Patent Description:
<CIT> describes a blocking member for selective restriction of a passageway on a membrane of a musical drum to adjust an audio output from the musical drum. The blocking member may be rotationally affixed to the musical drum or may be temporarily positioned thereon.

<CIT> describes an acoustic variable porting system including an acoustic element and an acoustic variable porting element forming a port into the acoustic element. The acoustic variable porting element is adjustable between at least an open position, in which the port is generally open, and a closed position, in which the port is generally closed.

<CIT> describes a resonant drum head mounted speaker cone apparatus.

<CIT> describes an electroacoustically-amplified drum assembly consisting of a hollow drum shell with a drumhead closing one or both end thereof and an acoustical air vent in the wall thereof. An acoustical microphone is positioned in the drum shell spaced from and free from any connection to the drumhead and has leads for connection through the acoustical vent to an external amplifier and speaker. An adjustable mount is secured on the interior surface of the drum shell without any break in the wall of the drum shell for supporting the microphone.

One inch corresponds to <NUM>,<NUM> meter herein. Bass drums, tom-toms, snare drums, and cymbals are known collectively as a drum or trap set. The bass drum (sometimes called a kick drum) in a drum set configuration includes a batter head (aka batter drumhead) and a resonant head (aka resonant drumhead) covering, respectively, the individual openings formed at either end of the drumshell. The batter head covers the opening of the bass drum where the foot pedal and the beater are positioned for striking the drumhead. The resonant head covering the opposite end reverberates from the air movement inside the drumshell, also known as sympathetic vibrations, which result when the beater strikes the batter head. The resonant drumhead is normally fitted with a solid polyester film, though more commonly a polyester film, with one or more openings or a series of openings for the purpose of venting the vibrating air produced inside the drumshell. The same opening may be used as a pathway to insert a microphone inside the drumshell for the purpose of recording or the amplification of drum sounds or for simply reaching inside the drumshell to adjust any sort of internal muffling item or material placed there, such as a blanket, pillow, and the like.

Different tunings and tensionings of the batter and resonant drumheads produce different harmonics as well as a difference in feel or sensation in the drummer's foot resulting from the rebound of the beater off the batter drumhead, which in turn directly affects the amount and intensity of the reverberating air produced inside the drumshell. When two standard drumheads are used to completely close the openings formed at either end of the drumshell, the air produced inside the drumshell is typically vented through one or more small air vents fabricated in the shell itself, which are usually no more than ½" in diameter each. The vent holes formed in the drumshell allow the film covering both ends to deflect and, thus, produce a more pronounced fundamental pitch or note. Drumshells that are not vented give rise to drumheads that are hard or stiff. This results because of the resonant or front drumhead's inability to deflect for the reason that the air inside the shell is compressed and unable to vent.

To achieve the proper fundamental pitch or note and also the correct level of sensation or feel in the drummer's foot operating the foot pedal, professional drummers and sound engineers will often vary the number and size of the vent holes or ported openings formed in the resonant head. However, this method of venting the head to achieve the proper fundamental pitch or note and the small variations in sound and feel can be a tedious process as the entire drumhead usually must be removed and replaced with a drumhead that includes the requisite number and sizes of the desired vent holes. This requires significant time and effort and having to maintain a sufficient inventory and variety of uniquely vented drumheads. <CIT> (the "'<NUM> Patent") incorporates a means to vary the ventilation of airflow moving through the inside of the drumshell and eventually the ported opening. However, the device taught by the '<NUM> Patent is structurally unsubstantial, relatively flimsy and too often unreliable in its construction. Additionally, the '<NUM> Patent teaches the use of a separate relatively invasive airflow venting device attached to and spread over a large portion of the front side of the resonant drumhead enabling the obfuscation of the manufacturer's or artist's name, logo and/ or branding imprinted and normally easily visible on the front surface of the drumhead. Most, if not all, resonant drumheads typically display the name, logo or graphic associated with a particular manufacturer, artist or band for identification and marketing purposes for achieving valuable publicity. Accordingly, it is very important that the logo, branding, and/or associated graphic be entirely visible to the audience.

