Percussion Practice Drum Pad with Varying Thickness and Articulating Wings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available percussion practice drum pads fail to accurately replicate the physical and aural characteristics of an acoustic snare drum, particularly in terms of reflexivity and sound feedback when struck at different points, and are often cumbersome for transport due to their size.
Innovation Solution
A percussion practice drum pad with a keyhole-shaped primary striking surface of varying thickness, a secondary striking surface of thick soft material, an aluminum frame for a simulated rim, and articulating wings for compact storage and easy mounting in a three-point snare drum stand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a solid polymer is affixed to a flat hard surface to create a percussion practice drum pad, then portability and lower sound levels are improved, but the physical and aural characteristics of striking the pad differ significantly from an actual acoustic drum
Solution Approach 1:
The drumhead is constructed with varying thickness across its surface, with the center portion being thinner than the peripheral portions. This creates different physical and aural characteristics at different locations, allowing the pad to replicate the varying reflexivity and sound feedback of an actual acoustic drum when struck at different points.
Solution Approach 2:
The drumhead uses a composite construction combining materials with different properties - a polymer base with varying thickness and an elastomeric material layer. This composite structure enables both the portability benefits of solid polymer pads and the authentic drumming characteristics of stretched skins or heads.
2Reliability
If full-sized percussion practice drum pads are used to provide favorable strikable surface area and mounting capability, then authentic playing characteristics are improved, but transport difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drum pad incorporates articulating wings that can be extended to a deployed position for mounting in a three-point basket-style snare drum stand during use, and collapsed to a stowed position for compact storage and transport. This dynamic transformation allows the pad to provide full-sized authentic playing characteristics when needed while being portable when not in use.
3Ease of operation
If significantly scaled-down percussion practice drum pads are used to improve transportability, then ease of storage is improved, but authentic playing characteristics such as rim shots and mounting capability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The drum pad incorporates articulating wings that can be extended to a deployed position for mounting in a three-point basket-style snare drum stand during use, and collapsed to a stowed position for compact storage and transport. This dynamic transformation allows the pad to provide full-sized authentic playing characteristics when needed while being portable when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The drumhead uses a composite construction combining materials with different properties - a polymer base with varying thickness and an elastomeric material layer. This composite structure enables both the portability benefits of solid polymer pads and the authentic drumming characteristics of stretched skins or heads.
4Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness material is used for the drum pad striking surface, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to distinguish strikes at different locations physically and aurally is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The drumhead is constructed with varying thickness across its surface, with the center portion being thinner than the peripheral portions. This creates different physical and aural characteristics at different locations, allowing the pad to replicate the varying reflexivity and sound feedback of an actual acoustic drum when struck at different points.
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 drum pad provides a more realistic drumming experience with authentic physical and aural feedback, including rim shots, while being portable and versatile for use on various surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric material layer over the polymer base
Implementation Method 2
generate lower sound levels when practicing drumming
Data Source
AI summary
A percussion practice drum pad which is manufactured by pouring set-in-place polymers into one or more pockets in a rigid frame. Numerous unique defined features of the frame enable the device, when struck with a drumstick, to more closely simulate both the physical and aural characteristics of playing an actual acoustic drum; one or more secondary striking surfaces; and additional features that improve portability and mounting flexibility of the device.