Adaptable percussion accessory for a percussion tool

The present invention is a percussion accessory for attachment to a percussion tool, such as a drum stick. The percussion tool has an attachment region, and the percussion accessory is provided for creating musical sounds through the use of percussion tool by a user. The percussion accessory has a attachment means for attaching the percussion accessory to the attachment area of the percussion tool; a support attached to and extending from the attachment means; and, a sound device, such as a jingle, moveably attached to the support, wherein the sound device will move to create the musical sounds when the user uses the percussion tool. The percussion accessory also has a muffle device. The muffle device has a muffle and a lever. A muffling material is attached to the top of the muffle for engaging the sound device. The muffle device is pivotally attached to the support, wherein when the user presses the lever, the muffling material will engage the sound device for muffling the sound device.

DESCRIPTION
 1. Technical Field
 The present invention generally relates to percussion accessory
 instruments. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device
 adaptable for attachment to a percussion tool, scu as a drum stick, for
 creating percussion accessory sounds.
 2. Background of the Invention
 Presently, there are numerous percussion accessories and accessory
 instruments, such as tambourines, cow bells, maracas, triangles, and other
 which are used to add flavor to the rest of the percussion sounds and
 music within a musical work, such as a sound recording. Typically, these
 types of percussion accessories are held in a user's hand and are shaken,
 struck with the user's other hand, struck with a drum stick or other
 percussion tool, struck into the user's leg, or a combination of the two
 or more of the above. However, when a user must use his or her hand or
 hands to play the percussion tool, those hands are no longer available to
 play other percussion instruments, percussion accessories, hold other
 percussion tools, or play other instruments generally, such as a keyboard.
 One prior percussion accessory is set of jingle bells that are attached to
 a strap which can be worn around a users hand. This type of percussion
 accessory uses up one of the users hands, and prevents the user from using
 this hand for other percussion accessories or tools, or other instruments.
 Another prior percussion accessory is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,939,
 to Barker, entitled "Hand Held Cymbal Device." The Barker patent is
 directed to a cymbal device for use with one hand, including a shaft
 extending along an axis and two cymbals coaxially mounted on the shaft so
 that one of the cymbals is moveable relative to the other. The Barker
 patent further discloses a trigger mechanism coupled to the shaft for
 displacing the moveable cymbal relative to the other cymbal to bring the
 cymbals inito engagement with one another. The Barker patent also
 discloses that a handle is secured to the shaft at a position enabling a
 user to grasp the handle and actuate the trigger mechanism with one hand.
 This device allows for the cymbals to be played with one hand while having
 the cymbal device mobile, instead of the cymbals being on a well known
 stationary "hi-hat" stand. However, this ends up taking away the use of at
 least one hand, which hand would otherwise be available if a stationary
 "hi-hat" was used.
 The present invention is directed to solving these and other problems.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention is a percussion accessory for attachment to a
 percussion tool having an attachment region. The percussion accessory is
 provided for creating musical sounds through the use of percussion tool by
 a user. The percussion accessory has an attachment means for attaching the
 percussion accessory to the attachment region of the percussion tool; a
 support attached to and extending from the attachment means; and, a sound
 device moveably attached to the support, wherein the sound device will
 move to create the musical sounds when the user uses the percussion tool.
 The attachment means can have a first fastener and a second fastener. The
 first fastener can be attached to the support toward a first end of the
 support, and the second fastener can be attached to the support toward a
 second end of the support.
 The sound device can take the form of a jingle, string beads, or some other
 musical device. In one form of the present invention, the sound device has
 a first disk jingle generally within in a first plane, the first disk
 jingle having a first central bore; and, a second disk jingle generally
 within a second plane, the second disk jingle having a second central
 bore. The percussion accessory also has an attachment pin. The fist and
 second planes of the first and second disk jingles can be generally
 parallel and the pin can be attached to the support and extend through the
 first and second central bores of the first and second disk jingles
 generally aligning the first and second bores. The first and second disk
 jingles contact one another to create the musical sounds when the user
 uses the percussion tool.
