US3289520A

US3289520A - Drum practice device

Info

Publication number: US3289520A
Application number: US509396A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allan R Simpson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-11-23
Filing date: 1965-11-23
Publication date: 1966-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-06

Description

Dec. 6, 1966 A, R, SlMPSON 3,289,520

DRUM PRACTICE DEVICE Filed NOV. 25, 1965 i 1 l i 1 l l 1 l INVENTOR.

Hua/1v R. S 199195011 BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,289,520 DRUM PRACTICE DEVICE Allan R. Simpson, 5656 Spring Lake Road NW., Canton, Ohio Filed Nov. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 509,396 5 Claims. (Cl. 84--411) My invention relates to improvements in drum practice devices, and more specifically to a combination drum practice device which may be used in various positions for developing different parts of the technique for learning the proper art of rhythmic drumming. Even more specifically, my invention relates to a drum practice dev-ice which may be used in an assembled position for practicing the usual rhythmic drumming techniques, and may be used in a -collapsed position 'for developing the technique of maintaining drumsticks in a relatively small target area, or to develop and strengthenwrist and arm movement, all of which `are require-d for proper rhythmic drumming.

Certain prior constructions lof drum practice devices have been 'fomed with relatively large practice pads constructed to simulate the resiliency 4of a drumhead when struck in the usual drumming fashion by drumsticks. In the use of these practice pads, due to the relatively large surface area possible to be struck by the drumsticks, certain major parts of proper rhythmic drumming technique are not taught nor required.

For instance, in proper rhythmic drumming technique it is necessary that .the portion of the drumhead -normally struck by the drumsticks .be a relatively small conned area, such as slightly larger than a silver dollar.

Also it is necessary to strengthen arm and wrist muscles and to develop a particular proper wrist action if proper rhythmic drumming is to be accomplished. The usual practice pad discussed above will develop this muscular action to an extent, but it has been found that special forms -of development can be accomplished much more quickly and satisfactorily from those which can be accomplished in using the usual practice pad.

It is, therefore, a lgeneral object -of the present invention to provide a drum practice device which may be used to more quickly and easily develop all od the various phases and techniques of proper rhythmic drumming as discussed above.

It is a primary object `of the present invention to provide a ydrum practice device which may include a usual drum practice pad, a target member for developing the technique of striking the drum in a confine-d area, and a wrist development mem-ber for strengthening arms `and wrists yfor drumming, as Well as developing proper wrist action for drumming.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a .drum practice devi-ce which may be used in an assembled posit-ion 4for providing practice with the usual practice pad, and may be used in a collapsed position for either practicing .tanget drumming as described in the foregoing, or arm and wrist development drumming as described in the foregoing.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a drum practice device including at least a target member having a relatively 4small exposed .surface area, preferably raised from a supporting surface, for practicing proper target drumming as described in the foregoing Finally, it is an object 4of the present invention to provide a drum practice device which satisfies all of the -fore- 3,289,520 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 going objects in a relatively simple and e'lcient manner and may be provided at a minimum of cost.

These and Iother objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and subcombinations comprising the present invention, a prefer-red embodiment of which-illustrative of the best mode in w-hich applicant has contemplated applying the principl'es--is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed yout and set forth in the appended claims Iforming a part hereof.

In general terms, the drum practice device comprising the present Ainvention may be stated as including the combination of a pad-target member, a base member, and a wrist development member constructed and arranged to cooperate for supporting a usual relatively lange surface area practice pad in proper practicing position when these members are in an assembled position, and for exposing and properly supporting yfor practicing use a target having a relatively small coniined `area -and an impact absorbing member 'for use -in developing muscle strength and wrist action require-d for proper rhythmic drumming. Furthermore, the invention may include the hinged connection of these various pad-target, base and wrist development members in such a manner that the members may be quickly and easily changed between assembled and collapsed positions, yet in either position will perform efficiently for the intended uses.

