EP3435369B1 - Insertable percussion system - Google Patents
Insertable percussion system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3435369B1 EP3435369B1 EP18183270.0A EP18183270A EP3435369B1 EP 3435369 B1 EP3435369 B1 EP 3435369B1 EP 18183270 A EP18183270 A EP 18183270A EP 3435369 B1 EP3435369 B1 EP 3435369B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- percussion instrument
- percussion
- instrument
- arm
- retracted position
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 238000009527 percussion Methods 0.000 title claims description 190
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 62
- 230000008713 feedback mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000005355 Hall effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 3
- WURBVZBTWMNKQT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-one Chemical compound C1=NC=NN1C(C(=O)C(C)(C)C)OC1=CC=C(Cl)C=C1 WURBVZBTWMNKQT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 235000011312 Silene vulgaris Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 240000000022 Silene vulgaris Species 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 241000982634 Tragelaphus eurycerus Species 0.000 description 2
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010009 beating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000033764 rhythmic process Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10D13/00—Percussion musical instruments; Details or accessories therefor
- G10D13/10—Details of, or accessories for, percussion musical instruments
- G10D13/28—Mountings or supports for individual drums
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G10D13/00—Percussion musical instruments; Details or accessories therefor
- G10D13/01—General design of percussion musical instruments
- G10D13/02—Drums; Tambourines with drumheads
Definitions
- the present invention relates to percussion instruments, and particularly to a system for inserting and retracting percussion instruments.
- Percussion sets have been developed that produce a large variety of different sounds.
- Percussion sets may include, for example, drums, cymbals, bells, cowbells, hi-hats, tambourines, wood blocks, etc.
- drums Even among drums a large variety of different drums exists such as, for example, kettle drums, steel drums, bongo drums, tom-toms, bass drums, tenor drums, snare drums, etc.
- different techniques e.g., rim shots, etc.
- striking or beating these percussion instruments have been developed to obtain different sounds from any one instrument.
- percussion instruments were located relative to the player (i.e., the percussionist) at fixed positions. Since the instruments take space, there was a limit in the amount of instruments that may form part of any one percussion set. Moreover, the fixed locations of each of the instruments limited the number of sounds that the percussion set could produce.
- WO 2016/149359 discloses a percussion system comprising a pedal and an inserting/retracting mechanism operably connected to a percussion instrument and the pedal for moving the percussion instrument horizontally from a first position to a second position and from the second position to the first position by operation of the pedal.
- Subject to the present invention is a drumming system and a method of drumming having the features set forth in the appended independent claims 1 and 12, respectively; preferred embodiments being defined in the appended dependent claims.
- systems for inserting and retracting percussion instruments from a percussion set are provided. Using the systems disclosed herein players are able to produce broader ranges of sounds and rhythms because different arrangements of percussion instruments may be available to the percussionist as the percussionist is playing that otherwise would not be available.
- an arrangement may be set where, for example, drum beats occur from striking a first drum downwardly and a second drum, that has been inserted above the first drum by use of the systems disclosed herein, upwardly.
- the percussionist may double the amount of resulting drum beats; i.e., the conventional beats from the downward strikes plus the beats that result from the upward strikes.
- Figs 1 , 2A and 2B illustrate perspective views of an exemplary insertable percussion system 1.
- the system 1 includes a percussion instrument 3.
- the percussion instrument 3 corresponds to a drum.
- the percussion instrument 3 may correspond to percussion instruments different from a drum.
- the insertable percussion system 1 also includes a stand 5 that has a base or feet 5a for sustaining the stand 5 off a floor F.
- the stand 5 generally sustains the percussion instrument 3 vertically off the floor F.
- the insertable percussion system 1 also includes an inserting/retracting mechanism 7 connected to the percussion instrument 3 and the stand 5.
- the system 1 also includes a pedal 9 disposed on the floor F at or near the base 5a of the stand 5.
- the stand 5 vertically separates the percussion instrument 3 and the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 from the pedal 9.
- the insertable percussion system 1 also includes a cable 11 that connects the pedal 9 to the inserting/retracting mechanism 7. Operation (i.e., pressing and releasing) of the pedal 9 up or down causes the pedal 9 to pull and release on the cable 11 which, in turn, causes the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to move the percussion instrument 3 substantially horizontally.
- Pressing down on the pedal 9 causes the pedal 9 to pull on the cable 11 which, in turn, causes the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to move the percussion instrument 3 substantially horizontally from a retracted position as shown in figure 1 to an inserted position as shown in Figs 2A and 2B .
- Releasing up on the pedal 9 causes the pedal 9 to release on the cable 11 which, in turn, causes the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to move the percussion instrument 3 substantially horizontally from the inserted position shown in Figs 2A and 2B back to the retracted position of Fig. 1 .
- the insertable percussion system 1 as shown in Figs 1 , 2A and 2B forms part of a drum or percussion set.
- the percussion instrument 3 may be inserted by operation of the pedal 9 as described above to make the percussion instrument 3 temporarily available to the percussionist to play.
- the percussion instrument 3, for example, may be inserted above another instrument 103 in the percussion set to make the percussion instrument 3 available to the percussionist for playing instead of the other instrument 103.
- the percussionist may remove or retract the percussion instrument 3 by operation of the pedal 9 to make the other instrument available for the percussionist to play.
- the insertable percussion system 1 as shown in Figs 1 , 2A and 2B forms part of a drum or percussion set including another percussion instrument 103 intended to be played by being hit with a downstroke or downward motion of a beater or a drum stick 60, as shown in Fig. 2A .
- the percussion instrument 3 may be intended to be played by being hit with an upstroke or upward motion of the beater or the drum stick 60, as shown in Fig. 2B .
- the percussion instrument 3 may be inserted above the downstroke percussion instrument 103 to make the percussion instrument 3 available to the percussionist for playing in the upstroke in combination with the downstroke percussion instrument 103.
- the pedal 9 the percussion instrument 3 may be moved horizontally into the inserted position above the downstroke percussion instrument 103.
- the roles are reversed; i.e., the percussion instrument 3 may be intended to be played by being hit with a downstroke or downward motion of the beater or the drum stick and the percussion instrument 3 is inserted under or below an upstroke percussion instrument.
