Patent Publication Number: US-2022238086-A1

Title: Drumhead Tuning Rim System and Method of Use

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation application and so claims the benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 of a prior filed and currently pending U.S. application having Ser. No. 17/062,820 and filing date of Oct. 5, 2020, and entitled “Drumhead Tuning Rim System and Method of Use,” which application is also a continuation and so claims the benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 of a prior U.S. application having Ser. No. 16/716,300 and filing date of Dec. 16, 2019, and entitled “Drumhead Tuning Rim System and Method of Use,” which is now U.S. Pat. No. 10,796,674 issued on Oct. 6, 2020, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to and is entitled to the filing date of a prior U.S. provisional application having Ser. No. 62/780,871 and filing date of Dec. 17, 2018, and entitled “Quick-Change Drum Rim,” the contents of all of which are incorporated in their entireties herein by reference. 
    
    
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     Applicant hereby incorporates herein by reference any and all patents and published patent applications cited or referred to in this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Aspects of this invention relate generally to musical drums, and more particularly to devices for holding and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell and systems incorporating such devices. 
     Description of Related Art 
     As is known in the art, musical instruments generally referred to as “drums” are typically comprised of a drum shell and one or more drumheads. The drum shell is usually a hollow annular body of wood or other material having a certain diameter and length or depth. A drumhead is essentially a membrane, traditionally of animal skin and now more often of synthetic fiber such as polyester, Mylar, Kevlar or other suitable material, that is stretched over one or both open ends of the drum shell so as to vibrate and produce a tone when struck by the hand, a drum stick, or other object. Each drumhead is typically formed with a relatively rigid hoop about its perimeter, which is configured to seat on or about an open end of the drum shell. The drumhead may thus be held in place and in tension on the drum shell by affixing it thereto, either with bolts through metal “claws” attached directly to the hoop of the drumhead or with bolts through holes in a flanged rim that fits over the drumhead hoop and effectively pinches or traps the drumhead hoop between the rim and the drum shell. The bolts, called tension rods, are screwed, as with a drum key, into threaded lugs attached to the drum shell in order to secure and tune the drumhead. Depending on the size and style of the drum, ranging from large bass drums to small toms and the classic snare drum, the drum shell and corresponding rim(s) may be configured with six, eight, or twelve tension rod and lug sets or pairs. 
     One challenge with the prior art system of securing and tuning a drumhead through the conventional tension rod and lug hardware that has been employed for decades is that producing uniform tension all the way around the drumhead hoop or rim as by individually adjusting each tension rod, and thus evenly tuning the drumhead across its entire surface, is difficult and time-consuming. 
     Irrespective of the tuning of a drumhead once it is secured on the drum shell via the rim, another challenge presented by the decades-old prior art system of conventional tension rod and lug hardware for securing a drumhead is that the tension rods must be completely unthreaded and removed from the lugs all the way around the drum in order to fully disengage the rim from the shell and thus be able to remove and replace the drumhead. This obviously is a relatively time-consuming and inconvenient endeavor, particularly when replacing multiple heads and/or for larger drums having more rod-lug pairs, and when a single-point tensioning system is involved such removal and replacement of the rim and drumhead is further complicated. 
     What is needed and has heretofore been unavailable is a more convenient and effective drumhead tuning rim system and method in connection with both tuning and removing or replacing the drumhead. Aspects of the present invention fulfill these needs and provide further related advantages as described in the following summary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention teach certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the exemplary advantages described below. 
     Aspects of the present invention are directed to a drumhead tuning rim system for securing and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell of a drum, comprising a drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a cable tension dial assembly configured for operably engaging a rim of the drum so as to increase or decrease tension on the rim, the rim being configured for seating over the drumhead on the drum shell, and an apparatus controller configured for operably interfacing with the drumhead tuning rim apparatus so as to selectively control the cable tension dial assembly and thereby adjust the overall pitch of the drumhead as by adjusting the tension on the rim. 
     A primary objective inherent in the above-described system and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by the prior art. 
     Another objective is to provide such a system and method that enables uniform tuning of a drumhead through interaction with an apparatus controller rather than the multiple tension rods in prior art drumhead hardware configurations. 
     A still further objective is to provide such a system and method that enables removal or installation of a drumhead through interaction with an apparatus controller and associated loosening or tightening of a single cable rather than threadably disengaging or engaging the multiple tension rods in prior art drumhead hardware configurations. 
     A still further objective is to provide such a system and method that enables electronic tuning of an otherwise conventional drum or drum kit. 
     Other features and advantages of aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of aspects of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate aspects of the present invention. In such drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary prior art drum with drumhead mounting hardware; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof taken from circle “ FIG. 3 ” of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are enlarged partial perspective views thereof in two operative states; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2  in use; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged partial side view thereof; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a further alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof, partially cut-away; 
         FIG. 12  is a reduced-scale exploded perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a still further alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof, partially cut-away; 
         FIG. 15  is a reduced-scale exploded perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a still further alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a partially-exploded perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged partial perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged partial partially-exploded perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 20  is a further enlarged partial perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 21  is an enlarged partial partially-exploded perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 22  is a block diagram schematic representation of a still further alternative embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 23  is a block diagram schematic representation of a still further alternative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects, in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-described drawing figures illustrate aspects of the invention in at least one of its exemplary embodiments, which are further defined in detail in the following description. 
     By way of further background, and with initial reference to  FIG. 1  depicting a typical tom-tom drum as is known and used in the art, the drum A is comprised of a drum shell B and one or more drumheads C stretched over one or both open ends of the drum shell B. The drum shell B is configured with lugs D spaced about its circumference, one row of lugs D for each of the top and bottom rims E. Each such rim E is configured to seat about a hoop or edge (not shown) of the drumhead C and so trap or retain the drumhead C about an open end of the drum shell B. The rim E is formed with a flange having through-holes into which are inserted bolts or tension rods F for threadable engagement with the respective lugs D. As such, the drumhead C is tuned in the prior art drum A by selectively tightening or loosening the tension rods F, whether by hand or using a drum key or other tool (not shown), so as to put the desired amount of tension or stretch on the portion of the drumhead C corresponding to the respective tension rod-lug pair. Depending on the size and style of the drum, there may be from six to twelve or more such pairs of tension rods and lugs that would need to be individually adjusted in an effort to create uniform tension over the entire drumhead and thus tune the drum—in the exemplary prior art drum A there are twelve pairs of tension rods F and lugs D, six on the top and six on the bottom, though only three of the pairs on each of the top and bottom, or six pairs total, are visible in the perspective view of  FIG. 1 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the typical prior art system for securing and tuning a drumhead through a number of such conventional tension rod and lug hardware pairs is relatively difficult to use and time-consuming even for experienced drummers. Therefore, it is desirable that a more simplistic approach to securing and tuning a drumhead be provided. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention as employed in connection with a drum  10  having a drum shell  12  and at least one drumhead  14 . The apparatus  20  comprises, in one embodiment, a rim  30  configured with spaced-apart grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40  about its perimeter and corresponding, spaced-apart grooved bearing wheel lug assemblies  60  installed about the perimeter of the drum shell  12 , with a single cable  90  running alternately between the housing assemblies  40  and lug assemblies  60  and terminating at its opposite ends in a cable tension dial assembly  70  also mounted on the drum shell  12  so as to allow, based on the operative cooperation of such components of the apparatus  20 , securing and tuning of the drumhead  14  on the drum shell  12  as described further below. As shown in  FIG. 2 , where the drum  10  has a drumhead  14  positioned on both ends of its hollow drum shell  12 , two essentially identical drumhead tuning rim apparatuses  20  may be employed in a similar fashion as herein described, one such apparatus  20  associated with each drumhead  14 ; it will be appreciated that where a drum is configured as having only one drumhead with the other end of the drum open, only one such drumhead tuning rim apparatus according to aspects of the present invention would thus be employed. Moreover, as will be appreciated from the below discussion of the alternative embodiment of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in some arrangements a single drumhead tuning rim apparatus may be employed according to aspects of the invention in tuning two opposed drumheads, whether independently or simultaneously. For simplicity throughout the instant Specification, wherever two are shown in the figures, one drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  is described in terms of its construction and use, the second again being analogous structure and essentially a mirror image of the first. However, in particular applications it may be desirable to configure the tuning rim apparatuses differently from one another in one or more respects even on the same drum, such as when a different effect or functionality of one drumhead versus another is desired or where the drum and particularly the drum shell and thus the sizes and shapes of the respective drumheads are not identical or symmetrical. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while a particular configuration of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  is shown and described, the invention is not so limited, but instead may take other forms and involve other components and materials now known or later developed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, it is noted that while further aspects of the present invention relate to a system for the electronic or electro-mechanical tuning of a drum employing a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention, it will be appreciated that such a “system” is more broadly to be understood as any arrangement of components according to aspects of the present invention, whether manually operated, electronically or electro-mechanically operated, or otherwise, such that any and all embodiments presented herein are or define a system according to aspects of the present invention. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , a number of grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40 , six in the exemplary embodiment, are attached or mounted on the rim  30  of the drum  10  at evenly spaced intervals, replacing the traditional tension rod holes formed on the typical hoop rim E ( FIG. 1 ). At substantially equal spacing about the perimeter of the drum shell  12  there are positioned corresponding grooved bearing wheel lug assemblies  60 . 
     It is noted that while in the exemplary embodiment there are six grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40 , there would only be five corresponding grooved bearing wheel lug assemblies  60 , as the sixth position about the perimeter of the drum shell  12  between one pair of housing assemblies  40  would instead be taken by the cable tension dial assembly  70 , more about which is said below in connection with  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In the exemplary embodiment, each such lug assembly  60  is located circumferentially substantially midway between the closest two housing assemblies  40 , though as will be appreciated from alternative embodiments herein, such is not necessary. Moreover, the lengthwise offset distance down the drum shell  12  from the rim  30  at which the lug assemblies  60  are located is substantially equal to the circumferential distance from a particular lug assembly  60  to each adjacent housing assembly  40 , whereby the angle that the cable  90  bends as it goes through each housing or lug assembly  40 ,  60  is approximately ninety degrees (90°), though it will be appreciated that this angle can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the desired configuration of the rim  30  and spacing of the housing assemblies  40  thereabout, the type and length of the drum shell  12  and the resulting position thereon of the lug assemblies  60 , and the intended drumhead  14  and the amount of tension that is to be put on it, such that it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited to the particular positions and spacing of the housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60 , which are merely illustrative of aspects of the present invention. Relatedly, though the housing assemblies  40  are shown as being at substantially the same locations as would be the tension rods F in a conventional drum A as shown in  FIG. 1 , or the lug assemblies  60  at substantially the same locations as would be the lugs D, it will be appreciated that such locations of the housing or lug assemblies  40 ,  60  may vary from those shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is noted that while the present invention is shown and described in connection with installation on a drum  10 , the components of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  may be sold separately from any drum, such as for an aftermarket installation, in which case it is preferable that the lug assemblies  60  and the cable tension dial assembly  70  be configured to be installed in holes already formed in the drum shell B, or in the locations where the lugs D were originally installed, though again this is not necessary. In any case, it will be appreciated that the components of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20 , including the rim  30  with housing assemblies  40  thereabout, the lug assemblies  60 , the cable tension dial assembly  70 , the tensioning cable  90 , and assorted bolts and nuts or other fasteners and the like, may be sold as a kit, whereby any prior art drum A can be converted from a conventional tension rod and lug rim securing and tuning system to a “dial-tune” system according to aspects of the present invention. Therefore, while the present invention is shown and described in the context of installation on a drum  10 , it is to be understood that the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  may exist apart from any such drum, particularly for the purpose of distribution and sales. Relatedly, the housing assemblies  40  of whatever configuration may not only be integrally formed with the rim  30  as by machining, forming, casting, etc. or otherwise permanently mounted thereon as by welding, bonding, etc. but may also be removably engageable with the rim, whether the rim is a prior art rim E as shown in  FIG. 1 , with the housing assemblies  40  installed or engaged with the traditional tension rod holes formed on the typical hoop rim E, for example, or some other rim formed according to aspects of the present invention, such that the housing assemblies  40  may be formed and sold separately for either aftermarket retrofit applications or simply replacement as desired within installations according to aspects of the invention. Such removable housing assemblies  40  may be attached to the rim  30  using any appropriate technique or device now known or later developed, including but not limited to bolt, pin, hook, clip, slot engagement, press-fit, etc., or may be effectively mounted on or operably engaged with the shell, including but not limited to on the lug assemblies  60  specifically, and so removably engage the rim  30 , such as shown and described in connection with the alternative exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 16-21  described further below. More generally, it will again be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any and all such bearing wheel or low friction housing and lug assemblies  40 / 140 ,  60 / 160  as configured and employed in connection with any exemplary embodiments shown and described herein or as otherwise consistent with aspects of the present invention may take any appropriate form and be installed or positioned in any appropriate location on or about the drum  10  without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, with the “housing” and “lug” terminology being adopted nomenclature simply for purpose of reference only, such terms along with “bearing wheel” and “low friction” being illustrative and non-limiting and expressly having nothing to do with traditional lugs D and tension rods F ( FIG. 1 ) other than possibly in some exemplary embodiments being located on the shell  12  or rim  30 ,  31  where such traditional hardware may have originally been installed or could have been. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an enlarged partial perspective view of a portion of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  including one each of a grooved bearing wheel housing assembly  40  and an adjacent grooved bearing wheel lug assembly  60  with the tensioning cable  90  passing therebetween on its way around the entire perimeter of the drum shell  12  alternating between such housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60  as best shown in  FIG. 2 . Each housing and lug assembly  40 ,  60  is thus configured with a grooved bearing wheel  42 ,  62 , respectively, about which the cable  90  runs in a relatively low friction manner as it passes through each component in forming the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20 . In this regard, it will be appreciated that in alternate embodiments the apparatus  20  may not have any wheels  42 ,  62 , but may instead provide other low friction or sliding surfaces on which the cable  90  may run, such as appropriately sized and oriented grooved or notched sliding surfaces. Such sliding-type bearing surfaces may be made of nylon, for example, or any other such low friction material now known or later developed. The cable  90  similarly may be made of a variety of materials now known or later developed, including but not limited to steel, Kevlar® aramid fiber manufactured by DuPont, Spectra® braided high molecular weight polyethylene (“HMPE”) fiber manufactured by Honeywell (e.g., “Spectra Xtreme Braid”), Dyneema® ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”) fiber manufactured by DSM Dyneema, high molecular weight polyethylene (“HMPE”), nylon, fluorocarbon, polyester, and any blends of any such fibers and materials, with or without nylon or other such coatings or polyester or other such covers; in any case, preferably, the fiber employed in the cable  90  is rated to at least 300 pounds tensile strength with a stretch or elongation of less than five percent (5%) at fifty percent (50%) of max loading, though such is not required in all applications or embodiments. The cable  90  is thus a relatively strong, low-stretch, abrasion-resistant material that may be cycled through loading and unloading and hold particular loadings or tensions accurately as effectively having little to no creep over time; the cable  90  may also be pre-stretched or placed under tension for an extended period of time prior to use so as to further enhance its performance or reduce or eliminate elongation or creep. Once more, a variety of such cable materials now known or later developed may be employed in a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. By way of illustration and not limitation, the finished cable  90  may have a nominal diameter in the range of 1/32 in. (0.8 mm) to 3/16 in. (5 mm), relatively thin cable being desirable for bending and wrapping around the take-up shaft  80  of the cable tension dial assembly  70  ( FIGS. 6A and 6B ) and for passing smoothly over the bearing wheel/low friction housing and/or lug assemblies  40 ,  60 ; for example, a Dyneema® or Kevlar® cable  90  may be employed having a nominal diameter of on the order of 1/16″ (1.8 mm), or in the range of about 1.3 to 2.3 mm, though again it will be appreciated that a variety of types of cable, whether now known or later developed, and in a range of sizes may be employed in an apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. The length of the cable  90  may vary widely depending on a number of factors, such as the nominal drum size or diameter, the number and arrangement of any housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60 , and the configuration and placement of the cable tension dial assembly  70 . By way of illustration and not limitation, the cable  90  may be approximately 75 in. (1,900 mm) long for a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  configured for mounting and tuning a drumhead on a nominal 14-inch, 10-lug snare drum. In a bit more detail regarding the exemplary wheeled bearing approach, and with reference now to  FIG. 4 , an enlarged cross-sectional view of the grooved bearing wheel housing assembly  40 , the housing grooved bearing wheel  42  is formed having a housing central axle  44  that seats in opposite housing channels  48  formed in the housing body  46 , such that the housing grooved bearing wheel  42  is rotatably installed within the housing body  46 . At the top of the housing body  46  there is further formed a somewhat downwardly-projecting angled flange  50  defining a somewhat downwardly-opening notch  52  within which a corresponding somewhat upwardly extending circumferential upper rim flange  32  of the rim  30  seats in securing the grooved bearing wheel housing assembly  40  on the rim  30 . It will be appreciated that while such an interference or tongue-and-groove type installation of the grooved bearing wheel housing assembly  40  on the rim  30  is shown and described, virtually any assembly technique for securing the housing assemblies  40  about the rim  30 , whether permanent or selectively removable or now known or later developed, may again be employed in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, including but not limited to set screws, bolts, cross-pins, rivets, adhesives, snaps, slotted engagement, spring clips, spot or tack welding, or crimping. It will be further appreciated that the housing body  46  may take any shape or form as desirable in operably containing the housing grooved bearing wheel  42 , while in the exemplary embodiment such housing body  46  is configured to be relatively low profile and essentially just large enough to house the housing grooved bearing wheel  42  substantially hidden from view, with notches or the like formed in the side walls of the housing body  46  as needed for free movement of the tension cable  90  about the housing grooved bearing wheel  42 ; accordingly, any such housing structure capable of functioning as herein described may be employed in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Furthermore, in alternate embodiments, there may be no such housing body  46  at all, but instead such structure, and the housing grooved bearing wheel  42  or other such low friction contact surface for the cable  90 , particularly, may be integral with the rim  30  itself; for example, in the case of a bearing wheel, it may simply be rotatably mounted on the rim  30  as by having an axle protruding outwardly therefrom, such that it will be appreciated that the configuration of the housing assembly  40  shown and described herein is merely illustrative of aspects of the invention and non-limiting. Again, in other contexts there may be no wheels at all, but instead low friction surfaces for the cable to ride on attached to or otherwise incorporated into the rim. