ES2684790T3 - Acoustic drums, as well as a musical instrumental set consisting of such acoustic drums - Google Patents

Abstract

Acoustic drum (1), comprising a bass drum (10), a box (20) and a charles support (30), characterized in that the box (20) has a generally parallel parallelepipedic shape, because the charles support (30) It consists of a base (31) that has a generally parallel parallelepipedic shape, because the drum (10) consists of two parts (11, 12) movable between each other: - a separate position, in which the two parts of the bass drum confer together to the drum a generally parallelepipedic outer shape and jointly delimit a volume of drum resonance (V10) with each other, which is essentially parallelepipedic, and in which the box (20) is fixedly removable to the drum and to the base (31) of the charles support (30) so that the battery is in a configuration to play, and - a compact position, in which the two parts of the bass drum together give the drum a generally parallel parallelepipedic shape and jointly delimit a carcass volume with each other that is essentially parallelepipedic, which is smaller than the drum resonance volume (V10) and which is occupied by the charles support and by the box, which is housed inside the base of the support of charles, so that the battery is in a storage and transport configuration, because the drum (10) and the box (20) are provided with first fixing means (114, 27) suitable for attaching the box to the drum in a removable way in the configuration for playing the drums, and because the base (31) of the charles stand (30) and the case (20) are provided with second fixing means (36, 28), which are different from the first fixing means (114, 27) and which are suitable for removably fixing the box at the base of the charles stand in the configuration for playing the drums.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Acoustic drums, as well as a musical instrumental set consisting of such acoustic drums

[0001] The present invention relates to an acoustic drums, as well as a musical instrumental ensemble.

It consists of such a battery.

[0002] The field of the invention is that of music instruments, more particularly percussion instruments, both for professional and hobby use.

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[0003] In this field, it is known that an acoustic drum is a set of percussion instruments that, in a typical way, includes, or even consists of, a bass drum, a box and a charles, that is, a pair of cymbals hooked to a pedal. Such a battery is, due to the accumulated size of the instruments that constitute it, difficult to store and even more difficult to transport, with a substantial transport cost when the battery travels in

15 plane and he wants his battery to follow him in his travels.

[0004] To avoid this problem, there are electronic batteries, which comprise flat, screw-shaped panels, commonly called "pads", which reproduce more or less the touch of an acoustic drum, but without producing the sound volume, the vibrations caused by hitting these panels before being amplified by

20 electronic devices ad hoc. Once stored, these panels take up less space than the instruments that constitute an acoustic battery, making the electronic battery easier to transport. The price of such electronic drums is still high and, especially, electronic drums provide neither the same sound effects, nor the same sensations to play as an acoustic drums.

Documents CA2529308A1 and XP055189633 describe acoustic drums that use a parallelepiped shaped bass drum. The objective of the present invention is to propose an acoustic drum that, although it has great sound quality, is easy and practical to store and transport.

[0005] For this purpose, the object of the invention is an acoustic battery as defined in claim 1.

[0006] One of the basic ideas of the invention is to skillfully use a bass drum as a housing for a box and

a charles stand when you want to store and transport the corresponding acoustic battery. To do this, the drum comprises two moving parts with each other. In a separate position of these two parts of the drum, it can be used as a percussion instrument, being internally empty to delimit a resonance volume of the bass drum, and serves as a removable fixing bracket for the box, the latter is also fixed 35 removable form to the charles support: the bass drum, the box and the charles support are then in a configuration to play, being arranged relative to each other in a similar way to an acoustic drum of the prior art. To be able to play the battery according to the invention, in the configuration to play, the battery associates it with a pair of cymbals and a bass drum pedal, which are known as such, for example, are commercially available, and which are respectively linked to the support of charles and the bass drum, the drummer uses to play a pair of drumsticks or 40 brushes, known as such and commercially available. In a compact position of the two parts of the bass drum, the box and the charles stand are arranged inside the bass drum, staying between the two parts of this bass drum, the battery is then in a storage and transport configuration, occupying a volume Total particularly small. In particular, the battery according to the invention, in its storage and transport configuration, advantageously meets the usual dimensional requirements of a hand luggage authorized by the known airlines, while also respecting the associated weight requirements: thus, Thanks to the invention, a battery can travel by plane by storing the battery according to the invention with it as hand luggage. In practice, the passage of the battery according to the invention, between the configuration to play and the configuration of storage and transport, is carried out easily and in a very short time, of a few tens of seconds.

[0007] The invention also aims at a musical instrumental ensemble, as defined in the

claim 15.

[0008] The additional advantageous features of the acoustic drums and the musical instrument ensemble, according to the invention, are specified in the dependent claims.

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[0009] The invention will be better understood after reading the following description, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

- Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views, with different respective viewing angles, of the components,

separated from each other, from an acoustic battery according to the invention;

- Figures 3 to 6 are perspective views, according to different respective viewing angles, of the battery of Figure 1 in a configuration for playing;

- Figure 7 is a view on a larger scale of the detail in circle VII in Figure 4; Y

5 - Figures 8 to 11 are perspective views, at different respective viewing angles, showing the progressive passage of the battery of Figure 1 from its configuration to play, shown in Figures 3 to 6, to a storage configuration and transport, shown in figure 11.

