Bass Drum Beater Holder with Clam-Shell Adjustment

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bass drum foot pedals lack adjustable beater amplitude and position control, limiting the ability to accurately vary the striking force on the drum head.

Innovation Solution

A beater holder apparatus with a clam-shell design that allows for radial and circumferential adjustment of the beater relative to the shaft, enabling infinite angle adjustment and dual 'LIGHT' or 'HEAVY' feel settings without disassembly, using a support and hinged arm for secure mounting to the pedal's axle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the beater rod is merely fastened to the rocker in a fixed manner, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the pivoting angle of the beater and the striking position on the drum head cannot be adjusted freely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability of beater position and angleVSAvoidcomplexity of beater mounting structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The beater holder is designed with a pivotable connection to the rotatable shaft, allowing the beater's angular position to be dynamically adjusted. The holder can pivot relative to the shaft within a predetermined range, enabling the beater to achieve different striking angles and positions on the drum head while maintaining a mechanically simple structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The beater assembly is segmented into distinct components: the rotatable shaft, the pivotable beater holder, and the beater rod. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component's position and orientation, providing versatility in beater positioning without requiring complex integrated mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the rocker is attached to the rotatable shaft to allow pivoting, then the pivoting angle of the beater can be changed, but the adjustment is limited to a single angular position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of beater angular positionsVSAvoidease of adjusting beater position

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The beater holder is designed with a pivotable connection to the rotatable shaft, allowing the beater's angular position to be dynamically adjusted. The holder can pivot relative to the shaft within a predetermined range, enabling the beater to achieve different striking angles and positions on the drum head while maintaining a mechanically simple structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the beater holder is fixed in a single position, then the manufacturing and assembly are simple, but the musician cannot switch between different playing feels (LIGHT or HEAVY)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to switch between LIGHT and HEAVY feel settingsVSAvoidease of manufacturing and assembling the pedal

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The beater holder is designed with a pivotable connection to the rotatable shaft, allowing the beater's angular position to be dynamically adjusted. The holder can pivot relative to the shaft within a predetermined range, enabling the beater to achieve different striking angles and positions on the drum head while maintaining a mechanically simple structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The beater assembly is segmented into distinct components: the rotatable shaft, the pivotable beater holder, and the beater rod. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component's position and orientation, providing versatility in beater positioning without requiring complex integrated mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7579540B2Beater holder with adjustment feature

Publication Date: 2009.08.25 PEARL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CO

AI summary

A beater holder apparatus for a bass drum pedal enables adjustment of the amplitude of swing of a drum beater with respect to a drum head, comprises a beater holder that is configured to for radial adjustment with respect to the beater shaft. The assembly comprises a support; a shaft supported by the support and rotatable around the axis of the shaft. A pedal is pivotable between an operating position to which the pedal is operated by the operator and a return position. A connecting system connects the pedal to the shaft such that movement of the pedal between the operating and return positions rotates the shaft and rotates the beater head toward and away from the drum head for beating the drum head. The beater holder can be angled infinitely and can be mounted to the pedal's axle to provide a “LIGHT” or “HEAVY” feel to provide a dual adjustment structure. Further, the invention has a clam-shell design for easy change-over to the “LIGHT” and “HEAVY” positions without dismantling the pedal.