US5115706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ergonomic drum assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-03-03
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Granted: 1992-05-26
•
Expires: 2009-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A drum assembly comprising: a center drum pad; first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about the center drum pad; electronic percussion synthesizer operably connected to each of the drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of the drum pads.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan L. Aluisi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:49
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D13/00; G10D13/01; G10D13/02; G10D13/10; G10D13/26; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/32; G10H2230/00; G10H2230/045; G10H2230/251; G10H2230/275; G10H2230/281; G10H2230/285; G10H2230/305; G10H2230/321; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
317 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein said synthesizer means produces first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth percussion sounds of succeedingly lower pitch in association with said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads; said synthesizer means producing a percussion sound in association with said central drum pad which is different in pitch from said percussion sounds produced in association with said peripheral drum pads; said first drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said second and third drum pads; said fourth drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said second and sixth drum pads; said fifth drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said third and sixth drum pads; whereby said drum assembly is divisible by a plane of bilateral symmetry into a first circular half including said first, third and fifth peripheral pads arranged in descending pitch order in a first circumferential direction and a second circular half including said second, fourth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order in a second circumferential direction opposite said first circumferential direction; whereby a drummer having his solar plexus aligned with said plane of bilateral symmetry is enabled to strike a first set of three peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order and said central drum pad with a drumstick held in one hand and is able to strike a second set of three peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order and said central drum pad with a drumstick held in a second hand without moving either of said drumsticks across said plane of bilateral symmetry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
317 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein said synthesizer means produces first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth percussion sounds of succeedingly lower pitch in association with said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads; said synthesizer means producing a percussion sound in association with said central drum pad which is different in pitch from said percussion sounds produced in association with said peripheral drum pads; said first drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said second and third drum pads; said fourth drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said second and sixth drum pads; said fifth drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said third and sixth drum pads; whereby said drum assembly is divisible by a plane of bilateral symmetry into a first circular half including said first, third and fifth peripheral pads arranged in descending pitch order in a first circumferential direction and a second circular half including said second, fourth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order in a second circumferential direction opposite said first circumferential direction; whereby a drummer having his solar plexus aligned with said plane of bilateral symmetry is enabled to strike a first set of three peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order and said central drum pad with a drumstick held in one hand and is able to strike a second set of three peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order and said central drum pad with a drumstick held in a second hand without moving either of said drumsticks across said plane of bilateral symmetry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
317 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; d) wherein said synthesizer means produces first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth tom-tom sounds of succeedingly lower pitch in association with said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads; said synthesizer producing a snare sound in association with said central drum pad which is different in pitch from said tom-tom sounds produced in association with said peripheral drum pads; e) said first drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said second and third drum pads; said fourth drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said second and sixth drum pads; said fifth drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said third and sixth drum pads; whereby said drum assembly is divisible by an plane of bilateral symmetry into a first circular half including said first, third and fifth peripheral pads arranged in descending pitch order in a first circumferential direction and a second circular half including said second, fourth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order in a second circumferential direction opposite said first circumferential direction; whereby a drummer having his solar plexus aligned with said plane of bilateral symmetry is enabled to strike first set of three peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order and said central drum pad with a drumstick held in one hand and is able to strike a second set of three peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order and said central drum pad with a drumstick held in a second hand without moving either of said drumsticks across said plane of bilateral symmetry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
317 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; d) wherein said synthesizer means produces first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth tom-tom sounds of succeedingly lower pitch in association with said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads; said synthesizer producing a snare sound in association with said central drum pad which is different in pitch from said tom-tom sounds produced in association with said peripheral drum pads; e) said first drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said second and third drum pads; said fourth drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said second and sixth drum pads; said fifth drum pad being positioned circumferentially next adjacent to said third and sixth drum pads; whereby said drum assembly is divisible by an plane of bilateral symmetry into a first circular half including said first, third and fifth peripheral pads arranged in descending pitch order in a first circumferential direction and a second circular half including said second, fourth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order in a second circumferential direction opposite said first circumferential direction; whereby a drummer having his solar plexus aligned with said plane of bilateral symmetry is enabled to strike first set of three peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order and said central drum pad with a drumstick held in one hand and is able to strike a second set of three peripheral drum pads arranged in descending pitch order and said central drum pad with a drumstick held in a second hand without moving either of said drumsticks across said plane of bilateral symmetry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a generally circular shape; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches; wherein each of said peripheral drum pads is downwardly and inwardly inclined whereby a drumstick striking a peripheral drum pad is deflected towards said center pad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a generally circular shape; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches; wherein each of said peripheral drum pads is downwardly and inwardly inclined whereby a drumstick striking a peripheral drum pad is deflected towards said center pad.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein said angle of downward and inward inclination of each drum pad relative to the surface of said central drum pad is between 0° and 30°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein said angle of inclination is approximately 10° to 20°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a generally circular shape; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches; wherein the relative inclination of a striking surface of at least one peripheral drum pad relative a striking surface of said central drum pad is adjustable about at least one axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a generally circular shape; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches; wherein the relative inclination of a striking surface of at least one peripheral drum pad relative a striking surface of said central drum pad is adjustable about at least one axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a generally circular shape; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches; wherein the relative inclination of a striking surface of at least one peripheral drum pad relative a striking surface of said central drum pad is adjustable about two axes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a generally circular shape; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches; wherein the relative inclination of a striking surface of at least one peripheral drum pad relative a striking surface of said central drum pad is adjustable about two axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a generally circular shape; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches; wherein the center of each of said peripheral drum pads lie generally on a common cylindrical locus having a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
A drum assembly comprising: a) a center drum pad; b) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral drum pads arranged in encompassing relationship about said center drum pad; c) electronic percussion synthesizer means operably connected to each of said drum pads for producing predetermined percussion sounds in response to the striking of said drum pads; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a generally circular shape; wherein each of said drum pads comprises a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches; wherein the center of each of said peripheral drum pads lie generally on a common cylindrical locus having a diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 8, wherein the common cylindrical locus has a diameter of approximately 5 inches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 9, all of said drum pads being mounted on a unitary circular support member.
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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) | 1995-05-26 | 1995-11-25 | 1996-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-26 | 1999-11-25 | 2000-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-26 | 2003-11-25 | 2004-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |