US4079657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drum apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-02
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Granted: 1978-03-21
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Expires: 1995-12-02
Abstract
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. The bottom hoop has bulbous extensions to receive a snare assembly which moves upward and downward on pins in the bulbous extensions by a lever with a two positioned detent for holding the snares against the bottom drum head or away from the bottom drum head.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph J. Sobreira
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:19
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D13/00; G10D13/01; G10D13/02; G10D13/10; G10D13/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
Drum sound changing apparatus comprising a drum shell, upper and lower track assemblies connected to the drum shell, and upper and lower rings mounted in each track assembly, at least one of the rings having a plurality of inclined planes vertically oriented around a circumference of a drum, and the other of the rings having means for engaging the inclined planes, the outer of the rings being constrained for vertical movement, and the inner of the rings having turning means connected thereto for turning the inner ring with respect to the outer ring and changing relationship of the inclined planes to followers of the inclined planes, and latch means connected to the inner ring for latching the inner ring in a particular circumferential rotational position, thereby controlling distance of the outer ring from a remote end of the drum, wherein the turning means comprises a circumferential rack connected to the inner ring, the rack having ratchet like unidirectionally oriented teeth, and a pinion gear connected to the rack and extending out of the track for turning the rack, and wherein the latch comprises a ratchet sequentially engaging the teeth of the rack, and further comprising means for releasing the rachet to permit the rack to drive the pinion in the reverse direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
Drum sound changing apparatus comprising a drum shell, upper and lower track assemblies connected to the drum shell, and upper and lower rings mounted in each track assembly, at least one of the rings having a plurality of inclined planes vertically oriented around a circumference of a drum, and the other of the rings having means for engaging the inclined planes, the outer of the rings being constrained for vertical movement, and the inner of the rings having turning means connected thereto for turning the inner ring with respect to the outer ring and changing relationship of the inclined planes to followers of the inclined planes, and latch means connected to the inner ring for latching the inner ring in a particular circumferential rotational position, thereby controlling distance of the outer ring from a remote end of the drum, wherein the turning means comprises a circumferential rack connected to the inner ring, the rack having ratchet like unidirectionally oriented teeth, and a pinion gear connected to the rack and extending out of the track for turning the rack, and wherein the latch comprises a ratchet sequentially engaging the teeth of the rack, and further comprising means for releasing the rachet to permit the rack to drive the pinion in the reverse direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 when the means connected to the other of the rings is a plurality of rollers connected to apexes of the other ring, whereby the rollers roll on the inclined planes for smoothly moving the rings in relative circumferential rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the rollers are mounted on the outer rings and the inclined planes are on the inner rings and further comprising inward projections on the outer rings, arms connected to the inner projection and extending inwardly from the projections, and wherein the rollers are connected to distal ends of the arms for engaging the inclined planes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the inclined planes have concave surfaces for receiving convex circumferential surfaces of the rollers, whereby the rollers are held in the concave surfaces of the inclined planes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein; the drum shell has outwardly extending flanges at the upper and lower ends; the track assemblies have outwardly extending lips abutting the flanges, and further comprising; drum heads having circumferential hoops abutting the lips, and; counter hoops connected to the drum heads and flanges for holding the lips tightly between the hoops and the flanges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for turning the inner ring comprises a coaxial cable having an inner member connected to the moveable ring and having an outer member connected to the track, and operating means connected to a remote end of the coaxial cable for pulling the inner end with respect to the outer end, and thereby turning the inner ring with respect to the track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising; latch release means connected to the latch means and projecting through the track assemblies for selectively releasing the latch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein; the track assemblies have axial portions spaced radially inwardly of the shell, the rings abutting the axial portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
214 words
Drum sound changing apparatus comprising a drum shell, upper and lower track assemblies connected to the drum shell, and upper and lower rings mounted in each track assembly, at least one of the rings having a plurality of inclined planes vertically oriented around a circumference of a drum, and the other of the rings having means for engaging the inclined planes, the outer of the rings being constrained for vertical movement, and the inner of the rings having turning means connected thereto for turning the inner ring with respect to the outer ring and changing relationship of the inclined planes to followers of the inclined planes, and latch means connected to the inner ring for latching the inner ring in a particular circumferential rotational position, thereby controlling distance of the outer ring from a remote end of the drum, further comprising a counter hoop connected to the shell in the area of the track, the counter hoop comprising two semi-cylindrical sections and a hinge connected between first ends of the sections on an inner side of the hoop facing the shell, and a catch connected to the opposite ends of the sections on an inner side of the hoop adjacent the shell, whereby releasing the catch permits removal of the hoop from the shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
