US-12620373-B2 - Drumhead assembly and method of use

US12620373B2US 12620373 B2US12620373 B2US 12620373B2US-12620373-B2

Abstract

A drum assembly that includes a circular frame member that defines a frame opening therein, an upper drum head member secured to the frame member and spanning the frame opening, a lower drum head member positioned below the upper drum head member, secured to the frame member and spanning the frame opening, and a threaded rod assembly extending between the upper drum head member and the lower drum head member. The threaded rod assembly includes an upper threaded member that is threadingly engaged with the upper drum head member. Rotation of the upper threaded member in a predetermined direction moves the upper drum head member away from the lower drum head member, such that tension is increased in the upper drum head member.

Inventors

James H. May

Assignees

REMO, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20250813

Claims (16)

1 . A drum assembly comprising: a frame member that defines a frame opening therein, wherein the frame member defines a central axis, wherein the frame member defines a hoop channel that includes a ring member therein, an upper drum head member secured to the frame member and at least partially spanning the frame opening, wherein the upper drum head member includes an outer circumference portion, a lower drum head member positioned below the upper drum head member, secured to the frame member and at least partially spanning the frame opening, wherein the lower drum head member includes an outer circumference portion, wherein the outer circumference portion of the upper drum head member and the outer circumference portion of the lower drum head member are received in the hoop channel and at least partially surround the ring member, and a threaded rod assembly extending co-axially with the central axis between the upper drum head member and the lower drum head member, wherein the threaded rod assembly includes an upper threaded member that is threadingly engaged with the upper drum head member, and wherein rotation of the upper threaded member in a predetermined direction increases or decreases the tension in the upper drum head member.
2 . The drum assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper drum head member includes an upper opening defined therein, wherein the upper opening includes an upper threaded receiver, wherein the upper threaded member is threadingly engaged with the upper threaded receiver.
3 . The drum assembly of claim 2 wherein the threaded rod assembly includes a lower threaded member, wherein the lower drum head member includes a lower opening defined therein, wherein the lower opening includes a lower threaded receiver, wherein the lower threaded member is threadingly engaged with the lower threaded receiver, wherein the upper threaded member is rotatable with respect to the lower threaded member.
4 . The drum assembly of claim 3 wherein one of the upper threaded member and the lower threaded member includes a protrusion portion, wherein the other of the upper threaded member and the lower threaded member includes an axial bore, wherein the protrusion portion is received in the axial bore.
5 . The drum assembly of claim 3 wherein the threaded rod assembly includes a coupling nut, wherein a threaded portion of the lower threaded member is threadingly engaged with the coupling nut, and wherein the coupling nut is configured to receive a threaded post of a cymbal stand.
6 . A drum assembly comprising: a frame member that defines a frame opening therein, an upper drum head member secured to the frame member and at least partially spanning the frame opening, a lower drum head member positioned below the upper drum head member, secured to the frame member and at least partially spanning the frame opening, wherein the frame member includes an inner wall, a bottom wall, an outer wall and an upper wall that cooperate to at least partially define a hoop channel, wherein a gap is defined between the inner wall and the upper wall, and wherein the upper drum head member and lower drum head member extend through the gap and into the hoop channel, and a threaded rod assembly extending between the upper drum head member and the lower drum head member, wherein the threaded rod assembly includes an upper threaded member that is threadingly engaged with the upper drum head member, and wherein rotation of the upper threaded member in a predetermined direction increases or decreases the tension in the upper drum head member.
7 . A drum assembly comprising: a frame member that defines a frame opening therein, an upper drum head member secured to the frame member and at least partially spanning the frame opening, a lower drum head member positioned below the upper drum head member, secured to the frame member and at least partially spanning the frame opening, wherein the lower drum head member includes a sleeve assembly that includes a seat portion, and a threaded rod assembly extending between the upper drum head member and the lower drum head member, wherein the threaded rod assembly includes an upper threaded member that is threadingly engaged with the upper drum head member, and wherein rotation of the upper threaded member in a predetermined direction increases or decreases the tension in the upper drum head member, wherein the upper threaded member is seated on the seat portion, wherein the upper threaded member is rotatable with respect to the sleeve assembly.
8 . The drum assembly of claim 7 wherein the lower drum head member includes a lower opening defined therein, wherein the lower opening includes at least a portion of the sleeve assembly extending therethrough.
9 . The drum assembly of claim 8 wherein the upper threaded member is tubular and includes an axial opening extending therethrough, wherein a hi-hat pull rod path is defined through a central opening in the sleeve assembly and through the axial opening of the upper threaded member, wherein the hi-hat pull rod path is configured to receive a hi-hat pull rod.
10 . The drum assembly of claim 9 wherein the upper threaded member includes a lateral opening extending through a wall thereof, whereby the lateral opening is configured to receive a screw and to secure the upper threaded member to the hi-hat pull rod.
11 . A drum assembly comprising: a frame member that defines a frame opening therein, wherein the frame member defines a central axis, wherein the frame member defines a hoop channel that includes a ring member therein, an upper drum head member secured to the frame member and spanning the frame opening, wherein the upper drum head member includes an outer circumference portion, wherein the outer circumference portion of the upper drum head member is received in the hoop channel and at least partially surrounds the ring member, a threaded rod assembly extending co-axially with the central axis that includes an upper threaded member and a lower member, wherein the upper threaded member is threadingly engaged with the upper drum head member and is rotatable with respect to the lower member, wherein rotation of the upper threaded member in a predetermined direction increases or decreases the tension in the upper drum head member.
