Patents by Inventor Jan Roelof van der Meulen

Jan Roelof van der Meulen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090293703
    Abstract: A protector device for the tension lock of a conga or the like provides a cost-effective production and easy attachment and the possibility of operation of the tension nut in the attached condition. The protector device comprises a main body, which is U-shaped in its horizontal cross section and radially open on the inside toward the conga, accepting the tension lug of the conga. A slot in the top portion snaps onto the tension hook in the attached position and the tension nut is exposed so that a tightening of the tension lock via the tension nut is possible even when the protector device is attached, without having to remove the protector device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Jan Roelof van der Meulen
  • Publication number: 20090178538
    Abstract: A musical instrument comprising: a main body mounting a plurality of jingles to produce sound when said main body is vibrated as with a conventional tambourine. At least one muting element is associated with at least one of the jingles to selectively restricting movement of the jingles to mute a jingle sound produced by said jingles. In the preferred embodiment, the jingles are comprised of pairs of metallic discs carried by the main body. With the invention, the jingles can be selectively opened, either fully or partially, by the amount of pressure applied by the muting elements thus controlling an amount of jingle sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Jan Roelof van der MEULEN
  • Patent number: 7470845
    Abstract: A percussion instrument, such as a shaker, has a first disc-shaped member having an outer annular flange defining a first outer perimeter and a second disc-shaped member defining a second outer perimeter different than the first outer perimeter. The first and second disc-shaped members are directly interconnected to form a cavity therebetween. A plurality of sound producing particles is disposed within said cavity defined by the first and second disc-shaped members. The instrument also includes a mounting system for mounting to a vehicle such as a tambourine, hi-hat, cymbal etc. for causing movement of the shaker instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Pearl Musical Instrument Co.
    Inventors: Bart Fermie, Jan Roelof van der Meulen
  • Publication number: 20080271588
    Abstract: A percussion instrument, comprising a plurality of wood blocks or staves interlocked to each other through tongue and groove joints, such that the interlocked blocks form a solid surface having the shape of a cylinder with two open ends. A drum head is in contact with one of the open ends of the body, and suitable fixing means, coupled to said head, retain the head under pressure against one of the ends. Preferably, the tongue and groove joints are defined by grooves in the blocks or staves with a spline member disposed in each groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Jan Roelof van der MEULEN
  • Patent number: 7446250
    Abstract: A percussion instrument, comprising a plurality of wood blocks or staves interlocked to each other through tongue and groove joints, such that the interlocked blocks form a solid surface having the shape of a cylinder with two open ends. A drum head is in contact with one of the open ends of the body, and suitable fixing means, coupled to said head, retain the head under pressure against one of the ends. Preferably, the tongue and groove joints are defined by grooves in the blocks or staves with a spline member disposed in each groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Pearl Musical Instrument Co.
    Inventor: Jan Roelof van der Meulen
  • Publication number: 20080173155
    Abstract: A percussion instrument, such as a shaker, comprises a first disc-shaped member having an outer annular flange defining a first outer perimeter and a second disc-shaped member defining a second outer perimeter different than the first outer perimeter. The first and second disc-shaped members are directly interconnected to form a cavity therebetween. A plurality of sound producing particles is disposed within said cavity defined by said first and second disc-shaped members. The instrument also includes means for mounting to a vehicle such as a tambourine, hi-hat, cymbal etc. for causing movement of the shaker instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Bart Fermie, Jan Roelof van der Meulen
  • Patent number: 7402740
    Abstract: A tuning mechanism for tuning a drum having a head and a shell. The tuning mechanism includes a tuning bracket or receptacle mounted to the shell with a stabilizing portion formed thereon. A tuning rod has a first end attached to the head of the drum for varying the tension on the head and a second end passing through the tuning bracket and fitted with a nut for varying the applied tension to the head of the drum. Further a stabilizing washer positioned between the nut and the tuning bracket to improve a tuning procedure for said drum, whereby the stabilizer washer has a stabilizing tang that engages the stabilizing portion on the tuning bracket to prevent unwanted contact between the threads of the tuning rod and other structure of the percussion instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Pearl Musical Instruments Co.
    Inventor: Jan Roelof van der Meulen
  • Publication number: 20080141846
    Abstract: A tuning mechanism for tuning a drum having a head and a shell. The tuning mechanism includes a tuning bracket or receptacle mounted to the shell with a stabilizing portion formed thereon. A tuning rod has a first end attached to the head of the drum for varying the tension on the head and a second end passing through the tuning bracket and fitted with a nut for varying the applied tension to the head of the drum. Further a stabilizing washer positioned between the nut and the tuning bracket to improve a tuning procedure for said drum, whereby the stabilizer washer has a stabilizing tang that engages the stabilizing portion on the tuning bracket to prevent unwanted contact between the threads of the tuning rod and other structure of the percussion instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Jan Roelof van der Meulen
  • Publication number: 20080116332
    Abstract: A drum is connected to a support leg by a connecting mechanism which includes a clamping bracket attached to the tubular lugs and a leg bracket attached to the leg member. The main clamping unit comprises an open-ended clamp adapted to be selectively positioned on a tubular lug of a drum body and securely tightened to immovably fix the clamping bracket relative to the drum. The leg bracket comprises an aperture adapted to receive the elongated rod of the leg member and a fixing mechanism to selectively secure the leg member relative to the clamping bracket. The main clamping unit is integrally fixed to the leg bracket through a main body portion of the clamping bracket. With the leg system of this invention, the legless drum may be supported in both a horizontal or vertical orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Jan Roelof van der Meulen, Glen Caruba
  • Patent number: 7368648
    Abstract: A percussion musical instrument comprising a set of clave blocks each comprising a body having an open cavity therewithin. The bodies of the clave blocks have substantially equal exterior dimensions and assorted volumes of the open cavities therewithin provided to generate musical tones of assorted pitches, such as low pitch, medium pitch and high pitch. A volume of the open cavity of the low pitch clave block of the set is larger than a volume of the open cavity of the medium pitch clave block, while the volume of the open cavity of the medium pitch clave block is larger than a volume of the open cavity of the high pitch clave block. Each of the clave blocks of the set further includes a mounting rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Pearl Musical Instrument Co.
    Inventor: Jan Roelof van der Meulen