214 words
Drum sound changing apparatus comprising a drum shell, upper and lower track assemblies connected to the drum shell, and upper and lower rings mounted in each track assembly, at least one of the rings having a plurality of inclined planes vertically oriented around a circumference of a drum, and the other of the rings having means for engaging the inclined planes, the outer of the rings being constrained for vertical movement, and the inner of the rings having turning means connected thereto for turning the inner ring with respect to the outer ring and changing relationship of the inclined planes to followers of the inclined planes, and latch means connected to the inner ring for latching the inner ring in a particular circumferential rotational position, thereby controlling distance of the outer ring from a remote end of the drum, further comprising a counter hoop connected to the shell in the area of the track, the counter hoop comprising two semi-cylindrical sections and a hinge connected between first ends of the sections on an inner side of the hoop facing the shell, and a catch connected to the opposite ends of the sections on an inner side of the hoop adjacent the shell, whereby releasing the catch permits removal of the hoop from the shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the counter hoop comprises a lower counter hoop with bulbous extensions in opposite sections of the hoop diametrically opposed from each other, a plurality of downwrd extending pins connected to the counter hoop within the bulbous extensions, and a snare assembly connected across the pins.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising holes in the snare assembly for moving along the pins, and a lever means and bar connected to the counter hoop and extending across the counter hoop near the snare assembly, and means connecting the lever means and bar to the snare assembly for moving the snare assembly downward along the pins upon movement of the bar, whereby the snare assembly is moved away from a drum head.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising first and second detent means connected to the lever and to the counter hoop and spring means urging the detent means into interconnection, one of the detent means having two positions, for holding the lever in one of two positions with respect to the hoop, whereby the snare assembly is held in a first position next to the drum or in a second position away from the drum according to the interrelationship of the detent means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
Drum apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum body and a drum head connected to a first end of the drum body and a lower counter hoop connected to a lower end of the drum body, the lower counter hoop having pin mounting means in opposite sections of the hoop diametrically opposed from each other, a plurality of downward extending vertical pins connected to the counter hoop within the mounting means, and a snare assembly connected across the pins and moving means to move the snare assembly up and down along the pins.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
Drum apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum body and a drum head connected to a first end of the drum body and a lower counter hoop connected to a lower end of the drum body, the lower counter hoop having pin mounting means in opposite sections of the hoop diametrically opposed from each other, a plurality of downward extending vertical pins connected to the counter hoop within the mounting means, and a snare assembly connected across the pins and moving means to move the snare assembly up and down along the pins.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 13 comprising holes in the snare assembly for moving along the pins, and wherein the moving means comprising an arm connected to the counter hoop and extending across the counter hoop near the snare assembly, a control lever connected to one end of the arm and connectors secondary levers connecting the arm to the snare assembly for moving the snare assembly downward along the pins upon rotational movement of the arm when the control lever is moved, whereby the snare assembly is moved away from a drum head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising block means connected to the snare assembly and screw adjustment means connected to the block means and to the secondary levers for adjusting position of the block means and snare assembly with respect to the secondary levers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising first and second detent means connected to the arm and to the counter hoop and spring means urging the detent means into interconnection, one of the detent means having two positions, for holding the arm in one of two positions with respect to the hoop, whereby the snare assembly is held in a first position next to the drum or in a second position away from the drum according to the interrelationship of the detent means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
The drum apparatus of claim 15 wherein the block means are connected to ends of a frame and snares extend through the block means and are anchored in anchor blocks spaced from the block means and frame and further comprising adjusting screws connected between the anchor blocks and frame for moving the anchor blocks with respect to the frame and lightening and loosening the snares.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The drum apparatus of claim 17 wherein the holes in the snare assembly for receiving the pins are located along edges of the anchor blocks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-03-20 | 1981-09-19 | 1982-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-20 | 1985-09-19 | 1986-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-20 | 1989-09-19 | 1990-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |