GB2334366A

GB2334366A - Drum

Info

Publication number: GB2334366A
Application number: GB9803188A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Daniel Mccartney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-02-16
Filing date: 1998-02-16
Publication date: 1999-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-16
Also published as: GB9803188D0; GB2334366B

Abstract

A drum 11 which comprises a body member 12 providing a resonating chamber with at least one aperture 13 defining a periphery, a substantially rigid (e.g. plywood) closure member 20 for the aperture, being graded in thickness, secured around its edge to the body member in the region of the periphery. The regions of different thickness having different resonant qualities. At least one vibratory member (fig.6, 21 or 25), comprising one or more lengths of wire (fig.6, 21) or bead necklace like (fig.6, 25) components, is mounted on the inner side of the closure member having at least one free end which is in contact with, and hence vibrates against, the closure member when the closure member is struck on its outer side in the region of the vibratory member. The drum body has a concave upper side 15 which is designed to be used as a seat for the player of the drum. The drum body also may be disposed with one or more sound holes or apertures (fig. 4, 17 or fig.5, 18).

Description

DRUM This invention relates to a drum. It is particularly concerned with a type of drum originating from Peru and known as a box drum or 'Cajon'. As is apparent from the name the original version of the drum is of box shape of rectangular section. The drum is played by a player sitting on top of the drum and striking a front, playing, face which faces forwardly away from the player. By striking the centre or lower region of the playing face a relatively low pitched bass note is produced. The playing face was secured to the remainder of the drum around its lower and side edges. However the upper edge was left unsecured save for a single mid point pinning to the body of the drum so as to provide for a relatively high pitched 'slapping' treble note when the playing face was struck towards its upper side caused by the outer parts of the top of the drum leaving and then falling back against the drum rim. In use the loose upper edge became even looser to the extent that the treble sound could not be made to sound consistently and required frequent tuning if not repair. In addition wearing or breaking of the upper edge can lead to the possibility of injury to the hands of a player.

According to the present invention there is provided a drum comprising: 1 a body member providing a resonating chamber with at least one aperture therein defining a periphery; 2 a relatively rigid closure member for the aperture and secured around its edge to the body member in the region of the periphery, the closure member varying in thickness from a relatively thin first region to a relatively thick second region the regions having differing resonant frequencies; and 3 at least one vibratory member mounted on the inner side of the closure member in or near the first region within the body member, the or each vibratory member having at least one free end in contact with the first region of the closure member so as to vibrate on the closure member when the closure member is struck on its outer side at least in the region of the ligature According to a first preferred version of the present invention the or one vibratory member comprises one or more lengths of wire or wire like material each being mounted at or near its centre on the rigid closure member so as to leave the extremities of the or each member relatively free to vibrate against the closure member when the member is struck on its outer side.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof the or one vibratory member comprises at least one necklace like component made up of a ligature bearing a plurality of bead like members the component being secured at intervals to the rigid closure member to allow at least the bead like members to rattle against the closure member.

According to a third preferred version of the present invention or any preceding version thereof the drum includes a further aperture, such as a slot, in the body member in the region of the first region of the closure member.

According to a fourth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof there is provided a sound hole in the body member. Typically the sound hole and the aperture lie on an axis of symmetry of the drum.

According to a fifth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the body member is of unitary construction.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of a drum of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the above and to the side; Figure 2A is a side view from the right hand side; Figure 2B is a side view from the left hand side; Figure 3 is a view from beneath; Figure 4 is a view from above; Figure 5 is a rear elevation; Figure 6 is a front elevation; Figure 7 is a rear view of component shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a first component shown in Figure 7; and Figure 9 shows a second component shown in Figure 7.

The drawings variously show a drum 11 made up of a one piece shell 12 of glass reinforced plastic having a front aperture 13 surrounded by a frame 14 of aluminium.

The frame 14 is glued to the shell 12 around periphery of the front aperture 13. The dimensions and volume of the shell are chosen to provide the required resonance when the drum is played as will be described hereafter.

The shell 12 has a concave upper side 15 covered with a pad 16 of resilient material to make it a comfortable seat for a player of the drum 11. In addition to the front aperture 13 the shell 12 has two other apertures contributing to the required sounds to be produced by the drum. These are: an upper front slot 17 (about 210 mm long and 10 mm wide) in the front of the upper side 15; and a main sound hole 18 (about 140 mm diameter) in rear side 19 of the shell.

