Provided is a drumstick being excellent in durability and enabling a drum performer to achieve a more sensitive performance with vibration transmitted to the drumstick. A drumstick includes: a first rod-like portion, which is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a tip and a shoulder; and a second rod-like portion, which is coupled to the first rod-like portion, and includes a grip, wherein the first rod-like portion has a cavity defined therein so as to extend along an axial direction and over an entire length of the first rod-like portion, and wherein the cavity is open to an outside at an opening portion formed at a distal end of the tip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drumstick for beating a drum or a cymbal for a performance.

2. Description of the Related Art

Drumsticks which have hitherto been available on the main stream are made of wood such as hickory, maple, or oak. However, the drumsticks made of wood have a problem in that splinters are formed due to use over time, and such problem may cause scattering of wood chips. As a result, it may be troublesome to clean out wood chips that fall on a floor of a stage. Further, wood is a natural object, and hence directions and intensities of fibers are not uniform. Thus, there is a problem in that cracks may be suddenly formed and cause breakage of the drumstick. Accordingly, in general, a drum performer assumes in advance that drumsticks are to be broken, and thus owns a plurality of spare drumsticks. Further, there is also a problem in that the drumsticks made of wood may be bent due to humidity. Further, a gravity center of the drumstick made of wood is determined based on a length, a thickness, and the like of the drumstick itself. Thus, gravity centers of drumsticks having the same length and thickness cannot be controlled.

In view of such problems, in recent years, drumsticks made of a synthetic resin are proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 09-114452). Formation of splinters due to use over time does not occur in the drumsticks made of a synthetic resin. Further, the drumsticks made of a synthetic resin are significantly improved in durability as compared to the drumsticks made of wood, and are not bent due to humidity. Further, wood is not consumed, and hence environmental destruction can be prevented.

Meanwhile, in some cases, at the time of performing a musical piece, a drum performer can scarcely hear a sound of own musical instrument being performed on due to sounds of other musical instruments and cheers of audiences. Thus, many drum performers perform while listening to click sounds generated by a metronome with a headphone or the like. Accordingly, even when other musical instruments or cheers of audiences are present, a drum performer can perform on the drum with an appropriate rhythmical sense, thereby being capable of stabilizing a rhythm during the performance.

Further, under the circumstance in which the drum performer can scarcely hear the sound of the own musical instrument being performed on, the drum performer grasps and controls the sound of the own musical instrument being performed on by relying on, in addition to the click sounds, vibration transmitted to hands at the time of beating the drum. That is, in order to maximally exert the performance, the vibration transmitted to hands at the time of beating with drumsticks is important. Thus, in order to achieve a wider variety of tones and expressions of sounds, it is required that the vibration transmitted to hands and the sound generated from the drum at the time of beating with the drumsticks stably match each other, and it is preferred that drumstick be excellent in transmission of the vibration.

However, the drumsticks made of a synthetic resin which are widely available in recent years have a high hardness because a synthetic resin is used as a material, and may generate sharp sounds which are not intended by a drum performer, depending on a way of beating the drum. The drumsticks made of a synthetic resin are excellent in terms of durability and a change in condition due to humidity, and hence there are certain needs for such drumsticks. However, due to the difficulty in handling, it is required that the vibration be felt more finely in order to achieve the quality of the sound played by a drum performer. Further, the related-art drumsticks are not accurate in transmission of the vibration, and a sensitive performance cannot be achieved. Thus, a drum performer is required to prepare toms having different sizes and drumsticks having different thicknesses or the like and use different toms and drumsticks depending on musical pieces to be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and has an object to provide a drumstick enabling a drum performer to achieve a more sensitive performance with vibration transmitted to the drumstick, being excellent in durability, and further being capable of expressing various tones without need for preparation of a plurality of toms and drumsticks.

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided a drumstick for a performance, including: a first rod-like portion, which is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a tip and a shoulder; and a second rod-like portion, which is coupled to the first rod-like portion, and includes a grip, wherein the first rod-like portion has a cavity defined therein so as to extend along an axial direction and over an entire length of the first rod-like portion, and the cavity is open to an outside at an opening portion formed at a distal end of the tip.