12 . The drum assembly of claim 11 wherein one of the upper threaded member and the lower member includes a protrusion portion, wherein the other of the upper threaded member and the lower member includes an axial bore, wherein the protrusion portion is received in the axial bore.
13 . The drum assembly of claim 11 further comprising a lower drum head member positioned below the upper drum head member, secured to the frame member and spanning the frame opening, and wherein the lower member extends through the lower drum head member.
14 . The drum assembly of claim 11 further comprising at least one sound sensor associated therewith.
15 . A drum assembly comprising: a frame member that defines a frame opening therein, wherein the frame member defines a central axis, and wherein the frame member defines a hoop channel that includes a ring member therein, an upper drum head member secured to the frame member and spanning the frame opening, wherein the upper drum head member includes an upper threaded receiver, and wherein the upper drum head member includes an outer circumference portion, a lower drum head member positioned below the upper drum head member, secured to the frame member and spanning the frame opening, wherein the lower drum head member includes an outer circumference portion, wherein the outer circumference portion of the upper drum head member and the outer circumference portion of the lower drum head member are received in the hoop channel and at least partially surround the ring member, wherein the lower drum head member includes a lower threaded receiver, wherein the upper and lower threaded receivers are co-axial with the central axis and are configured to receive a threaded rod assembly that includes an upper threaded member that is threadingly engaged and co-axial with the upper threaded receiver, such that rotation of the upper threaded member in a predetermined direction moves at least a portion of the upper drum head member away from the lower drum head member to increase tension in the upper drum head member.
16 . The drum assembly of claim 15 wherein the frame member includes an inner wall, a bottom wall, an outer wall and an upper wall that cooperate to at least partially define the hoop channel, wherein a gap is defined between the inner wall and the upper wall, and wherein the upper drum head member and lower drum head member extend through the gap and into the hoop channel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/208,837, filed on May 15, 2025, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/648,526, filed on May 16, 2024, the entireties of which are incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tensioning system for a drum head assembly. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Monofilament polyester mesh drum heads may be used in electronic drumsets. The polyester mesh drum head may be used as an electronic drum head for triggering sounds from a module as well as a quiet type of drum head for practice on an acoustic drumset. Monofilament polyester mesh material stretches and deflects much more than a standard drum head made from a solid sheet of polyester film. The deflection can be reduced somewhat if the head is made in a two-ply configuration. Two-ply heads, however, may have a rattling sound caused by the hard surface of the mesh vibrating against each other making it noisier than a single ply mesh head. Electronic drumsets generally use mesh drum heads for the “drum” pads whereas “cymbal” pads may be made from rubber, injection molded plastic or a hybrid plastic/metal combination. Some electronic cymbal pads are designed to swivel back and forth, or fully rotate, like a real cymbal when they are struck with a drumstick, mallet, or the like. The rubber pads, injection molded pads, and other electronic cymbals with a metal surface are loud and noisy compared to the mesh drum heads used on the drums. Drum suspension systems may use a polar array of rubber grommets on the drum's tension rods. This suspension system allows the drum to resonate much longer as the drum is not held rigidly and in one place but instead held loosely in multiple places around the drum. Other suspension systems may suspend the drum from the lugs instead of the tension rods so the drum head can be changed without the drum having to come off the stand. Rope suspension systems that suspend the drum with leather strips with cushioned wrap-around handles so the drums can be held comfortably for long periods of time are also known. Bass Drum drum heads may be ported to let a large amount of air out rapidly and to allow a microphone or pillow to be placed inside of the drum. Polyester film can be ported without loss of strength at the hole if it is not under a great deal of tension. If a ported drum head is subjected to high tension, then it needs some sort of support around the hole to compensate for the lost material and make it pull evenly in a circular fashion. Grommets and/or adhesives can be placed around a polyester mesh or film hole to redistribute the load so that it pulls evenly from the center. Monofilament mesh material is similar to a solid polyester sheet in regards to a hole being able to be punched, cut out, or melted out without the material tearing across the entire drum head. The mesh material has a lattice structure where each crossing strand is melted together so when a hole is placed in it, it does not continue out of the next melted crossing of strands. The openings are so small that any excess strand or strands that stick out are not noticeable. Cymbal stands commonly use a threaded post, which goes through the center hole of a cymbal. A felt tube is usually placed over the threaded post below the cymbal and above the cymbal so that it suspends the cymbal and is free to vibrate. A wing nut is placed over the top felt and tightened to the players liking for sustain and to keep it from coming off of the stand. Cymbals come in a variety of sizes with the most common being 14″ Hi Hats, 16″ Crash, and 22″ Ride. Standard cymbals have 3 distinct areas of play, which include the edge, bow, and bell. Electronic cymbal pads may have triggers in these three areas of play. The background description disclosed anywhere in this patent application includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drum assembly that includes a circular frame member that defines a frame opening therein, an upper drum head member secured to the frame member and spanning the frame opening, a lower drum head member positioned below the upper drum head member, secured to the frame member and spanning the frame opening, and a threaded rod assembly extending between the upper drum head member and the lower drum head member. The threaded rod assembly includes an upper threaded member that is threadingly engaged with the upper drum head member. Rotation of the upper threaded member in a predetermined direction moves the upper drum head member away from the l