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , another enlarged cross-sectional view, the complimentary grooved bearing wheel lug assembly  60  is shown as being configured similarly to the grooved bearing wheel housing assembly  40 , with a lug body  66  in which is formed, here, one lug channel  68  wherein one end of a lug central axle  64  of the lug grooved bearing wheel  62  is seated. Rather than being supported at the axle  64 &#39;s opposite end by another channel formed in the lug body  66 , the back of the lug body  66  toward the drum shell  12  is open, and the axle  64  extends inwardly through the lug grooved bearing wheel  62  and a corresponding cross-hole formed in the drum shell  12  to thereby fasten the grooved bearing wheel lug assembly  60  onto the drum shell  12 . Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the lug central axle  64  is formed opposite its free end that seats in the lug channel  68  with an axle flange  65  configured to abut the drum shell  12  and so space the lug grooved bearing wheel  62  away from the drum shell  12  for free rotation within the lug body  66  about the lug axle  64 . The opposite end of the lug axle  64  is then threaded for receipt of a nut  67 , with or without a washer, in the conventional fashion, whereby the axle  64  is secured to the drum shell  12  by clamping the shell  12  between the axle flange  65  and a nut  67 . Once more, while a particular means for securing the grooved bearing wheel lug assembly  60  onto the drum shell  12  is shown and described, it will be appreciated that any installation method and related hardware, whether permanent or selectively removable or now known or later developed, may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Specifically, the end of the axle  64  may be secured within the channel  68  such that the lug body  66  is thereby also secured to the drum shell  12  by way of the axle  64 ; or the lug body  66  may be separately installed on the drum shell  12  employing any appropriate means now known or later developed. Moreover, while the lug body  66  is shown as having a somewhat teardrop shape for aesthetic purposes, it is to be appreciated that any styling will do as long as it does not compromise function. Relatedly, the lug body  66  in the exemplary embodiment is configured such that the lug grooved bearing wheel  62  is substantially hidden by the lug body  66 , with slots or notches formed in the lug body  66  as needed for passage of the cable  90  even with the lug grooved bearing wheel  62  tucked up under the lug body  66  as shown. Again, those skilled in the art will appreciate that such aesthetic considerations and related form and function of the components may vary from that shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, there need not be a lug body  66  necessarily at all, wherein the lug grooved bearing wheel  62  or other such low friction sliding surface for the cable  90  may be installed directly on or somehow incorporated into the drum shell  12  itself, as noted above for the optional housing body  46 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , there are shown enlarged partial perspective views of the cable tension dial assembly  70  of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  in two operative states. For simplicity and ease of viewing the inner components of the cable tension dial assembly  70 , the side portion or side wall of the cable tension dial body  76  is removed and the tension cable  90  ( FIG. 2 ) is not shown. Generally, the cable tension dial assembly  70  comprises a knob or dial  72  installed on a geared shaft  80  operable within the cable tension dial body  76  for selective rotation as by turning the dial  72  so as to increase or decrease the tension in the cable  90  ( FIG. 2 ). In a bit more detail, the dial body  76  is configured as a substantially box-like enclosure that may be installed on the drum shell  12  in any appropriate manner, though as shown this is accomplished through a pair of small bolts  75  and associated nuts  77 , with or without washers. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that virtually any assembly technique for securing the one or more cable tension dial assemblies  70  on the drum shell  12 , whether permanent or selectively removable or now known or later developed, may be employed in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, including but not limited to screws, bolts, cross-pins, rivets, adhesives, snaps, slotted engagement, spot or tack welding, or crimping. It will be further appreciated that the dial body  76  may take any shape, size or form as desirable in operably containing the shaft  80  with gear  84 , while in the exemplary embodiment such dial body  76  is configured to be relatively low profile and essentially just large enough to house an operably sized shaft  80  and gear  84 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the dial body  76  in the exemplary embodiment forms a substantially complete enclosure about the moving parts shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  of the cable tension dial assembly  70 , with small slots or openings  79  formed in the dial body  76  at appropriate locations for the passage therethrough of the tension cable  90 . Small rollers or other such reduced friction surface may be employed in or about the openings  79  as needed in allowing for the relatively free or guided movement of the cable  90  therethrough during use of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  as described further below. Accordingly, any such housing structure capable of functioning as herein described may be employed in the present invention in connection with the cable tension dial assembly  70  without departing from its spirit and scope. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , positioned substantially centrally within the cable tension dial body  76  is the shaft  80 , passing through one or more substantially axially aligned openings (not shown) in the dial body  76  and, in the exemplary embodiment, the drum shell  12 . It will be appreciated that in alternate embodiments wherein the dial body  76  is sufficiently spaced from the drum shell  12  or the shaft  80  is otherwise operably supported on both ends spaced from the drum shell  12 , an opening for the shaft  80  in the drum shell  12  itself would not be necessary. However, in the exemplary embodiment, in the interest of further supporting the shaft  80  and flushing to the extent possible the cable tension dial assembly  70  on the drum shell  12 , the shaft  80  is shown as at least partially passing through the drum shell  12  as through a hole therein (not shown), in which case, though the dial body  76  is shown as having a rear wall immediately adjacent the drum shell  12 , it will be appreciated that such wall may be eliminated in whole or in part, particularly where alternate assembly techniques for securing the cable tension dial assemblies  70  on the drum shell  12  are employed. To facilitate relatively frictionless axial and rotational movement of the shaft  80  through such drum shell hole or any opening in the dial body  76 , a bushing  88  or the like may be positioned therein. Along the shaft  80  within the dial body  76  there is installed a gear  84  having multiple teeth  86 . And between the gear  84  and the drum shell  12  there are formed in or along the shaft  80  one or more shaft holes  82  configured for receipt therein of the free ends of the tension cable  90  as it starts and ends within the cable tension dial assembly  70 . In this way, it will generally be appreciated by those skilled in the art that with the ends of the cable  90  attached or secured to the shaft  80  in any appropriate manner now known or later developed and the rest of the cable  90  passing alternately through the housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60  of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20 , as above-described in connection with  FIGS. 2-5 , rotation of the shaft  80  will effectively increase or decrease the tension in the cable  90  and thus raise or lower the overall pitch of the drumhead  14  ( FIG. 2 ) as explained further below. In the exemplary embodiment, the gear  84  is relatively fine-toothed for relatively small incremental ratcheting of the tension in the cable  90 , though it will be appreciated that any configuration of the gear  84  and its teeth  86  or other such mechanical means for incrementally rotating the shaft  80  and thus increasing or decreasing the tension in the cable  90  may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. At least one pin  78  is formed on the inside of the dial body  76  so as to selectively engage the teeth  86  of the gear  84 . Thus, it will be appreciated that when the gear teeth  86  are in contact with the pin  78 , the gear  84  and thus the shaft  80  is unable to rotate, thereby “locking” the cable tension as shown in the first operational state of  FIG. 6A . While if the shaft  80  is pushed inwardly or in axially toward the drum shell  12 , the teeth  86  of the gear  84  would thus be disengaged from the pin  78 , thereby allowing the shaft  80  to freely rotate and the tension in the cable  90  to be adjusted as shown in the second operational state of  FIG. 6B . Pushing or pulling on or rotating the shaft  80  is facilitated by the dial  72  installed on the free or proximal end of the shaft  80  outside of the dial body  76 . In the exemplary embodiment, the dial  72  is formed having an overall size and shape and with grooves, bumps, ribs, knurls or other such surface features to enhance grasping or manipulating the dial  72  in a manner known in the art. It will be appreciated that any appropriate form of the dial  72  accounting for ergonomic, manufacturing and assembly, or other such considerations may be employed in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Furthermore, the dial  72  may be integrally or permanently installed on the shaft  80  or may be temporarily or removably engaged therewith so that the dial  72  can be removed when no tuning is needed to prevent inadvertent adjustment and to again further flush the cable tension dial assembly  70  on the drum shell  12 . In a further alternate embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , and additionally in  FIGS. 10-15 , rather than a dial  72 , a traditional drum key K may be employed through engagement with a dial lug  83  formed on the end of the take-up shaft  80  or an associated drive shaft  89 , more about which is said below. In this context it will be appreciated that such a drum key K or the dial  72  of the present embodiment effectively serve as an “apparatus controller” enabling adjustment of the drumhead  14  through interaction with the cable tension dial assembly  70 . About the shaft  80  between the dial  72  and the dial body  76  there is positioned a compression spring  74  configured to bias the shaft  80  outwardly such that the gear  84  abuts the inside surface of the dial body  76  and the gear teeth  86  are thereby engaged with the pin  78 , once again “locking” the dial assembly  70  and so “setting” the cable tension and thus the particular tuning of the drumhead  14  ( FIG. 2 ). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative configurations of the cable tension dial assembly  70  and its components are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, it is possible that the gear  84  could be located at the other end of the shaft  80 , whether still within the dial body  76  and potentially resulting in the shaft  80  being pulled rather than pushed to disengage the gear teeth  86  from a pin or the like, or even positioning the gear  84  on the far end of the shaft  80  inside the drum shell  12  and otherwise operating much as described above, thereby potentially further flushing the dial assembly  70  with the drum  10  ( FIG. 2 ) or reducing its overall size, particularly on the outside of the drum as a protrusion. Moreover, the pin  78  may be spring-loaded rather than fixed in order to lock the gear  84  from turning. In this way, when turning the dial  72  and thus the shaft  80  to tighten the cable  90  ( FIG. 2 ), it is not necessary to push in or pull out on the dial  72  in order to free the gear  84 ; instead, simply rotating the dial  72 , in the exemplary embodiment clockwise, would tighten the cable “click by click,” locking into place at a particular tension with each “click,” and then to loosen the cable, one would simply push in on the dial  72  as described above to release. It will be further appreciated that any and all such components of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal or plastic, through any suitable fabrication process, such as molding, casting, machining, stamping, or forming, whether now known or later developed, as will be further appreciated from other disclosures herein related to various exemplary embodiments. 
     Further non-limiting variations in how the cable tension dial assembly  70  is configured and operates include dual ratcheting wherein the dial gear  84  ratchets in either direction, the use of other locking mechanisms now known or later developed to maintain tension, a quick release button, lever, or function to let out the cable  90  quickly for tuning, instead of or in addition to the exemplary push-pull activation and release of the dial  72 , and relatedly, a cable  90  that can be disconnected from the take up spool or shaft  80  or one that is permanently attached to the spool or a function to release and attach at least one end of the cable  90 , in any case to selectively allow for quick removal and replacement of the drumhead  14  and rapid tuning. It is also possible in particular contexts that there would be a cable tension dial assembly  70  on more than one side of the drum shell  12  even for the same drumhead  14 , whereby the assembly could be more easily accessed from multiple directions depending on such factors as the drum kit configuration and even the user&#39;s preference in terms of being right-handed or left-handed. Again, it will be appreciated that numerous other variations of the cable tension dial assembly  70  and the overall drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  beyond those shown and described are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     As a still further example, though not shown, it will be appreciated that structure and assemblies as herein described as together generally comprising a drumhead tuning rim apparatus according to aspects of the present invention may be arranged and mounted in a variety of other ways, even including the incorporation or installation of much of the hardware on the inside of the drum shell rather than on the outside as shown, specifically including the option of running the cable(s) through the inside of the drum. One method by which this could be accomplished would be through the use of frictionless eye-holes in the drum shell through which the cable runs from the outside of the shell into the inside where the lug bearing wheels or surfaces would be positioned, the cable still in this embodiment passing through the shell so as to operably engage rim bearing wheels or surfaces still located on the outside or perimeter of the rim. The take-up reel or cable tension dial assembly for the cable itself could be located inside the drum as well, with only the dial portion on the outside. And as above-described, the dial itself could be removable or even be replaced with a traditional drum key, such that all that would be visible on the outside of the drum in the way of hardware would be one or more holes or openings in the drum shell corresponding to the end of the assembly tuning shaft for access by the dial or key, and in the exemplary embodiment just a portion of the cables running out of the shell up and around the rim bearing wheels or surfaces. Moreover, it is possible that the rim bearing wheels or surfaces could themselves be positioned inside of the drum shell such that no portion of even any cable is on the outside of the drum, as for example by modifying the rim to extend downwardly and radially inwardly through openings in the shell or to extend upwardly and radially inwardly and forming small holes in the drum head, in either case thereby moving the rim bearing wheels or surfaces interiorly such that any cable is substantially contained within the shell. It will again be appreciated that any such modifications to or variations of such a drumhead tuning rim apparatus according to aspects of the present invention are possible, such that any specific hardware configurations shown and described herein are to be understood as merely illustrative of features and aspects of the invention and non-limiting, as will be further appreciated based on the related exemplary disclosures in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,767,773, incorporated herein by reference. In any case, it will be appreciated that to the extent some or all of the hardware components are housed inside the drum, the less the outer appearance of the drum is altered and the less likely any such hardware could be inadvertently damaged during storage, transport, or use. Moreover, by having relatively more of the hardware contained within the inside of the drum, the less likely it would be that any modifications to traditional drum stands and the like would be needed or preferred, particularly for bass drums that are typically placed on their side during use, in which case in embodiments wherein the hardware and cable(s) are on the outside of the drum, a modified stand or other support might be needed, though not necessarily depending on a number of factors. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , in use of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  of the present invention as shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 2-6 , installation begins with passing the thin gauge steel or other cable  90  through each of the grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40  on the rim  30 , leaving the two ends of the cable  90  facing each other between any two of the grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40 . To mount the drumhead  14 , it is simply placed on top of the drum shell  12  in the conventional manner, and then the rim  30  with steel cable  90  in place passing through the grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40  is positioned over the drumhead  14  so that the free ends of the cable  90  are substantially adjacent the corresponding cable tension dial assembly  70  and there is substantially equal spacing between the grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40  and the grooved bearing wheel lug assemblies  60 . It is particularly noted with reference to  FIG. 4  that the rim  30  is formed in the conventional manner with a downwardly-opening recess  34  within which is seated the hoop  16  typically formed about the perimeter edge of the drumhead  14  for trapping the drumhead  14 &#39;s perimeter between the rim  30  and drum shell  12 , thus allowing the drumhead  14  to be secured and pulled taught as the rim  30  is tightened down, by individual tension rods F and threaded lugs D in the prior art approach ( FIG. 1 ) or by the operation of the single dial  72  as in the present invention. Once the rim  30  is properly positioned over the drumhead  14  on the drum shell  12 , the still loose cable  90  between each grooved bearing wheel housing assembly  40  may be pulled down and looped under the respective grooved bearing wheel lug assembly  60  mounted around the drum shell  12 , being careful that the cable  90  is properly seated on each grooved bearing wheel  42 ,  62  ( FIGS. 3-5 ). In this manner the cable  90  passes alternately from housing  40  to lug  60  to housing  40  around the drum  10 . Next, in the case of a first time installation, the free ends of the cable  90  are attached to the shaft  80  of the cable tension dial assembly  70 , such as by fitting a metal notch or crimped connector (not shown) on each end of the cable  90  into the fitted or keyed slot or hole  82  in the shaft  80  ( FIG. 6 ). Once the cable  90  is thus secured to the shaft  80  of the cable tension dial assembly  70 , simply pressing in on the dial  72  as indicated by arrow  100  disengages the gear  84  as above-described; turning the dial  72  as indicated by arrow  102  then winds the cable  90  about the shaft  80  until the slack is taken out of the cable  90  at all points. Further turning with the dial  72  still pushed in then tightens the cable  90  and thereby increases tension in the cable  90  as indicated by arrows  104 , which results in substantially equal downward force at each of the grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40  as indicated by arrows  106 , and thus across the entire rim  30 , resulting in substantially uniform tautness or tuning of the drumhead  14 . Once the drum  10  is tuned as desired, pulling out on or simply releasing the dial  72  again locks the gear  84  in place and thereby holds the desired tension on the cable  90 . The drum  10  now has the drumhead  14  installed and tuned. It will be appreciated that once any drum  10  is so configured with a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention, replacing a drumhead  14  does not require complete disassembly or removal of the cable  90  from the cable tension dial assembly  70  such that the above steps must be repeated from the beginning. Rather, by simply loosening the cable  90  enough, or putting sufficient slack in the cable  90  as by pushing in the dial  72  and turning it opposite the direction it was tightened so as to “unwind” the cable  90  from the shaft  80 , the cable  90  can be removed from underneath the grooved bearing wheel lug assemblies  60 , and the rim  30  can simply be lifted off the drum shell  12  and the current drumhead  14  slipped out and a new one slipped in. The rim  30  can then once more be seated on the drumhead  14 , again being careful to position the rim  30  such that the housing assemblies  40  are substantially equally spaced from the respective lug assemblies  60 , the cable  90  looped beneath the grooved bearing wheel lug assemblies  60 , and the dial  72  simply turned to retighten the cable  90  and tune the drum  10  as desired. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that similar or related methodologies would be employed according to aspects of the present invention depending on the hardware configuration of the apparatus  20  in use, such that the above-described steps in use are to be understood as merely illustrative and non-limiting. 
     There are obvious advantages of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  of the present invention over the traditional lug D and tension rod F arrangement. First is the ease with which the drum  10  can be tuned and re-tuned. A person need not be a professional drummer or stage hand to relatively easily and effectively tune the drum  10  to the sound desired. According to aspects of the exemplary embodiment of the invention, simply pressing in the dial  72 , turning to tune, and pulling out or releasing the dial  72  to lock it in place is essentially all that is required. One dial and no individual lugs to be tightened means that tuning takes a matter of seconds as opposed to the old method of tuning the drum to itself one tension rod F at a time before raising or lowering the over-all pitch, which itself still required adjusting each of six to twelve tension rods F by the same amount to keep the drum in tune with itself across the head C while adjusting the pitch. Not only is this prior art approach time consuming, but it is very difficult to be precise and it is a daunting task to many drummers. With the present invention, the drum  10  will consistently be substantially in tune with itself, with the pitch of the drum raised or lowered to achieve the desired sound simply with the turn of a single dial  72 . Another advantage of the present invention is the relative speed and ease of changing out an old or torn drumhead  14 . Rather than removing each individual tension rod F before being able to remove the rim E and thus the drumhead C, with the present invention it is as simple as pressing in on the dial  72  and letting the cable  90  go slack and then slipping the cable  90  from under each bearing lug  60 , whereby the rim  30  and drumhead  14  are ready to come off. Installation of the new drumhead  14  is essentially just as easy by following these same steps in reverse. Once more, other such advantages and benefits in use may be realized depending on the context. 
