US1809050A

US1809050A - Head for musical instruments

Info

Publication number: US1809050A
Application number: US341900A
Authority: US
Inventors: George H Logan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-02-23
Filing date: 1929-02-23
Publication date: 1931-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 1948-06-09

Description

June 9, 1931. G H, LOGAN 1,809,050

HEAD FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 23. 1929 INVENTOR Patented June 9, 1931 I H. LOGAN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA HEAD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application led February 23, 1929. Serial No. 341,900.

'unevenly so that there are areas under eX- cessive tension and areas which are under a condition of slacki so that the musical value of the instrument is lost.

For instruments emitting a heavy sound'or boom such as a bass drum, a head or cover comprising la ers of fabric suchas is shown in my Patent o. 1,018,767 granted February 27, 1912, may be utilized. As the tension applied to such cover is considerable, relatively thick layers of fabric must be utilized to withstand the strains imposed on th)J head.

When fabric layers are made suiliciently thick to withstand the strains to which they are subjected, they are incapable of emitting the higher or sharp tones characterizing Snarel drums, banjos an'd the like.

I provide a head or cover for musical instruments emitting a sharp or high tone in which'a layer of fabric and a'layer of skin are united by a glue. The thickness of the fabric is suiiicient to offer waterproofing protection-to the layer of skin and at'the same time carry some of the tension applied `to `the cover. However, the major portion of the tension is withstood by the layer of skin. The presence of the layer of fabric whichis uniformly secured to the layer of skin insures that the skin will keep its vshape'when subjected to slight moistening, which meistening would be suiicient to render the skin unsuitable for emitti sounds if no fabric were present. The combined thickness of the skin and fabric layer is suiiciently thin so that the head gives olf the sharp tone characterizing a snare drum, banjosand thelike, when struck shar blows or when subjected tothe vibration o strings such as snare strings and 50 the like. l

While the head or cover is particularly useful in musical instruments emitting a sharp sound it may also be applied to musical instrument-s having a deeper tone, such as bassl drums, tympana and the like. v

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain present preferred embodiments of the invention in which Figurel is a transverse sectional view of a drum embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a head or cover therefor;

Figure 3 is a similar view of a modified form of the invention; and Figure 4 is a similar View of a further modified form of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, amusical I instrument 2 in the form of a snare drum comprises a body 3 of cylindrical form terminating in beads 4 at its edges, clamping rings extending over the beads 4, and confining rims 6 on a head or cover 7. The heads 7 are placed at the opposite ends of the body 3 and are of similar construction. Lugs 8 are mounted on .the clamping rings. 5 and are provided with openings through which clamping bolts 9 extend. A turn buckle 10 is disposed between opposite pairs of bolts 9 for drawing the rings 5 inwardly of the drum. The inward movement ofthe 4rings 5 forces rims 6 of the heads 7 inwardly of the drum and tensions the alric of the heads 7 around the edges of the beads 4, in a manner well known in the art. As the quality of sound of the instrument is controlled in large part by the tension on the heads 7, considerable. pressure is applied to the rims 6.

One of the clamping rings. 5 is provided with openings 11 through which snare strings 12 extend. The snare strings 12 are held inl close engagement with the head 7 by aiixed bracket 14 and a movable bracket 15. The bracket 15 may be actuated by any one of a number of mechanisms which are wellknown in the art and which constitute no part of the present invention. Upon tlre` tightening of the bracket 15 the snare strings, 11 are brought into tight engagement withy the head 7 so that the vibrations ofthe snare externally of the fabric, Athe fabric keeps strings are imparted to the head for producing the desired sound from the drum.

Referring to Figure 2,. the head 7 comprises a thin inner layer 16 of skin, and an outer thin layer of fabric 17. Calfskin is often used for such instruments and linen or silk are used'as a fabric. The skin and fabric are united by a weatherproof bonding agent or by a glue. One form of glue which can be used for such purposes is described in my prior patent. 1t is to be understood, however, that other types of skins, fabrics and glues may be used in lieu of calf skin, linen or silk and the glue described in my prior patent within the spirit of the present invention as the foregoing specific materials are mentioned as examples and not as limitations of the invention. The fabric and skin are looped around the rim 6 and glued thereto. The complete head and rim are self supporting when removed from the drum body.

However, when pressure is applied to the rim 6, in order to draw the head over a drum bead 4, the head becomes Avery taut in order to develop. the sharp sounds such as dii'erentiate a snare drum or banjofrom a deep boom of a bass drum or tympanum. However, it is to be understood that the head or cover of the present invention may be used on bass drums, tympana and the like.

When the head is stretched taut, the thin layer of skin withstands'most of the tension. The layer of fabric serves as a waterproofing protector for the skin and also strengthens the head. At the same time the combined thickness of fabric and skinl layers is not the desired lsharp tones. vWhere layers of such as to interfere with the production of fabric permits the playing of the instrument in wet Weather and even in rain without causing the skin to stretch or warp the drum.

Referring to Figure 3, in a modified form of the vinvention the head 7. is formed by placing the layer 16""of skin exterior to a layer 17 of fabric.v This form of the invention is otherwise the same as the form illusf tratedin Figure 2. When the skin is placed the skin in a serviceable condition even though it becomes. somewhat moist.

Referring to Figure'll, a head 7 vner layer 18 of fabric and an outer layer 19 of fabric. This form of the invention is particularly useful for heavier instruments such comprises a layer of skln 16" interposed betweenan in-v present preferred embodiments of the invenl tion, it is to be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A head for a musical instrument com- A of fabric and means -for securing the material and fabric to each other.

3. A head for a snare drum comprising a layer of skin, a layer of fabric, and glue for securing the skin and fabric to each other. 4. A material for use as a vibratory diaphragm for musical instruments comprising a layer of skin, a layer offabric and a bonding agent for securing 4the skin and fabric to each other.

5. A material for use as a head for a musical instrument emitting sharp tones comprising a thinlayer of skin, a thin layer of fabric and bonding means for securing the sln and fabric to each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y l GEORGE H. LOGAN.