Patents by Inventor Samuel Earl Millender, Jr.

Samuel Earl Millender, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9208759
    Abstract: A compound resonance driver or CRD may be used to enhance the tonal qualities of a bass drum system or other sound system. A CRD may comprise a flex ring having two hinge pieces. The flex ring may further comprise a plurality of magnets and the flex ring may be easily folded and placed in a drum and then unfolded. A fixed circular component with a complementary magnet orientation may secure the flex ring. The fixed circular component may be attached to outwardly facing components that resonate or otherwise improve upon the sound of a drum or any sound producing, or sound shaping device or instrument, encompassing properties of an acoustic enclosure. The mass and shape of the CRD may increase the excursion of a drumhead. This longer excursion produces a more natural low frequency waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: Samuel Earl Millender, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150020673
    Abstract: A compound resonance driver or CRD may be used to enhance the tonal qualities of a bass drum system or other sound system. A CRD may comprise a flex ring having two hinge pieces. The flex ring may further comprise a plurality of magnets and the flex ring may be easily folded and placed in a drum and then unfolded. A fixed circular component with a complementary magnet orientation may secure the flex ring. The fixed circular component may be attached to outwardly facing components that resonate or otherwise improve upon the sound of a drum or any sound producing, or sound shaping device or instrument, encompassing properties of an acoustic enclosure. The mass and shape of the CRD may increase the excursion of a drumhead. This longer excursion produces a more natural low frequency waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Samuel Earl Millender, JR.
  • Patent number: 7968780
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for maximizing the punch of any double membrane drum and simultaneously minimizing the ringing of the drum. An insert is provided having a body adapted to be slid into an opening formed in either the batter membrane or resonant membrane of the drum. The insert is held in contact with the membrane by one of several mounting techniques. The weight of the insert and the length and width of the body of the insert are sized in a manner to increase the “punch” of the drum and to minimize “ringing” of the drum. The insert may be retrofitted into an existing drum or attached to a batter head membrane or resonant membrane during original manufacture of the drum. The insert may be used with drum openings of any shape by making the cross-sectional shape of the insert conform to the shape of the drum opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Riley Investments LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Earl Millender, Jr., Jesse M. Bradman, William ‘Billy’ L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7928303
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for lowering the fundamental frequency of a cajon drum. A first side wall of the cajon drum is the drumhead. An opening is formed in a second side wall, wherein the opening may be circular, oval, rectangular or other shape. An insert having a cross-section conforming to the shape of the opening is slid into the opening and mounted to the side wall in which the opening is formed. Various techniques for connecting the insert to the side wall of the drum are disclosed. The insert may be fitted into the drum opening during the initial manufacture of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Riley Investments LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Earl Millender, Jr., Jesse M. Bradman
  • Publication number: 20100037750
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for maximizing the punch of any double membrane drum and simultaneously minimizing the ringing of the drum. An insert is provided having a body adapted to be slid into an opening formed in either the batter membrane or resonant membrane of the drum. The insert is held in contact with the membrane by one of several mounting techniques. The weight of the insert and the length and width of the body of the insert are sized in a manner to increase the “punch” of the drum and to minimize “ringing” of the drum. The insert may be retrofitted into an existing drum or attached to a batter head membrane or resonant membrane during original manufacture of the drum. The insert may be used with drum openings of any shape by making the cross-sectional shape of the insert conform to the shape of the drum opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Samuel Earl Millender, JR., Jesse M. Bradman, William 'Billy' L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100031802
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for lowering the fundamental frequency of a cajon drum. A first side wall of the cajon drum is the drumhead. An opening is formed in a second side wall, wherein the opening may be circular, oval, rectangular or other shape. An insert having a cross-section conforming to the shape of the opening is slid into the opening and mounted to the side wall in which the opening is formed. Various techniques for connecting the insert to the side wall of the drum are disclosed. The insert may be fitted into the drum opening during the initial manufacture of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Samuel Earl Millender, JR., Jesse M. Bradman
  • Patent number: 7582820
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for maximizing the punch of a bass kick-drum and simultaneously minimizing the ringing of the drum. An insert is provided having a cylindrically shaped body adapted to be slid into a conventional circular opening formed in the resonant membrane of the drum. The cylindrical insert is held in contact with the resonant membrane by one of several mounting techniques. The weight of the insert and the length and diameter of the body of the insert are sized in a manner to lower the fundamental frequency of the resonant membrane and to increase the amplitude of the fundamental resonant frequency and to simultaneously dampen the vibration of the resonant membrane, which three factors are all part of increased “punch.” The ringing of the drum is minimized by quickly dampening the vibration of the resonant membrane wherein the increased dampening is caused by the weight and shape of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Inventors: Samuel Earl Millender, Jr., Jesse M. Bradman, William (Billy) L. Johnson