Abstract:
An instrument carrier is disclosed for supporting one or more drums without using traditional “J” rods components. The carrier uses sliders that eliminate the interference with the user&#39;s legs and more particularly the user&#39;s thighs and provides a more natural stride of the user. The drum mounting structure is repositioned or translated on the sliders. The carrier allows the drum to be rigidly mounted in a variety of positions relative to the user. The cantilevered weight of the drum(s) rotates the drum or drum array to lock the drum(s) into a vertical or horizontal slots or saddle. In another embodiment a bridge extends from the carrier to a single post or tube to support a slidably mounted single drum. The structure also eliminates the necessity of a structurally rigid fixed abdomen plate and allows for use of a flexible and conforming abdomen plate.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant&#39;s application Ser. No. 11/021,596 filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,326,842 that issued on Feb. 5, 2008 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a shoulder mounted percussion instrument carrier for one or an array of drums of various sizes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a carrier for one or more drums and replaces traditional “J” rods components. The elimination of the “J” rod components eliminates the interference with the user&#39;s legs and more particularly the user&#39;s thighs and provides a more natural stride of the user. Since the vertical or horizontal slots or saddle are not holes, that are commonly found with “J” rod carriers, the drum mounting structure can be repositioned or translated within the vertical or horizontal slots. The carrier allows the drum to be rigidly mounted in a variety of positions relative to the user. The mounting consists of a plurality of sliding connections that move independently from any adjustments from the carrier. The cantilevered weight of the drum(s) locks the drums into a vertical or horizontal slots or saddle. The structure also eliminates the necessity of a structurally rigid fixed abdomen plate and allows for use of a flexible and conforming abdomen plate. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art discloses examples of carriers using “J”-rods on an instrument carrier to support one or an array of drums. A number of drum holding apparatus have been patented and used, but none provide the combination of features disclosed and claimed herein. 
     La Flame U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,683 discloses a carrier for percussion instruments having an abdominal plate connected at one end of a unitary frame partly encircling the wearer at the waist and having an upstanding rear portion pivotally connected to a back pressure plate. Shoulder bars are connected to the back-pressure plate and wrap about shoulders and support straps connect to the abdominal plate. 
     Hsieh U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,610 shows a carrier for percussion instruments having a “T” bar, a pair of shoulder bars, and a belly plate. The shoulder bars are bolted on a lateral plate of the “T” bar. The lateral plate has arc-like slots and spaced semi-circular holes permit bolts to slide in the slots. The fastening end of each shoulder bar has a hole and an arc-like slot from the upper portion to the lower portion permitting angular adjustment of the shoulder rightward or leftward for various applications. 
     La Flame U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,032 shows a carrier for various instruments such as marching bells, a marching xylophone or a marching marimba, which are supported on the apparatus by the use of suitably-constructed extension arms. The carrier frame is a U-shaped bent bar welded or otherwise attached to a belly plate and has extension arms, which project from the belly plate to engage and support the instrument. 
     La Flame GB patent 2,123,676 (based on U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,442) discloses a carrier for percussion instruments or the like which includes the combination of a belly plate with a carrier bracket for supporting an instrument at an outwardly-overhung position about a fulcrum area of contact with the front waistline area of the person, a rigid band with a generally bent contour to extend along a portion of the waistline area of the person to the back of the person, a back-plate riser arm supported by the ban to extend in a generally upward direction such that a portion of the arm will extend along the back thoracic region of the person, and means carried by the arm for imparting to the thoracic back region of the person a reactive force to the overhung weight of the instrument about the aforesaid means forming a fulcrum area of contact with the person. 
     Various patents from the applicant May have been issued covering carriers with “J” rods or similar attachment mechanisms for securing musical instruments, patents with this type of mechanism are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,691,492, 6,028,257, 6,323,407, 6,329,583, 6,172,290, 6,403,869, 6,770,805, 6,881,886, 7,071,401, and published applications US2005/0040,193, US2006/0096,443, US2005/0103,183 and US2005/0183,565, but none of these disclose the carrier structure disclosed within this application. 
