Patent ID: 6307138
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: G10D

Abstract:
A mallet for use by a percussionist for playing a percussion instrument comprising:an elongated cylindrical shaft having at opposite ends of the shaft a first percussion instrument mallet head adapted to produce a musical tone when struck against the percussion instrument and a second percussion instrument mallet head adapted to produce a musical tone when struck against the percussion instrument;the first head comprising a fibrous material; andthe second head comprising a non-fibrous material harder than the fibrous material;the shaft comprising a first cylindrical shaft portion proximate the first head and a second cylindrical shaft portion proximate the second head, wherein one of the first and second shaft portions is of greater diameter than the other shaft portion,wherein where the first shaft portion and second shaft portion abut each other between the heads, the differences in diameters of the shaft portions form a ridge;wherein when the percussionist strikes the instrument with the first head, the second shaft portion is held and when the percussionist strikes the instrument with the second head, the first shaft portion is held,whereby the ridge formed by the differences in diameters of the shaft portions and the different diameters of the shaft portions, coact to provide the percussionist with a sufficient tactile signal so that a determination can be made by the percussionist as to the head that is being used.