Practice drumhead assembly

Abstract

A practice drumhead assembly including a mesh membrane held in substantially fixed relation to an acoustic membrane. The assembly preferably includes an annular tensioning ring for tensioning the mesh membrane, and an engagement member for substantially fixing the mesh membrane relative to the acoustic membrane. The tensioning ring includes a cylindrical rod with a turnbuckle that is rotated to increase the diameter of the tensioning ring.

1. A practice drumhead assembly comprising:
 a. a mesh membrane; 
 b. a tensioning ring for tensioning the mesh membrane comprising a cylindrical rod formed in a circular, flat configuration and an expansion member comprising a turnbuckle for expanding the diameter of the tensioning ring, said tensioning ring being placed within the mesh membrane to outwardly tension the mesh membrane; and 
 c. an engagement member comprising a retention member for retaining the mesh membrane and a connection member for retaining the mesh membrane in substantially fixed relation to an acoustic membrane. 
 
     
     
       2. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the connection member is formed to connect to one of the group comprising an annular frame of an acoustic drumhead, a counter hoop placed over the annular frame of an acoustic drumhead on a drum shell, one or more tensioning lugs on a drum shell and one or more tension rods on a drum shell. 
     
     
       3. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 2  wherein the connection member is adapted to attach to the annular frame of the acoustic drumhead. 
     
     
       4. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 2  wherein the connection member is adapted to attach to the counter hoop placed over the annular frame of an acoustic drumhead placed on a drum shell. 
     
     
       5. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 4  wherein the connection member further comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive for removably securing the practice drumhead assembly to the counter hoop. 
     
     
       6. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the engagement member is formed of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       7. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 6  wherein the elastomeric material is rubber. 
     
     
       8. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the engagement member further comprises a stop member at an upper end thereof. 
     
     
       9. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 4  wherein the connection member comprises a portion for positioning outwardly of the counter hoop and a catch that extends inwardly below the inner perimeter of the counter hoop. 
     
     
       10. The practice drumhead of  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical rod comprises a smooth end and a threaded end and the turnbuckle comprises a threaded receptacle for receiving the threaded end of the rod and a smooth receptacle for receiving the smooth end of the rod. 
     
     
       11. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the turnbuckle comprises a threaded turnbuckle which cooperates with the cylindrical rod. 
     
     
       12. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mesh membrane has an open area of from about 25 to about 75%. 
     
     
       13. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 12  wherein the mesh membrane has an open area of about 30%. 
     
     
       14. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mesh membrane is formed of a polyester material. 
     
     
       15. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mesh membrane is retained in substantially fixed relation to the acoustic membrane at a distance of from about 0.5 to about 4 inches. 
     
     
       16. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 15  wherein the mesh membrane is retained in substantially fixed relation to the acoustic membrane at a distance of from about 0.5 to about 3 inches. 
     
     
       17. A practice drumhead assembly comprising:
 a. a mesh membrane; 
 b. a tensioning ring for tensioning the mesh membrane; and 
 c. an engagement member comprising a retention member for retaining the mesh membrane and a connection member for retaining the mesh membrane in substantially fixed relation to an acoustic membrane, wherein the mesh membrane is formed in a practice drumhead having an annular frame for securing the mesh membrane and the retention member comprises a floor extending inwardly from an interior wall of the engagement member to support the bottom of the practice drumhead annular frame. 
 
     
     
       18. The practice drumhead assembly of  claim 17  wherein the retention member further comprises a face extending upwardly from a portion of the floor to support the inner side of the practice drumhead annular frame. 
     
     
       19. A combination of a tensioning ring and a drumhead having a membrane and an annular frame, said tensioning ring comprising a cylindrical rod formed in a circular, flat configuration and an expansion member comprising a turnbuckle for expanding the diameter of the tensioning ring to outwardly tension the membrane, wherein the tensioning ring engages the membrane within the annular frame. 
     
     
       20. The combination of  claim 19  wherein the cylindrical rod comprises a smooth end and a threaded end. 
     
     
       21. The combination of  claim 20  wherein the turnbuckle has a threaded receptacle for receiving the threaded end of the rod and a smooth receptacle for receiving the smooth end of the rod. 
     
     
       22. A method of tensioning a drumhead having a membrane and an annular frame comprising the steps of:
 a. inserting a tensioning ring comprising a cylindrical rod formed in a circular, flat configuration and an expansion member for expanding the diameter of the tensioning ring within the annular frame; and 
 b. activating the expansion member to expand the diameter of the tensioning ring against the membrane. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  wherein the expansion member comprises a turnbuckle, wherein the step of activating the expansion member to expand the diameter of the tensioning ring comprises rotating the turnbuckle. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22  wherein the cylindrical rod comprises a smooth end and a threaded end. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24  wherein the expansion member comprises a turnbuckle having a threaded receptacle for receiving the threaded end of the cylindrical rod and a smooth receptacle for receiving the smooth end of the cylindrical rod. 
     
     
       26. The practice drumhead assembly of claim 1 further comprising an electronic component taken from the group consisting of a sensor for triggering a computer generated sound corresponding to where and how the mesh membrane is struck and a microphone for picking up a sound generated by the acoustic membrane. 
     
     
       27. The practice drumhead assembly of claim 17 further comprising an electronic component taken from the group consisting of a sensor for triggering a computer generated sound corresponding to where and how the mesh membrane is struck and a microphone for picking up a sound generated by the acoustic membrane.