     Turning now to the alternative embodiment of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , there is shown a drum  10 , here in the form of a snare drum or the like having a relatively shorter drum shell  12 , with an alternative drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention installed thereon. As can be seen, in this arrangement, single substantially central grooved cable lug assemblies  60  are installed spaced about the drum shell  12 , each such assembly  60  having opposed downwardly and upwardly opening grooves or notches in which the respective upper and lower cables  90 ,  91  run. It will be appreciated that a similar central lug assembly  60  more analogous to the first exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 2-7  could be employed, only here having two bearing wheels rather than cable grooves, whether the wheels are offset as the grooves or “stacked” one over the other so as to share a common shaft or axle, as will be further appreciated with reference to the alternative embodiments of  FIGS. 10-15  discussed below. Similarly, there may be low friction sliding surfaces such as pins or molded surfaces within the rim housing assemblies  40  on either or both of the respective upper and lower rims  30 ,  31  rather than bearing wheels, which are not shown in the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 8 , though again those skilled in the art will appreciate that grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40  as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-7  may again be employed in the present alternative embodiment. Moreover, it will be appreciated that any combination of such bearing features or surfaces is possible in various contexts, such as bearing wheels employed in the rim housing assemblies  40  and low friction sliding surfaces as shown in  FIG. 8  for the lug assemblies  60  or vice versa, or there may even be occasion for mixed uses of such devices within a single apparatus installation, such as using, alternately or otherwise, bearing wheels and bearing surfaces, in either or both the rim housing assemblies  40  and/or the cable lug assemblies  60  or any other substantially functionally equivalent structure now known or later developed. While such an alternative apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention is shown and described in connection with a relatively shorter snare drum, it will be appreciated that a similar approach can be employed with drums of virtually any size and shape, including toms as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 , with only the cable  90 ,  91  potentially changing its angle as it winds its way through the alternating housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60 , though even the cable angle may be maintained as desired by simply adjusting the spacing between respective housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 8 , not only are there shown in the alternative embodiment a single row of shared lug assemblies  60 , there is also a single cable tension dial assembly  70  mounted on the drum shell  12  as well, though it will be appreciated that in certain contexts there still could be multiple dial assemblies  70 , such as one for each cable,  90 ,  91  and head  14 , even if the cables  90 ,  91  still share common lug assemblies  60  as shown, or vice versa with a single dial assembly  70  but two rows of lug assemblies  60 . In any event, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a single cable tension dial assembly  70  is mounted on the drum shell  12  so as to have slots  79  formed in the housing body  76  through which cables  90 ,  91  corresponding to the upper and lower drumheads  14  both run. Internally within the dial assembly  70  a shaft and gear arrangement as above-described in connection with  FIGS. 2-7  or any other such mechanical arrangement, now known or later developed, consistent with aspects of the present invention may be operably configured, with the cables  90 ,  91  both wrapping the dial shaft in the same direction so that turning one direction (e.g., clockwise) simultaneously tightens both heads and turning the other direction (e.g., counterclockwise) simultaneously loosens both. Alternatively, the dial assembly  70  may be mechanically arranged such that gearing is selectively engaged based on the use of a switch so that the manipulable dial or key is able to control either the top head or the bottom head independently, in which case it would be necessary that each cable be on a separate shaft or spool, which shaft is again independently and selectively controlled based on the gearing as controlled by the switch. Another possibility would be a middle option that raises and lowers the tension on the opposing heads simultaneously in order to maintain equal variation between head tension while raising and lowering the overall pitch of the drum. 
     Fundamentally, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of mechanical arrangements beyond those disclosed may be employed according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Referring still to  FIG. 8  and with further reference to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a drum key K selectively engageable and operable with the cable tension dial assembly  70 , rather than a permanent or removable dial  72  as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-7 . Particularly, in this alternative embodiment, a traditional drum key K engages a square dial lug  83  formed on the distal or free end of the dial shaft  80  that is accessible through the opening  81  formed in the dial body  76 . The key and lug engagement may be as with standard drum kits, enabling use of a typical drum key K to tune even a drum configured with a new and novel drum tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention, here still from a single central dial assembly  70 , whether for both heads simultaneously or each independently, rather than multiple lugs being individually adjusted to tune a single head as in prior art arrangements. It will be appreciated that other geometrical engagements beyond the exemplary square geometry are possible. As best seen in the enlarged side view inset of  FIG. 9  looking into the cable tension dial assembly  70 , through the opening  81  there is seen and accessed the internal dial shaft  80  having the outwardly protruding square dial lug  83  with a portion of the gear  84  visible as well, with the square lug  83  again being engageable by the key K, it having an appropriately sized and configured female receptacle feature to engage the square lug  83  in a manner known in the art. Once more, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of other geometrical and mechanical arrangements of the cable tension dial assembly  70  and the overall drumhead tuning rim apparatus  10  are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Turning next to  FIGS. 10-12 , there are shown various perspective views of a further alternative exemplary embodiment of a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention as installed on or in connection with a drum  10  so as to selectively enable replacement and/or tuning of a drumhead  14 . Such apparatus  20  again generally comprises a rim  30  configured with spaced-apart low friction housing assemblies  40  about its perimeter and corresponding, spaced-apart low friction lug assemblies  60  installed about the perimeter of the drum shell  12 , with a single cable  90  running alternately between the housing assemblies  40  and lug assemblies  60  and terminating at its opposite ends in a cable tension dial assembly  70  so as to allow, based on the operative cooperation of such components of the apparatus  20 , securing and tuning of the drumhead  14  on the drum shell  12  as described herein. Once more, while there is shown a drum  10  in the form of a snare drum or the like having a relatively shorter drum shell  12 , it will be appreciated that any drum configurations now known or later developed may be employed. As a further threshold matter, it will be appreciated that while each low friction housing assembly  40  is shown as being installed in or engaged with the traditional tension rod holes (not shown) formed in the outwardly extending tabs  33  of the rim  30 , such rim  30  thus being substantially formed as the typical hoop rim E shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, such housing assemblies  40  may also be integrally formed with or incorporated in the rim  30  as by machining, forming, casting, etc. or otherwise permanently mounted thereon as by welding, bonding, etc. as herein described in connection with other embodiments. Once more, according to aspects of the present invention, any such hardware as the low friction housing assemblies  40 , the low friction lug assemblies  60 , and the cable tension dial assembly  70  may be formed so as to be removably engageable with the drum  10  or any components thereof such as the shell  12  or rim  30  so as to be replaceable or provided for aftermarket installation or may be permanently or integrally formed with or mounted on such drum  10  or drum components, in which case the rim  30 , for example, may be a purpose-built component incorporating features or aspects of the present invention. 
     Referring to the assembled perspective view of  FIG. 10  and the enlarged partial perspective view of  FIG. 11 , it can first be seen that in the alternative exemplary embodiment, the illustrated low friction housing assembly  40  is again configured to be mounted on a tab  33  of the rim  30  as by installing a housing bolt  54  through the hole (not shown) in the rim tab  33  and securing it with a housing bolt lug  56 , thereby suspending the housing body  46  beneath the rim flange  32 . Each low friction housing assembly  40  is here configured with a pair of opposite grooved bearing wheels  42  rotatably mounted on axles  44  installed within the housing body  46 , though it will be appreciated that for simplicity in  FIG. 11  only one such wheel  42  is visible as by a cut-away section. Once more, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be low friction sliding surfaces such as pins or molded surfaces within the rim housing assemblies  40  rather than bearing wheels  42 , though again those skilled in the art will appreciate that grooved bearing wheel housing assemblies  40  as in the embodiments of  FIGS. 2-9  or other such low friction surfaces may again be employed in the present alternative embodiment. By way of illustration and not limitation, a single rather than double rim bearing surface may be provided with the legs of the cable  90  from the adjacent tensioner  70  crossing in offset channels or grooves so as to then pass around the perimeter of the rim  30  in both directions, and so on at each lug-tensioner point. Alternatively, an arrangement similar to that shown in  FIGS. 10-12  may be provided, only with two adjacent but independent bearing assemblies  40  at each respective lug point. Again, a variety of combinations of such components in forming an exemplary drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention is possible without departing from its spirit and scope. Where a two-wheeled or two-low-friction-surface  42  arrangement is employed in each housing assembly  40  installed about the rim  30 , it will be appreciated that such may be of any size, shape or mechanical configuration now known or later developed suitable to the passage thereover or therethrough of one or more tensioning cables  90 ,  91 . 
     With continued reference particularly to the enlarged partial perspective view of the exemplary apparatus  20  as shown in  FIG. 11 , it will be appreciated that here the cable tension dial assembly  70  is shown as effectively being incorporated in or installed cooperatively with a low friction lug assembly  60 , together installed on the shell  12  of the drum  10 , again whether in holes already formed in the drum shell  12 , or as in the prior art drum shell B in the locations where the lugs D were originally installed ( FIG. 1 ), or in newly formed holes, or via some other mounting means now known or later developed. It will be appreciated that regardless of the size or style of drum, from the illustrated snare-style drum to relatively larger toms such as illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 2-7  to any other drum now known or later developed, such cable tension dial assembly  70  as illustrated in  FIGS. 10-12  may be installed independent of any lug assembly  60 , for example, directly to the shell  12 . Each such low friction lug assembly  60  generally comprises a grooved low friction lug bearing wheel or surface  62  about which each cable  90 ,  91  runs. More particularly, here, multiple channels or grooves are formed in the lug surface  62 , one to accommodate the upper cable  90  and one to accommodate the lower cable  91 , more about which is said below. Any such lug assembly  60  and related lug surfaces  62 , whether rotatable as a wheel or bearing or configured as some other low friction surface for passage thereover or thereabout of the cable  90 ,  91 , may be mounted on the drum shell  12  at any appropriate location and by any appropriate means now known or later developed. It will be appreciated that a similar central lug assembly  60  more analogous to the first exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 2-7  could be employed, only here having two bearing wheels rather than cable grooves, whether the wheels are offset as the grooves or “stacked” one over the other so as to share a common shaft or axle, or instead more analogous to the grooved cable lug assemblies  60  having opposed downwardly and upwardly opening grooves or notches in which the respective upper and lower cables  90 ,  91  run, as shown in the alternative exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Moreover, it will be appreciated that any combination of such bearing features or surfaces is possible in various contexts, such as bearing wheels employed in the rim housing assemblies  40  and low friction sliding surfaces as shown in  FIG. 8  and here in  FIGS. 10-12  for the lug assemblies  60  or vice versa, or there may even be occasion for mixed uses of such devices within a single apparatus installation, such as using, alternately or otherwise, bearing wheels and bearing surfaces, in either or both the rim housing assemblies  40  and/or the cable lug assemblies  60  or any other substantially functionally equivalent structure now known or later developed. And again, while such an alternative apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention is shown and described in connection with a relatively shorter snare drum  10  or the like, it will be appreciated that a similar approach can be employed with drums of virtually any size and shape, including toms as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 , with only the cables  90 ,  91  potentially changing angle depending on the spacing between respective housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60 . Relatedly, while in this alternative exemplary embodiment the housing assemblies  40  and respective lug assemblies  60  are shown as being substantially aligned or offset vertically, such need not be the case, but instead the housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60  may be staggered or otherwise offset horizontally, in whole or in part, as in other exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. There of course may be greater or fewer of any such components or assemblies, and any such resulting drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  may be arranged or configured in a variety of other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In any such arrangement, it will be appreciated that each lug assembly  60  would still be installed spaced about the drum shell  12  substantially between respective housing assemblies  40  so as to allow for the respective cable  90 ,  91  to loop intermittently therebetween. 
     As further best seen in the enlarged perspective view of  FIG. 11 , the cable tension dial assembly  70  incorporated at a particular lug position or installed in conjunction with a particular lug assembly  60  may generally comprise in the exemplary embodiment a dial body  76  mounted on or integral with the lug assembly  60 , the body  76  housing in operable relationship a take-up shaft  80  and a drive shaft  89  engaged via gearing. Generally, then, in the alternative embodiment, the cable tension dial assembly  70  comprises a substantially horizontal drive shaft  89  oriented so as to extend substantially radially outwardly relative to the drum shell  12  and configured as a worm gear or the like for engagement with a gear  84  formed on the take-up shaft  80 , which is also oriented substantially horizontally but substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft  89 . It is the drive shaft  89  with which the key K ( FIG. 8 ), dial, or other such device interacts to selectively control the dial assembly  70  and thus the tension on the cable  90 . Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, the drive shaft  89  is shown as having a dial lug  83  formed on the free end thereof, or the end extending out of the dial body  76 . Opposite ends of the drive shaft  89  and the take-up shaft  80  may be rotationally supported by the dial body  76  or may be completely supported internally. Regardless, as also shown, the free ends of the take-up shaft  80  may extend beyond the dial body  76  as well, on opposite sides thereof, with holes  82  formed in such opposite free ends configured for receipt therein of the free ends of the tensioning cable  90  as it starts and ends at the cable tension dial assembly  70 . In this way, it will generally be appreciated by those skilled in the art that with the ends of the cable  90  attached or secured to the shaft  80  in any appropriate manner now known or later developed and the rest of the cable  90  passing alternately through the housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60  of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20 , as above-described in connection with  FIGS. 2-9 , rotation of the shaft  80  will effectively increase or decrease the tension in the cable  90  and thus raise or lower the overall pitch of the drumhead  14  as explained herein. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 10-12 , and with reference to the upper drumhead  14  and related upper rim  30  and assembly  20 , it will be appreciated that one end of the cable  90  is wrapped on one free end of the take-up shaft  80 , for example, here, the left end as the tensioner  70  is viewed in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the cable  90  then passes up and through the adjacent housing assembly  40 , and particularly around the bearing wheel or surface  42  on the left, runs substantially along the underside of the rim flange  32  to the next housing assembly  40  to the left, thus passing around the bearing wheel or surface  42  on the right and then down to the next lug assembly  60  and around and back up and around the bearing wheel or surface  42  on the left side of the same housing assembly  40 , and so on until the cable comes “full circle” back to the housing assembly  40  adjacent to the lug with cable tension dial assembly  70 , around the bearing wheel or surface  42  on the right of such housing  40 , at which point the opposite free end of the cable  90  then passes out of the housing  40  and back down to the tensioner  70  so as to be wrapped on the other free end of the take-up shaft  80 , here the right end as the tensioner  70  is viewed. Accordingly, in this further exemplary arrangement, the tension cable  90  again passes intermittently around the perimeter of the drum  10  as by here going to and from or in and out of a rim housing assembly  40  for each corresponding lug assembly  60 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such arrangement, like the other embodiments shown and described herein, results in substantially equivalent vertical forces on each point around the rim  30  so as to substantially uniformly tighten and tune the corresponding drumhead  14 . Once more, it will be appreciated that a variety of other such arrangements are possible according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, such that the present embodiment is to be understood as illustrative and non-limiting. Particularly, other configurations and installations of the cable tension dial assembly  70  are possible. Relatedly, it will be appreciated once more by those skilled in the art that virtually any assembly technique for securing the one or more cable tension dial assemblies  70  on the drum shell  12 , whether permanent or selectively removable or now known or later developed, and whether directly or as installed or mounted in conjunction with a lug assembly  60 , may be employed in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, including but not limited to screws, bolts, cross-pins, rivets, adhesives, snaps, slotted engagement, spot or tack welding, or crimping. It will be further appreciated that the dial body  76  may take any shape, size or form as desirable in operably containing the take-up shaft  80  with gear  84  and the worm gear-style drive shaft  89 , while in the exemplary embodiment such dial body  76  is configured to be relatively low profile and essentially just large enough to house an operably sized drive shaft  89  and take-up shaft  80  and gear  84 . It will be further appreciated, though not shown, that a similar cable tension dial assembly  70 , or any other such tensioner according to aspects of the present invention, may further be positioned on the drum  10  so as to operably control tension in the lower cable  91 . 
     Briefly referring to  FIG. 12 , for simplicity the drum  10  is shown from a vantage point rotated approximately ninety degrees from that of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , putting the tensioner  70  for the upper rim  30  substantially at the left side of the drum shell  12  as viewed versus centrally as in the previous figures. It will be appreciated that by employing a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention as shown, the cable tension dial assembly  70  associated with, for example, the upper rim  30  may be operated so as to loosen the cable  90  sufficiently such that the looped regions hanging down from each housing assembly  40  may be disengaged from the respective lug assembly  60  around the shell  12 . Accordingly, even with the free ends of the cable  90  still engaged with the tensioner  70  as above-described, the rim  30  may be tilted upwardly and somewhat out of the way as illustrated, whereby the drumhead  14  may be inserted or removed from between the rim  30  and the shell  12 , thus facilitating simplified drumhead  14  replacement and tuning. Again, the same procedure may be repeated for the lower rim  31  and associated drumhead as needed. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 13-15 , there are shown perspective views of a still further alternative exemplary embodiment of a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention as installed on or in connection with a drum  10  so as to selectively enable replacement and/or tuning of a drumhead  14 . Such apparatus  20  again generally comprises a rim  30  configured with spaced-apart low friction housing assemblies  40  about its perimeter and corresponding, spaced-apart low friction lug assemblies  60  installed about the perimeter of the drum shell  12 , with a single cable  90  running alternately between the housing assemblies  40  and lug assemblies  60  and terminating at its opposite ends in a cable tension dial assembly  70  so as to allow, based on the operative cooperation of such components of the apparatus  20 , securing and tuning of the drumhead  14  on the drum shell  12  as described herein. Notably, here, the tensioner  70  is installed on or incorporated within a housing assembly  40  rather than a lug assembly  60  as in  FIGS. 10-12 . As with the prior exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 10-12 , the invention is not so limited to the relatively short drum shell  12 , and while each low friction housing assembly  40  is again shown as being installed in or engaged with the traditional tension rod holes (not shown) formed in the outwardly extending tabs  33  of the rim  30 , such housing assemblies  40  may also be integrally formed with or incorporated in the rim  30  as herein described, with any such hardware as the low friction housing assemblies  40 , the low friction lug assemblies  60 , and the cable tension dial assembly  70  again being formed so as to be removably engageable with the drum  10  or any components thereof such as the shell  12  or rim  30  so as to be replaceable or provided for aftermarket installation or may be permanently or integrally formed with or mounted on such drum  10  or drum components, in which case the rim  30 , for example, may be a purpose-built component incorporating features or aspects of the present invention. 
