Music – Instruments – Drums
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-03
2002-12-10
Hsieh, Shih-Yung (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Drums
C084S41100A, C084S41100A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06492583
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to drums and the mounting of drum heads. More particularly, this invention pertains to a quick release tensioning apparatus and method for changing drum heads.
FIG. 1
of the drawings shows a side schematic view of a standard prior art fixed drum lug assembly
10
for installing a drum head
14
. The drum head
14
, including the connected head base
16
, is placed over the drum shell
12
and the drum rim
18
is set in place on the head base
16
. A tensioning rod
20
is guided through a hole in the drum rim
18
and screwed into the rod connector
22
in the drum lug
24
. The drum lug
24
is connected to the drum shell
12
by rim bolts
26
. The tensioning rod
20
is then tightened according to the amount of tension desired on the drum head
14
.
FIG. 2
of the drawings shows a top view of a standard prior art drum rim
18
defining holes
28
for accepting the tensioning rods
20
.
Several United States Patents have been directed towards drum head connecting assemblies. These include: U.S. Design Pat. No. D310,538, issued to Yanagisawa on Sep. 11, 1990; U.S. Design Pat. No. D353,612 issued to Yanagisawa, on Dec. 20, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,442, issued to Minor on Apr. 22, 1986; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,163, issued to Hsieh on Sep. 15, 1987. Each of these patents is briefly outlined in the following discussion and is hereby incorporated by reference.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D310,538 issued to Yanagisawa on Sep. 11, 1990, describes a “Bass Drum Lug Casing.” This design patent shows the decorative molding of a bass drum lug casing for accepting a tension rod and mounting to the side of a drum shell.
U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 353,612 issued to Yanagisawa on Dec. 20, 1994, describes a “Tom Tom and Bass Drum Lug Casing.” This patent is also directed toward the decorative design of a stationary casing for accepting a tension rod for holding a drum head.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,442 issued to Minor on Apr. 22, 1986, discloses a “Drum Latch Assembly.” This application is directed towards an anchor assembly rigidly affixed to the drum shell. A power lock grip is pivotally connected by a lever to allow for clamping paws to be disengaged from a drum rim for quick changing of the drumhead.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,163 issued to Hsieh on Sep. 15, 1987, describes a “Drum Head Lug Assembly.” This application describes the use of a fastener utilizing a lug and a tension rod with a receiver nut in a kidney shaped pocket slot connected with a dowel. The kidney shaped pivot slot allows for the lug assembly to be engaged and disengaged while requiring less turns of the tension rod in order to remove a drumhead. The reduced number of turns of the tension rod is accomplished by utilizing the kidney shaped slot on the fastener.
These patents fail to maximize the advantage to be obtained from a movable drum lug assembly. What is needed then is an improved drum lug tensioning assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards a tension rod positioning assembly and method for installing, replacing, and clamping a drum head between a drum rim and a drum shell using a tensioning rod.
The tension rod positioning assembly includes a base plate adapted to be mounted to the drum shell, which includes a slide arm slidably mounted to the base plate and adapted to accept the tensioning rod, and an arm positioning assembly adapted to move the slide arm.
A further improvement is found in the drum hoop, which includes a circular drum rim defining a pass-through opening and an elongated slot.
Improved methods are taught for using the tensioning rod positioning assembly including a method for installing a drum head and a method for removing the drum head.
A still further improvement utilizes a tensioning pin to lock the slide arm in position in either a retracted or extended position.
A method for removing the drum head from a drum is taught which includes providing a drum head mounted between a drum rim and a drum shell on the drum, the drum head tensioned by a drum lug assembly with a drum lug handle connected to a slide arm adapted to slide substantially parallel to the drum shell, the slide arm receiving a tensioning rod with a tensioning rod head; releasing the drum lug handle to move the slide arm towards the drum head to relieve tension on the tensioning rod; moving the drum rim away from the drum shell to allow access to the drum head; and lifting the drum head from the drum shell. Also taught is a corresponding method for installing a drum head. Detailed descriptions of these apparatus and methods are further described herein.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3533324 (1970-10-01), Price
patent: 4475434 (1984-10-01), Willis
patent: 4694726 (1987-09-01), Silvestri
patent: 4709613 (1987-12-01), Powers et al.
patent: 4870883 (1989-10-01), Gauger
patent: 5739448 (1998-04-01), Toscano
patent: 6043419 (2000-03-01), Arbiter
patent: 6093877 (2000-07-01), Nickel
patent: 2075238 (1981-11-01), None
Super Gripper; Pearl Drum Professional Drums Catalog; Sep. 1985; 3 pages.
Hsieh Shih-Yung
Pieper David B.
Waddey & Patterson , P.C.
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