Abstract: A suspension system for a drum includes upper and lower suspension structures defining a pair of mounting holes including an upper and a lower mounting hole. A vibration isolation member is received in each mounting hole of the pair. When the suspension system is mounted to the drum via the pair of mounting holes and an associated vibration isolation members receives an associated tensioning rod at a support location, one of the vibration isolation members engages a downwardly facing surface of the upper drum hoop and the other vibration isolation member engages a downwardly facing surface of a lower lug to support weight of the drum upwardly. The suspension system prevents a moment force on the drum when the drum is oriented in a horizontal or angled position due to the support locations being oriented to be balanced with respect to a center of gravity of the drum.

Abstract: A supporting apparatus (40) for a kick pad (1) includes a supporting frame (41˜44) that supports a kick pad (1) including a piezoelectric element that converts a vibration generated by beating with a beater into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal, and a fixation frame (51, 52) that fixes the supporting apparatus (40) to an inner surface of a shell of a bass drum while a striking surface (2a) of the kick pad (1) is arranged in a position beaten by the beater.

Abstract: A kick pad includes a piezoelectric element (1) that converts a vibration generated by beating with a beater into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal, an impact-absorbing member (5) arranged between the piezoelectric element (1) and a surface (21a) to be beaten by the beater, and a sheet-like striking surface cover (21) that includes a front surface including the surface (21a) to be beaten, and that wraps the impact-absorbing member (5), together with the piezoelectric element (1), on a back surface side of the striking surface cover (21).

Abstract: One aspect of the rotation stopper (1) for the cymbal pad (10) has a holding hole (19) provided in a holding plate (18) of the cymbal pad (10) and a holding sleeve (22) provided on a supporting rod (20) of a cymbal stand. The holding sleeve (22) is arranged to be inserted through the holding hole (19) with an amount of play in the fitting. The holding hole (19) has a plurality of engaging recesses (34) on the inner periphery. The holding sleeve (22) has an outer peripheral surface having at least one ridge (33) that engages with at least one of the engaging recesses (34) so as to deter the cymbal pad (10) from rotationally moving relative to the holding sleeve (22).

Abstract: An electronic drum pad includes a drum shell; a mesh head stretched at the upper opening of the drum shell; a hard-resin sheet disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the mesh head and having a ring shape with an opening made at a center thereof; a cloth disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the hard-resin sheet; a strike absorbing member disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the cloth and formed by overlaying a plurality of sheets; and a tray disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the strike absorbing member and fitted into the lower opening of the drum shell.

Abstract: An electronic drum pad includes a drum shell; a mesh head stretched at the upper opening of the drum shell; a hard-resin sheet disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the mesh head and having a ring shape with an opening made at a center thereof; a cloth disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the hard-resin sheet; a strike absorbing member disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the cloth and formed by overlaying a plurality of sheets; and a tray disposed adjacent to the rear surface of the strike absorbing member and fitted into the lower opening of the drum shell.

Abstract: An electronic mallet controller includes a plurality of bars representing musical notes. Each bar active produces a signal indicative of the respective musical note when struck by an implement, and all adjacent bars are spaced apart with the same spacing. A first user input permits a user to select a lowest diatonic natural note of the range of the musical instrument to thereby define a location of dead notes. A processor circuit interprets each signal as an outputted musical note. Based on the first user input, the processor circuit shifts mapping between the bars and the musical notes to be outputted, causing the dead note locations to be associated with certain of the bars, and wherein the bars at the dead note locations are inactive bars. An indicator is associated with the inactive bars to indicate the location of the dead notes to the user.

Abstract: A strainer is provided for a snare drum having a bottom drumhead. The strainer includes a snare assembly including a snare carrier and a plurality of snares coupled therewith. A throw-side component includes a bracket member releasably mounted to the snare drum and a slide member moveable relative to the bracket member and engaging the snare carrier. The slide member includes a slider handle fixed thereto and a locking toggle such that when the strainer is coupled to the snare drum, manual movement of the slider handle causes the snares to move toward the bottom drumhead, with the locking toggle being constructed and arranged to be 1) moved to a first, locking position engaging the bracket member so as to lock the slide member to the bracket member, and 2) moved to a second, release position releasing the slide member from engagement with the bracket member.

Abstract: An electronic drum head is provided that attaches to a standard acoustic drum shell. The drum head is a self-contained unit that replaced both the acoustic drum head and the drum hoop or rim to convert the acoustic drum into an electronic drum. When the drummer plays these heads, the drum head is muted, minimizing acoustic noise from the kit. Also, these electronic drum heads can be easily attached and removed, allowing the drummer to go back to playing his acoustic drums when desired.

Abstract: A cymbal mounting assembly is provided. The cymbal mounting assembly includes a cymbal mounting shaft having an annular groove formed in an outer surface of the cymbal mounting shaft. The cymbal mounting shaft is configured to receive a cymbal. In addition, the cymbal mounting assembly includes a quick release locking mechanism removably coupled to the shaft. The quick release locking mechanism includes a quick release locking mechanism housing and a pair of locking elements. Each locking element includes a distal release portion and a proximal coupling portion. The proximal coupling portion of each locking element engages the annular groove of the shaft when the quick release locking mechanism is in a locked position.

Abstract: A drum includes a drum shell having a first drum shell segment and a separate, second drum shell segment. The drum shell segments each including a hollow cylindrical member having a rim, a protrusion formed in an upper surface of the rim, and an annular groove formed in a lower surface of the rim. The protrusion of the first drum shell segment is received in the groove of the second drum shell segment so that the drum shell segments are in axially stacked relation. A first hoop mounts a first drum skin to the drum shell. Tensioning structure is constructed and arranged to removably secure the drum shell to the first hoop.