     Referring to the assembled perspective view of  FIG. 13  and the enlarged partial perspective view of  FIG. 14 , it can first be seen that in the further alternative exemplary embodiment, the illustrated low friction housing assembly  40  is again configured to be mounted on a tab  33  of the rim  30  as by installing a housing bolt  54  through the hole (not shown) in the rim tab  33  and securing it with a housing bolt lug  56 , thereby suspending the housing body  46  beneath the rim flange  32 . Each low friction housing assembly  40  is here configured with a pair of opposite grooved bearing wheels  42  as in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 10-12 , though those skilled in the art will appreciate that any such low friction surfaces now known or later developed may be substituted, both for the rim housing assemblies  40  and the lug assemblies  60 . Again, a variety of combinations of such components in forming an exemplary drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention is possible without departing from its spirit and scope. With continued reference particularly to the enlarged partial perspective view of the exemplary apparatus  20  as shown in  FIG. 14 , it will again be appreciated that here the cable tension dial assembly  70  is shown as effectively being incorporated in or installed cooperatively with a low friction housing assembly  40 , together installed on the rim  30 ,  31  of the drum  10 , more about which is said below. As in the previous embodiment of  FIGS. 10-12 , each low friction lug assembly  60  generally comprises a grooved low friction lug bearing wheel or surface  62  about which each cable  90 ,  91  runs, with a channel or groove formed in the lug surface  62  for each of the upper and lower cables  90 ,  91 . Again, any such lug assembly  60  and related lug surfaces  62 , whether rotatable as a wheel or bearing or configured as some other low friction surface for passage thereover or thereabout of the cable  90 ,  91 , may be mounted on the drum shell  12  at any appropriate location and by any appropriate means now known or later developed according to aspects of the present invention. Moreover, it will be appreciated that any combination of such bearing features or surfaces is possible in various contexts, including but not limited to those illustrated herein. Again, while in this alternative exemplary embodiment the housing assemblies  40  and respective lug assemblies  60  are shown as being substantially aligned or offset vertically, such need not be the case, but instead the housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60  may be staggered or otherwise offset horizontally, in whole or in part, as in other exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. There of course may be greater or fewer of any such components or assemblies, and any such resulting drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  may be arranged or configured in a variety of other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In any such arrangement, it will be appreciated that each lug assembly  60  would still be installed spaced about the drum shell  12  substantially between respective housing assemblies  40  so as to allow for the respective cable  90 ,  91  to loop intermittently therebetween. 
     As further best seen in the enlarged perspective view of  FIG. 14 , the cable tension dial assembly  70  incorporated at a particular rim tension rod or bearing position or installed in conjunction with a particular housing assembly  40  may generally again comprise in the exemplary embodiment a dial body  76  mounted on or integral with the housing assembly  40 , the body  76  housing in operable relationship a take-up shaft  80  and a drive shaft  89  engaged via gearing, here the tensioner  70  shown partially cut-away being the one associated with the lower rim  31  and cable  91 . Generally, in this further alternative embodiment, the cable tension dial assembly  70  comprises a substantially horizontal drive shaft  89  oriented so as to extend substantially radially outwardly relative to the drum shell  12  and configured as a worm gear or the like for engagement with a gear  84  formed on the take-up shaft  80 , which is here oriented substantially vertically and perpendicular to the drive shaft  89 . It is the drive shaft  89  with which the key K ( FIG. 8 ), dial, or other such device interacts to selectively control the dial assembly  70  and thus the tension on the cable  91 . Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, the drive shaft  89  is shown as having a dial lug  83  formed on the free end thereof, or the end extending out of the dial body  76 . Opposite ends of the drive shaft  89  and the take-up shaft  80  may be rotationally supported by the dial body  76  or may be completely supported internally. Here, as shown in cut-away in  FIG. 14 , one end of the lower tension cable  91  is received or wound about one end of the take-up shaft  80  while the opposite end of the cable  91  after passing around the drum  10  is anchored within a fastener  98  shown as formed within the dial body  76  adjacent to the shafts  80 ,  89 . In this way, it will generally be appreciated by those skilled in the art that with one end of the cable  91  attached or secured to the shaft  80  in any appropriate manner now known or later developed and the rest of the cable  90  passing alternately through the housing and lug assemblies  40 ,  60  of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20 , as above-described in connection with  FIGS. 2-12 , rotation of the shaft  80  will effectively increase or decrease the tension in the cable  91  and thus raise or lower the overall pitch of the drumhead  14  as explained herein. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 13-15 , and with reference again to the lower rim  31  and associated assembly  20 , it will be appreciated that one end of the cable  91  is wrapped on one free end of the take-up shaft  80 , for example, here, the lower end as the tensioner  70  is viewed in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the cable  91  then passes out and to the right substantially along the lower rim flange  32  to the next housing assembly  40  and then up to the next lug assembly  60  and around and back down and around the second bearing wheel or surface of the same housing assembly  40 , and so on until the cable comes “full circle” back to the housing assembly  40  with the cable tension dial assembly  70 , where again the opposite free end of the cable  91  is anchored or secured within the fastener  98 . It will be appreciated that any means now known or later developed for temporarily or permanently securing such tension cable  90 ,  91  within a respective tensioner  70  is possible according to aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, in this further exemplary arrangement, the tension cables  90 ,  91  again pass intermittently around the perimeter of the drum  10  as by here going to and from or in and out of a rim housing assembly  40  for each corresponding lug assembly  60 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such arrangement, like the other embodiments shown and described herein, again results in substantially equivalent vertical forces on each point around the rim  30 ,  31  so as to substantially uniformly tighten and tune the corresponding drumhead  14 . Once more, it will be appreciated that a variety of other such arrangements are possible according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, such that the present embodiment is to be understood as illustrative and non-limiting. Particularly, other configurations and installations of the cable tension dial assembly  70  are possible. Relatedly, it will be appreciated once more by those skilled in the art that virtually any assembly technique for securing the one or more cable tension dial assemblies  70  on the rim  30 , whether permanent or selectively removable or now known or later developed, and whether directly or as installed or mounted in conjunction with a housing assembly  40 , may be employed in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, including but not limited to screws, bolts, cross-pins, rivets, adhesives, snaps, slotted engagement, spot or tack welding, or crimping. It will be further appreciated that the dial body  76  may take any shape, size or form as desirable in operably containing the take-up shaft  80  with gear  84  and the worm gear-style drive shaft  89 , while in the exemplary embodiment such dial body  76  is configured to be relatively low profile and essentially just large enough to house an operably sized drive shaft  89  and take-up shaft  80  and gear  84  as well as the tension cable anchor point or fastener  98 . It will be further appreciated, as shown, that a similar cable tension dial assembly  70 , or any other such tensioner according to aspects of the present invention, is positioned on the drum  10  so as to operably control tension in the upper cable  90 . In fact, here, by way of illustration and not limitation, the respective upper and lower tensioners  70  are installed at substantially the same location about the perimeter of the drum  10 , or in association with the same lug point or lug assembly  60 , though again those skilled in the art will appreciate that such is not required, with such orientation being a matter of preference or convenience. 
     Briefly referring to  FIG. 15 , it will be appreciated that by employing a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention as shown, the cable tension dial assembly  70  associated with, for example, the upper rim  30  may be operated so as to loosen the cable  90  sufficiently such that the looped regions hanging down from each housing assembly  40  may be disengaged from the respective lug assembly  60  around the shell  12 . Here, it will be appreciated that with the cable tension dial assembly  70  associated with and installed on a rim housing assembly  40  and thus the rim  30 , even the cable loop corresponding to the housing assembly  40  having the tensioner  70  may be disengaged from the adjacent lug assembly  60  so that, as shown, the rim  30  may be lifted upwardly and “straight off” and completely away from the shell  12  and drumhead  14 , whereby the drumhead  14  may be inserted or removed from between the rim  30  and the shell  12 , thus again facilitating simplified drumhead  14  replacement and tuning. Once more, the same procedure may be repeated for the lower rim  31  and associated drumhead as needed. 
     Turning next to  FIGS. 16-21 , there are shown perspective views of a still further alternative exemplary embodiment of a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention as installed on or in connection with a drum  10  so as to selectively enable replacement and/or tuning of a drumhead  14 . Such apparatus  20  again generally comprises a rim  30  configured with, or more precisely here operably engageable with, spaced-apart low friction housing assemblies  140  about its perimeter and corresponding, spaced-apart low friction lug assemblies  160  installed about the perimeter of the drum shell  12 , with a single cable  90  running alternately between the housing assemblies  140  and lug assemblies  160  and terminating at its opposite ends in a cable tension dial assembly  170  so as to allow, based on the operative cooperation of such components of the apparatus  20 , securing and tuning of the drumhead  14  on the drum shell  12  generally as described herein. As a threshold matter, the illustrated low friction housing assemblies and lug assemblies  140 ,  160  and the cable tension dial assembly  170  are to be understood as analogous or the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects, in accordance with one or more embodiments, as those comparable low friction housing assemblies and lug assemblies  40 ,  60  and cable tension dial assembly  70  of  FIGS. 2-15 , such numbering changed here in connection with  FIGS. 16-21  simply as a matter of convenience relative to additional elements to be introduced and numbered logically in an appropriate element number range in connection with such alternative embodiment, whereby any such low friction housing assemblies and lug assemblies and cable tension dial assembly disclosed and claimed herein are to be so understood whether or not numbered identically across the various embodiments. Here, the tensioner  170  is installed on the drum shell  12  more analogous to the embodiments of  FIGS. 2-9  versus being incorporated into a housing or lug assembly  40 ,  60  as in the embodiments of  FIGS. 10-15 . As with the prior exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 8-15 , the invention is not limited to the relatively short snare-type drum shell  12 , with any such hardware as the low friction housing assemblies  140 , the low friction lug assemblies  160 , and the cable tension dial assembly  170  again being formed so as to be removably engageable with the drum  10  or any components thereof such as the shell  12  or rim  30  so as to be replaceable or provided for aftermarket installation or may be permanently or integrally formed with or mounted on such drum  10  or drum components, in which case the rim  30 , as here in the alternative exemplary embodiment, may be a purpose-built component incorporating features or aspects of the present invention. 
     Referring to the assembled and partially-exploded perspective views of  FIGS. 16 and 17 , respectively, it can first be seen that in the further alternative exemplary embodiment, the illustrated low friction housing assemblies  140  are here configured to be effectively mounted on the respective lug assemblies  160  rather than on the rim  30  directly, more about which is said below in connection with  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the rim  30  thereby being selectively removable in a “quick-change” fashion as by only loosening but not at all disengaging the cable  90  via the dial assembly  170  and then rotating the rim  30  relative to the shell  12  to selectively disengage the rim  30  from the housing assemblies  140  and thus allow for removal or replacement of the drumhead  14 , as explained further below. Again here, each low friction housing assembly  140  is configured with a pair of opposite, circumferentially-spaced-apart grooved bearing wheels  142  as generally in the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 10-15 , though those skilled in the art will once again appreciate that any such low friction surfaces or arrangement now known or later developed may be substituted, both for the rim housing assemblies  140  and the lug assemblies  160 , with a variety of combinations of such components in forming an exemplary drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention being possible without departing from its spirit and scope. And as in the previous exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 10-15 , each low friction lug assembly  160  generally comprises a grooved low friction lug bearing wheel or surface  162  about which each cable  90 ,  91  runs, with a channel or groove formed in the lug surface  162  for each of the upper and lower cables  90 ,  91  to run in, though rather than the respective lug bearing wheels or surfaces  162  being “stacked” or effectively sharing a common shaft or axis as in the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 10-15 , they are shown as spaced apart vertically, one bearing wheel or surface  162  for the upper cable  90  and thus the upper rim  30  and one for the lower cable  91  and thus the lower rim  31  more analogous to the embodiments of  FIGS. 2-9 , and more specifically that of  FIG. 8  relative to a common lug assembly  60  having two such low friction lug bearing wheels or surfaces  62  incorporated therein for the upper and lower apparatuses  20  associated with the respective upper and lower rims  30 ,  31 , though it will again be appreciated that with relatively taller drum formats or otherwise such upper and lower bearing wheels or surfaces  162  and thus the low friction lug assemblies  160  themselves may be separately formed and mounted on the shell  12  without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, such that the exemplary single low friction lug assembly  160  servicing the upper and lower apparatuses  20  is to be understood as illustrative and non-limiting. Again, any such lug assembly  160  and related lug surfaces  162 , whether rotatable as a wheel or bearing or configured as some other low friction surface for passage thereover or thereabout of the cable  90 ,  91 , may be mounted on the drum shell  12  at any appropriate location and by any appropriate means now known or later developed according to aspects of the present invention. Moreover, it will be appreciated that any combination of such bearing features or surfaces is possible in various contexts, including but not limited to those illustrated herein. Again, while in this alternative exemplary embodiment the housing assemblies  140  and respective lug assemblies  160  are shown as being substantially aligned or offset vertically, such need not be the case, but instead the housing and lug assemblies  140 ,  160  may be staggered or otherwise offset horizontally, in whole or in part, as in other exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Furthermore, as shown in the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 10-15  and again here in connection with the alternative exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 16-21 , the spacing of the respective housing bearing wheels or surfaces  142  may substantially correlate basically to the nominal diameter of the respective lug bearing wheel or surface  162 , or more precisely to any groove or the like that the respective cable  90 ,  91  runs in, such that the segments of cable  90 ,  91  passing between respective housing and lug assemblies  140 ,  160  are substantially vertical and substantially parallel to one another so as to minimize sideload on the bearing wheels or surfaces  142 ,  162 , though once again it will be appreciated that this is not necessarily the case, such as with reference to the other exemplary embodiments herein of  FIGS. 2-9 . There of course may be greater or fewer of any such components or assemblies, and any such resulting drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  may be arranged or configured in a variety of other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In any such arrangement, it will be appreciated that each lug assembly  160  would still be installed spaced about the drum shell  12  substantially between respective housing assemblies  140 , whether or not aligned therewith, so as to allow for the respective cable  90 ,  91  to loop intermittently therebetween. 
