LILJA, Bengt (Älgstigen 28, Värmdö, S-139 36, SE)
| CLAIMS 1. Tensioning rim arrangement (2) of a percussion instrument (1 ) comprising a tensioning ring (3) that is arranged to stretch a drumhead (5) over an edge (23) of an instrument body (21 ) by tuning screws (4) mounted to the instrument body (21 ) being arranged to pull the tensioning ring (3) and thereby a support ring (24) fixed to the drumhead (5) essentially parallel to the instrument body (21 ), a percussion ring (6) mounted adjacent to the tensioning ring (3) as well as a sensor (33) mounted adjacent to the percussion ring (6) to detect hits against the same, characterized in that a damping member (26, 51 , 71 ) is mounted between the percussion ring (6) and the tensioning ring (3) to provide a floating suspension of the percussion ring (6). 2. Tensioning rim arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tensioning ring (3) is made with a ring-shaped seating (25) that is formed to hold the damping member (26, 51 , 71 ) in a radially fixed position. 3. Tensioning rim arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the ring-shaped seating (25) is radially open toward its middle. 4. Tensioning rim arrangement according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the percussion ring (6) is directly connected to the damping member (26, 51 , 71 ), for instance by a glue joint. 5. Tensioning rim arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the percussion ring (6) is directly connected to the damping member (51 , 71 ) by the damping member (51 , 71 ) being provided with a protuberance (53, 73) that engages in a recess or a hole in the percussion ring (6) or vice versa so that a form locking between the damping member and the percussion ring arises. 6. Tensioning rim arrangement according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the percussion ring (6) is made of metal. 7. Tensioning rim arrangement according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the percussion ring (6), over the edge thereof, is provided with a percussion bar (28, 68) of a non-metallic damping material, preferably rubber. 8. Tensioning rim arrangement according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that a second sensor (36) is arranged to detect hits against the drumhead (5), the two sensors (33, 36) being vibrational^ separated from each other. 9. Percussion instrument, characterized in that it is formed with a tensioning rim arrangement (2) according to any one of claims 1-8. |
Technical Field The present invention relates to the area of musical instruments and concerns a tensioning rim arrangement having a sensor for an acoustic drum, alternatively an electronic drum, including drumhead that is clamped by a tensioning ring to a frame.
Background of the Invention
When a drummer plays on, e.g., an acoustic snare drum, then he/she does not play always only on the drumhead but also on the tensioning ring to get another type of sound. When playing on the tensioning ring or the tensioning rim, it is called rim hits. There is a pair of different variants that result in different sound when playing rim hits. Either one is playing only on the edge or one is playing both on the edge and the skin. In English, usually these hits are called "cross-sticks" for only a rim hit and "rimshot" for the combined hit. Naturally, there are differences of degree in how much, or how and at what angle, etc., the drumstick strikes the edge and skin in combination. Another important aspect is that the sound itself from the rim hit is altered in relation to how the stick strikes the tensioning ring or the tensioning rim.
Today, there are electronic percussion pads on the market that try to mimic ordinary acoustic drums. One reason for the fact that many choose to use electronic percussion pads is to allow playing on his/her drums at a low acoustic sound level. Another one is that they want to record their hits on the drums in a MIDI studio. On the market today, there are electronic drums that try to mimic acoustic drums where, e.g., a net-like material is stretched across an ordinary acoustic drum, or a percussion surface of rubber is used so as to lower the acoustic sound level. To the same, then different types of sensors have been applied in order to detect the vibration of the hits from a drummer. The vibration generated thereby is sensed ("triggered") by the sensor that forwards the signal, preferably to different types of sound modules or trigger modules, most of them having recorded percussion instruments sounds or quite different sounds and sound loops. From the sound module, the sound is transmitted to the audio output in order to then be relayed to loudspeakers or earphones.
When the drummer hits on the percussion head, then a trigger signal is sent from the sensor to a specific channel in the sound module. The sound module plays back the sound selected for the purpose. When hitting on the tensioning rim or the tensioning ring, the same procedure is repeated on another channel and another selected sound will be played back. Which sound that is played back depends partly on where one hits but also how hard one hits.
