Drum tuning key with built-in carabiner

Abstract

A drum tuning key with a built-in carabiner. The drum tuning key includes a key body and a carabiner gate with a hinge end and a resting end distal from the hinge end. The key body includes a shaft with a drum tuning socket and a ring configured to rotatably support the carabiner gate. The ring includes a first ring portion with a carabiner gate supporting end and a second ring portion with a carabiner gate limiting end. The carabiner gate supporting end is configured to form a hinge joint with the hinge end and the carabiner gate limiting end is configured to limit movement of the carabiner gate at a closed position.

Description

DRUM TUNING KEY WITH BUILT-IN CARABINERCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63 / 582,900 (filed on Sep 15, 2023) entitled “DRUM TUNING KEY WITH BUILT-IN CARABINER”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] The specification relates generally to drum tuning keys, and specifically to drum tuning keys provided with securing connectors.BACKGROUND

[0003] Drum tuning keys, which include a socket designed to fit the heads of tension rods on a drum, are used to control the tension of the drumhead. Drum tuning keys are often compact, e.g., fitting into a pocket or a bag which can result in misplacement.SUMMARY

[0004] An aspect of the specification provides a drum tuning key with a built-in carabiner. The drum tuning key includes a key body and a carabiner gate with a hinge end and a resting end distal from the hinge end. The key body includes a shaft with a drum tuning socket and a ring configured to rotatably support the carabiner gate. The ring includes a first ring portion with a carabiner gate supporting end and a second ring portion with a carabiner gate limiting end. The carabiner gate supporting end is configured to form a hinge joint with the hinge end and the carabiner gate limiting end is configured to limit movement of the carabiner gate at a closed position.BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Embodiments are described, by way of examples, with reference to the following figures.

[0006] FIG. 1 A is a planar view of an example drum tuning key with a built-in carabiner in a closed configuration.

[0007] FIG. 1 B is a planar view of the example drum tuning key with a built-in carabiner of FIG. 1 A in an open configuration.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example drum tuning key body of the example drum tuning key of FIGS. 1 A and 1 B.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a planar view of the example drum tuning key body of FIG. 2.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example carabiner gate of the example drum tuning key of FIGS. 1 A and 1 B.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a planar view of the example carabiner gate of FIG. 4.

[0012] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the example carabiner gate of FIG. 4.

[0013] Certain details and features of the accompanying drawings may have been omitted for clarity and conciseness. However, such details are considered to be well understood and would be readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The omission of these elements is not intended to limit the scope of the specification, and all such variations and equivalents are encompassed within the scope of this disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Drum tuning keys, due to their small size are easy to carry and use for drum tuning operations. Their small size allows users to make fine, precise adjustments to a drum’s tension rods. Since drum tuning can require subtle changes to get a desired sound, their small size provides good tactile feedback. Additionally, their small size makes them easy to use in the limited space around a drum, where rods are positioned close together and when tuning drums in a tight set up, for example, on a drum kit with multiple toms and stands around a specific drum that a user intends to tune.

[0015] Drum tuning keys can be provided with a hole that can be used to attach them to a separate securing element such as, for example, a key-chain ring or a necklace for safekeeping. However, attaching a drum tuning key to a separate securing element can result in a cumbersome arrangement that makes the drum tuning key hard to use in the limited space around a drum, where rods are positioned close together, making the drum tuning key difficult to maneuver, especially when tuning drums in a tight setup, leading anuser to having to remove the drum tuning key from the separate securing element in order to perform a drum tuning operation. Therefore, a drum tuning key with a built-in securing element, for example, a built-in carabiner, that does not make the drum tuning key cumbersome or difficult to use and that enables the drum tuning key to be secured to a personal item, for example a belt loop, for safe keeping is provided by the present specification.

[0016] FIGS. 1 A and 1 B depict an example drum tuning key with a built-in carabiner, indicated generally at 100, in a closed configuration, and an open configuration, respectively. The drum tuning key with a built-in carabiner includes an example drum tuning key body 104 and an example carabiner gate 108.

[0017] FIGS. 2 and 3 depict the example drum tuning key body 104. The key body 104 can be manufactured as an integral piece, for example by means of a die cast process, by an injection molding process, by an additive manufacturing process such as sintering, 3D printing, etc. and can be made of a metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc. or a non-metal material such as a polymer composite, etc.

[0018] The key body 104 includes a ring 204 with an oval shape in this example, inside of which a ring slot 206 is defined. Alternatively, the ring 204 may have a different shape, including, but not limited to, a circular shape, triangular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, etc. The ring 204 includes a first ring portion 208, a second ring portion 212 and a hub 214, the first ring portion 208 and the second ring portion 212 extending from the hub 214.

