Patent Grant
10573282
The entire contents of Taiwan Patent Application No. 107134321, filed on Sep. 28, 2018, from which this application claims priority, are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to drum supporting legs with angle-adjusting configuration and drums having the drum supporting legs.
A tom-tom drum, named from the Anglo-Indian and Sinhala language, is a double-headed cylindrical drum with a size smaller than bass drum. A floor tom is a tom-tom drum, which usually stands on the floor on three legs and tends to produce a booming, resonant sound capable of varying in pitch.
Many factors affect the sound of the floor tom. For example, some floor tom legs are designed so that their foot can be twisted to expose either a metal point or a rubber foot. The contact of the rubber with the ground allows the sound of the floor tom to have a longer sustain.
In addition, the height of the floor tom also affects its sound. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,269,337 discloses a floor tom that is mounted on three floor tom-tom legs through three tom-tom mounting devices. Each tom-tom mounting device includes a memory lock and a floor tom-tom bracket arranged above the memory lock. The memory lock is fixed to a rod as a pole constituting the floor tom-tom leg, or detached from the rod by operating a wing nut. The fixing position of the memory lock in relation to the floor tom-tom leg is determined by a player such that the floor tom-tom can be set up on a floor at easy-to-play height and angle. On the other hand, the bracket is fixed to an outer peripheral surface of a shell in the vicinity of the lower hoop. Next, the floor tom-tom leg and a tubular portion of the memory lock are inserted into the bracket and fixed with the bracket.
However, in some performance situations, for example, when the drum is placed on a dead surface lacking an acoustic reverberation or in an environment where the reverberation is too long, the desired sound cannot be obtained by merely adjusting the height of the drum supporting leg, the tension of the drum, and the like.
In one general aspect, the present invention relates to drum supporting legs with angle-adjusting configuration and drums having the drum supporting legs.
According to an embodiment of this invention, a drum supporting leg is provided for supporting a drum and adjusting the sound of the drum, comprising a first rod, a second rod, and a third rod. The first rod includes a first end and a second end, and the first end of the first rod is connected to outside of a shell of the drum. The second rod includes a first end and a second end, and the first end of the second rod is rotatably coupled to the second end of the first rod such that the first end of the second rod is capable of rotating about the second end of the first rod. The third rod includes a first end and a second end, and the first end of the third rod is rotatably coupled to the second end of the second rod such that the first end of the third rod is capable of rotating about the second end of the second rod.
In one embodiment, the second end of the first rod is rotatably coupled to the first end of the second rod through a first angle-adjusting mechanism, which comprises a first kit and a second kit. The first kit comprises a first sleeve and a first annular structure, wherein the first sleeve receives a second end of the first rod and couples with the first annular structure, and an inner side of the first annular structure comprises a plurality of teeth provided at equal intervals. The second kit comprises a second sleeve and a second annular structure, wherein the second sleeve receives the first end of the second rod and couples with the second annular structure, an inner side of the second annular structure comprises a plurality of teeth provided at equal intervals, and the teeth of the first annular structure engage with the teeth of the second annular structure.
In one embodiment, the first annular structure and the second annular structure form a first accommodating space, and a first elastic member is provided in the first accommodating space, wherein the drum supporting leg further comprises a first fixing member passing through a center portion of the first annular structure and a center portion of the second annular structure to fix the first annular structure and the second annular structure.
In one embodiment, the first end of the third rod is rotatably coupled to the second end of the second rod through a second angle-adjusting mechanism, which comprises a third kit and a fourth kit. The third kit comprises a third sleeve and a third annular structure, wherein the third sleeve receives a second end of the second rod and couples with the third annular structure, and an inner side of the third annular structure comprises a plurality of teeth provided at equal intervals. The fourth kit comprises a fourth sleeve and a fourth annular structure, wherein the fourth sleeve receives the first end of the third rod and couples with the fourth annular structure, an inner side of the fourth annular structure comprises a plurality of teeth provided at equal intervals, and the teeth of the third annular structure engage with the teeth of the fourth annular structure.
In one embodiment, the third annular structure and the fourth annular structure form a second accommodating space, and a second elastic member is provided in the second accommodating space, and the drum supporting leg further comprises a second fixing member passing through a center portion of the third annular structure and a center portion of the fourth annular structure to fix the third annular structure and the fourth annular structure.
According to another embodiment of this invention, a drum is provided with a hollow cylindrical shell, an upper hoop, a lower hoop, an upper drumhead, a lower drumhead, a plurality of brackets, and a plurality of drum supporting legs. The hollow cylindrical shell includes an upper opening and a lower opening. The upper hoop couples an upper portion of the shell. The lower hoop couples a lower portion of the shell. The upper drumhead couples with the upper hoop and seals the upper opening of the shell. The lower drumhead couples with the lower hoop and seals the lower opening of the shell. The brackets are fixed to the outside of the shell. The drum supporting legs correspond to the brackets and at least one of the drum supporting leg is the above-mentioned drum supporting leg capable of adjusting an angle.
According to the drum supporting legs and drums provided by embodiments of the invention, the drummer can quickly and easily adjust the bending angle of the drum supporting leg to obtain a desired sound, and/or obtain a height that is easy to percuss.
Embodiments of the invention are now described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, instances of which are to be interpreted to be to scale in some implementations while in other implementations, for each instance, not. In certain aspects, use of like or the same reference designators in the drawings and description refers to the same, similar or analogous components and/or elements, while according to other implementations the same use should not. According to certain implementations, use of directional terms, such as, top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, front, clockwise, and counterclockwise, are to be construed literally, while in other implementations the same use should not. While the invention will be described in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations and components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. While drawings are illustrated in detail, it is appreciated that the quantity of the disclosed components may be greater or less than that disclosed, except where expressly restricting the amount of the components.