- the percussionist may strike the downstroke percussion instrument 103 in the downstroke motion and the upstroke percussion instrument in the proceeding (i.e., immediately after) upstroke motion. This way, the percussionist may double the amount of resulting drum beats; i.e., the conventional beats from the downward strikes plus the beats that result from the upward strikes of the percussion instrument 3. Whenever the percussionist is ready to conclude playing in this upstroke/downstroke mode, the percussionist may remove or retract the percussion instrument 3 by operation of the pedal 9.
- the inserted position of the insertable percussion system 1 may correspond to a position where a majority of a playing surface of the upstroke drum (e.g., the skin of the percussion instrument 3) faces or vertically overlaps a majority of a playing surface of the downstroke drum 103.
- the retracted position of the insertable percussion system 1 may correspond to a position where the majority of the playing surface of the upstroke drum (e.g., the skin of the percussion instrument 3) does not face or does not vertically overlap the majority of the playing surface of the downstroke drum 103.
- the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 includes a first arm 13 and a second arm 15.
- Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary first arm 13.
- the first arm 13 includes a percussion instrument end 13a that operably and rotably connects to the percussion instrument 3 as shown in Figs 1 and 2 .
- the first arm 13 also includes a joint end 13b that is distal the percussion instrument 3.
- the joint end 13b operably and rotably connects to the second arm 15.
- Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary second arm 15.
- the second arm 15 includes a stand end 15a that operably and rotably connects to the stand 5.
- the second arm 15 also includes a joint end 15b that is distal to the stand 5 and that operably and rotably connects to the joint end 13b of the first arm 13.
- the second arm 15 may also include a pull position 15c at which the second arm 15 may be operably connected to the cable 11.
- Pulling of the cable 11 by operation of the pedal 9 causes the second arm 15 to rotate about the stand end 15a and the joint end 15b, and the first arm 13 to rotate about the joint end 13b and the percussion instrument end 13a to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing the percussion instrument 3 to move horizontally away from the stand 5 to the inserted position.
- Releasing of the cable 11 by operation of the pedal 9 causes the second arm 15 to, in opposite direction as in the inserting, rotate about the stand end 15a and the joint end 15b, and the first arm 13 to rotate about the joint end 13b and the percussion instrument end 13a to effectively contract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing the percussion instrument 3 to move horizontally towards the stand 5 to the retracted position.
- the insertable percussion system 1 includes two first arms 13 each having a percussion instrument end 13a proximate the percussion instrument 3 and a joint end 13b distal the percussion instrument 3.
- the insertable percussion system 1 also includes two second arms 15, each having a stand end 15a proximate the stand 5 and a joint end 15b distal the stand 5.
- each of the joint ends 13b of the first arms is rotably connected to a respective one of the joint ends 15b of the second arm, and each of the first arms 13 is rotable about its percussion instrument end 13a and about its joint end 13b, and each of the second arms 15 is rotable about its stand end 15a and about its joint end 15b to stretch or contract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the inserted position or the retracted position.
- the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 includes a spring configured in the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to bias the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 towards retraction (i.e., in the retracted position).
- pulling of the cable 11 by operation of the pedal 9 defeats tension force in the spring extending the spring and causing the second arm 15 to rotate about the stand end 15a and the joint end 15b, and the first arm 13 to rotate about the joint end 13b and the percussion instrument end 13a to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing the percussion instrument 3 to move horizontally away from the stand 5 to the inserted position.
- Releasing of the cable 11 by operation of the pedal 9 allows tension force in the extended spring to retract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the retracted position such that the percussion instrument 3 is moved horizontally towards the stand 5.
- Figs 5-7 illustrate front, perspective and side views, respectively, of an exemplary pedal 9 for the insertable percussion system 1.
- the pedal 9 may include a foot platform 17 rotably connected to a base 19 at a rotating location 19a.
- the foot platform 17 receives a foot or shoe of the person playing the insertable percussion system 1.
- the pedal 9 may also include a rising portion 21 that may have installed therein a rod 23 and cable wheels 25 and 27 that rotate about the rod 23.
- the cable wheel 27 is connected to the foot platform 17 by a cable 29.
- the cable wheel 25 connects to the cable 11 which, as described above, connects to the inserting/retracting mechanism 7.
- Pressing of the foot or shoe of the person playing the insertable percussion system 1 causes the foot platform 17 to rotate about the rotating location 19a. This rotation pulls on the cable 29 which causes the rod 23 and the cable wheel 25 to also rotate effectively pulling on the cable 11 and stretching the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the inserted position.
- Fig. 8 illustrates a magnified view of the exemplary pedal 9. Specifically, Fig. 8 illustrates a locking or latching mechanism of the foot platform 17 while pressed. While pressed, the player or percussionist may move the foot platform 17 laterally or sideways to engage a latching tab 31 connected to the foot platform 17 to a latching bracket 33 connected to the rising portion 21. This effectively latches the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 in the inserted position.
- the player or percussionist may move the foot platform 17 laterally or sideways in the opposite direction as engagement to disengage the latching tab 31 from the latching bracket 33. The player or percussionist may then release his foot or shoe from the foot platform 17 to retract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the retracted position.
- Figs 9-11 illustrate a second example of the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 for the insertable percussion system 1.
- the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 includes the first arm 13 and a second arm 15, which are similar to the first arm 13 and the second arm 15 of the first example except that, in this second example, the first arm 13 and the second arm 15 crisscross resulting in insertion and retraction of the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to have a scissoring effect.
- the first arm 13 includes a percussion instrument end 13a that operably and rotably connects to the percussion instrument 3.
- the exemplary insertable percussion system 1 includes a slide bracket 35 that operably and rotably connects the percussion instrument end 13a to the percussion instrument 3.
- the first arm 13 also includes a joint end 13b that is distal the percussion instrument 3. The joint end 13b operably and rotably connects to the second arm 15.
- the second arm 15 includes a stand end 15a that operably and rotably connects to the stand 5.
- the exemplary insertable percussion system 1 includes a slide bracket 37 that operably and rotably connects the stand end 15a to the stand 5.
- the stand end 15a of the second arm 15 may be connected to the cable 11.
- the second arm 15 also includes a joint end 15b that is distal to the stand 5 and that operably and rotably connects to the joint end 13b of the first arm 13.
- the insertable percussion system 1 includes two first arms 13 each having a percussion instrument end 13a proximate the percussion instrument 3, a joint end 13b distal the percussion instrument 3, and a joint position 13c.
