Abstract: A drum hoop assembly wherein the annular drum hoop has an inwardly directed edge which partially or substantially covers the bearing edge of the drum shell. The inwardly directed edge protects the bearing edge of the drum shell such that contact with a drum stick or damage is prevented. The drum hoop provides sufficient coverage of the bearing edge to prevent accidental damage from occurring and also provides proper tensioning of the drum head on the drum shell.

Abstract: A drum includes a drum shell, a drum head, a counter-hoop and a shell hoop. A drum skin extends over the open end of the drum shell and has a circumferential bead. The counter-hoop has a downwardly and outwardly extending flange which bears on the bead. The shell hoop has a rim which extends upwardly and outwardly. An adjustable clamp ring engages the flange of the counter-hoop and the rim of the shell hoop through correspondingly inclined portions. The clamp ring has a breach and a tightening mechanism so that when the clamp ring is tightened, the counter-hoop is forced downwards, thereby tightening the skin.

Abstract: A snap-fastening structure of a drum comprises a fixing socket disposed laterally on a surface of a drum shell, a drum clasp snap-fastened at a counterhoop, and a link bolt penetrating the drum clasp to join the fixing socket. The drum clasp is a clamp body having a clamp-fastening portion extended downward and folded inward to form a clamping which provides, a firm retention of the drum clasp at the counterhoop and a buffer space for reducing influences to vibration of the batter head for thickening and solidifying the timbre of drumbeats.

Abstract: An improved tuning system is provided for a musical percussion drum. The tuning system utilizes an inverted J-shaped counterhoop that is threadably engaged with an externally threaded, outwardly facing tuning rim surface on a tuning collar that is secured to the drum shell. An interior portion of the counterhoop projects downwardly into a channel defined between the externally threaded tuning rim of the tuning collar and a bearing ring on the tuning collar located inwardly and separated from the tuning rim by the channel. The pressure ring bears downwardly on a hoop that is secured to the periphery of the drum skin. Rotation of the counterhoop in one direction screws the counterhoop further onto the drum shell, thereby tightening the drum skin. Counterrotation of the counterhoop in the opposite direction loosens the drum skin. Rotation is achieved by engagement of a pair of driving gears supported by a gear mount attached to the outer surface of the tuning collar.

Abstract: A drum rim includes inner and outer rim portions. The outer rim portion is smoothly tapered to provide comfort to the hands of the player. An inner rim portion is arranged to engage the drum skin at a position that has a diameter which is less than the central diameter of the drum wire.

Abstract: A drum having a top head ring, a top head across the top head ring, a tensioning ring above the top head ring and having a downwardly directed annular flange inward of the top head ring and contacting the top head, and tensioning bolts for adjustable positioning of the tensioning ring with respect to the top head ring is disclosed. There is also a bottom head ring, a bottom head across the bottom head ring, a shell beween the top head and the bottom head, and tensioning rods for pulling the bottom head ring towards the tensioning ring to thereby tension the bottom head across the bottom edge of the shell, and at least one snare mechanism positionable under each head, the snare mechanism including snare wires positionable from edge to edge of the heads.

Abstract: A percussion instrument in the nature of a drum is disclosed having a shell-like body and a pair of elastic top and bottom drum heads. A hoop is provided to stretch the top drum head across the top of the drum body and a stretching wheel is provided for stretching the bottom drum head across the bottom of the drum body. The top and bottom drum heads vibrate at a pitch level proportional to the tension produced in each drum head. The stretching wheel is rotatably mounted on the top end of a shaft positioned below the drum body. A coupling wheel is threadably engaged to the shaft and is peripherally connected to the hoop by a set of elongated tension rods.

Abstract: A percussion instrument includes a body, a percussion head carried by the body, and a variable tension-exerting mechanism to vary the pitch of sound produced when the head is struck. An actuating mechanism for actuating the variable tension-exerting mechanism includes a pedal having a generally planar user-engageable top surface, and a bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a pivot. A lever is pivotably mounted on the pivot and includes a portion extending toward the heel of the pedal and accessible to the user's foot along one side of the heel while the user's foot is positioned on the top surface of the pedal. The lever also includes a portion which extends to the toe of the pedal and provides an engaging mechansim. A positioning mechanism on the percussion instrument is selectively engageable by the engaging mechanisms on the lever for selectively fixing the position of the pedal.

Abstract: A head tensioning mechanism (10) for varying the tension on a drum head (14) during play is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the head tensioning mechanism (10) incorporates a pair of paddles (52) extending along opposite sides of the drum body (28) such that the paddles (52) may be squeezed between the legs of the player for variably adjusting the head tension in response to the squeezing pressure applied by the player. A device for supporting the drum in an upright position and incorporating a treadle (82) for operating the variable head tensioning mechanism (10) in response to foot pressure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A percussion instrument includes a drum body and a percussion head movable with respect to and stretched over the drum body. A master tensioning member is provided for pulling the drumhead downward to enable a musician to vary the pitch of the sound produced when the drumhead is struck. The master tensioning member is operatively coupled to the drumhead, and is adaptable for use with drumheads of varying size. A lever system is provided for moving the master tensioning member vertically downwardly. A foot pedal is provided for enabling the user to actuate the lever system. The pedal includes an engaging tooth, and is swivelable to engage and disengage the tooth with complementary teeth to lock the pedal selectively in position. The pedal tooth thereby permits the user to adjust and fix the tension on the drumhead. The pedal is connected to the lever system by a movable fulcrum, which permits the user to exert a smooth, even force when depressing the pedal and actuating the lever system.