 The support can have a first support arm extending generally below the
 sound device; and, a second support arm extending generally above the
 sound device. The pin can extend from the first support arm to the second
 support arm, and the first and second jingle disks can be located between
 the first and second support arms. Multiple sound devices in this
 arrangement can be used within the percussion accessory, and are moveably
 attached to the support. Multiple rows of sound devices can be used within
 the percussion accessory as well.
 The percussion accessory can also has a muffle device. The muffle device
 has a muffle with a top, and a lever. The muffle device can be pivotally
 attached to the support for muffling the sound device when the user
 presses on the lever. The muffle device can also have a muffling material
 attached to the top of the muffle for engaging the sound device. When the
 user presses the lever, the muffle, and more particularly, the muffling
 material, will engage the sound device for muffling the sound device.
 In another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is a
 jingle accessory for attachment to a percussion tool having an attachment
 region. The jingle accessory is provided for creating musical sounds
 through the use of percussion tool by a user. The jingle accessory has a
 fastener for attaching the jingle accessory to the attachment region of
 the percussion tool; a support attached to and extending from the
 fastener; and, a jingle moveably attached to the support. The jingle moves
 to create the musical sounds when the user uses the percussion tool. Other
 features can be provided as mentioned above.
 In a further embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is
 a jingle accessory for attachment to a drum stick having an attachment
 region. The jingle accessory is provided for creating musical sounds
 through the use of the drum stick by a user. The jingle accessory has a
 fastener for attaching the jingle accessory to the attachment region of
 the drum stick; a support attached to and extending from the fastener;
 and, a jingle moveably attached to the support. The jingle moves to create
 the musical sounds when the user uses the drum stick.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
 With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, one embodiment of the present invention is
 shown. In particular, a percussion accessory 2 is provided for attachment
 to a percussion tool 4 having attachment regions 6, 8. The percussion
 accessory 2 is provided for creating musical sounds through the use of the
 percussion tool 2 by a user. In the particular form of the invention shown
 in FIGS. 1 and 3, the percussion accessory 2 is a jingle accessory 2 for
 attachment to a drum stick 4. Another embodiment of the present invention
 is shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. A further embodiment of the present
 invention is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2
 and the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 also include a housing or
 cover 50, as discussed below. The jingle accessory 2 makes musical sounds
 similar to a tambourine. The jingle accessory 2 has a fastener 10 for
 attaching the jingle accessory 2 to the attachment region 6 of the drum
 stick 4. A support 12 is attached to and extending from the fasteners 6,
 8. A sound device 14 is moveably attached to the support 12. The sound
 device 14 moves to create the musical sounds when the user uses the drum
 stick 4. It has been found that when the user uses the drum stick to play,
 for instance, a ride cymbal, the jingle accessory makes musical sounds
 that are in close to perfect syncopation with the cymbal playing.
 Two fasteners 10, 11 may be needed to attach the jingle accessory to the
 drum stick. The first fastener 10 can be attached to the support 12 toward
 a first end of the support 12, and the second fastener 11 can be attached
 to the support 12 toward a second end of the support 12. Each fastener 10,
 11 can be adjustable to accept different sized percussion tools 4, such as
 different sized (thickness) drum sticks 4. Thus, the jingle accessory can
 be used with conventional drum sticks 4 and other percussion tools 4. The
 fasteners 10, 11 can take the form of a clamp 10, 11 or some other form of
 fastening or attachment device.
 As shown in all of the FIGS, the sound device 14 can take the form of a
 jingle 14, string beads (not shown), or some other musical device capable
 of making musical sounds. In one form of the present invention, the sound
 device has a first disk jingle 16 generally within in a first plane, the
 first disk jingle 16 having a first central bore 18; and, a second disk
 jingle 20 generally within a second plane, the second disk jingle 20
 having a second central bore 22.
