Abstract: A device integrally joined with the ported opening of a musical bass drum resonant drumhead for regulating the amount of vibrating airflow passing through the inside of a bass drumshell and continuing through the ported opening for effectively controlling undesirable higher frequency drum sounds precipitated by the airflow produced upon the striking of the batter head.

Abstract: A device integrally joined with the ported opening of a musical bass drum resonant drumhead for regulating the amount of vibrating airflow passing through the inside of a bass drumshell and continuing through the ported opening for effectively controlling undesirable higher frequency drum sounds precipitated by the airflow produced upon the striking of the batter head.

Abstract: A method for forming a dye sublimation image in a vibrating membrane employed in a musical instrument comprising the steps of: providing an image, digitally prepared or otherwise, consisting of a simulated animal skin or another form of graphic; printing the image on a substrate employing a heat transfer ink dye; joining the substrate with the printed image with a sheet of a gas permeable membrane comprised of bi-axially oriented non-woven polyester fibers having a plurality of surface pores and vibrating and musical note producing capability; applying a combination of heat and pressure to the joined substrate with the printed image and the membrane to cause the individual surface pores to expand to enable the dye to gasify and permeate the surface pores to transfer the image; and, cooling the membrane to enable the surface pores to seal closed and encase the image within the surface of the membrane to protect against delamination and wear when the membrane vibrates which results from the intense and constant

Abstract: A musical drumhead having a plurality of multifilament yarns joined to form an open weave mesh fabric wherein the surface of the multifilament yarns is uneven or undulating for enabling a strong bond with an applied coating, which, in turn, is provided to encapsulate the individual multifilament yarns. When struck by a hard object, the open weave mesh fabric absorbs vibrations resulting in a sound that simulates the sound properties of a modern day synthetic drumhead at substantially reduced sound levels. Integrating a plurality of soft fiber tufts into the surface (top and bottom) of the mesh fabric reduces the sound levels produced by the drumhead of the present invention even further.

Abstract: A musical drum having a hollow shell with at least one opening defined by a circumferential bearing edge, a drumhead, which includes an upper surface consisting of the batter head and a bottom surface, a snare assembly with a plurality of individual wires having opposite end portions, a mounting member affixed to at least one end portion, and means for releasably attaching the snare assembly to the circumferential bearing edge comprising a flexible U-shaped clip in engagement with the circumferential bearing edge in pressure-contact relation. The individual snare wires are disposed in abutment against the bottom surface of the drumhead to cause the wires to vibrate upon the striking of the batter head.

Abstract: A musical drum having a hollow shell with at least one opening defined by a circumferential bearing edge, a drumhead, which includes an upper surface consisting of the batter head and a bottom surface, a snare assembly with a plurality of individual wires having opposite end portions, a mounting member affixed to at least one end portion, and means for releasably attaching the snare assembly to the circumferential bearing edge comprising a flexible U-shaped clip in engagement with the circumferential bearing edge in pressure-contact relation. The individual snare wires are disposed in abutment against the bottom surface of the drumhead to cause the wires to vibrate upon the striking of the batter head.

Abstract: A sound dampening modification means for a musical drum comprising, in combination with a drumshell, a drumhead with a playing surface and a rim, and a drumhead fastening means with a bottom edge, an annular base, and a means joined integral with the annular base to mount the annular base upon the drumhead rim. The means to mount the annular base upon the drumhead rim is positioned so that it may be suspended above the playing surface and held there between the bottom edge of the drumhead fastening means and the drumhead rim. Also provided is a means to muffle drumhead sounds comprised of sound absorbing material positioned between the drumhead fastening means and the drumhead rim.

Abstract: A sound dampening modification means for a musical drum comprising, in combination with a drumshell, a drumhead with a playing surface and a rim, and a drumhead fastening means with a bottom edge, an annular base, and a means joined integral with the annular base to mount the annular base upon the drumhead rim. The means to mount the annular base upon the drumhead rim is positioned so that it may be suspended above the playing surface and held there between the bottom edge of the drumhead fastening means and the drumhead rim. Also provided is a means to muffle drumhead sounds comprised of sound absorbing material positioned between the drumhead fastening means and the drumhead rim.

Abstract: A musical drum instrument with a hollow shell having one or more openings, each having the capability of forming a circumferential bearing edge, and a head member having a playing surface. Also provided is a tapered coupling with the narrowest portion of the tapered coupling situated in near proximity to at least one of the shell openings gradually expanding in width as it extends along the outside surface of the hollow shell in the direction away from the opening. The head member is mounted upon the end of the hollow shell with the head member and the hollow shell converging in frictional engagement to establish an airtight fit sealing the juncture where the two are joined to enable the direct transfer of energy produced upon the striking of the playing surface to enhance the sound quality of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A musical drum instrument with a hollow shell having one or more openings, each having the capability of forming a circumferential bearing edge, and a head member having a playing surface. Also provided is a single tapered coupling with the narrowest portion of the tapered coupling situated in near proximity to at least one of the hollow shell openings or mating tapered couplings integrated with the outside surface of the shell wall and inside surface of the wall of the head member, respectively. The head member with or without the integrated tapered coupling is mounted upon the end of the hollow shell its integrated tapered couple with the head member and the hollow shell converging in frictional engagement to establish an airtight fit sealing the juncture where the two are joined to enable the direct transfer of energy produced upon the striking of the playing surface to enhance the sound quality of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A method for forming a dye sublimation image in a vibrating membrane employed in a musical instrument comprising the steps of: providing an image, digitally prepared or otherwise, consisting of a simulated animal skin or another form of graphic; printing the image on a substrate employing a heat transfer ink dye; joining the substrate with the printed image with a sheet of a gas permeable membrane comprised of bi-axially oriented non-woven polyester fibers having a plurality of surface pores and vibrating and musical note producing capability; applying a combination of heat and pressure to the joined substrate with the printed image and the membrane to cause the individual surface pores to expand to enable the dye to gasify and permeate the surface pores to transfer the image; and, cooling the membrane to enable the surface pores to seal closed and encase the image within the surface of the membrane to protect against delamination and wear when the membrane vibrates which results from the intense and constant