[0010] In Figures 1 to 11 an acoustic drum 1 is shown comprising three main components 10, namely a bass drum 10, a box 20 and a charles stand 30. Hereinafter, these components are

They will describe in detail one after another.

[0011] In Figures 3 to 7, the bass drum 10, the box 20 and the charles stand 30 are assembled so that the battery 1 is in a configuration to play, that is, a configuration in which the user of the drums,

15 in other words, a drums, can play drums 1 in the same way as with a prior art acoustic drums. In Figure 11, the drum 10, the box 20 and the charles stand 30 are arranged with respect to each other so that the battery 1 is in a storage and transport configuration, the battery 1 passes from its configuration to touch from figures 3 to 7 to its storage and transport configuration of figure 11 by intermediate progressive storage configurations, shown in figures 8 to 20 10. In figures 1 and 2, the box 20, the constituents of the drum 10, intended to be disassembled by the user, as well as the constituents of charles support, intended to be disassembled by the user, are represented separately from each other.

[0012] For convenience, the following description is oriented in relation to the interpreter of the battery 1 while it is in the configuration to play and rests on a floor considered

horizontal.

[0013] The drum 10 consists of two main parts, namely a front part 11 and a rear part 12, each corresponding essentially to one half of the drum 10. The parts 11 and 12 of the drum 10 are

30 made in the form of two distinct pieces, which are movable with each other, or even separable from one another for reasons of practicality, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0014] As is clearly visible in Figures 1 and 2, the front part 11 comprises a front main panel 13 and two side panels 14, respectively, on the left and on the right. Each of panels 13 and

35 14 is essentially flat. Panels 13 and 14 are permanently attached to each other, and by any appropriate means.

[0015] The side panels 14 extend backwards from the opposite side edges of the front panel 13, essentially perpendicular to the front panel 13. In a section in a horizontal plane, the panel

40 front 13 and the side panels 14 together have a rearward "U" profile.

[0016] Panels 13 and 14 have the same vertical dimension, their upper edge is level with each other and their lower edge is also level with each other.

[0017] In the configuration for playing the battery 1, the respective lower edges of the panels 13 and 14 of

the front part 11 is supported on the ground, and stably autonomously for the front part 11 of the drum 10, due to the aforementioned "U" profile.

[0018] The front panel 13 is provided, at its lower edge, with a hitch element 15 for a pedal

50 of the drum, not shown in the figures, provided to be controlled by the right foot of the battery. This pedal must be linked to the drum 10 to allow the battery to hit the front of panel 13 with an ad hoc hammer of the pedal. Such a bass drum pedal is known per se and is commercially available as an accessory for prior art acoustic batteries. By way of non-limiting example, the coupling element 15 consists of a plate provided with a non-slip coating, for example of rubber or the like, which guarantees a good retention of the drum pedal: in the configuration to play the battery 1, this plate extends protruding towards the front of the lower edge of the panel 13, this plate being advantageously retractable, at least partially, towards the rear, in particular in the thickness of the panel 13, in the storage and transport configuration of the battery 1 .

[0019] As clearly seen in Figures 1 and 4, the front face of the panel 13 is provided with a felt 16 or the like, arranged so that the hammer of the kick pedal hits the panel 13 at the level of this felt, when deafening the sound attack and darkening the resulting sound. The felt 16 also provides a visual indication of the area of the panel 13, intended to be struck by the hammer of the kick pedal.

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[0020] As clearly seen in Figure 2, the front panel 13 is provided, on its rear face, with a movable panel 17, which is essentially flat and which is carried on the upper end of the panel 13 to lean around a YY horizontal geometric axis. The interest of this oscillating panel 17 will appear below.

[0021] As is clearly visible in Figures 1 and 2, the rear portion 12 of the drum 10 consists of a

main rear panel 18 and two side panels 19, respectively, on the left and on the right. Each of panels 18 and 19 is essentially flat. Panels 18 and 19 are permanently attached to each other, and by any appropriate means.

[0022] The side panels 19 extend forward respectively from the side edges

opposite of the rear panel 18, perpendicular to the latter. Thus, in a horizontal section, the panels 18 and 19 confer together, in the rear part 12 of the drum 10, a "U" profile facing forward. The horizontal distance, indicated as e12 in Figure 1, between the respective faces of the side panels 19, oriented in opposite directions of the rear panel 18, is provided equal to or slightly less than

20 horizontal distancing, indicated as e11 in figure 1, between the respective faces of the side panels 14 of the front part 11, oriented towards the front panel 13: thus, as shown in figures 10 and 11, the rear part 12 It forms a male part, sized to be fitted in the front part 11 which thus forms a complementary female part, this fitting between the parts 11 and 12 consists in fitting the panels 19 between the panels 14 tightly.

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[0023] The panels 18 and 19 of the back 12 have the same vertical dimension, which is essentially the same as that of the panels 13 and 14 of the front 11. The respective upper edges of the panels 18 and 19 are leveled between yes. Similarly, the respective lower edges of the panels 18 and 19 are level with each other, these lower edges resting on the ground in the configuration to touch the

30 battery 1, and stably autonomously for the back 12 due to its "U" profile.

[0024] The rear panel 18 delimits a through opening 18A, thus connecting the front and rear faces of this panel 18 to each other.

