Abstract: A head diaphragm adjustor for adjusting tension applied to upper and lower head diaphragms of a drum. A first bolt adjusts the tension applied to the upper head diaphragm. A second bolt adjusts the tension applied to the lower head diaphragm. A first meshed portion and a second meshed portion are respectively meshed with the first bolt and the second bolt and fixed to the shell. The upper portion of a rod is inserted in the first bolt in a manner independently rotatable relative to the first bolt. The lower portion of the rod is connected to the second bolt in a manner slidable relative to the second bolt and rotated integrally with the second bolt. The rod includes a cylindrical portion having a diameter greater than that of the upper portion of the rod. The first bolt abuts against the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A securement device for securing a drum head upon a drum shell or body through a tension rod, including a lug assembly that not only allows a downward pull on and hence tightening of the associated tension rod, but also provides for three additional parameters of adjustment of the position and aspect of the lower end of the tension rod relative to the associated drum shell.

Abstract: A drum hoop includes an annular ring having inward and outward faces and a plurality of flanges formed on the outward face projecting radially outwardly from the lower edge. A plurality of parallel visual guidelines are formed on the inward face of the ring positioned parallel to a reference plane formed by the lower surfaces of the flanges.

Abstract: A quick disconnect that enables a drummer to quickly remove and apply tension to a drumhead of a drum is provided. The disconnect is operable with many types of drums, such as a conga drum. The disconnect allows a drummer at the end of a playing session to quickly release tension from the drumhead and thereby preserve the head and the barrel portion of the drum. Further, when the drummer wants to use the drum again, the quick disconnect allows the drummer to quickly reapply tension to the drumhead, wherein the tension reapplied is substantially the same as the tension applied immediately prior to the previous release of the disconnect.

Abstract: In a drum in which a drum head installed on one or both of open ends of a trunk main body that constitutes a drum main body of the drum is tightened by lug bolts and stretched by a hoop, reinforcing rings are provided in anchoring holes that are formed in the hoop for receiving bolt heads of the lug bolts.

Abstract: In a drumhead stretching mechanism adapted to a drum, a bolt for tightening or loosening a drumhead stretched at ends of a hollow cylinder under tension is inserted into a latch that is hooked on a clamp frame for clamping and holding outer circumferential ends of the drumhead, wherein a hollow space is formed inside of the latch to store an anti-extraction member having a U-shape, which is engaged with the bolt. Alternatively, the latch and anti-extraction member can be integrally interconnected together. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the bolt from being extracted, from unnecessarily rotating, and from floating in the axial direction of the bolt even when the bolt is taken out from a lug nut, which normally engages with the tip end portion of the bolt.

Abstract: In combination with a drum, which includes a drumshell, a flesh hoop, a counter-hoop and a drumhead with a drumming surface, a device for tensioning a drumhead that eliminates protruding and awkwardly designed components and protects against the associated physical discomfort to the musician which interferes with the enjoyment of playing the instrument and the musician's playing technique. The tensioning device includes a conventional mechanical worm-drive mechanism for applying a tensioning force substantially perpendicular to the drumming surface toward the flesh hoop to the counter-hoop to increase the tension of the drumming surface. One end of the tensioning device is affixed securely to the drumshell and the other end of the device is tightly attached to the counter-hoop. The tensioning device is also comprised of two or more generally flat, ribbon-like bands disposed in a low-profile fashion about the perimeter of the shell.

Abstract: A quick release lug system for musical drums. The assembly utilized by the present invention uniquely allows a user to remove a drumhead quickly, dispensing with the need to unscrew multiple tuning rodes. Thus, the assembly of the present invention allows for more efficient transport, assembly and disassembly of drums than previously available, and does so in a manner that maintains the integrity of the traditional tuning system.