- the insertable percussion system 1 also includes two second arms 15, each having a stand end 15a proximate the stand 5, a joint end 15b distal the stand 5, and a joint position 15c.
- each of the joint ends 13b of the first arms 13 is rotably connected to a respective one of the joint ends 15b of the second arm
- each of the joint positions 13c of the first arm 13 is operably and rotably connected to the joint position 13c of the other first arm 13
- each of the joint positions 15c of the second arm 15 is operably and rotably connected to the joint position 15c of the other first arm 15.
- Each of the first arms 13 is rotable about its percussion instrument end 13a, about its joint end 13b, and about its joint position 13c.
- Each of the second arms 15 is rotable about its stand end 15a, about its joint end 15b, and about its joint position 15c to stretch or contract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the inserted position or the retracted position.
- Pulling of the cable 11 by operation of the pedal 9 causes the second arm 15 to rotate about the stand end 15a, the joint end 15b, and the joint position 15c.
- Releasing of the cable 11 by operation of the pedal 9 causes the second arm 15 to, in opposite direction as in the inserting, rotate about the stand end 15a, the joint end 15b, and the joint position 15c.
- This causes the first arm 13 to rotate about the joint end 13b, the percussion instrument end 13a, and the joint position 13c to effectively contract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing the percussion instrument 3 to move horizontally towards the stand 5 to the retracted position.
- the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 includes a spring configured in the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to bias the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 towards retraction (i.e., in the retracted position).
- pulling of the cable 11 by operation of the pedal 9 defeats tension force in the spring extending the spring and causing the the second arm 15 to rotate about the stand end 15a, the joint end 15b, and the joint position 15c.
- Releasing of the cable 11 by operation of the pedal 9 allows tension force in the extended spring to retract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the retracted position such that the percussion instrument 3 is moved horizontally towards the stand 5.
- Fig. 12 illustrates a perspective top view of an embodiment of an insertable percussion system 100 according to aspects of the disclosure in the retracted position.
- Figs 13 and 14 illustrate perspective top and side views of the insertable percussion system 100 in the inserted position.
- the system 100 includes the percussion instrument 3, an inserting/retracting mechanism 105, and may further include a stand 113.
- the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 may include a base 110, a first arm 121 and a second arm 123.
- the base 110 operably couples the first arm 121 and the second arm 123 to the stand 113.
- the first and second arms 121 and 123 have percussion instrument ends 121a and 123a, proximate the percussion instrument 3 and free end 121b and 123b distal the percussion instrument 3.
- the percussion instrument ends 121a and 123a may be coupled to a holding element 115, e.g., a U-shaped metal or plastic rod, which attaches to the side surface of the percussion instrument 3.
- the holding element 115 couples the percussion instrument 3 to the inserting/retracting mechanism 105.
- the first and second arms 121 and 123 may slide through the bushing elements 117a-d of the base 110 in the directions shown by the arrow A.
- the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 includes an input device 125, a motor 127, and a feedback mechanism 133 and may include a gear mechanism 131.
- the input device 125 may include one or more switching elements (e.g., touch pads) 125a and 125b, for receiving an operation instruction and generating an operation signal to activate the inserting/retracting mechanism 105.
- a hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switching element 125a may correspond to an instruction to insert the percussion instrument 3 while a hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switching element 125b may correspond to an instruction to retract the percussion instrument 3.
- a first hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switching element 125a may correspond to an instruction to insert the percussion instrument 3 while a second hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switching element 125a may correspond to an instruction to retract the percussion instrument 3.
- the input device may be disposed near the floor F such that it may receive an operation instruction in the form of a user/player pressing the one or more switching elements with her foot.
- the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 also includes a controller 137.
- the controller 137 may receive the operation signal from the input device 125 and determine the current position of the percussion instrument 3 by use of the feedback mechanism 133.
- the feedback mechanism 133 may include Hall-effect sensors 133a and 133b disposed on the base 110 and a permanent magnet 133c disposed on the first arm 121.
- the feedback mechanism 133 determines the position of the first arm 121 along its travel relative to the base 110 and, thus, the position of the percussion instrument 3.
- the percussion instrument 3 may be at or in proximity, e.g., 5-10 cm, to the retracted position. See Fig. 1 .
- the permanent magnet 133c is aligned with the Hall sensor 133a
- the percussion instrument 3 may be at or in proximity, e.g., 5-10 cm, to the inserted position. See Fig.
- the sensors 133a and 133b generate feedback signals corresponding to whether the percussion instrument 3 is in the inserted position, the retracted position, or somewhere in between.
- the controller 137 generates a command signal based on the operation signal and the feedback signal. For example, if the percussion instrument 3 is at the inserted or retracted position, the controller 137 may stop the motor 127. If, instead, the percussion instrument 3 is merely in proximity to the inserted or retracted position as detected by the feedback mechanism 133, the controller 137 may cause the motor 127 to slow down and eventually stop when the percussion instrument 3 reaches the inserted or retracted position.
- the controller 137 may be a microcontroller PIC 12F683 manufactured by Microchip Technology Inc. of Independence, Ohio. However, the controller 137 may include any type of controller sufficient for receiving and generating the above-described signals.
- the Hall-effect sensors 133a and 133b may be micro-power ultra-sensitive Hall-effect switches manufactured by Allegro MicroSystems, LLC of Worcester, Massachusetts. However, the Hall-effect sensors 133a and 133b may be any other type of Hall-effective sensors sufficient for detecting the permanent magnet 131c and generating the above-described signals.
- the feedback mechanism 133 may include any other type of sensors suitable for detecting relevant position information.
- the stand 113 supports and sustains the percussion instrument 3 and the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 vertically off the floor F.
- the stand 113 may include a fixing element 113a that couples to the inserting/retracting mechanism 105.
- the stand 113 may also include a joint 113b, a base 113c, and a latch 113d.
- the joint 113b may allow for the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 and the percussion instrument 3 to be adjusted and set at an angle different from horizontal and for collapsing the system 100 for storage. See figure 15 .
- the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 may insert and retract the percussion instrument 3 along an axis different from horizontal.
- the stand 113 may also be telescopic for height adjustment.
- the latch 113d may be used to secure the height of the stand 113.
- the gear mechanism 131 may include a rack 131a and a pinion 131b.
