Abstract: An exercise device for compression exercises is adjustable in height and in compression force. The device includes a central housing and a plurality of plungers extending from a top side. A support member is attached to the housing on a bottom side. The support member is movable longitudinally relative to the housing and plungers from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position and is lockable in a plurality of intermediate longitudinal positions to vary the height of the device. Each plunger is operatively associated with an internal bias member that biases the plunger away from the housing. Resistance force on a plunger is adjustable via changing tension of the associated bias member with an adjustment knob to finely adjust tension. An installed bias member is removable and replaceable with a different bias member to coarsely adjust tension.

Abstract: An adjustable and reusable electrical assembly has an electrical unit, such as a plug unit or light unit, configured to engage with a cable. The electrical unit has a body that defines a channel connecting opposite pass-through openings. A first contact member and a second contact member are positioned with at least a portion in the body, each contact member having a piercing member. The cable is engageable with the plug unit extending through the channel with one piercing member in conductive contact with one wire and the other piercing member in conductive contact with the other wire. The cable can be disengaged from the plug unit and re-engaged at a different transverse position to change the length of the assembly.

Abstract: An exercise device for compression exercises is adjustable in height and in compression force. The device includes a central housing and a plurality of plungers extending from a top side. A support member is attached to the housing on a bottom side. The support member is movable longitudinally relative to the housing and plungers from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position and is lockable in a plurality of intermediate longitudinal positions to vary the height of the device. Each plunger is operatively associated with an internal bias member that biases the plunger away from the housing. Resistance force on a plunger is adjustable via changing tension of the associated bias member with an adjustment knob to finely adjust tension. An installed bias member is removable and replaceable with a different bias member to coarsely adjust tension.

Abstract: An adjustable and reusable electrical assembly has an electrical unit, such as a plug unit or light unit, configured to engage with a cable. The electrical unit has a body that defines a channel connecting opposite pass-through openings. A first contact member and a second contact member are positioned with at least a portion in the body, each contact member having a piercing member. The cable is engageable with the plug unit extending through the channel with one piercing member in conductive contact with one wire and the other piercing member in conductive contact with the other wire. The cable can be disengaged from the plug unit and re-engaged at a different transverse position to change the length of the assembly.

Abstract: A pivoting plug adapter provides a conductive connection between first and second plugs. The adapter includes a pair of sub-assemblies attached to one another in a pivotal mechanical connection with each sub-assembly housing conductive elements. One plug extends from one sub-assembly and the other plug extends from the other sub-assembly. A central conductive sleeve extends between the respective sub-assemblies coaxial to the axis of rotation. A bias member is positioned between sub-assemblies to bias them away from one another. Another bias member is positioned within a sub-assembly as a member of the conductive path between the plugs. One or more of the bias members may be wave washers. The sub-assemblies are pivotal about the central axis to vary the position of the plugs relative to one another while maintaining conductive communication.

Abstract: A snare system for use with a drum has a snare assembly with snares extended longitudinally between opposite end plates. The end plates define a slot from a top surface to a bottom surface with obliquely extending walls. Two connectors, each with a strap carrying a latch member, are attached to opposite sides of the drum via its strap with latch member within the drum rim. Each latch member includes a flange with oblique configuration complimentary to the oblique slot in the end plates. The snare assembly is attached via sliding engagement of the respective flanges into the respective slots with the surfaces of each in surface-to-surface contact so that the connectors maintain the snare assembly attached to the drum. The snare assembly is removable quickly by reverse sliding of the flanges from the slots to interchange with a different snare assembly having end plates with a common configuration.

Abstract: A snare system for use with a drum has a snare assembly with snares extended longitudinally between opposite end plates. The end plates define a slot from a top surface to a bottom surface with obliquely extending walls. Two connectors, each with a strap carrying a latch member, are attached to opposite sides of the drum via its strap with latch member within the drum rim. Each latch member includes a flange with oblique configuration complimentary to the oblique slot in the end plates. The snare assembly is attached via sliding engagement of the respective flanges into the respective slots with the surfaces of each in surface-to-surface contact so that the connectors maintain the snare assembly attached to the drum. The snare assembly is removable quickly by reverse sliding of the flanges from the slots to interchange with a different snare assembly having end plates with a common configuration.

Abstract: A pivoting plug adapter provides a conductive connection between first and second plugs. The adapter includes a pair of sub-assemblies attached to one another in a pivotal mechanical connection with each sub-assembly housing conductive elements. One plug extends from one sub-assembly and the other plug extends from the other sub-assembly. A central conductive sleeve extends between the respective sub-assemblies coaxial to the axis of rotation. A bias member is positioned between sub-assemblies to bias them away from one another. Another bias member is positioned within a sub-assembly as a member of the conductive path between the plugs. One or more of the bias members may be wave washers. The sub-assemblies are pivotal about the central axis to vary the position of the plugs relative to one another while maintaining conductive communication.

