Marching Drum with Transparent Panels for Visibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Marching drums obstruct the performer's visibility, creating a blind spot that makes marching dangerous and necessitates an attendant for monitoring movement.

Innovation Solution

The drum features strategically placed holes or transparent members to ensure forwards and downwards visibility without compromising acoustic performance, using materials like acrylic for visibility and maintaining the drum's structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a solid drum body is used to maintain structural integrity and acoustic performance, then the drum's sound quality is preserved, but the performer's visibility (forwards and downwards) is obstructed creating a blind spot

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic performanceVSAvoidvisibility obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies transparency changes to the drum body by incorporating transparent or translucent materials (acrylic, polycarbonate, glass) or transparent panels in strategic positions. This allows light to pass through the drum body, eliminating the blind spot and enabling the performer to see forwards and downwards while maintaining structural integrity and acoustic performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If transparent materials are used to improve visibility, then the performer can see forwards and downwards, but the acoustic performance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility obstructionVSAvoidacoustic performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies transparent materials selectively in specific locations (front and lower portions) where visibility is needed, while maintaining traditional opaque materials in other areas to preserve acoustic performance. This localized application of transparency allows the performer to see where necessary without compromising the overall sound quality of the drum.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines transparent materials (acrylic, polycarbonate) with traditional drum materials (wood, metal, skin) to create a composite drum structure. This composite approach allows the transparent portions to provide visibility while the traditional materials maintain acoustic performance, achieving both goals simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If holes are made in the drum body to create visibility openings, then the performer's visibility is improved, but the acoustic performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility obstructionVSAvoidacoustic performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating holes that compromise acoustics, the patent uses transparent or translucent materials that allow visibility through the drum body wall itself. This maintains the continuous structure needed for acoustic performance while enabling light transmission for visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP3159887B1Marching drum which enables forwards and downwards visibility

Publication Date: 2022.09.14 GRASS VALLEY

Figure 1~4
Figure 5~9
Figure 10~14

AI summary

[Problem] To provide a marching drum which ensures forwards and downwards visibility and ensures the field of view during marching. [Solution] [Effect] By eliminating all or some members of the body of the drum, or by adopting transparent members, this marching drum which enables forwards and downwards visibility ensures the performer's field of view during marching.