US20080116332A1

US20080116332A1 - Leg system for drums

Info

Publication number: US20080116332A1
Application number: US11/943,781
Authority: US
Inventors: Jan Roelof van der Meulen; Glen Caruba
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Pearl Musical Instrument Co
Priority date: 2006-11-21
Filing date: 2007-11-21
Publication date: 2008-05-22

Abstract

A drum is connected to a support leg by a connecting mechanism which includes a clamping bracket attached to the tubular lugs and a leg bracket attached to the leg member. The main clamping unit comprises an open-ended clamp adapted to be selectively positioned on a tubular lug of a drum body and securely tightened to immovably fix the clamping bracket relative to the drum. The leg bracket comprises an aperture adapted to receive the elongated rod of the leg member and a fixing mechanism to selectively secure the leg member relative to the clamping bracket. The main clamping unit is integrally fixed to the leg bracket through a main body portion of the clamping bracket. With the leg system of this invention, the legless drum may be supported in both a horizontal or vertical orientation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a structural improvement of connecting mechanism and leg system for a legless drum, particularly to a connecting mechanism for the connection of a retrofit support leg system to a legless drum.
2. Description of Related Art
The Brazilian Surdo drum is traditionally strapped to the player for marching. See FIG. 1. Sometimes, however, it is preferred to attach legs to such a legless drum thereby allowing stationary play. Also, there is a need for an adaptable leg system that can mount the drum in an upright position or horizontally for playing with a foot pedal like a traditional bass drum in a drum set.
Prior attempts to mount legs to a legless drum require installation holes to be drilled into the drum shell. When these prior leg systems are directly fixed on the drum, it affects the drum resonance, the drumming sound will become dull and inactive. These restrictive prior art systems typically are limited to a single orientation whereby the drum can only be positioned in one orientation.
The need therefore exists for a leg system that is selectively mounted to a drum body at the tubular lugs of a traditional drum used for tightening and tuning the drum head. The need also exists for a drum support system that provides a versatile, multi-orientation stand for the drum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the above shortcomings, and avoids the existence of drawbacks. The present invention provides a connecting mechanism located between the support leg stand and the tubular lugs of a legless drum, so there will be a proper distance between the drum and the floor, while permitted the drum to be mounted in a vertical or horizontal orientation.
The present invention provides a leg system for a drum comprising a leg member including an elongated rod and a resilient foot, and a clamping bracket for fixing the leg member to the drum. The clamping bracket includes a main clamping unit and a leg bracket. The main clamping unit comprises an open-ended clamp adapted to be selectively positioned on a tubular lug of a drum body and securely tightened to immovably fix the clamping bracket relative to the drum. The open-ended clamp has an adjustable opening to receive and accommodate tubular lugs of different sizes while the tubular lugs are mounted to a drum. The leg bracket comprises at least one aperture adapted to receive the elongated rod of the leg member and a fixing mechanism to selectively secure the leg member relative to the clamping bracket. In the referred embodiment, the main clamping unit is integrally fixed to the leg bracket through a main rigid body of the clamping bracket.
Moreover, the leg bracket may be configured to receive said elongated rod in at least first and second positions; the first position orienting the drum in a substantially vertical position, and the second position orienting the drum in a substantially horizontal position.
These and other benefits of the structure and function of the present invention will be apparent when viewed in light of the following description and associated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a prior art drum assembly.

FIG. 2 illustrates the prior art drum incorporating the leg system of this invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the clamping bracket according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the combination of the clamping bracket and tubular lug with the bracket mounted to support the drum in an upright orientation.

FIG. 5 illustrates the clamping bracket and leg system in the alternate horizontal orientation.

FIG. 6 illustrates the leg system mounted to the drum in the substantially horizontal or angled position.

