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I claim:
1. A percussion instrument, comprising:
a tubular shell formed of rigid, thin-wall material, having a rim defining
an open end thereof,
a thin metal diaphragm disposed transversely of said open end having a
peripheral portion overlying said rim, said diaphragm being adapted for
striking by a drumstick or the like,
inner and outer discs held within and transversely of said shell in
spaced-apart relation axially of the latter,
said outer disc having one surface directed toward said shell open end and
its other surface directed toward the interior of said shell, and said
outer disc having an axially arranged central opening,
means supporting said diaphragm from said shell, comprising a first rod
slidable axially through said central opening and having one end extending
from said outer disc one surface and connected to a central portion of
said diaphragm, the opposite end of said rod extending from said outer
disc other surface,
a first permanent magnet connected to said rod opposite end,
said inner disc having one surface directed toward said outer disc other
surface, and having an axially-arranged central opening,
a second rod extending through said inner disc central opening, and a
second permanent magnet secured to an end of said second rod,
said first and second magnets having poles in confronting relation.
2. The construction according to claim 1 wherein a nut is held within said
inner disc central opening, and
wherein said second rod has external screw threads engaging the threads of
said nut, whereby rotation of said second rod in one direction or the
other will effect movement of said second magnet toward or away from said
first magnet.
3. The construction according to claim 2 wherein one pole of said first
magnet is in confronting relation with the same pole of said second magnet
to effect repulsion of said first magnet.
4. The construction according to claim 2 wherein one pole of said first
magnet is in confronting relation with the opposite pole of said second
magnet to effect attraction of said first magnet.
5. A percussion instrument, comprising:
a tubular shell formed of rigid, thin-walled material, having a rim
defining an open end thereof,
a thin metal diaphragm disposed transversely of said open end and having a
peripheral portion overlying said rim, said diaphragm being adapted for
striking by a drumstick or the like,
inner and outer discs held within and transversely of said shell in
spaced-apart relation axially of the latter,
said outer disc having one surface directed toward said shell open end and
its other surface directed toward the interior of said shell, said outer
disc having an axially-arranged central opening,
means supporting said diaphragm from said shell, comprising a first rod
slidable axially through said central opening and having one end extending
from said outer disc one surface and connected to a central portion of
said diaphragm, the opposite end of said rod extending from said disc
other surface,
a magnetically-attractable member connected to said rod opposite end,
said inner disc having one surface directed toward said outer disc other
surface and having an axially-arranged central opening,
a second rod extending through said inner disc central opening, and
a permanent magnet secured to an end of said second rod and adapted to
attract said magnetically-attractable member.
6. A percussion instrument, comprising:
a tubular shell formed of rigid, thin-wall material, having a rim defining
an open end thereof,
a thin metal diaphragm disposed transversely of said open end and having a
peripheral portion overlying said rim, said diaphragm being adapted for
striking by a drumstick or the like,
a disc held within and transversely of said shell and having one surface
directed toward said shell open end, said disc having an axially-arranged
central opening,
a nut fixed within said central opening,
a threaded rod working through said nut and having an end connected to said
diaphragm at a central portion thereof, threading of said nut in one
direction or the other effecting movement of said diaphragm toward and
away from said rim.
7. A percussion instrument, comprising,
a tubular shell having a rim defining an open end thereof,
a diaphragm of thin, rigid but yet resilient material, said diaphragm being
disposed transversely of said shell open end and having its peripheral
portion overlying said rim and having a transverse dimension at least
equal to the transverse dimension of said rim, and
supporting means within the confines of said rim and connected to said
diaphragm at a portion intermediate said peripheral portion, and
supporting said diaphragm from said shell with its peripheral portion
overlying and transversely coextensive with said rim, and free to vibrate
when struck by a drumstick and the like.
8. The construction according to claim 7 wherein said supporting means has
a fixed, rigid connection with said diaphragm intermediate portion so that
the latter is held against vibration and said diaphragm is firmly held
relative to said shell.
9. The construction according to claim 7 wherein the transverse dimension
of said diaphragm is larger than the transverse dimension of said rim to
thereby extend beyond the latter.
10. The construction according to claim 8 wherein said diaphragm is
supported in closely spaced relation with respect to said rim whereby its
peripheral portion is free to strike against said rim when struck hard
enough.
