EP0044626A2

EP0044626A2 - Drums

Info

Publication number: EP0044626A2
Application number: EP81302833A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Aldor A. Menard
Original assignee: Denault Anthony
Current assignee: Denault Anthony
Priority date: 1980-07-21
Filing date: 1981-06-23
Publication date: 1982-01-27
Also published as: DK322881A; NO812468L; JPS5752094A; AU7242481A; EP0044626A3

Abstract

A drum shell (18) is formed with tone subchambers (13, 14, 15) established by a wall (11, 12) of cross-section that may be at least a part of a circle and having a rounded top edge in sealing engagement with the drum head (16) with the volumes of the subchambers (13,14,15) being different to produce different pitch tones when the drum head (16) is struck above the different chambers.

Description

The present invention relates to drums and more particularly concerns novel apparatus and techniques for providing a number of different drum pitches or tones within structure that is compact, relatively inexpensive, aesthetically pleasing, and conveniently accessible to the drummer, and which may be installed in any existing drum.
A typical drum set includes a number of drums and cymbals, such as basses, small tom toms, snare drums and floor toms. The drummer typically occupies a position surrounded by the drums in his set to enable him to strike any drum, typically using sticks, brushes, and a foot pedal to strike a bass drum. The individual drums are costly. Furthermore, the separation between individual drums requires rapid movement by the drummer from one drum to the next drum when producing successive beats of different pitch in a rapid roll or sequence of beats.
According to the invention a drum having a drum shell and a drum head includes means engaging the drum head to define at least first and second tone subchambers spaced beneath the drum head so that striking the drum head above the first chamber produces a pitch that is different from the pitch produced by striking the drum head above the second subchamber.
Thus, a drum with multiple pleasing pitches can be provided in a compact relatively economical structure while making playing easier and performing muffling. The distance a drumstick must move when playing successive beats of different pitch in a rapid roll or sequence of beats is also reduced.
The apparatus of the invention can be attractive and is relatively easy and inexpensive to fabricate. Furthermore, such a drum may facilitate teaching accurate striking and the structure may be readily retrofitted as a modification to existing drums.
Each subchamber can be characterized by a different fundamental resonance so that striking the drum head above the respective subchambers produces different pitch or tones. The means defining the subchambers may comprise at least a generally hollow cylinder of cross-section that comprises at least a portion of a conic section having an edge, preferably rounded, in intimate contact with the drum head. The cylindrical portion may be a full or half circular cylinder. Alternatively, the means defining the subchambers may comprise at least one planar surface each having an edge, preferably rounded, in contact with the drum head.
There may be a plurality of subchambers. According to a preferred form of the invention the means defining the subchambers comprises a member of essentially semicircular cross-section contacting a portion of the drum shell along two long edges and the drum head at the top.
Examples of drums according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a top view of a drum according to the invention having three useful tone chambers defined in part by two hollow circular cylinders;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in section through section 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the sealing relationship between the drum head and internal cylinders above the shell rim;
FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention using planar surfaces to define the subchambers;
FIG.. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention with a centrally located internal cylinder;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view through section 5-5 of FIG. 5 with the drum head fragmentarily shown;
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of apreferred form-of the invention using a semicylindrical tone chamber and
FIG. 7 is a top view of the preferred tone chamber of FIG. 6.

