Patent ID: 12205562

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Unless described or implied as exclusive alternatives, features throughout the drawings and descriptions should be taken as cumulative, such that features expressly associated with some particular embodiments can be combined with other embodiments. Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains.

The present invention is a mechanical tuning system located below and attached to a rope tuning system known in the art. The prevent invention helps mechanically tune a rope tuned drum. The tuning assembly and tunable drum system enable a person to quickly tune, and un-tune, a drum to avoid a fast temperature change resulting in the membrane head breaking, or to tune the drum to a desired tension for a performance.

The tuning assembly may use two rings that circle the drum, a pressure ring and a rope ring. The rope ring connects to the rope system that applies pressure to the drum head or membrane. The pressure ring connects to the rope ring and may increase or decrease the tightness of the rope system by adjusting its connection to the rope ring. The pressure ring may be above the rope ring. The rings may be connected by screws or a nut and bolt which also provide a distance or gap between the two rings.

A plurality of fasteners, such as screws, pull the rope ring closer or push the rope ring further away from the pressure ring. This mechanical function enables the drum to be tuned quickly while maintaining a maximum integrity of a rope tuned drum. The pressure ring may be threaded for the screws or have a slot for an adjustable nut to change the angle of the screw if necessary. The pressure ring may also have a pocket for securing the fastener, or screw.

Referring to theFIG.1, the tunable drum system100includes a shell120. The shell is a hollow cylinder with a closed bottom and an open top. The tunable drum system100further includes a base130adjacent the closed bottom of the shell120. The shell120and the base130may be made from a hard wood. In some embodiments, the shell120and the base130are made from a single piece of hard wood. Alternatively, the shell120and the base130may be produced from multiple wood staves. Additionally, or alternatively, the shell120and the base130are produced separately and grafted together. Often the shell120and the base130are carved to include intricate designs on the base130. Alternatively, the shell120and the base130may be made from fiberglass, wood composite, metal, or polymeric material.

A membrane110, sometimes referred to as a skin, is stretched over the open top of the shell120. The membrane110is secured onto the open top of the shell120by ring system that includes an upper membrane ring170and a lower membrane ring180. The ring system is known in the art for securing membranes, or skins, to drum heads. The membrane110may be an animal skin, such as goat, cow, or antelope. Alternatively, the membrane110may be a synthetic material, including but not limited to a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) such as biaxially-oriented PET commonly referred to as BoPET or Mylar®.

The tuning assembly is illustrated inFIGS.1-7. The tuning assembly includes a pressure ring200and a rope ring210. The pressure ring200and rope ring210are connected by a plurality of fasteners190. When the plurality of fasteners190are turned in a first direction, or tightened, the pressure ring200and the rope ring210are forced apart, i.e. the distance between the pressure ring200and the rope ring210increases. Additionally, when the plurality of fasteners190are turned in a second direction, or loosened, the pressure ring200and the rope ring210are pulled closer together, i.e. the distance between the pressure ring200and the rope ring10decreases. The rope ring210includes a first plurality of holes220that couple the rope ring210to the rope system, and a second plurality of holes230that are engaged by the plurality of fasteners190. The rope ring210and/or the pressure ring200may be made of steel, including stainless steel, nitrified steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, or tool steel. In some embodiments, the steel may be powder-coated. Additionally, or alternatively, the rope ring210and/or the pressure ring200may be made of a metal or metal alloy. Alternatively, the rope ring210and/or the pressure ring200may be made of a polymeric material. The rope ring210and the pressure ring200should be made out of a strong material to withstand the pressure from the plurality of fasteners190and the rope system.

The rope system includes a plurality of top rope loops160couple to the upper membrane ring170and a plurality of bottom rope loops150coupled to the rope holes220of the rope ring210. A tuning rope140is weaved through each of the plurality of top rope loops160and each of the plurality of bottom rope loops150. The tuning rope140is sometimes referred to as the verticals. In a traditionally tuned drum the verticals are woven together or braided to tighten and tune the membrane or skin of the drum. However, the present invention does not require weaving or braiding the verticals to tune the membrane or skin. When the plurality of fasteners190are tightened, the rope ring210is forced downward in relation to the pressure ring200resulting in an increased distance between the pressure ring200and the rope ring210. When the rope ring210is forced downward it concertedly pulls the plurality of bottom rope loops150downward resulting in a pulling of the tuning rope140, which pulls the plurality of top rope loops160, which pulls the upper membrane ring170and tightens the membrane110. Likewise, when the plurality of fasteners190are loosened, the rope ring210is pulled toward the pressure ring200decreasing the distance between the pressure ring200and the rope ring210, this releases pressure from the rope system (the plurality of bottom rope loops150, the tuning rope140, and the plurality of top rope loops160) resulting in less tension on the membrane110.

As shown inFIG.5, the pressure ring200may include a plurality of pockets240to secure the plurality of fasteners190. Alternatively, the pressure ring200may be absent the plurality of pockets, as shown inFIG.6. In some embodiments, the plurality of pockets240may be threaded.

The number of the plurality of pockets240corresponds to the number of the second plurality of holes230and the number of the plurality of fasteners190. The second plurality of holes230for engaging the plurality of fasteners190should be evenly spaced across the circumference of the drum100and rope ring210. The exact number of the plurality of fasteners190, and likewise the number of the second plurality of holes230, will depend on the size of the drum. As an example, when the drum head is about thirteen inches to about fourteen inches in diameter, there are six fasteners and six corresponding holes in the rope ring. Likewise, in this example, if there are pockets in the pressure ring for securing the fasteners, there would be six pockets.

As shown inFIG.7, the diameter of the rope ring250may be larger than the diameter of the pressure ring260such that the pressure ring200does not interfere with the tuning rope140. Additionally, the width of the rope ring270may be larger than the width of the pressure ring280to allow for each of the first plurality of holes220and the second plurality of holes230.

While the drawings and descriptions herein are directed to a djembe-style drum, the systems and methods described herein may be implemented on any rope tension drum including, but not limited to, a Tabla, an Ashiko, a Darbuka or a Doumbek.

It should be understood that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.