Recording an accurate bass drum sound for eventual replay or immediate amplification is typically achieved with a microphone positioned either inside the drumshell or on the outside of the shell nearby or in front of the ported opening formed in the resonant head. In some instances, a combination of both set-ups is employed for the intended purpose. Previous methods of installing a microphone inside a bass drumshell include, without limitation, drilling through the drumshell for affixing some type of bracket to the sidewall within to support the microphone and providing proper grommets to accommodate the microphone cord. However, this has always been an unacceptable and crude installation option for many drummers. Alternatively, recordings and amplifications are achieved by utilizing a microphone attached to the end of a boom arm supported by a stand. Using this set-up, the microphone can be positioned just outside or in front of the ported opening or inserted through the ported opening of the resonant drumhead to a position inside the drumshell.

With this in mind, there is a need in the art for a device that is most importantly capable of varying and controlling the ventilation of air flowing inside the drumshell through a ported opening formed within the resonant drumhead as well as to provide a sufficiently large enough opening for a microphone to penetrate inside the drumshell or for a person to reach in and adjust any internal muffling material placed within, while preserving the capacity for the resonant drumhead to display the desired branding, logo or graphic of a particular manufacturer, artist or band.

Thus, until now, and for the reasons stated, nothing in the prior art provides for a device or apparatus that may be installed and fixed to a resonant drumhead with the primary purpose of controlling and adjustably venting the air flowing through the bass drumshell, the result of the beater striking the batter head, through the ported opening to achieve a more pronounced fundamental pitch or note and overall the desired harmonics. Nothing in the prior art teaches the device or apparatus so described which also enables the drummer's foot to feel a more authentic sensation as a consequence of the beater striking the batter drumhead. Moreover, nothing in the prior art provides the means along with other improvements so described to penetrate the resonant drumhead to the space inside the drumshell to adjust any items or materials placed there for the purpose of muffling undesirable drum sounds. Finally, nothing in the prior art can achieve the foregoing objectives while also enabling the unobstructed viewing of the highly significant and valuable company branding, artist or band designation, or any other type of associated desired graphic or logo otherwise and most importantly made visible to the audience on the front side of the resonant drumhead.

A musical bass drum is disclosed according to claim <NUM>.

One example implementation of the present invention may provide a musical bass drum with the means for varying the amount of airflow moving through the bass drumshell and passing through a ported opening formed in the resonant drumhead.

Yet another example implementation of the present invention may provide a musical bass drum with the means to accommodate a microphone inside the drumshell to record or amplify the drum sounds produced within.

A further example implementation of the present invention may provide a musical bass drum with the means to enable direct and unobstructed access to the area inside the drumshell for adjusting any internal muffling device or material positioned there.

Still another example implementation of the present invention may provide a musical bass drum with an apparatus attached to the resonant drumhead for varying the amount of airflow passing through the ported opening that does not visually interfere with the branding, name, logo or graphic design associated with a particular manufacturer, band or artist.

Yet another example implementation of the present invention may provide a musical bass drum with an apparatus for varying the amount of airflow as it moves through the inside of the drumshell and passes through the ported opening with the overall objective of controlling the undesirable higher frequency drum sounds.

Another example implementation of the present invention may provide a musical bass drum with an apparatus for varying the amount of airflow passing through the inside of the drumshell and through the ported opening that is cost effective to produce and easy to install and operate.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention in all of its embodiments will become apparent in the following specifications when considered in light of the attached drawings wherein the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention may be further illustrated.