     Various prior inventions have been disclosed that attempt to provide mounting for one or a plurality of drums. Most of these products have the drum(s) fixed to the carrier or use “J” rods to secure the drum(s) to the carrier. These carriers have limitations that require an abdominal plate that is an integral part of the carrier. Because of the mechanical structure of these carriers they restrict or alter natural walking or rapid stride movement of the user. The proposed carrier provides improvements that eliminate the aforementioned limitations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the shoulder mounted apparatus is to provide a carrier that allows a user to carry and play one or more drums while they transport the drum such as when they are walking, marching or rapidly moving. The mounting allows for the drum(s) to be maintained in a horizontal or rotated vertical orientation where the drumheads are oriented in a horizontal configuration allowing the drum to be played by striking the drumhead(s). 
     It is another object of the drum mounting apparatus, when it is configured with a single sliding (mono) post, to provide a simplified mounting apparatus that allows height of the horizontal playing surface of the drum to be raised and lowered by sliding the drum mounting apparatus on the single (mono) post. The mounting apparatus on the carrier has a vertical slot and the mounting apparatus on the drum has a horizontal pin or rod that slides into the vertical slot to secure the drum on the carrier. The drum is quickly removed from the carrier by lifting the pin or rod out of the slot. 
     It is another object of the drum mounting apparatus, when it is configured as with two or more posts to provide a stable box structure for the drum(s) to be supported on the carrier. The box structure refers to the two sets of slides or tracks that are mounted to the carrier and a corresponding two sets of slides are mounted on hardware having vertically or horizontally oriented slots or saddle. An array of drums is mounted to a tenor rail that engages onto the vertically or horizontally oriented slots or saddle to support the drums on the carrier. The overhung cantilevered weight of the drums secures the drum array in the vertically or horizontally oriented slots or saddle. The ability to integrate the slides onto the carrier allows the drums to be more rigidly secured to the carrier and significantly reduces flexing of the drum or drum array with the carrier to improve the stability of the playing surface when the user is moving or playing the drums. When the drums are brought closer to the user the overhung distance is decreased and the cantilevered load is decreased and reduces the strain on the back of the user. Since the tenor rail rests in the vertically or horizontally oriented slots or saddle the tenor rail can be slid horizontally in the carrier to justify the drums left or right of the center of the user. A user can place one or more marks on the tenor rail to identify specific balancing or positioning locations for the drum array when drums of different sizes and weights are placed in the drum array. 
     It is another object of the drum mounting apparatus to allow the drum or drum array to be easily installed and removed from the carrier to allow the drum or drum array to be placed in a floor mounted stand. 
     Another object of the drum mounting apparatus to provide connection for an abdomen plate that can float or be removed from the carrier. This allows the abdomen plate to move with the user. Since the majority of the load from the drum(s) is from gravity the vertical load on the abdomen plate is essentially zero and the abdomen plate can be removed, secured on a pivoting mechanism with temporary securing means that does not penetrate the abdomen plate such as hook and loop fasteners. 
     It is still another object of the carrier to provide a carrier where structure eliminates the necessity of a structurally rigid fixed abdomen plate and allows for use of a flexible and conforming abdomen plate. 
     It is still another object of the carrier to integrate the two sets of dovetailed sliders is a parallel arrangement to allow the drums to be easily raised and lower on the carrier in a linear sliding arrangement. 
     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an instrument carrier according to a first preferred embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows a drum array tube engaged in the half tube portion from in the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows the components from  FIGS. 1 and 2  as it is mounted on a floor mounted stand. 
         FIG. 4  is a detail view of the rotation of the drum array and the stop that prevents over rotation and adjustment of the drum array angle. 
         FIG. 5  shows a view of the drum tracking system for use with a single drum. 
         FIG. 6  is a detail view of the stationary hinge of an embodiment of the hardware assembled on a drum with the stationary hinge removed from  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an alternate embodiment of the drum tracking system shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a second preferred embodiment showing the dual track system secured to an instrument carrier with a drum assembly that is mountable on the dual track system. 
         FIG. 9  shows the components of a second preferred embodiment of a dual track system that is mounted to an instrument carrier from  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  shows the components from  FIG. 9  assembled. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 Carrier 
               