FIG. 7 illustrates the leg member of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 2, the leg system 10 of the present invention will now be described. The leg system 10 comprises a leg member 12 including an elongated rod 14 and a resilient foot 16. The resilient foot 16 may take many forms and shapes; however, the preferred embodiment of the resilient foot 16 should have the specific configuration and benefits disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,981 which is hereby incorporated by reference. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated rod 14 is formed with a knurled section 15 to increase the frictional interrelation of the leg member 12 to the clamping bracket 20 as will be described in detail below.
The leg member 12 is selectively affixed to the drum 1 via the clamping bracket 20. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the clamping bracket 20 comprises a main clamping unit 22 and a leg bracket 26. The main clamping unit 22 includes an open-ended clamp 23 adapted to be selectively positioned on the tubular lug 2 of the drum body and securely tightened to immovably fix the clamping bracket 20 to the drum 1. The open-ended clamp 23 has an adjustable opening to receive and accommodate the tubular lugs 2 of different sizes while the tubular lugs 2 are mounted to the drum 1.
In the preferred embodiment, the open-ended clamp 23 includes a hook mechanism that grips onto the tubular lugs 2 on the drum 1. The width of the opening is adjustable via a j-shaped bolt 25 a having a wing nut 25 b threaded thereto to adjust the size of the opening. Of course, other types of fasteners may be employed in a manner that is known in the art. For example, the j-shaped bolt 25 a may be replaced with an eyebolt or other fastener. Likewise, the wing nut 25 b may be replaced by a hex nut that is adjusted by a drummer key that is known in the art.
The open-ended clamp 23 further includes at least one v-shaped notch 23 a that seats the leg member 12 in a sturdy position relative to the tubular lug 2 of the drum 1 as will be described in more detail below.
The leg bracket 26 includes at least one aperture 27 adapted to receive the elongated rod 14. A fixing mechanism is also provided on the leg bracket 26 to selectively secure the leg member 12 relative to the clamping bracket 20. In the preferred embodiment, the fixing mechanism includes an eyebolt 29 a and a wing nut 29 b threaded to the eyebolt 29 a to adjust the size of the opening 27 that receives the elongated rod 14. Of course, other types of fixing mechanisms and fasteners may be employed in a manner that is known in the art. For example, the eyebolt 29 a may be replaced with a j-shaped bolt such as described above with respect to the open-ended clamp. Likewise, the wing nut 29 b may be replaced by a hex nut that is adjusted by a drummer key that is known in the art.
In the preferred embodiment, the opening 27 is diamond-shaped to help seat the elongated rod 14 relative to the clamping bracket 20 when the fixing mechanism is tightened.
The main clamping unit 22 is integrally fixed to the leg bracket though a main rigid body 21 of the clamping bracket 20. In the preferred embodiment a single unitary piece of steel provides the main rigid body 21 defining the body of both the main clamping unit 22 and the leg bracket 26.
With reference to FIG. 4, the clamping bracket 20 is illustrated to mount the drum in the vertical position (see FIG. 2) on the tubular lug 2 whereby the leg bracket 26 is disposed in an upright orientation and the leg member 12 extends in a vertical direction. In this manner the drum is supported in its natural upright position. In short, the clamping bracket 20 attaches to the tubular lug 2, and the clamping bracket 20 can be positioned anywhere along the tubular lug 2 as needed to achieve stability and/or proper height. The leg member 12 passes through the upper diamond shaped opening 27, through the eyebolt 29 a, and through the lower diamond-shaped opening 27. The wing nut 29 b applies pressure to secure the leg member 12 in place. The leg member 12 can be positioned in and out relative to the leg bracket 26 to achieve a comfortable playing height for the instrument.
With three or more leg assemblies attached to the instrument, the instrument may be played like a drum set floor tom as shown in FIG. 2. It is important to note that with the leg system of this invention the instrument is height adjustable by moving the clamping bracket 20 along the tubular lugs 2 and/or by adjusting the position of the leg members 12 relative to the clamping bracket 20.
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the clamping bracket 20 is illustrated as mounted in an alternate angled or horizontal position relative to the tubular lug 2 whereby the leg bracket 26 is disposed in the same horizontal position as shown in FIG. 4; however, the leg member 12 is angled away from the vertical position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Specifically, the leg member 12 is mounted such that it passes through a first diamond-shaped opening 27, then through the eyebolt 29 a and abuts the v-shaped notch 23 a on the side of the leg bracket 26 to maintain the leg member 12 at an angled position. In this angled orientation shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the leg members 12 form outriggers to suspend the drum horizontally and prevent the drum from sliding forward. A foot pedal can be attached to the drum on the opposite side (not shown) to allow the drum to be played like a bass drum. Again, the leg members 12 may be extended and retracted in the clamping bracket 20 to achieve proper height of the drum. Likewise, the entire clamping bracket 20 may be moved forward or backward along the tubular lug to achieve the best stability and support for the drum in this angled orientation.
While the foregoing invention has been shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently claimed invention.

Claims

1. A leg system for a drum comprising:

a leg member;

a clamping bracket for fixing said leg member to said drum, said clamping bracket including a main clamping unit and a leg bracket,

said main clamping unit comprises an open-ended clamp adapted to be selectively positioned on a tubular lug of a drum body and securely tightened to immovably fix said clamping bracket relative to said drum, said open-ended clamp having an adjustable opening to receive and accommodate tubular lugs of different sizes while said tubular lugs are mounted to a drum,

said leg bracket comprising at least one aperture adapted to receive said elongated rod of said leg member and a fixing mechanism to selectively secure said leg member relative to said clamping bracket.

2. The leg system according to claim 1, wherein said main clamping unit is integrally fixed to said leg bracket through a main rigid body of said clamping bracket.

3. The leg system according to claim 1, wherein said leg bracket is configured to receive said elongated rod in at least first and second positions, said first position orienting said drum in a substantially upright position and said second position orienting said drum in a substantially horizontal position.

4. The leg system according to claim 1, wherein said open-ended clamp comprises a threaded hook threaded onto a first body, said threaded hook engages said tubular lug and is selectively tightened to immovably fix said clamping bracket relative to said drum.

5. The leg system according to claim 4, wherein said first body includes at least one notch facing said threaded hook to center the tubular lugs relative to the threaded hook and prevent twisting.

6. The leg system according to claim 4, wherein said first body is a u-shaped body with a main thread portion and two legs, each of said legs including said notch, with each said notch being aligned with one another.

7. The leg system according to claim 4, wherein said leg bracket comprises a threaded eye bolt receiving said elongated rod of said leg member, said eye bolt being tightened to secured said leg member relative to said main clamping unit.

8. The leg system according to claim 7, wherein said leg bracket comprising two parallel side walls, each said sidewall comprising said at least one aperture aligned with an opening in said eye bolt to receive said elongated rod passing through said apertures and said opening.

9. The leg system according to claim 7, wherein each said threaded eyebolt and said threaded hook comprise wing nut to adjust a position of said eyebolt and said threaded hook.

10. The leg system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one aperture is a diamond-shaped opening.

11. The leg system according to claim 8, wherein said two parallel walls of said leg bracket include aligned V-shaped notches adjacent said at least one aperture.

12. The leg system according to claim 1, wherein said leg member includes an elongated rod and a resilient foot.