An example implementation of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference first to <FIG>, which illustrates a drumshell <NUM> by itself absent drumheads, counterhoops and hardware. Also shown in <FIG> is drumshell interior 4a, a first opening <NUM> with a bearing edge 6a and a second opening <NUM> with a bearing edge 8a.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate musical bass drum <NUM> having a front end <NUM> and a back end <NUM>. Also included is batter drumhead <NUM>, which consisting of front side <NUM> and back side <NUM> covers first opening <NUM>. Resonant drumhead <NUM>, which covers second opening <NUM>, includes back side <NUM>, front side <NUM>, and ported opening <NUM>. Securing batter head <NUM> and resonant drumhead <NUM> to front end <NUM> and back end <NUM>, respectively, are counterhoops and corresponding hardware 10a and 12a. Connected to bass drum <NUM> and/or positioned before front end <NUM> of batter drumhead <NUM> is bass pedal <NUM> with attached beater <NUM>. Bass drum spurs <NUM> are also provided for stabilizing drum <NUM>.

Also provided is assembled device <NUM> for attachment to back side <NUM> of resonant drumhead <NUM> for varying and controlling the amount of vibrating air <NUM> passing within interior 4a of drumshell <NUM> and through ported opening <NUM>. Vibrating air <NUM> is produced when pedal <NUM> is depressed, compelling beater <NUM> to strike and forcibly deflect batter head <NUM>. Device <NUM>, which is used for regulating the amount of vibrating air <NUM> that passes through ported opening <NUM>, is designed to integrally join and bond with ported opening <NUM> for this purpose. Device <NUM> has a movable door member <NUM> which is adapted to be vertically disposed upwardly and downwardly for varying the size of ported opening <NUM>. The culmination of all these actions results ultimately in the control and, as desired by the drummer, the elimination of most, if not all, of any undesirable higher frequency drum sounds.

More specifically, device <NUM> consists of an assembly of integrated components, which include back side plate member <NUM>, having a front side <NUM> and a back side <NUM> with a plurality of spaced-apart boss members <NUM>. Also provided is clamping plate member <NUM>, having a back side <NUM> and a front side <NUM> including a plurality of spaced-apart boss members <NUM>, and gasket member <NUM>. Each boss member <NUM> includes a corresponding opening <NUM> and each boss member <NUM> includes a corresponding opening <NUM>. Movable door member <NUM> is secured between back side plate member <NUM> and clamping plate member <NUM> along guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM> formed within back side <NUM> of clamping plate member <NUM> in slidable engagement.

Back side plate member <NUM> and clamping plate member <NUM> are secured by a means for controlling the amount of slide tension applied to movable door member <NUM> as movable door member <NUM> is raised or lowered along guide tracks <NUM>, <NUM> between back side plate member <NUM> and clamping plate member <NUM> enabling the movement of door member <NUM> to control the amount and intensity of airflow <NUM> passing through ported opening <NUM>. Means for controlling the amount of slide tension includes, for example, a plurality of engaged threaded bolt fasteners <NUM> utilized to fasten clamping plate member <NUM> to back side plate member <NUM>, which, when paired with nuts <NUM>, combine to either tighten or loosen the connection between back side plate member <NUM> and clamping plate member <NUM> consequently affecting the amount of slide tension impacting the vertical movement of movable door member <NUM>. Each boss member <NUM> of back side plate member <NUM> has a corresponding opening <NUM>. Clamping plate member <NUM> includes a plurality of openings <NUM> inside corresponding boss members <NUM>, each opening <NUM> being adapted to receive threaded bolt fasteners <NUM> through opening <NUM> in clamping ring member <NUM> to engage corresponding opening <NUM>. This, when paired with a corresponding nut <NUM>, causes clamping plate member <NUM>, which is connected to back side plate member <NUM> with movable door <NUM> in between, and clamping ring member <NUM> joined to form a permanent connection with ported opening <NUM> positioned in between.

