Patent Document

[0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/896,022 filed Oct. 25, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to musical instruments and more particularly to assemblies for mounting percussion instruments to an instrument stand. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    The jawbone is a traditional Latin percussion instrument comprising the jaw of a medium-sized animal, typically a mule, horse or donkey. A jawbone player holds one half in one hand and strikes the other with either a stick or their hand, causing the teeth to rattle against the bone, creating a loud, untuned sound. Animal jawbones are typically not very durable and prone to breakage when used in this manner. In order to reproduce the sound created by the jawbone instrument, the vibraslap, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,053 to Cohen, was developed. The vibraslap provides the same sound profile of the jawbone instrument in a more durable, consistent, and compact form factor. Mounting the vibraslap in a location accessible to a player during a performance is desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts. These concepts are further described below in the Detailed Description section. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of this disclosure&#39;s subject matter, nor is this Summary intended as an aid in determining the scope of the disclosed subject matter. 
         [0006]    Aspects of the present disclosure meet the above-identified needs by providing mounting assemblies configured to removably attach a percussion instrument to a percussion stand rod. 
         [0007]    In one aspect, a mounting assembly comprises an eyebolt bracket assembly, a shock absorbing element, and a clamp bracket assembly. The eyebolt bracket assembly removably attaches to a percussion stand rod. The eyebolt assembly may be tightened onto the percussion stand rod via an eyebolt wingnut or similar fastener. On an end portion, the eyebolt bracket assembly is connected to the shock absorber at a shock absorber first end portion. At a shock absorber second end portion, the shock absorber is connected to the clamp assembly. The clamp assembly is configured to removably attach to an instrument, such as a vibraslap or other instruments or objects apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. The clamp assembly may be tightened onto an arm of the vibraslap instrument via a wing screw or similar fastener. 
         [0008]    Further features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as the structure and operation of various aspects of the present disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the Detailed Description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mounting assembly in use, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a mounting assembly, according to an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a shock absorber according to an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a clamp bracket according to an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a clamp according to an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a wing screw according to an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an eyebolt bracket according to an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a mounting assembly according to an aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The present disclosure is directed to instrument mounting assemblies. In an aspect, a mounting assembly configured to removably attach a vibraslap or other instrument to a percussion stand rod is disclosed. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a mounting assembly  100  in use, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
         [0020]    Assembly  100  may be at least partially constructed of metal, plastic, wood, rubber, and other suitable materials. Assembly  100  may removably mount an instrument or other object, such as a vibraslap  102 , to a vertical member  104 , such as a percussion stand rod. In this manner, assembly  100  facilitates removably mounting vibraslap  102  to a traditional percussion instrument stand for use during a performance or practice. 
         [0021]    In an aspect, assembly  100  comprises a stand mounting assembly  108 , a shock absorber  2 , and an instrument mounting assembly  106 . Stand mounting assembly  108  is configured to removably connect assembly  100  to a stand, such as vertical member  104 . Shock absorber  2  is configured to allow attached percussion instruments to be repeatedly struck without damaging the instrument, the stand or assembly  100 . Shock absorber  2  may be made out of rubber, thereby allowing the mounting assembly to absorb shock and reduce vibrations when a user strikes the instrument held by the instrument mounting assembly. Instrument mounting assembly  106  is configured to removably connect to an instrument or object, such as vibraslap  102  via a vibraslap arm. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of mounting assembly  100 , according to an aspect of the present disclosure, is shown. 
         [0023]    In an aspect, assembly  100  comprises stand mounting assembly  108 , shock absorber  2 , and instrument mounting assembly  106 . Stand mounting assembly  108  comprises an eyebolt bracket  1 , an eyebolt  3 , a washer  4 , and an eyebolt wingnut  5 . Stand mounting assembly  108  removably attaches to vertical member  104  via tightening eyebolt  3  using eyebolt wingnut  5 . As will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, other fasteners and assemblies may be used. 
         [0024]    On an end portion, stand mounting assembly  108  is connected to shock absorber  2 , a perspective view of which is shown in  FIG. 3 , at a shock absorber first end portion. At a shock absorber second end portion, shock absorber  2  is connected to instrument mounting assembly  106 . The shock absorber  2  may have a depression  21  on the first end portion and on the second end portion (not shown) to receive a base of the stand mounting assembly  108  and a base of the instrument mounting assembly  106 . As such, the shock absorber  2  is sandwiched between the base of the stand mounting assembly  108  and the base of the instrument mounting assembly  106 . 