- a shaft (not shown) of the motor 127 may be operably coupled to the pinion 131b of the gear mechanism 131 so as to actuate the pinion 131b to turn in a direction to cause a linear actuation of the rack 131a in the directions shown by the arrow A.
- the motor 127 receives the command signal and actuates the gear mechanism 131.
- the rack 131a is fixedly coupled to the first arm 121 (or the second arm 123) of the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 so that the first arm 121 may slide through the bushings 117b and 117c as the rack 131a pushes or pulls the percussion instrument 3.
- the second arm 123 moves in unison with the first arm 121.
- Fig. 16 illustrates an enlarged view of the base 110, the gear mechanism 131, and the stand 113 with the percussion instrument 3 in the retracted position.
- the shaft (not shown) of the motor 127 may be operably coupled to the pinion 131b so that the pinion 131b rotates to cause the rack 131a to linearly actuate.
- the controller may cause the motor 127 to rotate in a direction to actuate the pinion 131b to rotate counter-clockwise as shown by the arrow B.
- the pinion 131b then causes the rack 131a to actuate linearly as shown by the arrow C.
- the first and second arms 121 and 123 slide in the same direction, moving the percussion instrument 3 from the retracted position to the inserted position.
- Reverse operation of the motor 127 actuates the gear mechanism 131 in the opposite direction moving the percussion instrument 3 from the inserted position back to the retracted position.
- Fig. 17 illustrates a perspective view of the insertable percussion system 100 of figure 12 , forming part of a drum or percussion set.
- the percussion instrument 3 may be inserted by operation of the motor 127 as described above to make the percussion instrument 3 temporarily available to the percussionist to play.
- the percussion instrument 3, for example, may be inserted above a second percussion instrument 103 in the percussion set to make the percussion instrument 3 available to the percussionist in addition to the second percussion instrument 103.
- the inserted position corresponds to a position where a majority of a playing surface of the first percussion instrument 3 faces or vertically overlaps a majority of a playing surface of the second percussion instrument 103.
- Such a percussion set reduces the playing space, increases variety in sounds played, and thus, increases the enjoyment of play and or listening to performance of the percussion set.
- the second percussion instrument 103 may be replaced with another type of instrument. Whenever the percussionist selects to play the other instrument alone, the percussionist may remove or retract the percussion instrument 3 by operation of the motor 127 to make the other instrument available for the percussionist to play.
- percussion instrument refers to musical instruments in which sound is generally obtained by striking the instrument with hands, beaters, sticks, etc. and their electronic equivalents.
- percussion instruments include drums, cymbals, bells, cowbells, hi-hats, tambourines, wood blocks, kettle drums, steel drums, bongo drums, tom-toms, bass drums, tenor drums, snare drums, etc.
- drum as used herein corresponds to any type of percussion musical instrument having at least one stretched membrane to generate sound by acoustic vibration when the stretched membrane is struck or their electronic equivalent (e.g., electronic drum pad.)
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Description
- The present invention relates to percussion instruments, and particularly to a system for inserting and retracting percussion instruments.
- Percussion sets have been developed that produce a large variety of different sounds. Percussion sets may include, for example, drums, cymbals, bells, cowbells, hi-hats, tambourines, wood blocks, etc. Even among drums a large variety of different drums exists such as, for example, kettle drums, steel drums, bongo drums, tom-toms, bass drums, tenor drums, snare drums, etc. To add to the abundance of sounds produced by these different percussion instruments, different techniques (e.g., rim shots, etc.) for striking or beating these percussion instruments have been developed to obtain different sounds from any one instrument.
- Conventionally, however, percussion instruments were located relative to the player (i.e., the percussionist) at fixed positions. Since the instruments take space, there was a limit in the amount of instruments that may form part of any one percussion set. Moreover, the fixed locations of each of the instruments limited the number of sounds that the percussion set could produce.
-
WO 2016/149359 discloses a percussion system comprising a pedal and an inserting/retracting mechanism operably connected to a percussion instrument and the pedal for moving the percussion instrument horizontally from a first position to a second position and from the second position to the first position by operation of the pedal. - Subject to the present invention is a drumming system and a method of drumming having the features set forth in the appended
independent claims 1 and 12, respectively; preferred embodiments being defined in the appended dependent claims. In an aspect, there is provided systems for inserting and retracting percussion instruments from a percussion set. Using the systems disclosed herein players are able to produce broader ranges of sounds and rhythms because different arrangements of percussion instruments may be available to the percussionist as the percussionist is playing that otherwise would not be available. - Moreover, an arrangement may be set where, for example, drum beats occur from striking a first drum downwardly and a second drum, that has been inserted above the first drum by use of the systems disclosed herein, upwardly. This way, the percussionist may double the amount of resulting drum beats; i.e., the conventional beats from the downward strikes plus the beats that result from the upward strikes.