               
                 11 
                 Drum 
               
               
                 12 
                 Rotation hinge plate 
               
               
                 14 
                 Knuckle 
               
               
                 15 
                 Hinge pin 
               
               
                 17 
                 Bolts 
               
               
                 18 
                 Nuts 
               
               
                 19 
                 Tension rods 
               
               
                 20 
                 Washers 
               
               
                 22 
                 Pivot 
               
               
                 24 
                 Ear 
               
               
                 30 
                 Abdomen plate 
               
               
                 32 
                 Support rods or tubes 
               
               
                 34 
                 Support rods or tubes 
               
               
                 36 
                 Parallel portion 
               
               
                 38 
                 Parallel portion 
               
               
                 41 
                 Dovetail grooves 
               
               
                 42 
                 Support rods of tubes 
               
               
                 44 
                 Support rods or tubes 
               
               
                 45 
                 Out turned portions 
               
               
                 46 
                 Out turned portions 
               
               
                 50 
                 Shoulder strap 
               
               
                 51 
                 Cushions 
               
               
                 53 
                 Cushions 
               
               
                 54 
                 Cushions 
               
               
                 55 
                 Shoulder strap 
               
               
                 56 
                 Supporting member 
               
               
                 60 
                 Spacer 
               
               
                 61 
                 Flat plate portion 
               
               
                 62 
                 Half tube saddle portion 
               
               
                 63 
                 Slide bracket 
               
               
                 64 
                 Fasteners 
               
               
                 65 
                 End portion 
               
               
                 66 
                 Dovetail rib 
               
               
                 70 
                 Back bar 
               
               
                 72 
                 Bumper 
               
               
                 74 
                 Rotational movement 
               
               
                 78 
                 Tightening hardware 
               
               
                 79 
                 Tightening hardware 
               
               
                 80 
                 Clamping receptacle 
               
               
                 81 
                 Clamping receptacle 
               
               
                 82 
                 Tightening hardware 
               
               
                 83 
                 Tightening hardware 
               
               
                 84 
                 Sliding cradle 
               
               
                 85 
                 Male dovetail 
               
               
                 86 
                 Slides 
               
               
                 87 
                 Cradle 
               
               
                 88 
                 Plate 
               
               
                 89 
                 Drum rotators 
               
               
                 90 
                 Bridge support member 
               
               
                 91 
                 Thumbscrew 
               
               
                 92 
                 Clamp 
               
               
                 93 
                 Slot 
               
               
                 94 
                 Clamp 
               
               
                 95 
                 Access hole 
               
               
                 96 
                 Slide 
               
               
                 97 
                 Securing bolt 
               
               
                 98 
                 Bolts 
               
               
                 99 
                 Bolts 
               
               
                 260 
                 Tubes or Shafts 
               
               
                 300 
                 Retainer 
               
               
                 310 
                 First bifurcated structure 
               
               
                 311 
                 Left half of first bifurcated 
               
               
                   
                 structure 
               
               
                 312 
                 Right half of first bifurcated 
               
               
                   