[0025] As clearly seen in Figure 2, the front face of the rear panel 18 is provided, in its

upper end, of two tabs protruding 110 or, more generally, of at least one protruding relief, whose interest will appear next.

[0026] The front 11 and rear 12 of the drum 10 are designed for, by means of their

40 relative displacement, be fixedly assembled with each other in two different positions, that is, a position

separated, which is shown in figures 1 to 6 and that is associated with the configuration for touching the battery 1, and a compact position, which is shown in figure 11 and which is associated with the storage and transport configuration of the battery . When the front and rear parts 12 of the drum 10 are in the separate position, the rear part 12 is only partially fitted with the front part 11, in the sense that only the parts

45 respective free terminals of the panels 19 of the back 12 are arranged between the panels 14 of the front 11, as clearly seen in Figures 4 to 6, while when the front 11 and rear 12 of the drum 10 are in a compact position, the rear part 12 is completely fitted in the front part 11, in the sense that a greater part of the panels 19 is arranged between the panels 14 than in the separate position, or even all of the panels 19 as well as panel 18 are arranged between

50 panels 14, as shown in figure 11.

[0027] In both positions, that is, both in the separate position and in the compact position, the upper edges of the panels 13 and 14 of the front part 1 are leveled with the upper edges of the panels 18 and 19 of the part back 12, and the bottom edges of panels 13 and 14 are level with the

55 lower edges of the panels 18 and 19: thus, in the two relative positions of the parts 11 and 12 of the drum 10, these parts 11 and 12 together give the drum 10 a generally parallel parallelepipedic shape, the lateral horizontal dimension of the parallelepipedic form associated with the separated position is strictly superior to that of the parallelepipedic form associated with the compact position, as can be seen by comparison between figures 3 and 11. According to a preferred sizing, this parallelepipedic external shape measures 30 cm x

45 cm x 18 cm when parts 11 and 12 are in a compact position, thus complying with the usual dimensional requirements for hand luggage of known airlines.

[0028] In addition, both in the separate position and in the compact position of the parts 11 and 12 of the drum 5 10, the panels 13, 14, 18 and 19 of these parts 11 and 12 together define an internal volume essentially

parallel to each other, the internal volume associated with the separated position is greater than that associated with the compact position. As explained below, this internal volume is provided for, in the compact position of the parts 11 and 12 of the drum 10, to be occupied, largely or almost completely, by the box 20 and the support of the charles 30 in the configuration of storage and transport of the battery 1. On the contrary, in the 10 configuration for touching the battery 1, the internal volume delimited by the panels of the parts 11 and 12 in the separated position is provided free, forming a resonance volume of the bass drum, referred to as V10 in Figure 6: it is understood that this volume of resonance of the bass drum V10 is delimited, on the front, by the panel 13, which thus forms a striking panel, and, on the back, by panel 18, which forms a sound output panel through its opening 18A.

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[0029] In order to keep in place, between each other, the parts 11 and 12 of the drum 10 in each of the separate and compact positions, the parts 11 and 12 are provided with ad hoc means which allow these parts to be assembled. fixed form with each other, selectively in a separate position and in a compact position. By way of example implemented in the figures, these assembly means comprise two internal threads 111,

20 respectively provided on the side panels 19 of part 12, and two thumb screws 112, complementary to the internal threads 111. Each thumb screw 112 is capable of being introduced through the through holes 113 delimited by the side walls 14 of part 11: each panel 14 is provided with two of these through holes 113, arranged to be aligned with the internal thread 111 of the panel 19 before respectively the separated position and the compact position, as can be seen by comparison of figures 3 and 25 11. Of course, other embodiments of these assembly means are conceivable, in particular operable without tools.

[0030] Panels 13, 14, 18 and 19 are advantageously made of wood, especially multilayer wood, in particular poplar-based and such as plywood. To benefit from high quality

30 of sound, the front panel 13 consists, at the same time, in the front part, of a striking plate 13.1, which is thinner than the other panels of the bass drum 10 and whose front face is made of tanganika walnut wood, and on the back, a frame 13.2, which borders the periphery of the rear face of the striking plate 13.1 and to which the side panels 14 are fixedly attached, as clearly seen in Figure 2.

[0031] As indicated above, panel 17 is mounted to tilt with respect to panel 13 of the

front part 11, around the Y-Y axis. This panel 17 is thus tiltable between a service position, shown in Figures 3 to 6, and a storage position, shown in Figures 9 to 11, as shown in solid lines in Figure 2. Panel 17 depicting in dashed lines in figure 2 occupies an intermediate inclined position between the service position and the storage position. In the service position, the panel 17 extends horizontally, that is perpendicularly to the front panel 13, thus unfolding with respect to the latter, while in the storage position, the panel 17 extends vertically and retracts, pressing against the rear face of the front panel 13. Under the effect of gravity, the panel 17 tends to occupy the storage position, raising the panel from the storage position to the service position to be manually operated by the user during the assembly of the battery 1. When the parts 11 and 45 12 of the drum 10 are in the separated position, the panel 17 is maintained in its operative position by cooperation with the rear part 12: in the example of embodiment considered in the figures, the panel 17 it is thus maintained in its service position by gravity support of its free end on the pins protruding 110 from the front face of the rear panel 18 of l to part 12, as shown in figure 6, the panel 17 is sized to fit between the side panels 19, as is clearly visible in figure 5. Therefore, it is understood that the panel 17 in the service position Close the upper side of the resonance volume of the V10 drum.

