GB2526858A

GB2526858A - Cajon

Info

Publication number: GB2526858A
Application number: GB1410005.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Henderson
Original assignee: RUACH MUSIC Ltd
Current assignee: RUACH MUSIC Ltd
Priority date: 2014-06-05
Filing date: 2014-06-05
Publication date: 2015-12-09
Also published as: GB201410005D0

Abstract

A cajon 2 with a tonal adjustment mechanism comprises: a cuboid shaped box including a front panel (fig. 1, 4) defining a playing surface, a bottom panel 6, a top panel 8, first and second side panels 10, 12 and a rear panel 14. A plurality of snare wires 18 are mounted within the box on a support and at least one lever arm 22, 24 is pivotally mounted within the box for pivotal movement about an axis extending parallel to and spaced inwardly from the playing surface. Pivotal movement of the lever arm displaces the snare wires between an inoperative position, wherein the snare wires are spaced from the playing surface, and at least one operative position, wherein the snare wires rest against an inner face of the playing surface. The snare wires are adjustable between the inoperative and operative positions by rotation of a cam having a cam surface acting against the support upon which the snare wires are mounted. The cam is rotatable by means of an operating member located on the exterior of the box to adjust the position of the snare wires with respect to the playing surface between the inoperative and operative positions.

Description

This invention relates to a cajon and in particular to a cajon incorporating an improved tonal adjustment mechanism.

A cajon is a six sided, box-shaped percussion instrument, originally from Peru, having a front panel, typically formed from a sheet of plywood, defining a playing surface (referred to as a "tapS') of the instrument. The front panel is typically formed from thinner material than the remaining panels of the instrument. A sound hole is typically cut in a rear panel of the instrument.

A cajon is typically played from a position sitting on the instrument by slapping the playing surface with the hands or fingers. Different tones can typically be achieved by slapping the playing surface in different locations. Typically a base tone is produced near the centre of the playing surface while a higher pitch slap sound can be produced by tapping the playing face closer to the upper edge thereof.

Snare wires, typically formed from guitar or piano strings or a portion of a snare drum snare, are often mounted within the instrument, the wires typically resting against an inner face of the playing surface thereof, preferably adjacent an upper edge thereof, to produce a characteristic snare drum sound when the playing surface of the instrument is struck.

It is known to mount the snare wires on an adjustable support mechanism to allow the snare wires to be moved between an operative position, wherein the wires contact the inner face of the playing surface, and an inoperative position, wherein the snare wires are spaced from the playing surface, typically resting against a damping strip. A typical adjustable support mechanism comprises a rod extending between the side panels of the cajon to which the snare wires are attached, one end of the rod extending through a side wall of the cajon and terminating in an adjusment lever whereby the rod can be rotated to move the snare wires towards and away from the playing surface. A problem with such known support mechanisms is that the position of the rod may move accidentally when playing, changing the sound of the instrument.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cajon providing more reliable adjustment of the tonal qualities thereof while providing a greater range of available sounds to the player.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cajon comprising a cuboid shaped box including a front panel defining a playing surface, a bottom panel, a top panel, first and second side panels and a rear panel, a plurality of snare wires being mounted within the box, said snare wires being mounted on a support defined by, or located at, a distal end at least one lever arm pivotally mounted within the box for pivotal movement about an axis extending parallel to and spaced inwardly from the playing surface, such that pivotal movement of the at least one lever arm about said pivot axis displaces the snare wires between an inoperative position, wherein the snare wires are spaced from the playing surface, and at least one operative position, wherein the snare wires rest against an inner face of the playing surface, the snare wires being adjustable between said inoperative position and said at least one operative positions by rotation of a cam having a cam surface acting against the support upon which the snare wires are mounted, said cam being rotatable by means of an operating member located on the exterior of the box to adjust the position of the snare wires with respect to the playing surface between said inoperative and at least one operative positions.

Preferably a biasing means is provided for biasing the support against the cam surface of the cam. The biasing means may comprise a spring, more preferably a torsion spring acting against the at least one lever arm.

Preferably the cam surface of the cam defines a plurality of discrete adjustment positions corresponding respectively to said inoperative position of the snare wires and a plurality of operative positions thereof. Each discrete adjustment position may be defined by a recess or depression formed in said cam surface into which a portion of said support is received to retain the snare wires in each of said discrete adjustment positions.