According to the drumstick of the present invention, a resonance frequency generated at the time of beating with the drumstick can be controlled by suitably changing a shape and a size of the cavity defined in the first rod-like portion. Accordingly, the vibration transmitted to a hand via the drumstick and the sound generated from the drum can match each other. Thus, even when a drum is performed on under a circumstance in which the sound of the own musical instrument cannot be heard, a more sensitive performance can be achieved.

Further, the sensitive performance can be achieved, and hence it becomes easier for a drum performer to make changes in strength at the time of beating toms and cymbals, thereby being capable of widening a range of tones and a dynamic range without preparing toms having different sizes and drumsticks having different thicknesses or the like.

Further, the gravity center of the drumstick itself can be controlled by changing a shape and a size of the cavity defined in the first rod-like portion. Accordingly, a drum performer can select a drumstick that suits the own preference, thereby being capable of achieving a more sensitive performance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Now, a drumstick according to the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1is an overall view for illustrating a drumstick according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The drumstick1is to be used at the time of beating a drum or a cymbal. The drumstick1is formed of a first rod-like portion2and a second rod-like portion3coupled to the first rod-like portion2. InFIG.1, the first rod-like portion2is illustrated in a sectional view. In this embodiment, the first rod-like portion2and the second rod-like portion3are coupled to each other with an adhesive. However, a change in design may be suitably adopted as long as the first rod-like portion2and the second rod-like portion3are firmly coupled to each other, for example, by coupling with a pin.

The first rod-like portion2is made of a synthetic resin material. Thus, the first rod-like portion2is higher in durability and less liable to be broken as compared to a case in which the drumstick1is made of wood. The first rod-like portion2of this embodiment is produced by injection molding with a mold.

The first rod-like portion2is formed of a tip4, a shoulder5, and a coupling portion24, which are formed so as to be continuous with each other. The shoulder5has a conical shape that expands as extending toward a rear end side of the first rod-like portion2. The tip4having an opening portion41is provided at a distal end portion of the shoulder5. That is, the tip4is provided at the most distal end of the first rod-like portion2. The tip4is formed as a substantially spherical body, and is to be used as a beating part at the time of performing on the drum. Thus, the sound of the drum can be played by beating a batter head of the drum with the tip4. The shape of the tip4may be suitably changed in design, for example, to a circular shape, a rectangular shape, a tear-drop shape, a triangular shape, or a tipless form.

Further, on the rear end side of the first rod-like portion2, there is provided the coupling portion24that continues to a rear end side of the shoulder5. The coupling portion24has a fitting hole23for coupling the second rod-like portion3.

The first rod-like portion2has a cavity25defined therein. The cavity25has an inner diameter that is uniform along an axial direction of the first rod-like portion2. The cavity25is open to an outside at the opening portion41formed at the distal end of the tip4. Meanwhile, a rear end portion of the cavity25communicates with the fitting hole23for coupling the first rod-like portion2and the second rod-like portion3to each other. With the presence of the cavity25, air inside the cavity25serves as a spring to induce aerial vibration at the time of beating the drum. Thus, resonance of an air column is controlled through suitable adjustment of a length, a sectional area, a volume, and an inner diameter of the cavity25so that the aerial vibration can resonate at a predetermined frequency. The cavity25is molded with a slide pin provided in the mold at the time of the injection molding. The shape of the cavity25is not particularly limited as long as the cavity25communicates with the opening portion41formed in the tip4, and may be any other shape, for example, a tapered shape having an inner diameter that gradually increases.

The second rod-like portion3is coupled to the first rod-like portion2at the coupling portion24. The second rod-like portion3is made of wood such as hickory, maple, or oak. The second rod-like portion3includes a grip, and thus serves as a holding part of the drumstick1. At the most rear end of the second rod-like portion3, a grip end cap32is provided. A circular protrusion31is provided at a distal end of the second rod-like portion3. The circular protrusion31is inserted into the fitting hole23of the first rod-like portion2. The second rod-like portion3is made of wood in this embodiment, but may be made of a synthetic resin.

Further, as illustrated inFIG.2, the second rod-like portion3may be formed of an intermediate rod-like portion6and a grip7. The intermediate rod-like portion6is made of wood such as hickory, maple, or oak. The intermediate rod-like portion6is provided on the distal end side of the second rod-like portion3. At a distal end of the intermediate rod-like portion6, the circular protrusion31is provided. Similarly to the example ofFIG.1, the circular protrusion31is inserted into the fitting hole23of the first rod-like portion2. The intermediate rod-like portion6and the first rod-like portion2are coupled to each other with, for example, an adhesive. The intermediate rod-like portion6can generate a soft sound similarly to a drumstick made of wood when it is used at the time of performing a rim-shot.