[0032] Panel 17 is advantageously made of wood, especially multilayer wood, such

as plywood This panel 17 can be provided flat or, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment, which is also implemented in the example considered in the figures, the panel 17 includes, on its side facing upwards in the service position, a striking plate 17.1, which is thinner than the rest of panel 17 and whose face up is made of tanganika walnut. The panel 17 also includes, on its side opposite the striking plate 17.1, a sound output plate 17.2 delimiting a through opening 17A, visible in Figure 6. This opening 17A flows down the resonance volume of the drum V10 when the panel is in the service position, and ends up in a free volume delimited by panel 17 between its plates 17.1 and 17.2,

for example, in plate thickness 17.2. This free volume constitutes a volume of tom resonance, in the sense that, in the configuration to play the battery 1, the battery obtains a tom sound when hitting, by means of drumsticks or brushes, the plate 17.1 of the panel 17 in position of service. More generally, it will be understood that the battery 1 thus includes, as it were, an additional percussion instrument, namely a tom, without increasing the total volume of the battery as a result of the integration of this tom with the drum 10, more precisely to the part 11 thereof, in the form of the panel 17.

[0033] The box 20 comprises two parallel main panels, namely an upper panel 21 and a lower panel 22. The respective peripheries of the upper panels 21 and lower 22 are connected to each other by a

10 front panel 23, a rear panel 24 and side panels 25, respectively, on the left and on the right. The panels 21 to 25 are essentially flat and are permanently fixed to each other by any suitable means.

[0034] As is clearly visible in Figures 1 to 6, panels 21 to 25 give the box 20 a generally parallel parallelepiped shape 15. According to a preferred dimensioning, this parallelepipedic outer shape

It measures 23.3 cm x 25.5 cm x 9.7 cm.

[0035] Panels 21 to 25 jointly delimit an internal volume, essentially parallel to each other, of the case 20, which constitutes a free resonance volume of case V20. Upwards, this

20 V20 box resonance volume is delimited by the upper panel 21, which thus forms a knock panel on the upper face of which the battery hits the drumsticks or brushes in the configuration to play the battery 1. So that the sound produced in the resonance volume V20 is characteristic of that of a box, the upper panel 21 is provided, on its lower face, with timbres 26 that vibrate during the striking on the upper face of the panel 21. In the embodiment example considered in the figures, the bells 26 are provided in duplicate, in the form of two 25 groups of metal wires, whose one end is respectively fixed to the side panels 25. Downwards, the volume of box resonance V20 is delimited by the lower panel 22, which forms a sound output panel through a through opening 22A delimited by this panel 22.

[0036] Panels 21 to 25 are advantageously made of wood, especially multilayer wood, in particular poplar-based and such as plywood. To get a good quality sound, the face

Top of panel 21 is made of tanganika walnut.

[0037] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the box 20 is fixed in the drum 10 in the configuration for playing the battery 1. More specifically, the lower panel 22 of the box 20 is fixed to the panel 17, in the service position, of

35 drum 10, a right part of the lower face of this panel 22 rests on only a part of the upper face of this panel 17. The panel 22 of the box 20 and the panel 17 of the drum 10 are provided with removable fixing means corresponding, capable of holding in place the box 20 in the drum 10 in the configuration to play the battery 1 while the battery is playing the battery. In the exemplary embodiment considered in the figures, these removable fixing means comprise a magnetic pin 114, fixedly arranged protruding 40 from the panel 17, in the area of this panel to be covered by the box 20, and a bottom recess ferromagnetic 27, complementary to the pin 114 and delimited by the panel 22: in the configuration for touching the battery 1, the pin 114 is received in the recess 27 and is brought into contact with the bottom of this recess, thus blocking in place the box 20 and the drum 10 together, at the same time, by the complementarity of the shapes between the pin 114 and the recess 27 and by a magnetic lock between this pin and the bottom of this recess. Of course, other embodiments are possible for the fixing means between the box 20 and the drum 10, as long as these fixing means hold the box and the drum in place in the configuration to play the battery 1 while the battery is playing , while allowing, especially without tools, the separation between the box and the bass drum with respect to each other in order to pass the battery from the configuration to touch the storage and transport configuration.

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[0038] According to an advantageous arrangement, which is implemented in the exemplary embodiment considered in the figures, the recess 27 is provided in two copies, as can be clearly seen in Figure 2: in this way, during the assembly of the drum 10 and the box 20 together to put the battery 1 in its configuration to play, the user chooses, between the two available copies, the recess 27 that the pin 114 actually receives, these

55 two copies are associated respectively with two different adjustment positions. This adjustment choice allows the user to better adapt the configuration to play the battery 1 to his morphology or his preferences to play, in connection with the relative positioning of the drum 10 and the box 20.

[0039] As clearly seen in Figures 3 to 7, the charles stand 30 comprises a base 31 which, in

the configuration to play the battery 1, rests on the ground. This base 31 has a generally parallelepipedic outer shape, being closed on all sides, except its forward facing side. Therefore, the base 31 comprises a rear main panel 32, an upper panel 33, a lower panel 34 and side panels 35, respectively left and right, the panels 33, 34 and 35 extend forward from the 5 peripheral perimeter of the rear panel 32, perpendicular to the latter. Each of the panels 32 to 35 is essentially flat. Panels 32 to 35 are permanently attached to each other. The internal volume of the base 31, which is delimited together by the panels 32 to 35 with each other, is open on the outside of the base 31 on its front side.