The snare wires may extend away from the support in a direction substantially aligned with and/or parallel to the at least one lever arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the support for the snare wires may comprise a first support rod or beam provided at a distal end of said at least one lever arm and extending substantially parallel to the front panel of the cajon. Said first support rod or beam may engage the cam surface of the cam. Preferably said first support rod or beam extends between a pair of parallel, spaced apart lever arms. Said pair of lever arms may be located adjacent respective first and second side panels of the cajon on either side of the playing surface. The lever arms may be mounted on a common axle.

Preferably said cam is mounted on a second support rod or beam mounted parallel to said first support rod or beam, said first support rod or beam being located between said second support rod or beam and the playing surface. A first end of said second support rod or beam may extend through one of said first and second side panels of the cajon to be coupled to said operating member. Preferably said operating member is detachably mounted on said first end of the second support rod or beam to prevent damage to the operating member during transportation of the cajon. The first end of the second support rod or beam may be arranged to terminate flush with an outer surface of the respective side panel through which it passes. In one embodiment, the first end of the second support rod or beam may have a hole or bore therein or may be formed from a hollow tube, said operating member having a male connector insertable into the first end of the second support rod or beam and being adapted to be secured therein by suitable fastening means.

The second support rod or beam and said lever arms may be mounted on a frame located within the box. The frame may comprise an upper member engaging or attached to an inner face of the top panel, a lower member engaging or attached to an inner face of the bottom panel and first and second side panels enagaging or attached to inner sides of the first and second panels respectively. The frame may be formed from a metal, such as steel or aluminium, plastic or wood.

The cajon may further comprise a beater mounted on a third support rod or beam mounted parallel to the playing surface adjacent the bottom panel, one end of said third support rod or beam extending through one of said first and second side panels of the cajon, a pedal being located on the exterior of the cajon and being coupled to said one end of the third support rod or beam whereby the pedal may be depressed to rotate the third support rod or beam and urge the beater into contact with an inner surface of the playing surface. Preferably biasing means is provided for biasing the beater away from the playing surface. The pedal may be detachably mounted on said one end of the third support rod or beam to allow removal of the pedal when the cajon in being transported. Again, as with the second support rod or beam, the third support rod or beam may be arranged to terminate flush with an outer surface of the respective side panel through which it passes.

The third support rod or beam may mounted on said frame along with the second support rod or beam.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cajon comprising a cuboid shaped box including a front panel defining a playing surface, a bottom panel, a top panel, first and second side panels and a rear panel, wherein a beater is mounted on a beater support rod or beam mounted parallel to the playing surface adjacent the bottom panel, one end of said third support rod or beam extending through one of said first and second side panels of the cajon, a pedal being located on the exterior of the cajon and being coupled to said one end of the third support rod or beam whereby the pedal may be depressed to rotate the third support rod or beam and urge the beater into contact with an inner surface of the playing surface.

Preferably a biasing means is provided for biasing the beater away from the playing surface.

The pedal may detachably mounted on said one end of the beater support rod or beam.

A cajon in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a front view of a cajon in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the cajon of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the cajon of Figure 1 with the front panel removed; Figure 4 is a sectional side view of the cajon of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a side view of the cajon of Figure 1.

As illustrated in the drawings, a cajon 2 in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention comprising a cuboid shaped box formed from six ply-wood panels, including a front panel 4 defining a playing surface or tapa, a bottom panel 6, a top panel 8, first and second side panels 10,12 and a rear panel 14. A sound hole 16 is formed in the rear panel 14.

The front panel/playing surface 4 may be formed from thinner and/or different material than the remaining panels.

While the cajon has been described as being formed from wood, in particular ply-wood, it is envisaged that other materials may be used for the playing surface and/or the remaining panels of the instrument.

A plurality of snare wires 18 are mounted within the box for selectively engaging an iner face of the playing surface 4 to enhance the tonal qualities of the sounds produced by the instrument.

In the embodiment shown, said snare wires 18 are mounted on a first support rod 20 supported on a pair of parallel lever arms 22,24 located adjacent the inner faces of respective first and second side panels 10,12 of the cajon, on either side of the playing surface 4. The lever arms 22,24 are mounted on a common axle 26 extending between first and second side members 28,29 of a rectangular support frame 30 mounted within the cajon, said axle 26 being rotatable about an axis extending parallel to the playing surface 4.

The support frame 30 comprising a reactangular framework formed from metal struts including upper and lower members 31a,31b attached to the inner faces of the top and bottom panels 8,6 of the cajon respectively and linking upper and lower ends of said first and second side members 28,29, attached to the inners faces of the first and second side panels 10,12 respectively.