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In addition, a first fixing member 143 is used for fixing the first kit 141 and the second kit 142. The first fixing member 143 can include, but is not limited to, a bolt 1431 and a nut 1432. Wherein, the bolt 1431 passes through a through hole 1415 of the first annular structure 1412 and a through hole 1425 of the second annular structure 1422, and then is fitted with the nut 1432. When the bolt 1431 is tightened, the relative positions of the teeth 1413 of the first annular structure 1412 and the teeth 1423 of the second annular structure 1422 are locked and cannot be rotated. When the angle between the first rod 11 and the second rod 12 is to be adjusted, the first fixing member 143 must be loosened. When the bolt 1431 of the first fixing member 143 is loosened, the force provided by the first elastic member 144 causes the distance between the teeth 1413 of the first annular structure 1412 and the teeth 1423 of the second annular structure 1422 to increase slightly, so that the relative positions of the teeth 1413 of the annular structure 1412 and the teeth 1423 of the second annular structure 1422 can be changed by rotation. Thus, the second rod 12 can rotate about the second end 112 of the first rod 11 through the second annular structure 1422. In this preferred embodiment, the user can manipulate the second rod 12 to rotate about the second end 112 of the first rod 11, resulting in an angle between the first rod 11 and the second rod 12. In some embodiments of this invention, the angle may range from, but is not limited to, ±0 degrees to ±135 degrees. The degree of angle per adjustment depends on the width of the teeth 1413/1423. In this embodiment, the degree of angle is 5 degrees per adjustment. In other embodiments, different degrees of angle per adjustment can be achieved by employing smaller or larger width of the teeth 1413/1423.
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Moreover, a second fixing member 153 is provided for fixing the third kit 151 and the fourth kit 152. The second fixing member 153 may include, but is not limited to, a bolt 1531 and a nut 1532; wherein the bolt 1531 passes through a through hole 1525 of the fourth annular structure 1522 and a through hole 1515 of the third annular structure 1512, and then is fixed with the nut 1532. Thereby, when the bolt 1531 is tightened, the relative positions of the teeth 1513 of the third annular structure 1512 and the teeth 1523 of the fourth annular structure 1522 are fixed and cannot be rotated. If the angle between the second rod 12 and the third rod 13 is to be adjusted, the second fixing member 153 must be loosened. When the bolt 1531 of the second fixing member 153 is loosened, the force provided by the second elastic member 154 causes the distance between the teeth 1513 of the third annular structure 1512 and the teeth 1523 of the fourth annular structure 1522 to be slightly increased, so that the relative positions of the teeth 1513 of the third annular structure 1512 and the teeth 1523 of the fourth annular structure 1522 can be changed by rotation. Thereby, the third rod 13 can be rotated around the second end 122 of the second rod 12 through the fourth annular structure 1522. In the preferred embodiment, the user can manipulate the third rod 13 to rotate about the second end 122 of the second rod 12, resulting in an angle between the second rod 12 and the third rod 13. In some embodiments, the angle may range from, but is not limited to, ±0 degrees to ±135 degrees. The degree of angle per adjustment depends on the width of the teeth 1513/1523. In this embodiment, the degree of angle is 5 degrees per adjustment. In other embodiments, different degrees of angle per adjustment can be achieved by employing smaller or larger width of the teeth 1513/1523.
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According to the drum supporting leg and the drum having the drum supporting leg provided by embodiments of the invention, the drummer can quickly and easily adjust the bending angle of the drum supporting leg to obtain a desired sound, and/or obtain a height that is easy to percuss. The adjustable sound characteristics may include, but are not limited to, sustainability, resonance, reverberation, tone quality, and/or tone color.
The intent accompanying this disclosure is to have each/all embodiments construed in conjunction with the knowledge of one skilled in the art to cover all modifications, variations, combinations, permutations, omissions, substitutions, alternatives, and equivalents of the embodiments, to the extent not mutually exclusive, as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods disclosed or referenced herein, and/or in any and all co-pending, abandoned or patented application(s) by any of the named inventor(s) or assignee(s) of this application and invention, are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, wherein such incorporation includes corresponding or related structure (and modifications thereof) which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any part(s) of the present invention according to this disclosure, that of the application and references cited therein, and the knowledge and judgment of one skilled in the art.
Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that embodiments include, and in other interpretations do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments, or interpretations thereof, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
All of the contents of the preceding documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Although the disclosure herein refers to certain illustrated embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments have been presented by way of example rather than limitation. For example, any of the particulars or features set out or referenced herein, or other features, including method steps and techniques, may be used with any other structure(s) and process described or referenced herein, in whole or in part, in any combination or permutation as a non-equivalent, separate, non-interchangeable aspect of this invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods specifically contemplated and disclosed herein as part of this invention, to the extent not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one skilled in the art, including, modifications thereto, which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any parts of the present invention according to this disclosure, include: (I) any one or more parts of the above disclosed or referenced structure and methods and/or (II) subject matter of any one or more of the inventive concepts set forth herein and parts thereof, in any permutation and/or combination, include the subject matter of any one or more of the mentioned features and aspects, in any permutation and/or combination.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 107134321 A | Sep 2018 | TW | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4252047 | Gauger | Feb 1981 | A |
| 6054645 | Gauger | Apr 2000 | A |