                 structure 
               
               
                 320 
                 Mounting clamps 
               
               
                 331 
                 Set screw 
               
               
                 332 
                 Set screw 
               
               
                 340 
                 Linear tracks 
               
               
                 341 
                 Linear tracks 
               
               
                 350 
                 Second bifurcated structure 
               
               
                 353 
                 Lower radius or saddle 
               
               
                 354 
                 Upper radius 
               
               
                 401 
                 Lowered 
               
               
                 402 
                 Positionable 
               
               
                 403 
                 Positionable 
               
               
                 405 
                 Drum array side member 
               
               
                 410 
                 Drum array 
               
               
                 420 
                 Drum array tube 
               
               
                 421 
                 Lower tube 
               
               
                 422 
                 Upper tube 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  shows an instrument carrier according to a first preferred embodiment. This figure shows a Tubular type carrier  10  for percussion instruments that comprises an abdomen plate  30 , with lower support tubes or rods  32  and  34 . The figure also has upper body vertical support rods or tubes  42  and  44  that are supported mid-span with a retainer  300 . In the figure shown the coupler is a fixed member that holds the tubes in rigid position, but it is also contemplated that the coupler could be a hinge or an adjustable coupler that allows the distance between the upper and lower portions of the carrier to be adjusted as well as a single or compound hinged coupler that allows the carrier to be folded as shown in May U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,790 and May U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,407. 
     The lower rods or tubes  32  and  34  are bent where they independently spread to parallel portions  36  and  38  where they attach to supporting abdomen plate  30 . Upper rods or tubes  42  and  44  having out-turned portions  45  and  46  supporting rigid shoulder straps  50  and  55  and back bar  70 . Back bar  70  may be removably secured to shoulder straps  50  and  55  or may be fixed as by welding or the like. Shoulder straps  50 ,  55 , and back bar  70  have cushions  53 . The cushions are of a type used to pad the interior of football and other sports helmets and are shown in more detail in co-issued May U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,257. The cushions have a backing strip of polyvinyl plastic film. A thin sheet of polyvinyl film encloses blocks of closed pore plastic (e.g., polystyrene or polyurethane) foam and is sealed to the backing strip to enclose separate blocks which are separately compressible and provide more comfort to the wearer of the carrier when fully loaded. The abdomen plate  30  is removably secured on the lower ends of tubes or rods  32  and  34  by the left and right halves of the first bifurcated structure  311  and  312  respectively where each half uses semi-circular clamping receptacle that tubes  36  and  38  fit through. In the embodiment shown the first bifurcated structure is shown and described in two halves it is contemplated that these two halves can be fabricated as a single (attached) unit. Tightening hardware  78  and  79  (not visible) clamps the tube or rod to secure them within the left and right halves of the first bifurcated structure  311  and  312  prevent movement. The two halves of the first bifurcated structure  311  and  312  are secured on abdomen plate  30 . The clamping receptacles are shown mounted to the abdomen plate  30 , and the tubes can be re-positioned within the clamping receptacle, but the clamping receptacles (part of first bifurcated structure  311  and  312 ) can be mounted into slots or without fasteners that penetrate the abdomen plate, such as hook and loop, that allow the locations of the clamping receptacles to be free floating on the abdomen plate. The upper, out-turned ends  45  and  46  of supporting rods or tubes are supported in clamping receptacles  92  and  94  on shoulder straps  50  and  55 . Clamps  92  and  94  hold rods or tubes  45  and  46  on the shoulder supports. Clamping mechanisms  92  and  94  consist of a semi-circular receptacle that tubes  45  and  46  fit through. The bolts  98  and  99  are tightening to clamp the tube or rod to secure them within the receptacle and prevent movement as shown in May U.S. Pat. No. 7,071,401. 
     The materials of construction used in this carrier  10  are very important for achieving the desired result. The abdomen plate  30  is preferably made from a flexible material to aid in contouring to the players profile and size. The supporting rods or tubes  32 ,  34 ,  42 , and  44 , shoulder straps  50 ,  55  and back bar  70  are rigid and made of a light metal such as aluminum, magnesium or titanium. The metal shoulder straps have the advantage that different sizes of users are readily accommodated by adjusting or replacing the shoulder straps in a vertical or horizontal plane. 