     With continued reference particularly to the partially exploded perspective view of  FIG. 17  illustrating the further alternative exemplary drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention and now to the enlarged partial perspective views of  FIGS. 18 and 19 , it can be seen that the exemplary low friction lug assembly  160  generally comprises a lug body  166  in which is operably installed opposite or vertically spaced apart grooved bearing wheels  162  about which the respective upper and lower tension cables  90 ,  91  run. Further formed on the lug body  166  are oppositely extending lug body posts  168  on which the respective opposite low friction housing assemblies  140  are slidably received. Again, it will be appreciated that the lug body  166  may just as easily be formed as two separate components having a respective bearing wheel or surface  162  and post  168  each corresponding to the respective upper and lower assemblies  20  and be mounted on the drum shell  12  accordingly. Each low friction housing assembly  140  is shown as generally comprising a housing body  146  again in which is operably installed opposite or horizontally or circumferentially spaced apart grooved bearing wheels  142  about which the respective upper and lower tension cables  90 ,  91  run, it again being understood that such housing body  146  could also be formed as two separate components each having a respective bearing wheel or surface  142 . In the exemplary embodiment, each housing body first surface  148  generally oriented toward the lug assembly  160  when assembled is formed having a housing body first hole  150  sized and configured for slidable receipt of the respective lug body post  168 , on which basis it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the housing body  146  and thus the low friction housing assembly  140  may move or shift up or down relative to the respective lug body  166  and post  168  and thus the respective low friction lug assembly  160  during operation. As illustrated, a lug body spring  169  may be provided on or at the distal or free end of the respective lug body post  168  and so be positioned within the respective housing body first hole  150 , or specifically between the housing body  146  and the lug body post  168 , so as to effectively bias the low friction housing assembly  140  away from the respective low friction lug assembly  160 . It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that counteracting any such biasing spring force or effect is the cable  90 ,  91  and any tension thereon, such that in operation as the cable  90 ,  91  is tightened so as to put increased tension on the rim  30 ,  31  and head  14  itself, the lug body springs  169  are effectively compressed, while if the cable  90 ,  91  is loosened by operation of the dial assembly  170 , the respective springs  169  serve along with the head  14  to an extent to take any slack out of the cable  90 ,  91  and lift the rim  30 ,  31  and thus reduce tension on the drumhead  14 . Accordingly, in one embodiment the respective cable  90 ,  91  serves to maintain the sliding assembly of the low friction housing assemblies  140  on the respective low friction lug assemblies  160 , though it will be appreciated that any fastening or retention means now known or later developed for selectively assembling or capturing each housing assembly  140  on a lug assembly  160 , and whether or not incorporating a post  168  and related hole  150  on or in either housing body  146 ,  166 , may be employed according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. By way of illustration and not limitation, the spring  169  may be made of wire steel having a nominal wire diameter of 0.63 mm, have a nominal or at rest length of 17 mm and a compressed or maximum load length of 6.2 mm, a nominal outside diameter of 6.93 mm, and a nominal spring rate of 0.26 lbs/mm. As best seen in  FIG. 19 , a second surface  152  of the housing body  146  of each low friction housing assembly  140  opposite the first surface  148  at or along which the housing assembly  140  effectively engages the respective lug assembly  160  is formed having a somewhat centered threaded housing body second hole  154  and two housing body posts  156  extending away from the housing body second surface  152  on opposite sides of the second hole  154 . The subhoop  230  is then correspondingly formed with sets of three spaced-apart subhoop through-holes  232  thereabout, a central such through-hole  232  corresponding with the threaded housing body second hole  154  for receipt therethrough of a subhoop screw  234 , more about which is said below, and opposite through-holes  232  flanking the central one and corresponding with and configured for removable receipt therein of the spaced-apart housing body posts  156  extending from the housing body second surface  152  toward the subhoop  230 . By way of illustration and not limitation, the subhoop through-holes  232  may be nominally 5 mm in diameter at 25 mm center-to-center spacing; in a further exemplary embodiment, the central through-hole  232  for passage therethrough of the threaded portion  237  ( FIG. 19 ) of the subhoop screw  234  is slightly larger than the other two adjacent through-holes—nominally 5.1 mm diameter versus nominally 4.5 mm diameter. The subhoop  230  may be formed of any appropriate material and by any appropriate manufacturing method now known or later developed, including but not limited to metal or plastic as through molding, casting, machining, stamping, or forming. By way of further illustration and not limitation, the subhoop  230  may be made of machined or cast steel or zinc. The subhoop  230  may also be formed with opposite slots (not shown) to accommodate snare wires (not shown) as might be positioned adjacent to either head  14 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the number and arrangement of such positioning, attachment, or assembly features and materials and methods of fabrication of such components and assemblies are merely illustrative of features and aspects of the present invention and non-limiting. 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 16-19 , in the alternative exemplary embodiment of a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention having the low friction housing assemblies  140  slidably mounted on the respective low friction lug assemblies  160  that are themselves mounted about the drum shell  12 , a subhoop  230  for each apparatus  20  and corresponding to each rim  30 ,  31  is thus installed on the respective low friction housing assemblies  140  spaced about the shell  12  as by aligning the three subhoop through-holes  232  with the corresponding features formed on the second surface  152  of each housing body  146 ; more particularly, it will be appreciated that the engagement of the housing body posts  156  with the outer two subhoop through-holes  232  serves to assist with such assembly and the resulting alignment of the central subhoop through-hole  232  with the respective threaded housing body second hole  154 . At that point a subhoop screw  234  can be threadably engaged with the housing body second hole  154  of each low friction housing assembly  140  about the shell  12  so as to thereby secure the subhoop  230  on the spaced-apart housing assemblies  140  as shown in  FIG. 17 . It will be appreciated that the subhoop  230  thus serves to stabilize the respective housing assemblies  140  laterally or circumferentially or add rigidity, both for purposes of sliding operation of the housing assemblies  140  relative to the respective lug assemblies  160  and of removable engagement of the “quick-change” rim  30 ,  31  effectively with the housing assemblies  140 . However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the same can be accomplished with a variety of hardware arrangements or configurations, employing components now known or later developed, and specifically with or without a subhoop  230 , such that the exemplary embodiment is expressly to be understood as illustrative and non-limiting. Indeed, by way of further illustration and not limitation, the same or similar subhoop screw  234  could be threadably installed on each housing assembly  140  or housing body  146  without the subhoop  230 , rendering the housing body posts  156  unnecessary as well, and thereby accomplish essentially the same functionality of removably receiving a quick-change rim  30 ,  31  as by selectively engaging the screws  234 , again here without the subhoop  230 , though as in the exemplary embodiment the subhoop  230  is preferred. As for the exemplary embodiment including the subhoop  230  and with particular reference to the enlarged partially-exploded perspective view of  FIG. 19 , each subhoop screw  234  is formed having a subhoop screw head  235 , an intermediate subhoop screw shoulder  236 , and an opposite subhoop screw threaded portion  237 . First, the subhoop screw threaded portion  237  may be configured with appropriate thread diameter and pitch (or thread type or form) and length so as to threadably engage a correspondingly threaded housing body second hole  154  formed in the housing body  146 . The intermediate subhoop screw shoulder  236  is not threaded and has a larger diameter than that of the subhoop screw threaded portion  237 , such that the subhoop screw shoulder  236  seats against the subhoop  230  about the respective subhoop through-hole  232  as the threaded portion  237  passes through the same through-hole  232 , thereby trapping the subhoop  230  against the housing body second surface  152 , or between the subhoop screw shoulder  236  and the second surface  152 , and securing the subhoop  230  on the respective low friction housing assembly  140 . To that end, it will be appreciated that preferably the subhoop screw threaded portion  237  should be of such a length relative to the housing body second hole  154  that the subhoop screw shoulder  236  seats against the subhoop  230 , or secures the subhoop  230  against the housing body second surface  152 , before the subhoop screw threaded portion  237  bottoms in the housing body second hole  154 . It will be further appreciated with reference to  FIGS. 18 and 19  that the subhoop screw head  235  has a still larger outside diameter than that of the subhoop screw shoulder  236 , such that when selectively and temporarily engaging the “quick-change” rim  30 ,  31  with the apparatus  20 , and particularly with the assembly of the subhoop  230  and spaced apart low friction housing assemblies  140 , and more particularly with the subhoop screws  234  that mount the subhoop  230  on such housing assemblies  140 , each subhoop screw head  235  is configured so as to be able to pass through the relatively larger somewhat circular region of a respective keyway  36  formed in the flange  32  of the rim  30 ,  31  but not the relatively smaller slotted region of the keyway  36  that only the subhoop screw shoulder  236  can pass through. As such, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the rim  30 ,  31  can be engaged with a drum  10  equipped with a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention by simply selectively positioning the rim  30 ,  31  over the respective subhoop  230  and related screws  234  such that the screw heads  235  pass through the respective rim keyways  36  until the rim flange  32  is substantially adjacent to the subhoop  230 , at which point the rim  30 ,  31  can simply be rotated or shifted relative to the subhoop  230 , in the illustrated embodiment clockwise as looking down on the top head  14 , so as to slide the subhoop screw heads  235  over the rim flange  32  as the subhoop screw shoulders  236  pass through the respective slots of the keyways  36  until bottoming or otherwise, thereby selectively securing the rim  30 ,  31  on the drum  10  quickly and easily without loosening or removing any screws and thus facilitating rapid head changes, as shown in  FIG. 16 . With the “quick-change” rim  30 ,  31  so engaged with the apparatus  20 , it will be appreciated that the respective low friction housing assemblies  140 , the subhoop  230  installed thereon, and the rim  30 ,  31  removably engaged with the subhoop  140  and housing assemblies  140  as described, all such components then move in unison relative to the lug assemblies  160  and drum shell  12  as tension in the respective cable  90 ,  91  is shifted up or down by operation of the associated cable tension dial assembly  170 , thereby tuning the associated head  14  “up” or “down” as in other exemplary embodiments herein. Notably, as with conventional drum hoops or rims, the rims  30 ,  31  are sized so as to effectively have a nominal inside diameter that is smaller than the nominal diameter of the intended drumhead  14  and a nominal outside diameter as at the radial perimeter or outer edge of the flange  32  that is larger than the diameter of the drumhead  14 , or its hoop  16  ( FIG. 4 ) more specifically, so as to thereby retain the drumhead  14  on the drum  10  or trap the drumhead  14  between the rim  30 ,  31  and drum shell  12 . And to facilitate removal of the drumhead  14  once only the rim  30 ,  31  has been removed, it will be appreciated that the nominal inside diameter of the subhoop  230  would be greater than the nominal outside diameter of the particular drumhead  14  as shown in  FIG. 17 , though that would not necessarily be the case or required depending on a number of geometric considerations, particularly relating to the elevation of the subhoop  230  relative to the drum shell  12  and/or the drumhead  14 , or other factors, such that, for example, the subhoop  230  could in part nest or be positioned beneath the drumhead perimeter hoop  16  as effectively also shown in  FIG. 17 —so long as only the rim  30 ,  31  and not the subhoop  230  makes contact with the perimeter of the drumhead  14  so as to trap or retain the drumhead  14  relative to the drum shell  12 , such functionality is achieved. By way of illustration and not limitation, and in the context of a typical snare drum with nominal head size of fourteen inches (or about 35.5 cm) but with an actual hoop diameter of approximately 37 cm, the outside diameter of the rim  30 ,  31  is approximately 40.5 cm and the inside diameter is approximately 35.5 cm corresponding to the nominal shell and head size and so as to engage the drum head hoop about the rim&#39;s inside edge, while for the subhoop  230  the nominal outside diameter is approximately 40 cm and the nominal inside diameter is approximately 37.5 cm, though again a virtually infinite variety of configurations and sizes are possible depending on the drum  10  itself, and specifically the drum shell  12 , and other factors. In any case, to remove the rim  30 ,  31  it would simply be rotated in the opposite direction, or counter-clockwise in this example, so as to again align the subhoop screw heads  235  with the larger circular portion of each rim keyway  36  and thereby allow the rim  30 ,  31  to be lifted off of the drum  10 . As shown, a grip  38  may be provided on the rim  30 ,  31  to facilitate grasping and rotating the rim  30 ,  31  during use. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the length or depth of the subhoop screw shoulder  236  may substantially approximate the thickness of the rim flange  32  for a net or near-net fit between the parts and secure and smooth engagement. Relatedly, it will be appreciated, with particular reference to  FIG. 18 , that the length or height of the housing body posts  156  are such that they enter but do not pass completely through the subhoop through-holes  232  and so do not stick up above the subhoop  230  when assembled on the low friction housing assemblies  140 , further contributing to the smooth engagement of the “quick-change” rim  30 ,  31  with the respective tuning systems  20 , and subhoops  230  specifically. However, it is to again be expressly understood that other configurations and arrangements of any such components and assemblies are possible according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope such that the exemplary embodiments are once more illustrative and non-limiting. By way of illustration and not limitation, the subhoop screw  234  may be nominally 16-17 mm long with the subhoop screw head  235  being approximately 2-3 mm thick and 11.5 mm in diameter, the subhoop screw shoulder  236  being approximately 4 mm long and 6.3 mm in diameter and the subhoop screw threaded portion  237  being approximately 10 mm long and 4 mm in diameter with an 8-32 male or external thread, and the rim keyway  36  may be nominally 12 mm in diameter at its larger circular opening and nominally 7 mm wide along its smaller slotted opening, the keyway  36  being approximately 18-19 mm long, center-to-center from end to end, and so the rim flange  32  may then have a nominal thickness of approximately 4 mm corresponding to the 4 mm screw shoulder height. Fundamentally, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the novel combination of a drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention with a “quick-change” rim  30 ,  31  as enabled by the effective assembly of the low friction housing assemblies  140  on the shell-mounted low friction lug assemblies  160  rather than on the rim  30 ,  31  itself enables removal or replacement of a drumhead  14  by simply loosening the tension in the associated cable  90 ,  91  by selective operation of the associated dial assembly  170  so as to then “twist off” the rim  30 ,  31  and enable free access to the drumhead  14 , with the steps just repeated in reverse to install a drumhead  14  just as easily, which can again then be tightened and tuned simply by tightening the associated cable  90 ,  91  again via the associated cable tension dial assembly  170 , all without having to loosen or remove any screws or even or at all disengage but only selectively loosen or reduce the tension in the respective cable  90 ,  91  again through operation of the easy-to-use dial assembly  170 , more about which is said below in connection with  FIGS. 20 and 21 . Once more, those skilled in the art will thus appreciate that there is herein disclosed and new and novel system by which single-point drum tuning is achieved for uniform applied tension to a drumhead  14  about its perimeter or surface while still enabling quick and convenient removal of the rim  30 ,  31  while the balance of the drumhead tuning apparatus  20  remains in place or operably installed on the drum  10 . 
     Turning next to  FIGS. 20 and 21 , there are shown assembled and exploded perspective views of a further exemplary cable tension dial assembly  170  as employed in the alternative exemplary drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 16-19 , the dial assembly  170  generally comprising a dial  172  and a dial body  176 . As a threshold matter, it will be appreciated that while a particular configuration of the dial assembly  170  is shown and described, other such assemblies as included in alternative exemplary embodiments hereof or otherwise may also be employed. As shown in  FIG. 20 , the cable tension dial assembly  170  is generally installed at an intermediate location on the drum shell  12  with both the upper and lower cables  90 ,  91  feeding into it. In the exemplary embodiment involving or illustrating a relatively shorter snare drum  10  ( FIG. 16 ), such arrangement of the dial assembly  170  accommodating or receiving both cables  90 ,  91  is primarily due to spatial constraints, as will be further appreciated from the below more detailed description in connection with the exploded view of  FIG. 21 . Here as a threshold matter, though, it is noted as also set forth elsewhere herein, and irrespective of spatial considerations, that any such dial assembly  170  may be configured to operate or selectively tighten or loosen only a single cable  90 ,  91  and thus tune only one head  14  or to operate or selectively tighten or loosen both cables  90 ,  91  and thus tune both the upper and lower heads  14 , whether or not simultaneously. Where each dial assembly  170  engages only a single cable  90 ,  91  and thus tunes a single head  14 , it will be further appreciated, again particularly with a relatively shorter snare drum  10 , that the two cable tension dial assemblies  170  may be located in a staggered or spaced apart manner or basically in the exemplary embodiment shown on opposite sides of the drum shell  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 16 , one operably engaging the upper tension cable  90  and thus the upper rim  30  and so tuning the upper head  14  and one operably engaging the lower tension cable  91  and thus the lower rim  31  and so tuning the lower head  14 . Once more, a variety of other such arrangements are possible according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. 