Still `further according to the principles of the present invention, the drum practice `device may include at least a target member preferably having a pedestal for supporting a relatively small resilient material pad spaced upwar-dly from a main supporting surface, whereby, lif the relatively small resilient pad is missed when it is attempted to strike the sam-e with drumsticks, .such missing will be readily apparent.

By way of example, an embodiment of the improved drum practice device of the present invention is illustrate-d in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals indicate similar part-s throughout the sever-al views, and in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation showing the drum practice device of lthe present invention in assembled position;

FIG. 2, a top plan view of the drum practice device in assembled position;

FIG. 3, an end elevati-on `of the drum practice device in assembled position, looking in the direction of the afrrows 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, a side elevation of the drum practice device in collapsed position; and

FIG. 5, atop plan view of the drum practice device in collapsed position.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment ofthe drum practice device of the present invention illustrated includes a pad-target member, lgenerally indicated at 10, having a pad side 11 and target side 12, a base member, generally indicated at 13, having an inner side 14 and outer side 15, and a wrist ydevelopment member, generally indicated at 16, having an inner .side 17 and outer side 18. Each of the pad-target, base and

wrist development members

10, 13 and 16 is preferably generally rectangular, with the padta'rget and

base members

10 and 13 preferably being of substantially equal size, and the wrist devel-'opment member 16 4of a smaller size, as shown.

Furthermore, each of the pad-target, base and Wrist development members .115, 13 and 16 is formed :for the main part preferably of wood with the pad-target member pad side 11, the base member outer side 15 and the wrist development member `outer side 18` preferably being covered by a relatively thin impact resistant and scar resistant material of any commercially available type. The padtarget member target side 12, the base member inner side 14 and the wrist development member inner side 17 are preferably exposed wood surfaces except for the various attachments thereto as will be hereinafter described.

The pad-target member has an end surface 19 hingedly connected through a piano-type hinge 20 to an end surface 21 4of base member 13. Pad-target member 10 also has an opposite end surface 22 hingedly connecte-d through .a piano-type hinge 23 to an end surface 24 of the wrist development member 16.

At the end 25 of the base member 13 opposite from the pad-target member 10, a normally upwardly opening notch 26 is formed as shown 'in FIG. 1, preferably extending across the width of base mem-ber 13 and having the lower surface thereof covered vwith a soft material pad such as the felt pad 27. Furthermore, when the drum practice device of the present invention is in assembled .position as shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, the end 28 of the wrist development member 16 opposite from the pad-target member 10 is received downwardly in this notch 26 resting against the felt pad 27, thereby retaining the Various members in the assembled position shown.

In this assembled position, the pad-target member 10 extends angularly upwardly at an acute angle in the order of 20 to 25, preferably approximately 22, from the base member end surface 21 to the wrist development member end surface 24, the base member 13 extends substantially horizontally between the pad-target 4member end surface 19 and wrist development member end 28, and the wrist development member 16 extends generalily vertically between the pad-target member end surface 22 and the base member end 25.

Thus, the pad-target, base and

wrist development members

10, 13 and 16 in assembled position present a rightangle triangular configuration as viewed in side elevation and shown in FIG. l, all interconnected by the

various hinges

20 and 23, and notch 26, maintaining the pad-target member in the angular position described and shown.

A practice .pad 29 is mounted substantially centrally on the pad-target member pad side 11 so that when the pad-target member 1l) is in assembled position, the practice pad 29 has a relatively large exposed surface area 30 facing `angularly upwardly. This practice pad 29 is formed of a resilient material, such as rubber o1 plastic, and is of thickness and resiliency so as to simulate the approximate resiliency of a normal drumhead when struck by drumsticks in the usual drumming fashion. It is preferred that this practice pad 29 will have 4a surface area 30 having a diameter in the order of six inches.