     Operation 
     The operation of this carrier should be apparent but will be described briefly for clarity. The carrier  10  is worn by a musician with the shoulder straps  50  and  55  positioned over the shoulders. The position of the shoulder straps and the upper portion of the carrier can be adjusted by loosening bolts  78  and  79  for vertical adjustment of the shoulders. When the bolts  98  and  99  are loosened, clamps  92  and  94  open to allow tubes  42  and  44  to slide within the clamps. When the clamps are loose, the position of the clamps on the shoulder straps can also be adjusted. The vertical adjustment of the shoulder straps allows users of different sizes to use the carrier. The width between the shoulder straps can also be adjusted by rotating the tubes  42  and  44  within retainer  300 . When tubes  42  and  44  are rotated the width of the shoulder straps are moved in and out. The rotational adjustment allows the tubes to be toe-in so the width and or the position of the tubes can be adjusted. The toe-in adjustment is mostly used with tubular construction, but a similar adjustment could be made with other types of carrier construction. The abdomen plate  30  is attached to the left and right halves of the first bifurcated structure  311  and  312  and then to rods  36  and  38  that are inserted in position and secured in place by tightening bolts  78  and  79 . The parallel ends of the rods  36  and  38  are inserted into the receptacles on the abdomen plate. When bolts  78  and  79  are loosened, receptacles move on tubes  36  and  38  can be moved to allow positioning of the abdomen plate on the carrier. This adjustment allows the carrier to accommodate user of various sizes. The left and right bifurcated structure  311  and  312  have an additional attachment mechanism for the percussion instrument being carried e.g., drums (single or array), cymbals, xylophone, marimba, or the like that will be further described herein. 
     The tubular carrier shown includes an abdomen plate  30  that is secured or can float on the structure without being rigidly secured to the halves of the first bifurcated structure  311  and  312 . The support rods or tubes  34  and  36  of the carrier bend and extend into their respective halves of the first bifurcated structure  311  and  312  where they are positionable and lockable in position. The tubes  260  slide in their respective halves of the first bifurcated structure  311  and  312  to allow for positioning  402  of the drum array  410  and drum hardware  420  independently from the positioning of the distance between the shoulder supports  50 ,  55  and the abdomen plate  30 . In operation the drum array tube  420  from the drum array is lowered  401  into the essentially horizontal saddle  403  until the tube  420  from the drum array rests on the bottom radius of the half tube saddle portion  62 . The cantilevered weight of the drum array will rotate the drum array binding the dovetail rib  66  ( FIG. 2 ) of the half tube portion  62  with one end portion  65  to fit one of the dove tailed grooves  41  and a dove tailed rib  66  fitting into an adjacent groove. The drum array tube  420  can side horizontally along the half tube portion  62  where the drum array is justified left or right of the player. 
     Drum array tube  420  is lowered  401  into the half tube saddle portion  62  where it is retained. The retention is shown and described in more detail with  FIGS. 2-4 . The slide bracket  63  connects with a set of parallel tracks that mate with the tubes or shafts  260  to allow the half tube saddle portion  62  to secure the drum array, and can be raised or lowered  402  on the tubes or shafts  260 . Drum array side member(s)  405  connect the tube  420  to the drum array  410 . The drum array tube  420  can side horizontally in the half tube portion  62  such that the drum array is justified drum array tube  420  is marked to identify the balance position or other indicia to identify a particular location. Another contemplated feature is to include one or more stops on the drum array tube  420  to limit side (slide) movement of the drum array in the half tube saddle portion  62 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the drum array tube  420  engaged in the half tube saddle portion  62  from in the first embodiment. One of the slide brackets  63  is shown. The slide bracket slides on the tubes or shafts  260  (not shown) in a bypass arrangement that allows the slide bracket to bypass the connection of the tubes or shafts  260  with the first bifurcated structure (not shown). Spacer  60  keeps the end portion  65  properly spaced from the slide bracket  63  to prevent interference of the end portion  65  and the left or right side of the first bifurcated structure  311 ,  312  or the carrier. The spacer  60  is secured to the flat plate portion  61  of the end portion  65  with hardware  64  such as screws or bolts but other securing hardware or welding is contemplated. The drum array tube  420  is shown locked in the