Manufacturer.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1888
Specification Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1888
A communication from abroad by GEORGE VAN ZANDT, of Chicago, in the County of
Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America, Musical Instrument Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the naturo of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The invention relates to drum-head strainers or tighteners involving the employ-
ment of straining wires and adjustable tension devices, and is particularly directed,
first to the construction of the hangers whereby the straining wires are connected
with the hoops: secondly to the construction of the adjustable tension devices :
thirdly to the arrangement of the straining wires, and fourthly to the general
arrangement of the straining wires, hangers and adjustable tension devices.
The hanger characterized by these improvements is made from a comparatively
wide sheet-metal strip, which is bent and folded upon itself along a line transversely
to its length, so as provide along the line of fold a comparatively long bearing for
the straining wire of a drum-head strainer. The two folds or leaves of such folded
sheet-metal strip are brought together flatwise, and lie in close juxtaposition to one
another from the fold in which the straining wire is received, whereby the wire can
be, and desirably is, closely clasped by the sheet-metal strip along the line of fold
which serves to provide at one end of the hanger a rigid connection between the same
and the straining wire. The sheet-metal strip, thus folded upon itself so as to enclose
and embrace the wire at one end of the hanger, is also bent to provide at the opposite
end of the completed hanger a curved lip, which is designed to hook on to the outer
edge of the hoop of the drum. The hanger thus formed lies flatwise against the hoop
and closely follows the transverse sectional line of the same, thereby avoiding

page_text: objectionable projections, which, particularly along the outer edge of the hoop, would
be of considerable annoyance to the drummer. "The completed hanger thus made
from a sheet-metal strip can, from the primary operation of cutting tho strip from a
metal-sheet to the completion of its two bends (or fold and bend) be economically and
rapidly made by a suitable press or dios and since it is made of sheet-metal, the width 5
of the strip can be such as to provide the hanger with broad bearings, respectively,
for securing the wire and for engaging the edge of the hoop without undesirably
increasing the weight of the hanger.
At a point botween the hook and the line of fold, the two leaves of the sheet-metal
hanger are connected together by a stud or rivet, which serves to maintain such two 1
folds or leaves in a fixed relative position, and prevents one leaf frou slipping upon
the other under the strain of which the hanger may be subjected, it being observed
that such arrangement also places no particular limitation upon the length of the
inner leaf which is next adjacent to the hoop, so long as such leaf is engaged by a stud
or rivet passing through both leaves.
Where it is desirable to attach the hanger to the hoop at some predetermined point,
the stud or rivet which passes through the two leaves of the sheet-metal hangor is
extended through the hoop, thereby firmly securing the hanger in place.
1
The straining wires aro arranged to provide around the body of the drum, a sot of
loops which are connected by adjustable tension devices so as to form a continuous 2
series of connected wire loops. Each loop comprises two separate wires which are, at
their terminals, attached to the tension devices, and at points intermediate of their
terminals, secured to hangers which are attached to the hoops, it being observed that
each wire may be attached to one or a couple of linngers as may be preferred. In
this way, should it be desired not to rivet the hangers to the hoops, the feature of a 2
continuous series of connected wire loops to which the hangers are permanently
secured at determined points, will provent the hangers from shifting along the hoops
and will ensure the application of the hangers to the hoops at equal distances apart,
so that the points of tension upon the heads will be uniform in their relationship to
one another, and cracking or tearing of the parchment heads will therefore be 8
avoided.
Each adjustable tension device consists of a small nut or block having a smooth
bore; a small nut or block having a threaded bore; and a bolt threaded along a
portion of its length. The smooth boro nut fits loosely upon the unthreaded shank of
the bolt and the threaded nut fits upon the threaded portion of the bolt so that when 3
the latter is turned in the nut having a smooth bore, the threaded nut may be brought
nearer to or farther away from the smooth bore nut, according to the direction in
which the bolt is turned. The terminals of one line of wires are attached to tho nuts
at one end of the bolts, while the terminals of the remaining line of wires are attached
to the nuts at the opposite ends of the bolts, the attachment of any two wires to a nut 4
boing at points respectively at diametrically opposite sides of the bolt to which the
nut is applied, in which way, the tension devices are balanced between the loops, and
danger of twisting the wires in turning the bolts avoided.
