Abstract: A versatile walking cane adapted to be used alternatively as a stringed musical instrument. The cane has a handle portion, a tip portion and an elongate, preferably cylindrical body portion therebetween. The body portion has a plurality of tuning pegs rotatably mounted thereon adjacent the handle portion, a nut rigidly mounted near the tip portion and a bridge rigidly mounted between the tuning pegs and the nut. One end of each of a plurality of strings are spaced from one another and attached to the nut while the opposing ends of the strings are attached to the tuning pegs such that the strings contact the bridge and the nut and are spaced from the portion of the body portion therebetween. The portion of the strings between the bridge and the nut overlie a plurality of frets rigidly attached to the portion of the body portion between the nut and the bridge. The body portion, which is preferably hollow, may further include a hole therein disposed between the bridge and the nut.

Abstract: An improved drumhead comprising a substantially annular hoop having a generally planar upper member spaced apart from a generally planar lower member, a circumferential inner rim and a circumferential outer rim. Also provided is a film material or membrane, which is generally co-planar with the annular hoop, for constituting a drumming surface, which extends flat across the area defined within the circumferential inner rim and the circumferential outer rim. The drumhead is adaptable for use with a large variety of percussion instruments including toms, snare drums, bass drums, tambourines, congas, bongos and many other types of ethnic and other drums. The invention can also be employed separately as a hand held drum with the flat annular hoop section of the instrument functioning as a drumshell.

Abstract: A venturi expander is mounted on a speaker enclosure to receive the rearward-propagated sound waves and to extend the propagation path. The venturi expander's reflective sides direct the rearward sound to the sides or top or bottom of the speaker enclosure to produce a reflected sound surrounding the speaker enclosure and producing sound to the sides of the speaker substantially as projected from the front of the speaker.

Abstract: A musical instrument leg support device for allowing the user of a guitar to more comfortably play a guitar while being seated. The musical instrument leg support device includes a flexible elongate member having a padded member and a non-slip cover member which completely encloses about the padded member; and also includes fastening members each having a strip member being securely attached to a respective end of the flexible elongate member and each having hook and loop fasteners securely attached to the strip member with the musical instrument leg support device being wrapped and fastened about the thigh of the user to prevent slippage of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A music box transmitting mechanism for a music box includes a bottom rotating member rotating in one direction and a top rotating member having an inner rotatable member rotating in a direction opposite to that of the bottom rotating member. Furthermore, a transmitting member acting on the music box can transmit the kinetic energy from the power device to the inner rotatable member at a long distance.

Abstract: An electric guitar or other similar stringed instrument is provided. The guitar is ergonomically designed to provide a maximum amount of comfort and stability in a variety of playing positions, both sitting and standing, while producing a minimum amount of fatigue in the instrumentalist.

Abstract: A capo device for a stringed instrument for quickly and effectively clamping strings to the fingerboard of a stringed instrument. The capo device for a stringed instrument includes a frame capable of extending about a fingerboard of a stringed instrument; and also includes an assembly for clamping strings to the fingerboard of the stringed instrument; all features not described nor suggested by the prior art.

Abstract: A throw-off device for use on a drum having a side wall and a head, a support body attachable to the side wall of the drum, a tensioning member movable relative to the body to tension or release strands adjacent the drum head, a lever movable between selected positions, and cam and follower roller elements that are relatively movable in response to lever movement to effect member movement.

Abstract: A loudspeaker is provided including a frame formed with an upper end having a seat which receives the outer edge of a surround. The surround is retained within the seat by the combination of an o-ring in contact with the surround, and a C-shaped clamp having an upper arm which engages the o-ring and a lower arm releasably mounted to the upper end of the frame.

Abstract: An drum pedal which allows one to adjust the position and/or angel of the pedal in order to have better control and comfort when using the drum pedal. The adjustable drum pedal has a base plate. A foot pedal is movably coupled to the base plate wherein the foot pedal is able to move vertically along a width of the base plate and is able to rotate about a pivot point. A frame is also coupled to the base plate. A drum beater mechanism is removably coupled to the frame. This will allow one to adjust a position of the drum beater mechanism on the frame. A drive assembly is coupled to the drum beater mechanism and the foot pedal. The drive assembly is used for moving the drum beater mechanism when pressure is applied to the foot pedal and for returning the drum beater mechanism to a starting position when the pressure is removed from the foot pedal.

