Abstract:
A percussion musical instrument which utilizes a cymbal plate mounted on a shaft (or rod) in a spaced relationship from a cymbal also mounted on the shaft forming an annular gap. A tip of a drumstick is to be inserted within the annular gap and then moved to strike the cymbal plate and cymbal in a single stroke producing a pair of sounds of selected pitches which is to be quickly repeated producing a musical beat.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION 
     The subject matter of this disclosure was broadly disclosed in U.S. provisional filing 61/629,433, filed Nov. 18, 2011, entitled Cymbal Mounting and Tuning Structure, by the present inventor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention constitutes a percussion musical instrument using a conventional cymbal stand on which has been added an additional cymbal which is to be tunable. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Pairs of cymbals, commonly called hi-hats, are used by drummers. The hi-hats are mounted on a shaft or rod of a vertical stand. One cymbal is fixed on the rod and the other cymbal is movable on the rod by a foot operated pedal which will move the upper cymbal of the pair of cymbals to clash with the lower cymbal producing a sound. Hi-hats are commonly used by drummers in conjunction with other musical instruments such as different types of drums. The upper cymbal can also be struck by a drumstick to produce a sound. 
     The present inventor has noticed that a single strike motion (stroke) of a drumstick comprises a slight upper upward movement of the drumstick and then a downward movement causing the drumstick to strike the upper cymbal. This action is to be repeated many times just to produce the desired percussion beat for the song. To produce a rapid beat will require the drummer to use both hands and two drumsticks. Playing of the drums is not possible because both hands of the drummer are in use. Most often the playing of the drums is required in conjunction with the cymbals for most songs. 
     Normally the upward motion of the drumstick is not used to produce any sound. However, if this upward motion of the drumstick could be used, then the number of beats could be doubled. For example, let it be assumed that a particular song requires fifty beats on the upper cymbal in a short burst of time such as two to three seconds. In the past this fifty beats required the drummer to use both hands and two drumsticks. However, if a single drumstick could be used to strike a separate cymbal plate when moving upward, then the fifty beats could be produced with one hand of the drummer and twice as many beats are produced in the two to three seconds leaving the drummer&#39;s other hand to strike the drums. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The structure of the present invention relates to the incorporation of a cymbal plate on the shaft or rod of a conventional cymbal stand. The cymbal plate is mounted two to three inches above the upper cymbal of a hi-hat. The hi-hat comprises an upper cymbal and a lower cymbal. The drummer inserts the tip of the drumstick in the annular space between the upper cymbal and the cymbal plate. Rapid moving of the drumstick will produce multiple sounds called a beat. 
     It is also desirable to have the sound produced from the cymbal plate to “match” the sound produced from the upper cymbal. To achieve this matching there is incorporated with the cymbal plate a tuning structure. Adjusting of the tuning structure changes the emitted tone until the desired tone is achieved by the drummer. 
     The primary objective of this invention is to produce twice as many beats within a cymbal percussion instrument within a given amount of time when compared to a conventional cymbal mounting arrangement. 
     Another objective of this invention is to provide a tuning structure in conjunction with a cymbal arrangement mounted on a stand in order to change the tone of the produced beats. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a conventional hi-hat stand on which is mounted the cymbal arrangement of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is front elevation view of the stand of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cymbal arrangement of this invention which is mounted on the conventional hi-hat shaft or rod; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the structure shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged isometric view of the tuning structure that is mounted on the cymbal plate shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the tuning structure shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the tuning structure taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded isometric view of the tuning structure shown in  FIGS. 6-8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the structure shown in  FIG. 8  showing the tuning structure in a first assembly configuration; 
         FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10  but showing the tuning structure in a second assembly configuration; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 7  showing upper and lower pivot point mountings for the tuning assemblies; 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of one of the tuning arm assemblies shown mounted on a hub assembly which is mounted on the shaft of the cymbal stand; 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of only one of the tuning arm assemblies shown in  FIG. 10  taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a view similar to  FIG. 13  but showing the tuning arm in a more horizontal position when compared to  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a view similar to  FIG. 14  but showing a second assembly configuration which was shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a view similar to  FIG. 16  but showing the tuning arm further slanted; 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of the outer free end of a first embodiment of tuning arm that is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 17  showing the arm in a first position; 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is an enlarged view similar to  FIG. 18  showing the arm in a second Position; 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  21 - 21  of  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 22  is an enlarged view similar to  FIGS. 18 and 20  showing the arm in a third position; 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  23 - 23  of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  is an isometric view of the embodiment of arm assembly used in  FIGS. 1 to 23  of the drawings; 
         FIG. 25  is a view similar to  FIG. 24  but showing a different form of connector at the rear of the arm assembly for connection to the hub assembly; 
         FIG. 26  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of arm assembly; 
         FIG. 27  is an isometric view of a third embodiment of arm assembly; 
         FIG. 28  is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of arm assembly; and 
         FIG. 29  is an isometric view of a fifth embodiment of arm assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring particularly to the drawings and specifically to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is shown a cymbal stand  30  which has an outer tube  32 . Telescopingly mounted with outer tube  32  is an inner tube  34 . Mounted at the lower end of outer tube  32  is a tripod stand  36  which is composed of three in number of tripod legs  38 ,  40  and  42 . Legs  38 ,  40  and  42  are deemed to be conventional and are movable between a collapsed position (not shown) to an extended position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The legs  38 ,  40  and  42  are to set on a supporting surface (not shown) when in the extended position. 
