System for support and resonation of a musical instrument

Abstract

This is a universal support system for bar percussion instruments. It can support any size and type bar percussion instrument, in any size snare basket, with any snare basket arm bracket variations. When used in a snare basket having a ball joint, the system can tilt the bar percussion instrument into infinitely many positions, enabling performance art never before possible with this type of instrument.

Claims

1. A system for supporting a bar percussion instrument in a snare drum basket, comprising: a. A bar percussion instrument framed by four longitudinal rails and two end pieces, each rail having a top, a bottom and a length, wherein a first rail lies closest to a player, a fourth rail lies closest to an audience, a second rail and a third rail, respectively, lie between the first and the fourth rail, in that order, this frame of longitudinal rails having a trapezoidal footprint, wherein further the first rail has a player-facing side and the fourth rail has an audience-facing side; b. a snare drum basket having three arms, each arm having a proximal end hinged to a central hub, from whence the arms open and close, and a distal end, the central hub operatively connected to a central post; c. a bracket joined to the distal end of each of the three arms of the snare drum basket, these three brackets defining a supporting triangle when the arms are open; d. a corner brace having a flat surface and a pair of flaps extending from and perpendicular to the flat surface and meeting in a corner joint, wherein the flat surface of the corner brace is affixed to the player-facing side of the first rail with its corner joint pointed toward the top of the first rail; e. a point 45.5% of the length of the fourth rail, located along the bottom of the fourth rail and measured from a left side of the audience-facing side of the fourth rail; and f. a bolt installed perpendicularly through the third rail such that a first portion of the bolt extends into a space between the third rail and the fourth rail, and a second portion of the bolt extends into a space between the second rail and the third rail, wherein either the first or the second portion of the bolt, together with the corner brace and the 45.5% point of the fourth rail, define points of a receiving triangle which rests upon the supporting triangle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bar percussion instrument further comprises a row of resonator tubes hanging between any two adjacent rails.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the snare drum basket connects to the central post by a ball joint.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the bar percussion instrument is selected from the group consisting of xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel and bell kit.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the bar percussion instrument is selected from the group consisting of xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel and bell kit.

6. A bar percussion instrument framed on four longitudinal rails and two end pieces, each rail having a top, a bottom, and a length, wherein a first rail lies closest to a player, a fourth rail lies closest to an audience, a second rail and a third rail, respectively, lie between the first and the fourth rail, in that order, this frame of longitudinal rails having a trapezoidal footprint, wherein further the first rail has a player-facing side and the fourth rail has an audience-facing side, the bar percussion instrument further comprising: a. a snare drum basket having three arms, each arm having a proximal end hinged to a central hub, from whence the arms open and close, and a distal end, the central hub operatively connected to a central post; b. a bracket joined to the distal end of each of the three arms of the snare drum basket, these three brackets defining a supporting triangle when the arms are open; c. a corner brace having a flat surface and a pair of flaps extending from and perpendicular to the flat surface and meeting in a corner joint, wherein the flat surface of the corner brace is affixed to the player-facing side of the first rail with its corner joint pointed toward the top of the first rail; d. a point 45.5% of the length of the fourth rail, located along the bottom of the fourth rail and measured from a left side of the audience-facing side of the fourth rail; and e. a bolt installed perpendicularly through the third rail such that a first portion of the bolt extends into a space between the third rail and the fourth rail, and a second portion of the bolt extends into a space between the second rail and the third rail, wherein either the first or the second portion of the bolt, together with the corner brace and the 45.5% point along the bottom of the fourth rail, define points of a receiving triangle which rests upon the supporting triangle.

7. The bar percussion instrument of claim 6, further comprising a row of resonator tubes hanging between any two adjacent rails.

8. The bar percussion instrument of claim 7, wherein the bar percussion instrument remains supported in the snare drum basket when the snare drum basket is tilted.

9. The bar percussion instrument of claim 8, wherein the bar percussion instrument remains supported by the snare drum basket when the snare drum basket is tilted.

10. The bar percussion instrument as in claim 9, wherein the bar percussion instrument is selected from the group consisting of xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel and bell kit.

11. A method of tilting a bar percussion instrument, comprising the steps of: a. Supporting the bar percussion instrument of claim 6 in a snare drum basket having three brackets defining a supporting triangle, a central post and a ball joint connecting the snare drum basket to the central post; and b. Tilting the snare drum basket relative to the central post.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved system for the support and resonation of a musical instrument.

(2) FIG. 2 is a close-up, perspective view of the audience side of the system.

(3) FIG. 3 is a close-up, top view of the system.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the player side of the system.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective side view of the system.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom view of the system.

(7) FIG. 7 is an alternative perspective bottom view of the system.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a seated musician playing the system in a tilted position.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(9) 5. System for supporting bar percussion instruments 10. Bar percussion instrument 15. Snare drum basket 20. Central post 23. Central hub 25. Arm 30. Bracket 35. First rail 40. Second rail 45. Third rail 50. Fourth rail 53. Resonator tubes 55. End piece 60. Frame 65. Supporting triangle 70. Corner brace 75. Bolt 80. Receiving triangle 85. Ball joint 90. Musician

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows an overall view of an improved system for support and resonation of a musical instrument 5. Please note a bar percussion instrument 10, comprising a two rows of tone bars set upon a frame 60. The frame comprises a first rail 35, a second rail 40, a third rail 45 and a fourth rail 50. Each of the four rails is a longitudinal rectangle. The four rails are arranged side by side to form a trapezoidal footprint. The rails are held in position by opposing end pieces 55. Affixed to a player-facing side of the first rail is a corner brace 70. The frame of the bar percussion instrument is supported from beneath by a snare drum basket (not shown in this view). The snare drum basket is connected to central post 20 of a complete snare drum stand.

(11) FIG. 2 illustrates in detail a bracket 30 of the snare drum basket supporting the 45.5% point of the bottom side of the fourth rail 50. From this view, one can also see three arms 25 of the snare basket. The arm in the front supports from beneath the 45.5% point of fourth rail 50. In the distance, a second arm supports the player-facing side of the first rail. Partially hidden from view, one can also see the third arm between the third rail 45 and the fourth rail 50. FIG. 3 shows in detail how bolt 75 rests upon and is supported by the third rail 45.

(12) FIG. 4 shows the system viewed from the perspective of a musician. Facing the player is the first rail 35. FIG. 5 shows the system viewed from slightly beneath the level of the frame. One can see here the central hub 23 of the snare basket, and how each arm connects to the central hub. This particular bar percussion instrument has a row of resonator tubes 53 hanging between two adjacent rails. Note how the resonator tubes do not touch the snare drum basket. This allows them to freely and accurately resonate. Please note bolt 75 passing entirely through the third rail 45. Part of the bolt 75 occupies the space between the third rail 45 and the fourth rail 50. Another part of the bolt 75 occupies the space between the third rail 45 and the second rail 40. This particular bar percussion instrument is resting on the bracket using the part of the bolt that is between the third rail and the fourth rail. Another bar percussion instrument may alternatively rest on the bracket using the part of the bolt between the second rail and the third rail.

(13) FIG. 6 shows the outline of the supporting triangle defined by the three brackets of the snare drum basket. FIG. 7 shows the outline of the corresponding receiving triangle defined by the corner brace, the bolt and the 45.5% point of the bottom of the fourth rail, mounted to the bar percussion instrument. FIG. 8 shows a seated musician 90 having used the ball joint 85 to tilt the bar percussion instrument toward him so he can play while seated.