The grip7is made of a synthetic resin. The grip7is provided at the rear end of the second rod-like portion3. At the most rear end of the grip7, a grip end cap32is provided. The grip7and the intermediate rod-like portion6are coupled to each other with, for example, an adhesive. In the drumstick1, the first rod-like portion2and the grip7are made of a synthetic resin, and the intermediate rod-like portion6is made of wood. Thus, a synthetic resin part occupies a large proportion in the overall configuration of the drumstick1. Accordingly, when the second rod-like portion3is formed of the intermediate rod-like portion6and the grip7, consumption of a wood material to be used for forming the drumstick can be minimized.

Next, a method of use of the drumstick1according to the first embodiment is described.

At the time of performing on a drum set using the drumstick1, the second rod-like portion3is gripped with a hand, and a face of a drum is beaten with the tip4of the drumstick1.

When the drum is beaten with the drumstick1, vibration is generated from the tip4beating the drum. The drumstick1has the cavity25defined in the first rod-like portion2. Thus, when the vibration is generated in the drumstick1, air column resonance occurs in the cavity25. When the air column resonance occurs, the vibration is amplified by a resonance phenomenon that occurs in the cavity25, thereby vibrating the entire drumstick1. That is, in accordance with the strength of the force of beating the drum during a performance of a musical piece, the drumstick1allows the aerial vibration amplified by the air column resonance to be transmitted to the hand via the second rod-like portion3.

The resonance of the air column can be controlled through suitable adjustment of a length, a sectional area, a volume, and an inner diameter of the cavity25. Thus, the resonance frequency of the aerial vibration can be adjusted in accordance with, for example, the preference of a drum performer, a musical piece, and a tension strength of the drum face. Accordingly, the drum performer can feel the vibration more finely through use of such a drumstick that the vibration at a resonance frequency tuned in accordance with the own preference and a musical piece can be felt at a hand. Consequently, a drum performer can select such a drumstick that the sound generated from the musical instrument and the vibration transmitted to a hand at the time of beating with the drumstick match each other, from among a plurality of drumsticks having an adjusted resonance frequency.

As described above, according to the drumstick1of the first embodiment of the present invention, even under a circumstance in which the sound of the own musical instrument being performed on cannot be heard, with the sound generated from the musical instrument and the vibration transmitted to a hand at the time of beating with the drumstick matching each other, a drum performer can accurately grasp the sound played with the own musical instrument being performed on through the vibration transmitted to the hand at the time of beating, thereby being capable of stably achieving the performance and achieving a more sensitive performance.

Further, according to the drumstick1of this embodiment, a more sensitive performance can be achieved as compared to a normal drumstick. Thus, it is easy for a drum performer to make changes in strength at the time of beating toms or cymbals, thereby being capable of expressing various tones with one drumstick and widening a dynamic range. Accordingly, the drum performer can express various tones without increasing kinds of toms having different sizes and drumsticks having different thicknesses or the like.

Further, through suitable adjustment of the shape of the cavity25defined in the drumstick1, the gravity center of the entire drumstick can be controlled, while it has been difficult to control the gravity center of a drumstick made of wood. Accordingly, a drum performer can select a drumstick having a gravity center that suits the own preference, thereby being capable of achieving a more sensitive performance.

Next, a drumstick according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described.

FIG.3andFIG.4are views for illustrating a first rod-like portion2A of a drumstick1according to the second embodiment.FIG.3is a sectional view, andFIG.4is a perspective view. Similarly to the drumstick1according to the first embodiment, the first rod-like portion2A is coupled to the distal end of the second rod-like portion3for use.

The first rod-like portion2A is formed of the tip4, the shoulder5, and the coupling portion24, which are formed so as to be continuous with each other. Basic configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Thus, the components are denoted by the same reference symbols inFIG.3andFIG.4, and only differences are described here.

