Patent ID: 8822798

Claim:
A clutch assembly for a high-hat drum cymbal, said high-hat drum cymbal including a rod, a foot pedal, a lower cymbal and an upper cymbal aligned with said lower cymbal, said high-hat drum cymbal defining an original position, in which the lower and upper cymbals are separated from one another, and at least one cymbal engagement position in which the lower and upper cymbals are in contact with each other, to create varying cymbal sounds when struck by a drummer, said clutch assembly comprising: an enclosure assembly attached to said rod, said enclosure assembly comprising a housing having an upper bearing surface at the upper interior end thereof, and an exterior surface opposite said upper bearing surface, said enclosure assembly further including a coiled spring having a first side adjacent said upper bearing surface and a second side opposite said first side; a bearing assembly comprising a bearing plate having a lower bearing surface adjacent said second side of said coiled spring, and an upper bracket emanating upwardly from said bearing plate; and an upper cymbal assembly separable from said bearing assembly, said upper cymbal assembly comprising an upper cymbal collar positioned above and restrainably attached to said upper cymbal, said upper cymbal collar including a first catch affixed thereto for alignment, and restorably releasable engagement, with a first release lever; said first release lever cooperating with said first catch to alternatively release said first catch, thereby allowing said high-hat drum cymbal to move from its original position to a spring-biased, engagement position, wherein said coiled spring forces both said bearing assembly and said upper cymbal assembly into a juxtaposed, biased orientation against said lower cymbal, and to re-engage said first release lever with said first catch to retain both the upper and lower cymbals in said original position.