US3674911A

US3674911A - Drum body having integral mounting lugs for drumhead tensioning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3674911A
Application number: US96154A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth W Phillips; Iris L Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-12-08
Filing date: 1970-12-08
Publication date: 1972-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-04

Abstract

A drum body comprising a hollow shell member and a plurality of protuberant lugs forming mounting lugs for drumhead tensioning apparatus. The lugs and member are joined as an integral unit.

Description

United States Patent Phillips et al.

[ 51 July4,1972

[54] DRUM BODY HAVING INTEGRAL MOUNTING LUGS FOR DRUMHEAD TENSIONING APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Kenneth W. Phillips; Iris L. Phillips, both of 2050 Perkins Drive, Springfield, Ohio [22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 96,154

[52] U.S.Cl..... ..84/411,84/452 P [51] lnt. Cl. ..G10d 13/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..84/411,419,420,452 P [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,074,193 3/1937 Strupe ..84/411 2,172,578 9/1939 Gladstone ..84/41l 2,834,244 5/1958 Willits ....84/411 3,139,783 7/1964 Grant et al.. ..84/411 3,019,685 2/1962 Davis ...84/411 3,459,093 8/1969 NiShiura et a1 ...84/41 1 1,609,940 12/1926 Geisler ...84/411 3,362,275 1/1968 Koishikawa ..84/411 Primary ExaminerRichard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner]ohn F. Gonzales Attorney-Birch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett [57] ABSTRACT A drum body comprising a hollow shell member and a plurality of protuberant lugs forming mounting lugs for drumhead tensioning apparatus. The lugs and member are joined as an integral unit.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL" 4 I972 INVENTORS KENNETH W. PHILLIPS IRIS L. PHILLIPS BY 4M Aw/iw ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to drum bodies, and specifically to a drum body having integral mounting lugs for drumhead tensioning apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art Mounting lugs for drumhead tensioning apparatus usually comprise individual elements which are attached to the body of the associated drum by means of bolts or like fasteners. Mounting lugs of this type are shown, for example, in Wanamaker U.S. Pat. No. 1,269,984 and White U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,076. Such lugs tend to work loose from the drum body after continued use resulting in improper drumhead tensioning. Additionally, such lugs have numerous sharp points and edges which extend outwardly from the drum body and upon which a user may injure himself or tear his clothing.

Mounting lugs having fewer sharp points and edges than the conventional lugs described above are shown in Willits U.S. Pat. No. 2,834,244 and Koishikawa U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,586. However, these latter types of lugs still tend to work loose from the associated drum body after continued use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drum body having integral mounting lugs for drumhead tensioning apparatus.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drum body having mounting lugs for drumhead tensioning apparatus, which lugs will not work loose from the body after continued use.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a drum body having mounting lugs for drumhead tensioning apparatus, which lugs have smooth exterior surfaces that blend smoothly with the exterior surface of the body.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a drum body having integral mounting lugs for drumhead tensioning apparatus, which body is durable and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent upon a consideration of the following general and detailed descriptions thereof.

Generally described, the drum body of the invention comprises; a hollow shell member defining a chamber therein and having at least one opening therein adapted to be covered by a drumhead; and a plurality of protuberant lugs extending outwardly from the member forming mounting lugs for apparatus to tension the drumhead over said opening, each of the lugs having at least one peripheral edge contiguous with the member, and all of the peripheral lug edges contiguous with the member being integrally joined to the member so that the member and lugs form an integral unit.

Each of the lugs has a smooth exterior surface which blends smoothly with the exterior surface of the shell member. Preferably, the lugs are semi-bullet shaped each having a flat end oriented toward the opening in the shell member adapted to be covered by the drumhead and a pointed end oriented away from such opening. Also preferably, the lugs are equally spaced apart about the shell member and are equidistant from the opening therein.

The shell member and lugs preferably are made from a moldable plastic material, such as a glass-filled epoxy resin. The lugs may be formed with the shell member, as by molding, or may be formed separately and then joined to the member to form an integral unit.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements throughout.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a drum which includes the drum body of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the integral mounting lugs of the drum body of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A drum 10 is shown in FIG. 1, including a drum body 12 which embodies the principles of the present invention. Body 12 includes a hollow shell member 14 which may be generally cylindrically shaped and which defines a chamber therein. Member 14 has at least one opening therein which is covered by a conventional drumhead 16. A conventional tensioning ring 18 is disposed about drumhead 16 for tensioning the drumhead over the opening in member 14.

