GB2192086A - Snare drum - Google Patents

Abstract

A snare drum (1) includes snare adjustment means (7) to enable the snare (4) to be set at varying positions in the axial direction of the drum. The snare may be located internally within the drum. <IMAGE>

Description

**WARNING** start of DESC field may overlap end of CLMS **.

SPECIFICATION Snare drum

Description The present invention relates to a snare drum, that is a drum comprising a cylindrical body shell having a skin or batter head secured at each end thereof and at least one snare located adjacent a respective skin by carrier means.

The precise positioning of the snare relative to the associated skin affects the quality of the sound produced by the drum, and it is the principal object of the present invention to provide means enabling the maintenance of sound quality over a prolonged period of use of the drum.

According to the present invention there is provided a snare drum including snare adjustment means to enable the snare to be set at varying positions in the axial direction of the drum.

Preferably the snare is located internally within the drum, for example at the drum's top skin, and said snare adjustment means are located externally of the drum and coupled to the carrier means of said snare.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a sectional side elevation of part of a snare drum according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, a snare drum 1 comprises a cylindrical body shell 2 having a drum skin 3 or batter head secured and stretched taut at the top end of the drum 1, whiie the bottom of the body shell 2 can be closed by a similar skin (not shown). A snare 4 is located below but adjacent the skin 3 and extends parallel thereto and transverse to the drum axis X-X. The snare 4 is carried by a snare bar 5 through support members (only one such member 6 being shown).

In accordance with the present invention a snare adjuster device 7 is provided to enable the snare 4 to be set in varying positions relative to the drum's axial direction. The device 7 includes an external locater block 8 to which the snare bar 5 is attached via an elongate slot in the drum shell 2, the slot permitting movement of the bar 5 (and block 8) in the direction of the drum axis X-X. The block 8 therefore is axially slidable on the drum shell 2 and is positioned by an adjuster comprising a threaded spindle 9 secured to the block 8 and a boss 10 fixed to the shell 2 by nut 11, the boss 10 including a bore through which the spindle 9 passes. Nuts 12, 13 located on respective spindle portions on opposite sides of boss 10 can be screw clamped to boss 10 to lock spindle 9 position, thereby positioning the block 8 and consequently the snare 4.

Fine adjustment of the snare 4 can be realised by the provision of a small pitch thread on the spindle 9.

The quality of sound produced by the drum 1 is dependent on the relative positioning of the snare 4 and the drum skin 3, and the adjuster device 7 enables the desired positioning of the snare 4 to the skin 3 to be conveniently maintained over prolonged (and intermittent) use of the drum. Consequently the present invention enables the quality of sound produced by the drum to be maintained over a prolonged period.

Modifications are of course possible. In particular, the snare adjuster device could take some other form than that shown.

CLAIMS 1. A snare drum including snare adjustments means to enable the snare to be set at varying positions in the axial direction of the drum.

2. A snare drum as claimed in claim 1, wherein the snare is located internally within the drum, and said snare adjustment means are located externally of the drum and coupled to the carrier means of said snare.

3. A snare drum as claimed in claim 2, wherein the snare is located at the top skin of the drum.

4. A snare drum as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snare adjustment means comprises a threaded spindleand-nut adjuster.

5. A snare drum as claimed in claim 4, wherein the snare carrier means comprises an internal snare bar extending transversely to the drum axis, and wherein the snare adjustment means comprises a locater member positioned externally of the drum and joined to the snare bar, the drum body shell having a slot permitting the snare bar to be coupled to the locater member, said slot being axially elongate for adjustment of the snare bar relative to the drum axis, said locater member being adjusted axially by the threaded spindleand-nut adjuster.

6. A snare drum as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the threaded spindle of the adjuster extends through an axial bore in a boss secured to the drum shell, and opposed threaded spindle portions on either side of said boss carry nuts enabling the spindle to be locked in position on the boss.

7. A snare drum substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Claims (7)

SPECIFICATION Snare drum Description The present invention relates to a snare drum, that is a drum comprising a cylindrical body shell having a skin or batter head secured at each end thereof and at least one snare located adjacent a respective skin by carrier means. The precise positioning of the snare relative to the associated skin affects the quality of the sound produced by the drum, and it is the principal object of the present invention to provide means enabling the maintenance of sound quality over a prolonged period of use of the drum. According to the present invention there is provided a snare drum including snare adjustment means to enable the snare to be set at varying positions in the axial direction of the drum. Preferably the snare is located internally within the drum, for example at the drum's top skin, and said snare adjustment means are located externally of the drum and coupled to the carrier means of said snare. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a sectional side elevation of part of a snare drum according to the present invention. Referring to the drawing, a snare drum 1 comprises a cylindrical body shell 2 having a drum skin 3 or batter head secured and stretched taut at the top end of the drum 1, whiie the bottom of the body shell 2 can be closed by a similar skin (not shown). A snare 4 is located below but adjacent the skin 3 and extends parallel thereto and transverse to the drum axis X-X. The snare 4 is carried by a snare bar 5 through support members (only one such member 6 being shown). In accordance with the present invention a snare adjuster device 7 is provided to enable the snare 4 to be set in varying positions relative to the drum's axial direction. The device 7 includes an external locater block 8 to which the snare bar 5 is attached via an elongate slot in the drum shell 2, the slot permitting movement of the bar 5 (and block 8) in the direction of the drum axis X-X. The block 8 therefore is axially slidable on the drum shell 2 and is positioned by an adjuster comprising a threaded spindle 9 secured to the block 8 and a boss 10 fixed to the shell 2 by nut 11, the boss 10 including a bore through which the spindle 9 passes. Nuts 12, 13 located on respective spindle portions on opposite sides of boss 10 can be screw clamped to boss 10 to lock spindle 9 position, thereby positioning the block 8 and consequently the snare 4. Fine adjustment of the snare 4 can be realised by the provision of a small pitch thread on the spindle 9. The quality of sound produced by the drum

1 is dependent on the relative positioning of the snare 4 and the drum skin 3, and the adjuster device 7 enables the desired positioning of the snare 4 to the skin 3 to be conveniently maintained over prolonged (and intermittent) use of the drum. Consequently the present invention enables the quality of sound produced by the drum to be maintained over a prolonged period.

Modifications are of course possible. In particular, the snare adjuster device could take some other form than that shown.

CLAIMS 1. A snare drum including snare adjustments means to enable the snare to be set at varying positions in the axial direction of the drum.

2. A snare drum as claimed in claim 1, wherein the snare is located internally within the drum, and said snare adjustment means are located externally of the drum and coupled to the carrier means of said snare.

3. A snare drum as claimed in claim 2, wherein the snare is located at the top skin of the drum.

4. A snare drum as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snare adjustment means comprises a threaded spindleand-nut adjuster.

5. A snare drum as claimed in claim 4, wherein the snare carrier means comprises an internal snare bar extending transversely to the drum axis, and wherein the snare adjustment means comprises a locater member positioned externally of the drum and joined to the snare bar, the drum body shell having a slot permitting the snare bar to be coupled to the locater member, said slot being axially elongate for adjustment of the snare bar relative to the drum axis, said locater member being adjusted axially by the threaded spindleand-nut adjuster.

6. A snare drum as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the threaded spindle of the adjuster extends through an axial bore in a boss secured to the drum shell, and opposed threaded spindle portions on either side of said boss carry nuts enabling the spindle to be locked in position on the boss.

7. A snare drum substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of CLMS field may overlap start of DESC **.