Percussion sound attenuation system

Abstract

The invention is a sound-attenuating system operative to attach to a surface of a metallic percussion instrument, and attenuate sound produced by striking the sound-attenuating system with a drum stick.

Claims

1. A sound-attenuation system comprising: a sheet of sound-attenuation material; at least one adherence strip operative to attach a portion of said sheet of sound-attenuation material to a portion of a surface of a metallic percussion instrument; the at least one adherence strip is permanently magnetized metal and uses magnetic force to adhere to a surface of the metallic percussion instrument wherein the metallic percussion instrument is ferromagnetic.

2. A sound-attenuation system comprising: the sheet of sound-attenuation material; the at least one adherence strip operative to attach a portion of the sheet of sound-attenuation material to a portion of a surface of a metallic percussion instrument; the at least one adherence strip comprises having one or more suction cups; the suction cups are oriented such that each of the suction cups points away from a rigid strip and is operative to adhere to the surface of the metallic percussion instrument.

3. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 1 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of a flexible, foam material.

4. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 1 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of a rubber material.

5. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 1 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of a synthetic rubber material.

6. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 1 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of non-rigid polymer material.

7. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 1 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of flexible, petroleum-derived material.

8. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 1 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of flexible, woven material comprising natural fibers.

9. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 1 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of flexible, woven material comprising synthetic fibers.

10. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 1 wherein: the sound attenuation material is made of flexible woven, material comprising both natural and synthetic fibers.

11. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 2 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of a flexible, foam material.

12. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 2 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of a rubber material.

13. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 2 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of a rubber material.

14. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 2 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of non-rigid polymer material.

15. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 2 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of flexible, petroleum-derived material.

16. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 2 wherein: the sound-attenuation material is made of flexible, woven material comprising natural fibers.

17. A sound-attenuation system as in claim 2 wherein: the sound attenuation material is made of flexible woven, material comprising both natural and synthetic fibers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a popular cowbell used in a drum kit

(2) FIG. 2 shows the cowbell of FIG. 1 with a sound-attenuation system mounted to its top surface.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the sound-attenuation system.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the sound-attenuation system.

(5) FIG. 5 shows an end view of the sound-attenuation system

(6) FIG. 6 shows a side view of the sound-attenuation system.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of a second embodiment of the sound-attenuation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

(8) There are currently sound-attenuation accessories available for drums (bass, snare and tom-toms) as well as cymbals (high-hat, crash and ride). However, these devices are not usable with a drum kit's cowbell.

(9) The invention herein disclosed and claimed is a system intended for attenuating the sound of a cowbell or metal-sided drums, such as a timbale.

(10) As shown in FIG. 1, 101, a cowbell is a metallic device, hollow inside, and open on one end. When struck with a drum stick, it will begin vibrating creating a distinctive, bell-like sound.

(11) FIG. 2 shows the cowbell from FIG. 1 (101) with a sound-attenuation system (201) affixed to its top side, as oriented in the drawing.

(12) FIG. 3 is a top view of the sound-attenuating system showing the flexible sound-attenuation material portion (302) and two adherence strips (301 that underlie it, and their orientation.

(13) FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the sound-attenuating system (201), showing the sound-attenuation portion (302) and the two adherence strips (301).

(14) In one embodiment of the invention, the adherence strips (301) are attached to the sound-attenuation system's flexible-material portion (302) and are permanently magnetic metal strips. When the attenuation-system is placed atop the cowbell, if the cowbell is made of ferromagnetic metal, the magnetic strips (301) will adhere to the cowbell's surface and keep the system in place despite repeated drum-stick strikes.

(15) Where a cowbell is not ferromagnetic, and a magnetized metallic strip will not adhere, a second embodiment of the invention uses one or more low-profile suctions cups, mounted on adherence strips, or a suction-cup tape, rather than metallic-strip magnetics, to achieve adherence to a non-ferromagnetic cowbell, cymbal or other percussive instruments with non-metallic surfaces. The second embodiment could also be used with a ferromagnetic cowbell and other metallic surfaces.

(16) FIG. 5 shows an end view of the sound-attenuation system showing the edge of the sound-attenuation material (302) and the edge of the adherence strips (301).

(17) FIG. 6 shows a side view of the sound-attenuation system showing an edge of the sound-attenuation material (302) and an edge of the adherence strip.

(18) FIG. 7 shows the second embodiment wherein the adherence strips comprise one or more low-profile suctions cups, or suction cup tape, (701) enabling adherence to a surface that is not ferromagnetic.

(19) The sound-attenuation material can be made of a variety of materials, such as foam, rubber, mesh fabric, woven fabric, or the like.

(20) The adherence strips, if permanently magnetized, would be made of ferromagnetic material which can be magnetized and will preserve its magnetic force long term.

(21) The adherence strips, if used with suction cups for cowbells that are not ferromagnetic, can be made of any material that is sufficiently flexible and durable.

(22) The shape and dimensions of sound-attenuation material and adherence strips is fully dependent upon the shape and dimensions of each cowbell.

(23) The drawings and figures are meant to be illustrative and should not be seen as limiting the scope of the invention.