Abstract: A horizontal support system for a percussion instrument support the percussion instrument in a horizontal position without the necessity for permanently altering the instrument structure. Preferably, the percussion instrument includes a shell having first and second open ends, a first hoop affixed to the first open end, a second hoop affixed to the second open end of said shell, and a drum head provided at one end. The support system includes a plurality of support legs. Each support leg includes a main support member; a foot member selectively positioned adjacent one end of the main support member; first and second hoop engagement members that engage the hoops of the percussion instrument. The plurality of support legs supports the percussion instrument in a horizontal position with the drum head facing up or in a tilted position.

Abstract: A cymbal stand for mounting at least one cymbal. The cymbal stand comprises a base assembly including a base pipe, a support pipe assembly including a first support pipe, and a first locking clamp for releasably locking said first support pipe and said base pipe together. The base pipe has an upper end and a longitudinal axis. The first support pipe has a length, opposite terminal ends and a first longitudinal axis along the length. The first support pipe is telescopically and coaxially movable relative to the base pipe. The first support pipe is connected to the base pipe along the longitudinal axis of the first support pipe by the first locking clamp at a nodal point of the first support pipe.

Abstract: A mounting assembly with different washer assemblies for a cymbal has a stand rod, an adjusting rod, an inner fastener, an outer fastener, an inner composite washer assembly and an outer composite washer assembly. The adjusting rod is mounted pivotally on the stand rod. The inner and outer fasteners are mounted securely on the adjusting rod. The inner and outer composite washer assemblies are mounted around the adjusting rod and are mounted between the inner and outer fasteners. The cymbal is mounted around the adjusting rod and is clamped between the inner and outer composite washer assemblies. Each washer assembly has a relative hard surface and soft surface as well as different diameters to provide a multiplicity of sounds available to the percussionist.

Abstract: A cymbal stand for mounting at least one cymbal. The cymbal stand comprises a base assembly including a base pipe, a support pipe assembly including a first support pipe, and a first locking clamp for releasably locking said first support pipe and said base pipe together. The base pipe has an upper end and a longitudinal axis. The first support pipe has a length, opposite terminal ends and a first longitudinal axis along the length. The first support pipe is telescopically and coaxially movable relative to the base pipe. The first support pipe is connected to the base pipe along the longitudinal axis of the first support pipe by the first locking clamp at a nodal point of the first support pipe.

Abstract: A body-supportable musical-instrument carrier, comprises a rigid frame substantially conforming to shoulder and upper back regions of a user; a belly plate; first mounting members mountable on the belly plate for securing the belly plate to the rigid frame; and second mounting members mountable on the belly plate for securing the musical instrument to the body-supportable musical-instrument carrier. The second mounting members are a pair of J-rods having a first end portion mounted to the belly plate and a second end portion defined by a compound bend. In other words, the first ends of each J-rod lies in a different plane than the plane of the second ends. Additionally, the J-rods have a broader contact area against the drum for better stability compared to traditional support rods.

Abstract: A hoop for securing a drum head to a drum, the hoop having a lower portion configured to mount the hoop to a shell of the drum and a flange formed in the lower portion of the hoop. The flange being configured to receive a tension control device for tuning the drum head. The hoop may also include an upper portion that is above and normal to the flange and an annular upper edge formed on the upper portion of the hoop that is rolled over and bent inward toward an inner peripheral surface of the hoop. The upper portion may be fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the hoop be welding or another method of fixing.

Abstract: A locking system to more accurately secure the foot pedal tension spring to the desired tension every time a tension adjustment is necessary. An adjustment screw is interconnected with the tension spring for adjusting the tension of the spring. A spring tension adjustment nut is threaded onto the adjustment screw. In accordance with the invention, a locking system is provided for locking the adjustment screw at one of a plurality of selected adjustment positions relative to the support and the foot pedal assembly in general. The selected adjustment positions are radially disposed about the central axis of rotation of said adjustment screw so that the adjustment screw may be locked into one of the selected adjustment positions relative to the support. With this locking system, the user may carefully select from a plurality of highly sensitive adjustment positions.

Abstract: A body-supportable musical-instrument carrier featuring a rigid frame, a belly plate, and first and second mounting members is provided. The frame includes a substantially U-shaped intermediate section and end sections at opposite ends of the intermediate section. The intermediate section substantially conforms to shoulder and upper back regions of a user for resting on the shoulder regions and extending across the upper back region of the user in use. The end sections extend substantially parallel to one another for resting in front of a front torso region of the user in use. The first mounting members are mountable on the belly plate and engageable with the end sections, respectively, for securing the belly plate to the frame. The second mounting members are mountable on the belly plate and engageable with a musical instrument for securing the musical instrument to the carrier.

Abstract: A foot pedal apparatus for operating a musical instrument, comprising an elongated footboard including a hinge plate fixed to the rear portion of the footboard and a stationary heel plate with a front portion. A hinge assembly couples the hinge plate at the footboard rear portion to the heel plate front portion and enables the footboard to pivot relative to the heel plate, wherein the hinge plate may be fixed at different positions on the footboard to adjust a length of the footboard relative to the axle. A portion of the heel plate may be repositioned between the hinge shaft and the footboard to define the extended footboard. As a result, the torque provided by the footboard can be adjusted to adjust the feel of the pedal and to accommodate feet of different sizes. Additionally, spherical bearings on the hinge shaft improve the function of the pedal assembly by compensating for a slightly misaligned axle.