Abstract: In combination with a musical drum with a hollow shell having at least one opening and a drumhead with a tensioned membrane with a playing surface covering the opening, the present invention is an improved means to dampen resonating drum sounds consisting of an annular fixture mounted on a playing surface with the fixture having an outer concentric edge adjacent a flange member having an inner surface faced opposed to the playing surface, an inner concentric edge spaced apart from said playing surface and an area adjacent the inner concentric edge which defines an annular channel with the drumhead for receiving a damping member in fixed retained relation with the annular fixture. The annular fixture, including the damping member, is mounted to the playing surface by a series of incrementally spaced-apart non-adhesive means or non-adhesive means disposed in a continuous array provided for attaching the flange member to the playing surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for simulating the playing surface response characteristics of conventional percussion instruments, including one or more metal base members and one or more corresponding percussion pad members with a magnetized pad for magnetic coupling with a metal base member. Each percussion member has response characteristics corresponding to the playing surface characteristic of a particular conventional percussion instrument and is removably positioned relative to each of the metal base members. Also provided is a device for simulating the playing surface response characteristics of a bass drum.

Abstract: A method for forming a dye sublimation image in a vibrating membrane employed in a musical instrument comprising the steps of: providing an image, digitally prepared or otherwise, consisting of a simulated animal skin or another form of graphic; printing the image on a substrate employing a heat transfer ink dye; joining the substrate with the printed image with a sheet of a gas permeable membrane having a plurality of surface pores and vibrating and musical note producing capability; applying a combination of heat and pressure to the joined substrate with the printed image and the membrane to cause the individual surface pores to expand to enable the dye to gasify and permeate the surface pores to transfer the image; and, cooling the membrane to enable the surface pores to seal closed and encase the image within the surface of the membrane to protect against delamination and wear when the membrane vibrates which results from the intense and constant pounding of a drumstick, a mallet, a person's hand or some

Abstract: A sound modification system for a musical drum comprising a drumshell, a drumhead with an inner surface and a playing surface, and one or more mounting members adapted to be mounted to the drumhead. Each mounting member includes a first coupling member, which is fixed to the drumhead and projects outwardly from the playing surface, and a second coupling member matable to said first coupling member. Also provided is a sound altering element, which is adapted to removably engage the playing surface of the drumhead and has means cooperable with the matable first and second coupling members to form a detachable connection between the sound altering element and the drumhead. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a sound altering means in a hoop-like or ring configuration having a plurality of openings formed at regular intervals therein and means inserted through each of the openings to snap-fasten the sound altering means to the playing surface of the drumhead.

Abstract: In combination with a drum, which includes a drumshell, a flesh hoop, a counter-hoop and a drumhead with a drumming surface, a device for tensioning a drumhead that eliminates protruding and awkwardly designed components and protects against the associated physical discomfort to the musician which interferes with the enjoyment of playing the instrument and the musician's playing technique. The tensioning device includes a conventional mechanical worm-drive mechanism for applying a tensioning force substantially perpendicular to the drumming surface toward the flesh hoop to the counter-hoop to increase the tension of the drumming surface. One end of the tensioning device is affixed securely to the drumshell and the other end of the device is tightly attached to the counter-hoop. The tensioning device is also comprised of two or more generally flat, ribbon-like bands disposed in a low-profile fashion about the perimeter of the shell.

Abstract: A device for use in combination with a musical drum for dampening extraneous and undesirable tones produced by the drumhead consisting of a means for affixing the device to the drum, such as, for example, a clamp assembly, mounted on a counterhoop. Connected to the clamp assembly is an L-shape bracket, which extends generally above the clamp and over a section of the edge portion of the drumhead surface where it attaches in pivotal relation to a horizontally extending arm, which is connected on its opposite end to a casing. An aperture is formed within the casing and extends entirely from the top end of the casing to the bottom. A vertically disposed plunger arm is slidably received through the aperture, and is connected at the bottom end to a plunger head, which includes a base portion and a felt pad or some similarly suitable material mounted thereon to act as the contact surface with the drumhead.

Abstract: An optical switch, or detector, is provided with a light source and a light sensitive component. The light source, which can be an infrared light emitting diode, and the light sensitive component, which can be a photodarlington pair, are associated to provide an equilibrium light emission from the light emitting diode which is sufficient to maintain conductance through the light sensitive component which regulates the amount of current flowing through the light emitting diode. This cooperative association between these components results in an equilibrium condition that is disturbed by the existence of an object between these components to obstruct the light beam between the light source and the light sensitive component, or an external light source providing a beam of light received by the light sensitive component. The voltage magnitude at the light source can be used as a signal representing the condition as the light sensitive component.