11. The construction according to claim 7 wherein said rim has a plurality
of notches spaced apart peripherally thereof.
12. A percussion instrument, comprising,
a rigid, cylindrical shell having a rim defining an open end thereof, said
rim being disposed in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal
axis of said shell,
a generally flat diaphragm, circular in shape and made of springy metal,
and
supporting means carried by said shell and extending along the latter's
longitudinal axis and having a portion connected to the central portion of
said diaphragm to hold the latter concentric with said rim and with its
peripheral portion overlying and generally parallel to the plane in which
said rim is disposed, said supporting means portion constituting the only
connection with said diaphragm so that said diaphragm peripheral portion
may vibrate when struck by a drumstick and the like.
13. The construction according to claim 12 wherein said shell has a disc in
fixed position cross-wise thereof, said disc having a central opening, and
said support means portion comprising a rod having an outer end fixed to
the central portion of said diaphragm and an inner end fitting within said
central opening.
14. The construction according to claim 13 wherein said rod has sliding fit
with said central opening.
15. The construction according to claim 13 wherein said rod is threaded
into said central opening.
16. The construction according to claim 14 wherein said rod is urged in a
direction to space said diaphragm from said rim.
17. A percussion instrument, comprising,
a tubular shell having a rim defining an open end thereof,
a diaphragm of thin, rigid but yet resilient material, said diaphragm being
disposed transversely of said shell open end and having its peripheral
portion overlying said rim and having a transverse dimension at least
equal to the transverse dimension of said rim, and
supporting means within the confines of said rim and connected to said
diaphragm at a portion intermediate said peripheral portion, and
supporting said diaphragm from said shell with its peripheral portion
overlying and transversely coextensive with said rim, said supporting
means being adjustable so that said diaphragm may be selectively held in
spaced relation with said rim, or in abutment with said rim. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
In all drum constructions known to me, a hide or plastic sheet is stretched
over and around the open end of a cylindrical shell. In later years, the
hide or plastic sheet was stretched over and around a steel hoop and the
latter was clamped over the drum shell rim. In all such constructions, the
tone or sound was limited to that of a drum.
In all cymbal constructions known to me, a pair of half globes of thin
metal, or a pair of thin metal discs, or singles of each, were
center-supported with the pairs of globes or discs movable to striking
engagement with each other, or either or singles, were adapted for
striking with a drum stick. In all such constructions, the tone or sound
was limited to that of a cymbal.
My improved percussion instrument enables a user to produce snare drum
tones or sounds with one or two drum sticks and, with a simple adjustment,
enables the user to provide cymbal tones or sounds with one or two drum
sticks, and in either type of adjustment, additional tones may be produced
which are bizzare, unconventional tones as well as previously unheard
harmonious tones.
The percussion instrument of my invention is low in cost, as compared to
conventional snare drums and cymbals, and comprises a tubular shell or
casing having one end supported on a base and an opposite end open. A thin
metal diaphragm is center-supported in position above the open end of the
shell with its peripheral portion overhanging the rim of such open end.
Means are provided to dispose the diaphragm in spaced relation with the
shell rim, or in engagement therewith.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming part of this
application, there are shown, for purpose of illustration, several
embodiments which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:
FIG. 1 is a central, vertical sectional view through a percussion
instrument showing a presently preferred embodiment of my invention, the
drawing being approximately to full scale, and the diaphragm in position
for cymbal tones,
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view, corresponding to the
line 2--2 of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the diaphragm
in position for snare drum tones,
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a
slight difference in construction,
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, but showing another
embodiment of my invention,
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cluster of percussion instruments of
my invention,
FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a drum stick which is used to produce
various unusual sounds with any one of the abovenoted embodiments, and
FIg. 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view, drawn to a reduced scale, of a
modified form of shell that may be used in the percussion instrument.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, my preferred embodiment comprises a
tubular shell or casing 10 which may be formed of any suitable thin-gauge
material, such as steel, plastic or the like. The shell is preferably open
at both ends and has its lower end supported on a base 11 which may be
made of wood, pressed wook, plastic or the like.
In the embodiment shown, the shell is cylindrical and this shape is
preferred for ease of manufacturing and assembly. Spaced upwardly from the
lower end of the shell 10 is an inwardly protruding annular rib 12 which,
in the case of steel, may be formed in a rolling operation. The rib forms
a shoulder against which the lower surface of a disc 14 abuts. The disc
may be formed of the same material as the base but, as shown, is not as
thick as the latter.