In the drawings
Figure 1 represents in perspective, a drum-head tightoner applied to a drum, each 4
wire in this view being attached to the hangers.
Figure 2 represents in sido elevation a portion of the drum and tightener, with each
wire attached to but one hangor, and with the two nuts of one of tho adjustable tension
devices in section.
Figure 3 represents a blank from which the hanger can be formed.
Figure 4 represents a section taken through one of tho hangers applied to a hoop,
and likewise shows the wire in cross-section.
Figure 5 is a detail soction on line 44 Figure 2.
5
The sheet-motal hangor A is formed from a motal strip of appropriate length and
width bent or folded upon itself, so as to bring its two folds or loaves flatwise 5
together, and provide along the line of fold a comparatively long straight hearing, a,
wherein the wire of the straining device is received and rigidly held. The strip thus

page_text: folded upon itself to clasp or embrace the straining wire is also bent to provide the
curved lip a', which is adapted in contour to the outer rounded side of the drum-
hoop D, said engaging lip being somewhat in the nature of a broad hook flat in cross-
section, and the width of such hook or engaging lip serving to provide the hanger
with a somewhat extended bearing on the edge portion of the hoop.
U indicates a stud or rivet, which passes through the two leaves of the sheet-metal
hanger, thereby preventing any slip between them. This rivet is also extended
through the hoop, as in Figures 4 and 5, wherein its inner end is shown headed upon
a washer E.
Both of the two leaves or folds of the folded metal strip could be bent to form a
curved lip to engage upon the edge of the hoop: but it may be observed that in view
of the rivet connection between the two leaves, and the width of the strip of which
the hanger is formed, the embracement of the hoop-edge by the inner leaf is not a
material feature, since the curved lip portion of the outer leaf is of sufficient strength
for all practical purposes.
It will be seen that this hanger corresponds in its general configuration to the
cross-sectional outline of both the rounded outer edge and the outer side of the hoop,
and that as the hanger is made of comparatively thin sheet-metal the presence of all
objectionable projections are avoided. The rivet, while serving to prevent the leaves
from slipping upon one another under the strain of the tighteneil wires, farther serves
to maintain the hangers in definite locations, whereby they are prevented from shifting
their positions on the hoops. It will also be observed that the frictional contact
between the two leaves further assists in keeping them in place, and, further, that the
outer leaf or fold serves to clamp the same against the hoop.
The straining wires are arranged so as to form a set of connected loops arranged in
continuous series around the drum and consisting each of a couple of wires B
and B having their terminals permanently attached to, adjustable tension devices.
These tension devices serve to connect the loops together in series, and are capable of
adjustment in length, in order to determine the extent to which it is desired the
parchment heads of the drum shall be stretched.
The contraction in length of the tension devices tends to contract the loops in
width, that is to say, to draw tho two wires of each loop toward one another. To
render such contraction available for tightening the drum-heads, the wires forming
these loops are connected with the hoops by hangers or attachments arranged at
intervals about the drum, and disposed intermediate of the tension devices.
As a means for connecting the loops in series, a set of two part adjustable tension
devices F is provided with the two parts of each tension device connected together by
a light bolt, which can be turned by a key or wrench so as to vary their distance
from one another. The two parts of one of these adjustable tension devices generally
resemble one another with the exception that one part or member is fitted upon the
unthreaded shank of the bolt as a loose nut or collar, while the other part or
member, is fitted upon the threaded end portion of the bolt as a nut, to the attain-
ment of which end, the block or nut fi constituting the collar has a smooth bore,
while the bore of the block or piece which constitutes the nut is threaded.
The collars and the nuts f2 of the several adjustable tension devices are each
provided with two wire receiving bores arranged at opposite sides of and parallel with
the centrally arranged bolt receiving bore. The ends of the wires are inserted through
these small wire receiving bores and the terminals of the wires are riveted or headed
so as to hold the wires in permanent and rigid connection with the parts of the tension
devices to which they are allotted.
As hereinbefore mentioned, each loop is divided into two wires B and B', the
wires B being all attached by connections to the hoop at one end of the drum, while
the wires B' are all attached by similar connections to the hoop at the opposite end of
the instrument, the connections between the wires and the hoops being at points
between the terminals of the wires. By such arrangement, the adjustable tension
devices serve as means for connecting together the loops in series, the adjacent
terminals of the wires B of any two adjoining loops being permanently attached to a

page_text: collar, while the corresponding terminals of the wires 13, of such loops are perma-
nently attached to the nut of such adjustable tension device.
