GB2327187A - Portable platform - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable and readily dismantled platform for drummer's equipment is made of relatively thin material liable to flex under load and comprises a base of four outer supports 2 which are hinged at their mid-point and four inner supports (3, Fig 3) all secured to each other by screw and pin fastenings. Four top panels 1 are secured to the base by screws and to each other by tie-plates between neighbouring panels. The tendency of the top panels to flex under vertical load is reduced by the distribution of load-induced tension to the other panels through the tie plates.

Description

PORTABLE DRW RISER This invention relates to a portable drum riser.

A drum riser is a platform often used at rock and pop concerts for the elevation of a drummer and his equipment, i.e. a drum set and cymbals. The purpose of the drum riser is to improve the visibility of the drummer and his instrument to the audience. In general drum risers are large heavy wooden or steel structures which require a road crew to install and remove from the stage at a music venue. These heavy structures are impractical for the amateur or semi-professional drummer who usually transports and sets up his own equipment. Moreover, the "small time" drummer will usually have only a car or small van for the transportation of all his equipment.

The portable drum riser provides a simple raised platform that can be folded away by an individual and stowed into the rear of a car or small van. The portable drum riser will pack small enough to allow plenty of remaining storage space for a typical set of drums to be stowed within the vehicle at the same time. The portable drum riser will provide the further benefit of enhancing the sound quality and the sound projection of the drum kit. This is due to sound resonance and the elevation of the drum kit as a sound source.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig 1. Shows the front view of the portable drum riser when in use.

Fig 2. Shows an isometric view of the portable drum riser.

Fig 3. Shows in isometric projection, the base frame of the portable drum riser.

Fig 4. Shows a side view of a small car with the portable drum riser and a drum kit stowed in the rear luggage space.

Fig 5. Shows the saving in volume of thin material sections compared to thicker material sections.

Fig 6. Shows how conventional thin material sections reduce in overall length with increasing load.

Fig 7. Shows a plan view ofthe portable drum riser and the tension-load distribution system.

PORTABLE DRUM RISER In essence, the portable drum riser is a simple wooden platform. However, it's primary function requires it to be lightweight, easy to assemble and it must be of compact peripheral dimensions. The following section describes how these attributes have been achieved in the design ofthis invention.

Referring to Figs 1,2 and 3, the portable drum riser comprises of four top panels l,and a base frame made up of four outer supports 2, and four inner supports 3. Simple screw and pin fittings secure the base frame components together to produce a sturdy and rigid frame. This in turn provides four fixing positions for the top panels, shown in Fig 3. The main outer supports, which are fairly long components, are hinged half way along their length to enable easy stowage in a small vehicle. The four top panels are covered with a non-slip material to prevent movement of the drum kit's components.

The portable drum riser is constructed from thin material sections throughout. This aspect of the design is crucial of two reasons, which are:i) Thin materials sections occupy less space than thicker sections as shown in Fig 5.

ii) Thin material sections are lightweight.

However, thin materials are more prone to bending when under load. This problem is overcome in the portable drum riser, which employs a simple tension-load distribution system. This prevents excessive distortion of the load carrying components.

Referring to Fig 6, it can be seen that when thin section components are placed under a perpendicular load, the extremities of those components draw closer together as load and distortion increase. The portable drum riser utilises this property to prevent excessive distortion.

Referring to Fig 7, the top panels of the portable drum riser are supported on all four sides by the base frame and secured at four fixing positions as described earlier. Each top panel is secured to it's neighbouring top panels by a tie plate, "A", and to the base frame by a screw. As the top panel is placed under load, at position "B", the fixing points at the extremities of the component are pulled together, as described in Fig 6.

Movement of the top panel is largely prevented by the tie plates, which distribute load PORTABLE DRUM RISER to the adjacent panels on each side. The top panel under load, pulls inwards, thus placing tension on it's neighbours.

As the extremities of the panel have been prevented from moving inwards, the downward distortion is largely eliminated. Since all the panels are connected to each other in a closed loop, the load is distributed around the whole structure. When in use, all of the top panels will be in a similar state of tension and load, as the components of the drum kit will be distributed over all four top panels.

In short, the tension system, which is inherent in the design of this invention, allows the use of thin and lightweight materials. This radically reduces storage space and reduces the overall weight. These are the factors that make it easy to use. As such, the portable drum riser differs substantially from a simple wooden platform.

Claims (7)

1. A portable drum riser which employs a tension-load distribution system that enables the use of thin material sections in it's construction.

2. A portable drum riser as claimed in claim > which is of compact peripheral dimensions when stowed into the rear luggage space of a car.

3. A portable drum riser as claimed in claims 1 and 2, which comprises a set offour top panels which form a raised platform This being supported at a given height from floor level by four outer supports and four central supports, the assembly being held together by a number of screw fittings.

4. A portable drum riser as claimed in claims 1,2 and 3, which provides a suitable noaslip surface for a drum kit.

5. A portable drum riser as claimed in claims 1,2,3 and 4, that enhances the visibility of a drummer or a similar performer and his equipment to an audience at a concert or gig

6. A portable drum riser, as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4 and 5, which improves the natural sound quality and the sound projection of a drum kit, due to increased resonance and the elevation of the drum kit as sound source.

7. A portable drum riser substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.