GB2496899A

GB2496899A - Removable drumhead cover for displaying indicia

Info

Publication number: GB2496899A
Application number: GB1120395.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Philip Cawthorne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-11-25
Filing date: 2011-11-25
Publication date: 2013-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-25
Also published as: GB2496899B; GB201120395D0

Abstract

A drumhead cover system for use with a drum having a resonant drumhead 10, such as a bass drum 4, comprises: a drumhead cover 2 adapted to display indicia such as artwork, logos, imagery and/or text. The drumhead cover 2 includes means, such as magnets 5 or a metallic ring 11 with foam lining 12, to attach the cover 2 to a drum 4 such that in use it covers at least part of the drumhead 10. In an embodiment the indicia on the drumhead 10 may be electronically displayed. When the user wishes to change the band name and/or artwork displayed on their drum 4, they remove the drumhead cover 2 and replace it with an alternative drumhead cover 2 bearing a different name, emblem or design.

Description

Drumhead Cover System The present invention relates to a drumhead cover system.

Most live music bands comprise a drummer, and many professional drummers play in different bands. Typically professional drummers have a bass drum that needs to display the band name and/or artwork relating to the band.

To do so it is necessary for drummers to own different drumheads for their bass drums, with different resonant bass drum heads to display different band names and/or artwork for use with each of the respective bands in which they play.

In order to change the resonant bass drumhead it is necessary to unscrew all of the bass drum lugs and replace the first drumhead with a second one, bearing a different band name and/or artwork. The second drumhead must then be secured and tuned.

This process is time-consuming, particularly for drummers that play in many different bands an/or need to rapidly change the drumhead between gigs on the same day.

The present invention seeks to address this issue.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a drumhead cover system adapted for use with a drum having a resonant drumhead, the system comprising a drumhead cover being adapted to display indicia and wherein the drumhead cover comprises means to attach to a drum such that in use it covers at least part of the drumhead.

The provision of a system comprising a drumhead cover having means to attach to a drum allows for a drumhead to be rapidly and easily covered so as to display certain indicia without replacing the drumhead.

Preferably the system comprises means to attach the drumhead cover to the drumhead.

By attaching the drumhead cover to a drumhead the appearance of the system is aesthetically pleasing.

Preferably the means to attach the drumhead cover to the drurnhead comprises at least one magnet.

Use of at least one magnet allows for the drumhead cover to be readily attached to and removed from the drum.

Preferably the means to attach the drumhead cover to the drumhead comprises at plurality of magnets.

Use of a plurality of magnets ensures that the drumhead cover does not come loose when the system is in use.

Preferably the plurality of magnets is located on the drumhead cover.

The drumhead cover provides a suitable location for a plurality of magnets.

Preferably the means to attach the drumhead cover to the drurnhead comprises at least one metallic body.

The provision of a metallic body allows for an attachment means that corresponds with magnets.

Preferably the metallic body is attachable to the drumhead.

Having a magnet body attachable to a drumhead allows for the drurnhead cover to be attached to the drumhead.

Preferably the metallic body is adapted run around at least part of the periphery of the drumhead.

Having a metallic body running around at least part of the periphery of the drumhead ensures that the sound of the drum is not adversely affected.

Preferably the metallic body comprises a ring of metal adapted to run around the periphery of the drumhead.

A ring of metal provides an ideal attachment means for a plurality of magnets.

Preferably the metallic body is adapted to be connected to the drumhead via at least one layer of foam.

The provision of a layer of foam between the metallic body and the drumhead provides a suitable means to attach the metallic body to the drumhead, and when used in an appropriate form can provide a dampening of the drum, thus doing away with the need for separate dampening means inside the drum.

Preferably the drumhead cover is substantially circular.

A drumhead cover of a circular configuration is most suited to covering a drumhead.

Preferably the drumhead cover is adapted to substantially cover the whole drumhead.

Covering substantially the whole of the drumhead provides the most aesthetically pleasing configuration.

In one embodiment the drumhead cover comprises printed indicia.

Text and or imagery may be easily printed onto a drumhead cover, providing a low-cost and readily available display means.

In one embodiment the drumhead cover comprises means to electronically display indicia.

The use of an electronic display on the drumhead cover provides a means to change text and/or imagery electronically, doing away with the need for a plurality of drumhead covers.

Preferably the system comprises a plurality of drumhead covers.

