Patents by Inventor Michael Dorfman

Michael Dorfman 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: 20070295191
    Abstract: A drum pedal assembly for connecting a first pedal to a support holding a beater arm may include a telescoping transmission shaft having yokes attached to shaft ends, yokes having bosses, universal joints rotatably attached to bosses and using trunnions, second yokes having bosses attached to universal joints using additional trunnions. The second yokes may rotatably attach a drive assembly rotatably attached to first pedal and an attachment arbor attached to beater arm to facilitate rotation of beater arm when first pedal is depressed. Configuration of assembly, including that of universal joints, may help reduce backlash or vibration in assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Michael DORFMAN, George Szwaya, Robert Szwaya
  • Patent number: 7211720
    Abstract: A bass drum beater may include a shaft having a length, a beater head fixable to a selected position along the length, and a connector engageable to the beater head and to the shaft to secure the position. The beater head may form an angle with respect to the shaft and the angle may be adjustable along a range, which may be about 20 degrees to either side of perpendicular. A bass drum beater may also include a shaft, a beater head having a drumward side and a hole to engage the shaft, a beater face attachable to the drumward side, and a means for holding the beater head in a longitudinal position and an angular position with respect to the shaft, wherein the longitudinal position and the angular position are adjustable. The means may include a bushing around the hole and a screw engaging the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Trick Percussion Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dorfman, George Szwaya, Robert E. Szwaya
  • Publication number: 20070089588
    Abstract: A bass drum beater may include a shaft having a length, a beater head fixable to a selected position along the length, and a connector engageable to the beater head and to the shaft to secure the position. The beater head may form an angle with respect to the shaft and the angle may be adjustable along a range, which may be about 20 degrees to either side of perpendicular. A bass drum beater may also include a shaft, a beater head having a drumward side and a hole to engage the shaft, a beater face attachable to the drumward side, and a means for holding the beater head in a longitudinal position and an angular position with respect to the shaft, wherein the longitudinal position and the angular position are adjustable. The means may include a bushing around the hole and a screw engaging the bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Dorfman, George Szwaya, Robert Szwaya
  • Publication number: 20060156901
    Abstract: A drum pedal, having a drive assembly supported by a pedestal, may include a drive shaft, a rotatably adjustable drive ring, and a rotatably adjustable beater ring. In another aspect, a drum pedal may have a drive assembly supported by a pedestal comprising a journaled drive shaft, a rotatable bearing mounted off center of the drive shaft, a spring, and a biasing arm pivotally mounted on the pedestal, wherein the bearing and the spring cooperate to bias the arm toward a predetermined rest position. A linkage may operatively connect a foot board and the drive ring and may have means for selectively defining a connection to the foot board from one of plurality of positions. A beater may have a stem affixed to the beater ring. The beater may be actuated to a forward position when the foot board is depressed. The foot board may be biased toward a raised position and the beater may be biased toward a rearward position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Dorfman, George Szwaya, Robert Szwaya
  • Publication number: 20060156900
    Abstract: A drum pedal, having a drive assembly supported by a pedestal, may include a drive shaft, a rotatably adjustable drive ring having an arm, and a rotatably adjustable beater ring. A link may connect a foot board with the arm. A beater may have a stem affixed to the beater ring. The beater may be actuated to a forward position when the foot board is depressed. The foot board may be biased toward a raised position and the beater may be biased toward a rearward position. In another aspect, a drum pedal may have a drive assembly with a cam, having a slope, mounted on a drive shaft. The cam and a spring may cooperate to bias a cam follower toward a predetermined rest position. An adjuster may be provided to easily change the tension of the spring. In still another aspect, a drum pedal may have a drumward clamp including a shaft, a rotatable arm, and a torsion spring for biasing the arm toward locking with a drum rim. The arm may be unlocked by rotating a lever connected to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Dorfman, George Szwaye, Robert Szwaye
  • Patent number: 6846978
    Abstract: A snare drum strainer mountable to the shell of a drum comprises a piston and an actuator. The piston has an axis and a surface curved about an axis generally parallel to the piston axis, and the piston is operatively connected to snares. The actuator and the curved surface rotate one with respect to the other about an axis generally parallel to the piston axis to reciprocate the piston and to tension and untension the snares. In another embodiment, the piston includes a generally cylindrical surface with a generally helical groove, the piston is operatively connected to snares, and the actuator includes a follower insertable into the generally helical groove. The follower and the generally cylindrical surface rotate one with respect to the other to reciprocate the piston and tension and untension the snares.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Trick Percussion Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dorfman, Robert Szwaya, George Szwaya
  • Publication number: 20040168563
    Abstract: A snare drum strainer mountable to the shell of a drum comprises a piston and an actuator. The piston has an axis and a surface curved about an axis generally parallel to the piston axis, and the piston is operatively connected to snares. The actuator and the curved surface rotate one with respect to the other about an axis generally parallel to the piston axis to reciprocate the piston and to tension and untension the snares. In another embodiment, the piston includes a generally cylindrical surface with a generally helical groove, the piston is operatively connected to snares, and the actuator includes a follower insertable into the generally helical groove. The follower and the generally cylindrical surface rotate one with respect to the other to reciprocate the piston and tension and untension the snares.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Dorfman, Robert Szwaya, George Szwaya