 The jingle accessory 2 also has an attachment pin 24. The fist and second
 planes of the first and second disk jingles 16, 20 can be generally
 parallel and the pin 24 can be attached to the support and extend through
 the first and second central bores 18, 22 of the first and second disk
 jingles 16, 20 generally aligning the first and second bores 18, 22, as
 shown. The first and second disk jingles 16, 20 contact one another to
 create the musical sounds when the user uses the drum stick 4.
 The support 12 can have a first support arm 40 extending generally below
 the sound device 14; and, a second support arm 42 extending generally
 above the sound device 14. The pin 24 can extend from the first support
 arm 40 to the second support arm 42, and the first and second jingle disks
 16, 20 can be located between the first and second support arms 40,42. The
 vertical spacing 43, as generally shown in FIG. 5, between the first and
 second support arms is preferably about 3/8 to 1/2 inches, and more
 particularly, about 5/16 to 10/16 inches. This vertical spacing 43 may be
 important to achieving proper musical syncopation during use. The size of
 the jingles will determine the appropriate vertical spacing 43, as one of
 ordinary skill would understand. As shown, multiple sound devices 14,
 similar to a tambourine, can be used within the jingle accessory 2, and
 are moveably attached to the support 12. Also as shown, multiple rows of
 sound devices 14 can be used within the jingle accessory 2 can be used as
 well.
 The jingle accessory 2 can also has a muffle device 30. The muffle device
 30 is used to muffle or mute the sound device(s) 14. The muffle device 30
 has a muffle 32 with a top side thereof. The muffle device 30 also has a
 lever 34 attached to a bar 36, which in turn is attached to the muffle 32.
 The muffle device 30 can be pivotally attached to the support 12 for
 muffling the sound device 14 when the user presses on the lever 34. A
 pivot 38, around which the muffle device 30 pivots, can be moveably
 attached to the support 12. The muffle device can be biased, through a
 spring or other biasing mechanism, for keeping the jingles 14 muffled, or
 biased in the other direction for allowing the jingles 14 to make musical
 sounds. The user would need to press against the lever 34 in the opposite
 direction to the biasing direction in order to actuate the muffle device
 30 and achieve the respective appropriate result (non-muffling or
 muffling, depending on the bias direction). The muffle device 30 can also
 have a muffling material 39, such as rubber, attached to the top of the
 muffle 32 for engaging the sound device(s) 14. When the user presses the
 lever 34, the muffle 32, and more particularly, the muffling material,
 will engage the sound device(s) 14 for muffling the sound device(s) 14. As
 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the jingle accessory 2 can also have a upper
 muffle material 60 located and attached underneath the second support arm
 42, and located above the second disk jingle 20. When the muffle device 30
 is pressed against the sound device(s) 14, the upper or second disk jingle
 20 is pressed against the upper muffle material, for enhancing the
 muffling or muting of the sound device(s) 12. It should be appreciated
 that the upper muffle material 60 can be placed within the jingle
 accessory 2 in relation to, and/or above, all of the sound devices 14 for
 enhanced muffling or muting of all of the sound device(s) 14.
 The jingle accessory 2 can also have a housing or cover 50, for example
 made of plastic, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 7, and 8. The housing or cover 50
 can be provided for protection of the rest of the jingle accessory 2, for
 aesthetic purposes, or both. Many of the other elements of the present
 invention can be made of durable plastic or light-weight metal, so as to
 end up with a durable, yet light-weight jingle accessory 2.
 It should be appreciated that the jingle accessory 2 allows a user to add a
 "tambourine effect" within the user's drumming. Thus, no third hand is
 needed to perform the "tambourine effect" while the user is drumming.
 While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred
 embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various
 changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements
 thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition,
 many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material
 to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential
 scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited
 to a particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
 carrying out the invention, but that the invention will include all
 embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.