The snare wires 18 are mounted on the first support rod 20 to extend away from the axle 26 in a direction substantially aligned with the lever arms 22,24, radially from the axle 26, such that pivotal movement of the lever arms 22,24, by rotation of the axle 26 about its pivot axis, moves the snare wires 18 between an inoperative position, wherein the snare wires 18 are spaced from the playing surface 4 and rest against a damper strip 32, and plurality of operative positions (one of which is shown in Figure 3), wherein the snare wires 18 rest against an inner face of the playing surface 4.

The snare wires 18 are adjustable between said inoperative position and said plurality of operative positions by rotation of a cam 34 having a cam surface acting against the first support rod 20, said cam 34 being mounted on a second support rod 36 rotatable by means of an operating lever 38 located on the exterior of the cajon 2 to adjust the position of the snare wires 18 with respect to the playing surface 4 between said inoperative and said plurality of operative positions, as will be described below in more detail.

The second support rod 36 is mounted between the first and second side members 28,29 of the rectangular support frame 30, to extend parallel to the first support rod and to the playing surface 4, such that the first support rod 20 is positioned between the second support rod 36 and the playing surface 4.

Biasing means, in the form of torsion springs 37 acting on the lever arms 22,24, are provided for biasing the first support rod 20 against the cam surface of the cam 34, away from the playing surface 4. In an alternative embodiment, the biasing means may comprise a tension spring acting between the first support rod 20 and the second support rod 36 to pull the first support rod 20 towards the second support rod 36.

The cam surface of the cam 34 defines a plurality of discrete adjustment positions corresponding respectively to said inoperative position of the snare wires 18 and a plurality of operative positions thereof, each discrete adjustment position being defined by a respective recess or depression 40 formed in said cam surface into which the first support rod 20 is received to retain the snare wires 18 in each of said discrete adjustment positions.

A first end of the second support rod 36 extends through the first side panel 10 of the cajon, the operating lever 38 being coupled with the first end of the second support rod 36 so that the operating lever 38 can be manipulated to rotate the cam 34 in order to adjust the snare wires 18 between their inoperative and operative positions by moving the first support rod 20 between the respective recesses 40 in the cam surface. Thus the tonal qualities of the cajon can be readily adjusted by moving the position of the snare wires 18 with respect to the playing surface by rotation of the operating lever 38, while ensuring that the snare wires 18 remain in the desired position during playing.

The cajon further comprises a beater 40 mounted on a third support rod 42 mounted between the first and second side members 28,29 of the rectangular support frame 30, parallel to the playing surface 4 and adjacent the bottom panel 6.

A first end of the third support rod 42 extends through the first side panel 10 of the cajon 2, a pedal 44 being located on the exterior of the cajon and being coupled to the first end of the third support rod 42 whereby a distal end of the pedal 44 may be depressed by the player's heel to rotate the pedal and thus third support rod 42, urging the beater 40 into contact with an inner face of the playing surface 4 in the manner of a base drum. A biasing means, such as a torsion spring 46 (or alternatively a tension spring), is provided for biasing the beater 40 away from the playing surface 4. A stop (not shown) may be provided for delimiting the movement of the beater 40 away from the playing surface 4 to define an at rest position of the beater 40, the spring 46 urging the beater against the stop. The stop may be formed from a resilient or elastically deformable material for damping impact of they beater 40 against the stop. In a preferred embodiment, at least one projection is mounted on the third support rod to extending radially away therefrom, preferably adjacent the first and or second side panel of the cajon, said projection engaging the stop when the beater is in its rest position away from the playing surface.

Both the operating lever 38 and the pedal 44 are preferably detachably mounted on the cooperating end of the respective support rod 36,42 to allow removal thereof when the cajon 2 in being transported. Preferably the first ends of both the second support rod 36 and the third support rod 42 are arranged to terminate flush with an outer surface of the first side panel 10 through which they pass to present a smooth external finish to the instrument during transportation, preventing damage to the respective first ends of the second and third support rods 36,42 and preventing them from causing damage or injury.

