US3439574A - Drum beater device - Google Patents

Description

' J. R. RAMSEY DRUM BEATER DEVICE April 22, 1969 Filed Dec. 30, 1966' INVENTOR. JOHN R. RAMSEY United States Patent 3,439,574 DRUM BEATER DEVICE John R. Ramsey, 1629 F St., Springfield, Oreg. 97477 Filed Dec. 30, 1966, Ser. No. 606,125 Int. Cl. Gd 13/00 US. Cl. 84-422 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure concerns a foot operated drum heating device having a rotatable shaft which carries a beater element. A treadle is linked to the rotatable shaft for imparting swinging movement to the beater. A pair of coil spring members are provided at opposite ends of the shaft urging the shaft in opposite directions with the beater element resting in equilibrium. Rotatable spring housings are provided to enable the adjustment of spring tension and hence the rest position of the beater element and the treadle pressure required to move the same.

This invention relates to improvements in foot operated drum beating devices and more particularly to adjustable mounting means for varying the tension and preloading of coil spring members acting on the drum beater element.

The present invention has particular reference to the spring mechanism of the type generally shown and described in my US. Patent No. 2,551,635. As therein pointed out, it is desirable that the tensioning and preloading of opposed spring members he adjustable to vary the length of stroke of the beater as well as to set the desired treadle pressure to suit the musician. Further, such construction renders the desire foldable in its entirety into compact form for carrying or transportation purposes. Another important object achieved by the novel spring arrangement was the provision of a heater capable of drumming fast tempos without fatiguing the musician.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide means for readily varying the tension of opposed coil spring members acting on the beater element throughout a wide range to permit the musician to conveniently adjust the drum beater without disassembly to best suit his individual preference. To this end, positionable spring housings are provided carrying one end of a spring member with said housing being rotationally positionable into one of several positions for precise setting of the spring tension exerted on the beater shaft. The heretofore complicated procedure of extracting, tensioning and re-installing the spring member by one skilled in the art is thus obviated. Such an adjustment procedure was highly impractical in places other than a workshop.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will become subsequently apparent upon a reading of the following specification and drawing referred to therein which disclose a drum beater device of the type contemplated by the present invention.

With particular reference to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the present drum beater;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the drum beater taken from the left-hand end of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively along lines 3-3 and 44 of FIGURE 2 and showing detent means for locking the spring housings;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are sectional views taken respectively along lines 5-5 and 66 of FIGURE 2 showing the opposed coil spring members mounted within their housing;

FIGURE 7 is a rear view of one spring housing in place on its supporting standard with fragments broken away to show a locking ring for said housing;

3,439,574 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 FIGURE 7A is an enlarged detail view of part of FIGURE 7.

With continuing reference to the drawing and particularly FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof the structure of the drum beater device of the present invention includes a base 1, preferably of cast manufacture, having a pair of upright standards 2 and 3 integral therewith. The base is provided along its forward side with a pair of outwardly extending feet 4 and 5, the upper surface of which is formed on a radius corresponding to that of the rim '6 of a bass drum to allow seated engagement of the feet beneath the rim 6, as shown in FIGURE 2. A relieved area at 7, formed intermediate the feet receives laterdescribed components upon the beater device being folded for carrying, also hereinafter described.

An elongate spreader plate 8 is removably attached at its forward end to the rearward side of the base 1, the latter having a pair of vertical recesses formed therein to receive corresponding downwardly projecting lugs as at 9 integral with the spreader plate 8. A clamp indicated at 10 having an opening therein at 10A is centrally positioned on the base 1 and extends forwardly to simultaneously bear down upon the drum rim 6 and rearwardly upon the spreader place 8. An upright threaded shaft 11 carried by the base extends through opening 10A and is provided with a wing nut 12 to enable biased, rigid engagement of the clamp 10 with the spreader plate 8 and drum rim 6 during operation.

