Patents by Inventor Rich Sikra

Rich Sikra 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).

  • Patent number: 11922907
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to electronic musical instruments, systems, and methods. More particularly, this disclosure relates to electronic percussion instruments such as tom toms, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and hi-hats, and assemblies of instruments (e.g., percussion instruments), such as drum sets. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to wireless electronic percussion instruments, and percussion instruments with interchangeable and/or removable components to change the instrument between a traditional percussion instrument (that relies on resonance and/or vibration to produce sound) and an electronic percussion instrument. The present disclosure also relates to electronic cymbal instruments, such as cymbal assemblies and hi-hat assemblies, that can be used in conjunction with a traditional acoustic metal cymbal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Drum Workshop, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Piscoi, Mark Moralez, Rich Sikra, Connor Lombardi, Marcus Ryle
  • Publication number: 20240029693
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to electronic musical instruments, systems, and methods. More particularly, this disclosure relates to electronic percussion instruments such as tom toms, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and hi-hats, and assemblies of instruments (e.g., percussion instruments), such as drum sets. Some cymbals and hi-hats according to the present disclosure can be used in conjunction with a traditional acoustic metal cymbal. This disclosure also relates generally to devices and methods for operating electronic musical instrument systems including one or more musical instruments and a hub, and particularly to systems including wireless communication between the instrument(s) and hub. Various devices and methods are described for operating the system, including various operational modes of the devices, and including methods and techniques for connecting the devices, improving communication speed and robustness, and conserving power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Paul PISCOI, Mark MORALEZ, Rich SIKRA, Connor LOMBARDI, Marcus RYLE, Dave COONS
  • Patent number: 11600250
    Abstract: Described herein are percussion instruments and drums, such as snare drums. The drums include a throw-off device with a handle attached to a mount, which itself can be attached to a drum sidewall. One of the handle and the mount includes a magnet while the other includes a magnetic portion for magnetic engagement with the magnet. The magnetic engagement can be used to bias the handle toward or into a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Drum Workshop, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Sikra
  • Patent number: 11328698
    Abstract: Described herein are multipiece drum lugs and drum lug assemblies for use with percussion instruments such as drums. The drum lugs can include a separate base and a separate cap that can be interlocked, along with an insert to prevent rotation and disconnection. Receivers can be placed in the lug prior to the connection of the base and cap and sandwiched therebetween. Such a lug assembly can enable the use of regular size tension rods on drums having a relatively small depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Drum Workshop, Inc.
    Inventor: Rich Sikra
  • Publication number: 20210225338
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to electronic musical instruments, systems, and methods. More particularly, this disclosure relates to electronic percussion instruments such as tom toms, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and hi-hats, and assemblies of instruments (e.g., percussion instruments), such as drum sets. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to wireless electronic percussion instruments, and percussion instruments with interchangeable and/or removable components to change the instrument between a traditional percussion instrument (that relies on resonance and/or vibration to produce sound) and an electronic percussion instrument. The present disclosure also relates to electronic cymbal instruments, such as cymbal assemblies and hi-hat assemblies, that can be used in conjunction with a traditional acoustic metal cymbal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: PAUL PISCOI, MARK MORALEZ, RICH SIKRA, CONNOR LOMBARDI
  • Publication number: 20210225346
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to electronic musical instruments, systems, and methods. More particularly, this disclosure relates to electronic percussion instruments such as tom toms, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and hi-hats, and assemblies of instruments (e.g., percussion instruments), such as drum sets. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to wireless electronic percussion instruments, and percussion instruments with interchangeable and/or removable components to change the instrument between a traditional percussion instrument (that relies on resonance and/or vibration to produce sound) and an electronic percussion instrument. The present disclosure also relates to electronic cymbal instruments, such as cymbal assemblies and hi-hat assemblies, that can be used in conjunction with a traditional acoustic metal cymbal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: PAUL PISCOI, MARK MORALEZ, RICH SIKRA, CONNOR LOMBARDI
  • Publication number: 20210217391
    Abstract: Described herein are percussion instruments and drums, such as snare drums. The drums include a throw-off device with a handle attached to a mount, which itself can be attached to a drum sidewall. One of the handle and the mount includes a magnet while the other includes a magnetic portion for magnetic engagement with the magnet. The magnetic engagement can be used to bias the handle toward or into a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventor: Rich Sikra
  • Publication number: 20210217390
    Abstract: Described herein are multipiece drum lugs and drum lug assemblies for use with percussion instruments such as drums. The drum lugs can include a separate base and a separate cap that can be interlocked, along with an insert to prevent rotation and disconnection. Receivers can be placed in the lug prior to the connection of the base and cap and sandwiched therebetween. Such a lug assembly can enable the use of regular size tension rods on drums having a relatively small depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventor: Rich Sikra