CA2034109A1 - Drum - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A drum includes a hollow drum body, a drum skin frame supported by the wall of the hollow drum body, a drum skin stretched on the drum skin frame, and a drum head frame tightly clamping the peripheral edges of the drum skin frame and the drum skin. A damping member, disposed between the drum head frame and the drum skin frame, absorbs the vibrations of the two drum frames and filters out the sound they produce whenever the drum skin is beaten.

Description

DRUM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention The invention relates to a drum, more particularly to a drum which includes provisions for damping vibrations coming from the drum head frame and the drum skin frame.

2. Description Of The Related Art Referring to Figure 1, a drum head frame 20' and a drum skin frame 30' axe disposed on an open end of a hollow body 10' of a conventional drum. The drum skin frame 30' is supported by the wall of the hollow body 10'. The drum head frame 20' is tightly clamped to the drum skin frame 30' by a locking member 12' having a threaded end received by screw sockets 11' formed surrounding the outer surface of the same. A d~um skin 31' is tightly stretched on the drum skin fxame 30'.
When the locking member 12' is adjustedl the peripheral edge of the drum skin 31' is tightly pressed by the drum skin frame 30' and the drum head frame 20'. Both the drum skin frame 30' and the drum head frame 20' are made of metal. Whenever the drum skin 31' is beaten, the vibration of the drum skin 31' correspondingly vibrates the drum skin frame 30' and the drum head frame 20'. The sound-coming from the drum thus includes sound produced by the vibrations of the two drum frames 20', 30'-,, ~ , , -~3~

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a drum which has provisions for damping vibrations coming from the drum head frame and the drum skin frame whenever the drum skin is beaten.
Accordingly, a drum of the present invention includes a drum head frame, a drum skin frame, and a drum skin stretched o~ the drum skin frame. A damping member is disposed between the drum head frame and the drum skin frame. The damping member has a flange portion which contacts the peripheral edge of the drum skin and acts as a partition between the two drum frames. Whenever the drum skin is beaten, the damping member acts to absorb the vibrations of the two drum frames and filters out the sound produced by them.
-BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description o the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a partially sectional view of a coventional drum;
Figure 2 is an exploded view~ of the preferred embodiment of a drum according to the present invention; and Figure 3 is a partially~ sectlonal view of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 2, a drum according to the present invention comprises a hollow body 10j two drum head frames 20, two drum skin frames 30, and two damping members 40.
The hollow body 10 is cylindrical in shape, with two open ends 11 and a plurality of axial screw sockets 12 surrounding the outer wall of the hollow body 10. Each of the screw sockets 12 has an axial screw hole 14 to receive a locking member 13.
One drum head frame 20 is attached to each of the open ends of the hollow body 10. Each drum head frame 20 is formed as an annular shoulder 23 with a central hole formed therein. Each drum head frame 20 further comprises an annular projection 21 which projects axially upward and is formed at the peripheral edge ' surrounding the central hole. A looped ring, projection - 22, which projects axially downwaxd, is formed at the outer peripheral edge of the annular shoulder 23. A
plurality of spaced holes 24 ormed on the annular shoulder 23 receives the plurality of locking members ~' Each of the two drum skin frames 30 is shaped as an annular base. Each drum skin frame 30 is d1sposed inside the ring projection 22 of the drum head frame 20. The diameter of the drum head frame 20 is larger than that of the drum skin frame 30, forming an annular .
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clearance 31. A dxum skin 32 is tightly stretched on each drum skin frame 30.
' Each of the two damping members 40 is disposed i.nside the annular clea~ance 31. Each damping memb.er 40 is also formed as an annular base 41~ A plurality of spaced axial screw holes 42 receive the plurality of locking members 13. Each damping member 40 ,further comprises an inwardly and radially projecting flange member 43.
Figure 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment in its ' assembled form. Each locking member 13 extends through -`' one of the spaced holes 24 of the drum head frame 20, one of the screw holes 42 of the damping member 40 and : through one of the axial screw holes 14 of the hollow . ~ , '' 15 body 10. The locking members 13 are adjusted so that ,the drum skins 32 are tightly pressed by the flange ' ` member 43 of the damping members 40 aga,inst~ the,-: drum skin frame 30 and the hollow body 10. The damping : ` members 40 are made of a resilieDt material.. and,.absorb any vibration of the drum head frames-20 and the drum '~ skin frames 30. The vibration of the drum skln 32 is, ~ however, undisturbed.
-~ When assembled, the ring projection 22 of the ,drum head frame 20 tightly contacts with the annular base 41 of the damping member 40~ The drum skin rame, 30 is supported by the walls o the hollow body.10. The inner surface of the annular base 41 is glued to. the outer ~: 4 `:

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surface of the drum skin frame 30. A tight sealing effect is-thus achieved between the drum head frame 20 and the drum skin frame 30.
When the drum skin 32 is beaten, it vibrates to S generate a booming sound. Any vibrations which may come from the drum skin frame 30 and/or the drum head frame 20 are absorbed by the damping member 40. ~he sound - output of a drum according to the present invention is thus pure and unaffected by the vibrations of the drum skin frame 30 and the drum head frame 20. Isolation between the drum skin frame 30 and the drum head frame 20 is also achieved.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical-and .preferred embodiment, it is understood that this ` invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but is intended to cover various arrangements inc.luded -. within the spirit and scope of the broadest - ~ interpretation so as to encompass all .such ~ 20 modifications and equlvalent arrangements.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A drum, comprising:
a hollow body with a top open end;
a looped drum skin frame in contact with said top open end of said hollow body;
a drum skin having a peripheral edge, said drum skin being tightly stretched on said drum skin frame;
a looped drum head frame provided at said top open end above said drum skin frame, said drum head frame being screwed to said hollow body to tightly clamp the peripheral edge of said drum skin and said drum skin frame against said hollow body, said drum head frame having a looped projection around said drum skin frame and a shoulder inwardly projecting from said looped projection above the peripheral edge of said drum skin;
and a damping member made of a resilient material and disposed between said drum skin frame and said drum head frame to provide isolation between said drum skin frame and said drum head frame, said damping member having a flange member between the peripheral edge of said drum skin and said shoulder of said dram head frame;
whereby, said damping member absorbs vibrations of said drum skin frame and drum head frame when said drum skin is beaten.