Carrier assembly for percussion instruments
Novel hardware is disclosed for supporting drums. The hardware is of a hinged construction and has one part of the hinge connectable to an external support, e.g., J-rods on a fixed pedestal support or a marching drum carrier, and another part of the hinge connectable to the shell of a drum or to the tension rods on a drum or to other supporting hardware installed on the drum.
This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/756,479, filed Jan. 8, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,869.
This application is a reissue of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/170,005 filed on Jun. 10, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,805 issued on Aug. 3, 2004, which is a Division of application Ser. No. 09/756,479 filed Jan. 8, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,869 issued Jun. 11, 2002, which is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/507,800 filed Feb. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,290 issued Jan. 9, 2001, which is a Division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/497,266 filed Feb. 3, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,583 issued Dec. 11, 2001, which is a Division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/497,265 filed Feb. 3, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,407 issued Nov. 27, 2000, which is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/976,999 filed Nov. 24, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,257 issued Feb. 22, 2000, which is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/588,244, filed Jan. 18, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,492, issued Nov. 25, 1997.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for supporting or carrying percussion instruments, particularly drums of various kinds.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The prior art discloses many examples of apparatus for supporting percussion instruments but none providing the combination of features disclosed and claimed herein.
May U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,492 discloses hardware for supporting drums that is of a hinged construction and has one part of the hinge connectable to an external support, e.g., J-rods on a fixed support or a marching drum carrier, and another part of the hinge connectable to the shell of a drum or to the tension rods on a drum or to other hardware on the drum.
May U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,257 shows drum hardware and drums secured thereon preferably supported on a vest type carrier or a T-bar carrier or a fixed post or pedestal.
May U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,290 shows a hinged support for an array of drums.
Other possibly relevant prior art is Pyle U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,357; May U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,910 and May U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,810.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and improved hinged support for an array of drums for support on a pedestal or marching type carrier.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved hinged support for an array of drums for support on a pedestal or marching type carrier having means for adjusting the position of a drum array relative to fixed drums thereon.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved hinged support for an array of drums for support on a pedestal or marching type carrier having novel means for supporting the drums thereon.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved hinged support for drums for support on a pedestal or marching type carrier by J-rod supports.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved means for connecting a hinged support for an array of drums for support on individual drums.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent throughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related.
In
Referring to
Referring to
Belly plate 27 is removably secured to the lower end of vertical bar 28 by screws or bolts 35. A pair of J-bar receptacles 36 are secured on belly plate 27 by screws or bolts or the like. J-bar receptacles may also be used of the type shown in
A hinge assembly 39 (
Hinge assembly 39 (
In
The end portion 60 of connecting rod 61 is secured in clamping receptacle 57. Another end portion 62 of connecting rod 61 fits into and is clamped by clamping receptacle 63 which is secured on one of the drums 64 of drum assembly 39. Drum 64 has holes that receive bolts 65 extending through washers 66 into holes 67 in the base of clamping receptacle 63. Bolt 68 extends through washer 69 and hole 70 in receptacle 63 into hole 71 to tighten or loosen the clamp. This clamping receptacle is available commercially and is described more completely in
Each hinge bar 50 is pivoted on bolts 52 to a selected position. Each hinge bar 50 has an end portion cut in curvature 72 permitting the edge to clear back bar 41. A set bolt 75 extends through hole threaded 76 in back bar 41 to engage the end portion 72 of hinge bar 50 to secure the hinge in a selected position.
In the assembly shown in
The operation of this supporting hardware should be apparent but will be described in some detail for clarity of understanding. Referring to
Another hinge assembly is shown in
Hinge assembly 130 comprises a fixed member 132 that is a one-piece extrusion having a back portion 133 with parallel upstanding wall members 134 and rearward facing curved wall portions 135 that fit over two of the tension rods on the drum or rods 149 and 150 of the embodiment in
Two J-rod clamping receptacles 137 are supported for pivotal movement on sidewalls 134 of fixed hinge member 132. Receptacles 137 are cast or extruded and have an open edge portion which can flex to clamp J-rods or posts adjustably. Receptacles 137 have a cylindrical inner surface. The base 138 of receptacles 137 is hollow and maintains the receptacle in spaced relation to sidewalls 134 of fixed hinge member 132. Hinge bolts 139 extend through receptacles 137 into sidewalls 134 where they are secured by nuts 140. Bolts 141, operated by knobs 142, extend through the hollow base of receptacles 137 to engage wall 132 of fixed hinge member 130. Adjustment of bolts 141 pivots hinged receptacles 137 outward or inward to a selected position.
OperationThe operation of this supporting hardware should be apparent but will be described in some detail for clarity of understanding. Referring to
In
While this invention has been described fully and completely, with special emphasis on several preferred embodiments and/or applications, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Claims
1. Supporting hardware, for at least one drum including a drum shell, a pair of drum heads and drum hoops, for supporting said drum for pivotal movement on an external support, comprising:
- a hinge comprising a fixed supporting plate including means for supporting said drum-supporting hardware on said external support,
- a pair of movable hinge plates positioned adjacent to said fixed supporting plate,
- and a hinge pin interconnecting said supporting plate and said hinge plates for pivotal movement of said hinge plates on said supporting plate,
- said movable hinge plates having means for connection to an external support on said drum to clamp said drum on one of said hinge plates, and
- means adapted to be secured on supporting rods on said drum interconnecting said hinge plate with said drum.
