The present invention relates to a bass drum lifter for use in lifting a part of a bass drum in the vicinity of the batter head, and a bass drum having the bass drum lifter.
In general, a bass drum with a small diameter is played with a part in the vicinity of the batter head lifted up so that the center of the batter head is hit by the beater. In this case, a bass drum lifter is used as a device to lift the part in the vicinity of the batter head.
For example, a bass drum lifter 100 disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-047976 includes, as shown in
In addition, a bass drum lifter 110 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,563,346 includes, as shown in
The bass drum lifters 100 and 110 according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-047976 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,563,346 can be folded compactly by placing the base 102 and the leg 112 in the storage position. The bass drum lifters 100 and 110 can be stored and carried while being attached to the bass drum in a folded state.
However, the bass drum lifters 100 and 110 have following problems. In the case of the bass drum lifter 100, the retainer 101 includes a loading portion 101a adapted to be fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the shell S, and a pair of connectors 101b projecting downward from the sides of the loading portion 101a. The shaft 103 is fitted to the vicinity of the lower ends of the connectors 101b. Therefore, even if the base 102 is placed in the storage position as shown by the alternate long and two short dashed lines in
In the case of the bass drum lifter 110, the hinge shaft 111a is arranged in a rear position away from a batter head DH. According to the above configuration, the front-rear dimension of the base 113 when the leg 112 is placed in the use position is set to be relatively long based on a distance d between a position connected to the pedal device P and the hinge shaft 111a. Therefore, even if the leg 112 is placed in the storage position as shown by the solid lines in
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a bass drum lifter that can be folded compactly and a bass drum having the bass drum lifter.
To achieve the foregoing objective and in accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides a base drum lifter adapted to be connected to a part of a bass drum in the vicinity of the batter head and to a pedal device and adapted to lift the part in the vicinity of the batter head. The bass drum lifter includes a drum connection member to be connected to the bass drum, a pedal connection member including a lift portion for lifting the bass drum, and a shaft for rotationally connecting the pedal connection member and the drum connection member to each other. The pedal connection member is rotational around the shaft between a storage position in the vicinity of the shell of the bass drum and a use position, at which the bass drum is lifted by the lift portion. The shaft is arranged in the vicinity of the shell and in the vicinity of the batter head.
In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention provides a bass drum lifter adapted to be connected to a part of a bass drum in the vicinity of the batter head and to a pedal device, and to lift the part in the vicinity of a batter head. The bass drum lifter includes a drum connection member to be connected to the bass drum and a pedal connection member including a lift portion for lifting the bass drum. The pedal connection member movably supports the drum connection member and is attachable to and detachable from the drum connection member.
In accordance with a third aspect, the present invention provides a bass drum comprising a bass drum lifter. The bass drum lifter is adapted to lift a part of the bass drum in the vicinity of the batter head, and to be connected to the part in the vicinity of the batter head of the bass drum and to a pedal device. The bass drum lifter includes a drum connection member to be connected to the bass drum, a pedal connection member including a lift portion for lifting the bass drum, and a shaft for rotationally connecting the lift portion of the pedal connection member and the drum connection member to each other. The pedal connection member is rotational around the shaft between a storage position in the vicinity of the shell of the bass drum and a use position, at which the bass drum is lifted up by the lift portion. The shaft is arranged in the vicinity of the shell and in the vicinity of the batter head.
A bass drum lifter according to one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
As shown in
The bass drum lifter 20 has a pedal connection member 22, a drum connection member 23, and a long screw 25 serving as a shaft. The pedal connection member 22 is held by a clamp of the pedal device P and connected to a front part of the pedal device P. The drum connection member 23 is connected to an outer peripheral surface of the shell 11 from below. The long screw 25 functions as a shaft to rotationally connect the pedal connection member 22 and the drum connection member 23 to each other.
As shown in
Connection pieces 29 to be connected to the drum connection member 23 are arranged on both sides of the end of the lift portion 26. The connection pieces 29 are formed by bending the sides of the end of the lift portion 26 at a right angle. A hole 29a for inserting the long screw 25 is formed in the center of each connection piece 29. The pedal connection portion 27 has a protrusion 27a extending in the lateral direction. The protrusion 27a reinforces the pedal connection portion 27 formed into a flat plate when it is held by the clamp of the pedal device P. The pedal connection portion 27 including the protrusion 27a is set to be of the same thickness as the hoop 12, which is held by the clamp when a part in the vicinity of the batter head 15 is not lifted up.