half tube saddle portion  62  with the dovetail rid  66  engaged with dovetail grooves  41 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the components from  FIGS. 1 and 2  as it is mounted on a floor mounted stand. The floor mount stand comprises a supporting member  56  having the flat plate portion  61  and a half tube saddle portion  62 . The half tube saddle portion  62  is mounted on the upper end of vertical tube  56  with hardware  64 , which secures on the flat plate portion  61  of the half tube saddle portion  62 . Half tube saddle portion  62  has dove tailed grooves  41  that mates and secures with onto a dove tailed rib  66  fitting into an adjacent groove (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 4  is a detail view of the rotation of the drum array and the stop that prevents over rotation and adjusts the playing angle of the drum array. In this figure an array of drums is engaged in the carrier. The slide bracket  63  is shown sliding on a tube or shaft  260  on the carrier. A spacer  60  maintains the position of the half tube saddle portion  62  from the tubes or shaft  260 . The spacer is secured by fasteners  64  that connected from the flat plate portion of the half tube saddle portion  62  through the spacer  60  and then into the slide bracket  63 . The drum array tube  420  is secured in the half tube saddle portion  62  where the male and female dovetail grooves hold the upper tube in location. The drum array side member  405  is shown rotated  74  from horizontal to show the bumper  72  displaced from contact with the flat portion  61 . The array of drums can be rotated up or down and the downward, horizontal, resting position of the array is adjustable by moving the bumper  72 . The slide bracket  63  is movable, and securable on the tubes or shafts  260  to allow the height adjustment of the instrument. The height adjustment in this embodiment is independent from the adjustment for the abdomen plate  30  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a view of the drum tracking system for use with a single drum  11 . This figure shows a Tubular type carrier  10  that is similar in construction to the carrier for percussion instruments shown and described in  FIG. 1 . The carrier  10  comprises an abdomen plate  30 , with lower support rods  32  and  34 . The figure also has upper body vertical support rods or tubes  42  and  44 . The upper and lower body support rods or tubes are connected to each other with a retainer  300  that keeps the tubes in a parallel relationship. The lower rods or tubes  32  and  34  independently spread to parallel portions  36  and  38  where they attach to supporting abdomen plate  30 . Upper rods or tubes  42  and  44  having out-turned portions  45  and  46  supporting rigid shoulder straps  50  and  55  and back bar  70 . Back bar  70  may be removably secured to shoulder straps  50  and  55  or may be fixed as by welding or the like. Shoulder straps  50 ,  55 , and back bar  70  have cushions  51 ,  53  and  54 , respectively. The cushions are of a type used to pad the interior of football and other sports helmets and are shown in more detail in co-issued May U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,257. The cushions have a backing strip of polyvinyl plastic film. A thin sheet of polyvinyl film encloses blocks of closed pore plastic (e.g., polystyrene or polyurethane) foam and is sealed to the backing strip to enclose separate blocks which are separately compressible and provide more comfort to the wearer of the carrier when fully loaded. 
     The abdomen plate  30  is secured to the bridge supports  90  with a pivot  22  that extends through ears  24  on the abdomen plate  30 . The placement of the pivot through the center of the bridge support  90  allows the abdomen plate to rotate a limited amount on the pivot(s)  22 . The pivoting allows the abdomen plate to move with the user without significantly altering the position of the carrier on the user. The pivots can be tightened slightly to provide frictional or limited pivoting as well as loosened to allow for free pivoting. It is also contemplated that the abdomen plate  30  is removably secured on carrier. 
     Clamping receptacle(s)  80  and  81  consist of a semi-circular receptacle that tubes  36  and  38  fit through. Tightening hardware  82  and  83  clamps the tube or rod to secure them within the receptacle and prevent movement. The clamping receptacle(s)  80  and  81  are secured on abdomen plate  30 . The receptacles are shown mounted to the abdomen plate  30 , and the tubes can be re-positioned within the receptacle, but the receptacles can be mounted to slots that allow the locations of the receptacles to be moved. The upper, out-turned ends  45  and  46  of supporting rods or tubes are supported in clamping receptacles  92  and  94  on shoulder straps  50  and  55 . Clamps  92  and  94  hold rods or tubes  45  and  46  on the shoulder supports. Clamping mechanisms  92  and  94  consist of a semi-circular receptacle that tubes  45  and  46  fit through. Tightening hardware  98  and  99  clamps the tube or rod to secure them within the receptacle and prevent movement. A single tube or shaft  260  is used to connect with a single drum  11  through a sliding cradle  84 . 