To tension drumhead 16, ring 18 must be drawn downwardly, as seen in FIG. 1, about member 14 to stretch the drumhead over the opening in the member. A plurality of drumhead tensioning apparatus, comprising turnbuckle assemblies 20, are attached to ring 18 for drawing the ring downwardly about member 14. Each turnbuckle assembly 20 buckle link 26 threadably engaging

shafts

22 and 24.

Each lower shaft 24 is anchored to member 14 by a protuberant mounting lug 28 extending outwardly from the member. Lugs 28 are semi-bullet shaped each having a flat end 30 oriented toward the opening in member 14 and a pointed end 32 oriented away from such opening.

Lugs 28 include

peripheral edges

34, 36 and 38 which are contiguous with member 14 and are joined to the member along the length thereof so that the lugs and member form an integral unit. The lugs and shell member preferably are made from a moldable plastic material, such as a glass-filled epoxy resin, and may be formed as an integral unit, as by molding. Alternatively, the lugs may be formed separately and then joined to member 14 along

peripheral edges

34, 36 and 38 to form an integral unit.

Lugs 28 are hollow, and shell member 14 has a plurality of openings therein corresponding in number to the number of lugs and each corresponding in size and shape to the outline defined by

peripheral edges

34,36 and 38. Lugs 28 are positioned over such openings. The volume of the chamber defined by member 14 is thus enlarged by the internal volume of lugs 28.

Lugs 28 preferably are equally spaced apart around member 14 and are equidistant from the opening therein covered by drumhead 16. Each lower shaft 24 extends upwardly through the flat end 30 of the associated lug 28, and has a head 40 which engages the inner surface of such end. If desired, head 40 may be secured to the inner surface of end 30 by a suitable adhesive to prevent shaft 24 from falling out of end 30 during assembly of drum l0 and periodic replacement of drumhead 16.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, lugs 28 have smooth exterior surfaces which blend smoothly with the exterior surface of member 14. Thus, the hazardous sharp points and edges which characterize the prior art mounting lugs are eliminated.

Also, lugs 28 are joined to shell member 14 along all of the peripheral edges of the lugs which are contiguous with the member to form an integral unit. This feature insures that the lugs will not work loose after continued use nor upon being struck inadvertently by external objects.

While the foregoing constitutes a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the drum body of the invention, it is recognized that various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the mounting lugs may have other than a semi-bullet shape and may be adapted to anchor other than turnbuckle assembly tensioning apparatus. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A drum body comprising:

a hollow shell member defining a chamber therein and having at least one first opening therein adapted to be covered by a drumhead; and

a plurality of hollow protuberant lugs extending outwardly from said member forming mounting lugs for apparatus to tension said drumhead over said first opening, each of said lugs having at least one peripheral edge contiguous with said member, all of said peripheral lug edges contiguous with said member being integrally joined to the member so that the member and lugs form an integral unit, and said member having a plurality of second openings therein corresponding in number to the number of said lugs, each of said second openings having substantially the same size and shape as the outline defined by said peripheral edge so that the volume of the chamber is enlarged by the internal volume of the lugs.

2. A drum body as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said lugs has a smooth exterior surface blending smoothly with the exterior surface of said member. I

3. A drum body as recited in claim 2, wherein the end of each of said lugs nearest said opening is substantially flat and adapted to engage one end of said tensioning apparatus.

4. A drum body as recited in claim 3, wherein said lugs are substantially semi-bullet shaped.

5. A drum body as recited in claim 1, wherein said lugs are spaced apart about said member and are substantially equidistant from said opening.

6. A drum body as recited in claim 5, wherein said lugs are substantially equally spaced apart about said member.-

7. A drum body as recited in claim 1, wherein said member and lugs are made from a moldable plastic material.

8. A drum body as recited in claim 7, wherein said member and lugs are made from a glass-filled epoxy resin.

Claims

1. A drum body comprising: a hollow shell member defining a chamber therein and having at least one first opening therein adapted to be covered by a drumhead; and a plurality of hollow protuberant lugs extending outwardly from said member forming mounting lugs for apparatus to tension said drumhead over said first opening, each of said lugs having at least one peripheral edge contiguous with said member, all of said peripheral lug edges contiguous with said member being integrally joined to the member so that the member and lugs form an integral unit, and said member having a plurality of second openings therein corresponding in number to the number of said lugs, each of said second openings having substantially the same size and shape as the outline defined by said peripheral edge so that the volume of the chamber is enlarged by the internal volume of the lugs.

2. A drum body as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said lugs has a smooth exterior surface blending smoothly with the exterior surface of said member.

6. A drum body as recited in claim 5, wherein said lugs are substantially equally spaced apart about said member.