US1609940A - Tension means for drumheads - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7 1926.

0. GEISLER TENSION MEANS FOR DRUMHEADS Filed Oct. a. 1924 INVENTOR w=\ av BY M d ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

U NI TED: STATE S OTTO GEISLER, F CI'IICAGO;'ILLINOI'S.

TENSION MEANS FOR DRUIvIHEADS.

Application filed October 8, 1924.

My invention relates to improvements in tension means for drumheads, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An objectof my invention isto provide a tension means for drum heads in which the tension of the batter head. and the snare head. may be adjusted independently, of one an. other. This is especially-necessary when the batter and snare heads are of unequal thickness or strength. ln-theordinarytype of drum, it is a commonexperience to find that the batter head has caused .an unnatural stretching of the snare head. due to the fact that the tension means for the batter and snare heads have common connecting elements.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described by means of which either the.batterv orsnare heads may be adjusted or removed without in any way affecting the tension .of the re maining head in place upon theshell.

A further obj eet of my invention is to providea device of the character described in which that area encon'ipassing the mid portion of the circumferential outer surface of. the shell is entirely unobstructed, thereby presenting not only a pleasing appearance, but providing-a smooth surface which in the. larger types of drums are apt to bear upon the uniform orv coat of the person supporting the drum.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character, described which is extremely rigid. due to the fact that a portion of the tension device is fashioned ntegral with the shellof the drum. and all possibilityof movement relative to the shell thereby precluded.-.

A further object of my invention is to provide device of the type described that is simple in construction. that may be easily operated, that holds its adjustment with a high degree of efficiency, and which is thoroughly practical for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view through a Serial No. 742,462.

drum equipped. with my improved tension means,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view transverse to thesection shown in Figure 1, Figures is a fragmentary sectional view of amodified form of my invention,

Figured is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of my invention, Figure is a viewalong the line, 5-5. of Figured, and i I Figureti is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modification of my invention. 111,.carrying out my inventionl make use of a metal. annular drum shell 1. I prefer to construct this shell of aluminum or other alloy which is rigid and light in weight. The shell 1 is provided with the ordinary type of batter head 2 and snare head preferably of a high quality of calf.

The heads 2 and 3 are held in place upon the shell 1 by means of hoops 4t. and 5 having outwardly extending radial flanges 6 and 7, respectively, at theinner ends thereof. A plurality of tension. members 8 are proiected through. suitable openings provided through the flanges Sand 7. These tension members 8 have hook members at the innermost ends thereof, and are threaded on the opposite ends 10, (see Figure 2). Threaded adjusting ,nuts 11 are disposed upon the threaded portions of the members 8 on the outermost sides of the flanges 6 and 7. kl

A pairof. spaced apart, annular, radially extending, parallel flanges 12 are carried integral witl the shell, and extend from the outer sur ice thereof at equal distances from the mid point of the shell. These flanges are L-shaped in cross section and are disposed with'one side 13 parallel with outerside wall of the shell and with that side perpendicular to the shell disposed toward the hoops 4 and 5, respectively. The radially extending parallel flanges 12 are formed integral with the drum shell 1 as shown in Figure 2. The entire shell with the lugs 12 is manufactured by the die-casting process. 7

The hook portions 9 of the members 8 are fashioned to engage with the flanges 12 and to partially overlie the portions 13 of the flanges (see Figure 2).

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. In adjusting the heads in a drum equipped with my improved tension means the batter head and the snare head are first adjusted to a point as near as possible to the proper tension. This is done by turning the threaded adjusting nuts 11, thus drawing the hoops 1 and 5 respectively toward the mid point of the shell 1 and stretching the heads. In the ordinary type of drum when the batter head or the snare head is adjusted, the remaining head is necessarily stretched or loosened either way depending upon the adjustment applied to the head in question. It is readily apparent therefore that there is a constant tendency toequalize tension of the two heads in the ordinary type of drum. Assuming, for the moment, that these heads are of the same strength and thickness it is still necessary that the batter head be adjusted with greater tension than the snare head. This is due to the "fact that some of the force imparted to the batter head is lost in transmission from that head to the snare head of the drum. For this reason the batter head is usually given a little more tension than the snare head in order to transmit the stroke in full and still retain suflicient force to properly rebound the sticks.

However, in the present day type of drum, the batter head is constructed of tougher. heavier material than the snare head, thus making it absolutely essential for eflicient operation to have the adjustment tension of the two heads: entirely separate, and accomplished by suitable means. This I have accomplished in the provision of the tension means described in the foregoing pages.

Another very important advantage attained is that either head may be removed and replaced without in any way altering the adjustment of that head remaining upon the shell.

In Figure 3 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which I employ a single flange to take the place of the pair of radially extending flanges 12 shown at 14. This flange 1a. is substantially T-shaped in cross section, thus permitting the hook portions 9 of the members 8 to be engaged with the flanges from either side. This construction of course necessitates the use of members 8 eoasao which are slightly longer than the type shown in Figure 2, but the operation in adjusting the heads is precisely the same. This construction is especially advantageous in narrow shells.

In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a further modification of my invention in which I eliminate the annular flanges 12 and supply therefor radially extending lugs 15 substantially L-shaped in cross section (see Figure 4.) with which the hook members 9 of the members 8 are permitted to engage in the manner shown in Figure 41. This modification of my invention is especially useful when extreme lightness in the shell is desired. In Figure 6 I have shown still a further modification of my invention in which I employ radially extending lugs 16 having bores 17 therethrough parallel with the outer surface and axis of the shell 1. T his form of my inventionis employed with a tension member which does not contain the hook portion '9, but instead an enlarged head portion 18 for eliminating the movement of the lug through the flanges 6.

\Vith reference to Figures 3 and 4. of the drawings, it will be noted that the flange 14 and the lugs 15 are formed integral with the shell 1. In this form of the invention the flange and lugs are cast with the shell by a die-casting process.

I claim:

A drum comprising a shell having outwardly extending annular flanges, the flanges having outer portions bent at right angles and extending toward each other, thereby providing grooves facing one an other, a batter head covering one end of said shell and a snare head covering the other end of said shell, hoops binding said heads to said shell, said hoops havingoutwardly eX tending flanges with openings therein, tension members disposed in said openings and ha 'ing hook-shaped portions receivable in said grooves and bearing against the walls of said shell flanges, said hook-shaped por tions being spaced from each other, and means carried by said tension members and disposed opposite to said hoop portions for moving the hoops toward each other for increasing the tension upon said heads.

OTTO GEISLER.

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