A preferably wooden pedestal 31 is mounted substantially centrally on the pad-target member target side 12 extending angularly downwardly, as shown in FIG. l, when the pad-target ymember 10` is in assembled position. This pedestal 31 preferably includes a cylindrical portion 32 having the axis thereof positioned :at substantially a right-angle to the pad-target member target side 12 and extending downwardly from this target side, and a frusto-conical portion 33 preferably integral with and extending co-axially downwardly from the cylindrical portion 32.

A resilient material target pad 34 is mounted preferably substantially covering the circular end surface 35 of the frusto-conical portion 33 on `pedestal 31 with the exposed surface area 36 of the target pad 34 being preferably circular. Furthermore, both the pedestal 31 and the target pad 34 are spaced considerably smaller than the size of the practice pad 29 so that the exposed surface area 35 to target pad 34 is only a fraction of the exposed surface area 30 of practice pad 29 or in the order of one and three-quarters to two inches in diameter, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. Tar-get pad 34 is, however, of substantially the same resiliency and thickness, and may be formed of the same resilient material, as practice pad 29 so as to have the resilient qualities approximating the resiliency of a usual -drum-head when struck by drumsticks.

Again referring to FIG. 1, directly underlying the downward angularly projecting pedestal 31 on the pad-target member 19, the base member 13 is formed with a circular Opening 37 completely therethrough and preferably off a dia-meter slight-ly larger than the pedestal cylindrical portion 32 on pad-target member 10. Opening 37 extending downwardly through the base mem-ber 13 between the base member inner and

outer sides

14 and 15 is positioned such that when the pad-target member 10 is moved hingedly downwardly from assembled position yas shown in FIG. 1 to a reversed collapsed position as shown in FIG. 4, the pedestal 31 on pad-target member 10* will pass partially through the opening 37 until the pad-target Imember target side 12 abuts the base member inner side 14, thereby placing the base member 13 surrounding the pedestal cylindrical portion 32 and locating the pedestal frusto-conical portion 33 and target pad 34 spaced from the base member outer side 15, that is, the exposed surface area 36 and target pad 34 spaced above the base member outer side 15, as viewed in FIG. 4, again for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The wrist development member 16 has a preferably generally rectangular impact absorbing pad 38 mounted on the inner surface 17 thereof and covering all but a small edge portion of this inner side 17, so that when the wrist development member 16 is in assembled position as shown in FIG. 1, this impact absorbing pad 38 projects generally toward `the pad-target and

base members

10 and 13, as does the wrist development member inner side 17. This impact absorbing pad 38 is formed of a somewhat resilient material, but yet a material which will greatly absorb the impact of drumsticks if drummed in the usual fashion against this material. For instance, the material of this impact absorbing pad 38 may be of a foam rubber type and of a thickness such that the impact absorbing qualities described will be provided for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A relatively small support pad 39 is mounted preferably substantially centrally on the wrist development member outer side 18 projecting away from this louter `side approximately the same distance as the projection of the practice pad 29 away from the pad-target member pad side 11. This support pad 39 may be formed of any somewhat cushioning material, and for convenience sake, may be formed of the same material and thickness as the practice pad 29 on pad-target member 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, when the pad-target, base and

wrist development members

10, 13 and 16 are in assembled position, the practice'pad 29 on the pad-target member 10 projects angularly upwardly and this practice pad may be used for the usual drum-ming practice. In this assembled position, the target pad 34 on the pad-target member 10, as well as the impact absorbing pad 38 on the wrist development member 15, obviously cannot be used.

As hereinbefore stated, although the relatively large practice pad 29 may be beneficially used for teaching the fundamentals of drumming, there are other portions of proper drumming technique, and there is a certain amount of arm and wrist development required, which cannot be effectively taught and developed in use of this relatively large practice pad 29.

For the teaching and practice of these other techniques and developments, the pad-target, base and

wrist development members

10, 13 and 16 are moved to collapsed position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This movement to collapsed position is accomplished by disengaging the 31 moves upwardly through the ope-ning 37 'in base member notch 26 and hingedly :moving the wrist development member 16 outwardly so as to 'be endwise aligned with the pad-target member 10.

