US20040145221A1

US20040145221A1 - Drum chair

Info

Publication number: US20040145221A1
Application number: US10/754,674
Authority: US
Inventors: Takashi Suzuki
Original assignee: Yamaha Corp
Current assignee: Yamaha Corp
Priority date: 2003-01-29
Filing date: 2004-01-09
Publication date: 2004-07-29
Also published as: JP2004233525A; CN2680119Y

Abstract

A drum chair including a frame body in the shape of a seat and a breathable mesh fabric provided on the frame body. Air can be blown to the mesh fabric out of the ventilation holes formed in the frame body or by air blower disposed below the mesh fabric.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a chair and more particularly to a drum chair that assures a comfortable play for a drummer.

2. Prior Art

For a drum performance, a number of percussion instruments, including drums, cymbals, other such instruments, are generally arranged around the drummer; and the drummer strikes these instruments with sticks or the like. The drummer usually sits on a chair during such performances, supporting his body weight on his buttocks, so that his hands and feet are free to play. Therefore, maintaining a stable sitting posture is an important concern, and various improvements have been proposed for drum chairs as disclosed in, for instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2002-328674.

The seat portion in the above prior art employs the structure shown in FIG. 7.

As seen from FIG. 7, a

seat

100 that supports the body of the drummer has a backing material 101 (which is rigid enough to withstand the body weight load of the drummer) fixed to a supporting leg 102, and synthetic leather 104 that surrounds a cushion material 103 (such as foamed polyurethane) is stretched over this backing material 101.

A conventional drum chair structured as above makes use of the

cushion material

103 in order to provide sitting stability and comfort, and this cushion material 103 is surrounded by the synthetic leather 104. Therefore, the cushion material 103 functions as a heat accumulator. Body heat from the buttocks of the drummer builds up in the cushion material 103 and promotes perspiration during his play; and this, coupled with the fact that the surface of the seat is covered with synthetic leather, can cause discomfort.

In the above drum chair, the

backing material

101 is employed in order to maintain the shape of the cushion material 103. However, the buttocks of the drummer sink deeply into the cushion material 103 during playing, to the point that the ischial bones of the drummer are compressed by the backing material 101, and this can cause pain in the buttocks, making it difficult to maintain a stable playing posture for an extended period.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to overcome the problems encountered in the prior art drum chair.

The object of the present invention is to provide a drum chair that eliminates discomfort by minimizing perspiration of the buttocks of a drummer during drumming.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a drum chair that eliminates pain in the buttocks of a drummer by suppressing impact to the ischial bones, which allows the drummer to continue playing comfortably in a stable posture even during extended sessions.

The above object is accomplished by a unique structure of the present invention for a drum chair that is comprised of a frame body formed in a shape of a seat and a breathable mesh fabric stretched on the frame body. In this structure, the breathable mesh fabric can be comprised of multiple layers of mesh fabrics. Also, a mesh fabric that is given a textured weave can be stretched over the top layer of the breathable mesh fabric.

The above object is further accomplished by a unique structure of the present invention for a drum chair wherein the drum chair is comprised of a frame body, which is formed in a shape of a seat and provided with ventilation holes, and a breathable mesh fabric, which is stretched on the frame body; and compressed air is supplied to the frame body so that air jets out of the ventilation holes toward the back of the air breathable mesh fabric.