Abstract: A percussion instrument includes a drum body and a percussion head movable with respect to and stretched over the drum body. A master tensioning member is provided for pulling the drumhead downward to enable a musician to vary the pitch of the sound produced when the drumhead is struck. The master tensioning member is operatively coupled to the drumhead, and is adaptable for use with drumheads of varying size. A lever system is provided for moving the master tensioning member vertically downwardly. A foot pedal is provided for enabling the user to actuate the lever system. The pedal includes an engaging tooth, and is swivelable to engage and disengage the tooth with complementary teeth to lock the pedal selectively in position. The pedal tooth thereby permits the user to adjust and fix the tension on the drumhead. The pedal is connected to the lever system by a movable fulcrum, which permits the user to exert a smooth, even force when depressing the pedal and actuating the lever system.

Abstract: A musical instrument having two drum heads of different size and tone quality, with a plurality of tension straps used to vary the drum pitch of one or both of the drum heads during its operation. The instrument is supported on a specially adapted stand with mechanical constricting means which allows the operator to constrict the drum tension straps by means of a foot pedal leaving the operator's hands free to play the two drum heads. The tension straps are connected to a floating suspension ring which allows the drum operator to easily and quickly remove a damaged drum head should the drum head become defective during its operation, without the necessity of removing any of the drum tension straps. The musical instrument may also be used by an operator separate from the drum stand, by means of a shoulder strap. The use of a shoulder strap allows the drum operator to be ambulatory during the drums operation.

Abstract: A drum with adjustable tension on the drum head in which the adjustment mechanism includes a pedal operating a device adapted to pull a spider within the drum. The legs of the spider are pivoted on the drum body and extend to the exterior. A ring pressing up beneath the head in the interior of the body of the drum is operably attached to the spider legs interior of the pivot point between the leg and the drum body, and members attached to the drum head exterior of the body are pivoted to the legs exterior of the pivot point so that a double acting tension is applied by use of the pedal.

Abstract: A drum is adjustable in pitch by a pedal assembly connected by a wire cable or similar means to an actuating lever. The lever causes pressure to be exerted against a tension-adjusting ring over which the drumhead is stretched. A drum which is adjustable in pitch by rotation of the drum shell can thus be made adjustable by use of a pedal as well, leaving both hands of the drummer free during retuning.

Abstract: Faithful replication of a drummer's hits on an electric drum, free of cogeneration of spurious signals by acoustic coupling of the drum pick-up with extraneous energy sources such as nearby musical instruments is achieved by employing as the drum hit pick-up a variable resistance transducer comprising a foamed dielectric matrix, e.g. polymer, having electroconductive particles therein, sandwiched between conductive members one of which is contiguous with the drum head.

Abstract: A drum is adjustable in pitch by a pedal assembly connected by a wire cable to an actuating lever. The lever causes pressure to be exerted against a tension-adjusting ring over which the drumhead is stretched. The pedal may be locked in any selected position to maintain the desired pitch, and the height of the drum is adjustable without adjustment of the cable linkage. A drum which is adjustable in pitch by rotation of the drum shell can thus be made adjustable by use of a pedal as well. The assembly for exerting pressure against the tension-adjusting ring is designed to be retro-fitted to certain types of existing drums to permit use therewith without the need for extensive modifications.

Abstract: Drums have downward and integrally continuously joined truncated conical walls of 3.degree. and then 30.degree. angles. A drum skin is stretched across a large open end and a brace is connected to a smaller open end. A slide moves downward on the brace as controlled by a screw jack, and cables stretched by the slide across idler pulleys on the body pull down a rim to tighten the drum head and tune the drum.

Abstract: One or more deadening elements are in contact with the underside of the drum head and are connected to a foot operated mechanism which moves the deadener or deadeners across the drum head thus varying the effective resonating area of the head so that the drum can be tuned while playing. As an example, the drum tuning can be changed from a bass drum to a concert tom. The preferred embodiment includes a pair of opposed, curved deadeners which are moved towards and away from one another in concentric relationship with the drum head.

Abstract: For tensioning a drum head, a counter hoop bearing on the rim of the drum head is formed to define an annular channel between itself and the drum shell over which the drum head is stretched. Co-operating camming means extend into this annular channel from the inner surface of the counter hoop and from the outer surface of the drum shell, respectively, so that upon rotation of the counter hoop about the axis of the drum, the counter hoop is simultaneously moved parallel to that axis to alter the tension in the drum head.

Abstract: An adjustable pitch drum consists of a drum shell having an open end and a drum head pitch changing mechanism and supporting means therefor supported on said shell. The pitch changing mechanism consists of an annular, externally threaded member supported on said drum shell; a drum head clamping hoop supported on said annular member and spaced from the end of said drum shell; and a drum head tensioning hoop supported in spaced relation to the end of said drum shell and engaging the inside of the drum head. Rotation of said drum head and the clamping hoop about said annular member moves the same longitudinally of said drum shell to vary the force exerted against the drum head by the tensioning hoop to vary the pitch of the drum. The tensions hoop is preferably supported on roller bearings supported in spaced relation to the end of the drum shell.

Abstract: A tuning system has been devised for timpani and similar percussion instruments of the type having a removable head or skin positioned across the upper end of a sound chamber and terminating in an outer edge surrounding the upper circular edge of the chamber with a hoop or other suitable bead affixed around its outer edge. In order to facilitate ease of replacement of the head, a hoop retainer is provided with open-throated connectors at spaced circumferential intervals each adapted to receive the upper enlarged end of a tuning post assembly which forms a part of each of a series of tuning units comprising the tuning system. Each tuning post assembly is so constructed and arranged as to permit simultaneous adjustment through a common chain drive to loosen or tighten the head in order to change its pitch; and further to permit individual vertical adjustment of each tuning post assembly to effect localized changes in pitch by loosening or tightening the head in the area adjacent to that tuning unit.

Abstract: A pitch control assembly for adjusting the tension on a drum head of a musical drum having a cylindrical body portion with an open end covered by the drum head, a flesh hoop attached to the periphery of the drum head, and a tension band for engaging the flesh hoop to apply tension on the drum head. The control assembly includes a rotatable tension adjusting ring encircling the drum body portion and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart slots inclined to the plane of the drum head, a plurality of abutments on the drum body portion to hold the adjusting ring against movement toward the drum head, connecting links that connect the tension band with follower members arranged in contact engagement with sidewalls of the slots in the adjusting ring, and an adjustable mechanism connected to the adjustng ring and the drum body portion for rotatably adjusting the ring relative to the drum body portion.

Abstract: An adjustable pitch drum consists of a drum shell having an open end, a drum head pitch changing mechanism, and a supporting structure mounting the pitch changing mechanism to the drum shell. The pitch changing mechanism consists of a threaded rod adjustably threaded to the supporting structure, a drum head clamping hoop mounted coaxially on the rod for rotation thereabout, and a drum head tensioning hoop non-rotatably mounted on the other end of the rod. Rotation of the drum head and its clamping hoop about the rod varies the tension of the drum head on the tensioning hoop, thereby changing the pitch of the drum. Movement of the threaded rod in the supporting structure changes the spacing of the drum head from the drum shell open end, thereby changing the resonance characteristics of the drum assembly.

Abstract: An adjustable pitch drum consists of a drum shell of any suitable shape having an open end, a drum head pitch changing mechanism, and a supporting structure mounting the pitch changing mechanism to the drum shell. The pitch changing mechanism consists of a threaded rod adjustably threaded to the supporting structure, a drum head clamping hoop mounted coaxially on the rod for rotation thereabout, and a drum head tensioning hoop non-rotatably mounted on the other end of the rod. Rotation of the drum head and its clamping hoop about the rod varies the tension of the drum head on the tensioning hoop, thereby changing the pitch of the drum. Movement of the threaded rod in the supporting structure changes the spacing of the drum head from the drum shell open end, thereby changing the resonance characteristics of the drum assembly.

Abstract: A drum has a shell and tracks at opposite end of the shells. Inner and outer rings move within the tracks. The outer ring is constrained for vertical movement, and the inner ring is constrained for circumferential movement. At least one of the rings has a plurality of inclined planes, and the other ring has followers of the inclined planes. The followers have convex surfaces for fitting in concave surfaces of the inclined planes. A rack extending circumferentially on the inner ring has teeth shaped like ratchets. Turning gears turn the rack, and a latch successively engages the teeth. Lifting the latch permits the inner ring to move backward circumferentially allowing the follower rollers to slide down the inclined plane.The tracks and shells are covered by split hoops having inward hinges and latches.

Abstract: An adjustable pitch drum consists of a drum shell having an open end, a drum head pitch changing mechanism, and a supporting structure mounting the pitch changing mechanism to the drum shell. The pitch changing mechanism consists of a threaded rod adjustably threaded to the supporting structure, a drum head clamping hoop mounted coaxially on the rod for rotation thereabout, and a drum head tensioning hoop non-rotatably mounted on the other end of the rod. Rotation of the drum head and its clamping hoop about the rod varies the tension of the drum head on the tensioning hoop, thereby changing the pitch of the drum. Movement of the threaded rod in the supporting structure changes the spacing of the drum head from the drum shell open end, thereby changing the resonance characteristics of the drum assembly.