Thereafter, all three of the pad-target, base and Wrist

development members

10, 13 and 16 are turned over, the base member 13 moved hingedly toward the padtarget member 10, while the pad-target member pedestal 31 moves upwardly thro-ugh the opening 37 in base member pedestal 31 rnoves upwardly through the opening 37 in base member 13. In the final collapsed position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base member inner side 14 abuts the pad-target member target side 12, while the base member surrounds the :pedestal cylindrical portion 32 and the target pad 34 is spaced above the base member outer side 15 -being upwardly exposed. At the same time, the wrist development member 16, bein-g of the same thickness as the pad-target membe-r 10 is endwise aligned with this pad-target mem-ber, the impact absorbing pad 3S projects upwardly from wrist development member inner side 17, and the support pad 39 on wrist development member 16 projects downwardly aligned with practice pad 29 on the pad-target member pad side 11.

The drumming technique taught by use of the target pad 34 if drum practice device is in this collapsed position is that of maintaining the ends of the drumsticks wit-hin a relatively small confined area during drumming. This target pad 34, having a relatively small exposed surface area 36, presents a relatively small target to be struck by the drumsticks, and obviously, if during such drumming this target pad 34 is missed by a drumstick, the drumstick will drop downwardly against the base outer side 15, land suc-h dropping will be readily apparent to a student.

In this same collapsed position of the drum practice device of the present invention, the impact absorbing lpad on the wrist development member 16 may be used to develop wrist and arm muscles and proper movement. Since this impact absorbing pad 3S has major impact absorbing qualities rather than resilient qualities, it is necessary for the student during drumming to actually raise the ends of the drumsticks by using wrist and arm muscles and movement, so that such muscle development and proper movement is taught.

Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, the drum practice device serves as a three-way practice device developing the various phases of rhythmic drum techniques required.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness tand understanding but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described herein is by way Iof example tand the scope of the present invention is not lim-ited to the exact details of construction shown.

Having now described the invention, the construction, operation and use of a preferred embodiment thereof, and

the advantageous new and useful results obtained theretending at an acute angle between an end of the base member and an end of the wrist development member when in assembled position with the pad side facing anguliarly upwardly, the base member extending horizontally between an end of the pad-target member and an end of the wrist development member when in assembled position with the inner side facing upwardly and the outer side facing downwardly, the wrist development member extending generally vertically between an end of the padtarget member and an end of the base member when in assembled position with the inner side facing inwardly generally toward the pad-target and base members and the outer side facing .generally away from the pad-target and lbase members, resilient material practice pad means mounted on the pad-target member pad side having a relatively large exposed surface area and simulating the resilient effect of a drumhead when struck by drumsticks, a pedestal of dimensions spaced smaller than said practice pad means surface area mounted on and projecting from the pad-target member target side, resilient material target means mounted on the pedestal spaced from the pad-target member target side having an exposed surface area only a fraction of the exposed surface area of the practice pad means for simulating the resilient effect of a drumhead when struck by drumsticks, the ltarget means and pedestal extending angularly downwardly toward the base member inner side when the pad-target and base members lare in assembled position, opening means formed through the base member between the inner and outer sides and generally underlying the pad-target member pedestal and target means when the pad-target and base members are in assembled position, impact absorbing means mounted on the wrist development member inner side, the wrist development member extending in generally the same plane and away from the end of the pad-target member with the impact absorbing means exposed upwardly when the pad-target and wrist development members are in collapsed position and the padtarget member is positioned with the pad side facing downwardly, and the pad-target member target side :abutting the base member inner side with the pedestal projecting upwardly through the Ibase member opening and positioning the target means spaced upwardly from the lbase member outer side when the pad-target -and base members are in collapsed position yand the pad-target member pad side is facing downwardly.