- The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example systems, methods, and so on, that illustrate various non-embodying examples and embodiments of aspects of the disclosure. While
Figures 1 to 11 illustrate examples not forming aspects of the disclosure, embodiments of the drumming system according to aspects of the disclosure are illustrated inFigures 12 to 17 . It will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. An element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. -
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary insertable percussion system in the retracted position. -
Figure 2A illustrates a top perspective view of the exemplary insertable percussion system offigure 1 in the inserted position.Figure 2B illustrates a bottom perspective view of the exemplary insertable percussion system offigure 1 in the inserted position. -
Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary first arm of the insertable percussion system offigure 1 . -
Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary second arm of the insertable percussion system offigure 1 . -
Figure 5 illustrates a front view of an exemplary pedal for the insertable percussion system offigure 1 . -
Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary pedal for the insertable percussion system offigure 1 . -
Figure 7 illustrates a side view of the exemplary pedal for the insertable percussion system offigure 1 . -
Figure 8 illustrates a magnified view of the exemplary pedal for the insertable percussion system offigure 1 illustrating a latching mechanism. -
Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary insertion/extraction mechanism. -
Figure 10 illustrates a top view of the exemplary insertion/extraction mechanism offigure 9 in the extracted position. -
Fig. 11 illustrates a top view of the exemplary insertion/extraction mechanism ofFig. 9 in the inserted position. -
Fig. 12 illustrates a perspective top view of an embodiment of an insertable percussion system according to aspects of the disclosure in the retracted position. -
Fig. 13 illustrates a perspective top view of the insertable percussion system ofFig. 12 in the inserted position. -
Fig. 14 illustrates a side view of the insertable percussion system ofFig. 12 in the inserted position. -
Fig. 15 illustrates a side view of the insertable percussion system ofFig. 12 in the retracted position set at an angle different from horizontal. -
Fig. 16 illustrates an enlarged view of the insertable percussion system ofFig. 12 . -
Fig. 17 illustrates a perspective view of the insertable percussion system ofFig. 12 forming part of a drum or percussion set. -
Figs 1 ,2A and2B illustrate perspective views of an exemplaryinsertable percussion system 1. Thesystem 1 includes apercussion instrument 3. In the illustrated example, thepercussion instrument 3 corresponds to a drum. In other examples, thepercussion instrument 3 may correspond to percussion instruments different from a drum. Theinsertable percussion system 1 also includes astand 5 that has a base orfeet 5a for sustaining thestand 5 off a floor F. Thestand 5 generally sustains thepercussion instrument 3 vertically off the floor F. - The
insertable percussion system 1 also includes an inserting/retracting mechanism 7 connected to thepercussion instrument 3 and thestand 5. Thesystem 1 also includes apedal 9 disposed on the floor F at or near thebase 5a of thestand 5. Thestand 5 vertically separates thepercussion instrument 3 and the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 from thepedal 9. Theinsertable percussion system 1 also includes acable 11 that connects thepedal 9 to the inserting/retracting mechanism 7. Operation (i.e., pressing and releasing) of thepedal 9 up or down causes thepedal 9 to pull and release on thecable 11 which, in turn, causes the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to move thepercussion instrument 3 substantially horizontally. - Pressing down on the
pedal 9 causes thepedal 9 to pull on thecable 11 which, in turn, causes the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to move thepercussion instrument 3 substantially horizontally from a retracted position as shown infigure 1 to an inserted position as shown inFigs 2A and2B . Releasing up on thepedal 9 causes thepedal 9 to release on thecable 11 which, in turn, causes the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to move thepercussion instrument 3 substantially horizontally from the inserted position shown inFigs 2A and2B back to the retracted position ofFig. 1 . - In one example, the
insertable percussion system 1 as shown inFigs 1 ,2A and2B forms part of a drum or percussion set. In the percussion set, thepercussion instrument 3 may be inserted by operation of thepedal 9 as described above to make thepercussion instrument 3 temporarily available to the percussionist to play. Thepercussion instrument 3, for example, may be inserted above anotherinstrument 103 in the percussion set to make thepercussion instrument 3 available to the percussionist for playing instead of theother instrument 103. Whenever the percussionist is ready to return to playing theother instrument 103, the percussionist may remove or retract thepercussion instrument 3 by operation of thepedal 9 to make the other instrument available for the percussionist to play. - In one example, the
insertable percussion system 1 as shown inFigs 1 ,2A and2B forms part of a drum or percussion set including anotherpercussion instrument 103 intended to be played by being hit with a downstroke or downward motion of a beater or adrum stick 60, as shown inFig. 2A . In this example, thepercussion instrument 3 may be intended to be played by being hit with an upstroke or upward motion of the beater or thedrum stick 60, as shown inFig. 2B . In this setting, thepercussion instrument 3 may be inserted above thedownstroke percussion instrument 103 to make thepercussion instrument 3 available to the percussionist for playing in the upstroke in combination with thedownstroke percussion instrument 103. By operation of thepedal 9, thepercussion instrument 3 may be moved horizontally into the inserted position above thedownstroke percussion instrument 103. - In another example, the roles are reversed; i.e., the
percussion instrument 3 may be intended to be played by being hit with a downstroke or downward motion of the beater or the drum stick and thepercussion instrument 3 is inserted under or below an upstroke percussion instrument. - The percussionist may strike the
downstroke percussion instrument 103 in the downstroke motion and the upstroke percussion instrument in the proceeding (i.e., immediately after) upstroke motion. This way, the percussionist may double the amount of resulting drum beats; i.e., the conventional beats from the downward strikes plus the beats that result from the upward strikes of thepercussion instrument 3. Whenever the percussionist is ready to conclude playing in this upstroke/downstroke mode, the percussionist may remove or retract thepercussion instrument 3 by operation of thepedal 9. - In the upstroke/downstroke example above, the inserted position of the
insertable percussion system 1 may correspond to a position where a majority of a playing surface of the upstroke drum (e.g., the skin of the percussion instrument 3) faces or vertically overlaps a majority of a playing surface of thedownstroke drum 103. The retracted position of theinsertable percussion system 1, on the other hand, may correspond to a position where the majority of the playing surface of the upstroke drum (e.g., the skin of the percussion instrument 3) does not face or does not vertically overlap the majority of the playing surface of the downstroke drum 103.In the illustrated example, the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 includes afirst arm 13 and asecond arm 15. -
Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplaryfirst arm 13. Thefirst arm 13 includes apercussion instrument end 13a that operably and rotably connects to thepercussion instrument 3 as shown inFigs 1 and2 . Thefirst arm 13 also includes ajoint end 13b that is distal thepercussion instrument 3. Thejoint end 13b operably and rotably connects to thesecond arm 15. -
Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplarysecond arm 15. Thesecond arm 15 includes astand end 15a that operably and rotably connects to thestand 5. Thesecond arm 15 also includes ajoint end 15b that is distal to thestand 5 and that operably and rotably connects to thejoint end 13b of thefirst arm 13. Thesecond arm 15 may also include apull position 15c at which thesecond arm 15 may be operably connected to thecable 11. - Pulling of the
cable 11 by operation of thepedal 9 causes thesecond arm 15 to rotate about thestand end 15a and thejoint end 15b, and thefirst arm 13 to rotate about thejoint end 13b and thepercussion instrument end 13a to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing thepercussion instrument 3 to move horizontally away from thestand 5 to the inserted position. - Releasing of the