Abstract: A drumstick has a conventional tip and tapered shank, but the handle portion on the shaft has a wavy profile, with a nominal diameter and with the peaks rising above the nominal diameter and the valleys recessed below the nominal diameter. Whether or not the drumstick has a wavy handle, the outer surface of the drumstick has a tack which increases with increasing moisture of the drumstick outer surface, e.g., the tack increases between an initial condition of a drummer's dry skin against a dry drumstick surface and a play condition of a drummer's moist skin against a moist drumstick.

Abstract: A signal cable comprising a plurality of plug parts forming a plug that is operatively connected to signal and ground conductors at one end of a coaxial cable, wherein the plug parts and the end of the coaxial cable are held together only by an insulating overmold material. The assembly has four operatively connected plug parts (12, 20, 24, 30); a signal conductor at one end (42) of a coaxial cable (40) conductively connected to one of the plug parts (12); and an overmold (54) encapsulating the end of the cable and a conductive connection between a cable ground sleeve and another plug part (30).

Abstract: A music string for a fretted instrument with extended life of initial tonal characteristics has a central core wire having a wrapped wire wound around it. The wrapped wire is coated with a metal or metal alloy. The metal coating may be nickel or tin or alloys of nickel or tin. The coating may be applied on the wrapped wire by a process of electroplating.

Abstract: A music string for a fretted instrument with extended life of initial tonal characteristics has a central core wire having a wrapped wire wound around it. The wrapped wire is coated with a metal or metal alloy. The metal coating may be nickel or tin or alloys of nickel or tin. The coating may be applied on the wrapped wire by a process of electroplating.

Abstract: A signal cable comprising a plurality of plug parts forming a plug that is operatively connected to signal and ground conductors at one end of a coaxial cable, wherein the plug parts and the end of the coaxial cable are held together only by an insulating overmold material. The assembly has four operatively connected plug parts (12, 20, 24, 30); a signal conductor at one end (42) of a coaxial cable (40) conductively connected to one of the plug parts (12); and an overmold (54) encapsulating the end of the cable and a conductive connection between a cable ground sleeve and another plug part (30).

Abstract: A bracket for mounting a tuning device on a headstock of a string instrument and a bracket-mountable tuning device are disclosed. A primary arm with a plate attaches to a spring arm with a clamping arm by a releasable ratchet engagement. The clamping arm is reciprocable to the plate. A tuner attaches in a rotatable engagement to the plate opposite a mounting surface. An instrument headstock can be positioned between the plate mounting surface and clamping arm and the clamping arm moved toward the plate to a clamping position with the headstock trapped therebetween with substantially constant pressure on the headstock. The tuner is substantially hidden from the front view of the headstock. The clamping arm is maintained in the clamping position by the ratchet engagement until the ratchet engagement is released.

Abstract: A tuner, a display, and a method implement the steps of (a) illuminating a configuration of elements within a first pattern of elements to indicate the target frequency for tuning; (b) illuminating a configuration of elements within a different, second pattern in which the number of illuminated elements corresponds to the number of coarse increments of sharp or flat deviation or total coarse deviation of the sensed waveform fundamental frequency relative to the target frequency; and (c) upon tuning to less than the minimum coarse sharp or flat deviation relative to the target frequency, illuminating a configuration of elements within a different, third pattern in which the number of illuminated windows corresponds to the number of fine increments of deviation or total fine deviation relative to the target frequency. These steps are substantially simultaneously implemented for both sharp and flat deviation to arrive at a final tuning.

Abstract: An end pin has a composite shoulder with a fixed lower half and a rotatable upper half. The halves are alignable in a first, installation mode of minimal footprint relative to the hole and slit in the end piece to permit the pin to be easily inserted through the hole in the end piece. The upper half is rotated into a second, locking mode that increases the footprint of the pin over the hole and slit, thereby preventing inadvertent disengagement of the strap from the pin.

Abstract: A bracket for mounting a tuning device on a headstock of a string instrument and a bracket-mountable tuning device are disclosed. A primary arm with a plate attaches to a spring arm with a clamping arm by a releasable ratchet engagement. The clamping arm is reciprocable to the plate. A tuner attaches in a rotatable engagement to the plate opposite a mounting surface. An instrument headstock can be positioned between the plate mounting surface and clamping arm and the clamping arm moved toward the plate to a clamping position with the headstock trapped therebetween with substantially constant pressure on the headstock. The tuner is substantially hidden from the front view of the headstock. The clamping arm is maintained in the clamping position by the ratchet engagement until the ratchet engagement is released.