GB2434689A

GB2434689A - A glove with pressure sensitive pads for producing percussive sounds

Info

Publication number: GB2434689A
Application number: GB0701624A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matthew Berlow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-28
Filing date: 2007-01-29
Publication date: 2007-08-01
Also published as: GB0701624D0; GB0601774D0

Abstract

A glove 100 for controlling different percussive sounds comprises a plurality of pressure sensitive pads 120-130, preferably located on the fingers, thumb and heel of the glove 100. A user wears the glove 100 and applies pressure to each pad 120-130 to generate the sounds. The glove 100 may be configured so that each pad 120-130 produces a different sound or activating different pads 120-130 in different sequences produces different sounds. The pressure sensitive pads 120-130 may be moved to different locations on the glove 100 or may be exchanged for different pads producing different sounds. The sounds may be generated by the transmission of a signal from the glove 100 to a remote device such as a PC (300), mobile phone (400) or amplifier (500).

Description

DRUM GLOVE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a glove or a set of gloves capable of controlling different musical sounds such as percussive sounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many musical instruments such as drum kits are bulky and difficult to transport with ease. This therefore makes it difficult for musicians to carry musical instruments with them at all times thereby limiting the time available for practice. Additionally, by not having the required musical instruments to hand, may hinder the writing of new music.

It is an object of at least one aspect of the S..

present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one or more of the aforementioned problems. *..

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the :: 20 present invention to provide a glove or a set of gloves which allows a user to practice music without having to transport the required musical apparatus with them at all times.

SU}ARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a glove capable of controlling different percussive sounds, said glove comprising: a plurality of pressure sensitive pads located on a glove, each pressure sensitive pad controlling different percussive sounds; wherein by applying pressure to the pressure sensitive pads allows a user to produce and/or control (-S different percussive sounds.

Typically, on a front surface of the glove, there are provided a number of pressure sensitive pads such as a pressure sensitive pad located on each finger, the thumb and at the heel of the glove. There may therefore be six pressure sensitive pads in totality which control 1* and produce the required different percussive sounds. * *.*.

Four of the pressure sensitive pads may be located on I *.

finger sections of the glove, one along the side of a thumb portion of the glove and the final pressure *.*. * 20 sensitive pad may be located at the heel of the glove.

The sizes of the pressure sensitive pads may be adapted for different situations such as different sizes of hands and different percussive sounds required.

Typically, the position of the pressure sensitive pads may be adapted for different sizes of hands. For example, the pressure sensitive pads may be moved in and out of receiving members located on the glove. Once the required location of the pressure sensitive pads is found, the pressure sensitive pads may then be locked in position using any suitable mechanical fastening means such as a snap-fit mechanism or a spring and lock mechanism.

Preferably, the pressure sensitive pads may be provided in the form of cartridges which allows the pressure sensitive pads to be removed and replaced, thereby allowing a user to adapt and modify the produced percussive sounds. For example, different cartridges forming the pressure sensitive pads may activate different percussive sounds thereby allowing a vast range of different percussive sounds to be selected and produced.

Typically, the pressure sensitive pads may comprise *...

a sensor pad which may be activated on application of pressure by a user placing their finger on a flat I..

* surface. The pressure sensitive pad may also optionally comprise a metal strip which abuts against the sensor pad.

Typically, the glove according to the present invention may transmit information in a digital form to a remote device such as a CPU, a PC operating system, a mobile phone or amplifiers. The information may be transmitted via any suitable form such as RF or Bluetooth (Trademark). The CPU, PC, mobile phone or amplifiers may comprise specific technology to receive and generate the percussive sounds. In particular embodiments, such as on a PC, a game may be provided where the signals produced by the glove may be interfaced so that a user may be able to see themselves on the computer playing the drums, in the form of a famous superstar, drummer, or with a band and other members. The game may also provide a suitable

backdrop such as an Indian style background.

Conveniently, the glove may be manufactured from any suitable natural or man-made fibre. For example, the glove may be made from any suitable leather, synthetic leather, Neoprene (Trademark), or any woven or non-woven fabric.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing percussive sounds using a glove according to the first aspect. a

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a glove according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the glove shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of part of a finger section of the glove shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an expanded view of a pressure sensitive sensor used in the glove shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a representative view of the glove shown in Figures 1 to 4 in use; Figure 6 is a plan view of a CPU unit used to control the glove according to the present invention; and Figure 7 is a view of different ways of utilising the glove according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1, there is a schematic representation of a glove, generally designated 100. As S...

shown in Figure 1, the glove 100 is in the shape of a standard glove and adapted for use with a hand of the *5* user. The glove 100 comprises four finger portions 5'5Q 102,104,106,108 and a thumb portion 110.