To play on an electronic drum, a so-called pad, having this type of tensioning rim solution is not entirely optimal. A major problem that arises is the cross-talk. That is, when hitting on the percussion head and this hit is detected by the sensor that is intended for the percussion head, also the sensor applied to detect hits on the proper tensioning rim is triggered. Accordingly, two independent trigger signals are obtained that are sent to the sound module that reacts with letting two different sounds to be generated simultaneously. This may cause severe consequences not only to drummers but also on occasions when the sound module is used in a recording situation. The corresponding problem arises also when it is made use of so-called MIDI information to record what the drummer plays. A further problem related to the same is that the signal from the tensioning rim becomes too low or simply too insensitive, since some sound module manufacturers think they have solved the problems by increasing the threshold that the signal should exceed before the trigger signal reaches the sound module. This makes that the drummer does not get the response expected. As a consequence of the cross-talk problem, it is difficult for the sound module to determine whether a so-called rimshot hit was a correct rimshot or only a hit from the tensioning rim with a false indication, a so-called false trigger signal from the percussion head sensor. If the sound module cannot read the signals at a great accuracy, an uncertainty for the drummer arises when incorrect sound is connected to the hit he actually carried out.
The cross-talk problems also make that the many false trigger impulses from the sensors reduce the capacity of the sound modules as they fail to detect important hits or simply fail to detect correct trigger signal. The cross-talk problems also make that the sound modules need longer time to detect each individual hit, which entails that the response time, i.e., the time it takes to detect the hit and then send out a sound to the output of the sound module, is extended.
Accordingly, the following mentioned problems can be identified for existing design of electronically detectable drums: They are often insensitive to play on because of too high a trigger threshold. Furthermore, also the sensor of the head reacts when hitting on the tensioning rim. In addition, the sensor of the tensioning rim is also triggered when hitting on the head. It is very difficult for a sound module to detect trigger signals from combined hits. Crosstalk between different sensors as well as that incorrect sound is triggered, is a difficult problem in recording applications, particularly in a so-called MIDI recording where the trigger pulses are recorded digitally in the form of MIDI messages. Difficulties to detect the signal from the sensors result in long response times.
By US 7,396,991 , an electronic percussion instrument is previously known that is provided with a sensor for rim hit detection, which sensor is placed centrally in the instrument on a sensor frame that is connected to the entire periphery of the instrument body. Furthermore, the tensioning ring of the instrument is connected to the outside of the instrument body via a conventional tension joint so that vibrations can be transferred from a rim hit against the tensioning ring via the tension joint, the instrument body and the sensor frame to the centrally placed sensor.
By US 2007/0234886, an electronic percussion instrument is previously known that also this is provided with a sensor for rim hit detection. In this case, the sensor is internally connected to the periphery of the instrument body for the detection thereof. The instrument body transforms into an edge part against which rim hits are made, which edge part is manufactured from a hard resin. Over the edge part, a cover member of rubber is connected. A tensioning ring to stretch the drumhead is arranged lowered in relation to the edge part, and therefore rim hits only can be made against the edge part.
The Object of the Invention
The object of the present invention is to provide a new tensioning rim arrangement for an electronic percussion instrument in order to minimize the problems mentioned above as well as a percussion instrument having such an arrangement. Summary of the Invention
By the present invention such as the same is defined in the independent claims, the above-mentioned objects are met. Suitable embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
The tensioning ring according to the invention is mainly independent from other vibrations except those that are generated by a drumbeat on the same.
A floating tensioning rim having a sensor solves the problems mentioned by the fact that the rim that clamps the head to the tensioning houses on the drum and the surface that is struck by a drumstick are separated by a damping material, preferably a polymer. By such a solution, the cross-talk problems between the percussion head sensor and the tensioning ring sensor are reduced to a minimum. By the cross-talk being reduced, the detection of what type of hit that was made by the drummer becomes simpler to detect for a sound module and/or a trigger module. Since it becomes simpler to interpret where the signal was generated and how strong the signal is from the tensioning rim and the percussion head, the source of error that otherwise arises of which sound the sound module should select is reduced. With less crosstalk, the problems that arise when making a so- called MIDI recording are strongly reduced. The present invention helps to shorten the response time, since the sound module has less extraneous information to take into account. Further advantages with the invention according to the present invention are that it can be formed with a design that makes it compatible with acoustic drum frames. It has also a shape that makes it compatible with electronic drums of different designs and that can have a skin of varying materials and can stretch the same. It can furthermore detect vibration by a sensor applied directly on or via transferring materials to the proper isolated tensioning rim. The sensor is mounted at or around the circumference of a drum rim and attached on said rim by means of a vibration- insulating joint of polymer material. In this connection, the invention concerns a tensioning rim arrangement for a percussion instrument comprising a tensioning ring that is arranged to stretch a drumhead over an edge of an instrument body. Tuning screws are, in this connection, mounted to the instrument body and arranged to pull the tensioning ring and thereby a support ring fixed to the drumhead essentially parallel to the instrument body, the drumhead being stretched to the desired pitch. A percussion ring is furthermore mounted adjacent to the tensioning ring to receive so-called rim hits when using the instrument. Furthermore, a sensor is mounted adjacent to the percussion ring to detect hits against the same. In addition, a damping member is mounted between the percussion ring and the tensioning ring to provide a floating suspension of the percussion ring, i.e., a suspension of the percussion ring, which means that the same is generally vibrational^ isolated from the rest of the percussion instrument.