2. Supporting hardware for at least one drum according to claim 1 in which:
- said rods are two adjacent tension rods on the drum.
3. Supporting hardware for at least one drum according to claim 1 in which:
- said rods are rod members supported on said drum shell in said drum not having tension rods or connecting rods extending between tire the drum-heads.
4. Supporting hardware for at least one drum according to claim 1 in which:
- said fixed supporting plate has hollow receptacles for connection to said rods, and
- said movable hinge plates have hollow receptacles for connection to J-rods supported by and extending from the external support.
5. Supporting hardware, for at least one drum including a drum head and drum hoop, for supporting such drum for pivotal movement on an external support, comprising:
- a hinge comprising a supporting member including means for supporting said drum supporting hardware on said external support,
- said support member having adjustment means for horizontal towards and away movement of said drum supporting hardware on said external support, and
- a hinge member positioned adjacent to said supporting member.
6. Supporting hardware for a drum according to claim 5 in which:
- said drum has at least one rod secured thereon, and said drum securing means is secured to said rod.
7. Supporting hardware for a drum according to claim 6 having two adjacent rods on the drum.
8. Supporting hardware for a drum according to claim 7 in which:
- said rods are supported on a drum not having tension rods or connecting rods extending between the drum-heads.
9. Supporting hardware for a drum according to claim 6 in which: one of said hinge members has a hollow receptacle for connection to one rod, and
- another of said hinge members has a hollow receptacle for connection to a J-rod supported by and extending from the external support.
10. Supporting hardware for drums according to claim 5 in which: said hinge comprises a fixed supporting plate with end portions bent at a right angle thereto,
- means on said supporting plate for supporting said drum-supporting hardware on said external support,
- a pair of hinge plates positioned adjacent to the bent end portions of said fixed supporting plate,
- and a hinge pin interconnecting said bent end portions and said hinge plates,
- said hinge plates having means for connection to an external support on a drum to secure such drum on one of said hinge plates, and
- said external support on said drum comprising a rod interconnecting said hinge plate with said drum.
11. Supporting hardware for drums according to claim 10 including:
- two adjacent tension rods or connecting rods on the drum.
12. Supporting hardware for drums according to claim 10 including:
- said rods are supported on a drum not having tension rods or connecting rods extending between the top and bottom of the drum.
13. Supporting hardware for drums according to claim 10 in which:
- said fixed supporting plate has hollow receptacles for connection to J-rods supported by and extending from the external support, and
- said movable hinge plates have hollow receptacles for connection to rods on said drum.
14. Supporting hardware for drums according to claim 5 in which:
- said hinge comprises a supporting plate with end portions bent at a right angle thereto,
- means on said supporting plate for supporting said drum-supporting hardware on a drum,
- a pair of hinge plates positioned adjacent to the bent end portions of said fixed supporting plate,
- a hinge pin interconnecting said bent end portions and said hinge plates, and
- said hinge plates including means for supporting said drum-supporting hardware on a plurality of drums.
15. Supporting hardware for drums according to claim 14 in which:
- each said hinge plate includes a hollow receptacle for connection to a J-rod supported by and extending from the external support.
16. Supporting hardware for drums according to claim 15 in which:
- at least one of said hinge plates includes a thumbscrew operable to engage said supporting plate for pivotal adjustment of said drum.
17. Supporting hardware for a drum, comprising:
- drum attachment hardware for a drum that does not penetrate into or through the drum shell to secure to at least one drum, where the hardware further includes;
- a hinge member positioned adjacent to said attachment hardware;
- a hinge pin interconnecting said attachment hardware and said hinge member with at least one receptacle for attaching the hinge member to a shoulder supported carrier to allow the drum attachment hardware to rotate relative to the at least one receptacle.
18. The supporting hardware for a drum from claim 17 wherein the drum attachment hardware is with fastening means for securing the hardware to at least one tension rods and or tubes and or bars on a drum.
19. The supporting hardware for a drum from claim 17 wherein the drum attachment hardware is with fastening means that clamps to at least one of the drums one tension rods and or tubes and or bars on a drum.
20. The supporting hardware for a drum from claim 17 wherein the drum attachment hardware is with fasteners that secure the hardware onto the drum rim and or hoop.
3774823 | November 1973 | Hoellerich |
3974732 | August 17, 1976 | Kester, Jr. |
4102237 | July 25, 1978 | Suess et al. |
4453446 | June 12, 1984 | Hoshino |
5054357 | October 8, 1991 | Pyle |
5140889 | August 25, 1992 | Segan et al. |
5520292 | May 28, 1996 | Lombardi |
5691492 | November 25, 1997 | May |
5949008 | September 7, 1999 | Augsburger |
- Remo “Marching & Concert Percussion” Brochure, Copyright 1992.
- “Ludwig/Musser Marching Percussion” Brochure, Copyright 1991.
Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 24, 2004
Date of Patent: Jun 28, 2011
Inventor: Randall L. May (Irvine, CA)
Primary Examiner: Marlon T Fletcher
Attorney: Buhler & Associates
Application Number: 10/948,849
International Classification: G10D 13/02 (20060101);