US1495672A - Drummer's trap - Google Patents

Description

G. K.v CHENEY DRUMMER S .TRAP

. Filed Dec. 6, 1922 I a? vwemtoz 4 /.2 flame/1 I I Patented May 27, 1924.

UNITED STATES GEORGE K. CHENEY, O'F BALDWIN, NEW YORK.

DRUMMERS TRAP.

Application filed December 6, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Gnonon K. CHENEY. a citizen of the United States, residing at Baldwin, in the county of Nassau and State of New York. and whose post-oilice address is Baldwin, Long Island, New York. have invented new and useful Improvements in Drummers Traps. of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel drummers trap, and more particularly, to an instrument for accentuating the rhythm of the piece of music being played-in such manner as to give a more pleasing effect than other rhythm accentuating devices known to me. The device is also one which can be easily operated to produce considerable variations in the intensity and character of the swish ing sounds which are produced to accentuate the rhythm of the music. and is especially useful in connection with the playing of dance music, although it may be 'used in connection with other music. particularly as it may also be employed to produce special descriptive effects.

So far as I know, the nearest analogy to the instrument of my present invention is the Cuban guiro made from a gourd. Not only are these instruments difficult to getand expensive, but they are fragile and bulky. and do not give as pleasing a rhythm efi'ect as the instrument of my invention.

For a further description of my invention. reference is had to the accompanying drawings and the description of one specific embodiment of my invention shown therein.

Fig. 1 is a general view showing my improved instrument suitably mounted for operation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view therethrough, and

Fig. 4 is a tlilllSVt-EYSQ sectional view.

Referring to the drawings, where like numerals designate similar parts throughout, I have indicated generally a drum 1 upon which is mounted in any suitable manner, the preferred embodiment of my instrument 2. Theinstrument or device 2 is of elongated, cylindrical form, and is preferably made of a hard. tough fibrous material, for example a fiber made of wood pulp. The walls of the instrument may be made of uniform thickness throughout, and are preter ably quite thin as compared to the diameter of the tube. Onthe exterior of the tube Serial No. 605,154.

there are provided a multiplicity of closely arranged, shallow corrugations 3, thereby providing an undulating exterior surface on the exterior of the tube, and in the direction of the length thereof. These corrugations 3 may be formed in any desired manner during the process of making. and in the particular instance illustrated they are shown as comprised of a single continuous spiral from one end of the tube to the other as the spiral is a more convenient form for manufacture. These corrugations are preferably substantially one-third or one-half of the depth or the thickness of the tube wall. The width. depth and arrangements of the corrugations should be varied. however. according to the character of the rubbing brush (referred to later) and the character and dimensions of the tube in such manner as to give the desired pleasing effects when operated.

The device is operated, and the variations and simulations produced by simply passing a metallic wire brush 4 lengthwise along the tube and in close contact with the corrugations 3, the character of the sound produced being governed by the degree of pressure exerted by the hand upon the brush during this operation, and by the rapidity of relative movement between the brush and the fibrous corrugated tube 2. I have found that particularly good results are obtained with a tube about one foot long, one and one-half inches outside diameter and one-sixteenth of an inch wall thickness, but I have obtained very good results with tubes of very different sizes and wall thicknesses.

The device 2 may be supported either by hand. or mechanically. In the particular embodiment illustrated. it is adapted to be supported upon a bracket 5 which is clamped by means of the clamping jaws 6. and tightening bolt 7 upon the rim of the drum 1. The device 2 is carried directly by an arm 8 which has a rounded inner end 9 disposed in the cylindrical socket 10, formed in the upper end of the bracket 5. These mounts. together with the set screw 11. enable the instrument 2 to be adjusted either up or down or laterally to any position convenient to the musician. The tubular device 2 has its ends extend beyond. the ends of the transverse corrugations 3. and these ends are provided on the under side with circular openings 12 just large enough to receive, the heads of securing bolts 13, carried one adjacent the outer end of the arm 8, and the other adjacent the inner end thereof. Adjoining the openings 12 there are longitudinal slots 14 provided on the under side of the tubular member 2 which enables the instrument 2 to be given a slight longitudinal movement after the same has been inserted in a position to receive the heads 13 through the openings 12 whereby the instrument is securely mounted upon the arm 8, but readily detachable from and attachable thereto. Preferably the arm 8 is bowed downwardly .in the middle to clear the corrugations 3.

.the appended claims. Thus it is not essential to my invention that the corrugations should be of the same character on all portions of the tube, although they are so illustrated in the drawings.

I claim:

1. A drummers trap comprising a tubular hollow member of resonant material with transverse corrugations all around the exterior thereof so that when rubbed backward and forward across the corrugations, a pleasing effect accentuating the rhythm of the music may be obtained.

2. A drummers trap comprising a hollow cylindrical member of a tough fibrous material having closely arranged comparatively shallow transverse corrugations all around the exterior thereof so that when rubbed backward and forward across the corrugations, a pleasing effect accentuating the rhythm of the music may be obtained.

3. A trap of the character set'forth in claim 2 together with means for mounting the same for universal movement on a musical instrument.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE K. CHENEY.

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