cable 11 by operation of thepedal 9 causes thesecond arm 15 to, in opposite direction as in the inserting, rotate about thestand end 15a and thejoint end 15b, and thefirst arm 13 to rotate about thejoint end 13b and thepercussion instrument end 13a to effectively contract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing thepercussion instrument 3 to move horizontally towards thestand 5 to the retracted position. - In the illustrated example of
Figs 1 and2 , theinsertable percussion system 1 includes twofirst arms 13 each having apercussion instrument end 13a proximate thepercussion instrument 3 and ajoint end 13b distal thepercussion instrument 3. In this example, theinsertable percussion system 1 also includes twosecond arms 15, each having a standend 15a proximate thestand 5 and ajoint end 15b distal thestand 5. In this example, each of the joint ends 13b of the first arms is rotably connected to a respective one of the joint ends 15b of the second arm, and each of thefirst arms 13 is rotable about itspercussion instrument end 13a and about itsjoint end 13b, and each of thesecond arms 15 is rotable about itsstand end 15a and about itsjoint end 15b to stretch or contract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the inserted position or the retracted position. - In one example (not shown), the inserting/
retracting mechanism 7 includes a spring configured in the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to bias the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 towards retraction (i.e., in the retracted position). In this example, pulling of thecable 11 by operation of thepedal 9 defeats tension force in the spring extending the spring and causing thesecond arm 15 to rotate about thestand end 15a and thejoint end 15b, and thefirst arm 13 to rotate about thejoint end 13b and thepercussion instrument end 13a to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing thepercussion instrument 3 to move horizontally away from thestand 5 to the inserted position. Releasing of thecable 11 by operation of thepedal 9 allows tension force in the extended spring to retract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the retracted position such that thepercussion instrument 3 is moved horizontally towards thestand 5. -
Figs 5-7 illustrate front, perspective and side views, respectively, of anexemplary pedal 9 for theinsertable percussion system 1. Thepedal 9 may include afoot platform 17 rotably connected to a base 19 at arotating location 19a. Thefoot platform 17 receives a foot or shoe of the person playing theinsertable percussion system 1. Thepedal 9 may also include a risingportion 21 that may have installed therein arod 23 andcable wheels rod 23. Thecable wheel 27 is connected to thefoot platform 17 by acable 29. Thecable wheel 25 connects to thecable 11 which, as described above, connects to the inserting/retracting mechanism 7. - Pressing of the foot or shoe of the person playing the
insertable percussion system 1 causes thefoot platform 17 to rotate about therotating location 19a. This rotation pulls on thecable 29 which causes therod 23 and thecable wheel 25 to also rotate effectively pulling on thecable 11 and stretching the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the inserted position. - Releasing of the foot or shoe of the person playing the
insertable percussion system 1 causes thefoot platform 17 to rotate, in the opposite direction as insertion, about therotating location 19a. This opposite rotation releases thecable 29 which causes therod 23 and thecable wheel 25 to also rotate effectively releasing on thecable 11 and retracting the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the retracted position. -
Fig. 8 illustrates a magnified view of theexemplary pedal 9. Specifically,Fig. 8 illustrates a locking or latching mechanism of thefoot platform 17 while pressed. While pressed, the player or percussionist may move thefoot platform 17 laterally or sideways to engage alatching tab 31 connected to thefoot platform 17 to a latching bracket 33 connected to the risingportion 21. This effectively latches the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 in the inserted position. - When the player or percussionist desires to retract the
percussion instrument 3 to the retracted position, the player or percussionist may move thefoot platform 17 laterally or sideways in the opposite direction as engagement to disengage thelatching tab 31 from the latching bracket 33. The player or percussionist may then release his foot or shoe from thefoot platform 17 to retract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the retracted position. -
Figs 9-11 illustrate a second example of the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 for theinsertable percussion system 1. In the example ofFig. 9 , the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 includes thefirst arm 13 and asecond arm 15, which are similar to thefirst arm 13 and thesecond arm 15 of the first example except that, in this second example, thefirst arm 13 and thesecond arm 15 crisscross resulting in insertion and retraction of the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to have a scissoring effect. - The
first arm 13 includes apercussion instrument end 13a that operably and rotably connects to thepercussion instrument 3. In the illustrated example, the exemplaryinsertable percussion system 1 includes aslide bracket 35 that operably and rotably connects thepercussion instrument end 13a to thepercussion instrument 3. Thefirst arm 13 also includes ajoint end 13b that is distal thepercussion instrument 3. Thejoint end 13b operably and rotably connects to thesecond arm 15. - The
second arm 15 includes astand end 15a that operably and rotably connects to thestand 5. In the illustrated example, the exemplaryinsertable percussion system 1 includes aslide bracket 37 that operably and rotably connects thestand end 15a to thestand 5. Thestand end 15a of thesecond arm 15 may be connected to thecable 11. Thesecond arm 15 also includes ajoint end 15b that is distal to thestand 5 and that operably and rotably connects to thejoint end 13b of thefirst arm 13. - In the illustrated example of
Figs 9-11 , theinsertable percussion system 1 includes twofirst arms 13 each having apercussion instrument end 13a proximate thepercussion instrument 3, ajoint end 13b distal thepercussion instrument 3, and ajoint position 13c. In this example, theinsertable percussion system 1 also includes twosecond arms 15, each having a standend 15a proximate thestand 5, ajoint end 15b distal thestand 5, and ajoint position 15c. In this example, each of the joint ends 13b of thefirst arms 13 is rotably connected to a respective one of the joint ends 15b of the second arm, each of thejoint positions 13c of thefirst arm 13 is operably and rotably connected to thejoint position 13c of the otherfirst arm 13, and each of thejoint positions 15c of thesecond arm 15 is operably and rotably connected to thejoint position 15c of the otherfirst arm 15. Each of thefirst arms 13 is rotable about itspercussion instrument end 13a, about itsjoint end 13b, and about itsjoint position 13c. Each of thesecond arms 15 is rotable about itsstand end 15a, about itsjoint end 15b, and about itsjoint position 15c to stretch or contract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the inserted position or the retracted position. - Pulling of the
cable 11 by operation of thepedal 9 causes thesecond arm 15 to rotate about thestand end 15a, thejoint end 15b, and thejoint position 15c. This causes thefirst arm 13 to rotate about thejoint end 13b, about thepercussion instrument end 13a, and about thejoint position 13c to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing thepercussion instrument 3 to move horizontally away from thestand 5 to the inserted position. - Releasing of the
cable 11 by operation of thepedal 9 causes thesecond arm 15 to, in opposite direction as in the inserting, rotate about thestand end 15a, thejoint end 15b, and thejoint position 15c. This causes thefirst arm 13 to rotate about thejoint end 13b, thepercussion instrument end 13a, and thejoint position 13c to effectively contract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing thepercussion instrument 3 to move horizontally towards thestand 5 to the retracted position. - In one example (not shown), the inserting/
retracting mechanism 7 includes a spring configured in the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 to bias the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 towards retraction (i.e., in the retracted position). In this example, pulling of thecable 11 by operation of thepedal 9 defeats tension force in the spring extending the spring and causing the thesecond arm 15 to rotate about thestand end 15a, thejoint end 15b, and thejoint position 15c. This causes thefirst arm 13 to rotate about thejoint end 13b, thepercussion instrument end 13a, and thejoint position 13c to effectively stretch the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 causing thepercussion instrument 3 to move horizontally away from thestand 5 to the inserted position. Releasing of thecable 11 by operation of thepedal 9 allows tension force in the extended spring to retract the inserting/retracting mechanism 7 into the retracted position such that thepercussion instrument 3 is moved horizontally towards thestand 5. -