In one embodiment, the first ends of the second and third support rods 36,42 extending through the first side panel 10 of the cajon 2 may have a respective hole or bore therein or may be formed from a hollow tube, the operating lever 38 and pedal 44 each having a male connection member insertable into the end of the respective support rod 36,42 and being adapted to be secured therein by a suitable securing mechanism. For example, the respective male connection member may comprise first and second coaxially arranged parts having angled cooperating faces adapted to slide past one another, causing the first and second parts to become axially offset with respect to one another when axially pulled togther by means of a threaded fastener.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A cajon comprising a cuboid shaped box including a front panel defining a playing surface, a bottom panel, a top panel, first and second side panels and a rear panel, a plurality of snare wires being mounted within the box, said snare wires being mounted on a support defined by, or located at, a distal end at least one lever arm pivotally mounted within the box for pivotal movement about an axis extending parallel to and spaced inwardly from the playing surface, such that pivotal movement of the at least one lever arm about said pivot axis displaces the snare wires between an inoperative position, wherein the snare wires are spaced from the playing surface, and at least one operative position, wherein the snare wires rest against an inner face of the playing surface, the snare wires being adjustable between said inoperative position and said at least one operative positions by rotation of a cam having a cam surface acting against the support upon which the snare wires are mounted, said cam being rotatable by means of an operating member located on the exterior of the box to adjust the position of the snare wires with respect to the playing surface between said inoperative and at least one operative positions.
2. A cajon as claimed in claim 1, wherein biasing means are provided for biasing the support against the cam surface of the cam.
3. A cajon as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cam surface of the cam defines a plurality of discrete adjustment positions corresponding respectively to said inoperative position of the snare wires and a plurality of operative positions thereof.
4. A cajon as claimed in claim 3, wherein each discrete adjustment position is defined by a recess or depression formed in said cam surface into which a portion of said support is received to retain the snare wires in each of said discrete adjustment positions.
5. A cajon as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the snare wires extend away from the support in a direction substantially aligned with and/or parallel to the at least one lever arm.
6. A cajon as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said support for the snare wires comprises a first support rod or beam provided at a distal end of said at least one lever arm and extending substantially parallel to the front panel of the cajon.
7. A cajon as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first support rod or beam engages the cam surface of the cam.
8. A cajon as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said first support rod or beam extends between a pair of parallel, spaced apart lever arms.
9. A cajon as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pair of lever arms are located adjacent respective first and second side panels of the cajon on either side of the playing surface.
10. A cajon as claimed in claim 9, wherein said lever arms are mounted on a common axle.
11. A cajon as claimed in any of claims 6 to 10, wherein said cam is mounted on a second support rod or beam mounted parallel to said first support rod or beam, said first support rod or beam being located between said second support rod or beam and the playing surface.
12. A cajon as claimed in claim 11, wherein a first end of said second support rod or beam extends through one of said first and second side panels of the cajon to be coupled to the operating member.
13. A cajon as claimed in claim 12, wherein said operating member is detachably mounted on said first end of the second support rod or beam.
14. A cajon as claimed in any of claims 11 to 13, wherein said second support rod or beam and said lever arms are mounted on a frame located within the box.
15. A cajon as claimed in claim 14, wherein said frame comprises an upper member engaging or attached to an inner face of the top panel, a lower member engaging or attached to an inner face of the bottom panel and first and second side panels enagaging or attached to inner sides of the first and second panels respectively.
16. A cajon as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprises a beater mounted on a third support rod or beam mounted parallel to the playing surface adjacent the bottom panel, one end of said third support rod or beam extending through one of said first and second side panels of the cajon, a pedal being located on the exterior of the cajon and being coupled to said one end of the third support rod or beam whereby the pedal may be depressed to rotate the third support rod or beam and urge the beater into contact with an inner surface of the playing surface.
17. A cajon as claimed in claim 16, wherein biasing means is provided for biasing the beater away from the playing surface.
18. A cajon as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein said pedal is detachably mounted on said one end of the third support rod or beam.
19. A cajon as claimed in any of claims 16 to 18, when dependent upon claim 14 or 15, wherein said third support rod or beam is mounted on said frame.
20. A cajon comprising a cuboid shaped box including a front panel defining a playing surface, a bottom panel, a top panel, first and second side panels and a rear panel, wherein a beater is mounted on a beater support rod or beam mounted parallel to the playing surface adjacent the bottom panel, one end of said third support rod or beam extending through one of said first and second side panels of the cajon, a pedal being located on the exterior of the cajon and being coupled to said one end of the third support rod or beam whereby the pedal may be depressed to rotate the third support rod or beam and urge the beater into contact with an inner surface of the playing surface.
21. A cajon as claimed in claim 20, wherein biasing means is provided for biasing the beater away from the playing surface.
22. A cajon as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21, wherein said pedal is detachably mounted on said one end of the beater support rod or beam.
23. A cajon substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.