GB2402538A - Floating lug system for musical drums - Google Patents

Abstract

This system consists of a tension hoop, screws and lug band or lugs fitted in such a way that any tension of the drumskin does not transmit to the body of the drumshell, allowing it to resonate freely. The snap ring is attached to the drumshell by location into an angled "V" groove machined into the lip of the shell, any method or combination of methods can be used such as toothed spikes within the snap ring, rivets, nuts & bolts, screws etc. The profile of the snap ring is such that the lug band or lugs can be clipped into any position around the snap ring. The lug band or lugs may be fashioned in any style as long as the fit and function onto the snap ring is maintained. The system may be used on either or both ends of the drumshell.

Description

2402538 THE FLOATING LUG SYSTEM - (F. L. S.) - for percussion drums.

Nommally a drum skin is tensioned by screws fitted through a counter hoop (Which holds the drum skin) screwed into lugs attached to the drum shell thereby tightening the drum skin against the bearing edge or rim of the drum shell to the desired tension.

The 'FLS' however is a system that enables a drum skin to be replaced & or tensioned in the traditional way, but instead of using lugs attached to the chum shell, they are 'floating'.

IE - Not in contact with the drum shell.

The two obvious advantages.

1 - The initial 10 to 20mm is the only part of the drum shell under any load or stress. This is the area around the rim of the drum shell where the drum skin makes contact.

2 - The drum shell has no lugs fitted & therefore needs no holes to be drilled, in any position.

The result (for a standard 14" x 12" tom tom with both the top & bottom skins fitted) is that over 85% of the drum shell is free from any frequency choking effects of holes, fittings or stresses within the shell material. It can be manufactured as thin (or as thick!) as practicality allows.

The natural resonance of Me material for this 85% of U'e drum shell is totally unrestricted.

The third advantage is not so obvious but worth mentioning.

3 - The design of the floating lugs can be virtually any shape or size.

The style of the lug is only limited by the imagination, functionality permitting. AlternaVve/y it could be uffer/y conventional for the sake of looking like, 'a rea/ drum!' ASSEMBLY (Diagram 1) The key part of the 'FLS' is the snap ring. It 'snaps' into a shaped groove in the drum shell. The shape of the rim on the snap ring allows a set of floating lugs to be clipped onto it and then slid into any desired pattern around the chum. From here on in, the drum skin, counter hoop and tension screws are fitted as per a standard drum and tensioned in the usual way.

SNAP RING (Diagram 2) The suggested profile of the snap ring is as the sketch indicates, the section could be modified into a lipped flange or simply spiked into the shell at regular intervals. It could even be screwed or riveted to the drum shell but this would obviously detract from the principal.

DRUM SHELL (Diagram 3) The drum shell has a shaped groove that matches the snap ring profile machined or cut around the rim approximately 10 to 12mm from the intended bearing edge.

FLOATING LUG (Diagram 4) The floating lug is a casVmachined component designed to fit onto the rim of the snap ring without twisting or splaying. It is fitted with a spring clip for holding it in position on the rim and a threaded insert for a standard tension screw.

(All of the other pieces used on the drum assembly are standard parts.) !

Claims (6)

1. CLA_S

   FLOG LUG Ill FOR PERCU55 DRI_S 1 1. A floating lug system for percussion drums consisting of fittings used in such a way that any tension of the drumskin does not transmit to the body of the drumshell thereby allowing it to resonate freely.
2. 2. A floating lug system for percussion drums as claimed in 1 that has a formed ring (for the purpose of tensioning) attached to the drumshell by sprung fingers located into a machined groove in the lip of the shell.
3. 3. A floating lug system for percussion drums as claimed in 1 that has a formed ring (for the purpose of tensioning) attached to the drumshell by toothed spikes within the snap ring, rivets, nuts & bolts, scows etc....
4. 4. A floating lug system for percussion drums as claimed in 1 that has a formed ring (for the purpose of tensioning) attached with a circular profile allowing a lug band or lugs to be clipped onto it.
5. 5. A floating lug system for percussion drums as claimed in any proceeding claim which is made from metal, plastics material or wood or from any combination of these materials.
6. 6. A floating lug system for percussion drums substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.