Attached to each of the finger portions 102,104,106,108 and the thumb portion 110, there are receiving members 110,112,114,116,118, respectively. The receiving members 110,112,114,116,118 comprise an internal track and are attached to pressure sensitive sensors generally designated 120,122,124,126,128, respectively.

As shown in Figure 1, there is an additional pressure sensitive sensor 130 located at the heel of the glove 100.

Figure 2 is a top view of the glove 100 and illustrates that there is a transponder 132 which may transmit signals using RE or Bluetooth (Trademark) to a remote device (see later) Figure 3 is an expanded view of the finger portion 106 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 3 provides a representative view of the pressure sensitive sensor 124.

The pressure sensitive sensor 124 comprises a slidable member 134 which may move in and out of the receiving member 114. Tracks in the receiving member 114 may be provided to facilitate this movement. The pressure sensitive sensor 124 also comprises a sensor pad 136 * which abuts against a metal strip 138.

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* Each of the pressure sensitive pads 120,122,124,126,128,130 produces and controls a different percussive sound. A user has control over the percussive sound generated depending on the sequence of pads which are activated as a user taps down on a flat surface. For example, to produce a cymbal damp-sustained, a user's finger may be held down or quickly released. The volume may also be controlled depending on the pressure applied to the pressure sensitive sensors 120,122, 124, 126, 128, 130.

A user may also adapt the glove 100 for different specific uses. For example, the pressure sensitive sensors 120,122,124,126,128,130 may be provided in the form of cartridges which may be inserted and detached to provide different percussive sounds. Different catridges may therefore produce different percussive sounds such as any of the following: different guitar sounds (e.g. bass, 10 electric, acoustic), different drum noises (e.g. snare and base), timpani, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, tubular bells, crotales, glockenspiel, piano, afuche, various chimes (e.g. mark tree), castanets, claves, cowbell, cymbal, doyra, guiro, maracas, Mendoza, ratchet, spoons, tambourine, temple blocks, tom-tom, timbalas, triangle, r.ibraslap, washboard, whip, wood block, gongs *S..

(e.g. tam-tam), anvils and bongos.

A user may therefore insert different cartridges into the receiving members 110,112,114,116,118 to : 20 determine the percussive sound generated e.g. bongo sounds, traditional sounds, Indian Tabla and Bangra etc. The glove 100 may be made from any suitable material such as leather, imitation leather, manmade fibres such as Neoprene (Trademark), or any other suitable flexible woven or non-woven material. The receiving members 110,112,114,116,118 may be attached to the glove 100 using any suitable mechanical attachment means such as gluing or sewing. The receiving members 110,112,114,116,118 may be formed integrally or separately with the glove 100.

The material forming the glove 100 may be adapted and modified for different requirements and comfort for different users. For example, users which may be allergic to plastic or leather may have glove 100 manufactured from appropriate materials. The glove 100 n may comprise different designs, colours, and fabrics to suit a different market group, from a serious drummer using the glove 100 in order to practice to that of children for simple recreation and simply learning to control a musical instrument or using the glove 100 as a toy or gimmick.

Figure 5 shows the glove 100 in use. As shown in * S Figure 5, a user is simply tapping down on a flat surface with pressure sensitive sensor 124. By a user simply

S S..

* tapping down on the flat surface, the pressure sensitive : 20 sensor 124 is activated and produces a particular percussive sound. The user has control over the percussive sound depending on the pressure applied to the pressure sensitive sensor 124 and the time in contact with the flat surface. Additionally, the percussive sound is controlled depending on the sequence of a user placing the remaining pressure sensitive pads 120,122,126,128,130 on the flat surface. Figure 5 also shows that the pressure sensitive sensor 130 at the heel of the glove is also in contact with the flat surface.

A user may therefore completely control the produced percussive sound using the six pressure sensitive sensors 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130.

The glove 100 is also adaptable for different sizes of hand. For example, the pressure sensitive sensors 120,122,124,126 may be moved in and out of the receiving 10 members 110,112,114,116,118. This allows the glove 100 to be adapted for users with different lengths of fingers.

Any suitable means of allowing the movement of the pressure sensitive sensors 120,122,124,126,128 may be used such as a track-like system to facilitate movement.