[0019] The first ring portion 208 can be a reinforcing ring portion and include a flange 216 that strengthens and stiffens the ring 204. Additionally, the flange 216 can act as a grip area for the user to grip the drum tuning key 100 when tuning a drum. The flange 216 extends from the first ring portion 208 into the ring slot 206, an edge 220 of the flange 216 distal to the first ring portion 208 further defining the ring slot 206 when the first ring portion 208 is provided with the flange 216. The first ring portion 208 further includes a carabiner gate supporting end 224 with a carabiner gate securing slot 228 on a carabiner gate securing member 230, the carabiner gate securing slot 228 and the carabiner gate securing member 230 defining a one-eye end of a hinge joint.

[0020] The second ring portion 212 includes a carabiner gate limiting end 232 with a carabiner gate limiting member 236 with a T-shaped cross-section extending from the carabiner gate limiting end 232. Alternatively, the carabiner gate limiting member 236 can have different cross-section shapes, for example, a V-shape, a Y-shape, etc. Furthermore, alternatively the first ring portion 208 can include the carabiner gate limiting end 232 and the second ring portion 212 can include the carabiner gate supporting end 224. The carabiner arm supporting end 224 and the carabiner arm limiting end 232 define a break in the ring 204 for insertion of an item or part of an item into the ring 204, for example for insertion of a belt loop or a backpack tab or hoop into the ring 204.

[0021] The hub 214 has a cylindrical shape. A marking or indicia can be provided on a flat surface 215 of the hub 214, for example, by engraving, pasting, or integrally forming the marking or indica on the flat surface 215 of the hub 214. The hub 214 can further provide additional grip areas for the user to grip the drum tuning key with a built-in carabiner 100 when tuning a drum. The hub 214 can alternatively have other shapes such as, for example, a cubic shape, a pyramid shape, a spherical shape, etc. in other embodiments.

[0022] The key body 104 further includes a shaft 240 extending from the hub 214 in a radially outward direction with respect to the ring 204. Alternatively, the shaft 240 can extend from one of the first or the second ring portions 208 or 212. The shaft 240 houses a drum tuning socket 244 on a shaft end 246 distal to the ring 204. The drum tuning socket 244 can have a square shape and measurements, for example, of about inches (about 6 mm), although the socket 244 can have other suitable dimensions and / or shapes in other embodiments. To adjust the tension of a rod of a drum, a user can fit the drum tuning socket 244 onto the head of a tension rod and proceed to tension or loosen the rod by turning the key body 104. Force applied to the ring 204 is transferred to the head of the tension rod through the shaft 240.

[0023] FIGS. 4 to 6 depict the example carabiner gate 108 that is configured to be mounted to the key body 104 to form the drum tuning key with a built-in carabiner 100. Similarly to the key body 104, the carabiner gate 108 can be manufactured as an integral piece, for example by means of a die cast process, by an injection molding process, byan additive manufacturing process such as sintering, 3D printing, etc. and can be made of a metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc. or a non-metal material such as a polymer composite, etc. Furthermore, the carabiner gate 108 can be manufactured by a different process to the process used to manufacture the key body 104 and can be made of a different material to that of the key body 104. The carabiner gate 108 has a shape complementary to the shape of the first ring portion 208 and the second ring portion 212, in this example a curved elongated shape, to close the break in the ring 204 defined by the carabiner arm supporting end 224 and the carabiner arm limiting end 232 when the carabiner gate 108 is mounted to the key body 104.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 4, the carabiner gate 108 includes a hinge end 404 and a resting end 408 opposite the hinge end 404. The hinge end 404 is configured so that the carabiner gate 108 is rotatably supported on the carabiner gate supporting end 224 of the ring 204 of the key body 104 when the carabiner gate 108 is mounted to the key body 104. The carabiner gate 108 has a pair of fork legs 412-1 and 412-2 at the hinge end 404, collectively referred to as the fork legs 412 and generally referred to as a fork leg 412 (this nomenclature is used elsewhere in the specification), each of which is provided with a fork slot 416. The fork legs 412 define a two-eye end of a hinge joint complementary to the one-eye end defined by the carabiner gate securing slot 228 and the carabiner gate securing member 230. With further reference to FIG. 4, the resting end 408 is provided with a limit channel 420 complementary to the carabiner gate limiting member 236 so that the carabiner gate limiting member 236 limits a motion of the carabiner gate 108 in a direction of rotation Rdir with respect to the hinge joint and from a direction of deflection Ddir orthogonal to a depth D of the limit channel 420. To secure the carabiner gate 108 to the key body 104, the fork legs 412 are fitted to the carabiner gate securing member 230 so that the carabiner gate securing slot 228 is in alignment with the fork slots 416, and a fastener such as a pin is inserted through the slots 228, 416, thereby completing the hinged joint. Once mounted to the key body 104, the carabiner gate 108 can rotate in the direction of rotation Rdir about an axis X defined by a length of the fastener, the fastener thereby acting as a pivot point for the carabiner gate 108 to rotate.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 5, each of the fork legs 412 is provided with at least one contoured edge 504, for example with two contoured edges 504-1 and 504-2, so that thecarabiner gate 108 is configured to rotate freely about the pivot point without other points, edges or surfaces of the carabiner gate supporting end 224 interfering with the rotation. Furthermore, at least one contoured edge 504, for example, contoured edge 504-3, may be configured to define a limit for the rotation of the carabiner gate 108 about the pivot point by engaging with, for example, a complementary edge, slot or surface of the carabiner gate supporting end 224 when the carabiner gate 108 is rotated to a limit angle before the carabiner gate 108 is in contact with the edge 220.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 6, the hinge end 404 is also provided with a biasing member receiving slot 604. The biasing member receiving slot 604 is configured to receive a biasing member, for example, a spring, at least partially within an interior of the carabiner gate 108, the biasing member configured to bias the carabiner gate 108 away from the edge 220, so that the drum tuning key with built-in carabiner 100 is biased towards the closed configuration (as shown in FIG. 1A) until the carabiner gate 108 reaches a closed position at which the limit channel 420 and the carabiner gate limiting member 236 engage with each other. As shown in FIG. 1 B, the drum tuning key with built- in carabiner 100 is in the open configuration when a force F is applied to the carabiner gate 108 to overcome the biasing force of the biasing member so that limit channel 420 is moved away from the carabiner gate limiting member 236 and towards the edge 220. When the limit channel 420 is distal from the carabiner gate limiting member 236 the carabiner gate 108 is in an open position.