The front aperture 13 is closed by way of a playing member 20 of plywood secured near its periphery at intervals to the frame 14 by bolts, typically bolts B1, B2, B3. The playing member 20 varies in thickness from its a portion P of the upper region U where it is some 2 mm thick to the remainder of the member 20 which is about 4 mm thick.

Figure 6 shows the drum having two vibratory members incorporated in it. These are disclosed in more detail in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

On the inside of the member 20 in the portion P within the shell there is provided a first vibratory member 21 made up of an array of eight lengths of piano wire W1 to W8 each of 1.5 mm in diameter and varying in length from 190 mm (wire W1) to 220 mm (wire W8). The wires in the array are secured at their centres over region R to the member 20.

The wires are of flattened V-shape in section with the apex of the V serving as the attachment point at the region R. The two parts of the wire extending outside region R are angled towards, and when not in use lie pressed against, the member 20. When the upper region U of the member 20 is struck the outer ends of the wires vibrate against the member 20 at a relatively high frequency to provide a readily reproducible and consistent crisp treble sound. This serves to replace the provision in the earlier versions of the drum of a relatively unrestrained upper end for the playing surface with the disadvantages referred to earlier.

A second vibratory member 25 is provided embodied by ten necklace like artefacts N1 to N10 each made up of a ligature (typically N1) of nylon or fishing line on which are strung a sequence of metal beads (typically bead B). Each of the artefact N1 to N10 is glued at intervals to the member 20 to an extent necessary to allow the beads to vibrate against the rear surface of member 25 when the member is struck on its front surface.

The upper front slot 17 provide for a clear transmission of the treble output from the member 20 and in particular the relatively high frequencies generated by way of the vibratory member 21 and amplified by the resonating effect of the combination of shell 12 and member 20.

The drum 11 is provided with stub legs LI to L4 serving to provide for a stable seating for the drum 11 when in use with a player seated on the upper side 15 and also to provided for the drum 11 to be located clear of the floor so that the drum resonance is not damped by extensive floor contact. This serves to provide for increased drum volume without requiring amplification.

To play the drum 1 a player sits on upper side 15 of the drum with a leg on either side of the drum 11 and the member 20 facing in the same direction as the player. The player then strikes the appropriate part of the member 20 with their hands to obtain the desired sound output. a high pitch treble sound is obtained from upper region U of the member 20 by particular virtue of the vibratory member 20 and a deep bass sound from the central region.

A drum of the present invention provides a substantial improvement over existing versions including ease of handling, comfortable use characteristics and a more consistent and reproducible output. The use of a shell of fibreglass or other plastics material provides for increased volume enabling the drum on many occasions to be used as an acoustic unit without requiring amplification.

Although the exemplary embodiment makes use of a slot in the upper part of the drum it is possible to dispense with the slot to improve the structural strength and integrity of the finished product without adversely affecting the sound generated by means of the drum.

Other vibratory members described can be attached to the drum to replace or supplement the two devices described.

If necessary the drum can be equipped with a microphone to provide for electrical amplification. However the drum of the present invention will usually generate sufficient volume for most applications as a simple acoustic device.

Claims

Claims 1A drum comprising:

1 a body member providing a resonating chamber with at least one aperture therein defining a periphery;

2 a relatively rigid closure member for the aperture and secured around its edge to the body member in the region of the periphery, the closure member varying in thickness from a relatively thin first region to a relatively thick second region the regions having differing resonant frequencies; and

3 at least one vibratory member mounted on the inner side of the closure member in the first region within the body member, the or each vibratory member having at least one free end in contact with the first region of the closure member so as to vibrate on the closure member when the closure member is struck on its outer side at least in the region of the vibratory member.

2 A drum as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the or one vibratory member comprises one or more lengths of wire or wire like material each being mounted at or near its centre on the rigid closure member so as to leave the extremities of the or each member relatively free to vibrate against the closure member when the member is struck on its outer side.

3 A drum as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or one vibratory member comprises at least one necklace like component made up of a ligature bearing a plurality of bead like members the component being secured at intervals to the rigid closure member to allow parts of the component not so secured to rattle against the closure member.

4 A drum as claimed in any preceding claim including a further aperture, such as a slot, in the body member in the region of the first region of the closure member.

5 A drum as claimed in any preceding claim including a sound hole in the body member.

6 A drum as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the sound hole and the aperture lie on an axis of symmetry of the drum.

7 A drum as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body member is of unitary construction.

8 A drum as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.