10 [0040] In the configuration to play the battery 1, the box 20, in addition to being fixed removably to the

drum 10 as explained above, is removably attached to the base 31 of the charles stand 30. More specifically, the lower panel 22 of the box 20 is fixed in the upper panel 33 of the base 31, a left part of the lower face of the panel 22 that rests on the upper face of the panel 33, only partially covering this panel 33. To guarantee the horizontality of the case 20 in the configuration for touching the battery 1, it is understood that the vertical dimension of the base 31 is equal to that of the drum 10, the upper panel 33 thus being aligned at the same height as the panel 17, in the service position, of the drum.

[0041] As is clearly visible in Figures 3 to 6, in the configuration for playing the battery 1, the drum 10 and the base 31 of the charles stand 30 are separated from each other, according to the horizontal position, so that the

20 box 20 is cantilevered and at the same time in front of the drum 10 and in front of the base 31 of the charles stand 30: in this way, the through opening 22A of the bottom panel 22 of the box 20 flows into the outside of the box, in the free space arranged between the drum 10 and the base 31 of the charles stand 30.

[0042] According to technical considerations similar to those previously developed with respect to the removable fixing 25 between the box 20 and the drum 10, the box and the base 31 of the charles stand 30 are provided with means of

removable fastener to hold the case 20 and the base 31 in place in each other in the configuration for touching the battery 1. In the exemplary embodiment considered in the figures, these fastening means comprise two magnetic pins 36, fixedly provided that they protrude from the upper panel 33 of the base 31, and two recesses with a magnetic bottom 28, respectively complementary to the pins 36 and delimited in the bottom panel 22 of the box 30. In the configuration for touching the battery 1, the pins 36 they are received respectively in the recesses 28 and are respectively brought into contact with the bottom of these recesses: the lower panel 22 and, therefore, the box 20 are locked in support on the upper panel 33 and, therefore, with respect to the base 31 of the charles support 30, both through the cooperation of shapes between the pins 36 and the recesses 28 and by the magnetic lock between these pins and the ferromagnetic bottom of the re get off Of course, as mentioned above for the pin 114 and the recess 27, other embodiments of the pins 36 and the recesses 28 are conceivable for the removable fastening means between the box 20 and the base 31 of the charles holder 30.

[0043] Thanks to the fixing means between the box 20 and, on the one hand, the drum 10 and, on the other hand, the charles support 30, it is understood that the box 20 forms a connecting and relative positioning bridge between the

40 bass drum 10 and the charles stand 30 in the configuration to play the drums 1.

[0044] In addition, the base 31 is designed, for its external dimensioning, to be housed inside the drum 10, between the parts 11 and 12 of the latter in a compact position. More precisely, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the base 31 can be fully fitted inside the rear part 12 of the drum 10:

45 the side panels 35 of the base 31 are received tightly between the side panels 19 of the rear 12, the rear panel 18 of the part 12 that closes the front side of the base 31 in the storage and transport configuration of battery 1.

[0045] Internally, the base 31 of the charles stand 30 is sized to receive the box 20 in its entirety in the storage and transport configuration of the battery 1, as shown in Figure 8. More

specifically, the box 20 is fully fitted inside the base 31, the side panels 25 of the box being tightly received between the side panels 35 of the base 31.

[0046] The charles stand 30 also consists of a spacer 38 that is different from the base 31. In the configuration for playing the battery 1, the spacer 38 is inserted vertically between the base 31 and the saucer

bottom 3 of a pair of Charles saucers 2, shown in broken lines only in Figure 4. In the exemplary embodiment considered, the spacer 38 is in the form of a vertically elongated block. In the configuration for touching the battery 1, the lower end of the spacer 38 rests on the upper panel 33 of the charles support base 30. The upper end of the spacer 38 forms a downward support for the

lower plate 3: advantageously, this upper end of the spacer 38 is provided with a non-slip skate 39 which favors the holding of the plate 3 in place.

[0047] The spacer 38 is sized so that, in the storage and transport configuration of the battery 1, it is completely housed inside the base 31 of the charles holder 30, together with

the box 20, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. In the exemplary embodiment considered here, the spacer 38 has a vertical dimension strictly smaller than the horizontal distance between the faces facing each other of the side panels 35 of the base 31, which allows the spacer 38 to be arranged essentially horizontally between the side panels 35 of the base 31 in the storage and transport configuration of the battery 1.

