrew, rather than a wing nut, with a rubber or plastic compound bottom section to contact the cymbal. The thumbscrew  50  is used to attach the cymbal and at the same time enhance the usefulness of the grommet-like member described hereinabove, if such a grommet is used. In other words, the thumbscrew feature may be used independently of the grommet-like member, if desired. 
       FIG. 11  shows grommet-like member  20  with a thumbscrew replacing the wing nut and one or more washers  51 ,  52  disposed below the grommet to locate the cymbal at the desired height. The thumbscrew is preferably made of metal with integrated interior threads to engage the threaded upper end  3  of the cymbal support rod  2 . The outer surface of the thumbscrew is preferably knurled or serrated to facilitate gripping and turning. A composite bottom portion  54  is bonded to the thumbscrew bottom and is made from rubber or suitably soft plastic material. Alternatively, the entire thumbscrew may be made of one or more plastic sections of different Durometer, the upper part being harder than the required softer bottom section. 
     Although the embodiment of  FIG. 11  is shown using the thumbscrew  50  with a soft bottom section  54  in an assembly that includes the grommet-like member  20 , it must be stressed that the present invention encompasses the use of such a thumbscrew for mounting and securing cymbals without a mounting grommet-like member. 
     As previously noted, the grommet-like member of the present invention need not have a cylindrical base portion. An example of such a member is illustrated in  FIG. 13  wherein the base portion  21   a  is in the form of a frustoconical member having a periphery that diverges from the neck portion  22 . 
     Although rubber is the preferred material for the grommet-like member of the present invention, it is to be understood that there are numerous polymer materials that have characteristics suitable to achieve the functions and structure described above. 
     The structure depicted in the drawings are conceptual and do not necessarily illustrate physical and dimensional relationships. 
     Having described preferred embodiments of new and improved methods and apparatus for mounting cymbals, it is believed that other modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.