Device <NUM> is joined with ported opening <NUM> and abuttingly situated against back side <NUM> of resonant drumhead <NUM> with boss members <NUM> positioned to engage rim <NUM> of ported opening <NUM> for centering and aligning device <NUM> in substantially vertical relation relative to ported opening <NUM>. Device <NUM> is then secured to resonant drumhead <NUM> by clamping ring member <NUM>, which is adapted to engage device <NUM> from front side <NUM> of resonant drumhead <NUM>. Clamping ring member <NUM> includes a plurality of openings <NUM> for receiving threaded bolt fasteners <NUM> for engaging corresponding nuts <NUM> and affixing device <NUM> to resonant drumhead <NUM>.

Also provided is projection member <NUM> integrally formed with movable door member <NUM> to shift movable door member vertically between back side plate member <NUM> and clamping plate member <NUM>. Consistent with an objective of the present invention, the incremental vertical movement of movable door member <NUM> will vary the amount of vibrating air <NUM> vented through ported opening <NUM>. When operating in a completely opened position <NUM>, movable door member <NUM> allows the venting of most, if not all, of vibrating air <NUM> attempting to pass through ported opening <NUM>. Movable door member <NUM>, when operating in a completely closed position <NUM>, inhibits, if not entirely prevents, the venting of vibrating air <NUM> through ported opening <NUM>.

Microphone <NUM> suitable for use consistent with the application and objectives of the present invention include, without limitation, Shure models SM <NUM>, Beta52 and AKG D-<NUM>. A device for mounting microphone <NUM> to operate in conjunction with the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes, among many alternatives, half-ring member <NUM> having at least three openings 68a, 68b, 68c and microphone support rod member <NUM> attached to tilter assembly <NUM>. Through opening 68a in half-ring member <NUM> is placed a threaded fastener 57a for engagement with a threaded opening <NUM> formed within rod member <NUM>. Through openings 68b, 68c in half-ring member <NUM> are placed corresponding threaded fasteners 57b, 57c, respectively, for engagement with corresponding openings <NUM>, <NUM> formed within clamping ring member <NUM>. Threaded fasteners 57b, 57c are paired with corresponding nuts 58b, 58c for securing half-ring member <NUM> to clamping ring member <NUM>. All means to fasten or secure the various components of the device of example implementations of the present invention to resonant drumhead <NUM> may include, other than those already described herein, any suitable fastening or securement means with or without threads for this purpose.

Microphone support rod member <NUM>, which includes a threaded opening <NUM> at one end <NUM> and a threaded portion <NUM> formed circumferentially at end <NUM>, connects with a mateable threaded portion (not shown) incorporated into tilter assembly <NUM>. Support rod member <NUM> and tilter assembly <NUM> may also be connected using any other suitable means for this purpose.

Clamping ring member <NUM> also includes a first notch <NUM> for slidably receiving support rod member <NUM>, and a second notch <NUM>. Once in place and secured microphone support rod member <NUM> in combination with half-ring member <NUM>, to which support rod member <NUM> is attached, are sufficiently secured to ensure support for microphone <NUM>, more particularly, to prevent microphone <NUM> from any disruptive shaking, rattling or other kind of movement resulting from beater <NUM> striking batter drumhead <NUM> or the effect of vibrating air <NUM> passing through drumshell interior 4a of drumshell <NUM> and ported opening <NUM>. When placed within interior 4a of drumshell <NUM>, microphone <NUM> finds further support from tilter assembly <NUM> coupled with support sleeve 83a together enabling microphone <NUM> to rotate upwardly or downwardly to adjust the drum sound vibration pick-up capability of microphone <NUM>.

Back side plate member <NUM>, clamping plate member <NUM> and gasket member <NUM> include upper-positioned notches 90a, 90b, 90c, respectively, and lower-positioned notches 92a, 92b, 92c, respectively, which are adapted to align in corresponding relation with first notch <NUM> and second notch <NUM> of clamping ring member <NUM> to enable, among other objectives, microphone support rod member <NUM> to pass unobstructed through ported opening <NUM> within drumshell interior 4a of drumshell <NUM>. Second notch <NUM> also serves as a niche into which projection member <NUM> may be situated and held when movable door member <NUM> is raised to its max.