Once the required position of the pressure sensitive sensors 120,122,124,126,128 is obtained, the pressure sensitive sensors 120,122,124,126,128 may be locked in place using any appropriate means such as a snap-fit *** * mechanism or a spring and lock mechanism.

Figure 6 represents a pocket sized Cpu 200 which may be used to control the sound produced by the glove 100.

The CPU comprises a volume control 202 and a memory card 204. Speakers 206 may also be provided.

Figure 7 represents further embodiments of the present invention. As shown in Figure 6, the glove 100 may be remotely connected to a CPU 200. Alternatively, a PC 300 may be used with the glove 100. The glove 100 may also be used with a mobile phone 400 or an amplifier 500.

Figure 7 illustrates that the glove 100 may be used in a variety of different situations which allows the glove 100 to be operated and produce different percussive sounds without having to carry the required bulky musical apparatus. Although the sound generated by the PC 300 or mobile phone 400 is not as of high quality as the amplifier 500, it at least allows the user to practice C) . the required musical arrangement at any required time.

Any type of technology may be used to operate the glove 100. For example, cartridge SD or MMC holding wave files open source technology with encrypted software may be used. Any form of micro switches may also be used for manufacturing the pressure sensitive pads 120,122,124,126,128,130. The glove 100 may operate as a *.a.

simple digital switching device that is sensitive to signals to a base CPU. A CPU may process the signals and produce the required percussive sounds or may be attached r 20 to any stereo amplifier to amplify the required sounds.

As shown in Figure 7, the CPU may be a pocket based PC technology or a standard PC operating system preloaded with a built-in speaker and audio outjack for an amplifier which can be linked to a PC via UCB for updates. The glove 100 may also operate via RF or Bluetooth (Trademark) using the transponder 132.

The glove 100 may therefore be interfaced with a computer, a pocket computer, a games console or a mobile phone. In embodiments where the glove 100 is interfaced with a computer, a game may be utilised which illustrates the user on a screen playing the drums and may be adapted to illustrate the user as a famous superstar, drummer, with a band and other band members, and similar to karaoke situations. The sound of the drum may also be identified in the game and may have an appropriate backdrop e.g. Indian Tabla, will have the appropriate drums and Indian style backdrop.

Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any type of suitable pressure sensitive sensor may be used.

Moreover, any form of technology transmitting the signals

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developed by activating the pressure sensors may be used to a remote device such as a PC, mobile phone, or amplifier system. The glove may also be adapted for S. S** different sizes of hand and fingers. Furthermore, the pressure sensitive sensors may be adapted for different sizes of hand by allowing the location of the pressure sensitive fingers to a users fingers to be adapted and modified as required.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A glove capable of controlling different percussive sounds, said glove comprising: a plurality of pressure sensitive pads located on a front surface of the glove, each pressure sensitive pad controlling different percussive sounds; wherein by applying pressure to the pressure sensitive pads allows a user to produce different percussive sounds. (--, 10

2. A glove according to claim 1, wherein there are six pressure sensitive pads located on finger portions of the glove, a thumb portion of the glove, and a heel area of the glove.

3. A glove according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein each pressure sensitive pad is adapted to provide a specific percussive sound.

* 20 4. A glove according to any preceding claim, wherein a *.* * user by activating the different pressure sensitive pads in a specific sequence, produces a specific percussive sound.

5. A glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the position of the pressure sensitive pads is adaptable for different users.

6. A glove according to claim 5, wherein the position of the pressure sensitive pads is adaptable by moving the pressure sensitive pads in and out of receiving members located on portions of the glove.

7. A glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the pressure sensitive pads may be removed from the glove and replaced with different pressure sensitive pads to provide a different percussive sound.

8. A glove according to any preceding claim, wherein by activating the pressure sensitive pads produces a digital signal, which is transmitted from the glove to a remote device. I. / .-

9. A glove according to claim 8, wherein the remote * 20 device is selected from any of a pocket based CPU, a

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standard PC, a mobile phone or an amplifier.

10. A glove according to any preceding claim, wherein the transmitted signal is interfaced with a computer game enabling a user to see themselves in a computer game playing the drums, such as in the form of a famous superstar, a drummer, with a band and other members, or similar to karaoke.

11. A glove according to claim 10, wherein the game also provides a suitable backdrop such as an Indian Tabla.

12. A glove as hereinbefore described and as shown with reference to Figures lo to 7. (-.\ S. I .-

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