     Movably mounted within tubes  32  and  34  is a rod  44  which is also referred to as a shaft. The lower end of rod  44  is attached to a foot pedal  46 . Foot pedal  46  is to be moved by the operator&#39;s (drummer) foot (not shown) to cause movement of rod  44  within the distance X shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Attached to the upper end of outer tube  32  is a collar  48 . Inner tube  34  is mounted within collar  48  and inner tube  34  is slidable relative to collar  48 . A set screw  50  is screw threadingly mounted within a hole formed in collar  48 . Tightening of set screw  50  will fix outer tube  32  and inner tube  34  together. The use of set screw  50  is to permit height adjustment of the stand  30  to the desires of the operator. 
     Fixedly mounted at the upper end of inner tube  34  is a lower cymbal  52 . Lower cymbal  52  has a circular peripheral edge  54  and a central hole  56 . Lower cymbal  52  is disc shaped having a concave inner surface  58 . 
     Fixedly mounted to tube  62  is a collar  60 . Tube  62  is movably mounted on rod  44 . A pair of discs  64  and  66  are located adjacent collar  60  and also are mounted about rod  44  and are movable relative thereto. Disc  64  is located against the concave undersurface  68  of upper cymbal  70 . Disc  68  is positioned against the convex upper surface of upper cymbal  70 . Upper cymbal  70  has a peripheral edge  72 . It can be seen from the drawings that the diameter of upper cymbal  70  is less than the diameter of lower cymbal  52 . Located against disc  66  is a collar  74 . Screw threadingly mounted to collar  74  is a set screw  76 . Set screw  76  connects to rod  44  to securely bind therewith and is to be loosened to permit adjusting movement of upper cymbal  70  relative to lower cymbal  52  to establish the spacing  78  between upper cymbal  70  and lower cymbal  52 . Once this spacing is set, set screw  76  is tightened on rod  44 . Operation of foot pedal  46  will cause upper cymbal  70  to clash with lower cymbal  52  producing a sound. 
     Located above collar  74  is a disc  80 . Disc  80  is movably mounted on rod  44 . Disc  80  is fixed onto tube  82 . Tube  82  is also movably mounted on rod  44 . Rod  44  is conducted through a center hole formed in a cymbal plate  84 . Cymbal plate  84  has a diameter smaller than upper cymbal  70 . However this is not required as it could have a greater diameter or the same diameter. Cymbal plate  84  has a convex lower surface  86  and concave upper surface  88 . Cymbal plate  84  rests against disc  80 . Cymbal plate  84  is located about tube  82 . 
     The upper end of tube  82  is fixed to a collar  90 . Collar  90  is mounted on rod  44  and is movable relative thereto. However, a position established by collar  90  can be fixed by set screw  92 . This will establish the thickness of annular space or gap Y between cymbal plate  84  and upper cymbal  70 . Normally distance Y will be between two and five inches and is to be selected according to the desires of the drummer. Within the gap Y is to be located the tip  94  of a drumstick  96 . Downward movement of the drumstick  96  will cause tip  94  to strike upper cymbal  70  and produce a sound. Upward movement of the drumstick  96  will cause the tip  94  to strike convex bottom surface  86  of cymbal plate  84  again producing a sound. A single stroke of the drumstick  96  is defined as one downward movement and one upper movement of the drumstick  96 . Rapid up and down movements of the drumstick will produce a beat. 
     The tone of the sound produced by the cymbal plate  84  can be varied by a tuning structure to be now described and is specifically shown in the drawings in  FIGS. 6 to 29 . Tuning structure uses a tuning plate  98 . Tuning plate has a center hole  100 . Rod  44  and tube  82  is conducted through center hole  100 . Tuning plate  98  is movable relative to tube  82 . Tuning plate  98  is smaller in diameter than cymbal plate  84 . The material of construction of cymbal plate  84 , tuning plate  98 , upper cymbal  70  and lower cymbal  52  will most likely be a metal. 