Also provided is a shim member <NUM> having a lower-positioned first notch <NUM>, and upper-positioned second notch <NUM> and top bearing edge <NUM> for insertion, when appropriate, between back side plate member <NUM> and clamping plate member <NUM>. First notch <NUM> of clamping ring member <NUM> disposed in alignment with lower-positioned first notch <NUM> and lower-positioned notches 92a, 92b, 92c are adapted to receive rod member <NUM> to facilitate the entry of rod member <NUM> through ported opening <NUM> with or without microphone <NUM>. Similarly, first notch <NUM> of clamping ring member <NUM> in alignment with upper-positioned second notch <NUM> and lower-positioned notches 92a, 92b, 92c are adapted to receive microphone cord <NUM> employed for connecting microphone <NUM> to a source to record or amplify drum sounds (not shown). Shim member <NUM> is utilized for the purpose of enabling movable door member <NUM> to close ported opening <NUM> as completely as it can to corral airflow <NUM> within drumshell interior 4a of drumshell <NUM> and ensuring the proper positioning of and support for rod member <NUM> and cord <NUM>. To accomplish this, movable door member <NUM> is lowered until the bottom edge <NUM> of movable door member <NUM> contacts and rests firmly upon the top bearing edge <NUM>.

Accordingly, when rod member <NUM> and microphone cord <NUM> are secure in their respective positions within drumshell interior 4a of drumshell <NUM>, shim member <NUM> will enable the maximum amount of air containment within drumshell interior 4a of drumshell <NUM> when ported opening <NUM> is closed or at least substantially so. Another means for supporting microphone <NUM> within drumshell interior 4a of drumshell <NUM> includes the use of a conventional boom arm <NUM> supported by floor stand <NUM> positioned in front of resonant drumhead <NUM>, or any other type of floor stand suitable for this purpose. Alternatively, the prior art teaches a bracket assembly <NUM> fixedly secured to the inside wall <NUM> of drumshell <NUM> for holding microphone <NUM> in place. Cord <NUM> is threaded through opening <NUM> providing cord <NUM> a pathway within drumshell <NUM> to enable a connection with microphone <NUM>. A grommet <NUM> may be inserted into opening <NUM> to secure cord <NUM> and protect it from damage.

Historically, high-frequency film flutter is problematic when ported opening <NUM> is not evenly tensioned, especially around the peripheral edge <NUM> of ported opening <NUM>. More specifically, relatively loosely-tensioned film <NUM> formed around peripheral edge <NUM> of ported opening <NUM> is inherently unstable when airflow <NUM> passes through resulting in unwanted drum sounds. Example implementations of the present invention serve to minimize, if not entirely preclude, high-frequency film flutter along with the predictably annoying and disruptive associated drum sounds. More specifically, the combined weight of device <NUM> and clamping ring member <NUM> in addition to their other functions assist in maintaining sufficient tension on film <NUM> surrounding peripheral edge <NUM> of ported opening <NUM>.

Also helping to reduce the negative effect of film flutter is gasket member <NUM>, which presses against back side <NUM> of resonant drumhead <NUM>, more specifically the portion of ported opening <NUM> most subject to the effects of flutter and closely circumventing perimeter rim <NUM>, namely film <NUM>. In the prior art, these unwanted high-frequency flutter noises can sometimes be controlled with the placement of a filler pillow or something similar (not shown) against back side <NUM> of resonant drumhead <NUM>. However, this means for controlling flutter noises or unwanted high-frequency sounds is a relatively crude alternative when compared to the much more effective and sophisticated capability of the device of example implementations of the present invention.

