Drum Attachment System for Mid-Play Sound Variation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

It is challenging for drum players to easily vary the sound of a drum during play, as the basic design of drums has remained unchanged for thousands of years, limiting the ability to create different sounds mid-play.

Innovation Solution

A drum attachment system that includes a support arm and accessory attachment mechanism, allowing the user to quickly move an accessory towards or away from the drum skin to alter the sound produced, with the accessory being removable and replaceable to create various sounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the basic drum design is used, then the drum structure is simple and reliable, but the ability to vary sounds during play is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound variation capabilityVSAvoiddrum structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drum system is divided into separate functional components: the base drum unit and detachable accessories. Each accessory (tambourine, castanets, maracas, etc.) is an independent module that can be attached to or removed from the drum, allowing sound variation without changing the fundamental drum structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drum is designed with a universal attachment mechanism that can accommodate multiple types of accessories. The same attachment point and support arm structure can hold different accessories (tambourines, castanets, maracas, bells, etc.), allowing a single drum to perform multiple sound-generation functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If accessories are added to vary drum sound, then sound versatility improves, but the time to change accessories increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound varietyVSAvoidtime to change accessory

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory attachment mechanism is pre-configured on the drum with a support arm that can quickly position and secure accessories. The attachment points are prepared in advance, allowing users to rapidly swap accessories without complex assembly or adjustment procedures during play.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the drum design remains basic, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but sound creativity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound creativityVSAvoiddrum manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The drum system separates the basic drum manufacturing from the accessory components. The base drum requires only simple, traditional drum construction, while the accessories (tambourines, castanets, etc.) are produced as separate, standardized modules that can be manufactured independently and attached as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10339904B1Varying the natural sound of a drum using a drum attachment

Publication Date: 2019.07.02 ANTOUN RAMY

AI summary

Particular embodiments described herein provide for a drum that includes a body, a skin, an attachment point, a support arm that can travel back and forth through the attachment point, and an accessory, wherein when the accessory is positioned on or proximate to the skin, a natural sound of the drum is varied when the drum is struck. In an example, the accessory is removable and can be replaced with a different accessory that will cause a different sound to be produced when the different accessory is positioned on or proximate to the skin and the drum is struck.