A pair of diametrically opposed upright bolts 15--15 have their lower
threaded portions passing through respective holes in the disc 14, the
lower ends of the bolts 15 passing through respective holes in the base
and receiving nuts 16--16. The holes in the base are counterbored, as
shown at 17, so that the nuts and the lower end of the bolts are clear of
the lower surface of the base.
A second disc 18, like the disc 14, is disposed within the shell near the
upper end thereof. The bolts 15 pass through respective holes in the disc
18 and have heads 19 bearing against the upper surface of the latter.
Spacer sleeves 20--20 are disposed around the bolts 15 to space the discs
14 and 18 a predetermined amount. Washers 21 may be disposed between the
ends of the sleeves and the adjoining surfaces of the discs 14 and 18 so
that nuts 22 may be pulled up tightly without the ends of the sleeves
digging into the disc surfaces.
A Nylock nut 25 is press-fitted within a central opening in the lower
surface of the disc 14, the nut having a nylon head 26. The nut may
further be secured against turning and displacement by epoxy glue.
Threaded through the nut, and held against free rotation by the nylon head
26, is a threaded brass rod 27 having a hexagonal adjustment head at its
lower end. A permanent magnet 30 is secured to the upper end of the
adjustment rod. The magnet is preferably a circular ceramic disc having a
central opening in which the upper end of the adjustment rod fits and is
secured by epoxy glue. The base 11 has an opening 31 to pass a socket
wrench (not shown) for the purpose of longitudinally adjusting the rod 27
and supported magnet 30.
A sleeve bearing 32, preferably of nylon, is press-fitted and epoxy glued
into a central opening 33 in the top disc 18. The sleeve bearing 32
receives a short brass rod 34 to guide the latter for longitudinal
movement, but with a little play between interengaging surfaces. An upper
permanent magnet 35 is also preferably a circular ceramic disc and is
formed with a central opening in which the reduced lower portion of the
rod fits and is secured by epoxy glue. A felt washer 36 is preferably
disposed between facing surfaces of the sleeve and the magnet 35.
Secured to the upper end of rod 34 and extending transversely thereof, is a
thin metal diaphragm 40 which is in the form of a circular disc with a
diameter larger than the diameter of the upper rim 41 of the shell so as
to overhang and extend beyond the same. The diaphragm is formed of a thin
extremely hard spring metal, such as beryllium copper alloy, and may be
silver soldered, epoxy glued, or otherwise secured to the upper extremity
of the rod 34. The diaphragm is thin enough to vibrate freely, but thick
enough to take a beating from the drumsticks. The thickness of the
diaphragm 40 may vary from about 0.005 to 0.040 inches (0.1269 to 0.9235
millimeters). Various tones are possible by altering the alloy, temper,
thickness and diameter of the diaphragm.
In FIG. 1, the magnets 30 and 35 are arranged with opposite poles facing so
that the magnets repel each other. Since the lower magnet is stationary,
after any adjustment, the upper magnet is repelled upwardly to the
position shown in FIG. 1, wherein the diaphragm is spaced upwardly from
the rim 41, and may be struck with a drum stick for cymbal tones. Tones
may be changed by adjustment of the rod 27 from the maximum thrust of the
magnets for full cymbal tone, to a minimum thrust (by lowering the magnet
30) wherein the diaphragm 40 barely touches the rim 41. At this point,
only minute variations of thrust create tiny variations of clearance,
causing changes in mutations of ringing, hissing, sizzling and rustling
tones.
The discs 14 and 18, magnet 30, adjusting rod 27, magnet 35, nylon bearing
32 and diaphragm 40 may be secured together as a sub-assembly, the bolts
15--15 holding the discs 14 and 18 in predetermined spaced relation. The
nuts 16 are omitted from this sub-assembly. To assemble the shell 10 with
the sub-assembly, the top end of the shell is slid over the disc 14 and
then over the disc 18 until the shoulder formed by the inturned rib 12
abuts the underside of the disc 14. The lower end of the bolts 15 are then
inserted through respective holes in the base 11 and the nuts 16 are
applied to and threaded on the bolt ends to clamp the lower end of the
shell against the top surface of the base.