The spreader plate 8 pivotally supports at 15, adjacent its outer end, the heel end of a treadle 16 with suitable bearings being thereat provided to reduce friction. The forward or toe end of the treadle 16 terminates in a boss 17 in which is journalled a pivot pin 18 attaching the lower end of a pair of links 20 which are similarly attached at their upper ends at 21 to an arm 22 of a bracket 23 fixed centrally on a rockable beater shaft 24. Transversely spaced apart insets as at 16A on the treadle receive the opposed inner edges of the feet 4 and 5 upon folding of the present beater device for carrying.

The bracket 23 carries a stem 25, the lower end of which is adjustably secured within an opening 23A by means of a thumbscrew 26 as follows; the thumbscrew 26 is received and extends through a drilled and tapped bore in bracket 23 which is in register with a similar bore in shaft 24 to permit the thumbscrew to serve additionally as means for retaining the bracket in place on the rockable shaft 24, similar to that described in my aforementioned US. patent. A conventional beater element is indicated at 27.

The foregoing structure is substantially as disclosed in my earlier patent. The remaining description of the opposed spring members and particularly the mounting and adjustment means provided therefore constitutes the present invention.

The standards 2 and 3 each terminate upwardly in circular plates 28 and 29 integral therewith and having outwardly projecting annular shoulders 28A and 29A (FIGS. 3 and 4). Spring anchoring means in the form of cup shaped spring housings at 30 and 31 are formed having an inside diameter as at 30A-31A (FIGURES 3 and 4) slightly greater than that of the annular shoulders to permit seated placement thereover. A circumferential groove 33, as typically shown in FIGURE 7A, is provided about the inner circumference of spring housing 31 and corresponds with a like groove 35 formed in the annular shoulders 29A. Similarly, annular shoulder 28A is grooved as at 36 corresponding with a groove 34 in the internal wall of spring housing 30.

Radially expanding snap rings at 37 substantially occupy the corresponding grooves 33, 35 and 34, 36 to retain their respective cup shaped housings 30 and 311 in place on their supporting annular shoulders 28A and 29A. Accordingly, the housings are mounted upon the annular shoulders in a manner permitting rotational movement thereabout. It will be noted as shown in FIGURE 7A, the grooves in the annular shoulders are of a depth sufficient to receive a contracted locking ring during placement of the housing over the shoulder in assembly of the drum beater.

Circumferentially spaced about the inner periphery of each of the spring housings 30 and 31, adjacent the rim thereof, are detents 38 and 39. Cooperating with said detents, as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 4, are locking means in the form of pins 40 and 41 urged radially by springs 40A-41A into occupying engagement respectively with detents 38 and 39 to thereby secure each housing agaisnt rotational movement. Pins 40 and 41, as typically shown in FIGURE 7, are located so as to expose a portion of the pins outer end against which, for adjustment purposes, a pointed instrument may be pressed to disengage the pin from a detent. Accordingly, with the pin depressed, the housing may be rotated to a new position as later described.

With particular reference to the opposed flat coil spring members indicated at 46 and 47 in the sectional views of FIGURES and 6, the same are concealed respectively within housings 30 and 31 with their outer ends 46A-47A being curved outwardly for securement within an internal slot as at 30B and 31B formed in the inner wall of said spring housings. The inner ends of said spring members are inwardly turned at 46B-47B for securement within collars 48 and 49 secured to shaft 24. The shaft 24 is accordingly biased for rotation in a rocking manner within suitable long-life bearings 50 and 51 fitted within aligned openings 52-53 formed in the circular plates 28 and 29 and their associated annular shoulders.

It will be seen in FIGURES 5 and 6 with additional reference to the section lines 5-5 and 6-6 of parent FIGURE 1 that the spring members are reversed to bias the shaft 24 in opposite directions similar to the spring arrangement disclosed in my earlier patent.

