US 12,002,438 B1
Systems, apparatus, and methods for remotely actuating a drum striker
Jeffery Thomas Million, Sterling, VA (US)
Filed by Jeffery Thomas Million, Sterling, VA (US)
Filed on Oct. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/512,553.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/106,271, filed on Oct. 27, 2020.
Int. Cl. G10D 13/11 (2020.01); G10D 13/02 (2020.01)
CPC G10D 13/11 (2020.02) [G10D 13/02 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a remote actuator; and
a striker actuator assembly operatively coupled to the remote actuator by a remote coupling, the striker actuator assembly including:
a mount configured to be coupled to a drum including a base frame,
a first rotatable cam mounted on a first crossbar supported by the base frame,
a striker mount configured to be coupled to a striker, the striker mount coupled to the first rotatable cam such that rotation of the first rotatable cam between a first cam position and a second cam position causes the striker to transition between a non-contact position and a contact position relative to a non-vertical surface of a drumhead of the drum,
a spring configured to urge the first rotatable cam toward the first cam position such that the striker is biased toward the non-contact position,
a second rotatable cam mounted on a second crossbar supported by the base frame, and
an elongated member including a first end fixedly coupled to the first rotatable cam, a portion disposed along and in contact with a portion of a perimeter of the second rotatable cam, and a second end coupleable to the remote coupling such that, in response to actuation of the remote actuator, the remote coupling actuates the striker actuator assembly by translating the second end of the elongated member away from the second rotatable cam, causing the second rotatable cam to rotate in a first direction and causing the first end of the elongated member to rotate the first rotatable cam in a second direction opposite the first direction to transition from the first cam position to the second cam position.
 
13. A system, comprising:
a remote actuator including a linkage and an energy transfer mechanism coupled to an end of the linkage, the linkage including at least one of a cable, chain, strap, or rope;
a remote coupling including a cable subassembly, the cable subassembly including a flexible sheath, a cable disposed within the sheath, a first coupling element disposed on a first end of the cable and coupleable to the energy transfer mechanism of the remote actuator, and a second coupling element disposed on a second end of the cable, the energy transfer mechanism having a mating surface configured to receive an outer surface of the first coupling element such that the energy transfer mechanism is releasably engaged with the first coupling element and releasably securable to the first coupling element via one or more engagement elements; and
a striker actuator assembly configured to be releasably engaged with the second coupling element, the striker actuator assembly including a mount configured to couple a striker to a drum, the striker actuator assembly configured to transition the striker between a non-contact and a contact position relative to a surface of a drumhead of a drum in response to actuation of the remote actuator due to the actuation causing the linkage to translate the energy transfer mechanism and the first coupling element such that the cable translates relative to the sheath and translates the second coupling element to cause the striker actuator assembly to transition the striker between the non-contact and the contact position when the drumhead is physically inaccessible to a user.
 
19. A system, comprising:
a remote actuator; and
a striker actuator assembly operatively coupled to the remote actuator by a remote coupling, the striker actuator assembly including a mount configured to couple a striker to a drum, the mount of the striker actuator assembly including a hoop configured to be placed over a rim of the drum, the striker actuator assembly configured to transition the striker between a non-contact position and a contact position relative to a non-vertical surface of a drumhead of the drum in response to actuation of the remote actuator.