The holt of the tension device is therefore, so to speak, balanced between two loops,
it being seen that each tension devices is connected with four wire terminals repre-
senting lines of draft radiating from such device at four angles of proximately forty-
five degrees each. The extreme adjustment of the tension devices for the purpose of
tightening the drum-heads will therefore, have no tendency toward bending the bolts,
since the strain is evenly distributed, and hencu, comparatively light holts can be used.
It will also be seen that in thevire terminals as herein before explained connect
with the collar and also with the nut at opposite sides of the axis of the bolt, the
tendency to twist the wires when the bolt is turned for adjusting the nut, will be
avoided.
In Figure each wire B is connected with one of the hoops by two hangers, whilo
each win oneth B is connected by like hangers with the opposite hoop.
The permanent connections between the loops and the hangers prevent the latter
from shifting in position along the hoops, shoul} rivets passing into the hoops hu
dispensed with, in which way, the strain upon the hoops, and consequently, the tension
upon the parchment heads will at all times during service, he at fixed predetermined
points, and thus avoid undue strain at any one side of either head. In addition both
to such advantages and to the obviously neat and symmetrical appearance afforded by
stringing each of the two wires of a look upon two hangers, the strain is found to be
in general more evenly distributed, and the hangers to be set more accurately in
proper position, it being observed that the combined result of each pair is a more
extended bearing upon the hoop and a disposition on the part of one hanger subject
to a pull in one direction from one of the tension devices to resist a like pull in a
contrary direction upon the other hanger. The employment of two lingers for each
wire length also perimits the loops to be somewhat longer than if but one hanger were
used, and hence lessens the required number of adjustable tension devices.
In conclusion, it may be stated, that the feature of the drum-head strainer or
tightener involving a set of loops each comprising a pair of wires B and B all
connected in continuous series by intervening adjustable tension devices, to which the
terminals of the wires are secured, is regarded as an improvement in such devices
irrespective of the particular construction of tension devices herein shown, it being
understood, however, that in specifying an adjustable tension device, a tension dovico
capable of both contraction and expansion in length is referred to, in contradistinction
to the devices heretofore used in connection with a cord string wound around the
drum. Also, that the particular construction of tension devices herein shown, in
connection with the particular mode of attaching the terminals of the wire perma-
nently and rigidly to the nut and collar of such tension device, constitutes a further
feature of improvement. Also that regardless of the arrangement of straining wires
and adjustable tension devices, my correspondent claims the construction of the
hangers, which he finds particularly efficient in drum-head strainers, it being
observed, that if desired, but two of such hangers could be used for each loop, as in
Figure 2 which shows but one hanger for each wire B, and but one hanger for ench
wiro B¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invon-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declaro that what 1 claim is :-
1. In a drum-head tightener, the hangers formed of a sheot-metal strip which is
folded back upon itself to clasp the straining-wire along the fold, and further bent to
form a hook which engages upon the hoop of the drum, substantially as described.
2. In a drum-head tightener, the hook-shaped hanger formed by a sheet-metal
strip which is folded back upon itself, the two leaves of such folded plate being
riveted together, substantially as described.
3. In a drum-head tightener, the hook-shaped hanger formed by a sheet-metal
strip which is folded back upon itself, the said hangor being caught upon the hoop

page_text: and secured to the same by a rivet, which passes through both leaves of the hanger
and engages the hoop, substantially as described.
4. In a drum-head tightener, a set of loops, each comprising a pair of wires B
and B and all connected in continuous series by suitablo intervening adjustable
tension devices, to which the terminals of said wires are secured, substantially as
described.
5. In a drum-head tightener, the adjustable tension device consisting of the block
or collar, the nut f, and the bolt passing through the collar and engaging the
nut, the said collar and nut being engaged by the terminals of the straining wires,
substantially as described.
6. In a drum-head tightener, a series of wire loops connected by suitable inter-
vening tension devices and attached to suitable hangers, each of said loops being
composed of two wires, and each wire being attached to two hangers, substantially as
described.