2. A drum practice device .as defined in claim 1 in which the pad-target and wrist development members are endwise aligned with the pad-target member pad side aligned with the wrist development member outer side when in collapsed position; in which the wrist development member has support pad means mounted on and projecting `away from the louter side; and in which the wrist development member support pad means has an exposed surface at the same level as the exposed surface of the pad-target member practice pad means when said members are in collapsed position.

3. A drum practice device as defined in claim 1 in which the pad-target member is generally rectangular and the pad and target sides are generally parallel; in which the base member is generally rectangular and the inner and outer sides are generally parallel; and in which the wrist development member is generally rectangular and the inner and outer sides are generally parallel.

4. A drum practice device as defined in claim 1 in which the pad-target member pedestal extends from the pad-target member target side in a generally cylindrical portion outwardly axially connected to a frustoconical portion; and in which the target means has `a generally circular exposed surface area and is mounted on the pedestal -frusto-conical portion.

5. A drum practice device as defined in claim 1 in "i e which the pad-target member has an end hingedly con- References Cited by the Examiner nected to the base member and an opposite end hingedly UNITED STATES PATENTS connected to the wrist development member; in which of the wrist development member opposite from said end hingedly connected to the pad-target member is 10 WH A received downwardly into the base member notch when RICHARD B' KINSON Pnmmy Exammer' the wrist development member is in assembled position. C- M- OVERBEY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A DRUM PRACTICE DEVICE INCLUDING A PAD-TARGET MEMBER HAVING PAD AND TARGET SIDES, A BASE MEMBER HAVING INNER AND OUTER SIDES, A WRIST DEVELOPMENT MEMBER HAVING INNER AND OUTER SIDES, MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTING ENDS OF THE PAD-TARGET AND BASE AND WRIST DEVELOPMENT MEMBERS FOR SELECTED HINGED MOVEMENT BETWEEN ASSEMBLED AND COLLAPSED POSITIONS, THE PAD-TARGET MEMBER EXTENDING AT AN ACUATE ANGLE BETWEEN AN END OF THE BASE MEMBER AND AN END OF THE WRIST DEVELOPMENT MEMBER WHEN IN ASSEMBLED POSITION WITH THE PAD SIDE FACING ANGULARLY UPWARDLY, THE BASE MEMBER EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY BETWEEN AN END OF THE PAD-TARGET MEMBER AND AN END OF THE WRIST DEVELOPMENT MEMBER WHEN IN ASSEMBLED POSITION WITH THE INNER SIDE FACING UPWARDLY AND THE OUTER SIDE FACING DOWNWARDLY, THE WRIST DEVELOPMENT MEMBER EXTENDING GENERALLY VERTICALLY BETWEEN AN END OF THE PADTARGET MEMBER AND AN END OF THE BASE MEMBER WHEN IN ASSEMBLED POSITION WITH THE INNER SIDE FACING INWARDLY GENERALLY TOWARD THE PAD-TARGET AND BASE MEMBERS AND THE OUTER SIDE FACING GENERALLY AWAY FROM THE PAD-TARGET AND BASE MEMBERS, RESILIENT MATERIAL PRACTICE PAD MEANS MOUNTED ON THE PAD-TARGET MEMBER PAD SIDE HAVING A RELATIVELY LARGE EXPOSED SURFACE AREA AND SIMULATING THE RESILIENT EFFECT OF A DRUMHEAD WHEN STRUCK BY DRUMSTICKS, A PEDESTAL OF DIMENSIONS SPACED SMALLER THAN SAID PRACTICE PAD MEANS SURFACE AREA MOUNTED ON AND PROJECTING FROM THE PAD-TARGET MEMBER TARGET SIDE, RESILIENT MATETRIAL TARGET MEANS MOUNTED ON THE PEDESTAL SPACED FROM THE PAD-TARGET MEMBER TARGET SIDE HAVING AN EXPOSED SURFACE AREA ONLY A FRICTION OF THE EXPOSED SURFACE AREA OF THE PRACTICE PAD MEANS FOR SIMULATING THE RESILIENT EFFECT OF