     Referring more particularly now to the exploded perspective view of the cable tension dial assembly  170  of  FIG. 21 , such assembly  170  may again be incorporated at a particular lug position or installed in conjunction with a particular lug assembly  160  or may be independent of any lug or lug position. As a threshold matter, it will be appreciated that the illustrated dial assembly  170  is arranged so as to operate in conjunction with the upper cable  90  and thus to selectively put tension on the upper rim  30  and related upper drumhead  14 , though a similar arrangement could again be employed in connection with the lower cable  91  and rim  31  by the dial assembly  170  essentially just being “flipped.” Either way, the exemplary dial assembly  170  generally comprises a dial body  176  mounted directly or indirectly onto the drum shell  12 , more about which is said below, and a dial  172  operably mounted on the dial body  176 , the body  176  housing in operable relationship a take-up shaft  200  and a drive shaft  194  engaged via gearing. Generally, then, in the alternative exemplary embodiment, and somewhat analogous to other dial assembly shaft and gear arrangements disclosed herein, the dial assembly  170  comprises a substantially horizontal drive shaft  194  oriented so as to extend substantially radially outwardly relative to the drum shell  12  and configured having a worm gear  195  or the like for engagement with a worm wheel or engagement gear  201  formed on the take-up shaft  200 , which is also oriented substantially horizontally but substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft  194 . It is the drive shaft  194 , and specifically its distal coupler  196 , with which the dial  172  engages for manual operation of the drive shaft  194  and thus the overall dial assembly  170 , though as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art a key K ( FIG. 8 ) or other such device may interact with or facilitate rotation of the drive shaft  194  to selectively control the dial assembly  170  and thus the tension on the cable  90 , which may also even be motorized or electro-mechanically driven. Opposite ends of the drive shaft  194  proximal of the coupler  196 , here shown along the shaft  194  proximal and distal of the worm gear  195 , may be rotationally supported via one or more thrust bearings  198  or the like. The mating take-up shaft  200  may also be rotationally supported within the dial body  176  or may be completely supported internally and, regardless, as also shown, its opposite free ends may be installed in opposite shaft bearings  204  contained within the dial body  176  or overall dial assembly  170 , though as in other embodiments, the take-up shaft  200  may also extend beyond the dial body  176 . In a bit more detail related to the components of the cable tension dial assembly  170  as shown in  FIG. 21  particularly as relating to housing or supporting the internal gearing, in the exemplary embodiment, there is further provided a dial base  190  having formed therein a dial base recess  192  for at least partial support or retention of the take-up shaft  200 —as shown, such dial base recess  192  may in fact be contoured or multifaceted so as to accommodate or provide clearance for both the intermediate take-up shaft engagement gear  201  and the shaft bearings  204  at opposite ends of the take-up shaft  200 , as well as clearance for the cable  90  itself that is engaged with the take-up shaft  200 , more about which is said below. The dial base  190  may be further formed with a dial base receiver hole  193  for receipt and support of at least one end of the drive shaft  194  and its one or more associated thrust bearings  198  and so positioned offset from the dial base recess  192  so as to properly position and space the drive shaft  194  and the take-up shaft  200  relative to one another and thus to facilitate proper or effective engagement of the drive shaft worm gear  195  with the take-up shaft worm wheel  201 . By way of illustration and not limitation, the drive shaft  194  may have a nominal length of approximately 30 mm and a nominal diameter of approximately 6 mm, with a step on both sides of the worm gear  195  having a nominal diameter of approximately 8 mm so as to provide shoulders against which the respective thrust bearings  198  may seat, and with the worm gear  195  itself having a nominal outside diameter of approximately 12 mm and configured with a right-hand thread having a pressure angle of fourteen-and-a-half degrees (14.5°), the thrust bearings  198  coincidentally also having a nominal outside diameter of approximately 12 mm, while the take-up shaft  200  may have a nominal length of approximately 42 mm, including an approximately 32 mm central portion having a nominal diameter of approximately 10 mm and two opposite stepped-down end portions approximately 5 mm each in length and 5 mm in diameter for receipt of the opposite shaft bearings  204  that each have a nominal outside diameter of approximately 14 mm, with the worm wheel or engagement gear  201  located substantially centrally along the central portion of the take-up shaft  200  and having a nominal outside diameter of approximately 17 mm, here with eighteen ( 18 ) teeth each again having a pressure angle of fourteen-and-a-half degrees (14.5°) for mating, positive engagement with the drive shaft worm gear  198  when both shafts  194 ,  200  are operably installed within the dial assembly  170  as indicated. In the exemplary embodiment, both the drive shaft  194  and the take-up shaft  200 , and particularly their respective gears  195 ,  201 , may be formed from stainless steel, though it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that all such components may be formed from any suitable material and method of manufacture, whether in one operation or involving one or more secondary operations, and whether now known or later developed. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 21 , the dial base  190  may be further formed having a perimeter wall  191  that substantially conforms to a perimeter skirt  177  of the dial body  176  so that the parts may nest together in forming the dial assembly  170 , in the exemplary embodiment, specifically, the dial base  190  effectively nesting within the dial body  176  so that it is the dial body  176  that is visible in the assembled view of  FIG. 20 , though it will be appreciated that such is not necessarily the case. Accordingly, with the drive shaft  194  and take-up shaft  200  operably arranged as described herein they may be retained in such operable arrangement by effectively installing the dial body  176  and the dial base  190  together so as to thereby trap the operable moving parts therein, such assembly being accomplished via any assembly or fastening components or techniques now known or later developed, including but not limited to screwing, bonding, welding, over-molding, press-fitting, or snapping. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that such sub-assembly of the dial body  176  and dial base  190  and related internal gearing and other components may be completed before such sub-assembly is then installed on the drum shell  12 , as for example via fasteners such as screws from the inside of and passing through appropriate holes in the shell  12  so as to engage corresponding threaded holes in the dial base  190 , and thus prior to any engagement of one or both tension cables  90 ,  91  or even the dial  172  with the dial assembly  170 . As shown, the exemplary dial body  176  may be formed having a central dial body through-hole  182  for receipt therethrough of the distal end of the drive shaft  194 , or the coupler  196  specifically, for exposure thereof and access thereto outside of the assembly of the dial body  176  and the dial base  190  for the purpose of then engaging the dial  172  or other such feature with the drive shaft  194 , whether permanently or removably. Indeed, as also shown, the dial  172  may comprise a dial face  173  installed over a dial insert  174 , with such assembly being retained on the coupler  196  of the drive shaft  194  via a set screw  175 , though again other means of assembly now known or later developed are also possible. Notably, in the exemplary embodiment, by simply removing the one set screw  175  the dial  172  may thereby be removed from the drive shaft  194  and the balance of the dial assembly  170 , thereby exposing the to-that-point concealed features of the dial body  176 . Particularly, the dial body  176  is shown as having opposite dial body cut-outs  179  through which it will be appreciated one would see and have access to the take-up shaft  200 . As such, even with the sub-assembly of the dial body  176  and dial base  190  intact and installed on the drum shell  12 , and again with just the dial  172  itself removed, an operator can then take the free ends of the upper tension cable  90  and selectively feed them down through the dial body cut-outs  179  and corresponding dial base recess  192  and then engage such free ends with the take-up shaft  200  on opposite sides of the worm wheel  201  so as to facilitate winding the cable  90  about the take-up shaft  200  as such shaft  200  is caused to rotate. That is, as shown here and in other exemplary embodiments, on opposite sides of the take-up shaft engagement gear  201  there may be formed in the drive shaft  200  holes  202  configured for receipt therein of the free ends of the tensioning cable  90  as it starts and ends at the dial assembly  170 . With the upper cable  90  in this example thus operably engaged with the take-up shaft  200 , the dial  172  may simply be replaced on the drive shaft  194  adjacent to the dial body  176  as shown in  FIG. 20 , rendering the cable tension dial assembly  170  ready for use. In this way, it will generally be appreciated by those skilled in the art that with the ends of the cable  90  attached or secured to the shaft  200  in any appropriate manner now known or later developed and the rest of the cable  90  passing alternately through the housing and lug assemblies  140 ,  160  of the drumhead tuning rim apparatus  20  about the drum shell  12  as herein described, rotation of the take-up shaft  200  as caused by rotation of the drive shaft  194 , and specifically rotation of the engaged dial  172 , will selectively tighten or loosen the cable  90  or selectively increase or decrease tension in the cable  90  and thus raise or lower the overall pitch of the drumhead  14  as explained herein. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 16-21 , and with reference to the upper drumhead  14  and related upper rim  30  and assembly  20 , it will be appreciated that one end of the cable  90  is wrapped on one exposed end of the take-up shaft  200 , for example, here, the left end as the tensioner  170  is viewed in  FIG. 21 , and the cable  90  then passes up and through the adjacent housing assembly  140 , and particularly around the bearing wheel or surface  142  on the left, runs substantially along the underside of the upper rim  30  to the next housing assembly  140  to the left, thus passing around the bearing wheel or surface  142  on the right of that assembly  140  and then down to the next lug assembly  160  and around and back up and around the bearing wheel or surface  142  on the left side of the same housing assembly  140 , and so on until the cable  90  comes “full circle” back to the housing assembly  140  adjacent to the cable tension dial assembly  170 , around the bearing wheel or surface  142  on the right of such housing  140 , at which point the opposite free end of the cable  90  then passes out of the housing  140  and back down to the tensioner  170  so as to be wrapped on the other exposed end of the take-up shaft  200 , here the right end as the tensioner  170  is viewed. Accordingly, in this further exemplary arrangement, the tension cable  90  again passes intermittently around the perimeter of the drum  10  as by here going to and from or in and out of a rim housing assembly  140  for each corresponding lug assembly  160  until terminating at both ends in the cable tension dial assembly  170  associated with the upper apparatus  20 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such arrangement, like the other embodiments shown and described herein, results in substantially equivalent vertical forces on each point around the rim  30  so as to substantially uniformly tighten and tune the corresponding drumhead  14 . Once more, it will be appreciated that a variety of other such arrangements are possible according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, such that the present embodiment is to be understood as illustrative and non-limiting. Particularly, other configurations and installations of the cable tension dial assembly  170  are possible. Relatedly, it will be appreciated once more by those skilled in the art that virtually any assembly technique for securing the one or more cable tension dial assemblies  170  on the drum shell  12 , whether permanent or selectively removable or now known or later developed, and whether directly or as installed or mounted in conjunction with a lug assembly  160 , may be employed in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, including but not limited to screws, bolts, cross-pins, rivets, adhesives, snaps, slotted engagement, spot or tack welding, or crimping. It will be further appreciated that the dial  172 , and the dial face  173  specifically, as well as the dial body  176  may take any shape, size, or form as desirable in operably containing the take-up shaft  200  with gear  201  and the worm gear-style drive shaft  194  and in providing, in the case of the dial  172 , an ergonomically effective grasping surface in operating the dial assembly  170 . By way of illustration and not limitation, in the exemplary embodiment the overall outside diameter of both the dial  172  and the dial body  176  is approximately 65 mm. It will be further appreciated that a similar cable tension dial assembly  170 , or any other such tensioner according to aspects of the present invention, may further be positioned on the drum  10  so as to operably control tension in the lower cable  91 . 
     With still further reference to  FIG. 21 , and with particular reference to the lower cable  91  that in the exemplary embodiment is not operably engaged with or driven by the illustrated dial assembly  170  that operates the upper apparatus  20  and rim  30  via the upper cable  90 , it can be seen that the dial body  176  is here further formed having a dial body bearing wheel  184  or idler pulley over which the lower cable  91  may operably loop analogous to the lower grooved bearing wheel  162  in each low friction lug assembly  160  about the drum shell  12 , here in the location of the dial assembly  170  such dial body bearing wheel  184  effectively taking the place of a lug grooved bearing wheel  162  at that one lug position. Once again, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while such a bearing wheel  184  is shown as incorporated within the dial assembly  170 , that is not necessarily the case, such as optionally having the dial assembly  170  at an intermediate location or having a taller drum shell  12  such that the dial assembly  170  can be shifted up or down for the upper or lower cable  90 ,  91  operable engagement, leaving room opposite the dial assembly  170  and somewhat vertically aligned therewith for a separate low friction lug assembly  160  to be installed on the shell  12  for servicing the cable  90 ,  91  not driven by the respective dial assembly  170 , there as potentially having only one grooved bearing wheel  162  rather than two. Staying with the exemplary embodiment wherein the bearing wheel  184  is incorporated into the dial assembly  170 , the dial body  176  may thus be further configured having a dial body recess  180  formed beneath and offset from the cut-outs  179  and the through-hole  182 , the recess  180  itself being formed with a somewhat central recess hole  181 . Accordingly and advantageously, it will again be appreciated that the dial body bearing wheel  184  and the looped portion of the lower cable  91  thereabout are easily accessed by only removing the dial  172  as above-described, thereby exposing the previously-concealed portion of the dial body  176  and such internal features, such as for inspection or to install a new cable  90 ,  91 . Furthermore, the illustrative dial body bearing wheel  184  is shown as an assembly of three parts essentially: a wheel body  185  having a wheel shaft  186  extending distally therefrom; a wheel bearing  187  press-fit or otherwise installed on the wheel shaft  186 ; and a wheel rim  188  installed on the perimeter of the wheel bearing  187 . In this manner, it will be appreciated that in holding the wheel body  185  and shaft  186  fixed, such as by installing the distal free end of the wheel shaft  186  in the dial body recess hole  181 , the wheel rim  188  may relatively smoothly or frictionlessly rotate about the shaft  186  via the intermediate wheel bearing  187 , and as having sufficient clearance between the rim  188  and the dial body recess  180 . In the exemplary embodiment, the dial body bearing wheel  184  has a nominal outside diameter of approximately 21 mm, which is effectively the outer or perimeter edge diameter of both the wheel body  185  and the wheel rim  188 . The dial body wheel bearing  187  has a nominal outside diameter of approximately 16 mm, corresponding to an approximately 16 mm inside diameter of the wheel rim  188  for seating on the bearing  187 , and has a nominal inside diameter of approximately 5 mm, corresponding to an approximately 5 mm outside diameter of the wheel shaft  186  for accommodating the bearing  187 , in an exemplary embodiment all such engagement between the wheel shaft  186  and wheel rim  188  on the intermediate wheel bearing  187  being a press- or interference fit, though it will be appreciated that other assembly techniques now known or later developed may be employed. As also shown, the wheel rim  188  may be formed having a perimeter circumferential wheel rim groove  189  for retention of the cable  91  passing thereover, which groove may be on the order of approximately 1-3 mm deep, depending on a number of factors including the cable diameter. More generally, though not shown or described in such detail, it will be appreciated that effectively the very same dial body bearing wheel  184  as disclosed herein in connection with the exemplary dial assembly  170  of  FIG. 21  may also be employed as the housing assembly grooved bearing wheel  142  or the lug assembly grooved bearing wheel  162 , or any such variation or combination thereof, and whether scaled up or down or otherwise modified for particular applications, according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. In any case, by way of further illustration and not limitation, the wheel bearing  187  may be a ball-type bearing for radial loading with the components such as the inner and outer races or bushings and ball bearings themselves made of any suitable material now known or later developed, including but not limited to metal such as stainless steel or brass and plastic such as Delrin®, and may be sealed or shielded as assembled and so also be self- or internally-lubricated as with grease or other appropriate lubricating or friction-reducing material, those skilled in the art appreciating that any such bearing construction or assembly now known or later developed may be employed in an apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. And with continued reference to  FIG. 21 , it will be appreciated based on the foregoing that cables  90 ,  91  are not positioned within the dial assembly  170  until after the dial body  176  is first assembled onto the dial base  190  and such sub-assembly installed on the shell  12  as herein described, notwithstanding the representation of the free ends of the upper cable  90  already engaging the take-up shaft  200  and the looped portion of the lower cable  91  positioned between the lower housing bearing wheels  142  even though the dial body  176  and associated bearing wheel  184  are shown as exploded rather than yet assembled. Similarly, and staying with the exemplary embodiment as illustrated, it will be appreciated that the dial body  176  is further formed with oppositely extending dial body posts  178  analogous to the lug body posts  168  ( FIGS. 18 and 19 ) and for the same purpose of slidably engaging and supporting the associated low friction housing assemblies  140  as herein described, which again assumes that the dial assembly  170  is proximate such housing assemblies  140  as would be the case in the illustrated snare drum  10  embodiment of  FIGS. 16-21 , it again being appreciated that in other drum configurations, such as relatively taller toms or the like, the dial assembly  170  may not itself engage any low friction housing assembly  140  and so would not be formed with any such dial body posts  168 , instead with separate low friction lug assemblies  160  provided accordingly for that purpose consistent with the exemplary features and aspects of the present invention as herein disclosed. Further, with continued reference to  FIG. 21 , once more, various fasteners, such as to mount the dial base  190  onto the drum shell  12 , are not shown for simplicity and may take any appropriate form now known or later developed. Relatedly for simplicity,  FIG. 21  does not include optional springs that may be mounted on the dial body posts  178  analogous to the springs  169  on the lug body posts  168  ( FIG. 19 ). And though not shown, all parts mounted to the shell  12 , such as the low friction lug assemblies  140  and the cable tension dial assemblies  170 , may incorporate rubber gaskets or washers or other such features between such components and related fasteners and the drum shell  12  to facilitate sound or vibration dampening or isolation of such mechanical components from the drum shell  12 . Fundamentally, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a wide variety of such components and related assemblies are possible according to aspects of the present invention, such that the various exemplary embodiments are expressly to be understood as illustrative and non-limiting. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 22 and 23 , there are shown schematic block diagrams essentially depicting the new and novel idea of controlling the tuning of an acoustic drum or drum kit electronically (or electro-mechanically), as by having a motor  85  drive the geared shaft  80  of a drum head tuning rim apparatus  20  according to aspects of the present invention in order to tune each drum “up” or “down,” with a microprocessor  71  allowing for control through a wired or wireless connection between the apparatus interface  73  and an external controller  92 , more about which is said below. It will be appreciated as a threshold matter based on the foregoing exemplary embodiments that any such motor  85  may be configured to drive the take-up shaft  80  of any tensioner  70  directly, or the motor  85  may instead drive the drive shaft  89  that is operably engaged with the take-up shaft  80 , so as to thus drive the take-up shaft  80  indirectly. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such a system and method thus enables a conventional drum or drum kit to be tuned in an efficient or even automated manner as by electronic or electro-mechanical control yet with the full, rich, traditional sound and playability of an acoustic drum or drum kit. The resulting system is effectively and advantageously an acoustic-electric hybrid system that can be employed to create or enable an acoustic drum that is even self-tuning and/or self-adjusting. Applications of such a system could include but are not limited to eliminating the need for a drummer to tune his own drum set, allowing the drum set to tune itself and continually maintain tuning through a self-adjusting system, to allow a drummer to customize his tuning preferences and to easily and accurately duplicate those preferences, to allow an acoustic drum set to interact with technology in a way that makes it possible to have preset tuning options saved into an electronic interface (similar to how an electric guitar pedal works) and to access those options with the click of a button. A drummer could potentially adjust the tuning of his entire drum set instantaneously during live play, either between songs or during different sections of a song, for example during a key change. Such a system and method would thus be extremely beneficial for recording studio purposes as well, where rather than spending time and money re-tuning a drum set between songs, or bringing in a separate drum set, an artist could instead access his or her preset tuning options, instantaneously and automatically re-tuning the entire drum set between each song in the recording session. Relatedly, further applications of the present technology could also include a link, via Bluetooth® or any other wireless technology or protocol now known or later developed, between the acoustic drum set and an app on a smart phone, computer, or other technology for the purpose of uploading, downloading, and sharing tuning options as well as saving personal tuning settings and adjusting the drum set on the fly or even from a distance away. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of system configurations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which will be further appreciated from the following discussion relating to  FIGS. 22 and 23  in more detail. 
