Snare Muffler

Abstract

A device for use in combination with a musical snare drum for altering the sounds produced consisting of a means for affixing the device to the drum, such as a bracket assembly, mounted on the upper and lower rims of the drum, connected to the bracket assembly is a flexible banding which extends around the top, sides, and bottom of the drum and is attached in a manner that allows for ease of movement along the long axis of the banding so that it can be adjusted by sliding along said axis, a muffler component composed of a felt pad or other suitable material is affixed to the flexible banding and positioned on the bottom of the drum in a manner that provides for the muffler to be repositioned at varying degrees of contact with the snares by advancing or retracting the banding so as to alter the tonal output.

Claims

1. A device for dampening and or modifying the tones produced by the interface of the drumhead surface and snare component, comprising; a bracket assembly which is attached to the rim in four opposing locations; a flexible banding constrained by way of a horizontally elongated aperture within said bracket assembly which can be axially manipulated therein; a mounting plate consisting of an L-shaped hook, barbed clasp, and textured wing which is attached to said flexible banding in an orientation that places the barbed clasp and L-shaped hook facing the drumhead; a muffler component consisting of a fluted surface and possessing an inset groove corresponding with the barbed clasp and recessed cavity aligned with L-shaped hook for retention of the muffler component to the mounting plate.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the positioning of said bracket assembly may be adjusted in such a way to allow the placement of said muffling component distally and proximally relative to said drumhead.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said muffler comprises a mounting plate and a muffler component.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said muffler component is comprised of a resilient material.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said muffler component can be physically adjusted without the use of special tools or equipment; from an area generally distal to the center of said drumhead; to an area generally proximal to the center of said drumhead; to adjust the duration and intensity of the vibration of said drumhead.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein repositioning of said muffler component horizontally along the snare and lower drumhead interface will cause said muffler component to dampen some, all, or none of the snare component and in turn affect the tonal quality of said snare component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the muffler component and related components in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, provides a device 10 for use in combination with a musical drum 12, typically a snare drum, which includes a rim 13, and a drumhead 14 having a drumhead surface 16 and commonly, but not exclusively, a snare component 27. Bracket assembly 18 or any other suitable means is employed to affix the device 10 to any appropriate mounting structure on a drum 12, such as, for example, drum rim 13. Bracket assembly 18 includes a curved bracket 20, threaded lug (tension rod) 22, flexible banding material 24 tightly wrapped around the drum rims 13, and routed through a horizontally elongated aperture 28. Mounting plate 32, with an L-shaped hook 30, and barbed clasp 26 with a textured wing 25, for use in securing a muffler component 15 which consists of a tapered geometry 39 with a fluted upper surface 37 and containing a recessed cavity 35 aligned with L-shaped hook 30 as well as an inset grove 29 corresponding with the barbed clasp 26 for the purpose of retaining and securely affixing muffler component 15. The threaded lug (tension rod) 22 is used to secure the bracket 20 to the drum rim 13 by means of a friction press-fit with bracket aperture 23 or by any other conventional manner such as adhesive, threaded fastener, or by using any other suitable means for this purpose.

[0025] Components employed for device 10 are comprised of either metal alloy, such as aluminum or steel, natural material, such as rubber, resilient material or synthetic materials, such as polyethylene, nylon, or a combination of these. In practice, device 10 is secured tightly to rim 13 at both the upper and lower rims, located vertically and horizontally opposed, by employing bracket assembly 18. Muffler component 15 is positioned by the musician at a selected location on the drumhead surface 16. Flexible banding 24 is adjusted by sliding along its longest axis through horizontal aperture 28 to locate muffler component 15 on the drumhead surface 16. The resonance duration is then modified by adjusting the positions of muffler component 15 distally or proximally along the lower drumhead surface 16. Modification of the tonal output of the instrument created by the interface of snare component 27 and lower drumhead 14 is achieved by ensuring that the directional track of muffler component 15 is oriented to traverse the snare component 27 when manipulated to variably contact some, all, or none of the snare component 27 interface with the lower drumhead surface 16.

[0026] While the invention will be described in connection with a certain preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that particular embodiment. Rather, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.