[0048] The charles support 30 also consists of a rod 310 for controlling the upper plate 4 of the pair of charles 2. This rod 310, which is different from the base 31 and the spacer 38, is carried by the base 31 of transferable way in the longitudinal direction of this rod, the latter extending vertically in the

15 configuration for touching the battery 1. The rod 310 is thus translatable relative to the base 31 between an unfolded position, associated with the configuration for touching the battery 1, and a retracted position associated with the storage and transport configuration. In its deployed position, the rod 310 extends predominantly outside the base 31, passing from one end to the other the upper panel 33 of this base, as well as the spacer 38, between the lower and upper ends of this spacer, up to emerge from the upper end of the spacer, as clearly seen in Figures 3 to 5. Therefore, in the deployed position of the rod 310, this rod freely passes through the lower plate 3, added for this purpose, and the upper plate 4 can be fixed to the upper end of the rod 310, by any appropriate means, further observing that the pair of saucers 2 is known per se and is commercially available as an accessory for prior art acoustic batteries. In its retracted position, the rod 310 does not extend outside the base 31 but is completely housed inside this base, as shown in broken lines in Figure 8. In practice, it is understood that the dimension Longitudinal of the rod 310 is equal to or less than the vertical dimension of the base 31.

[0049] In order not to block the retraction of the rod 310 inside the base 31 while the box 20 is housed inside it, the box delimits, in its front panel 23, a through hole 29, arranged to receive through

thereof the rod 31 in the retracted position. Advantageously, this through hole 29 is essentially complementary to the rod 310 so that, in the retracted position, the rod 310 holds the case 20 in place inside the base 31 in the storage and transport configuration of the battery 1 .

[0050] In the deployed position, it is provided that the rod 310 maintains a mobility that can be moved

along its longitudinal direction, with respect to the base 31, to correspondingly move the upper plate 4 of the pair of charles 2 in the configuration to play the battery 1. This translatable link between the base 31 and the rod 310 in the The unfolded position is carried out in a housing 312, which is shown in detail in Figure 7 and is fixedly integrated inside the base 31, immediately below the area of the upper panel 40 33, crossed by the rod 310. In the Example of embodiment, this housing 312 is fixed to one of the side panels 35 of the base 31. The housing 312 is provided with a vertical tube 314 slidably mounted through the housing 312 in the longitudinal direction of this tube. In its upper part, the tube 314 is integrally provided with an outer ring 315 transversely crossed by a knurled head screw 316 coupled to the inside of the tube 314. The rod 310 is slidably mounted, in its longitudinal direction, in the interior of the tube 314: by tightening the screw 316, it is understood that the rod 310 is fixedly attached to the tube 314, and both when the rod is in the deployed position and when it is in the retracted position, while, when Unscrew the screw 316, the rod 310 can move freely to move inside the tube 314, allowing its passage between the deployed and retracted positions.

[0051] At its lower end, which emerges from the lower end of the housing 312, the tube 314 is provided

integrally of an outer ring 317 fixedly connected to a tension cable 318: it is understood that by pulling the cable 318 down, the tube 314 is moved down with respect to the housing 312 and, therefore, with respect to the base 31 of the charles support 30. The end of the cable 318, opposite the one fixedly attached to the ring 317, is fixedly attached to a pedal 320 belonging to the charles support 30. This pedal 320 comprises a lower panel 321 and 55 an upper panel 322, articulated around a ZZ articulation axis, for example by means of a hinge. The upper panel 322 is, at its opposite end to the axis of articulation Z-Z, fixed to the traction cable 318, by any appropriate means. The panel 321 is, at its opposite end to the axis of articulation ZZ, designed to be removably fixed to the base 31: more specifically, in the exemplary embodiment considered in the figures, this end of the lower panel 321 has a contour of embedment with a cavity

complementary, delimited on the lower face of the lower panel 34 of the base 31, so that, in the configuration for touching the battery 1, this end of the lower panel 321 of the pedal 320 is locked by the base 31, cooperating exclusively by complementarity of forms with the bottom panel 34 of this base, as clearly seen in Figure 6. Of course, other embodiments are possible for the removable connection between the pedal 5 320 and the base 31.

[0052] In the configuration for touching the battery 1, it is understood that by pushing the pedal 320 with its left foot, pressing the panel 322 to bring it closer to the panel 321, the battery pulls the traction cable 318 downwards and, therefore, of tube 314 and, thus, of rod 310 when the latter is fixedly attached to the tube by

10 screw 316 tight. In other words, the pedal 320 allows, in the configuration for touching the battery 1, to move the rod 310 with respect to the base 31 of the charles stand 30 while this rod is in the unfolded position, which correspondingly results in the upper plate 4 fixed to the upper end of this rod.

[0053] In order to return the rod 310 upwards when the battery releases its support on the pedal 320, 15 the charles stand 30 comprises a spring 324 permanently disposed inside the housing 312.

More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment considered, the spring 324 is arranged around the tube 314, more specifically around the current part of the latter. As clearly seen in Figure 7, the upper end of the spring 324 is pressed upwardly against the ring 315, while its lower end is pressed against the housing 312, more precisely against the lower wall of this housing, pierced in a manner 20 sliding down the tube 314. It is understood that when the tube 314 moves down, its ring 315 compresses the spring 324 which then tends to push the tube up. To ensure agile operation, the spring 324 is advantageously arranged in the housing 312 in a compressed state, in the sense that, even in the absence of traction of the tube 314 down, the spring 324 crushes the ring 315 against the housing 312, more precisely against the upper wall of the latter, slidably traversed by the tube 314. Thus, in the configuration for touching the battery 1, when the battery presses the pedal 320, the spring 324 elastically opposes the actuation of the rod 310 in downward translation, while in the absence of tension of the pedal 320, the spring 324 holds the rod 310 in place, if necessary after having turned upwardly in translation. It is understood that the system that associates the housing 312, the tube 314, the traction cable 318, the pedal 320 and the spring 324 allows the battery to control the rod 310 in both directions in the longitudinal direction of this rod in both directions. , in this way, control the approach-distancing of the upper plate 4 with respect to the lower plate 3 of the pair of Charles dishes 2.