With reference now to the drawing and more particularly FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a plan view of a drum 10 according to the invention having internal cylinders 11 and 12 dividing the drum chamber surrounded by drum shell 18 into at least three useful subchambers 13, 14 and 15. The rounded upper edges of cylinders 11 and 12 snugly engage the drum head 16 to establish an essentially fluid-tight seal between each upper edge and the drum head. The rounded upper edges establish good sealing relationship with the drum head while minimizing wear on the drum head. Striking the drum head 16 above chamber 15 produces the lowest pitched tone, striking the drum head above chamber 14 produces the highest pitched tone and striking the drum head above chamber 13 produces a tone of intermediate pitch. Thus, a drummer may rapidly play a succession of three beats of different pitch while moving the drum stick over a distance that is a fraction of the length normally required to produce equivalent results with spaced separate tom toms. Furthermore, the structure of FIG. 1 is not only more physically compact than a set of three tom drums, but also less expensive. Thus, the invention facilitates drumming with a structure that is more compact, lighter in weight, less costly than separate tom drums now typically used to produce the different tones and that may be retrofitted to existing drums.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a partial sectional view through section 2-2 of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates how the rounded top edges of cylinders 11 and 12 are slightly above the top edge 17 of the outside drum shell 18 to establish an essentially fluid-tight contact with drum head 16 while minimizing wear on the drum head. Furthermore, the cylinders muffle so that a separate muffler is unnecessary.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a plan view of another embodiment of the invention in which the tone chambers are defined by planar members 21, 22 and 23 to define subchambers 24, 25, 26 and 27 of progressively decreasing volume to produce tones of corresponding progressively increasing pitch when the drum head 16 above a respective subchamber is struck. The specific means for securing the panels is not a part of the invention and may comprise screws seated in tapped openings of the panels. The panels may be secured in position by adhesives. It may be desirable to include gaskets at panel joints.
FIG. 3 shows the drumhead above subchamber 24 speckled to provide the drummer with a visible contrast between cham- . bers to facilitate accurately striking the different pitches. The drumhead above each subchamber may be uniquely colored or otherwise marked to provide a convenient visible target to the drummer.
Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a plan view of another embodiment of the invention with a flaired cylinder 31 coaxial about the axis of drum shell 32 to define a central subchamber 33 and an:outer annular subchamber 34. A chamber rod 35 passing through cylinder 31 supports the latter in firm sealing contact with drum head 36. Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a diametrical sectional view through section 5-5 of FIG. 4 helpful in understanding the relationship among the different elements.
Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a fragmentary view partially in section of a preferred form of tonesubchamber defining means according to the invention that is half of a generally circular cylinder 41 secured to the drum shell 42 by means including a tension strap 43 wrapped around the chamber with threaded studs 44 at each end for receiving tension knob 45 so that rotating the latter clockwise firmly secures half-cylinder 41 to the drum shell 42. Half-cylinder 41 is formed with a beveled lip 46 for mating engagement with the beveled edge 51 at the top of drum shell 42 to prevent downward slippage. Drum head 46 lays over the top of drum shell 42 beneath drum rim 52 and becomes taut as lug 54 is tightened over washer 53.
Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a top view of chamber 41. The top edge is preferably rounded as shown to facilitate establishing a good seal with the drum head and avoid cutting the drumhead. While FIG. 6 shows one tension strap 43, it is preferable that there be two tension straps, one near the top and the other near the bottom. The chamber dimensions may be varied to produce a particular desired pitch, the smaller the chamber volume, the higher the pitch of the tone when the drum head above the chamber is struck. Typical chamber dimensions are set forth in the following table:
The specific form just described has a number of advantages. The subchamber defining means uses part of the drum and thereby uses less material, may be conveniently secured and allows the drummer convenient access to the drum head portion above the smaller subchamber while leaving him a large area above the larger subchamber typically struck more frequently. A number of tone chambers of different sizes (and corresponding pitches) may be conveniently located about the parameter of the drum shell. One is preferred to avoid altering the pitch of the larger subchamber appreciably from the pitch of the chamber defined by the drum shell.
The specific techniques for securing the drum head to the drum shell are not a part of the invention and may be any technique for effecting this fastening. Numerous materials may be used within the principles of the invention. Typical material for the subchamber defining means may be clear acrylic of 0.125"(3.175mm) wall thickness.

Claims

1. A drum (10) having a drum shell (18) and a drum head (16) and including means (11,12) engaging the drum head (16) to define at least first and second tone subchambers (13, 14, 15) spaced beneath the drum head (16), so that striking the drum head (16) above the first chamber (13) produces a pitch that is different from the pitch produced by striking the drum head (16) above the second subchamber (14).

2. A drum (10) according to claim 1, wherein the means defining the subchambers comprises a cylinder (11, 12) whose cross-section is substantially a conic section.

3. A drum (10) according to claim 2, wherein the cross-section comprises substantially at least a portion of a circle.

4. A drum (10) according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises at least one substantially rigid planar sheet (21, 22, 23) extending inwardly from the drum shell (18).

5. A drum (10) according to claim 1, in which there are at least three subchambers.

6. A drum (10) according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises at least a circular cylinder (13).

7. A drum (10) according to claim 6, wherein the circular cylinder (81) is formed with a depending bell.

8. Apparatus for insertion in a drum (10) to engage the drum head (16) to provide areas of different pitch, the apparatus (11, 12) defining at least first and second tone subchambers (13, 14, 15) spaced beneath the drum head (16), so that striking the drum head (16) above the first chamber (13) produces a pitch that is different from the pitch produced by striking the drum head (16) above the second subchamber (14).

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, the apparatus comprising means as defined in any of claims 2 to 7.