1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a strainer for supporting a snare assembly end of a snare drum and for switching a snare assembly between contact/noncontact states relative to a drumhead; and, a snare assembly holding structure for supporting the snare assembly end on the side of a drum shell body.
2. Description of Related Art
A snare drum comprises a top-side drumhead and a bottom-side drumhead disposed on opposite ends of a shell body, having hoops interposed there between, respectively. Further, a plurality of head adjustment devices, for adjusting tension of the drumheads, are disposed at equal angular intervals along the periphery, so as to connect the top-side hoop and the bottom-side hoop. Snare strainers located in opposition at opposite positions on the shell body (180 degrees apart) hold a snare assembly against the drum. The snare assembly is made up of a plurality of snare wires laid across and in contact with the bottom-side drum head. The assembly also operates such that the snare wires can be switched between a contact state and a noncontact state with respect to the bottom-side drumhead. At least one of the pair of strainers is a strainer equipped with a switch or lever mechanism that allows the snare assembly to switch between the contact/noncontact states by moving up and down, i.e., longitudinally with respect to the axis of the drum, with respect to the one end of the snare assembly being held. The other may also be a similar strainer equipped with a switch mechanism, or it may be a fixed type strainer without such a switch mechanism.
What has conventionally been provided on such a strainer, equipped with a switch mechanism for contact/noncontact conversion, are components such as: a base element fixed at the exterior circumferential surface of a shell body; a snare assembly holding element mounted on the base element so as to be freely movable upward and downward; a switch mechanism that moves forward and backward the snare assembly holding element relative to the base element so as to bring the movable end of the snare assembly into contact or out of contact with a bottom-side drumhead; and a tension adjustment screw that similarly moves forward and backward with the snare assembly holding element relative to the base element so as to fine-tune the tension of the snare assembly.
However, in use, beating the drum causes the timbre to change because vibrations cause the tension adjustment screw to perceptibly loosen, thus allowing the snare to become somewhat slack. As a result the snare tension head must be readjusted when performing to ensure high sound quality. However, this adjustment may impact sound quality and distract a player's concentration and may cause mistiming, missed cues or the like.
The present invention provides a strainer equipped with a switch mechanism which has a simple structure, and hence achieves a reduction in costs, that can be easily and reliably operated with a small force, with little backlash due to wear or the like, and that maintains excellent operation feel without putting an undue burden on the snare assembly. The present invention further provides a snare tension locking assembly to prevent loosening of the snare assembly.
The present invention features a horseshoe-shaped clip that clips onto the cylindrically-shaped tension knob to keep both the lever secure while playing, and the tension knob secure from rotation. Bumps or protrusions on the inner surrounding surface of the horseshoe clip engage complementary exterior notches around the outer surface of the tension knob, thus preventing the tension knob from spinning or rotating while the drum is being played. In accord with the invention, the snare is securely fastened in position against the bottom-side drum head and the tension of the wires themselves is prevented from being altered.
The frame assembly 34 is configured to pivotally support the lever 12 and allow the snare strainer assembly 10 to be affixed to a sidewall of a drum (not shown). The frame assembly 34 comprises a frame assembly housing 17, drum attachment portions 16, 18, and a bore 19 formed in the frame assembly housing 17. The drum attachment portions 16, 18 extend from the frame assembly housing 17 toward the drum and drum attachment portion 16 is spaced from drum attachment portion 18. In an exemplary embodiment, the drum attachment portions 16, 18 are configured to receive a fastener such as a screw, bolt, nail, or other mechanical fastener extending from the drum for securing the frame assembly 17 to the drum. Alternatively, the drum attachment portions 16, 18 can be attached to a drum sidewall using adhesive or other chemical bonding agents. The drum attachment portions 16, 18 may be made of a relatively soft polymer material, such as rubber, in order to not mar the surface of the drum and to avoid unwanted vibrations.
The frame assembly housing 17 further includes a collar 27 that extends from the frame assembly housing 17. As best illustrated in
A snare wire assembly holder 32 is coupled to a lower end of the frame assembly housing 17. The snare wire assembly holder 32 includes a first snare wire holding element plate 31 and a second snare wire holding element plate 33. In an exemplary embodiment, as best illustrated in
A tension rod 28 modifies tension applied to the snare wires. The tension rod 28 includes a snare wire adjusting knob 36, a threaded portion, and a restricting element coupling surface 39 disposed between the snare wire adjusting knob 36 and the threaded portion of the tension rod 28. The snare wire adjusting knob 36 may be articulated or rotated in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction. In an exemplary embodiment, a user turns the knob 36 clockwise or counter-clockwise to tighten or loosen tension on the snare wires connecting to holder 32 as described above. The threaded portion of the tension rod 28 is disposed in the bore 19 formed in the frame assembly housing 17. The restricting element coupling surface 39 can include notches 38 formed on an outer surface of the tension rod. In an exemplary embodiment, the notches can be equally spaced around the circumference of the tension rod 28. While the notches 38 are illustrated as being angularly inwardly projecting and intersecting at an apex, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the notches 38 can have any configuration, including projections extending from the tension rod. In that event, the horseshoe-shaped clip 40 would have notches to engage the projections.