     Bottom cap  102  rests against the convex upper surface of tuning plate  98 . Cap  102  has a series of internal threads  104 . Lower adjustment nut  106  has a series of internal screw threads  108 . A cylindrical shaped hub  110  has a center through hole  112 . Hub  110  has a screw threaded peripheral surface  114 . A lower containment ring  116  is to be located against the bottom surface of hub  110  and also fit within the cap  102  with threads  104  and  108  engaging with peripheral surface  114 . Bottom surface of hub  110  includes a cut-out area  120  within which containment ring  116  is nested. Cap  102  has a center hole  118  through which rod  44  and tube  82  are conducted. Containment ring  116  has a center hole  122  through which rod  44  and tube  82  are conducted. The exterior surface of hub  110  has a series of evenly spaced apart longitudinal slots  124  (twelve in number). Within every other slot  124  is mounted a short arm  126  with there being six in number of short arms  126 . The short arms  126  extend radially outward from hub  110 . Short arms  126  are identical. The inner end of each short arm  126  is attached to a pin  128 . The lower end of each slot  124  has a cut-out (not shown) which connects to cutout area  120 . Each pin  128  is to pivotally rest within a not shown cut-out with it being understood that each pin  128  has its own separate not shown cut-out. Because of the slots  124 , clearance is provided so each short arm  126  can freely pivot. 
     The upper end of each slot  124  also has a cut-out  130 . A pin  132  is to engage with each cut-out  130  with there being a separate pin  132  for each cut-out  130 . There are six in number of cut-outs  130  located evenly spaced apart. Each pin  132  pivots within a cut-out  130 . Containment ring  116  keeps the pins  128  in continuous engagement with the slots  124  and cut-out area  120 . There is a separate containment ring  134  which is located against the upper surface of hub  110 . Adjacent ring  134  and threadedly mounted on hub  110  is an upper adjustment nut  136 . 
     Each pin  132  is mounted at the inner end of a long arm  138 . There are six in number of long arms  138 . A cap  140  is threadingly secured to hub  110  covering containment ring  134 . Cap  140  has a center hole  142  through which rod  44  and tube  82  are conducted. 
     The outer free end of both arms  126  and  138  are constructed identically. These outer free ends are bifurcated forming a nesting arm  144  and a capturing arm  146 . There is a hole  148  formed within nesting arm  144 . There is a hole  150  formed in capturing arm  146 . Between each pair of a capturing arm  146  and a nesting arm  144  is loosely mounted a ball  152 . 
     Arms  138  can be located above and just rest on adjustment nut  136  as is shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . As the adjustment nut  136  is adjusted upwardly the ball  152  can be made to just touch the tuning plate  98  as is shown in  FIG. 14  or float above the tuning plate  98  as is shown in  FIG. 15 . The result in both situations is the production of a clatter type of sound with there being a difference between  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The lower adjustment nut  106  is left out in  FIGS. 14 and 15  for clarity. 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 16 and 17  the short arms  126  are mounted under-neath the adjustment nut  136  which will press the balls  152  against the tuning plate  98  again producing a different sound. The balls  152  are press tighter against the tuning plate  98  in  FIG. 17  as opposed to  FIG. 16  which will produce a different sound. 
     Adjustment nuts  106  and  136  can be located above or below their respective arms  126  and  138  at the choice of the drummer. In this way the drummer can achieve a unique sound. 
       FIGS. 18 to 23  show different positions of the ball  152  relative to tuning plate  98 . The ball  152  positions in each Figure will emit a different sound. Ball  152  is tight against tuning plate  98  in  FIGS. 20 and 21  where within  FIGS. 22 and 23  the ball  152  is loosely resting on the tuning plate  98 .  FIGS. 18 and 19  show the ball  152  in an intermediate position compared to  FIGS. 20 and 22 . 
       FIG. 24  is an isometric view of an arm assembly by itself that is represented in  FIGS. 1-23 . 
       FIG. 25  is an isometric view of an arm assembly similar to  FIG. 24  but where the aft end of the arm includes a T-shaped connector rather than a through hole that connects to a pin  128  or  132  shown in  FIGS. 1-23 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 26  there is shown a different configuration of a star shaped member  154  substituting for the ball  152 . Arm  156  is also of a different configuration. A pin, not shown, is to be mounted in end  158 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIG. 27  there is shown a still different configuration using a different shape of arm  160  and a cylinder  162  instead of a ball  FIG. 29  shows the cylinder  162  with a different shape of arm  164 . 
       FIG. 28  shows a different shaped arm  166  and instead of a ball uses a plurality of discs  168  which are loosely mounted between a pair of prongs  170  with only one prong being shown. 
     The units shown in  FIGS. 24 to 29  all produce a different sound which can be selected by the drummer or other operator.