[0027] The drum tuning key with built-in carabiner 100 can be directly secured to another item such as a hardware item, for example a key ring, an apparel item, for example a belt loop, a backpack tab or hoop etc. for safekeeping when not in use, while remaining readily accessible when needed. To quickly latch the drum tuning key with built- in carabiner 100 onto the item, the carabiner gate 108 is simply rotated towards its open position, the item (for example, the loop) is placed through the slot 206 and the carabiner gate 108 is returned to its closed position, thereby securely latching the drum tuning key with built-in carabiner 100 onto the item. Similarly, the drum tuning key with built-in carabiner 100 can also be quickly detached from the item.

[0028] The example drum tuning key with built-in carabiner 100 or modifications thereof can be useful in being portable and accessible, by being easily and securely attached to personal items such as a belt loop, backpack, or other gear, which eliminates the need for separate securing elements (e.g., key chains or necklaces) and ensures the key is readily accessible, reducing the risk of misplacement. The carabiner mechanism allows for rapid attachment and removal without needing to detach the tuning key from a separate securing element, streamlining the process of drum tuning. Unlike prior art, where separate securing elements can make the tuning key cumbersome and difficult to maneuver in confined spaces, the built-in carabiner maintains the compact form factor of the tuning key, preserving ease of use in tight setups around the drum(s).

[0029] The present invention has been described by way of examples. Modifications and variations to the above-described examples are possible and may occur to those skilled in the art. All such modifications and variations are believed to be within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims. For example, while the carabiner gate 108 has been described including a biasing member receiving slot 604 configured to receive a biasing member to bias the carabiner gate 108 away from the edge 220, an alternative biasing member receiving slot can be provided in the first ring portion 208 instead, and or, in addition to the biasing member receiving slot 604. Furthermore, while the drum tuning key with built-in carabiner 100 has been described to be biased towards the closed configuration by a biasing member, an alternative drum tuning key with built- in carabiner need not be provided with a biasing member and can be secured in the closed configuration by a different mechanism, for example by a tight fit between the carabiner gate limiting member 236 and the limit channel 420.

[0030] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth in the above examples but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A drum tuning key comprising: a carabiner gate with a hinge end and a resting end distal from the hinge end; and a key body including: a shaft with a drum tuning socket; and a ring configured to rotatably support the carabiner gate, the ring including: a first ring portion with a carabiner gate supporting end configured to form a hinge joint with the hinge end; and a second ring portion with a carabiner gate limiting end configured to limit movement of the carabiner gate at a closed position.

2. The drum tuning key of claim 1 wherein the carabiner gate limiting end includes a carabiner gate limiting member and wherein the carabiner gate includes a limit channel complementary to the carabiner gate limiting member.

3. The drum tuning key of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the carabiner gate includes a biasing member receiving slot configured to receive a biasing member to bias the carabiner gate towards the closed position.

4. The drum tuning key of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the hinge end is provided with a contoured edge so that the carabiner gate is configured to rotate freely about a pivot point of the hinge joint.

5. The drum tuning key of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the hinge end is provided with a contoured edge complementary to one of an edge, a slot and a surface of the carabiner gate supporting ring end.

6. The drum tuning key of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the ring further includes a hub from which the first ring portion and the second ring portion extend.

7. The drum tuning key of claim 6 wherein the shaft extends from the hub in a radially outward direction with respect to the ring.

8. The drum tuning key of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the ring further includes a reinforcing flange extending from the first ring portion into a ring slot defined in the ring.

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