Carrier assembly for percussion instruments

• US 8,053,655 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randall May International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Randall L. May
• Inventors: May, Randall L
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORN, ROBERT WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US12/719,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20100154617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 844/21, 224/265
• US Class Current: 84/421
• CPC Class Codes: G10G 5/005 while playing, e.g. cord, strap or harness rests or guards as part of the instruments, see the particular instruments, e.g. G10D3/18

Abstract

Drum hardware and drum secured thereon are preferably supported on a vest type carrier or a T-bar carrier having a plurality of separate parts removable from each other and formed of a rigid light material such as plastic or a light metal such as magnesium, aluminum or titanium. The carrier has a vest or belly plate, shoulder supports, and back bar and the shoulder supports are removable and/or adjustable. The supporting elements are of rod or tubular construction. Special padding may be included on the shoulder supports, belly plate portion and other parts where cushioning is needed. The hardware may be universally adjustable.

Claims

1. A vertically adjustable shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion musical instruments, comprising:

a monolithic upper support section comprising at least two shoulder supporting members for securing said section on the shoulders of a user wherein;

said at least two shoulder supporting members extend over the shoulders of a user during use and join in a front connecting tube or rod clamp(s) or brace(s) defining any one of a “

U”

shape, or “

Y”

shape, or “

V”

shape or a combination thereof;

with a back support joining said upper support section wherein;

said back support is connect to a front and to said user from a connection by way of said at least two shoulder supporting members over shoulders of said user, and

a lower support section including structure for supporting musical instruments with securing members that allows for vertical adjustment between said upper support section and said lower support section.

2. The vertically adjustable shoulder supporting harness assembly for supporting percussion musical instruments as defined in claim 1 wherein said front connecting tubes or rods transition into said at least two shoulder supporting members and said back support thereby forming said monolithic structure.

3. The vertically adjustable shoulder supporting harness assembly for supporting percussion musical instruments as defined in claim 1 wherein said lower support section includes attachment means for at least two “

J”

rods, said “

J”

rods being independently adjustable in said attachment means and independent from said vertical adjustment.

4. The vertically adjustable shoulder supporting harness assembly for supporting percussion musical instruments as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means for said vertical adjustment connects said upper support section to said lower support section comprises at least one tube, or one rod, or one post, or one bar, or one extrusion.

5. The vertically adjustable shoulder supporting harness assembly for supporting percussion musical instruments as defined in claim 1 wherein said vertically adjustable connection provides for infinite connection positions along a clamping length of said tubes or rods.

6. The vertically adjustable shoulder supporting harness assembly for supporting percussion musical instruments as defined in claim 1 that further includes at least one elongated slots or track for guided vertical movement between said monolithic upper support section and said lower support section.

7. The vertically adjustable shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion musical instruments as defined in claim 1 that further includes padding located between said user and a tube, rod, post, support or extrusion.

8. The vertically adjustable shoulder supporting harness assembly for supporting percussion musical instruments as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least two shoulder supporting members further includes at least one clamp located between said lower support section and shoulders of said wearer to reduce lateral and or torque displacement of said at least two shoulder supporting members.

9. The vertically adjustable shoulder supporting harness assembly for supporting percussion musical instruments as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper section extends from said lower support section over each shoulder of a user and connects behind said user.

10. A shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments, comprising:

an abdomen supporting member resting against the abdominal region of the wearer in use, said abdomen supporting member having at least two tube or rod clamping members secured thereon;

at least two shoulder supporting members securable to said at least two tube or rod clamping members extending over each shoulder of a user to suspend said abdomen supporting member in an abdomen region of a wearer, and

drum supporting hardware on said supporting abdomen supporting member.

11. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 10, in which:

said drum supporting hardware is a rod or tube supported in J-rod receptacles.

12. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 10 that further includes a back member between said at least two shoulder supporting members for contacting the back of the wearer.

13. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 12 wherein said back member is adjustable.

14. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 10 wherein said abdomen supporting member is independently adjustable from said drum supporting hardware.

15. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 10 wherein said at least one shoulder supporting member is at least one tube, or one rod, or one bar, or one extrusion.

16. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 15 wherein said at least two shoulder supporting members further include at least one clamp located between said abdomen supporting member and said shoulders of said wearer to reduce lateral displacement of said at least two shoulder supporting members.

17. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 10 that further includes a back member spanning between said at least two shoulder supporting members.

18. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 17 wherein said at least two shoulders supporting members and or said back member further includes a cushion or pad.

19. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 10 wherein said at least two shoulder supporting members are adjustable on said abdomen supporting member to move said at least two shoulder supporting members towards and or away from said abdomen supporting member.

20. The shoulder supported harness assembly for supporting percussion instruments according to claim 10 wherein said abdomen supporting member integrates with said at least two shoulder supporting members.