The construction shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that of FIG. 1, with the
exception that one of the magnets 30, 35 has been reversed so that the
magnets are attracted to each other. Normally, it is preferred to reverse
the magnet 30 so that opposite poles of the magnets face each other. Since
the magnet 30 is stationary, after any adjustment, the upper magnet 35 is
drawn toward the magnet 30 and the construction is such that the diaphragm
40 is seated against the rim 41 of the shell. FIG. 3 shows a slight space
between the magnets, and this is preferred to prevent the magnets from
striking each other upon extreme downward deflection of the diaphragm
which may be caused by a heavy blow thereon.
The diaphragm 40 is now in position to produce snare drum tones when struck
by a drum stick. As before, tones may be changed by vertical adjustment of
the lower magnet. For example, light, skimming, shimmering tones may be
produced by decreasing magnetic pull on the upper magnet to a point where
such pull is practically non-existent so that only the weight of the
diaphragm holds it against the shell rim. For full choke snare drum tone,
the pull is increased between the magnets by upward adjustment of the
lower magnet until the desired snare tone is obtained.
As seen in the drawings, the diaphragm 40 is not secured at its peripheral
edge; rather it is held at its center by the rod 34 which freely slides
through the bearing sleeve 32. In the drum form shown in FIG. 3, any
ringing sound inherent in a metal diaphragm is choked, dampened, deadened,
muffled and muted into the neutral tone of a drum. A metal diaphragm
vibrating against a metal rim gives new sounds; that is metallic sounds
much desired for accompaniment to metallic sounds emanating from metallic
based instruments, such as brass wind instruments, string and bar
vibrating instruments, and electronic oscillatory instruments. To amplify
any tone, a pick-up microphone may be disposed within the shell, as
suggested in FIG. 1.
Various tonal effects may be obtained by striking the diaphragm with
downward or upward blows of a drumstick, at its peripheral surface, or by
striking an intermediate portion of the diaphragm, as indicated in FIG. 3.
Although the diaphragm is shown as a perfectly flat disc, it may have some
concavity or convexity.
A further desirable tonal effect may be obtained by using one or two
drumsticks of the type shown in FIG. 7. The stick therein shown has a
plurality of serrations along a large part of its length, such as by
forming spaced annular grooves thereon as shown. By drawing the serrated
edges across the edge of the diaphragm, vastly increased frequency of
diaphragm actuation is attained, as compared with the slower frequency
bounce of drumsticks. Instead of the paralled grooves shown, a spiral
groove may be formed with a single cutting tool.
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER EMBODIMENTS
The construction shown in FIG. 4 is usable only for snare drum type
instruments. The construction is largely the same as heretofore described
except that the upper magnet is omitted and a metal disc 50 is connected
to the lower end of the rod 34. In this case, the disc 50 is attracted
toward the lower magnet 35.
In the construction shown in FIG. 5, both magnets are omitted. A Nylock nut
51 is press-fitted and epoxy glued into a central opening in the upper
disc 18. The diaphragm 40 is clamped between the acorn head 52 of a
threaded bolt 53 and a nut 54 threaded on the bolt. Washers 55 and felt
discs 56 are interposed between opposite sides of the diaphragm and the
bolt head 52 and nut 54. By turning the bolt 53 through means of a wrench
applied to the head 52, the diaphragm may be spaced a selected distance
from the rim, or held thereagainst.
FIG. 6 shows a plurality of instruments mounted on a base 11, with two or
more preferred. In FIG. 6, four instruments are mounted in a cluster and
each may have a diaphragm of a different thickness, alloy, temper or
diameter. Dual tones may be produced by striking one diaphragm with one
drumstick and a different diaphragm with another stick. Further, to add
more zest to playing and even more color to the sound, the player need
merely shift the tips of the sticks from one diaphragm to another.
FIG. 8 shows a shell 10a that may be substituted for the shells heretofore
described. The shell 10a differs only in that its rim 41a is formed with a
series of notches 41b. These notches provide extra sound escapement from
the shell and, since less rim surface contacts the diaphragm, the less the
latter will be choked or muffled.
For drum heads requiring minimal choke, the notches could be increased,
either in size or number. For drum heads requiring greater choke, the
notches could be decreased, either in size or number to a point where
practically the entire rim surface will be contacted by the diaphragm.
Because of this variable sound effects which may be provided bychanges in
the size or number of the notches, the latter may be termed sound notches.
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