     With continued reference first to  FIG. 22 , there is again shown a schematic block diagram depicting a system for controlling the tuning of an acoustic drum electronically or electro-mechanically. Rather than manually turning the geared shaft  80  as through a dial  72  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) or a drum key K ( FIG. 8 ) that adjusts the tension in the cables  90 ,  91  to the respective upper and lower rims  30 ,  31  (labeled “Rim # 1 ” and “Rim # 2 ”), a motor  85  instead turns the shaft  80  under the control of a microprocessor  71 . It is noted that while the shaft  80  is still described as “geared,” it is not necessarily literally so, but instead may be “geared” in the sense that it is driven at various speeds and/or with various amounts of torque under the control of the motor  85  in the case of a “direct drive” arrangement, with the motor  85  coupled to the take-up shaft  80 , the motor  85  then functionally providing all of the “gearing” for the shaft  80 . It is further noted that while a single shaft  80  is shown in  FIG. 22 , the invention is not so limited, as will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion relating to alternative embodiments, and so might entail multiple gear shafts, each driven by the same motor  85  as by effectively a transmission that selective shifts the drive shaft of the motor  85  into engagement with one shaft or the other or neither. Or, there may be employed a separate motor  85  for each shaft  80  when a separate shaft  80  is to be provided for each cable/rim/head set. In any case, the one or more geared shafts  80  may be biased to a locked or non-rotatable position when not being driven, whether still engaged with the motor drive shaft or not, such that whatever setting the shaft is turned to, and hence whatever tension is in a particular cable and whatever resulting tuning of the associated head has been selected, it will remain until a different selection is made and the particular shaft  80  is again driven by the motor  85 . Again, here, there are shown a first cable  90  operably engaged with both the geared shaft  80  and the central bearing lugs  60  and the first or upper rim  30  and a second cable  91  also operably engaged with both the geared shaft  80  and the bearing lugs  60  and then the second or lower rim  31 . As such, it will be appreciated that the exemplary setup illustrated schematically in  FIG. 22  is effectively a representation of the alternative embodiment of  FIGS. 8 and 9  wherein a central, shared set of grooved bearing lugs  60  and a single cable tension dial assembly  70  are employed in the drum tuning rim apparatus  20 , though again those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of alternative arrangements of the hardware and thus of the electronic control and resulting system beyond that illustrated in  FIG. 22  are possible, such that it will be appreciated that the schematic is merely illustrative of aspects of the invention and non-limiting. It is further noted that while the upper and lower or first and second rims  30 ,  31 , are shown in  FIG. 22  as being part of the drum tuning rim apparatus  20 , it will be appreciated that the rims may be standard rims or otherwise separate from the apparatus  20 , as when the housing assemblies  40  are removably engaged with each rim. The microprocessor  71  is shown as having RAM and ROM memory and is generally configured with the appropriate circuitry and firmware to enable communication and control in a manner generally now known or later developed in the art. At the very least, the apparatus microprocessor  71  would include in its ROM memory software or firmware configured to enable the operation of the processor and the overall apparatus, whereas the RAM memory would include all other data obtained by or sent to the processor  71 , such as feedback data from the motor  85  or an external sensor  94  as might measure tension in a cable  90  or stress or pitch of the drumhead  14  or data such as control commands relayed through the apparatus interface  73 . The apparatus interface  73  itself may be in wired or wireless communication with an apparatus controller  92 . In one exemplary embodiment, as mentioned above, the apparatus controller  92  may be software running on a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet device, computer, or other such device now known or later developed and configured to communicate with the processor  71  through the interface  73 , again via a wired or wireless connection. Instead or in addition, the apparatus  20  may be configured with a controller  92  directly on the apparatus, such as a control panel, selection buttons, touchpad, touchscreen interface, or other such input means for user control of the apparatus  20 . Finally, the cable tension dial assembly  70  may be equipped with an on-board apparatus power supply/regulator  87  for taking power from an external power source P such as an A/C source, and thereby operably powering the microprocessor  71 , the motor  85 , and any other components of the system, directly or indirectly. As will be appreciated, the connection to the external power source P may be constant, as by plugging the apparatus  20  into such a power source (e.g., an outlet), or may be temporary, as by plugging the apparatus  20  in just long enough to charge the on-board power supply/regulator  87  (e.g., a rechargeable battery). It will be appreciated that any means of powering the system now known or later developed is possible in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, such that those power components shown and described are to be understood as merely illustrative and non-limiting. More generally, those skilled in the art will appreciate that aspects of such a system and method can be achieved by a variety of means that include but are not limited to the use of an electric motor  85 , attached internally or externally to the cable tension dial assembly  70 . Any such motor  85  would effectively be attached to the dial itself and would be capable of increasing or decreasing tension on the drumhead  14  by means of turning the dial one direction or the other. The motor  85  would be either self-monitoring and auto-adjusting as under the control of the microprocessor  71 , or it would be manually adjusted, as by selectively operating a button, lever, switch, dial or knob, etc. remotely or directly on the unit. This motor  85  could be triggered by some form of sensor  94 , either internal or external, such as being integral to the motor, the dial, or the drumhead, or externally mounted to the drum in any conceivable configuration. In one exemplary embodiment, the sensor  94  would be able to read and determine the overall tension of the drumhead  14  by reading the frequency of vibration that is produced when the head is struck, by reading the surface tension on the head when it is at rest, by acoustically identifying the tone, by sensing the tension of the cable on the dial, or by any other such means now known or later developed. By way of further example, the sensor  94  could be an audio sensor/microphone, a laser or infrared sensor, a pressure sensor, or any other sensor used to determine tone, surface tension, cable tension, etc., again, whether now known or later developed and however appropriate mounted on the drum or otherwise operably installed. Any such information obtained from any such sensor  94  would be relayed back to the motor  85  inside the dial assembly  70  as through the microprocessor  71 , again via a wired or wireless connection as represented by the dashed line, and the motor  85  will adjust the head tension accordingly until the desired tension is attained on the drumhead  14 , or until the drum produces the desired pitch and tone when struck. The motor  85 , attached to the dial assembly  70  or otherwise integral to the apparatus  20  itself, may have a digital interface, whether a touch screen, a manually adjustable control, a simple “preset” button, or some other means by which a specific tension, tone, or frequency, as determined by the user and detected by the sensor  94 , is saved into the system and repeated instantly with the “touch of a button.” This “button” or “user interface” could be integral to the apparatus  20  itself, or it could be externally connected, for example, wirelessly connected to the apparatus  20  as or via a pedal (like a guitar pedal), a drum pad, a smart phone, tablet, computer, or some other external system or device through which the pre-saved settings can be accessed, any such user interface or input being collectively and generally represented as the apparatus controller  92  of  FIG. 22 . This way a drummer would have the means of instantly and accurately switching between preset tuning options on his or her acoustic drum or drum set without the need to manually tune or adjust the drum(s) in any way, more about which is said below concerning use of such a system. It is further noted in the context of electronic or electro-mechanical control of an acoustic drum or drum set according to aspects of the present invention that a further exemplary, non-limiting approach beyond the exemplary apparatuses  20  shown and described herein would be include a drum hoop that is magnetically attached to the drum rim. Through the use of an electromagnetic current, the strength of the magnetism between the two hoops could be adjusted to produce varying tension in the drumhead. The use of an electronic and/or manually adjustable interface to control the electromagnetic current could produce the same level of control and automatic-tuning capabilities as mentioned above. Another conceivable exemplary method for producing the same results would be to use a type of skin material in the drumhead itself that responds to electromagnetic current, such that depending on the voltage that is applied to the drum skin itself, the drumhead would respond with different levels of rigidity and vibrate at different frequencies accordingly. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications to the hardware components of the system and related methods of use are also possible according to aspects of the present invention in order to render the resulting system operable in particular contexts or alternative configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. More generally, any mechanical, electronic, electro-mechanical, electro-magnetic, materials, or other such method of selectively adjusting tension in a cable or a drumhead itself, whether now known or later developed, may be employed in an apparatus or system according to aspects of the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. 
     Turning to  FIG. 23 , also in schematic block diagram format, there is depicted the idea of a system  110  whereby electro-mechanical control of each drum  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″ in a kit is tuned via a central system controller  120 , generally in keeping with the other aspects of the present invention as set forth herein. Each drum  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″, numbered 1 to n+1, signifying essentially any number of drums, is operably configured or paired with its respective drum tuning rim apparatus  20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″, mechanically or otherwise, and its related sensor  94 ,  94 ′,  94 ″, again connected wired or wirelessly. Similarly, each drum tuning rim apparatus  20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″ is wired or wirelessly connected to its respective apparatus controller  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″ as above-described in connection with  FIG. 22 , with each such drum tuning rim apparatus  20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″ and/or apparatus controller  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″, in turn being wired or wirelessly connected to the system controller  120 . In that regard, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in certain contexts and configurations the central system controller  92  may interface with and directly control each drum tuning rim apparatus  20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″, may interface with and directly control each apparatus controller  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″, or both. In other contexts of exemplary systems according to aspects of the present invention, there may not even be individual apparatus controllers  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″, the central system controller  120  being the means by which all control is accomplished. In any such embodiment, the system controller  120 , like any individual apparatus controller  92 , may be a dedicated hardware device incorporated into or otherwise operably installed within the system  110  or may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer running software configured to enable the interface between the system controller  120  and one or more of the drum tuning rim apparatuses  20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″ and/or apparatus controllers  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″. Optionally, then, any external user interface I through which a user may interact with the system controller  120  through the system interface  132  may also be a computing device, as might be the case where the system controller  120  is a dedicated device as a control panel or touchscreen interface, which may thus be operated directly on site or remotely via a secondary or external user interface I. With continued reference to  FIG. 23 , the system controller  120  is shown as comprising a system microprocessor  122  that again includes a RAM memory  124  and a ROM memory  128 . The RAM memory  124  stores any particular operating protocol  126  selectively loaded in the processor  122  for operating the drum tuning rim system  110 , such as different versions having different degrees of functionality and options (e.g., beginner versus professional systems with various programming capabilities, number of preset or stored tuning configurations possible, etc.). And as above for the individual apparatus controller  92 , the RAM memory  124  may also store data sent to or received by the processor  122  both from the individual apparatuses  20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″ and/or apparatus controllers  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″ and the related sensors  94 ,  94 ′,  94 ″ and from any user interface I selections as transmitted to the processor  122  through the system interface  132 , whereby the processor  122  and hence the system controller  120  responds accordingly, at least in part, pursuant to the operating protocol  126  stored in RAM memory  124  of the processor  122 . In alternative embodiments the operating protocol  126  may be stored in the ROM memory  128  of the processor  122 , as when any such protocol is part of the firmware or basic operational software that is to be pre-installed and permanently reside in the processor  122 . Again, a system interface  132  is incorporated in the system  110  and in communication with the processor  122 , which system interface  132  itself is in wired or wireless communication with a user interface I as above-described. Finally, analogous to the individual drum tuning rim apparatus  20  of  FIG. 22  and the power requirements of the dial assembly  70  of the apparatus  20 , the system controller  120  may also be equipped with a system power supply/regulator  130  that is itself selectively connected to an external power source P in any manner now known or later developed for powering the controller  120  and potentially any of the other components of the system  110 . It will thus generally be understood and appreciated that aspects of the present invention are further directed to a drum tuning system  110  made up of a number (n+1) of drum tuning apparatuses  20  associated with an equal number of drums  10 , optionally further including separate apparatus controllers  92  and sensors  94  for each drum and drum apparatus pair. Whatever the format or configuration of the overall system  110  and the related system and/or apparatus level controllers, it will be appreciated that in order to enable a drummer to customize his or her tunings for a variety of sounds and applications, the system preferably has a manually adjustable option, whether any such user interface is again accomplished via the system controller  120  or the individual apparatus controllers  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″ and whether through dedicated hardware or the use or incorporation of a computing device running appropriate software; in some embodiments the individual apparatus controllers  92 ,  92 ′,  92 ″ are simply incorporated within the overall system controller  120  or the various controllers are one and the same. Accordingly, the drummer would adjust each drum manually to the desired setting, then have the ability to save that setting, whether for the individual drum and/or for the entire drum set. By going through the presets, the drummer would be able to adjust one drum individually and independently of the others (snare drum or kick drum, for example) or adjust the entire drum set in unison. For example, a drummer could have his set tuned to a low end, rock style tuning for one song, then click a button or make a selection on his preset device (user interface) and change the tuning of the entire set to a brighter, jazzier tuning for the next song in the set. The total adjustment would take seconds. Combining the herein described technology with wireless technology such as Bluetooth® or other wireless protocol now known or later developed allows for the use of smart phone or computer applications that would advantageously communicate with the drum tuning rim system  110  according to aspects of the present invention. Any such software applications according to and consistent with aspects of the present invention could be used to create, save, and transfer drum tuning styles and settings between drummers and to upload them to the physical drum set by transferring the data wirelessly between the application and the physical tuning technology on the drum set. Drummers could search specific tuning settings for their specific drum set size and specifications as posted by other users, including professional drummers, and instantly duplicate that tuning on their own drum set. For example, if a drummer desired to play a specific song by a specific artist, he or she could look up specific tunings that other drummers have used for that song, depending on the particular type and dimensions of the drum set that they are using. They could then upload those settings to their set and save them in their preset mode. They could do this for each song in the set, quickly and easily selecting or toggling between tunings for each song that they play. Thus, the system and method according to aspects of the present invention allows for customization and convenience similar to an electric drum set but with the full-bodied projection, warmth, and playability of an acoustic drum set, thereby in essence having the “best of both worlds.” It will again be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other embodiments and variations according to aspects of the present invention are possible without departing from its spirit and scope. 
     Aspects of the present specification may also be described as follows: 
     1. A drumhead tuning rim system for securing and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell of a drum, comprising a drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a cable tension dial assembly configured for operably engaging a rim of the drum so as to increase or decrease tension on the rim, the rim being configured for seating over the drumhead on the drum shell, and an apparatus controller configured for operably interfacing with the drumhead tuning rim apparatus so as to selectively control the cable tension dial assembly and thereby adjust the overall pitch of the drumhead as by adjusting the tension on the rim. 
     2. The system of embodiment 1 wherein the drumhead tuning rim apparatus further comprises a plurality of low friction housing assemblies configured to be installed spaced along the rim of the drum, a plurality of low friction lug assemblies configured to be installed spaced about the drum shell substantially between the respective housing assemblies, and a tensioning cable configured for alternately passing between and about respective housing and lug assemblies substantially about the perimeter of the drum shell and for operably engaging the cable tension dial assembly at opposite ends. 
     3. The system of embodiment 2 wherein a single row of lug assemblies are positioned about the drum shell, a single cable tension dial assembly is operably installed on the drum shell, and first and second tensioning cables are both operably engaged with the single cable tension dial assembly and with respective first and second rims each having respective housing assemblies installed thereon, whereby the single cable tension dial assembly is capable of adjusting the overall pitch of two drumheads. 
     4. The system of embodiment 2 or embodiment 3 wherein each lug assembly is formed having opposing grooves in which the respective first and second tensioning cables run. 
     5. The system of any of embodiments 2-4 wherein the housing assemblies comprise low friction bearing surfaces on which the tensioning cable runs. 
     6. The system of any of embodiments 2-4 wherein the housing assemblies comprise rotatable housing grooved bearing wheels on which the tensioning cable runs. 
     7. The system of any of embodiments 1-6 wherein the apparatus controller is selected from the group consisting of a dial and a key. 
     8. The system of any of embodiments 1-7 wherein the cable tension dial assembly further comprises a cable tension dial body installed on the drum shell, a shaft operable within the cable tension dial body and configured for engagement with the tensioning cable, and a dial selectively installed on the shaft for operation thereof, whereby rotation of the shaft as through operation of the dial effectively increases or decreases tension in the tensioning cable and thus raises or lowers the overall pitch of the drumhead. 
     9. The system of any of embodiments 1-7 wherein the cable tension dial assembly further comprises a cable tension dial body installed on the drum shell, a shaft operable within the cable tension dial body and configured for engagement with the tensioning cable, the shaft being formed with an outwardly protruding dial lug accessible through an opening formed in the dial body, and the key selectively engageable with the shaft via the dial lug for operation thereof, whereby rotation of the shaft as through operation of the key effectively increases or decreases tension in the tensioning cable and thus raises or lowers the overall pitch of the drumhead. 
     10. The system of any of embodiments 1-7 wherein the cable tension dial assembly further comprises a shaft and a tensioning cable operably engaging the shaft at opposite ends and mechanically coupled to the rim of the drum. 
     11. The system of embodiment 10 wherein the shaft is driven by a motor operably installed within the cable tension dial assembly. 
     12. The system of embodiment 11 further comprising an apparatus microprocessor operably engaged with the motor so as to selectively control operation thereof and thus of the shaft and tuning of the drumhead. 
     13. The system of embodiment 12 wherein the cable tension dial assembly further comprises an apparatus interface for selectively providing an operable interface between the apparatus microprocessor and the apparatus controller. 
     14. The system of any of embodiments 11-13 wherein the apparatus controller is selected from the group consisting of a control panel, a selection button, a touchpad, a touchscreen interface, a lever, a switch, a knob, a smartphone, a tablet device, and a computer. 
     15. The system of any of embodiments 12-14 wherein there is a wired connection between the apparatus controller and the apparatus microprocessor through the apparatus interface. 
     16. The system of any of embodiments 12-14 wherein there is a wireless connection between the apparatus controller and the apparatus microprocessor through the apparatus interface. 
     17. The system of any of embodiments 12-16 further comprising a sensor operably installed relative to the drum and operably engaged with the apparatus microprocessor so as to provide feedback to the cable tension dial assembly for adjustment of the pitch of the drumhead as desired. 
     18. The system of any of embodiments 1-17 further comprising a plurality of drumhead tuning rim apparatuses configured for operable engagement with a corresponding plurality of drums, a plurality of apparatus controllers operably interfacing with the plurality of drumhead tuning rim apparatuses, and a system controller having a system microprocessor operably engaged with the plurality of drumhead tuning rim apparatuses for selective control of one or more of the plurality of drumhead tuning rim apparatuses and thus selective tuning of one or more drums. 
     19. The system of embodiment 18 wherein the system controller directly controls the plurality of drumhead tuning rim apparatuses, such that the plurality of apparatus controllers are effectively incorporated within the system controller. 
     20. The system of embodiment 18 or embodiment 19 wherein the system microprocessor comprises a RAM memory storing an operating protocol. 
     21. The system of any of embodiments 18-20 wherein the system controller is selected from the group consisting of a control panel, a selection button, a touchpad, a touchscreen interface, a lever, a switch, a knob, a smartphone, a tablet device, and a computer. 
     22. The system of any of embodiments 18-21 further comprising a system interface for selective interaction with the system controller. 
     23. The system of any of embodiments 18-22 further comprising a plurality of sensors operably installed relative to the plurality of drums and operably engaged with the system microprocessor so as to provide feedback to the plurality of drumhead tuning rim apparatuses for adjustment of the pitch of the respective drums as desired. 
     24. A drumhead tuning rim system for securing and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell of a drum, comprising a drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a cable tension dial assembly operably engaging a rim of the drum so as to increase or decrease tension on the rim, the rim being configured for seating over the drumhead on the drum shell, the cable tension dial assembly comprising a shaft driven by a motor and mechanically engaged with the rim through a tensioning cable, and an apparatus controller operably interfacing with the drumhead tuning rim apparatus so as to selectively control the cable tension dial assembly and thereby adjust the overall pitch of the drumhead as by adjusting the tension on the rim, the apparatus controller being selected from the group consisting of a control panel, a selection button, a touchpad, a touchscreen interface, a lever, a switch, a knob, a smartphone, a tablet device, and a computer. 
     25. A method of securing and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell of a drum, comprising the steps of positioning the drumhead on the drum shell, positioning a rim over the drumhead, the rim being configured with a plurality of housing assemblies installed thereabout, looping a tensioning cable passing around the housing assemblies underneath corresponding lug assemblies installed about the drum shell substantially between the respective housing assemblies, and tightening the tensioning cable until the desired overall pitch of the drumhead is achieved. 
     26. The method of embodiment 25 wherein the step of tightening the tensioning cable comprises selectively turning a dial of a cable tension dial assembly operably engaging the rim of the drum through the tensioning cable. 
     27. The method of embodiment 25 wherein the step of tightening the tensioning cable comprises engaging a key with a cable tension dial assembly operably engaging the rim of the drum through the tensioning cable, and selectively turning the key. 
     28. The method of embodiment 25 wherein the step of tightening the tensioning cable comprises selectively operating a motor operably engaged with a cable tension dial assembly operably engaging the rim of the drum through the tensioning cable. 
     29. The method of embodiment 28 wherein the step of selectively operating the motor comprises interacting with the motor through one of a control panel, a selection button, a touchpad, a touchscreen interface, a lever, a switch, a knob, a smartphone, a tablet device, and a computer. 
     30. The method of any of embodiments 25-29 wherein multiple drums are to be tuned, comprising the further steps of positioning a plurality of drumheads on a plurality of drum shells, positioning a plurality of rims over the respective drumheads, the rims each being configured with a plurality of housing assemblies installed thereabout, on each drum looping a tensioning cable passing around the housing assemblies underneath corresponding lug assemblies installed about the respective drum shells substantially between the respective housing assemblies, and selectively operating a system controller to selectively tighten one or more of the tensioning cables until the desired overall pitch of one or more of the drumheads is achieved. 
