US2425996A - Percussion drum - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 19, 1947. c. P. CORDES 2,425,996

I PERCUSSION DRUM Filed Aug. 31, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l f QI ' Iriventor J J Z f J fiaflasfardas.

WWW! 19m Aug. 19, 1947. c. P. CORDES PERCUSSION 'DRUM Filed Aug. 31, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Inventor ,arlwfiafdes.

Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERCUSSION DRUM Charles P. Cordes, Elizabeth, N. J. Application August 31, 1944, Serial No. 552,051

8 Claims. l

This invention relates to percussion drums, and an important object of the present invention is to provide a novel drum head construction for drums of this kind, in which simple and efficient means is provided for tensioning the skin of the drum head by application of power at a single point. The present application is a continuation, in part, of my copending application, Serial No. 533,878, filed May 3, 1944.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a drum head construction of the above kind which is comparatively simple, compact, and otherwise well adapted to meet with the requirements for a successful commercial use.

With the above general objects in view, and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, such invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a snare drum embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof, partly broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of the preferred form of detachable handle for rotating the pinion which actuates the tensioning ring of the drum head construction.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the tensioning ring as shown in Figure 3.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a snare drum including a shell 5 which may have similar head constructions at opposite ends thereof. As shown, each end of the shell 5 is inwardly oifset, as at 6, or externally reduced in diameter to provide the reduced end portion 1 and an external annular shoulder 8 at the inner end of the reduced end portion 1. Snugly fitted on the reduced end portion 1 is a ring 9 that has an external thread 9a, said ring being seated flatly on the shoulder 8 and secured to the shell 5 by means of screws I!) pas-sing through the ring 9 and threaded into said shell 5. A retaining hoop ll having an internal thread Ila is screwed at its inner portion upon the threaded ring 9 so as to be adjustable longitudinally of the shell 5, and this retaining hoop has an annular inwardly projecting flange H at its outer end.

The inner portion of flange I2 is preferably inclined inwardly, as shown clearly in Figure 3. A tensioning ring I3 is threaded in the outer portion of the retaining hoop H and has its outer periphery provided with external gear teeth l4 so that it also constitutes a ring gear. The inner portion of the outer face of tensioning ring I3 is also preferably inclined inwardly the same as the flange l2 of the hoop ll. At a suitable point circumferentially thereof, the retaining hoop II is provided with a transverse hollow rib l5 having a cylindrical bore l6 parallel with the axis of shell 5 and in which is journaled a pinion l8. Pinion l8 meshes with the teeth M of tensioning ring l3, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5, and the thread grooves ll intersect the teeth of ring it, as shown clearly in Figure 5.

An annular space is provided between the retaining hoop II and the reduced end portion 1 of shell 5, and disposed in this space inwardly of the tensioning ring [3 is a flesh hoop 20 consisting of an annular channel of substantially V- shaped cross section having inturned flanges 2| along the free edge thereof. The usual skin disc 2 I, or circular sheet of skin, is stretched over the end of shell 5 and has its marginal portion wrapped about the flesh hoop 20 with its free marginal portion tucked in the channel of hoop 20 through the open outer side of the latter. Disposed between the tensioning ring [3 and the hoop 20 is a thin thrust ring 22 having a central inward annular corrugation 23 slightly narrower than the opening in the outer side of the flesh hoop 2B. Bearing balls 24 are mounted in sockets provided at suitable intervals in the inner surface of tensioning ring l3, and these balls project and engage in the groove 23 of thrust ring 22. Balls 24 may be rotatably held in place by peening the material of the ring 13 inwardly as at 24a so as to envelope slightly more than one-half of said bearing balls. This construction permits free rotation of tensioning ring 13 relative to thrust ring 28, allowing the latter to remain still or to be held stationary by its frictional contact with the adjacent portion of the skin 2 l. Obviously, by rotating pinion l8, tensioning ring l3 may be turned and threaded inwardly, thereby causing thrust ring 22 to force the adjacent portion of skin 2| into the opening at the outer side of hoop 20, thereby effectively securing the mar ginal portion of the skin to the flesh hoop and forcing the latter inwardly to tension the skin 2!, as desired. In actual use, the margin of the skin is wetted, and when it dries the free edge portion thereof curls up within the flesh hoop so that the skin may not readily become detached from the flesh hoop. As shown clearly in Figure 1, the pinion I!) has an axial bore 25 of polygonal cross section so that a suitable handle with a squared end may be engaged in this bore for turning the pinion IS. A preferred form of handle or tool for this purpose is shown in Figure 4, wherein a square shank 26 projects from the intermediate portion of a handle member 21 at right angles to the latter, and similar shorter shanks 28 project from opposite ends of said handle member 2?. The shanks 26 and 28 are all of the same size and shape so as to fit the bore 25. Thus, any one of the shanks may be engaged in the bore 25 for turning pinion 18, thereby enabling actuation of the latter from difierent angles. As the thrust ring 22 may remain stationary and as it bears upon the skin 2|, there is no tendency to cause the skin to rotate with the tensioning ring I 3. In this way, the skin is drawn evenly at all points so as to be tensioned in a very smooth condition. By threading the retaining hoop ii on the shell, it may be adjusted longitudinally of the latter so that the flange I2 is at the proper distance from the skin 2! and so that most efli-cient tensioning of the skin may be elfected by actuation of the tensioning ring I3.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a durable and compact drum head construction in which simple and eflicient means is provided for tensioning the skin of the drum head, and in which such tensioning means is operable by the application of power at a, single point.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Obviously, the invention is susceptible of various changes in details of construction illustrated and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

A drum construction comprising a shell, a retaining hoop adjustably threaded on said shell at one end of the latter, the retaining hoop being spaced from the adjacent end portion of the shell to provide an annular space therebetween, a flesh hoop freely movable in said space longitudinally of the shell, a sheet of skin stretched over the end of the shell and having its marginal por tion wrapped about the flesh hoop, a combined tensioning ring and ring gear threaded in said retaining hoop outwardly of said flesh hoop, a thrust ring interposed between the flesh hoop and the combined tensioning ring and ring gear and engaging the skin at the outer side of said flesh hoop, anti-friction elements carried by the combined tensioning ring and ring gear and engaging the thrust ring, and means carried by the retaining hoop for rotating said tensioning ring and ring gear.

2. A drum construction comprising a shell, a retaining hoop adjustably threaded on said shell at one end of the latter, the retaining hoop being spaced from the adjacent end portion of the shell to provide an annular space therebetween, a flesh hoop freely movable in said space longitudinally of the shell, 3 sheet of skin stretched over the end of the shell and having its marginal portion wrapped about the flesh hoop, a combined tensioning ring and ring gear threaded in said retaining hoop outwardly of said flesh hoop, l8, thrust ring interposed between the flesh hoop and the combined tensioning ring and ring gear and engaging the skin at the outer side of said flesh hoop, anti-friction elements carried by the combined tensioning ring and ring gear and engaging the thrust ring, and means carried by the retaining hoop for retaining said combined tensioning ring and ring gear, said last-named means comprising a pinion. journaled in the retaining hoop and meshing with the teeth of said combined tensioning ring and ring gear.

3. A drum construction comprising a shell having an end portion externally reduced in diameter, a retaining hoop threaded onv the shell in spaced surrounding relation to the reduced end portion of the shell, a flesh hoop disposed between the reduced end portion of the shell and the retaining hoop, a tensioning ring adjustably threaded in said retaining hoop outwardly of the flesh hoop, a thrust ring interposed between the flesh hoop and the tensioning ring and arranged to bear upon a skin stretched over the end of the shell at a point at the outer side pf said flesh hoop, and anti-friction elements carried by the tensioning ring and bearing upon the thrust ring.

4. A drum construction comprising a shell having an end portion externally reduced in diam eter, a retaining hoop threaded on the shell in spaced surrounding relation to the reduced end portion of the shell, a flesh hoop disposed between the reduced end portion of the shell and the retaining hoop, a tensioning ring adjustably threaded in said retaining hoop outwardly of the flesh hoop, a thrust ring interposed between the flesh hoop and the tensioning ring and arranged to bear upon a skin stretched over the end of the shell at a point at the outer side of said flesh hoop, and anti-friction elements carried by the tensioning ring and bearing upon the thrust ring, said flesh hoop comprising a channel member open at its outer side, and said thrust ring having an annular raceway aligned with the opening at the outer side of the flesh hoop and receiving anti-friction elements carried by the tensioning ring.

5. A drum construction comprising a shell having an end portion thereof externally reduced in diameter to provide a reduced end portion and an external annular shoulder at the inner end of said reduced end portion, an externally threaded ring fitted on the reduced end portion of said shell and against said shoulder, means securing said threaded ring to the shell, a retaining hoop adjustably threaded on said threaded ring, a flesh hoop disposed between the reduced end of th shell and the retaining hoop and freely movable longitudinally of the shell, a tensioning ring adjustably threaded in the retaining hoop, and manually operable means for rotating said tensioning ring.

6. A drum construction comprising a shell having an end portion thereof externally reduced in diameter to provide a reduced end portion and an external annular shoulder at the inner end of said reduced end portion, an externally threaded ring fitted on the reduced end portion of said shell and against said shoulder, means securing said threaded ring to the shell, a retaining hoop adjustably threaded on said threaded ring, a flesh hoop disposed between the reduced end of the shell and the reaming hoop and freely movable longitudinally of the shell, a tensioning ring adjustably threadedin the retaining hoop, and manually operable means for rotating said tensioning ring, said retaining hoop having a transverse rib having a cylindri cal bore therein, a pinion journaled in said bore,

said tensioning ring having external teeth meshing with said pinion, and means to facilitate rotation of said pinion.

7. A drum construction comprising a shell having an end portion externally reduced in diameter, a retaining hoop threaded on the shell in spaced surrounding relation to the reduced end portion of the shell, a flesh hoop disposed between the reduced end portion of the shell and the retaining hoop, a teneioning ring adjustably threaded in said retaining hoop outwardly of the flesh hoop, a thrust ring interposed between the flesh hoop and the tensioning ring and arranged to bear upon a skin stretched over the end of the shell at a point at the outer side of said flesh hoop, and anti-friction elements carried by the tensioning ring and bearing upon he thrust ring, said retaining hoop having an internal annular flange on the outer end thereof overlying the tensioning ring and the space between the retaining hoop and the reduced end of the shell.

8. A drum construction comprising a shell having an externally reduced end portion, a retaining 6 hoop secured on the shell in spaced surrounding relation to said reduced end portion of the shell, a. flesh ring disposed in the space between the reduced end portion of the shell and the retaining hoop and freely movable longitudinally of the shell, a tensioning ring adjustably threaded in said retaining hoop outwardly of said flesh hoop, a thrust ring interposed between the flesh hoop and the tensioning ring, manually operable means for rotating said tensioning ring, and antifriction elements carried by the tensioning ring and bearing upon the thrust ring.

CHARLES P. CORDES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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