[0054] In the storage and transport configuration of the battery 1, the pedal 320 is completely housed inside the base 31 of the charles stand 30, as shown in Figures 8 to 10. In practice,

35 the pedal 320 occupies the part of the internal volume of the base 31, left free by the box 20 and the spacer 38 also housed in this internal volume. Thus, the box 20 preferably occupies the lower part of the internal volume of the base 31, taking full advantage of the total horizontal spacing between the side panels 35, without interfering with the housing 312, while the spacer 38 and the pedal 320, as well as the traction cable 318, they occupy the upper part of the internal volume of the base 31, resting on the front panel 23 of the box 20 and 40 accommodating the presence of the housing 312, by suitable sizing of these parts.

[0055] Panels 32 to 35 of base 31 and panels 321 and 322 of pedal 320 are advantageously made of wood, in particular multilayer wood, such as plywood. The spacer 38 and the housing 312 are advantageously made of solid wood, for example, beech. Alternatively, to the extent

45 in which the elements of the charles support 30 do not have to be beaten or resonated, all or part of the base 31, the pedal 320, the spacer 38 and / or the housing 312 may be made of materials other than wood , especially metal or a synthetic material, such as plastic. The rod 310, the tube 314, the traction cable 318 and the spring 324 are preferably metallic.

50 [0056] Taking into account all the above explanations, it is understood that, to pass the battery 1 of your

configuration to touch its storage and transport configuration, the battery releases, both the pair of cymbals 2 and the pedal of the drum mentioned above, then disassemble the box 20 with respect to the base 31 of the charles stand 30 and with respect to the bass drum 10, and this advantageously without tools, pulling up the box until neutralizing the cooperation between pins 114 and 36 and recesses 27 and 28. The battery then disassembles the 55 components of the charles stand 30: without tools, disassembles the pedal 320 of the lower panel 34 of the base 31 and disassemble the spacer 38 of the upper panel 33 of the base 31, making it rise along the rod 310, held for the moment in the deployed position, until the spacer is released from the rod . The battery places the case 20 at the bottom of the internal volume of the base 31, directing the panel 23 upwards: then you can loosen the screw 316 and push down the rod 310, to move it from its deployed position to its

retracted position, through the through hole 29 of the box 20, the latter being thus locked inside the base 31 by the rod 310. The spacer 38 and the pedal 320 are then placed at the top of the internal volume of the base 31, as shown in figure 8. At this stage, the charles stand 30 and the box 20 are presented as in figure 8 and then, in a set, they are housed inside the drum 10. In advance, the 5 parts 11 and 12 of the drum 10 have been separated from each other, removing the thumb screws 112: the panel 17 then changes from its service position to its storage position, as shown in Figure 9. By embedding the base 31 in part 12 and embedding of said part 12 in part 11, as shown in figure 10, the battery 1 reaches the storage and transport configuration of figure 11, parts 11 and 12 can be assembled together with wing screws 112. Panel 17 is in its storage position 10 does not interfere with the base 30, thus allowing the full engagement of the base between the parts 11 and 12 of drum 10.

[0057] The passage of the battery 1 from its storage and transport configuration to its configuration to play is performed by inverse operations to those just described. In both cases, these operations are carried out, in total, in a few tens of seconds, usually less than one minute, for

15 example about 40 seconds.

[0058] It will be noted that in a particularly advantageous manner, the drum 10, the box 20 and the charles stand 30 together weigh less than 10 kg, or even less than 9 kg, or even less than 8 kg, or even less than 7 kg, or even less than 6 kg, or even weigh 5.7 kg. Such weight meets the requirements of the

20 known airlines for authorized hand luggage in the cabin.

[0059] In its configuration for playing, the drum 1 produces a sound that perfectly replaces that of an acoustic drum of the prior art. If necessary, this sound can be amplified by commercially available microphones as accessories for prior art acoustic batteries. Note that the

25 battery 1, due to its structure, is advantageously predisposed to an amplification with pre-incorporated microphones in this battery.

[0060] Finally, several arrangements and variants of the battery 1 described so far are also possible. As examples:

30

- the different striking surfaces of the battery can be varnished, for example with a liquid wax finish; the sound is not altered, while a necessary satin is formed for the sliding of the brushes, particularly used in swing and jazz music; I

- in order to prevent the battery 1 in the configuration to play from moving due to the vibrations created during the performance, the battery can be arranged on a non-slip mat, advantageously provided with the

battery, which folds inside the drum 10 in the storage and transport configuration of the battery; if necessary, the lower faces and / or the lower sections of the drum 10 and / or the base 31 and / or the pedal 320 are equipped with elements of attachment to the carpet mentioned above, such as velcro tapes (registered trademark); I

40 - the bells or, more generally, the instrumental percussion accessories can be added to the battery, being taken into service by the drum 10, the box 20 and / or the charles stand; I

- the indications of dimensions and weights given above are not limiting of the invention; in particular, if transport is renounced as carry-on luggage in the cabin of the aircraft, the battery 1 can be further sized, maintaining its reduced storage practicality and ease of transport, for example

45 in the trunk of a car; I

- The geometric shapes described above for the bass drum 10, the box 20 and the charles holder 30 are also not limiting of the invention, in the sense that these shapes can, in practice, present essentially aesthetic arrangements, such as corners rounded, trimmed angles, etc.