In one embodiment, the tensioning ring is made with a ring-shaped seating that is formed to hold the damping member in a radially fixed position.
In one embodiment, the ring-shaped seating is radially open toward the middle of the seating, i.e., toward the ring-shaped centre of the seating that coincides with the axial centre of the percussion instrument.
In other embodiments, the percussion ring is directly connected to the damping member, for instance by a glue joint.
In further embodiments, the percussion ring is directly connected to the damping member by the damping member being provided with a protuberance that engages either in a recess or a hole in the percussion ring or vice versa, i.e., by the percussion ring being provided with a protuberance that engages either in a recess or a hole in the damping member, so that a form locking between the damping member and the percussion ring arises.
According to further embodiments, the percussion ring or parts of the percussion ring is made of metal.
In further embodiments, the percussion ring is, over the edge thereof, provided with a percussion bar of a non-metallic damping material, preferably rubber.
In further embodiments, a second sensor is arranged to detect hits against the drumhead, the two sensors being vibrational^ separated from each other.
In addition, the invention concerns a percussion instrument that is formed with a tensioning rim arrangement according to anyone of the embodiments mentioned above.
Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described in more detail by means of embodiment examples, reference being made to the accompanying drawing figures, wherein
Figure 1 shows an electronic drum according to the present invention, Figure 2 shows a cross-section A-A according to Figure 1 with a first embodiment of a damping member according to the invention,
Figure 3 shows a cross-section B-B according to Figure 1 ,
Figure 4 shows a cross-section C-C according to Figure 1 ,
Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a damping member according to the invention,
Figure 6 shows in a section the second embodiment of the damping member according to Figure 5,
Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of a damping member according to the invention, Figure 8 shows in a section the third embodiment of the damping member according to Figure 7.
Description of the Invention
Figure 1 shows a percussion instrument 1 that is provided with a tensioning rim arrangement 2 comprising a tensioning ring 3. By six tuning screws 4 that is arranged to pull down the tensioning ring toward an instrument body, a stretching is obtained and thereby a tuning of a drumhead 5 that is stretched over an edge of the instrument body. The percussion instrument is furthermore provided with a percussion ring 6 provided with a bar against which different types of rim hits are intended to be made.
The shown percussion instrument is furthermore provided with vibration sensors that are placed under a sensor protecting plate 7 placed at the periphery of the percussion instrument. Figure 1 also shows a winged screw 8 for fastening of the percussion instrument on a stand (not shown). Furthermore, there is outlined the inner edge of six damping members 26 placed at each tuning screw Figure 2 shows a section A-A through the tensioning rim arrangement 2 and shows a tuning screw 4 that is threaded for screwing down into the instrument body 21. The tuning screw extends through a friction washer 22 down through the tensioning ring 3. The instrument body is provided with an edge 23 over which the drumhead 5 with the connected support ring 24 thereof is laid. The tensioning ring 3 abuts directly against the support ring 24, a tightening of the tuning screws 4 providing a stretching/tuning of the drumhead 5.
