US1769551A - Drum - Google Patents

Description

B. SCHWARTZ July 1, 1930.

DRUM

Filed May 2, 1929 gwuentoz Patented July 1, 1930 PATENT OFFICE- BENJAMIN SCHWARTZ, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA DRUM Application filedMay 2, 1929. Serial No. 359,747.

This invention relates to instruments of the drum species consisting of a hollow cylinder with vellum or skin stretched over the open end or ends, to be beaten with sticks;

and more particularly to a novel construction of device simulating in use that type commonly termed side, trap, and small kettledruins.

An object of my invention is to provide 1 an instrument that in tonal effect simulates a side or trap drum, but which in appearance somewhat resembles a pear-shaped mandolin; and, incident to such formation is rendered compact and portable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a musical instrument of the typified character which is played with the fingers of the ri ht or left hand without employment of stic s or other implements.

:10 A further object is the provision of a novel form of musical instrument possessing all the tonal characteristics of a side or trap drum, which is cheap to manufacture, effective in use, and that provides a useful out- ;45 let for worn and discarded phonograph disc records.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view my invention embraces the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, and more specifically defined by the subjoined claims.

In the drawings 2- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one practical form of my novel musical instrument.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same, with the major portion of the neck in elevation; and,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view hereinafter fully explained.

l0 In accordance with the typified embodiment of my invention, which is to be considered purely exemplary, I take an ordinary sheet metal hollow hemisphere or pan 5,

preferabl although not essentially, of aluminum; t 1e peripheral edge whereof is evenly beaded over at 6 to substantially round section, and the base inwardly dished at 7.

Conveniently attached to the pan 5, as by screws 8, is a handle or neck 9, which for at- ;a tractiveness is shaped as shown, and which 14, it is to be remarked, I preferably util ze old and discarded phonograph records and coat them on the face to be exposed with a thin film of shellac varnish 15Fig. 3, or both sides thereof may be similarly finished and the former artistically ornamented to lend attractiveness to the instrument. In 7 like manner the outer surface of the pan 5, as well as the neck or handle 9, may be varnished and embellished by suitable designs. The clamp screw 13 is of a size to snugly pass through the usual central orifice 16 in the record 14, and the latter is engaged by the head 17 thereof, clamping adjustment being effected through the medium of a wing nut 18 engaging the threaded shank of said screw; while the tubular sleeve 11 is steadied and maintained in correct vertical position by means of a base flange 19 engaging the dished portion 7 of the pan 5, in an obvious manner.

It is also to be particularly remarked that the upper diameter of the pan 5 is such so that the disc 14 seats thereon proximate its circumferential edge as clearly shown in Fig. 2; and that when clampingly adjusted bythe wing nut 18 said disc is slightly dished downwardly or inwards toward the interior of the pan 5. This feature is deemed of importance as it effectively prevents lateral displacement of the disc 14, while always ensuring that contact with the 96 pan bead 6 shall be evenly distributed over the round section surface of said bead; or, in effect I establish an air tight connection between the disc 14 and pan 5 that enables an adequate volume of sound when the in- 100 strument is played by the user. Furthermore, it is also to be noted that variation in the sonorousness of the instrument is regulated by tightening-up or slackening the wing nut 18; while the resonance is effectively maintained incident to transmission of the vibrations from the diaphragm 14when struck by the players fingersthrough the spring 12 to the aluminum wall of the pan 5, which I have found serves as an excellent resonator.

From the foregoing, it is thought that my invention will be well understood without further elaboration herein other than to remark that a skilful player, by easily cultivated manipulation of the fingers in striking the diaphragm 1a, readily produces any side or trap drum selection or orchestral accompaniment; and that the instrument is held, by the one hand, like an ordinary mandolin, banjo or guitar, against the body and played by the fingers of the other hand with the wrist limply maintained.

Finally, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not limit myself in any sense to the form of the body or pan 5, as I have obtained equally good results with other designs or shapes thereof; and hence the right is hereby reserved to make such changes or variations as are reasonably encompassed by the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A drum comprising a hollow metal body; a non-metallic disc seating on the perimetric edge of said body; and means clamping such disc to the body with capacity for flexure relative thereto.

2. A drum comprising a hollow sheet metal body; a disc seating on the perimetric edge of said body; and means clamping such disc proximate its circumferential edge to the body with capacity for adjustable flexure thereinto.

3. A drum comprising a hollow sheet metal hemisphere having a beaded periphery; a disc seating on said beaded periphery proximate its circumferential edge; and means clamping the disc to the hemisphere with capacity for adjustable flexure thereinto.

a. A drum, comprising a hollow sheet aluminum pan having a round-section peripheral bead; a disc seating on said bead proximate its circul'nferential edge; a tubular sleeve secured within and to the base of the pan housing a helical spring; and a clamp bolt co-axially passing through the aforesaid disc, spring and pan bottom, with means whereby said spring is normally held under compression and the disc is adjustably flexed into the pan; for the purpose specified.

,Signed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., this 29th day of April, 1929.

BENJAMIN SCHWARTZ.

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