The projections 28 are formed by portions projecting from both side edges of the pedal connection portion 27. The projections 28 project to the opposite side of the pedal connection portions 27 in relation to the lift portion 26. A rectangular cutout 28a is formed between the projections 28. The width of the cutout 28a is slightly wider than the width of the lift portion 26. The cutout 28a is a recessed formed by bending the central portion of the metal plate at a right angle.
The drum connection member 23 is configured by assembling a plurality of components. That is, the drum connection member 23 is composed of a retainer 30 connected to the lift portion 26, a base 33 placed on the retainer 30, a back plate 34, and a nut plate 35. The retainer 30 extends in the longitudinal direction and has a substantially U-shaped cross section. Connection pieces 31 to be connected to the pedal connection member 22 are arranged on both sides of the end of the retainer 30. A hole 31a for inserting the long screw 25 is formed in the center of each connection piece 31. An elongated hole 30a extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the center of the retainer 30.
The base 33 is supported on the retainer 30 to be movable along the elongated hole 30a. The base 33 extends in the lateral direction and has a substantially U-shaped cross section. The base 33 has a center part placed on the top surface of the retainer 30 and a pair of fixed portions 37 to be fixed to the shell 11. The center part has a pair of insertion holes 36a in positions corresponding to the elongated hole 30a of the retainer 30. A shock-absorbing cover 43 made of rubber is attached to each of the fixed portions 37 to cover the surface of the fixed portions 37 facing the shell 11. Insertion holes 37a and 43a are formed in the center of the fixed portions 37 and the shock-absorbing covers 43, respectively.
As shown in
The nut plate 35 is formed into a rectangular shape extending in the longitudinal direction. The nut plate 35 has a pair of screw holes 35a in positions corresponding to the insertion holes 36a of the base 33. A pair of bolts 40 is screwed to the screw holes 35a from the back face of the retainer 30. That is, the bolts 40 are screwed to the screw holes 35a by passing through the elongated hole 30a and the insertion holes of the base 33. The base 33 is allowed to slide along the elongated hole 30a of the retainer 30 by loosening the bolts 40 screwed to the screw holes 35a. In this case, the position of the pedal device P relative to the bass drum 10 is changed by sliding the retainer 30 to the base 33 fixed to the bass drum 10. In contrast, the base 33 is fixed to the elongated hole 30a of the retainer 30 by fastening the bolts 40 screwed to the screw holes 35a, whereby the position of the pedal device P is fixed to the bass drum 10.
The long screw 25 is arranged to pass through the holes 31a and 29a of the connection pieces 31 and 29 in a state in which the connection pieces 31 of the retainer 30 are placed between the connection pieces 29 of the lift portion 26. The distal end of the long screw 25 is screwed to a hexagonal nut 41. Collars 42 with a flange made of rubber are each fitted between a connection piece 29 and a connection piece 31. The long screw 25 is fastened to the hexagonal nut 41 by a predetermined torque. Therefore, the collars 42 are collapsed between the connection pieces 29 and 31 and connection torque of the pedal connection member 22 to the drum connection member 23 is maintained at a predetermined magnitude. Tightening torque of the long screw 25 or connection torque of the pedal connection member 22 is set to a magnitude that prevents the pedal connection member 22 from opening on its own to the drum connection member 23 and allows a user to comfortably operate rotation of the pedal connection member 22.
In a state where the bass drum lifter 20 is connected to the bass drum 10 as shown in
Moreover, the retainer 30 is attachable to and detachable from the base 33. Specifically, the retainer 30 is removed from the base 33 along with the pedal connection member 22 by pulling out both bolts 40 from the nut plate 35. In contrast, the retainer 30 is attached to the base 33 along with the connection member 22 by fastening both bolts 40 to the screw holes 35a of the nut plate 35.