         [0025]    Instrument mounting assembly  106  is configured to removably attach to vibraslap  102 , or other instruments or objects apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Instrument mounting assembly  106  may be tightened onto a mountable portion of vibraslap  102 , such as the vibraslap arm, via a wing screw  8  or similar fastener. The vibraslap may be held in a vertical orientation, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or in a horizontal orientation (not shown). 
         [0026]    In an aspect, instrument mounting assembly  106  comprises a clamp bracket  6 , a clamp  9 , a hex nut  7  and wing screw  8 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a clamp bracket  6  according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The clamp bracket  6  further comprises a first notch  10  on a first side  11  and a second notch  12  on a second side  13  opposing the first side. The first notch  10  and the second notch  12  allow the claim bracket  6  to receive the vibraslap arm. The clamp bracket  6  has a first hole  14  on a third side  15  and a second hole  16  on a fourth side  17  opposing the third side. The first hole may receive the wing screw  8 . The second hole  16  serves as an access hole for a bucking bar that may be used to flatten (buck) the end (tip)  62  of the wing screw  8 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The clamp bracket  6  further has a base  21  that is fixedly connected to the shock absorber  2  through a molding or other suitable process. The clamp bracket  6  may be made of steel or other suitable material. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a clamp  9  according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The clamp  9  is housed by the clamp bracket  6  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The clamp  9  comprises a groove (countersink)  18  that allows the clamp  9  to hold the vibraslap arm. The clamp  9  also has a hole  19  that passes through the clamp  9  for receiving the wing screw  8 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a wing screw  8  according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The wing screw  8  may receive the hex nut  7  along its stem. The wing screw  8  further has a threaded portion  61  and an unthreaded end (tip)  62 . The threaded portion  61  allows the wing screw  8  to engage with the hex nut  6  and to be screwed into the first hole of the clamp bracket  6 . The wing screw  8  passes through the first hole  14  of the clamp bracket  6  and the end  62  inserts in the hole  19  of the clamp  9 . The end  62  on the wing screw  8  is bucked to form a buck tail (mushroom head). As such, the wing screw  8  is fixedly connected to the clamp  9  and traps the clap  9  in the clamp bracket  8 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The clamp  9  may move within the clamp bracket  6  by screwing or unscrewing the wing screw  8 . The clamp  9  may securely hold the vibraslap arm in place between its groove and the first notch and the second notch, as shown in  FIG. 1 , by screwing the wing screw  8  such that the clamp  9  applies a force against the vibraslap arm. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an eyebolt bracket  1  according to an aspect of the present disclosure. The eyebolt bracket  1  has a first hole  71  on a first side  72  and a second hole  73  on a second side  74  opposing the first side. The eyebolt bracket  1  also has a top hole  75  on a top side  76  and a base  77  that is fixedly connected to the shock absorber  2  through a molding or other suitable process. As such, the shock absorber  2  is sandwiched between the clamp bracket  6  and the eyebolt bracket  1 . An eyebolt  3  having an eyebolt portion and a threaded portion is disposed within the eyebolt bracket  1  such that the threaded portion passes through the top hole  75 . The threaded portion may receive a washer  4  on its stem. The washer  4  acts as a buffer between the eyebolt bracket  1  and the wing nut  5 . The wing nut  5  may be screwed onto the stem to secure the eyebolt  3  to the eyebolt bracket  1 . When the eyebolt is held in place, an eyebolt opening of the eyebolt portion preferably aligns with the first hole  71  and the second hole  73  such that a vertical instrument stand rod may pass through the first hole, the eyebolt opening, and the second hole and be held in place by a friction fit when the wing nut  5  is screwed to hold the eyebolt  3  to the eyebolt bracket  1 . 
         [0031]    While various aspects of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary aspects. 
         [0032]    In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present disclosure, are presented for example purposes only. The present disclosure is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures (e.g., implementations connecting with percussion instruments other than those mentioned herein). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, certain features from different aspects of the systems, methods and apparatuses of the present disclosure may be combined to form yet new aspects of the present disclosure.

Technology Category: g