When printed text and/or imagery is used it may be desirable to have a plurality of drumhead covers so as to allow for a plurality of different indicia to be displayed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a drumhead cover adapted for use with a drum having a resonant drumhead, the drumhead cover being adapted to display indicia and wherein the drumhead cover comprises means to attach to a drum such that in use it covers at least part of the drumhead.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a drumhead cover attachment means adapted to attach a drumhead cover to a drum having a resonant drumhead such that in use the drumhead cover covers at least pad of the drumhead and wherein the drumhead cover is adapted to display indicia.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a drum having a drumhead cover attachment means adapted to attach a drurnhead cover to the drum.

A specific embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a system made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section of a drumhead cover for use in accordance with the system of the present invention; Figure 3 is a plan view of the drumhead cover of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a drumhead cover attachment ring for use in accordance with the system of the present invention, the ring being attached to a drumhead; Figure 5 is a plan view of the drumhead cover attachment ring of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing how the drum head cover of Figure 2 may be attached to a drum that comprises the attachment ring of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a schematic cross-section of the drumhead cover of Figure 2 attached to the attachment ring of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided a drumhead cover system 1 comprising a drumhead cover 2 and a drumhead cover attachment ring 3 for use with a bass drum 4.

Drumhead cover 2 is circular and comprises a polyester film 6 attached adjacent to its periphery to plastic ring 7. Plastic ring 7 defines the periphery of drumhead cover 2. Plastic ring 7 comprises a plurality of disc magnets 5 distributed evenly around its circumference and thus the circumference of drumhead cover 2. In the present embodiment N42 grade NiCuNi disc magnets of 0.4kg strength may be used. Disc magnets 5 protrude around 1mm from plastic ring 7.

It will be apparent that any suitable strength, number and positioning of magnets may be employed.

Polyester film 6 of drumhead cover 2 has an outwardly facing side 8 onto which a band name and/or artwork (not shown) is printed. Outwardly facing side 8 is the side that faces an audience when the drumhead cover is in use.

Polyester film 6 of drumhead cover 2 has an inwardly facing side 9, which faces the drumhead 10 of drum 4 when drumhead cover 2 is in use.

In some embodiments polyester film 6 may comprise a microphone port, i.e. a hole, adapted to align with a microphone port on a drumhead through which a microphone may be placed when the drum is in use and amplification is required. Such a microphone port is not shown in the Figures of the present application, but how it might be configured will be apparent to any person skilled in the art.

Turning to Figures 4 and 5 and drumhead cover attachment ring 3, shown in these Figures attached to resonant drumhead 10.

Drumhead cover attachment ring 3 comprises foam ring 12 and steel ring 11.

Foam ring 12 is of a size such that when it is fitted to drumhead 10 it runs circumferentially adjacent to the perimeter of drumhead 10. In the present embodiment foam ring 12 is 10mm deep with a 550mm outside diameter, 530mm inside diameter (20mm thick) and a density of l5OKg/m3. In the present embodiment foam ring 12 is attached to drumhead 10 by means of adhesive.

Attached to foam ring 12 is steel ring 11, which faces outwardly from a drum 4 when attachment ring 3 is attached to drumhead 10.

It will be apparent that although in the present embodiment foam ring 12 runs continuously around the periphery of drumhead cover attachment ring 3, in other embodiments the foam need not be continuous, but separate sections of foam could be employed.

In the present embodiment steel ring 11 is around 1mm in thickness and has the same outside and inside diameters as foam ring 12. Steel ring 11 is attached to foam ring 11 by means of adhesive.

Turning to the system of the present invention in use and referring to Figures 6 and 7, drumhead cover attachment ring 3 is attached to a resonant drumhead 10 of a drum 4 with which the system is to be used.

Drumhead cover 2 may then be attached to drumhead cover attachment ring 3 by means of magnets 5 attaching to steel ring 11.

Drumhead 10 is thereby covered by drumhead cover 2, and the band name and/or artwork on outwardly facing side 8 of drumhead cover 2 may be displayed to an audience.

When the user wishes to change the band name and/or artwork displayed on drum 4 they may simply remove drumhead cover 2 and replace it with an alternative drumhead cover bearing a different band name and/or artwork.

Thus, the invention dispenses with the need to repeatedly change and tune resonant drumheads. Furthermore, another advantage to a user of the presently disclosed system is a reduction in the cost of owning multiple printed resonant drumheads. The changeable drumhead covers are cheaper to manufacture and print on. Thus the system represents better value for money than individually printed resonant heads.

It will be apparent that in some circumstances if a user has a drumhead with indicia printed on it (and they only require two different indicia to be displayed) they may only require a single drumhead cover, which can be used to display indicia different to those on the drumhead.

It will be apparent that many means of attachment of a drumhead cover to a drum could be employed, but it is believed that the present embodiment has particular advantages.

