Music – Instruments – Drums
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-21
2001-01-09
Nappi, Robert E. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Drums
C084S723000, C084S730000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172289
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of heads for drums have long been known in the art. Drum heads are made of a wide variety of materials such as natural skins, woven natural fibers, and various types of synthetic materials. Presently, the synthetic materials have become the most popular material due to ease of manufacture, and resistance to moisture and temperature changes. Typically, the drum heads are coated with a protective material on one or both sides of the drum head. Such protective materials include adhesives, resins, natural and/or synthetic laminates. These types of drum head are disclosed in Hartry U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,081, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Prior art drum heads provided a single type of sound when struck. Although the prior art drum heads adequately preform their intended function, there is a need for a drum head that can produce a plurality of sounds upon being struck. In the past, a musician has had to employ the use of percussion instruments other than a drum to produce additional percussion sounds. Musical. compositions which incorporate a plurality of simultaneous percussion sounds creates problems for a single percussionist to properly play. In addition to the problem associated with attempting to simultaneously play a plurality of percussion instruments at the same time, there are problems with access to and storage of the percussion instruments which can result in the disruption of play. As a result, the required sounds are not played or a plurality of percussionist must be used. Even when the plurality of sounds are played by a plurality of percussionist, the sounds are not always played simultaneous thus distracting from the quality of the music produced. In view of the prior art drum heads, there is a demand and need for a drum head that can produce a plurality of percussion sound upon being struck and which plurality of percussion sounds occur at the desired moment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to an improved drum, and more particularly that produces a plurality of sounds upon striking the drum head of a drum. The invention more particularly pertains to a drum head that includes one or more sound producing devices attached or connected to the top and/or bottom of a drum head.
In accordance with the principal aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum having a drum head rim and a novel drum head that produces a plurality of distinct sounds when the drum head is struck. The drum head rim is made of any standard material. These materials includes, but are not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, fibreglass, graphite fibers, boron fibers or the like. The drum head rim can be any desired shape or thickness to accommodate a specific use or to produce a specific tone. The drum head rim does not require any special modification to accommodate the novel drum head. The novel drum head is made of any standard material, natural and/or synthetic, that is typically used for drum heads. The drum head preferably includes a woven and/or unwoven material. Preferably the material is a woven material that includes, but is not limited to, natural skins, woven natural fibers, and/or various types of synthetic materials. One preferable material which at least partially makes up the woven material is a synthetic material sold under the mark KEVLAR®. The drum head also preferably includes a natural and/or synthetic protective layer on one or both sides of the woven and/or unwoven material. The protective layer includes, but is not limited to, resins, adhesives, natural and/or synthetic sheet materials, and the like. One preferable protective material which at least partially makes up the protective layer is a synthetic material sold under the mark MYLAR® which is formed into sheets. The protective layer preferably is coated and/or laminated onto the woven and/or unwoven material, however, other mechanisms can be used to connect and/or secure the protective layer to the woven and/or unwoven material. The sound producing device that is secured to the drum to produce one or more sounds is a mechanical and/or electronic device. Preferably the sound producing device produces a sound in response to the drum head being struck. The sound producing device enables the drum upon being struck to produce a plurality of sounds.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the sound producing device produces a sound at a preselected time after the drum and/or drum head has been struck. In one preferred embodiment, the sound producing device produces a sound simultaneously or nearly simultaneously after the drum and/or drum head has been struck In this arrangement, the sound producing device detects and/or responds to sound and/or vibration resulting from the drum and/or drum head being struck The sound producing device upon detection of and/or in response to sound and/or vibration produces a sound. Preferably the sound producing device produces a sound in response to vibration resulting from the drum and/or drum head being struck In another preferred embodiment, the sound producing device produces a sound after the drum and/or drum head has been struck. In this arrangement, the sound producing device detects and/or responds to sound and/or vibration resulting from the drum and/or drum head being struck. The sound producing device upon detection of and/or in response to sound and/or vibration produces a delayed sound after a preselected time. The presented time can be a set time or time that is dependant on the amount of vibration, the volume sound and/or tone of the sound resulting from the drum and/or drum head being struck. In still another preferred embodiment, the sound producing device produces a sound upon detection and/or in respond to a preselected volume, tone and/or quantity of vibration resulting from the drum and/or drum head being struck. The sound producing device upon detection of and/or in response to the preselected volume, tone and/or quantity of vibration produces a sound.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the sound producing device produces one or more sounds when the drum and/or drum head is struck. The sound producing device enhances the sound of the drum when used. In one preferred embodiment, the sound producing device is a mechanical device. Such mechanical sound producing devices include, but are not limited to, a tambourine jingle, a bell, a bead, a metal ball, a container containing sand, a container containing balls, pipes, cymbal, bar, etc. As can be appreciated, this list is not exclusive, and many other types of mechanical sound producing devices can be used. In another embodiment of the present invention, an electronic sound producing device is attached to the drumhead. The electronic device is preferably produces a sound upon detection and/or in response to vibration, tone and/or sound. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the electronic sound producing device can be designed to produce a sound upon being struck. In still another preferred embodiment, a plurality of sound producing devices are incorporated on the drum and/or drum head. The sound producing devices may be all mechanical, all electrical or combinations thereof. As can be appreciated, various types of sound producing devices can be used to create different sounds during play.
In accordance with still yet another embodiment of the present invention, the sound producing device is at least partially attached to the drum head of the drum. The sound producing device can be attached to the drum head in a number of ways. Preferably, the sound producing device is attached to the drum head by grommets, adhesive, magnet, string, rods, pins, wire, straw, bolts, screws, clamps, hook and loop fasteners, hook, zipper, snaps, buttons, clips, nails, stitching, etc. As can be appreciated, this list is not exclusive and other mechanisms can be used to attach the sound producing device to the drumhead is within the scope of this invention.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the sound produc
Lockett Kim
Nappi Robert E.
Universal Percussion, Inc.
Vickers Daniels & Young
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