As described above, the axis of the long screw 25 coincides with the center of rotation of the pedal connection member 22 in relation to the drum connection member 23. According to the present embodiment, the rotational center of the pedal connection member 22 or the position of the long screw 25 is set as follows so that the bass drum lifter 20 can be folded compactly.
As shown in
The back face of the retainer 30 has an engraved mark so that the end surface 22a of the pedal connection member 22 can be arranged in the same plane as the end surface 12a of the hoop 12. The mark is made of line segments orthogonal to the elongated hole 30a and provided in two places corresponding to the pair of the bolts 40. When the bass drum lifter 20 is connected to the pedal device P, the bolts 40 are both set to coincide with the corresponding marks first and fastened to the screw holes 35a. Therefore, the retainer 30 is fixed to an initial position relative to the base 33. In this state, the pedal connection member 22 is placed in the use position and connected to the pedal device P, whereby the end surface 22a of the pedal connection member 22 is arranged in the same plane as the end surface 12a of the hoop 12. The retainer 30 is allowed to slide to the base 33 by loosening the bolts 40 screwed to the screw holes 35a and therefore the front-rear position of the pedal device P can be changed.
Next, operation of the above bass drum lifter 20 will be described.
As shown in
In this case, since the pedal connection member 22 rotates around the vicinity of the shell 11 as shown in
Accordingly, the following advantages are achieved in the present embodiment.
(1) The long screw 25 is arranged in the vicinity of the shell 11 and in the vicinity of the batter head 15. Owing to this configuration, the pedal connection member 22 rotates around the vicinity of the shell 11. It is therefore possible to fold the bass drum lifter 20 compactly while making its vertical dimension h small. By arranging the rotational center of the pedal connection member 22 in the vicinity of the batter head 15, the front-rear dimension d is made small when the pedal connection member 22 is placed in the use position. In this case, the vertical dimension h is reduced to be small when the pedal connection member 22 is placed in the storage position. Therefore, the vertical dimension h is made much smaller when the bass drum lifter 20 is folded.
(2) The long screw 25 is arranged in a position radially aligned with the hoop 12 in the radial direction of the shell 11. Owing to this configuration, the rotational center of the pedal connection portion 27 is arranged in the vicinity of the batter head 15. Therefore, the front-rear dimension d is made much smaller when the pedal connection member 22 is placed in the use position. Therefore, the vertical dimension h is made much smaller when the bass drum lifter 20 is folded.
(3) The end surface 22a of the pedal connection member 22 can be arranged to be in the same plane as the end surface 12a of the hoop 12 facing the pedal device P in a state in which the pedal connection member 22 is placed in the use position. Owing to this configuration, the front-rear dimension d is made much smaller when the pedal connection member 22 is placed in the use position. Therefore, the vertical dimension h is made much smaller when the bass drum lifter 20 is folded.
In addition, since the end surface 22a of the pedal connection member 22 is arranged in the same plane as the end surface 12a of the hoop 12, the position of the pedal device P in the front-rear direction remains the same irrespective to whether or not the part in the vicinity of the batter head 15 is lifted up. Therefore, when the part in the vicinity of the batter head 15 is not lifted up as well as when it is lifted up, the angle of the beater to hit the batter head 15 remains the same. This allows a player to play the bass drum 10 with a small diameter in the same feeling as playing a bass drum with a large diameter.
(4) The pedal connection member 22 is provided with the projections 28 to be abutted on the floor surface F. The projections 28 project to the opposite side of the pedal connection portion 27 in relation to the lift portion 26. Owing to this configuration, for example, the projections 28 are abutted on the floor surface F when the pedal device P is connected to the pedal connection member 22, whereby making it difficult for the bass drum lifter 20 to fall down. This makes it easier to hold the pedal connection member 22 in the use position and therefore operation to connect the pedal device P to the bass drum lifter 20 is easily carried out.
(5) The cutout 28a, which has a slightly wider width than the lift portion 26, is formed between the projections 28. Owing to this configuration, the retainer 30, which is a part of the drum connection member 23, can be entirely placed within the cutout 28a when the pedal connection member 22 is placed in the storage position. Therefore, the bass drum lifter 20 is folded more compactly without interference between the pedal connection member 22 and the drum connection member 23.