The tensioning ring 3 is formed with an L-shaped seating 25, preferably ring-shaped along the entire periphery of the tensioning ring, in which seating 25 the damping member 26 is mounted. The seating 25 is radially open toward the middle of the tensioning ring and thereby the middle of the seating, i.e., inward toward the middle of the percussion instrument. The embodiment of the damping member shown in Figure 2 is connected to the seating 25 by agglutination. The percussion ring 6 indicated in Figure 1 may be formed in different ways, but in the embodiment illustrated, the percussion ring comprises a metal ring 27 provided with a percussion bar 28 of a softer material, preferably rubber. The metal ring 27 is directly connected to the damping member 26, and in such a way, the percussion ring has got a floating suspension in relation to the tensioning ring 3. In this embodiment, also the connection of the metal ring 27 to the damping member 26 has been made with a glue joint where the lower edge of the metal ring 27 has been glued in a depression in the damping member 26. Furthermore, Figure 2 shows a first damping member 29 of the drumhead 5.
Figure 3 shows a section B-B through the tensioning rim arrangement 2 through the area of the location of the sensors under the sensor protecting plate 7, and shows that the metal ring 27 of the percussion ring is provided with a sensor leg 31 that is terminated with an abutment head 32 in direct contact with a percussion edge sensor 33 that is placed on a sensor damping member 34 situated in a first drum-frame seating 35 formed directly in the drum frame 21. The figure also shows the drumhead 5 with the support ring 24 thereof stretched down over the edge 23 of the instrument body 21. Against the drumhead 5, a drumhead sensor 36 abuts as well as a second damping member 37 mounted in a second drum-frame seating 38 formed directly in the drum frame 21.
Figure 4 shows a section C-C through the opposite side of the percussion instrument in relation to Figure 2, it being seen that just at this section, the metal ring 27 in the percussion ring 6 is not connected to any damping member situated in the seating 25 of the tensioning ring 3, which means that a number of damping members, preferably 6-8 members, are uniformly distributed around the seating 25. However, naturally a ring-shaped damping member may replace a plurality of damping members within the scope of the invention. The figure also shows that the first damping member 29 of the drumhead 5 is ring-shaped and placed in a damping seating 41 in the drum frame 21 , and thus extends around the inner periphery 42 of the entire drum frame 21. Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a damping member 51 provided with a shoulder 52 having a support surface against which the metal ring of the percussion ring abuts when the damping member is mounted. The damping member 51 is furthermore provided with two attachment pegs 53 each of which arranged with a locking edge 54 that works as a stop to prevent the damping member from coming loose from the metal ring after mounting. The damping member 51 is furthermore provided with a mounting device 55 in the form of a hook for mounting of the damping member in the seating of the tensioning ring. In this embodiment, the extension of the two attachment pegs is orientated essentially parallel to the extension of the mounting device. The damping member is also formed with a number, here five, of through passages 56 orientated essentially parallel to the direction of the attachment pegs 53. The passages 56 have the purpose of adapting the damping in the damping member for an optimum effect of the damping member.
Figure 6 shows in a section that the damping member 51 according to Figure 5 is mounted in the seating 25 of the tensioning ring 3 by the fact that the mounting device 55 of the damping member 51 has been snapped radially outward in a mounting slit 61 in the tensioning ring. Furthermore, the figure shows that the two attachment pegs 53 of the damping member 51 have been pressed through the corresponding holes in the metal ring 62 of the percussion ring 6 and locked to the metal ring by the locking edges 54 of the attachment pegs. The figure also shows a modified design of the percussion bar 68 of the percussion ring 6, which, in the embodiment illustrated, abuts with the lower edge against the damping member 51 , but which, in other feasible embodiments, may have a gap between the lower edge and the damping member. Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of a damping member 71 provided with a support surface 72 against which the metal ring of the percussion ring abuts when the same is mounted. Also this embodiment of the damping member is provided with two attachment pegs 73 provided with locking edges 74, which attachment pegs have an orientation essentially perpendicular in relation to the extension of a hook-shaped mounting device 75 of the damping member. The damping member is furthermore provided with six through passages 76 adapted to obtain an optimum damping.
In Figure 8, the damping member 71 according to Figure 7 is mounted in the seating 25 of the tensioning ring 3 by the fact that the mounting device 55 of the damping member 71 has been snapped radially outward in a mounting slit 81 in the tensioning ring. Furthermore, the figure shows that the metal ring 82 of the percussion ring 6 is formed with a lower radially inwardly directed foot 83 provided with holes through which the two pegs 73 of the damping member 71 have been pressed and locked by means of the locking edges of the pegs.
Accordingly, Figures 5 and 7 show embodiment examples of damping members that have been formed to be connected by form locking to the metal ring of the percussion ring as well as to the tensioning ring.
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