Music – Instruments – Drums
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-29
2001-06-05
Shoop, Jr., William M. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Drums
C084S414000, C084S415000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06242679
ABSTRACT:
A musical instrument in the nature of a drum that is defined by a plurality of drum heads and drum shells is disclosed. The musical drum is composed of a plurality of drum shells with terminating and intervening drum heads coupled via counter hoops integrated into the drum shell(s).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is related generally to a percussive instrument in the nature of a drum. In particular, this invention is related to a method for coupling multiple drum shells with intervening drum heads via integrated counter hoops.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional percussive instruments in the nature of a drum utilize a single cylindrical shell. One or both ends of the cylinder are terminated with a membrane commonly referred to as a drum head. An internal volume of air is defined by this shell and drum head combination. A variety of mechanical methods for mounting and/or tuning the drum heads is known in the art. A typical application involves one tuned or tensioned head acting as a point of impact and a second tuned or tensioned head acting as a passive resonator.
A compound drum was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,504. This device incorporated a plurality of resonating chambers encompassed by a single shell. A single drum head terminated the plurality of chambers and the concomitant single shell creating a single surface with discrete striking regions.
Shell geometries differing from cylindrical are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,591 disclosed a snare drum incorporating a conical or tapered drum shell.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a multimembrane percussive instrument utilizing one or more striking membranes and one or more resonant membranes (hereupon referred to as batter head(s) and resonant head(s) respectively) and methods for mounting the heads is described. The percussive instrument includes at least two or more shell or acoustic chambers and three or more heads. A variety of geometries or configurations that cause the resonant head(s) to oscillate or resonate when the batter head(s) is struck are possible. Rational design geometry will allow this invention to function in a fashion consistent with conventional drums (i.e., snare drum, tom-tom, base drum, etc.) or in a new and novel manner. The geometry and configuration will allow desirable timbrel characteristics to be designed into the instrument.
The shell(s) or acoustic chamber(s) may be fabricated from any material and in any shape that results in desired timbrel characteristics. The heads may be mounted in a fixed fashion or in a manner that facilitates tuning.
The heads may be fabricated from any material and in any shape that results in desired timbrel characteristics. Snare mechanisms may be incorporated into the overall design to allow snares to contact one or more heads in a number of different combinations.
In a preferred arrangement of the percussive instrument of this invention one or more resonant heads are placed between the batter head and a terminal resonant head. The method for mounting intervening resonant head(s) employs a counter hoop integrally incorporated into a shell or acoustic chamber. The angles between the various heads, the shape of the various heads and the size and surface area of the various heads are defined by the design geometry.
For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further objects, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4300437 (1981-11-01), Hinger et al.
patent: 4337684 (1982-07-01), Le Mert
patent: 4993304 (1991-02-01), Lovelet
Fletcher Marlon T.
Galgano & Burke
Shoop Jr. William M.
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