Snare drum having tapered and flanged cast metal shell, and cast strainer-mounting means

Claim 1

A snare drum, which comprises: a generally cylindrical shell formed of cast metal, said shell being short, said shell having a relatively thin annular bearing edge at each end thereof, a single radially outwardly extending flange provided integrally on said shell at the center thereof, a batter head and a snare head mounted, respectively, on said annular bearing edges, each of said heads being connected at the periphery thereof with an annular flesh hoop the inner diameter of which is substantially greater than the outer diameter of the adjacent portion of said shell, the regions of said heads radially outwardly from said bearing edges being generally frustoconical, a counterhoop seated on each of said flesh hoops, the inner diameter of each of said counterhoops being substantially greater than the outer diameter of the adjacent portion of said shell, the outer diameter of each of said counterhoops being no greater than the outer diameter of said flange, said counterhoops being disposEd adjacent said flange whereby said flange aids in protecting said counterhoops from damage and maladjustment due to jars and bumps, a plurality of tension screws extended through said counterhoops and threadedly associated with said flange to shift said counterhoops toward said flange and thereby apply tension to said drumheads, said screws cooperating with said flange in protecting said counterhoops from maladjustment due to jars and bumps, said tension screws having square heads at the outer ends thereof and located on the sides of said counterhoops remote from said flange, the inner ends of said screws being externally threaded and being threadedly related to internally threaded openings in said flange, and strainer and snare means extending over said snare head to create a snare action relative thereto, said strainer and snare means incorporating portions provided on said flange, said portions of said strainer and snare means comprising lugs formed integrally on said flange and shaped to provide bearing support for snare-suspension cords, said portions of said strainer and snare means further comprising protuberances respectively formed integrally on said flange at portions thereof opposite said lugs, said strainer and snare means further incorporating a throw off mounted in one of said protuberances and operable to disengage the snares from the snare head, said strainer and snare means further incorporating a tension adjustment element mounted in the other of said protuberances and operable to change the tension of the snares.