Though not exclusive, the typical dimensions for back side plate member <NUM> and clamping plate member <NUM> range between <NUM> inches and <NUM> inches in width and <NUM> inches and <NUM> inches in height. The typical thickness of both plate members is <NUM>/<NUM> of an inch. The approximate dimensions of gasket member <NUM> are the same. The approximate dimensions of movable door member <NUM> range between <NUM> inches and <NUM> inches in width, <NUM> inches and <NUM> inches in height and <NUM>/<NUM> of an inch in thickness. Clamping ring member <NUM> has an approximate interior diameter of <NUM> inches and an approximate outer diameter of <NUM> inches and with an approximate thickness of <NUM>/<NUM> inches. Half-ring member <NUM> is about half the size of clamping ring member <NUM> and approximately the same thickness. None of the foregoing dimensions needs to be strictly adhered to if circumstances and other factors dictate otherwise.

Materials appropriate for the construction of back side plate member <NUM>, clamping plate member <NUM> and movable door member <NUM> include, without limitation, polyethylene, an ABS thermoplastic polymer in particular, or a metal alloy. Materials appropriate for the construction of gasket member <NUM> include, without limitation, foam, rubber, or any other suitable natural or synthetic substance.

<FIG> illustrates a spectrum analysis of the effect of high-frequency film flutter by a <NUM>-inch ported opening <NUM> in a <NUM>-inch bass drumhead. <FIG> illustrates the waveform view of the effects of high-frequency film flutter by a <NUM>-inch ported opening <NUM> in a <NUM>-inch bass drumhead. <FIG> illustrates a spectrum analysis depicting the absence of high-frequency film flutter with the same drumhead. <FIG> is the waveform view illustrating the effect of the absence of high-frequency film flutter with the same drumhead. <FIG> is a wave form view demonstrating the effects of film flutter on peripheral edge <NUM> of ported opening <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a spectrum analysis demonstrating the effects of the absence of film flutter on peripheral edge <NUM> of ported opening <NUM> when one embodiment of assembled device <NUM> according to the present invention is secured to resonant drumhead <NUM>. <FIG> is a wave form view demonstrating the effects of the absence of film flutter on peripheral edge <NUM> of ported opening <NUM> when one embodiment of assembled device <NUM> according to the present invention is secured to resonant drumhead <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of microphone support assembly <NUM> attached to the inside of conventional drumshell <NUM> and supporting microphone <NUM> as taught by the prior art. <FIG> is a perspective view of resonant drumhead <NUM> attached to drumshell <NUM> with microphone <NUM> supported by support assembly <NUM>,83a attached to conventional boom arm <NUM> and boom stand <NUM> positioned forward of drumhead <NUM> as taught by the prior art.

Claim 1:
A musical bass drum including a hollow drum shell (<NUM>) with an interior (4a), said drum shell having a first opening (<NUM>) and a second opening (<NUM>), a batter drumhead (<NUM>) covering said first opening and a resonant drumhead (<NUM>) covering said second opening, said resonant drumhead having a back side (<NUM>), a front side (<NUM>) and a ported opening (<NUM>) through which vibrating air produced upon the striking of said batter head flows,
the musical bass drum comprising a means fixed to said back side of said resonant drumhead for varying the amount of vibrating air passing through said ported opening to control undesirable higher frequency drum sounds;
wherein said means fixed to said back side of said resonant drumhead for varying the amount of vibrating air passing through said ported opening comprises a device (<NUM>) integrally joined with said ported opening, said device having a movable door member (<NUM>) adapted to be vertically disposed upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction parallel to a plane of the ported opening for varying the size of said ported opening;
wherein said device comprises a clamping plate member (<NUM>) having a plurality of fixed spaced-apart boss members (<NUM>), each of said boss members having a corresponding opening; characterized in that:
said device is secured to said resonant drumhead by a clamping ring member (<NUM>) adapted to engage said device from said front side of said resonant drumhead, said clamping ring member having a plurality of openings (<NUM>) for receiving means to engage said corresponding openings in each of said boss members of said clamping plate member for affixedly mounting and securing said device to said resonant drumhead.