Lever 12 is pivotally mounted to the frame assembly 17. Lever 12 includes a lever body comprising an end 22 and an intermediary portion 23 where the end 22 and the intermediary portion 23 are in the substantially same plane. Lever 12 further includes a projection 35 that extends substantially perpendicular to the lever body. Lever 12 is pivotally mounted to the frame assembly through pivot pin 14 disposed at the lower end of the lever 12. In addition, as described above, lever 12 is further pivotally mounted to the frame assembly 17 through intermediary pivot pin 24 where shaft 25 is coupled between collar 27 projecting from the frame assembly and the lever 12 via the intermediary pivot pin 24 and the pivot pin 26.
A restricting element 40 prevents the tension rod 28 from inadvertently turning or loosening as the drum is being played. The restricting element 40 engages with the restricting element coupling surface 39 formed on the tension rod 28. As best illustrated in
In operation, a user can adjust the force applied to the snare wire assembly 30 by turning the knob 36 of the tension rod 28 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. When the desired tension is reached, lever 12 is moved into a locked position such that the restricting element 40, equipped with inner surface bumps or protrusions 42, engages the restricting element coupling surface 39 where the protrusions 42 engage the peripheral notches 38 formed in the outer surface of the tension rod 28. In this manner, the tension rod 28 is prevented from inadvertent turning or loosening while an associated drum is being played.
The frame assembly 134 is configured to pivotally support the lever 112 and allow the snare strainer assembly 110 to be affixed to a sidewall of a drum (not shown). The frame assembly 134 comprises a frame assembly housing 117, drum attachment portions 116, 118, and a bore 119 formed in the frame assembly housing 117. The drum attachment portions 116, 118 extend from the frame assembly housing 117 where drum attachment portion 116 is spaced away from drum attachment portion 118. In an exemplary embodiment, as best illustrated in
As best illustrated in
A tension rod 128 is configured to modify tension applied to the snare wires. The tension rod 128 includes a snare wire adjusting knob 136, a threaded portion, and a restricting element coupling surface 139 disposed between the snare wire adjusting knob 136 and the threaded portion of the tension rod 128. The snare wire adjusting knob 136 is configured to be articulated or rotated in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction. In an exemplary embodiment, a user turns the knob 136 clockwise or counter-clockwise to tighten or loosen tension on the snare wires connected to holder 132 as described above. The threaded portion of the tension rod 128 is disposed in the bore 119 formed in the frame assembly housing 117. The restricting element coupling surface 139 can include notches 138 formed on an outer surface of the tension rod 128. In an exemplary embodiment, the notches 138 can be equally spaced around the circumference of the tension rod 128.
Lever 112 is pivotally mounted to the frame assembly. Lever 112 includes a lever body comprising an end 122, a coupling portion 123 that including an actuating slot 125, and a side portion 127. Lever 112 further includes a projection 129 that extends substantially perpendicular to the lever body where in an exemplary embodiment the coupling portion 123 and the side portion 127 are coupled with the projection 129. Lever 112 is pivotally mounted to the frame assembly through pivot pins 114 disposed at both sides of the lower end of the lever 112. A coupling pin 124 engages with the actuation slot 125 to allow the lever 112 to be pivotally mounted to the frame housing. The actuation slot 125 further includes a recess where the coupling pin 124 resides when the lever is in a locked position.
A restricting element 140 is configured to prevent the tension rod 128 from inadvertently turning or loosening as the drum is being played. The restricting element 140 engages with the restricting element coupling surface 139 formed on the tension rod 128. The restricting element 140 partially surrounds the outer surface of the tension rod 128. One or more projections 142 are formed on a surface of the restricting element 140 where the projections 142 each engage a notch 138 formed in an outer surface of the tension rod 128. While only one projection 142 is illustrated in
In operation, a user adjusts the force applied to the snare wire assembly 130 by turning the knob 136 of the tension rod 128 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. When the desired tension is reached, lever 112 is moved into a locked position such that the coupling pin 124 rests within the recess of the actuating slot 125 and the restricting element 140, equipped with inner surface bumps or protrusions 142, engages the restricting element coupling surface 139 where the protrusions 142 engage the peripheral notches 138 formed in the outer surface of the tension rod 128. In this manner, the tension rod 128 is prevented from inadvertent turning or loosening while an associated drum is being played.
The foregoing detailed description of the certain exemplary embodiments has been provided for the purpose of explaining the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. This description is not necessarily intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way.
This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/930,703 filed on Jan. 23, 2014, and provisional application Ser. No. 61/936,176 filed on Feb. 5, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference and to which priority is claimed.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61936176 | Feb 2014 | US | |
61930703 | Jan 2014 | US |