     31. A drumhead tuning rim system comprising at least one drumhead tuning rim apparatus for securing and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell of a drum, the drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a plurality of low friction housing assemblies configured to be shiftably mounted on the drum shell, a plurality of low friction lug assemblies configured to be installed spaced about the drum shell, a rim configured for seating over the drumhead on the drum shell and for selectively removably engaging the low friction housing assemblies so as to secure the rim on the drum shell over the drumhead, a cable tension dial assembly configured for operably engaging the rim so as to increase or decrease tension on the rim and thus the drumhead, and a tensioning cable configured for alternately passing about the low friction housing and lug assemblies substantially about the drum shell and for operably engaging the cable tension dial assembly at at least one end so as to selectively raise or lower the overall pitch of the drumhead, whereby operating the cable tension dial assembly to tighten the tensioning cable shifts the low friction housing assemblies toward the low friction lug assemblies and thereby pulls the rim toward the drum shell so as to increase tension on the drumhead, and operating the cable tension dial assembly to loosen the tensioning cable allows the low friction housing assemblies to shift away from the low friction lug assemblies and thereby the rim to shift away from the drum shell so as to decrease tension on the drumhead, further such operation of the cable tension dial assembly allowing the rim to be sufficiently unloaded so as to be selectively disengaged from the low friction housing assemblies and removed from the drum to facilitate removing and replacing the drumhead without any disassembly of the low friction housing assemblies, the low friction lug assemblies, the cable tension dial assembly, and the interconnected tensioning cable. 
     32. The system of embodiment 31 wherein the cable tension dial assembly comprises a rotatably installed take-up shaft configured for operable engagement with the at least one end of the tensioning cable. 
     33. The system of embodiment 32 wherein the take-up shaft is formed having an engagement gear, and a drive shaft is formed having a worm gear and is rotatably installed within the cable tension dial assembly such that the worm gear operably engages the engagement gear. 
     34. The system of embodiment 33 wherein both the engagement gear and the worm gear have a pressure angle of approximately 14.5°. 
     35. The system of embodiment 33 or embodiment 34 wherein the engagement gear is intermediate along the take-up shaft, and opposite ends of the take-up shaft are configured for operable engagement with opposite ends of the tensioning cable. 
     36. The system of any of embodiments 33-35 wherein the drive shaft is configured having a coupler for removable engagement of an apparatus controller in selectively operating the cable tension dial assembly. 
     37. The system of embodiment 36 wherein the apparatus controller is selected from the group consisting of a dial and a key. 
     38. The system of any of embodiments 33-36 wherein the drive shaft is motor driven. 
     39. The system of any of embodiments 33-38 wherein the drive shaft is supported by one or more thrust bearings. 
     40. The system of any of embodiments 32-39 wherein the take-up shaft is supported by one or more shaft bearings. 
     41. The system of any of embodiments 31-40 wherein the low friction lug assemblies comprise one of rotatable lug grooved bearing wheels and low friction sliding surfaces on which the tensioning cable runs. 
     42. The system of embodiment 41 wherein the low friction lug assemblies each comprise two vertically offset lug grooved bearing wheels. 
     43. The system of any of embodiments 31-42 wherein the low friction housing assemblies comprise one of rotatable housing grooved bearing wheels and low friction sliding surfaces on which the tensioning cable runs. 
     44. The system of embodiment 43 wherein the low friction housing assemblies each comprise two circumferentially offset housing grooved bearing wheels. 
     45. The system of any of embodiments 31-44 wherein the low friction lug assemblies each comprise a lug body having a lug body post, and the low friction housing assemblies each comprise a housing body having a housing body first hole configured to slidably receive the lug body post, whereby the low friction housing assemblies are shiftably mounted on the drum shell as by being slidably mounted on the respective low friction lug assemblies. 
     46. The system of embodiment 45 wherein a lug body spring is installed on the lug body post and configured to be received within the housing body first hole, whereby the lug body spring biases each low friction housing assembly away from the respective low friction lug assembly. 
     47. The system of embodiment 45 or embodiment 46 wherein each housing body comprises a housing body first surface in which the housing body first hole is formed and a further housing body second surface, and a means for removably engaging each low friction housing assembly with the rim is formed on the housing body second surface. 
     48. The system of embodiment 47 wherein the removable engagement means is a subhoop screw installed in a threaded housing body second hole formed in the housing body second surface. 
     49. The system of embodiment 48 wherein the subhoop screw comprises a subhoop screw shoulder having a length that substantially corresponds to the thickness of a flange of the rim with which the subhoop screw engages in selectively removably engaging the rim on the low friction housing assemblies. 
     50. The system of embodiment 49 wherein the flange of the rim is formed having spaced-apart keyways corresponding to the locations of the low friction housing assemblies for selective engagement with the respective subhoop screws. 
     51. The system of embodiment 49 or embodiment 50 wherein the flange of the rim is formed having at least one grip. 
     52. The system of any of embodiments 48-51 wherein an annular subhoop is installed on the low friction housing assemblies so as to be substantially adjacent to the housing body second surface. 
     53. The system of embodiment 52 wherein the subhoop is formed having spaced-apart subhoop through-holes, and the subhoop screw is formed having a subhoop screw threaded portion sized to pass through the subhoop through-hole and threadably engage the adjacent housing body second hole, and further having a subhoop screw shoulder proximal of the subhoop screw threaded portion and sized to not pass through the subhoop through-hole and thereby shoulder against the subhoop opposite the housing body second surface, and still further having a subhoop screw head proximal of the subhoop screw shoulder and sized to selectively seat opposite the subhoop about a respective keyway formed in a flange of the rim, whereby upon selective removable engagement of the rim on the low friction housing assemblies the flange is secured against the subhoop for stability of the rim on the low friction housing assemblies. 
     54. The system of embodiment 53 wherein the subhoop through-holes are formed in groups of three about the subhoop, a central such through-hole being configured for receipt of the subhoop screw, and housing body posts are formed so as to extend from the housing body second surface offset to each side of the housing body second hole, the housing body posts configured to extend within the subhoop through-holes on opposite sides of the central subhoop through-hole for location and further stabilization of the subhoop relative to the low friction housing assemblies. 
     55. The system of any of embodiments 31-54 wherein the cable tension dial assembly comprises a dial body and a nested dial base, a drive shaft of the cable tension dial assembly being operably housed by the dial body and the dial base such that a coupler of the drive shaft extends through a dial body through-hole for access thereto. 
     56. The system of embodiment 55 wherein the dial body is formed having at least one dial body cut-out for access to a take-up shaft installed within the cable tension dial assembly in operable engagement with the drive shaft and the tensioning cable engaged with the take-up shaft without having to disassemble the dial body from the dial base. 
     57. The system of embodiment 56 wherein the cable tension dial assembly comprises a dial removably installed on the drive shaft coupler, whereby selective removal of the dial provides access to the at least one dial body cut-out. 
     58. The system of embodiment 57 wherein the dial comprises a dial face and a dial insert. 
     59. The system of any of embodiments 55-58 wherein the dial body is further formed having a dial body post extending from the dial body and configured for slidable receipt of the respective low friction housing assembly. 
     60. The system of any of embodiments 55-59 wherein the dial body is formed having a dial body recess with a dial body recess hole therein, and a dial body bearing wheel is installed within the dial body recess for receipt thereover of a second tensioning cable. 
     61. The system of any of embodiments 31-60 comprising one or more grooved bearing wheels for operable receipt thereover of the tensioning cable. 
     62. The system of embodiment 61 wherein each grooved bearing wheel comprises a wheel body having a wheel shaft extending therefrom, a wheel bearing installed on the wheel shaft, and a wheel rim installed on the wheel bearing. 
     63. The system of embodiment 62 wherein the wheel bearing has a nominal inside diameter of approximately 5 mm and a nominal outside diameter of approximately 16 mm. 
     64. The system of embodiment 62 or embodiment 63 wherein the wheel rim is formed with a circumferential wheel rim groove for receipt therein of the tensioning cable. 
     65. The system of any of embodiments 31-64 wherein a single row of low friction lug assemblies are positioned about the drum shell, and first and second tensioning cables are operably engaged with the low friction lug assemblies and with respective first and second rims, whereby the single row of low friction lug assemblies are employed in respective first and second drumhead tuning rim apparatuses so as to adjust the overall pitch of two drumheads positioned on the drum shell of the drum. 
     66. The system of embodiment 65 wherein a first cable tension dial assembly operably engages the first tensioning cable so as to selectively adjust tension on the first rim, and a second cable tension dial assembly operably engages the second tensioning cable so as to selectively adjust tension on the second rim. 
     67. The system of any of embodiments 31-66 wherein the tensioning cable is aramid fiber braided rope. 
     68. The system of any of embodiments 31-67 wherein the tensioning cable is in the range of approximately 1.3 to 2.3 mm in diameter. 
     69. A drum comprising a drum shell, at least one drumhead tuning rim apparatus for securing and tuning a drumhead on the drum shell, the drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a plurality of low friction housing assemblies shiftably mounted on the drum shell, a plurality of low friction lug assemblies installed spaced about the drum shell, a rim seated over the drumhead on the drum shell as by selectively removably engaging the low friction housing assemblies, a cable tension dial assembly operably engaging the rim so as to increase or decrease tension on the rim and thus the drumhead, and a tensioning cable alternately passing about the low friction housing and lug assemblies substantially about the drum shell and operably engaging the cable tension dial assembly at at least one end so as to selectively raise or lower the overall pitch of the drumhead, whereby operating the cable tension dial assembly to tighten the tensioning cable shifts the low friction housing assemblies toward the low friction lug assemblies and thereby pulls the rim toward the drum shell so as to increase tension on the drumhead, and operating the cable tension dial assembly to loosen the tensioning cable allows the low friction housing assemblies to shift away from the low friction lug assemblies and thereby the rim to shift away from the drum shell so as to decrease tension on the drumhead, further such operation of the cable tension dial assembly allowing the rim to be sufficiently unloaded so as to be selectively disengaged from the low friction housing assemblies and removed from the drum to facilitate removing and replacing the drumhead without any disassembly of the low friction housing assemblies, the low friction lug assemblies, the cable tension dial assembly, and the interconnected tensioning cable. 
     70. A drumhead tuning rim system for securing and independently tuning opposed first and second drumheads on a drum shell of a drum, comprising a first drumhead tuning rim apparatus associated with a first rim configured for seating over the first drumhead on the drum shell, the first drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a first tensioning cable mechanically coupled to a first cable tension dial assembly and a plurality of first low friction housing assemblies selectively removably engaged with the first rim and selectively shiftable on the drum shell, a second drumhead tuning rim apparatus associated with a second rim configured for seating over the second drumhead on the drum shell, the second drumhead tuning rim apparatus comprising a second tensioning cable mechanically coupled to a second cable tension dial assembly and a plurality of second low friction housing assemblies selectively removably engaged with the second rim and selectively shiftable on the drum shell, and a plurality of low friction lug assemblies configured to be installed spaced about the drum shell for selective engagement with the first and second tensioning cables, whereby operating the first or second cable tension dial assembly to tighten the respective first or second tensioning cables shifts the respective first or second low friction housing assemblies toward the low friction lug assemblies and thereby pulls the respective first or second rim toward the drum shell so as to increase tension on the respective first or second drumhead, and operating the first or second cable tension dial assembly to loosen the respective first or second tensioning cable allows the respective first or second low friction housing assemblies to shift away from the low friction lug assemblies and thereby the respective first or second rim to shift away from the drum shell so as to decrease tension on the respective first or second drumhead, further such operation of the first or second cable tension dial assembly allowing the respective first or second rim to be sufficiently unloaded so as to be selectively disengaged from the respective first or second low friction housing assemblies and removed from the drum to facilitate removing and replacing the respective first or second drumhead without any disassembly of the first or second low friction housing assemblies, the low friction lug assemblies, the first or second cable tension dial assembly, and the interconnected first or second tensioning cable. 
     71. A method for securing and tuning a drumhead on a drum shell of a drum, the method comprising positioning the drumhead on the drum shell, positioning a rim over the drumhead, removably engaging the rim with low friction housing assemblies shiftably mounted on the drum shell so as to secure the rim on the drum shell over the drumhead, the low friction housing assemblies being operably engaged with low friction lug assemblies installed spaced about the drum shell and with a cable tension dial assembly through a tensioning cable alternately passing about the low friction housing and lug assemblies and operably engaging the cable tension dial assembly, selectively operating the cable tension dial assembly to tighten the tensioning cable and shift the low friction housing assemblies toward the low friction lug assemblies and thereby pull the rim toward the drum shell so as to increase tension on the drumhead, and selectively operating the cable tension dial assembly to loosen the tensioning cable and allow the low friction housing assemblies to shift away from the low friction lug assemblies and thereby the rim to shift away from the drum shell so as to decrease tension on the drumhead, further such operation of the cable tension dial assembly allowing the rim to be sufficiently unloaded so as to be selectively disengaged from the low friction housing assemblies and removed from the drum to facilitate removing and replacing the drumhead without any disassembly of the low friction housing assemblies, the low friction lug assemblies, the cable tension dial assembly, and the interconnected tensioning cable. 
     72. The method of embodiment 71 wherein the steps of selectively operating the cable tension dial assembly comprises selectively turning a dial of the cable tension dial assembly. 
     73. The method of embodiment 71 or embodiment 72 wherein selectively disengaging the rim from the low friction housing assemblies comprises rotating the rim relative to the drum shell so as to selectively align keyways formed in the rim with removable engagement means formed on the low friction housing assemblies. 
     74. The method of any of embodiments 71-73 further comprising operably engaging the tensioning cable with a take-up shaft of the cable tension dial assembly. 
     75. The method of embodiment 74 further comprising removing a dial from the cable tension dial assembly so as to access the take-up shaft. 
     76. The method of any of embodiments 71-75 further comprising operably engaging an opposite second tensioning cable with a dial body bearing wheel of the cable tension dial assembly. 
     77. The method of embodiment 76 further comprising removing a dial from the cable tension dial assembly so as to access the dial body bearing wheel. 
     78. The method of any of embodiments 71-77 wherein multiple drums are to be tuned, comprising the further steps of positioning a plurality of drumheads on a plurality of drum shells, positioning a plurality of rims over the respective drumheads, removably engaging the rims with low friction housing assemblies shiftably mounted on each drum shell so as to secure each rim on the respective drum shell over the respective drumhead, the low friction housing assemblies being operably engaged with low friction lug assemblies installed spaced about the drum shells and with cable tension dial assemblies through tensioning cables alternately passing about the low friction housing and lug assemblies and operably engaging the cable tension dial assemblies, and selectively operating a system controller to selectively tighten one or more of the tensioning cables until the desired overall pitch of one or more of the drumheads is achieved. 
     79. A kit comprising a drumhead tuning rim apparatus as defined in any one of embodiments 1-24 and 31-70. 
     80. The kit of embodiment 79 further comprising instructional material. 
     81. The kit of embodiment 80 wherein the instructional material provides instructions on how to perform the method as defined in any one of embodiments 25-30 and 71-80. 
     82. Use of a drumhead tuning rim apparatus as defined in any one of embodiments 1-24 and 31-70 to mount and tune a drumhead. 
     83. The use of embodiment 82 wherein the use comprises a method as defined in any one of embodiments 25-30 and 71-78. 
     To summarize, regarding the exemplary embodiments of the present invention as shown and described herein, it will be appreciated that a drumhead tuning rim system and method is disclosed and configured for drumhead mounting and tuning to replace the standard six, eight, or twelve lug and tension rod system that is currently used on most traditional drum kit snares, toms, and bass drums. Because the principles of the invention may be practiced in a number of configurations beyond those shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not in any way limited by the exemplary embodiments, but is generally directed to a drumhead tuning rim system and method and is able to take numerous forms to do so without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the various features of each of the above-described embodiments may be combined in any logical manner and are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. 
     Groupings of alternative embodiments, elements, or steps of the present invention are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member may be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other group members disclosed herein. It is anticipated that one or more members of a group may be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims. 
     Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing a characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, term, and so forth used in the present specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” As used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “roughly” mean that the characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, or term so qualified encompasses a range of plus or minus ten percent above and below the value of the stated characteristic, item, quantity, parameter, property, or term or other such tolerance suitable to the application. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical indication should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and values setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical ranges and values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. 
     Any numerical range or value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Recitation of numerical ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate numerical value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value of a numerical range is incorporated into the present specification as if it were individually recited herein. 
     The terms “a,” “an,” “the” and similar referents used in the context of describing the present invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the present invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the present specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Specific embodiments disclosed herein may be further limited in the claims using “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” language. When used in the claims, whether as filed or added per amendment, the transition term “consisting of” excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claims. The transition term “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s). Embodiments of the present invention so claimed are inherently or expressly described and enabled herein. 
     It should be understood that the logic code, programs, modules, processes, methods, and the order in which the respective elements of each method are performed are purely exemplary. Depending on the implementation, they may be performed in any order or in parallel, unless indicated otherwise in the present disclosure. Further, the logic code is not related, or limited to any particular programming language, and may comprise one or more modules that execute on one or more processors in a distributed, non-distributed, or multiprocessing environment. 
     The methods as described above may be used in the fabrication of integrated circuit chips. The resulting integrated circuit chips can be distributed by the fabricator in raw wafer form (that is, as a single wafer that has multiple unpackaged chips), as a bare die, or in a packaged form. In the latter case, the chip is mounted in a single chip package (such as a plastic carrier, with leads that are affixed to a motherboard or other higher level carrier) or in a multi-chip package (such as a ceramic carrier that has either or both surface interconnections or buried interconnections). In any case, the chip is then integrated with other chips, discrete circuit elements, and/or other signal processing devices as part of either (a) an intermediate product, such as a motherboard, or (b) an end product. The end product can be any product that includes integrated circuit chips, ranging from toys and other low-end applications to advanced computer products having a display, a keyboard or other input device, and a central processor. 
     While aspects of the invention have been described with reference to at least one exemplary embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that the inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is the invention.