Music – Instruments – Drum and cymbal beaters
Patent
1999-05-26
2000-12-26
Martin, David
Music
Instruments
Drum and cymbal beaters
844222, G10D 1302
Patent
active
061663123
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a pedal operated drum beater device.
BACKGROUND ART
Pedal operated drum beater devices are well known and are commonly used with bass drums. It has been found that the performance of certain musicians is hampered when using conventional devices. One of the problems encountered relates to the spurious noise generated by the moving parts within the known device; and another relates to the delayed return of the pedal to its staring position after the drum beater has struck the drum. Yet another problem with known drum pedals concerns accurate positioning of the drum pedal relative to the bass drum.
Patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,710 discloses a drum pedal assembly having an inherent escapement mechanism. A drum beater is suspended from a shaft which is rotated by downward movement of the foot pedal. After rotation to strike a drum, the drum beater returns to its rest position under the action of gravity once the downward force on the pedal is removed. The assembly is designed such that the drum beater counter-balances the foot pedal, decreasing the need for a spring typically employed to provide the escapement or return force. However, for faster return action, a secondary escapement force may be provided by an elastic band suspended between frame posts which support the shaft. As the drum beater is rotated into the strike position, the elastic band is stretched into a bowed configuration.
U.K. patent application published as GB 2211013A addresses the problem of accurate positioning of the drum pedal relative to the bass drum. In fact, the specification relates to a support for holding the drum at a prescribed beating position at a selected height and tilt orientation. The support includes a cradle which contacts the curved periphery of a drum in two spaced locations. When positioned in the cradle, the drum is tilted forward such that a leg, attached to the front hoop of the drum, rests in a stopper. Thus, direct clamping of the drum pedal to the drum is avoided.
An object of the present invention is to provide a pedal operated drum beater device which addresses at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional devices.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pedal operated drum beater device comprising a drum beater which is restored to a rest position from an operative position by a biasing force substantially generated by a resilient member, characterised in that the resilient member comprises an elastomeric material. Preferably the biasing force is generated by stretching of the resilient member as the drum beater advances from the rest position to the operative position. The elastomeric member may provide the majority of the biasing force, particularly if the rebound energy from the beater striking the drum is discounted.
Conventionally, with drum pedals with an overarm action, the resilient member is a metal coil spring. Surprisingly, the present applicant has found that the use of an elastomeric material in place of a metal spring offers a number of advantages. Firstly, the elastomeric material enables the drum beater to be operated more quickly as it makes it possible to restore the pedal to its starting position more rapidly. Secondly, the elastomeric material flexes silently which is not always the case with a metal coil spring where adjacent turns may clash together. Furthermore, the elastomeric material appears to have a beneficial effect on the "feel" of the pedal to musicians. This may be because the elastomer provides more uniform resistance to the complex forces exerted on it during each drum beat cycle. Mechanical hysteresis in the elastomeric material during operation may also play a role in the improved feel of the drum pedal of the present invention.
A preferred elastomeric material is natural rubber. Detailed testing has demonstrated that natural rubber is ideally suited to withstand the fatigue of prolonged and repeated use.
In one embodimen
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Brewster Matthew
Brown John
Hsieh Shih-yung
Martin David
Premier Percussion Limited
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