Abstract: A plug connector is provided for mating with a jack connector. The plug connector includes a base and a tubular member extending from the base. The tubular member includes a ground contact area adjacent the base, a conductive end distal to the base and an external, axially extending spring. The conductive end is insulated from the contact area and has a recess located thereon. This configuration permits retentively engaging the signal tip of the plug by corresponding structure in the jack, while simultaneously supporting the tubular portion of the plug with externally directed spring elements engaging corresponding structure in the jack, to achieve reduced relative movement when the plug connector and the jack connector are mated.

Abstract: A plug connector is provided for mating with a jack connector. The plug connector includes a base and a tubular member extending from the base. The tubular member includes a contact area, a terminal end composed of a conductive material and being distal to the base and a spring. The terminal end is insulated from the contact area and may have a circumferential groove located thereon. A core may be disposed within the tubular member and has an insulative material disposed about at least one signal conductor. A jack connector is also provided for receiving, for example, the foregoing plug connector and the jack connector includes a body which has a cavity and a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the cavity and configured to be engageable with the tubular member. A second plurality of electrical contacts may also be disposed within the cavity and are also configured to be engageable with the tubular member.

Abstract: A plug connector is provided for mating with a jack connector. The plug connector includes a base and a tubular member extending from the base. The tubular member includes a ground contact area adjacent the base, a conductive end distal to the base and an external, axially extending spring. The conductive end is insulated from the contact area and has a recess located thereon. This configuration permits retentively engaging the signal tip of the plug by corresponding structure in the jack, while simultaneously supporting the tubular portion of the plug with externally directed spring elements engaging corresponding structure in the jack, to achieve reduced relative movement when the plug connector and the jack connector are mated.

Abstract: A drum hoop having an asymmetrical cross section for use in combination with hand drums. The drum hoop upper inner edge is connected to a lower inner edge having a larger diameter producing a drum hoop inner surface having an angular orientation to the central axis of the drum. The angular orientation of the inner surface maximizes clearance between the drum hoop and the variable diameter exterior surface of the drum shell. Added clearance allows a drum hoop constructed according to the invention to accommodate variations in exterior surface diameter often encountered in hand made drum shells common in the art.

Abstract: A plug connector is provided for mating with a jack connector. The plug connector includes a base and a tubular member extending from the base. The tubular member includes a contact area, a terminal end composed of a conductive material and located distal to the base and a spring. The terminal end is insulated from the contact area and may have a circumferential groove located thereon. A core may be disposed within the tubular member and has an insulative material disposed about at least one signal conductor. A jack connector is also provided for receiving, for example, the foregoing plug connector and the jack connector includes a body which has a cavity and a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed within the cavity and configured to be engageable with the tubular member. A second plurality of electrical contacts may also be disposed within the cavity and are also configured to be engageable with the tubular member.

Abstract: A drumhead patch particularly adapted for use on snare drums used in marching bands consists of a plastic layer adhered to a section of the playing surface of the snare drumhead membrane. A first portion of the patch defines a series of openings while a second portion has no openings. The patch alters the vibration characteristics of the membrane and presents alternative playing surfaces to the musician. A guiro effect is produced by dragging a drumstick over the openings in the first portion of the patch. The second portion produces distinctly different impact sounds than the playing surface of the drumhead membrane when struck by a beater. The patch may be positioned on the playing surface to meet the needs of a particular musician.

Abstract: An externally mounted adjustable damping system for drumhead allows the sound characteristics of a drum to be easily adjusted without disassembly of the instrument. The externally mounted adjustable damping system includes a mounting fixture adhesively attached to the outside surface of a drumhead. The mounting fixture defines an annular channel for receiving damping elements of various materials and configurations. The damping elements may be rings or segments of vibration absorbent material placed to achieve the desired sound pattern from the instrument.

Abstract: A drum insert comprising a thin, flexible sheet of material having an overall area substantially congruent with that of the bottom drum head, and a multiplicity of irregularities, preferably holes, distributed substantially uniformly over at least about 20% of the area of the sheet.

Abstract: A two ply, synthetic drumhead for use in hand drums is created by using a laser to precisely remove excess material in the form of V-shaped notches from the peripheral portion of each layer disc of drumhead material prior to bonding and forming the drumhead sheet. After removal of the excess material, each layer disc has a peripheral edge consisting of equal size finger-like projections alternating with V-shaped notches. The layers are positioned so that the notches of one layer are covered by the projections of the other layer, producing a finished drumhead having a uniform exterior appearance and feel. The drumhead is tuned to duplicate the sound of a natural skin drumhead by positioning a damping element between the layer discs prior to bonding and assembly.

Abstract: A box for packaging products configured to enable the contents of the box to be removed and inspected by a customer without excessive wear and tear on the box and also to enable the display of the box.