US2173443A

US2173443A - Single dial tension for bass drums

Info

Publication number: US2173443A
Application number: US146941A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schuman Fred
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-06-07
Filing date: 1937-06-07
Publication date: 1939-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1956-09-19

Description

Sept. 19,` 1939. F. scHUMAN 2,173,443

SINGLE DIAL TENSION FOR BASS DRUMS Filed June '7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EYS Sept. 19, 1939.

F. SCHUMAN Filed June 7, 193.7

SINGLE DIAL TENSION FOR BASS D RUMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR B' @wg/amr@ ATTORN EY'S Patented sept. 19, 1939 2,173,443

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SINGLE DIAL TENSION FOR BASS DRUMS Fred Schuman, McGregor, Mich.

Application June 7, 1937, Serial No. 146,941 4 Claims. (Cl. 84-411) This invention relates to drum tensioning deincluding shaft sections I3 and I4 rotatably sup-- vices and has for the primary object the proported by a pair of spaced bearings I5 carried vision of a device of this character which inby the shell, one being threaded for the com-1 cludes -a plurality of improved tensioning elepanion shaft I3. One of the shaft sections has 5 ments and an operating means connected thereto, a socket I6 provided with angularly related walls 5 whereby all of said tensioning elements may be to receive an extension I'I on the section I3. The simultaneously operated to increase or decrease extension I'I has angularly related faces to match the tension on the drum heads, which saves time the angularly related Walls of the socket I6 so in the adjustment of a drum and permits such that the shaft sections are slidably connected i work to be more readily and accurately accomand held against rotation relative to each other. 10 plished. A sleeve I8 loosely houses the inner ends of the With these and other objects in view, this inshaft sections I3 and I4, being arranged between vention consists in certain novel features of conthe bearing I and suitably held in this position struction, combination and arrangement of parts while the threads of one of each pair of the said to be hereinafter more fully described and bearings matches screw threads I9 on each shaft 15 claimed. section I3. The bearing of the clamp IU engage- For a complete understanding of my invenable with one of the hoops or bands has journalefi tion, reference is to be had to the following detherein a sleeve 29 having feed threads meshscription and accompanying drawings, in which ing with feed threads 2l of the shaft section I4.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view illustrating a The sleeve 20 is held against endwise movement 20 drum equipped With a tensioning device conin its respective bearing in one direction by a structed in accordance with my invention. flange 22. The shaft section I3 is journaled in Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating the the bearing II and has secured thereto a gear 23. same. Sprocket gears 24 are journaled on the flange g5 Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 of one of the hoops or bands 3 and have the 25 3 3 of Figure 1 sprocket chain 9 trained thereover, being at the Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line outermost sides of the said gears 24. A gear 25 4 4 of Figure 1. has a pinion 25 which meshes with the gear 23 Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line While the said gear 25 meshes with a pinion 24 5-5 of Figure 4. joined with the gear 24 so that the rotation of 30 Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line the shaft 6 by the hand wheel 'I in one direction 6 6 of Figure 4. will bring about adjustment of the shaft sections Figure 7 is a perspective View of one of the I3 and I4 toward each other to increase the tenguide rollers. sion on the drum heads and on rotation of the Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical transverse shaft 6 in an opposite direction the tension on 35 sectional view through the drum. the drum heads will be reduced. By the tension- Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation looking toing shafts I2, through simultaneous adjustment ward one of the finger pieces. thereof, permits a drum to be tensioned evenly,

Referring in detail to the drawings, the nuaccurately and quickly.

meral I indicates -a shell of a drum, 2, the heads Guide rollers 26 are journaled on stud axles 26 40 of the drum and 3 head securing hoops or bands of brackets 26 adjustably mounted on the flange to which the heads 2 are secured and each in- 4 of one of the hoops or bands 3 and these rollers clude a. supporting flange 4 partly overlying the 26 engage the sprocket chain 9 at opposite sides head adjacent thereto. Bearings 5 carried by of the sprocket gear 8'. The sleeves 20 have ating shaft 6 provided at one end with a hand oted thereto which may be brought into posiwheel I and with a gear 8 at its opposite end. tion to permit a person to adjust the tension- The gear 8 through a transfer gear 9' operates a ing elements or shafts I2 independently of each sprocket gear 8' over which travels an endless other, the springs for these finger pieces being Clamps IIJ separably engage with the periphposition engage with the clamps I0 next thereto eral edges of the hoops or bands 3 and are prefso as to hold the sleeves rotatably supported in erably evenly spaced an equal distance about the journals II against turning movement for the the drum and have formed thereon journals II effectiveness of the simultaneous adjustment of the hoops or bands rotatably support an operspring pressed snap jointed finger pieces 21 piv- 45:

sprocket chain 9. indicated at 2l. 'Ihese finger pieces when in one 50 to rotatably support tensioning shafts I2, each the tensioning shafts. Now when it is desired to 55 make adjustment of one of these shafts individually, the finger piece 2'! Will be freed from the engagement with the clamp if] so that it can be manually operated for the turning of the sleeve 2] and thus independent adjustment with respect to one of the tensioning shafts can be accomplished by manual manipulation of the finger piece 2T for the rotation of the sleeve 2l). Cine of each pair of bearings l5 has tted therein a bushing l5 being iiXed by a retaining screw l5.

What is claimed is:

l. A tensioning device for a drum having a shell, drum heads mounted thereon and adjustable hoops for the said heads, comprising extensible and contractible rotatable tensioning elements disposed concentrically of and outside of said shell and each having intertted shaft sections, one shaft section of each tensioning element having a socket provided with angularly related Walls, extensions formed on the other shaft section of each tensioning element received in said socket and having faces shaped to match the angularly related Walls, clamps engaging said hoops and having connection with said tensioning elements, sprocket gears associated with one of the hoops and having operative connection with certain of the shaft sections of said tensioning elements, an endless chain fitting the sprocket gear, and a single hand-operated means associated with one of the sprocket gears for imparting movement to the said chain.

2. A tensioning device for a drum having a shell, drum heads mounted thereon and adjustable hoops for the said heads, comprising bearings carried by said shell, extensible and contractible rotatable tensioning elements journaled in said bearings and each having interrltted shaft sections, one shaft section of each tensioning element having a socket provided With angularly related Walls, an extension formed on the other shaft section of each tensioning element received in said socket and having faces shaped to match the angularly related Walls, clamps engaging said hoops, bearings formed on said clamps and the bearings of the clamps engageable with one of the hoops rotatably supporting certain of the shaft sections, sleeves journaled in the bearings of the clamps engageable with the other hoops and threaded onto the other shaft sections of said tensioning elements, sprocket gears associated With one of the hoops and having operative connection with certain of the shaft sections, a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket gears, and a single operating means associated with Yone of the sprocket gears for driving the sprocket chain.

3. A tensioning device for a drum having a shell, drum heads mounted thereon and adjustable hoops for the said heads, comprising bearings carried by said shell, extensible and contractible rotatable tensioning elements journaled in said bearings and each having intertted shaft sections, one shaft section of each tensioning element having a socket provided with angularly related Walls, an extension formed on the other shaft section of each tensioning element received in said socket and having faces shaped to match the angularly related Walls, clamps engaging said hoops, bearings formed on said clamps and the bearings of the clamps engageable with one of the hoops rotatably supporting certain of the shaft sections, sleeves journaled in the bearings of the clamps engageable With the other hoops and threaded onto the other shaft sections of said tensioning elements, sprocket gears associated with one of the hoops and having operative connection with certain of the shaft sections, a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket gears, a single operating means associated with one of the sprocket gears for driving the sprocket chain, and means associated with certain of the clamps for individual adjustment of the same independently of the tensioning elements.

4. A tensioning device for a drum having a shell, drum heads mounted thereon and adjust-- able hoops for the said heads, comprising bearings carried by said shell, extensible and contractible rotatable tensioning elements journaled in said bearings and each having interfitted shaft sections, one shaft section of each tensioning element having a socket provided With angularly related Walls, an extension formed on the other shaft section of each tensioning element received in said socket and having faces shaped to match the angularly related Walls, clamps engaging said hoops, bearings formed on said clamps and the bearings of the clamps engageable with one of the hoops rotatably supporting certain of the shaft sections, sleeves journaled in the bearings of the clamps engageable With the other hoops and threaded onto the other shaft sections of said tensioning elements, 'sprocket gears associated with one of the hoops and having operative connection with certain of the shaft sections, a sprocket chain connecting said sprocket gears, a single operating means associated With one of the sprocket gears for driving the sprocket chain, means associated with certain of the clamps for individual adjustment of the same independently of the tensioning elements, and means for permitting adjustment of the last-named means for holding the same against individual adjustment thereof independently of the tensioning elements4 FRED SCHUL/IAN.