Fig. 12 illustrates a perspective top view of an embodiment of aninsertable percussion system 100 according to aspects of the disclosure in the retracted position.Figs 13 and14 illustrate perspective top and side views of theinsertable percussion system 100 in the inserted position. Thesystem 100 includes thepercussion instrument 3, an inserting/retracting mechanism 105, and may further include astand 113. - The inserting/
retracting mechanism 105 may include abase 110, afirst arm 121 and asecond arm 123. The base 110 operably couples thefirst arm 121 and thesecond arm 123 to thestand 113. The first andsecond arms percussion instrument 3 andfree end percussion instrument 3. The percussion instrument ends 121a and 123a may be coupled to a holdingelement 115, e.g., a U-shaped metal or plastic rod, which attaches to the side surface of thepercussion instrument 3. The holdingelement 115 couples thepercussion instrument 3 to the inserting/retracting mechanism 105. The first andsecond arms bushing elements 117a-d of the base 110 in the directions shown by the arrow A. - The inserting/
retracting mechanism 105 includes aninput device 125, amotor 127, and a feedback mechanism 133 and may include a gear mechanism 131. - The
input device 125 may include one or more switching elements (e.g., touch pads) 125a and 125b, for receiving an operation instruction and generating an operation signal to activate the inserting/retracting mechanism 105. For example, a hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switchingelement 125a may correspond to an instruction to insert thepercussion instrument 3 while a hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switchingelement 125b may correspond to an instruction to retract thepercussion instrument 3. In another example, a first hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switchingelement 125a may correspond to an instruction to insert thepercussion instrument 3 while a second hit (using a beater or drum stick) on switchingelement 125a may correspond to an instruction to retract thepercussion instrument 3. In yet another example, the input device may be disposed near the floor F such that it may receive an operation instruction in the form of a user/player pressing the one or more switching elements with her foot. - The inserting/
retracting mechanism 105 also includes acontroller 137. Thecontroller 137 may receive the operation signal from theinput device 125 and determine the current position of thepercussion instrument 3 by use of the feedback mechanism 133. - The feedback mechanism 133 may include Hall-
effect sensors base 110 and apermanent magnet 133c disposed on thefirst arm 121. The feedback mechanism 133 determines the position of thefirst arm 121 along its travel relative to thebase 110 and, thus, the position of thepercussion instrument 3. For example, when thepermanent magnet 133c is aligned with theHall sensor 133b, thepercussion instrument 3 may be at or in proximity, e.g., 5-10 cm, to the retracted position. SeeFig. 1 . On the other hand, when thepermanent magnet 133c is aligned with theHall sensor 133a, thepercussion instrument 3 may be at or in proximity, e.g., 5-10 cm, to the inserted position. SeeFig. 2 . Thesensors percussion instrument 3 is in the inserted position, the retracted position, or somewhere in between. Thecontroller 137 generates a command signal based on the operation signal and the feedback signal. For example, if thepercussion instrument 3 is at the inserted or retracted position, thecontroller 137 may stop themotor 127. If, instead, thepercussion instrument 3 is merely in proximity to the inserted or retracted position as detected by the feedback mechanism 133, thecontroller 137 may cause themotor 127 to slow down and eventually stop when thepercussion instrument 3 reaches the inserted or retracted position. - The
controller 137 may be a microcontroller PIC 12F683 manufactured by Microchip Technology Inc. of Independence, Ohio. However, thecontroller 137 may include any type of controller sufficient for receiving and generating the above-described signals. The Hall-effect sensors effect sensors - The
stand 113 supports and sustains thepercussion instrument 3 and the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 vertically off the floor F. Thestand 113 may include a fixingelement 113a that couples to the inserting/retracting mechanism 105. Thestand 113 may also include a joint 113b, abase 113c, and alatch 113d. The joint 113b may allow for the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 and thepercussion instrument 3 to be adjusted and set at an angle different from horizontal and for collapsing thesystem 100 for storage. Seefigure 15 . Thus, the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 may insert and retract thepercussion instrument 3 along an axis different from horizontal. Thestand 113 may also be telescopic for height adjustment. Thelatch 113d may be used to secure the height of thestand 113. - The gear mechanism 131 may include a
rack 131a and apinion 131b. A shaft (not shown) of themotor 127 may be operably coupled to thepinion 131b of the gear mechanism 131 so as to actuate thepinion 131b to turn in a direction to cause a linear actuation of therack 131a in the directions shown by the arrow A. Themotor 127 receives the command signal and actuates the gear mechanism 131. Therack 131a is fixedly coupled to the first arm 121 (or the second arm 123) of the inserting/retracting mechanism 105 so that thefirst arm 121 may slide through thebushings rack 131a pushes or pulls thepercussion instrument 3. Thesecond arm 123 moves in unison with thefirst arm 121. -
Fig. 16 illustrates an enlarged view of thebase 110, the gear mechanism 131, and thestand 113 with thepercussion instrument 3 in the retracted position. The shaft (not shown) of themotor 127 may be operably coupled to thepinion 131b so that thepinion 131b rotates to cause therack 131a to linearly actuate. For example, the controller may cause themotor 127 to rotate in a direction to actuate thepinion 131b to rotate counter-clockwise as shown by the arrow B. Thepinion 131b then causes therack 131a to actuate linearly as shown by the arrow C. As therack 131a moves, the first andsecond arms percussion instrument 3 from the retracted position to the inserted position. Reverse operation of themotor 127 actuates the gear mechanism 131 in the opposite direction moving thepercussion instrument 3 from the inserted position back to the retracted position. -
Fig. 17 illustrates a perspective view of theinsertable percussion system 100 offigure 12 , forming part of a drum or percussion set. In the percussion set, thepercussion instrument 3 may be inserted by operation of themotor 127 as described above to make thepercussion instrument 3 temporarily available to the percussionist to play. Thepercussion instrument 3, for example, may be inserted above asecond percussion instrument 103 in the percussion set to make thepercussion instrument 3 available to the percussionist in addition to thesecond percussion instrument 103. The inserted position corresponds to a position where a majority of a playing surface of thefirst percussion instrument 3 faces or vertically overlaps a majority of a playing surface of thesecond percussion instrument 103. Such a percussion set reduces the playing space, increases variety in sounds played, and thus, increases the enjoyment of play and or listening to performance of the percussion set. As another example, thesecond percussion instrument 103 may be replaced with another type of instrument. Whenever the percussionist selects to play the other instrument alone, the percussionist may remove or retract thepercussion instrument 3 by operation of themotor 127 to make the other instrument available for the percussionist to play. - The term "percussion instrument" as used herein refers to musical instruments in which sound is generally obtained by striking the instrument with hands, beaters, sticks, etc. and their electronic equivalents. Examples of percussion instruments include drums, cymbals, bells, cowbells, hi-hats, tambourines, wood blocks, kettle drums, steel drums, bongo drums, tom-toms, bass drums, tenor drums, snare drums, etc. The term "drum" as used herein corresponds to any type of percussion musical instrument having at least one stretched membrane to generate sound by acoustic vibration when the stretched membrane is struck or their electronic equivalent (e.g., electronic drum pad.)