The above object is still further accomplished by a unique structure of the present invention for a drum chair in which the drum chair is comprised of a frame body formed in a shape of a seat, a breathable mesh fabric stretched on the frame body, and an air blower provided under the breathable mesh fabric so that the air blower generates an air flow toward the back of the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the drum chair according to the present invention; [0015]
FIG. 2 is a partially broken away perspective view of the main components of the drum chair of the present invention with its frame body being shown in enlarged cross section; [0016]
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the seat of the drum chair of the present invention; [0017]
FIG. 4 is a cross section view of another type of seat of the drum chair of the present invention; [0018]
FIG. 5 is cross sectional view of still another type of seat of the drum chair of the present invention; [0019]
FIG. 6 illustrate yet another type of drum chair of the present invention; and [0020]
FIG. 7 is a front view of a conventional drum chair.[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [0022]
FIG. 1 shows the drum chair of the present invention in its completed state. [0023]
A [0024] seat 1 is height-adjustably and rotatably fixed to a supporting leg 2. The seat 1 is comprised mainly of a frame body 3 (see FIG. 2) formed in the same shape as the outer shape of a drum seat. The frame body 3 can take any shape that is taken by known drum chair seats such as square, rectangular, triangle and round. The frame body 3 is produced by bending, for example, a hollow metal pipe with good rigidity into any desirable drum seat shape (in the shown embodiment, a rectangular shape), and support frames 4 are welded to opposing inner edges of the pipe. In other words, the support frames 4 are provided so as to pass through substantially the center of the frame body 3. A support plate 5 is welded to the center of the support frames 4 so that the supporting leg 2 is attached to this support plate 5.
A [0025] mesh fabric 6 is stretched on the frame body 3. The mesh fabric 6 is made from chemical synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon, and the ends of the mesh fabric 6 are fixed to the frame body 3. A border member 7 is attached to the frame body 3 so as to surround the entire outer periphery of the completed seat 1. The border member 7 protects and decorates the edge of the seat 1. The border member 7 is formed from a flexible material such as a synthetic resin, and a recess 7 a formed in the border member 7 fits on the frame body 3.
As described above, the sitting component of the [0026] seat 1 comprises the frame body 3 and the mesh fabric 6, and it is assembled in the following manner: First, the mesh fabric 6, which has been pulled taut by applying tensile force to the outer periphery, is disposed on a mold in which a recess corresponding to the shape of the frame body 3 is formed, then the frame body 3, which has been coated with a molten thermoplastic resin, for example, at the portions that come into contact with the mesh fabric 6, is fitted into the recess of the mold, and this state is maintained while the thermoplastic resin is cured. This allows the mesh fabric 6 to be stretched over the frame body 3 while under the influence of tensile force. Any unnecessary portions around the outside of the mesh fabric 6 are neatly trimmed away.
The [0027] border member 7 is then set around the outside of the mesh fabric 6 stretched over the frame body 3, and the border member 7 is press fitted so that the frame body 3 fits into the recess 7 a (see the detail view directed by arrow in FIG. 2), which completes the seat 1 in which the mesh fabric 6 is stretched over the frame body 3 as shown in FIG. 3. The attachment of the border member 7 can be made more securely by coating the recess 7 a of the border member 7 with an adhesive as needed.
In FIG. 4, the strength of the [0028] mesh fabric 6 is increased by using a multi-layer structure for the mesh fabric 6. In other words, in the structure of FIG. 4, two (top and bottom) layers of mesh fabrics 6 are provided. When two layers are thus used as shown in FIG. 4, mesh fabrics of different materials can be employed. For example, a mesh fabric that has a textured weave can be used for the top layer. In this structure, cushioning is enhanced, and the chair is more decorative and attractive.
FIG. 5 illustrates a drum seat of another structure of the present invention. [0029]
In the structure of FIG. 5, [0030] ventilation holes 3 a and 4 a are formed in the frame body 3 and support frames 4, and an air supply pipe 8 is connected to the support frame 4 so that compressed air is introduced into the frame body 3 and support frames 4. With this structure, air jets out of the frame body 3 and support frames 4 or an air flow is generated from the ventilation holes 3 a of the frame body 3 and ventilation holes 4 a of the support frames 4 toward the back of the seat 1, and this air flow passes through the mesh fabric 6 and reaches the buttocks of the drummer, which forcibly minimizes perspiration.
In the above structure of FIG. 5, the ventilation holes are formed in both the [0031] frame body 3 and the support frames 4. However, the ventilation holes can be formed only in either one of these elements. When the ventilation holes are formed only in the frame body 3, the air supply pipe 8 can be connected to the frame body 3.
FIG. 6 illustrates a drum seat of yet another structure of the present invention. [0032]
In the structure of FIG. 6, an air blower [0033] 9 is attached by a suitable means to the supporting leg 2 (not shown in FIG. 6). When the air blower 9 is operated, it generates an air flow toward the back of the seat 1. This air flow goes through the mesh fabric 6 and reaches the buttocks of the drummer, which forcibly minimizes perspiration of the drummer.
As described above in detail, according to the drum chair of the present invention, a backing material or cushioning material are not used; and since a mesh fabric is used, perspiration at the buttocks of a drummer during drumming is minimized, which prevents the discomfort that would be experienced otherwise. Also, impact to the ischial bones, which prevents pain in the buttocks, is eliminated, so the drummer can continue playing comfortably, in a stable posture, even during extended sessions. [0034]
With a use of multiple layers of mesh fabric, the strength of the seat increases; and better cushioning and decorative appearance are obtained by way of employing a textured weave for the top layer mesh fabric. [0035]
Furthermore, in the present invention, an air flow is generated toward the back of the seat. Accordingly, perspiration at the buttocks of the drummer is forcibly minimized, and elevation of the body temperature of the drummer is suppressed, thus making drumming more comfortable. [0036]

Claims

1. A drum chair comprising a frame body formed in a shape of a seat and a breathable mesh fabric provided on said frame body.

2. The drum chair according to claim 1, wherein said breathable mesh fabric comprises multiple layers of mesh fabrics.

3. The drum chair according to claim 2, wherein a mesh fabric that is given a textured weave is provided over a top layer of said breathable mesh fabric.

4. A drum chair comprising a frame body, which is formed in a shape of a seat and provided with ventilation holes, and a breathable mesh fabric, which is provided on said frame body, wherein an air flow is generated by compressed air supplied to said frame body so that said air flow jets out of said ventilation holes toward a back of said breathable mesh fabric

5. A drum chair comprising:

a frame body formed in a shape of a seat,

a breathable mesh fabric provided on said frame body, and

an air blower provided under said breathable mesh fabric so that said air blower generates an air flow toward a back of said seat.