Claims (10)

1. Acoustic battery (1), 5 comprising a bass drum (10), a box (20) and a charles stand (30), characterized in that the box (20) has a generally parallel parallelepipedic shape, because the charles support (30) consists of a base (31) that has a generally parallelepipedic outer shape, because the drum (10) consists of two parts (11, 12) movable between each other: - a separate position, in which the two parts of the drum jointly confer to the drum a generally parallel parallelepipedic shape 15 and jointly delimit a drum resonance volume (V10) from each other, which it is essentially parallelepipedic, and in which the box (20) is fixedly removable to the bass drum and to the base (31) of the charles stand (30) so that the battery is in a configuration to play, and - a compact position, in which the two parts of the drum jointly confer to the drum a generally parallel parallelepipedic shape and jointly delimit a carcass volume from one another which is essentially 20 parallelepiped, which is smaller than the drum resonance volume (V10) and which is occupied by the charles support and by the box, which is housed inside the base of the charles support, so that the battery is in a storage and transport configuration, because the drum (10) and the box (20) are provided with first fixing means (114, 27) suitable for removably fixing the box to the drum in the configuration for touching the battery, and because the base (31) of the charles support (30) and the box (20) are provided with second fixing means (36, 28), which are different from the first fixing means (114, 27) and which are suitable to removably fix the box on the base of the charles stand in the configuration to play the drums. 30 2. Acoustic battery according to claim 1, characterized in that the two parts (11, 12) of the drum (10) consist of a female part (11) and a male part (12) that can be fitted in the female part, the male part is fitted only partially in the female part in the separated position and the male part is more or even completely embedded in the female part in a compact position. 35 3. Acoustic battery according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the generally parallel parallelepiped shape of the drum (10) in a compact position has dimensions of 30 cm x 45 cm x 18 cm. 40. Acoustic drum according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one (11) of the two parts (11, 12) of the bass drum (10) comprise a knockout panel (13), and because the other (12) of the two parts of the bass drum comprises a sound output panel (18) provided with a through opening ( 18). 5. Acoustic battery according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a 45 (11) of the two parts (11, 12) of the drum (10) is provided with a movable panel (17) movable with respect to the rest of this part of the drum, between a service position, which the mobile panel occupies when the two parts of the drum are in the separate position and in which the mobile panel is deployed, while being maintained by cooperation with the other (12) of the two parts of the drum, to fix the box (20) in the configuration for touching the battery, and a storage position, which the mobile panel occupies when the two parts of the drum are in a compact position 50 and in which the Mobile panel retracts so as not to interfere with the charles case and stand (30) in the storage and transport configuration of the battery. 6. Acoustic battery according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery (1) further includes a tom (17) integrated with one (11) of the two parts (11, 12) of the drum (10). 55 7. Acoustic battery according to claims 5 and 6 taken together, characterized in that the mobile panel (17) forms the tom, which includes a striking plate (17.1) and a sound output plate (17.2) provided with a through opening (17A), which delimit a free volume of tom resonance with each other. 8. Acoustic battery according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box (10) comprises a sound output panel (22) provided with a through opening (22A), and a knocking panel (21), provided, in its face facing the knock panel, of at least one bell (26), the sound output panel and the knock panel delimit a free volume of box resonance (V20) with each other. 5 9. Acoustic battery according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fixing means (114, 27) are suitable for fixing the box (20) in the drum (10) in at least two different adjustment positions. 10. Acoustic battery according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (31) of the charles support (30) is interlockable between the parts (11, 12) of the drum (10) in a compact position, and because the box (20) can be fitted inside this base in the configuration of storage and transport of the battery. 15. Acoustic drum according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Charles stand (30) also consists of a spacer (38), which is inserted between the base (31) and a charles dish (3) in the configuration to play the drums, and which is housed inside the base in the storage and transport configuration of the battery. 12. Acoustic battery according to claim 11, characterized in that the charles support (30) consists of a rod (310) for controlling a charles upper plate (4), which is transferable in its longitudinal direction with respect to the base (31), between an unfolded position, in which the rod extends outside the base and through the spacer (38) until it emerges from the end of the spacer, which is opposite the base, to fix the charles top plate in the configuration to play the drums, and a retracted position in which the rod is housed in the interior of the basis in the storage and transport configuration of the battery. 13. Acoustic battery according to claim 12, characterized in that the charles support (30) further comprises a pedal (320), which is suitable, in the configuration for playing the drums, to move with respect to the base (31) the rod (310) that occupies the deployed position, and that is housed inside the base (31) in the 30 configuration of storage and transport of the battery. 14. Acoustic battery according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drum (10), the box (20) and the charles support (30) together weigh less than 5.7 kg. 35 15. Musical instrumental ensemble, consisting of: - an acoustic battery (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, - a bass drum pedal, - a pair of charles cymbals (2), and 40 - a pair of drumsticks or brushes.