(6) The rotation restricting member 45 for restricting rotation of the pedal connection member 22 beyond the use position is provided in the connection portion of the lift portion 26 and the drum connection member 23. Owing to this configuration, it is possible to restrict rotation of the pedal connection member 22 by causing the end surface 30b of the retainer 30 to abut on the back face 26a of the lift portion 26 when, for example, the bass drum 10 is played. This makes it less likely for the bass drum lifter 20 to fall, and therefore the posture of the bass drum 10 lifted up by the bass drum lifter 20 is be stabilized.
(7) The drum connection member 23 is provided with the retainer 30 connected to the lift portion 26 and the base 33 placed on the retainer 30. The base 33 is slidably supported on the retainer 30 along the elongated hole 30a. Owing to this configuration, a player can change the position of the pedal device P relative to the bass drum 10 by sliding the retainer 30 to the base 33. As a result, depending on the size of the bass drum 10 and/or according to the player's preferences, the position of the pedal device P can be adjusted freely relative to the bass drum 10.
(8) The retainer 30 is installed in the base 33 in an attachable/detachable manner. Owing to this configuration, the retainer 30 can be removed from the base 33 along with the pedal connection member 22. It is therefore possible to connect the pedal device P to the hoop 12 of the bass drum 10 or other components without lifting a part in the vicinity of the batter head 15 of the bass drum 10. As a result, depending on the size of the bass drum 10 and/or according to the player's preferences, the variation in the way of using the bass drum lifter 20 is expanded.
The present embodiment may be modified as follows.
Although the bass drum lifter 20 described above has a structure in which the pedal connection member 22 is folded by being rotated around the axis of the long screw 25, a bass drum lifter 60 as shown in
Although the long screw 25 is passed through the holes 29a and 31a of the connection pieces 31 and 29 respectively in the above embodiment in a state in which the connection pieces 31 of the retainer 30 are placed between the connection pieces 29 of the lift portion 26, the positional relation of the connection pieces 31 of the retainer 30 with the connection pieces 29 of the lift portion 26 may be opposite. That is, in a state in which connection pieces 79 of a lift portion 76 are placed between connection pieces 71 of a retainer 70 as shown in
Although the long screw 25 is arranged in a position radially aligned with the hoop 12 in the radial direction of the shell 11 in the above embodiment, it may be arranged in a front position or rear position away from the hoop 12 as long as it is arranged in the vicinity of the shell 11 and in the vicinity of the batter head 15.
Although the end surface 22a of the pedal connection member 22 is arranged in the same plane as the end surface 12a of the hoop 12 facing the pedal device P in the above embodiment, the end surface 22a may be arranged in a front position or rear position away from the end surface 12a of the hoop 12.
The projections 28 may be omitted from the pedal connection member 22 in the above embodiment.
The cutout 28a may be omitted from the projections 28 in the above embodiment.
Although the base 33 is made to slide along the elongated hole 30a of the retainer 30 in the above embodiment, a plurality of fitting holes may be formed in the retainer 30 in place of the elongated hole 30a. For example, a plurality of fitting holes may be arranged at even intervals along the longitudinal direction of the retainer 30. According to this configuration, a player can adjust the position of the pedal device P relative to the bass drum 10 in a stepwise manner by changing the position of the retainer 30 fitted to the base 33.
The base 33 may be fixed onto the retainer 30 in the above embodiment. That is, the function to adjust the position of the pedal device P relative to the bass drum 10 may be omitted from the bass drum lifter 20.
The function to make the retainer 30 attachable to and detachable from the base 33 may be omitted from the bass drum lifter 20 in the above embodiment.
An unprocessed screw may be used as a shaft in the above embodiment in place of the long screw 25 as long as it functions as a shaft to rotationally connect the pedal connection member 22 and the drum connection member 23.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-215833 | Sep 2012 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2563346 | Livingston | Aug 1951 | A |
20060005689 | Ito | Jan 2006 | A1 |
20120174732 | Martinazzi | Jul 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2006-047976 | Feb 2006 | JP |
Entry |
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Japanese Office Action dated Oct. 1, 2014 issued in Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-215833. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20140090541 A1 | Apr 2014 | US |