Snare muting device

Claim 1

A snare muting mechanism for a drum of the type including cylindrical drum body, a bottom head enclosing one end of said body, a retaining ring for securing said head to said body, and a plurality of snare elements extending centrally across and in abutting relationship with the bottom head, said muting mechanism comprising: a beam member, means supporting the ends of said beam upon and vertically spaced from said drum head retaining ring, said beam being generally normal to and vertically spaced from said snare elements, an elastomeric member adapted to clampingly retain the snare elements against the bottom drum head, and a device for moving said elastomeric member into and out of clamping engagement with said drum head, said device including: a first cylindrical member fixed to said beam member, a second cylindrical member rotatably mounted in and axially movable to said first cylindrical member, a stud member coaxially disposed within said first and second cylindrical members and projecting through an opening in said beam member, a plate element fixed to one end of the stud member and disposed between said beam member and said snare elements, said elastomeric member being secured to said plate element and disposed proximate said snare elements, a spring element supported between said beam and said plate element and biasing the plate element toward said snare elements, nut means adjustably fixing said stud member to said second cylindrical member, an inclined slot formed through said first cylindrical member and including axially spaced end positions, a lever having one end extending through said slot and being fixed to said second cylindrical member, said lever being rotatable to a first end position within said slot whereby said spring element moves said elastomeric member to clamp the snare elements against the bottom drum head, said lever being rotatable to the other end position within said slot against the force of said spring element whereby the elastomeric elemeny is vertically spaced from said snare elements.