Abstract: A hollow cylinder of a drum is equipped with a lug fixing structure for detachably attaching a lug thereto by using a lug fixing member, which projects externally from the hollow cylinder and engages with an engagement hole of the lug. Herein, the lug fixing member has a spacer by which the lug is spaced apart from the exterior circumferential surface of the hollow cylinder and would not come in direct contact with the hollow cylinder. Thus, it is possible not to prevent the hollow cylinder from vibrating during playing of a drum. In addition, the lug is turned over after released from the lug fixing member, which is thus prevented from being engaged with the engagement hole of the lug again. This guarantees rapid replacement of a drumhead because a human operator can easily release engagement between the lug and lug fixing member without performing troublesome operation.

Abstract: A constructive arrangement disposed in a tuning mechanism for percussion instruments having a substantially parallelepiped-shaped body having a front face and an upper portion. The front face of the body defines a lower quadrangular recess extending through the parallelepiped-shaped body. The upper portion of the body defines an inverted T-shaped recess having a horizontal and lower part having the same depth as the lower quadrangular recess. A vertical and upper part of the inverted T-shaped recess has a depth which is equivalent to half the depth of the parallelepiped-shaped body.

Abstract: A drum tightening frame having bolt attachment openings disposed in a circular plate portion of the tightening frame, the bolt attachment openings being arc-shaped slots closed at both ends, and each of these openings comprising a primary opening section through which the shank (and not the head) of a corresponding tightening bolt is passed and a secondary opening section which communicates with one end of the primary opening section and has a size that allows the head of the tightening bolt to pass through. In addition, when washers are used, the tightening frame, tightening bolts and washers can be formed so as to be magnetically attracted to each other so that the washers can stay with the tightening frame or with the tightening bolts, thus avoiding the washers from being lost when the tightening bolts are removed from the drum body.

Abstract: A throw-off device for use on a drum having a side wall and a head, a support body attachable to the side wall of the drum, a tensioning member movable relative to the body to tension or release strands adjacent the drum head, a lever movable between selected positions, and cam and follower roller elements that are relatively movable in response to lever movement to effect member movement.

Abstract: A quick release latch assembly for securement of a drumhead utilizes a rim for retaining the drumhead and tension bolts for tuning the drumhead. A keeper member is threaded to an end portion of the bolt. The keeper member includes a locking lug. A bracket member is mounted to the drumshell in alignment with the bolt. The keeper member is guidingly accommodatable within the bracket member. The bracket member includes a pivotal operating lever having an attached locking member. The operating lever is angularly displaceable in a first direction for engaging with the locking lug. A force is generated on the locking lug when the operating lever is displaced in a second direction. The force is transmitted through the keeper member and tension bolt to the drumhead. The magnitude of the resultant force can be modified by changing the relative location of the keeper member along the length of the tension bolt.

Abstract: An improved structure of a rim hoop for positioning is disclosed. An improved structure of a rim hoop for positioning having a drum bell, a drum hoop for positioning a drum head bolts, and rim hoop and lug, characterized in that the lug is an arch-shaped structure including a straight shaft rod and a seat rod at the ends thereof, the lug is positioned at one side of the drum bell, the rim hoop is mounted onto the middle section of the shaft rod by means of an elastic circular pad such that the rim hoop and the lug are directly connected to the external ring surface of the drum bell, facilitating the drum bell to position the drum hoop with bolts fastening onto the lug.

Abstract: In a drum assembly, the combination comprising a drum shell having opposite ends, drumheads at the opposite ends of the shell, and annular drumhead supports carried by the shell, the supports having head supporting annular rim zones with different angular configurations comprising a drum shell having opposite ends, drumheads at the opposite ends of the shell, and annular drumhead supports carried by the shell, the supports having head supporting annular rim zones with different angular configurations.

Abstract: A drum tightening frame having bolt attachment openings disposed in a circular plate portion of the tightening frame, the bolt attachment openings being arc-shaped slots closed at both ends, and each of these openings comprising a primary opening section through which the shank (and not the head) of a corresponding tightening bolt is passed and a secondary opening section which communicates with one end of the primary opening section and has a size that allows the head of the tightening bolt to pass through. In addition, when washers are used, the tightening frame, tightening bolts and washers can be formed so as to be magnetically attracted to each other so that the washers can stay with the tightening frame or with the tightening bolts, thus avoiding the washers from being lost when the tightening bolts are removed from the drum body.

Abstract: A tension rod positioning assembly and method for installing, replacing, and clamping a drum head between a drum rim and a drum shell using a tensioning rod. The tension rod positioning assembly includes a base plate adapted to be mounted to the drum shell, a slide arm slidably mounted to the base plate and adapted to accept the tensioning rod, and an arm positioning assembly adapted to move the slide arm. The method for removing the drum head from a drum includes providing a drum head mounted between a drum rim and a drum shell on the drum, the drum head tensioned by a drum lug assembly with a drum lug handle connected to a slide arm adapted to slide substantially parallel to the drum shell, the slide arm receiving a tensioning rod with a tensioning rod head, releasing the drum lug handle to move the slide arm towards the drum head to relieve tension on the tensioning rod, moving the drum rim away from the drum shell to allow access to the drum head, and lifting the drum head from the drum shell.

Abstract: A metal drum frame with fixing lugs. A drumhead is mounted on each end face of a drum barrel of the drum. A drum frame is mounted around each drumhead. A top and a bottom edges of the drum frame are respectively formed with hollow bulge lips. A portion of the drum frame between the lips is recessed to form a waist section. The waist section of the drum frame is formed with several outward extending lugs. The lug is formed in such a manner that the waist section is transversely cut with two parallel cut lines defining the lug. The portion of the waist section between the two cut lines protrudes outward to form a substantially hollow hoop shape. A locking member is disposed in the lug. A bolt is passed through the locking member to tension the drumhead.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tensioning or relaxing a membrane of a musical instrument, such as a traditional frame drum. A pressurized fluid is guided into at least one variable pressure chamber formed by an expandable hollow body. The hollow body is positioned around the resonator of the instrument. The membrane is subjected to pressure between a membrane support and a membrane fixing device by means of the pressurized fluid in the chamber. Pressure is exerted evenly all around the circumference of the membrane. The membrane is fixed only by a band so that it can be tensed or relaxed very rapidly. The band is arranged to vibrate freely in relation to the resonance body while the membrane is subjected to pressure from the variably pressurized chamber.

Abstract: A musical drum 40 which utilizes a principle of physics to achieve an unequal tensioning of the upper head 20 and the lower head 36 without the need of physical attachments or piercing of the drum shell 24. The shell of the drum 24 remains suspended by shell's bearing edge 26, in contact only with the upper and lower heads 20 and 36 respectively. This allows the shell 24 of the drum to resonate freely and unencumbered by any attachments of hardware.

Abstract: With a view to improving a protector device for the tension lock of a conga or the like so as to obtain 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 cover; a bottom; a slot in the cover; a slot in the bottom; a cutout in the cover, into which the slot opens and which, in the attached position, encompasses the region of the outer thread of the tension hook; and a cutout in the bottom, into which the slot opens and which, in the attached position, encompasses the top of the tension nut.

Abstract: A drum head material is prepared by assembling a multi-layer laminate comprising upper and lower sheets of resilient, polymeric film and at least two oriented fiber layers positioned between said sheets. Each of the oriented fiber layers comprises parallel resilient fibers having high modulus of elasticity and a defined direction of orientation. The layers are positioned such that the directions of orientation of the two layers intersect. The layers are pressed to adhere them and form a drumhead membrane. In the preferred form, the films are of polyethylene terephthalate and the fibers are of polyaramid. If two fiber layers are employed, the fibers in the layers preferably intersect at right angles. If three layers of fibers are employed, the fibers preferably intersect at an angle of 60 degrees.

Abstract: A drum head attachment for use with a drum where the mechanism allows the user to individually tighten the normal lug bolts to tighten the drum head at discrete localized areas or to use the present mechanism to tighten or loosen the entire drum head over the total area as a absolute change. In carrying out the present invention, use is made of the plurality of standard lug bolts that can be individually tightened as is conventional, however, those lug bolts are each affixed to a lug block that is movable by the user axially with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical drum shell. By the present mechanism, all of the lug blocks can be thus moved axially simultaneously so as to tighten or loosen the entire drum head. The lug blocks are constrained to movement along the axis of the cylindrical drum shell so that no twisting occurs to the drum head and the tension is thus adjusted as desired in a uniform manner.

Abstract: A drum hoop having an asymmetrical cross section for use in combination with hand drums. The drum hoop upper inner edge is connected to a lower inner edge having a larger diameter producing a drum hoop inner surface having an angular orientation to the central axis of the drum. The angular orientation of the inner surface maximizes clearance between the drum hoop and the variable diameter exterior surface of the drum shell. Added clearance allows a drum hoop constructed according to the invention to accommodate variations in exterior surface diameter often encountered in hand made drum shells common in the art.

Abstract: A drum comprising a drum shell (11) formed with a circumferential channel (17) in its external surface; a shell hoop (15) located in the channel (17); and at least one fixing member (16), in which the shell hoop (15) has a radially outwardly inclined portion (26) arranged to engage a clamp ring (31), and the fixing member (16) includes means for attaching drum fittings, the fixing means (16) being fixed relative to the shell hoop (15).

Abstract: A percussion instrument, including a drum of any variety, having a tension member disposed between the drumhead and the end of the shell of the drum. The tension member maintains substantially constant radial tension on the skin in light of ambient conditions. The tension member may be a rigid member fixedly coupled to the end of the shell.

Abstract: A drum tuning device distributes the drawing force exerted on the drumhead by the tensioning lugs over an increased circumferential segment of the drum hoop. The tuning device includes a generally planar, relatively thin tuning plate having a circumferential dimension, a radial dimension and a thickness dimension. The circumferential dimension is substantially greater than the radial dimension and the thickness dimension. The tuning plate includes an arcuate inner surface conforming to the radial contour of the drum hoop and an outer surface substantially parallel to the inner surface. The tuning plate has an opening therethrough positioned medially between the inner surface and the outer surface. The tuning plate is positioned between the head portion of one of the tensioning lugs and the drum hoop.

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 snare strainer for a drum. The snare strainer includes a tube having a noncylindrical transverse cross section with a first axis and a second axis with oppositely located curved bearing surfaces positioned on the first axis. A piston is positioned in the tube for slidable movement between a first position in which the snares are located against the drumhead and a second position in which the snares are located away from the drumhead. The piston has a transverse cross section similar in shape to the transverse cross section of the tube. A quick release mechanism is provided to move the piston between the first and second positions. A handle forming part of the quick release mechanism is mounted on the tube and has a linkage connecting the piston, the handle and axis of the two during movement of the piston between the first and second positions. An axial passage is formed in one of the fasteners connecting the tube to the drum to allow air flow into and out of the drum.

Abstract: A musical drum in which an inflatable bladder is employed to regulate the tension on the drum head.

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 musical drum that includes a drumhead on each end that is secured to the shell by its own counterhoop. Formed as an integral part and around the perimeter section of each of the counterhoops is a series of slotted openings defined on each side by T-shaped arm members projecting radially from the hoop. A series of cord strands are threaded through each of these openings and drawn vertically across the shell in parallel relation to one another until the drum shell is encircled. By squeezing or depressing one or more of these strands together while striking the drumhead, the drummer is able to manipulate the tones and pitches of the drum sound to enable the drum to sound as if it is "speaking.

Abstract: A percussion-type drum assembly is disclosed including a generally cylindrical shell which is open at both ends and has a sidewall that defines an inner diameter and an outer diameter. A generally circular centering ring is also provided. The centering ring has a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the shell and is adapted to be disposed around the exterior of the sidewall of the shell without making contact with the shell. The drum assembly also includes a pair of membrane mounting and tuning assemblies, one for each end of the shell. Each of these assemblies includes a membrane that is adapted to cover an open end of the shell in a desired state of tension, and which has a diameter that is at least as large as the outer diameter of the shell. Each membrane mounting and tuning assembly also includes a generally circular rim having a diameter that is at least as large as the outer diameter of the shell.