With continuing reference to FIGURES 5 and 6, uniform rotation of each spring housing in a clockwise direction will cause the spring member housed therein to exert an increased and opposite force upon shaft 24. Prior to use of the present drum beater the musician will rotatably adjust the housings to set the spring force acting on the shaft 24 and to locate the beater element 27 and supporting stem 25 in a position of rest wherein the opposing spring actions are in equilibrium. From this it will be evident that depressing the foot treadle 16 will, through the described linkage, cause shaft 24 to rotate against the action of spring member 46 to move the beater element 27 into contact with the drumhead. Such shaft movement will, of course, be assisted by the oppositely tensioned spring member 47. Subsequent to the beater element contacting the drumhead, removal of the treadle pressure will permit the spring members to return the beater element in a rapid manner towards the rest position wherein the action of said spring members is in equilibrium, such operation and its advantages being more fully described in the aforementioned patent.

A typical adjustment operation is described as follows: Positioning of one spring housing and hence the outer end of its spring member will cause first, the rest or equilibrium position of stem 25 and heater element 27 to be moved either away from or toward the drumhead and secondly a change in the treadle pressure required for one stroke. To accomplish either of the above changes separately, i.e., the changing of the rest position without altering treadle pressure or altering treadle pressure without moving the rest position, repositioning of both spring housings will be required, i.e., to achieve a new rest position without altering the treadle pressure both spring housings must be rotated in a like direction as viewed from one side of the device while to alter the treadle pressure along the spring housings must be rotated in opposite directions a like distance. Accordingly, in actual use such adjustments are made in sequence by simply depressing first one locking pin and repositioning the spring housing associated therewith and then similarly the other housing to conveniently adjust the drum heater to suit the preference of the musician for optimum performance of the music being performed.

For carrying of the present drum beater device in a compact form, the wing nut 12 is loosened permitting the clamp 10 to be raised and the spreader plate 8 disengaged from the base 1. As viewed in FIGURE 1, the spreader plate 8, treadly 16 and linkage 20 are then swung in a counter clockwise direction about shaft 24 with the heel end of the spreading plate and treadle and specifically insets 16A in the treadle coming to rest within the re lieved area 7 of the base and receiving the feet 4 and 5 of the base. Openings in the treadle at 16B receive the forward end of clamp 10 which is retightened to retain the spreader plate and treadle in the folded position above described. The stem 25 and heater element 27 will accordingly be positioned intermediate the standards 2 and 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a drum beater device having a base portion including a pair of upright standards, a shaft journalled in said standards and supporting a beater element, a first spring member acting on said shaft to rotate the shaft in one direction and a second spring member acting on said shaft to rotate the shaft in an opposite direction to cause the shaft to assume a position of rest determined by the balancing of the opposed forces of the two spring members, the improvement comprising first and second cup shaped spring housings respectively anchoring one end of said first and second spring members with one each of said housings being rotatably mounted on one of sald standards, each of said housings being provided with a series of detents, and locking means carried by said standards and spring biased into engagement with one of said detents of said housings whereby the opposing spring forces acting on said shaft may be varied by the selective rotation and locking in place of said spring housings.

2. In the drum beater device as claimed in claim 1 whereln said first and second spring members are flat c011 type having their inner ends permanently secured to said shaft and each of said spring housings receiving the outer ends of said spring members in a permanently secured manner.

33. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said series of detents are located adjacent the rims of both of said cup shaped spring housings and said locking means comprises a pin which upon seated engagement within said detent presents a partially exposed end portion for the reception of a force to temporarily bias said pin out of said detent permitting movement of said housing.

4. In the drum beater device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said standards are provided at their upper ends with annular shoulders each having a circumferential groove formed therein and said cup shaped spring houslngs adapted for supported placement about said shoulders and havmg an internal groove corresponding with said first circumferential groove for the joint reception of a radially expanding ring for retaining said housing against axial movement while permitting rotational movement thereof.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

J. F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner.

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