Firstly, the drumhead cover attachment ring 3 and magnets 5 create an 12mm gap between drumhead cover 2 and resonant drumhead 10 resulting in resonant drumhead 10 being able to resonate freely when the drum is struck on the batter side.

Furthermore, foam ring 12 that is attached to resonant drumhead 10 replaces any need for internal dampening of drumhead 10 within drum 4.

Additionally a microphone port (not shown) in both drumhead cover 2 in combination with the 1mm gap between drumhead cover 2 and steel ring 11 created by magnets 5, allows air to sufficiently move when resonant drumhead 10 vibrates as a result of the batter head of the drum being struck.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims: 1. A drumhead cover system adapted for use with a drum having a resonant drumhead, the system comprising a drumhead cover being adapted to display indicia and wherein the drumhead cover comprises means to attach to a drum such that in use it covers at least part of the drumhead.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The system of claim 1 comprising means to attach the drumhead cover to the drumhead.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The system of claim 1 or 2 wherein the means to attach the drurnhead cover to the drumhead comprises at least one magnet.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The system of any preceding claim wherein the means to attach the drumhead cover to the drumhead comprises at plurality of magnets.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of magnets is located on the drumhead cover.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The system of any preceding claim wherein the means to attach the drumhead cover to the drumhead comprises at least one metallic body.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The system of claim 6 wherein the metallic body is attachable to the d ru mh ead.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The system of claim 6 or 7 wherein the metallic body is adapted run around at least part of the periphery of the drumhead.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The system of any of claims 6 to 8 wherein the metallic body comprises a ring of metal adapted to run around the periphery of the drumhead.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The system of any of claims 6 to 9 wherein the metallic body is adapted to be connected to the drumhead via at least one layer of foam.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drumhead cover is substantially circular.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drumhead cover is adapted to substantially cover the whole drumhead.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drumhead cover comprises printed indicia.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drumhead cover comprises means to electronically display indica.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. The system of any preceding claim comprising a plurality of drumhead covers.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A drumhead cover adapted for use with a drum having a resonant drumhead, the drumhead cover being adapted to display indicia and wherein the drumhead cover comprises means to attach to a drum such that in use it covers at least part of the drumhead.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A drumhead cover attachment means adapted to attach a drurnhead cover to a drum having a resonant drumhead such that in use the drurnhead cover covers at least part of the drumhead and wherein the drumhead cover is adapted to display indicia.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A drum having a drumhead cover attachment means adapted to attach a drumhead cover to the drum.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A system substantially as set out herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A drurnhead cover substantially as set out herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A drumhead cover attachment means substantially as set out herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>22. A drum substantially as set out herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims: 1. A drumhead cover system adapted for use with a drum having a resonant drumhead, the system comprising: a. a drumhead cover being adapted to display indicia and; b. means to attach the drumhead cover to the resonant drunihead such that in use it covers at least part of the drumhead and the drumhead cover is spaced from the drumhead.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means to attach the drurnhead cover to the drumhead comprises at least one magnet.
3. The system of claim 1 or 2 wherein the means to attach the drumhead cover to the drumhead comprises at plurality of magnets.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of magnets is located on the drumhead cover.
5. The system of any preceding claim wherein the means to attach the O drumhead cover to the drumhead comprises at least one metallic body.
6. The system of claim 4 or 5 wherein the metallic body is adapted to run around at least part of the periphery of the drumhead.
7. The system of claim 5 or 6 wherein the metallic body comprises a ring of metal adapted to run around the periphery of the drumhead.
8. The system of any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the metallic body is adapted to be connected to the drumhead via at least one layer of foam.
9. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drumhead cover is substantially circular.
10. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drumhead cover is adapted to substantially cover the whole drumhead.
11. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drumhead cover comprises printed indicia.
12. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drumhead cover comprises means to electronically display indicia.
13. The system of any preceding claim comprising a plurality of drumhead covers.
14. A drumhead cover adapted for use with a drumhead cover system for use with a drum having a resonant drumhead, the system comprising: a. a drumhead cover being adapted to display indicia and; b. means to attach the drumhead cover to the resonant drumhead r such that in use it covers at least part of the drumhead and the o drumhead cover is spaced from the drumhead.O
15. A drumhead cover attachment means adapted for use with a drumhead cover system for use with a drum having a resonant drumhead, the system comprising: a. a drumhead cover being adapted to display indicia and; b. means to attach the drumhead cover to the resonant drurnhead such that in use it covers at least part of the drumhead and the drumhead cover is spaced from the drumhead.
16. A drum comprising the system of any of claims ito 13.
17. A system substantially as set out herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. A drumhead cover substantially as set out herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
19. A drumhead cover attachment means substantially as set out herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20.A drum substantially as set out herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. r</claim-text>