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 integral drum head assembly including a drum head frame, a skin adapted to be positioned about the frame, a mount for mounting the skin firmly to the frame, and a tensioning device for tensioning the skin. The skin tensioning device has a surface for pressing against the skin, and has an adjuster for moving the tensioning device surface relative to the frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is an elongate peg, preferably of wood, which has lips or shoulders generally perpendicular to the length of the peg body and adjacent opposite ends. The lips or shoulders are on opposite sides of the peg body. The peg is used to tighten or tension the vertical lacing in "bongo" type drums by contacting adjacent pairs of vertical lacing with the peg whereby each lip is in contact with one of the adjacent pair of vertical lacing so that when the peg is flipped generally horizontal end forward, a twist is formed in the lacing pair at one end of the peg held by the lip while the other end of the peg is forcibly held against the drum shell by the force in the twist. In a preferred aspect, the drum profile is such that the spacing between the vertical lacing and the drum shell is increased slightly to facilitate more easily the flipping of the peg but still retain a peg end in forceable contact with the shell once flipped.

Abstract: A return spring regulator incorporated in a drum beater has a regulating nut rotatable with respect to a frame and a regulating bolt screwed into the regulating nut, and a player regulates the tension of a coil spring stretched between an arm member fixed to a rotatable shaft and the regulating bolt by simply rotating the regulating nut.

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 variable pitch percussion instrument comprising a drum body having an open end with an annular edge, and at least one drumhead assembly, including, flexible drumhead material stretched across the open end and an annular drumhead mounting ring secured to the perimetrical edges of the flexible drumhead so that tension can be increased on the drumhead by pressure between the open end of the drum body and the head. A plurality of flexible linear connecting elements, each having a pair of ends has one end of each of the flexible linear elements circumferentially around the mounting ring and the other ends, respectively, the other end of the drum body.

Abstract: A drum producing a wooden tom-tom sound free of any disharmony including reinforcement rings made of wood, plastic, etc. and fastened to both ends of the shell and batter heads stretched over these reinforcement rings with no parts for holding the batter heads projecting beyond the batter heads level, thus making a conventional rim shot impossible but a stick-playing method or edge shot in which the batter head and the reinforcement ring are simultaneously struck with a stick possible.

Abstract: A tensioning device for the skins of percussion instruments includes a plurality of bearing brackets which are provided with threads and are arranged distributed over the circumference of the instrument shell. Tensioning screws are adjustably mounted in the bearing brackets and act on a hoop for holding the skin. A clamping piece of an elastomer material which surrounds each tensioning screw serves to secure the screws automatically in each tensioning position relative to the bearing bracket or a thread in the bearing bracket. The clamping piece is mounted so as to be in positively locking engagement with a structural component of the tensioning device.

Abstract: A drumhead for musical percussion instruments includes a synthetic polymer membrane secured to a ring-shaped tensioning hoop having a uniform cross-sectional shape in which is formed in the upper surface thereof a generally U-shaped channel. A positioning lip or ridge protruding downwards and inwards into the channel from the outer circumferential wall of the hoop limits upward movement of the outer vertically disposed annular wall of a peripheral hoop mounting section of the membrane which has been molded into a U-shaped cross section maintained by elastic memory, thereby precisely locating the membrane with respect to the hoop when the peripheral section of the membrane is inserted into the hoop channel.

Abstract: The invention is a tunable drum including a moveable bearing member positioned under the drum head and above the drum body, at least one alignment peg located between the bearing member and the drum body, and a mechanism engaging the moveable bearing member for moving the bearing member relative to the drum body so as to adjust the tension in the head.

