Music – Instruments – Drum and cymbal beaters
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-22
2001-08-07
Ro, Bentsu (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Drum and cymbal beaters
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271451
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a drumstick, more particularly to an improved drumstick comprising an essentially frictionless fulcrum that enables a percussionist to manipulate the drumstick with greater speed and precision than conventional drumsticks.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It is well known in the art that numerous improvements have been made to drumsticks since their creation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,143 issued to Irwin H. Brochstein, discloses a drumstick with a hollow portion that provides a means for producing a mellow tone quality, not otherwise present when the drumstick is used on a percussion surface.
Another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,260 issued to Anthony F. LaLonde, describes a drumstick incorporating an adjustable center of gravity for optimum balance. This drumstick contains a hollow interior containing an elongated threaded spindle that extends nearly the entire length of the drumstick. Adjustably mounted on the spindle are one or more weights that can be repositioned on the spindle to effectively adjust the balance of the drumstick.
Still another patent directed to the improvement of a drumstick is U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,566 issued to David J. Hughlett et al. that discloses a rotationally balanced drumstick. This patent discloses a drumstick having a weight, preferably a heavy weight such as a lead weight, inserted into a hole at the butt portion of the drumstick that is fixed in place. The fixed weight provides rotational balance to the drumstick.
Still yet another patent directed to an improvement to a drumstick is U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,768 issued to Donald J. Swift that discloses a multipurpose drum ball joint simulator. This patent teaches a drumstick having a rubber or other elastic material ball mounted on the stick's shaft so as to provide a ball grip that fits in the palm of the percussionist's hand. This ball grip provides additional grip to the stick and thus enhances the performance of the stick.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a drumstick having a means for frictionless movement of the drumstick, which is an essential movement in drumming. In fact, the addition of weights, spindles and ball grips actually increase the friction between the fingers/hands of the percussionist and the drumstick and thus decrease the speed in which a percussionist can achieve while using that drumstick.
In these respects, the reduced friction drumstick of the present invention departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily designed to reduce the friction between the fingers/hands of the percussionist and the drumstick.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The drumstick according to the present invention comprises an elongated tubular body having a first end and a second end, each of which are at opposite ends of the elongated tubular body. Continuous with the first end of the elongated tubular body is a striking tip. Continuous with the second end of the elongated tubular body is the butt portion of the drumstick. The drumstick also comprises a pivot means that is swivelably attached to the elongated tubular body between the first and second ends of the drumstick.
The pivot means of the drumstick comprises a first member and a second member that are attached to the elongated body by a pivot point. The pivot point can be a rod shaped member that extends from one member of the pivot means through the drumstick to the second member of the pivot means. In other words, the first and second members of the pivot means are attached to opposite sides of the elongated tubular body and pivot about the pivot point.
The pivot point can be a pin shaped member having a circular cross-section and extending within semi-circular transverse slots defined in the first and second members of the pivot means and a point of attachment on the elongated tubular body.
The pivot means is connected to the drumstick in such a way that the first end of elongated tubular body of the drumstick moves in an opposite direction in relationship to the front portion of the pivot means. In other words, when the front portion of the pivot means moves above the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular body, the first end of the elongated tubular body moves below the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular body. Similarly, when the front portion of the pivot means moves below the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular body, the first end of the elongated tubular body moves above the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular body.
A rapid succession of these positions, i.e., above the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular body to below the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular body, allows the percussionist to move the drumstick in a rapid movement.
In another embodiment, the first and second members of the pivot means are pivotally mounted within a cavity defined in the elongated tubular body of the drumstick so that their outer surfaces are flush with the rest of the elongated tubular body of the drumstick.
In still another embodiment, the pivot means further comprises a plurality of ball bearing units that are axially retained and concentrically connected to the pivot point. This arrangement enables the pivot pin and thus the rest of the drumstick to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the pivot means.
In another embodiment of the invention, the pivot means is continuous with the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular body and comprises a ball having a circular cross-section and first and second grip members. Each of the first and second grip members have an outside surface that faces away from the ball and an inside surface that faces towards the ball. At least a portion of the inside surfaces are in contact with the ball so that the first and second grip members swivel about the ball in a circular motion.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the grip is an elongated tube having a longitudinally positioned bore wherein the ball is set forth within the bore. This arrangement allows the elongated grip to move about the ball allowing the percussionist to hold the grip from any position, i.e., from the top to the bottom, side to side or any angle desired.
A cross section of the elongated tubular body reveals a center portion of the ball that attaches to the center portion of the elongated body by a front support member and a rear support member. The front portion of the first and second grip members move in an opposite direction compared the first end of the elongated tubular body.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 368110 (1996-03-01), Roos
patent: 4462296 (1984-07-01), Heiskell
patent: 4651617 (1987-03-01), Schwartz
patent: 4702143 (1987-10-01), Brochstein
patent: 4905566 (1990-03-01), Hughlett et al.
patent: 5341716 (1994-08-01), Donohoe
patent: 5477768 (1995-12-01), Swift
patent: 5503056 (1996-04-01), Evans
patent: 6028260 (2000-02-01), Lalonde
Lockett Kim
Ro Bentsu
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