Bass Drum Damper with Percussion Target Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bass drum dampers that adhere to the batter head with their entire surface or are integrally molded with it hinder free vibration, thereby impairing the unique timbre of acoustic drums while attempting to reduce percussive sound.

Innovation Solution

A bass drum damper that includes a sound insulating plate with a contact portion made of wood and a fixing portion of soft polyurethane foam, along with a percussion target portion that buffers impacts and transfers vibrations, allowing the batter head to maintain its natural vibration while reducing sound output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a silencing member adheres to a batter head with its entire surface or is integrally molded with the batter head, then a percussive sound can be reduced, but free vibration of the batter head is hindered and the unique timbre of an acoustic drum is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepercussive soundVSAvoidfree vibration of batter head
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The damper is divided into distinct functional segments: a sound insulating plate for attenuating percussive sound, a percussion target portion for receiving impacts, and a fixing portion for attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the batter head's natural vibration characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The percussion target portion serves as an intermediary between the beater and the batter head. It receives the impact from the beater and transfers controlled vibrations to the batter head, thereby reducing the direct percussive shock while maintaining natural drum timbre through proper vibration transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a silencing member adheres to a batter head with its entire surface, then a percussive sound can be reduced, but the unique timbre of an acoustic drum is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepercussive soundVSAvoidunique timbre of acoustic drum
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sound insulating plate is positioned locally at the center of the batter head where percussive sounds are generated, rather than covering the entire surface. This localized approach allows the plate to attenuate unwanted sounds while leaving the peripheral areas of the batter head free to vibrate naturally, preserving the drum's unique timbre.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The damper applies partial action by covering only the necessary central area of the batter head rather than the entire surface. This partial coverage is sufficient to reduce percussive sounds while minimizing interference with the overall vibration patterns that produce the drum's characteristic timbre.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Object-generated harmful factors

If a sound insulating plate contacts the batter head extensively, then percussive sound is reduced, but vibration detection accuracy and natural timbre are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepercussive soundVSAvoidvibration detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The damper structure segments the contact areas into minimal necessary points through the fixing portion, rather than extensive surface contact. This segmentation allows vibration detection systems to maintain accuracy by ensuring that only essential areas are contacted, preserving natural vibration patterns for accurate detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sound insulating plate is designed as a thin, flexible component that can vibrate along with the batter head rather than rigidly constraining it. This flexibility allows the plate to attenuate percussive sounds while still permitting accurate vibration detection and maintaining natural timbre characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The damper effectively attenuates percussive sounds while preserving the unique timbre of the acoustic bass drum by minimizing contact and interference with the batter head, ensuring accurate vibration detection and reducing abnormal noise.

Implementation Method 1

a percussion target portion that buffers impacts and transfers vibrations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact buffering: Damping

Implementation Method 2

a percussion target portion that buffers impacts and transfers vibrations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration transfer: Vibration

Implementation Method 3

a sound insulating plate with a contact portion made of wood and a fixing portion of soft polyurethane foam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound attenuation: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentEP3346461B1Bass drum damper and bass drum
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 ROLAND CORP
  • EP3346461B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP3346461B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3346461B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A batter head (3) of a bass drum (1) is covered with a sound insulating plate (11). A contact section (12) of the sound insulating plate (11) is disposed in contact with the batter head (3). The contact section (12) has an opening (14) through which a position to be beaten with a beater (8) is opened. A fixed section (13) provided around the contact section (12) is fixed to a hoop (5) or the batter head (3). Since at least a portion of the contact section (12) is released from the batter head (3) at the timing of beating and again comes into contact with the batter head (3) after beating, a bass drum damper (10) can maintain timbre that is specific to the acoustic bass drum (1), while damping the sound of beats.