Abstract: A drum and drum gauge have a head supported on a cylindrical shell which is open at its bottom and provided with tensioning bolts for tensioning the head to tune the drum. The drum shell is detachably connected to a stand. The stand can be easily folded to a closed position for ease of transport. The tuning part of the drum comprises a plurality of arms extending substantially horizontally and radially from a tension bolt at one end, through a bushing in the shell, to a central operating rod at the other. Upward movement of the central rod moves the tension bolts downwards, with a lever action, increasing the tension of the drum head. The lower end of the central rod is attached to a foot lever pivotable about a horizontal access and carrying a pedal for applying a brake. A gauge for indicating the drum's pitch has a fixed scale and a movable indicator coupled to the foot lever by a sheathed cable.

Abstract: A drum hoop with integral lug bolt receivers defined around the hoop. Each lug bolt receiver including a through hole through which a lug bolt is passed to a respective lug on the periphery of the drum body. Because the lug bolt receivers are integrated with the hoop, the receivers are retained and do not separate from the drum hoop when the lug bolts are loosened for enabling replacement of a drum head held by the drum hoop. In addition, the interior surface of the drum hoop is tapered toward the outer surface in a direction from the outer edge toward the inner edge of the hoop to facilitate attachment of a clamp to the drum hoop.

Abstract: In drum head tensioning mechanism of or for a musical drum, an intermediate hoop assembly or cage is secured about the drum shell by end abutment therewith and supports top and bottom drum heads. Top and bottom counterhoops are provided about the drum heads and respectively engage flesh hoops on the drum heads. Upper and lower tensioning bolt assemblies connect the counterhoops to the intermediate hoop assembly, the lower bolt assemblies extending upwardly towards and interspaced with the upper bolt assemblies whereby all the bolt assemblies are accessible for conveniently and independently adjusting both top and bottom drum head tension. The interior of the drum shell also remains "clean" for optimum sound quality.

Abstract: A lug casing attached to the side of a drum containing a nonreversing gear which is attached to a threaded cylinder. The nonreversing gear is turned by a worm gear or a pinion gear which is connected to a knob that goes through the side of the lug casing. A T-lug is pulled into the threaded cylinder of the lug casing by the T-lug's accommodating threads. The T-lug fits into a rim on the perimeter of the drum applying tension to a very broad area of the drumhead that is fitted over the edges of a cylindrical drum shell.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for applying tension to musical drum heads. It consists of one or more master cylinders applying pressure to a hydraulic fluid in a sealed circuit. The master cylinders may be hand activated, foot activated, controlled by an external source, or a combination thereof. The hydraulic fluid is then forced through tubing to any number of reacting slave cylinders. The slave cylinders may be either single action (1 moving piston and seal) or dual action (2 moving pistons and seals moving in opposite directions), depending on the size and configuration of the drum. The pistons activate a mechanical lever or combination linkage that in turn pulls on a typical tension screw and rim configuration found on most common musical drums. The system allows for immediate pitch changes through the complete range of the drum while always maintaining uniform tension around the perimeter of each head. It also allows a fixed preset ratio between the tensions of the top and bottom heads on a two headed drum.

Abstract: A drum comprising a shell, a pair of skins (12) disposed at opposite ends of the shell, and substantially free floating tensioning assembly (30) to stretch the skins over the respective ends of the shell. The tensioning assembly comprises respective engagement means adapted to grip the periphery of each skin, a stabilizing ring (32) extending around the shell intermediate its ends, and a plurality of adjustable peripherally spaced tensioning elements (35) extending intermediate the respective engagement means and the stabilizing ring. The tensioning assembly is disposed to transfer tension directly between the skins substantially independently of the shell, thereby facilitating tuning and permitting substantially undamped vibration of the shell.

Abstract: In construction of a drum having at least one drum head, the drum head is set in tension, by assistance of a fastening counterhoop, to a suspension ring fixed to one open end of a tubular kettle and a double-type screw unit used for manual fastening of the drum head includes lug nuts mounted to the suspension ring preferably via idle, tiltable engagement and cooperative fastener bolts mounted to the counterhoop in screw engagement with the lug nuts on the suspension ring. Automatic centering is performed by the screw unit during fastening thanks to the idle, tiltable engagement and such automatic centering by the screw unit enables high tension fastening of the drum head without causing any breakages in the screw construction.