     The sliding cradle  84  connects o the single tube or shaft  260  with dovetail grooves. A second set of dovetail grooves exist on the bridge support member  90 . The bridge support member  90  has male dovetail grooves that mate with the female dovetail groves in the tube or shaft  260 . A similar set of male dovetail features  85  exist on the sliding cradle  84 . These dovetail features are arranged to allow the sliding cradle to slide  86  past the bridge support member  90 . The sliding cradle  84  has a recessed cradle  87  for connection with the hinge pins  15  of a single drum  11 . The hinge pin  15  is secured to the drum  11  with a rotation hinge plate. The rotation hinge plate  12  and its connection to the drum is shown and described in more detail in  FIG. 6  (From May Pat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,492). The rotational hinge allows the single drum  11  to be easily placed into the cradle and rotated as in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  is a detail view of the rotation hinge of an embodiment of the hardware assembled on a drum with the stationary hinge removed and is referred to as a modified floating snare assembly. The hardware comprises the combination with drum  11  of a supporting hinge assembly having a rotation hinge plate  12  that supports a pair of clamps (not shown) by bolts  17  and nuts  18  for securing rotational hinge plate to drum  111  by clamping on the two drum tension rods  19 . Bolts  17  extend through oversized holes or slots which allow for a small amount of lateral adjustment to cover small variances in the spacing of drum tension rods  19  and also in different sized drums, e.g. 13″ and 14″ drums. Knuckle  14  has aligned holes through which hinge pin  15  extends and washers  20  on opposite ends thereof. 
       FIG. 7  is an alternate embodiment of the drum tracking system shown in  FIG. 5 . Only the lower portion of the carrier is shown with the drum connecting portion with the independently spread to parallel portions  36  and  38  where they attach to supporting abdomen plate  30 . The connection of the abdomen plate is described with  FIG. 5 . Clamping receptacle(s)  80  and  81  consist of a semi-circular receptacle that tubes  36  and  38  fit through. Tightening hardware  82  and  83  clamps the tube or rod to secure them within the receptacle and prevent movement. A single tube or shaft  260  is used to connect with the single drum mounting hardware through a sliding cradle  84 . 
     The sliding cradle  84  connects o the single tube or shaft  260  with dovetail grooves. A second set of dovetail grooves exist on the bridge support member  90 . The bridge support member  90  has male dovetail grooves that mate with the female dovetail groves in the tube or shaft  260 . A similar set of male dovetail features  85  exist on the sliding cradle  84 . These dovetail features are arranged to allow the sliding cradle to slide  86  past the bridge support member  90 . 
     The sliding cradle  84  is secured to plate  88  with securing blots  97 . Movement of the cradle  84  on the single tube or shaft  260  is prevented by locking set screws, or similar hardware, through access hole  95 . The securing plate  88  has two drum rotators  89  that where a drum is slid  96  down the elongated tabs  89  gravity holds a drum in the elongated tabs. To rotate a drum thumbscrew  91  is loosened and the drum rotors are turned in the plate  88 . The rotation of the drum is limited to the travel of the thumbscrew(s)  91  is slot  93 . The structure that connects this hardware to a drum is described in May patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,492. 
       FIG. 8  shows the parallel track system secured to an instrument carrier with a drum assembly that is mountable on the parallel track system. The carrier  10  is similar in construction as was previously described in  FIGS. 1 and 5  where the carrier includes shoulder supports or shoulder hooks  50 ,  55  with an integrated or removable back member  70 . The shoulder supports and or back member may optionally include padding  53 . The tubular carrier shown includes an abdomen plate  30  that is secured or can float on the structure without being rigidly secured to first bifurcated structure  310 . In the embodiment shown the first bifurcated structure  310  is shown and described as a single structure but it is contemplated that the structure could be fabricated in two halves where each half is secured to the abdomen plate to form the structure. Tubes  36  and  38  of the carrier bend and extend into first bifurcated structure  310  where they are positionable and lockable in position using tightening hardware  78 . The tubes  260  slide in first bifurcated structure  310  and in second bifurcated structure  350  to allow for positioning of the drum array and drum hardware  410 . In the embodiment shown the second bifurcated structure  350  is shown and described as a single structure but it is contemplated that the structure could be fabricated in two halves where each half is secured to the tubes or shafts  260 . The tubes or shafts  260  can be movable  402 , as well as the second bifurcated structure  350  are movable  403  independently. 
