GB2321994A - Sound enhancement device for drum - Google Patents

Abstract

The sound of a bass drum commonly used in conjunction with a foot operated drum beater mechanism 2,3,5 can be enhanced by the addition of higher frequencies not normally produced by such a drum. A flap 6 is, suspended in the path of the beater head, between the beater head, and the contact point of the beater head upon the drum skin, such that when the foot pedal is operated the beater head will strike the flap forcing it to make contact with the drum skin. The effect of the flap hitting the drum skin is a 'slap' or 'click' sound added to the lower frequencies normally associated with drums of this nature.

Description

SOUND ENHANCEMENT DEVICE FOR DRUM A drum comprising a hollow cylindrical tube with an animal skin or, more recently, a strong plastic film stretched across one, or both ends of the tube has, since the advent of recorded history, been associated with the production of musical sounds.

Over many years the design of drums has been refined, with advances in materials and production methods employed to manufacture the cylindrical tube, more commonly refereed to nowadays as the 'shell'.

The 'skins' or drum 'heads' have also benefited from advances in technology. Strong multi-layered plastic membranes have replaced the animal skins once used.

In recent years the size and design of drums has evolved to such a degree that today 'kits' or 'sets' of drums are commonly used, made up of several specifically designed variants on the basic drum. These 'kits' or 'sets' of drums are used to produce the rhythm or beat to much modern day popuiar music.

It is to a particular type of drum, namely the bass drum, that this invention relates.

The bass drum is most commonly the largest drum in a kit, or set of drums. It is most often positioned on the floor with it's cylindrical centre line predominantly horizontal, and the skin, or skins in the vertical plane.

The most frequently used method of hitting or beating a bass drum is with a foot operated mechanism that, when depressed by the musician or drummer's foot causes a beater to strike the drum skin causing the skin to resonate and produce sound. The beater is commonly linked mechanically to the foot operated pedal. Therefore the force with which the beater hits the drum can be controlled by the speed and intensity with which the musician applies force to the pedal.

The beater commonly takes the form of a metal bar approximately 200mm in length and 5mm in diameter with a predominantly spherical 'head' attached to one end. The beater heads vary in composition and exact size, some are solid wood, leather covered wood, or solid felt to name but a few. It is the particular sound produced when the beater head strikes the bass drum skin that this invention specifically relates to.

A bass drum is designed to produce the lowest note of all the drums commonly assembled to form a drum kit. It is the bass drum that provides the metronome beat that is a feature of much popular music.

In large auditoriums the bass sound produced by the bass drum will often amplified electronically to such a degree that the sound is not only heard, but also physically felt by the listeners body. It is a desirable feature that the bass drum produces such low frequency sonic vibrations. It is however, also a disadvantage, as the complete lack of middle to high frequencies often causes a repetitive beat to sound muddled. Even with the aid of highly sophisticated, and powerful electronic frequency modification equipment, it is extremely difficult to add high frequency definition to the bass drum sound, if the drum itself is not producing any of the desired middle to high frequencies.

It is clear then that a device that would cause a bass drum to emit middle to high frequencies, whilst not affecting the low frequencies, would be a welcome addition to the world of drum technology.

There is provided, a flap, suspended in the path of the beater head, between the beater head, and the contact point of the beater head upon the drum skin, such that when the foot pedal is operated the beater head will strike the flap forcing it to make contact with the drum skin.

When the flap has been forced against the drum skin it acts as a shield inhibiting the beater head from making direct contact with the drum skin, but, transfers the energy from the beater head to the drum skin, causing the skin to resonate in the usual manner.

It is the sound produced when the flap, slaps against the drum skin that predominantly contains the desired higher frequencies.

As stated, the invention acts as a shield, inhibiting the beater head from making direct contact with the drum skin. This produces a greater working life from the drum skin.

The flap is best manufactured from a flexible material which allows it to move towards and away from the drum skin under the influence of the beater head. However if desired the flap could be manufactured from a rigid material and incorporate a mechanical hinge to facilitate the desired movement.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, a drum skin with a flap device attached, and a beater; Figure 2 shows in perspective, a Bass drum with a flap device attached to the drum skin, and a foot operated beater mechanism.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of figure 1 on cutting plane X-X.

Referring to the drawings, the familiar combination of a Bass drum 4 and foot operated mechanism 5 with a beater head 2 connected to the foot operated mechanism by a stem 3, is modified by the addition of the flap device 6 which, in this specific embodiment of the invention is attached directly to the drum skin 1 by double sided adhesive tape 7.

It is not imperative that the flap device 6 is attached directly to the drum skin 1. Any point on the Bass drum 4, foot operated mechanism 5, beater head 2 or beater stem 3 could provide a suitable anchorage for the flap device, (not shown) However it is vital that the flap is suspended between the drum skin 1 and the beater head 2.

In operation, when the foot operated mechanism 5 is acted upon by the musician, the beater head 2 attached to the beater stem 3 moves predominantly in the direction of arrow 'A' towards the drum skin 1.

Before the beater head 2 hits the drum skin 1 it makes contact with the flap device, forcing the flap to slap against the drum skin.

Claims (9)

1 A flap, comprising a strip of flexible material suspended in the path of a beater head, between the beater head, and the contact point of the beater head upon a drum skin, such that when the foot pedal is operated the beater head will strike the flap forcing it to make contact with the drum skin.

2. A flap, comprising a hinged strip of rigid material suspended in the path of a beater head, between the beater head, and the contact point of the beater head upon a drum skin, such that when the foot pedal is operated the beater head will strike the flap forcing it to make contact with the drum skin.

3 A flap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein securing means are provided for permanent attachment to a drum head.

4 A flap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein securing means are provided for releasable attachment to a drum head.

5. A flap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein securing means are provided for permanent attachment to a drum.

6. A flap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein securing means are provided for releasable attachment to a drum.

7. A flap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein securing means are provided for permanent attachment to a foot pedal beater device.

8. A flap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein securing means are provided for releasable attachment to a foot pedal beater device.

9. A flap substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.