Abstract: A quick release latch assembly for securement of a drumhead utilizes a rim for retaining the drumhead and tension bolts for tuning the drumhead. A keeper member is threaded to an end portion of the bolt. The keeper member includes a locking lug. A bracket member is mounted to the drumshell in alignment with the bolt. The keeper member is guidingly accommodatable within the bracket member. The bracket member includes a pivotal operating lever having an attached locking member. The operating lever is angularly displaceable in a first direction for engaging with the locking lug. A force is generated on the locking lug when the operating lever is displaced in a second direction. The force is transmitted through the keeper member and tension bolt to the drumhead. The magnitude of the resultant force can be modified by changing the relative location of the keeper member along the length of the tension bolt.

Abstract: A sounder includes a cone and a sound disk, the cone having a conical peripheral wall with a flat base, the flat base having a diameter smaller than the sound disk, the sound disk being adhered to the conical peripheral wall of the cone and defining with the flat base a sound chamber.

Abstract: A technique for reducing acoustic noise emitted by a magnetic resonance imaging system includes providing energy dampening elements in the scanner, such as within the gradient coil assembly, between the gradient coil assembly and the primary magnet, and around the outer and inner peripheries of the primary magnet and RF coil. The elements may be formed to conform to the structures of the scanner, and may be tile-like elements which can be fitted to new scanners and retrofitted to existing equipment.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention 1) holds percussion mallets for transportation or storage, 2) converts any concert music stand or desk into a trap table for holding mallets and small percussion instruments such as tambourines, triangles, and claves thereon, and 3) provides a pocketed surface disposed below the surface of the music desk to hold mallets in an easily accessible manner. The upper portion of the trap bag has a sleeve which slips over the shelf or edge of the music desk, securing the trap bag to the desk. A padded portion rests on the surface of the desk to sustain small percussion instruments and mallets. The stick or mallet holding segment hangs below the desk to contain the mallets in a performance ready posture for the percussionist. When the performance is over, the trap bag is lifted off the edge of the desk and closed for easy transit or storage.

Abstract: A tool for use with a guitar for establishing a proper degree of pre-tightening slack in each of a plurality of guitar strings attached to respective head and rear locations of the guitar and prior to final tightening and wrapping of the strings. A substantially planar and elongate extending body includes a lower end having first and second locating feet extending from the body for locating the tool in substantially upwardly extending fashion relative to a selected one of the frets of the guitar neck. The tool also includes an upper end having a plurality of individually stepped shoulders corresponding to each of the plurality of guitar strings to be installed. A removal portion is integrally defined in the body and is adapted to remove pegs installed at the rear location of the guitar. Tuning spindles are located on a head of the guitar and each further includes a locking nut portion rotatably associated with an upwardly extending pintle.

Abstract: A folding frame for supporting a musical instrument is disclosed. The frame includes a first leg and a second leg pivotally connected to each other. The first leg is formed with a disk defining a plurality of holes. The second leg is formed with a spring-loaded pin that tends to be moved into one of the holes in the disk. A handle is pivotally connected to the second leg, and has a first end spaced from the second leg and a second end engaged with the pin. Therefore, the pin can be moved out of one of the holes in the disk simply by pressing the first end of the handle towards the second leg.

Abstract: The cushioned percussion device, comprising in combination, a projecting support for the device; a pivot for said support, and spring structure located to yieldably resist pivoting of the support.

Abstract: A fixing structure is provided for fixing an adjustment screw for use in adjustment of closing of a tone hole of a tube body of a woodwind instrument by a key system. The adjustment screw is fixed to a screw fixing member such as a communicating plate or a stopper having a tapped hole. A block that is made by synthetic resin material is formed in a prescribed shape having a prepared hole penetrating therethrough and is detachably attached to the screw fixing member. For example, the block is placed in an engagement channel of the stopper, then, the adjustment screw having an external thread is screwed into the prepared hole of the block to be tapped by force and is further rotated to engage with the tapped hole of the stopper. To prevent the block from being easily extracted from the engagement channel of the stopper, both of the block and engagement channel are formed in substantially a trapezoidal shape in cross section.

Abstract: A stand for at least one elongated musical instrument having a narrow end and a wide end and including a base for setting the stand on an essentially horizontal plane, a substantially vertically oriented midsection, at least one support assembly, and at least one yoke, with a rigid latch element, with the support assembly supporting the wide base end of the musical instrument and the yoke receiving the narrow head end of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A submuffler for a vehicle muffler system which comprises a housing, a pressure-reducing conduit disposed within said housing, said pressure-reducing conduit containing a plurality of apertures disposed on the surface thereof, an eddy-generating member disposed within the pressure-reducing conduit along a substantial length thereof, and pipe means connected to an inlet side and an exit side of the housing for introducing exhaust gas thereto and exiting exhaust gas therefrom.