     In operation the upper tube  422 , from the drum array, is lowered  401  into the essentially vertical slot until the bottom tube  421  from the drum array rests on the bottom radius or saddle ( 353  from  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ). The cantilevered weight of the drum array will rotate the drum array until the upper tube  422  of the drum supporting array sits in the top radius ( 354  from  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 ). It is contemplated that the shafts or tubes  260  are fabricatable as an integral part of either first bifurcated structure  310  or the second bifurcated structure  350  to allow for only one adjustment. 
       FIG. 9  shows the components of a dual track system that is mounted to an instrument carrier. For a better understanding of the components and how they relate,  FIG. 9  should be viewed in combination with  FIGS. 8 and 10 . In  FIG. 9  the first bifurcated structure  310  is shown. This first bifurcated structure  310  has a radiused back that matches the contour of the abdomen plate that the structure in mounted on. On the front of first bifurcated structure  310  a pair of linear tracks  340  and  341  are integrated. The parallel tracks provide a first dual track structure. The tracks are located essentially parallel to the abdomen plate and at a location that is distal from the abdomen plate in a vertical orientation. It is contemplated that the abdomen plate  30  can float on the structure without being rigidly secured to first bifurcated structure  310 . The first bifurcated structure  310  further includes mounting clamps  320  for securing tubular shafts for connection with the shoulder supporting portion of a carrier. The connection with the tubular portion of the shoulder supported portion of the carrier is shown in  FIG. 1 . A locking mechanism is threaded or fastened into the carrier at  330  to pinch or thread into the tube(s)  36  or  38  ( FIG. 8 ). 
     In  FIG. 9  tubes  260  are slid  301  and  302  into the linear tracks  340  and  341  respectively. The linear tracks  340  and  341  have male dovetail recesses that engage in female dovetail recesses in tubes or rods  260 . The tube and linear track is essentially the same configuration as shown and described in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 , and  5 . The tubes or shafts  260  are locked in location on the linear tracks of the first bifurcated structure  310  with a securing means such as a set screw  311 . The second bifurcated structure  350  engages on the tubes  260  between the first bifurcated structure  310  to allow independent movement of the second bifurcated structure  350 . The second bifurcated structure  350  has similar recess  351 ,  352  and dovetail engagement with the tubes or shafts  260  as in the first bifurcated structure  350 . The second bifurcated structure  350  is secured to the tubes or rods  260  with securing means such as a set screw  332 . In the front of the second bifurcated structure a pair of essentially vertically oriented slots exists for loading at least one drum or an array of drums (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 ). The vertical slots have a bottom radius or saddle  353  and a top radius  354  for locating the drum or drum array in the essentially vertically oriented slots. A further description of the vertical slots for securing one or more drums is shown and described in more detail with  FIGS. 8 and 10 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the components from  FIG. 9  assembled. In this assembly the curved surface of first bifurcated structure  310  mounts onto an abdomen plate. The first bifurcated structure  310  further includes optional mounting locations  320  for securing tubular shafts for connection with the shoulder supporting portion of a carrier. A locking mechanism is threaded or fastened into the carrier at  330  to pinch or thread into the tube(s)  36  and  38  (shown in  FIG. 8 ). The tubes or shafts  260  are shown located within first bifurcated structure  310 . The tubes or shafts  260  are lockable in location on the linear tracks of component  310  with a securing means located at  331 . The second bifurcated structure  350  is shown engaged on the tubes  260  between the first bifurcated structure  310  to allow independent movement of the second bifurcated structure  350 . The second bifurcated structure  350  has similar recess and dovetail engagement with the tubes or shafts  260  as the first bifurcated structure. The tubes or shafts  260  are locked in location on the linear tracks of the first bifurcated structure  310  with a securing means located at  331 . The second bifurcated structure is secured with set screws or similar hardware  332 . The vertical slot for securing drum hardware is shown in this figure with a through bottom radius or saddle  353  to support the lower tube  421  of an array of drums (see  FIG. 8 ) and a top radius  354  for locating and securing the upper tube  422  from the drum array. The upper tube  422  and lower tube  421  can side horizontally in the upper and lower radius or saddle  353 ,  354  such that the drum array is justified left or right of the player. 
     Thus, specific embodiments and applications for a carrier with single and dual front mounted linear slides have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.