- While example systems, methods, and so on, have been illustrated by describing examples, and while the examples have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.
Claims (12)
- A drumming system (100) comprising:a first percussion instrument (3);a second percussion instrument (103); andan inserting/retracting mechanism (105) operably connected to the first percussion instrument and configured to move the first percussion instrument along an axis relative to the second percussion instrument from a retracted position to an inserted position and from the inserted position to the retracted position, the inserting/retracting mechanism comprising:a motor (127);an input device (125) operably coupled to the motor and configured to receive operation instructions corresponding to moving the first percussion instrument relative to the second percussion instrument from the retracted position to the inserted position or from the inserted position to the retracted position, and to generate an operation signal based on the operation instruction;a feedback mechanism (133) operably coupled to the motor and configured to obtain position information of the inserting/retracting mechanism and generate a feedback signal representative of the position information; anda controller (137) operably coupled to the input device, the motor, and the feedback mechanism, the controller configured to actuate the motor based on the operation signal and the feedback signal; andwherein the inserted position corresponds to a position where a majority of a playing surface of the first percussion instrument faces or vertically overlaps a majority of a playing surface of the second percussion instrument.
- The drumming system (100) of claim 1, further comprising:
a stand (113) operably coupled to the inserting/retracting mechanism (105) and having a base (113c). - The drumming system (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the inserting/retracting mechanism (105) includes:a first arm (121) having a percussion instrument end (121a) proximate the first percussion instrument (3) and a free end (121b) distal the first percussion instrument;a second arm (123) having a percussion instrument end (123a) proximate the first percussion instrument and a free end (123b) distal the first percussion instrument;a gear mechanism (131) operably coupled to the motor (127) and to at least one of the first arm and the second arm to cause the at least one of the first and second arms to move the first percussion instrument from the inserted position to the retracted position and from the retracted position to the inserted position.
- The drumming system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor (127) is operably coupled to a linear actuator.
- The drumming system (100) of claim 4, wherein the linear actuator includes a gear mechanism.
- The drumming system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device (125) includes a touch pad (125a, 125b) configured to receive the operation instructions in the form of hits from a drum stick, a first hit corresponding to a first operation instruction to move the first percussion instrument (3) from the retracted position to the inserted position and a subsequent hit corresponding to a second operation instruction to move the first percussion instrument from the inserted position to the retracted position.
- The drumming system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller (137) determines rotating direction and speed of the motor (127) based on the operation signal and the feedback signal.
- The drumming system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feedback mechanism (133) includes a magnet (133c) and a sensor (133a, 133b).
- The drumming system (100) of claim 8, wherein the sensor (133a, 133b) is a Hall-effect sensor.
- The drumming system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first percussion instrument (3) corresponds to an upstroke drum and the second percussion (103) instrument corresponds to a downstroke drum.
- The drumming system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device (125) includes a touch pad configured to receive the operation instructions in the form of pressing from a foot of a user or player.
- A method of drumming using the drumming system (100) of claim 6 or claim 11, the method comprising:hitting the pad (125a, 125b) with a beater or drum stick or pressing the pad with a foot to actuate via the motor (127) the inserting/retracting mechanism (105) to move the first percussion instrument (3) along an axis from a retracted position to an inserted position, wherein the percussion instrument corresponds to an upstroke instrument to be hit by a beater or drum stick with an upstroke or upward motion and the second percussion instrument (103) corresponds to a downstroke instrument to be hit by the beater or drum stick with a downstroke or downward motion, wherein the inserted position corresponds to a position where a playing surface of the upstroke instrument faces or vertically overlaps a playing surface of the downstroke instrument, and wherein the retracted position corresponds to a position where a majority of a playing surface of the upstroke instrument does not face or does not vertically overlap a playing surface of the downstroke instrument; andhitting the second percussion instrument with a drum stick or beater on a downstroke motion and hitting the first percussion instrument with an upstroke motion immediately following the downstroke motion.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US15/662,477 US9858904B1 (en) | 2015-03-16 | 2017-07-28 | Insertable percussion system |
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EP3435369B1 true EP3435369B1 (en) | 2020-04-08 |
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US10825429B2 (en) * | 2019-03-11 | 2020-11-03 | Steven Gold | Insertable percussion system |
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US20050121564A1 (en) * | 2003-12-08 | 2005-06-09 | Johnson Jeffrey A. | Adjustable musical instrument stand |
JP2007206489A (en) * | 2006-02-03 | 2007-08-16 | Yamaha Corp | Musical percussion instrument |
US7528312B1 (en) * | 2007-02-21 | 2009-05-05 | Digiovanni Stephen | Drum for striking upwardly and method therefor |
US9741323B2 (en) * | 2015-03-16 | 2017-08-22 | Steven Gold | Insertable percussion system |
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2018
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