Patent Publication Number: US-6222107-B1

Title: Floor tom free-suspension system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a floor tom free-suspension system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a floor tom free-suspension system which can receive a drum stably. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional floor tom free-suspension system has a drum main body  10  supported by three support rods  14 . Each of the support rods  14  has a foot end  18  and an upper end  15  passing through a through hole  13  of a positioning mount  12 . The positioning mount  12  has the through hole  13  receiving the respective support rod  14  and a threaded hole  16  receiving a butterfly bolt  17 . However, the butterfly bolt  17  cannot fasten the respective support rod  14  stably so that the respective support rod  14  will rotate freely. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a floor tom free-suspension system which can receive a drum stably. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a floor tom free-suspension system which has a plurality of U-shaped positioning plates to confine a plurality of support rods so that the support rods will not rotate freely. 
     Accordingly, a floor tom free-suspension system comprises a drum main body, three support rods, a counterhoop, an annular ring, a collar, a plurality of U-shaped positioning plates, a plurality of U-shaped pressing plates, and a plurality of butterfly bolts. The drum main body has a top head. A plurality of positioning fasteners are disposed on the drum main body. Each of the positioning fasteners has a threaded end. The counterhoop encloses an upper rim of the drum main body. Each of the support rods has a foot end, an upper end, and a plurality of periphery serrations. The collar has a plurality of periphery seats. Each of the periphery seats has a round aperture matching the respective positioning fastener. The annular ring has a plurality of inner wings matching the periphery seats. Each of the inner wings has an oblong hole. Each of the U-shaped positioning plates has a main plate and two lug plates. The main plate has a threaded aperture. Each of the lug plates has a round hole and a plurality of inner teeth. Each of the U-shaped pressing plates has a first arm, a second arm, and a through hole. Each of the butterfly bolts has a threaded portion. The collar encloses a lower rim of the drum main body. The annular ring encloses the collar. A plurality of elastic cushions each is disposed on the respective inner wing. Each of the positioning fasteners passes through the respective elastic cushion, the respective oblong hole of the inner wing, and the respective round aperture of the periphery seat. A plurality of nuts each engages with the respective threaded end of the positioning fastener. Each of the U-shaped positioning plates receives the annular ring. Each of the U-shaped pressing plates receives the respective main plate of the U-shaped positioning plates. The upper end of the support rod passes through the respective round hole of the lug plate. The inner teeth of the lug plate engages with the periphery serrations of the support rod. Each of the butterfly bolts passes through the respective through hole of the U-shaped pressing plates and the respective threaded aperture of the U-shaped positioning plate to fasten the U-shaped pressing plate and the U-shaped positioning plate together. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of a conventional floor tom free-suspension system of the prior art; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of a floor tom free-suspension system of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a partially perspective view of a U-shaped positioning plate of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a drum main body of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3A is a sectional assembly view of an annular ring, a positioning fastener, and an elastic cushion of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a floor tom free-suspension system of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4A is a sectional assembly view of an annular ring, a support rod, a U-shaped positioning plate, a U-shaped pressing plate, and a butterfly bolt of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a floor tom free-suspension system of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 to  5 , a floor tom free-suspension system comprises a drum main body  21 , three support rods  50 , a counterhoop  20 , an annular ring  30 , a collar  23 , a plurality of U-shaped positioning plates  40 , a plurality of U-shaped pressing plates  60 , and a plurality of butterfly bolts  70 . 
     The drum main body  21  has a top head  22 . A plurality of positioning fasteners  24  are disposed on the drum main body  21 . 
     Each of the positioning fasteners  24  has a threaded end  25 . 
     The counterhoop  20  encloses an upper rim of the drum main body  21 . 
     Each of the support rods  50  has a foot end  52 , an upper end  51 , and a plurality of periphery serrations  53 . 
     The collar  23  has a plurality of periphery seats  26 . Each of the periphery seats  26  has a round aperture  261  matching the respective positioning fastener  24 . 
     The annular ring  30  has a plurality of inner Wings  31  matching the periphery seats  26 . Each of the inner wings  31  has an oblong hole  32 . 
     Each of the U-shaped positioning plates  40  has a main plate  44  and two jug plates  41 . The main plate  44  has a threaded aperture  45 . Each of the lug plates  41  has a round hole  42  and a plurality of inner teeth  43 . 
     Each of the U-shaped pressing plates  60  has a first arm  61 , a second arm  62 , and a through hole  63 . 
     Each of the butterfly bolts  70  has a threaded portion  71 . 
     The collar  23  encloses a lower rim of the drum main body  21 . 
     The annular ring  30  encloses the collar  23 . 
     A plurality of elastic cushions  80  each is disposed on the respective inner wing  31 . 
     Each of the positioning fasteners  24  passes through the respective elastic cushion  80 , the respective oblong hole  32  of the inner wing  31 , and the respective round aperture  261  of the periphery seat  26 . 
     A plurality of nuts  27  each engages with the respective threaded end  25  of the positioning fastener  24 . 
     Each of the U-shaped positioning plates  40  receives the annular ring  30 . 
     Each of the U-shaped pressing plates  60  receives the respective main plate  44  of the U-shaped positioning plates  40 . 
     The upper end  51  of the support rod  50  passes through the respective round hole  42  of the lug plate  41 . 
     The inner teeth  43  of the lug plate  41  engages with the periphery serrations  53  of the support rod  50 . Thus the support rod  50  cannot be rotated freely. 
     Each of the butterfly bolts  70  passes through the respective through hole  63  of the U-shaped pressing plates  60  and the respective threaded aperture  45  of the U-shaped positioning plate  40  to fasten the U-shaped pressing plate  60  and the U-shaped positioning plate  40  together. 
     The invention is not limited to the above embodiment but various modification thereof may be made. Further, various changes in form and-detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.