Shoulder grooves51are formed around a distal end of the shoulder5. The shoulder grooves51are each formed in an annular shape along a circumferential direction of the first rod-like portion2A. In this embodiment, three shoulder grooves51are arrayed at intervals along an axial direction of the first rod-like portion2A. Accordingly, at the time of beating with the drumstick1, flexure can be promoted at the shoulder grooves51so that vibration is likely to be generated.

On the rear end side of the shoulder5, a plurality of straight reinforcement grooves27extending along the axial direction of the first rod-like portion2A are formed. The reinforcement grooves27are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the first rod-like portion2A. The reinforcement grooves27are formed so as to extend from the coupling portion24to the shoulder5. Accordingly, the strength of the shoulder5against the flexure can be increased, thereby being capable of promoting transmission of the vibration generated at the time of beating with the drumstick1.

The first rod-like portion2A has the cavity25defined therein. The cavity25is formed of an inlet cavity portion22formed on the distal end side and a resonance cavity portion21formed on the rear end side. The inlet cavity portion22is formed on the distal end side of the first rod-like portion2A. The inlet cavity portion22is open to an outside through the opening portion41formed at the distal end of the tip4. The inlet cavity portion22is a cavity that is smaller in overall length and smaller in size than the resonance cavity portion21. The inlet cavity portion22has a tapered shape. That is, an internal space of the inlet cavity portion22is gradually expanded as extending toward the distal end side of the first rod-like portion2A. When the inlet cavity portion22has a tapered shape, a peripheral wall26of the shoulder5can have a uniform thickness. Accordingly, the strength of the drumstick can be maintained.

The resonance cavity portion21is formed on the rear end side of the first rod-like portion2A. The resonance cavity portion21has an inner diameter larger than that of the inlet cavity portion22. The resonance cavity portion21has a tapered shape. That is, an internal space of the resonance cavity portion21gradually expands as extending toward the rear end side of the first rod-like portion2A. Further, the resonance cavity portion21is closed by the circular protrusion31of the second rod-like portion3inserted into the fitting hole23of the first rod-like portion2A. When the resonance cavity portion21also has a tapered shape, the peripheral wall26of the shoulder5can have a uniform thickness. Also in the second embodiment, with the presence of the cavity25, air inside the cavity25serves as a spring to induce aerial vibration at the time of beating the drum.

A configuration of the second rod-like portion3is the same as that of the first embodiment. Thus, components are denoted by the same reference symbols, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

Next, a method of use of the drumstick1according to the second embodiment is described.

At the time of performing on a drum set using the drumstick1, similarly to the drumstick1according to the first embodiment, the second rod-like portion3is gripped with a hand, and a face of a drum is beaten with the tip4.

Similarly to the drumstick according to the first embodiment, when the drum is beaten with the drumstick1, air inside the cavity25vibrates to resonate. In the drumstick1, the internal space of the resonance cavity portion21is larger than the internal space of the inlet cavity portion22. Thus, aerial vibration generated in the cavity25becomes larger. That is, the drumstick1causes a Helmholtz resonance when the air column resonance in the cavity25is induced. Accordingly, as compared to a case in which the cavity25has a straight cavity, the amount of amplification of the aerial vibration in the cavity25becomes larger.

Also in the second embodiment, the resonance frequency can be controlled through suitable adjustment of a length, a sectional area, a volume, and an inner diameter of each of the inlet cavity portion22and the resonance cavity portion21. Consequently, a drum performer can select such a drumstick that the sound generated from the musical instrument and the vibration transmitted to a hand at the time of beating with the drumstick match each other, from among a plurality of drumsticks having an adjusted resonance frequency, and perform on the drum using the drumstick.

Further, the shoulder grooves51for promoting generation of vibration are formed on the distal end side of the shoulder5, and the reinforcement grooves27for promoting transmission of the vibration are formed on the rear end side of the shoulder5. With such configuration, at the time of beating with the tip4, the shoulder grooves51allow the distal end part of the drumstick to be likely to vibrate. Further, the rear end side of the shoulder5to which the vibration is transmitted has durability against the flexure owing to the reinforcement grooves27formed in the shoulder5, thereby maintaining the vibration and further transmitting the vibration to the second rod-like portion3. Accordingly, with the presence of the shoulder grooves51and the reinforcement grooves27, the vibration generated at the time of beating with the drumstick1can easily be felt.

As described above, according to the drumstick1of the second embodiment of the present invention, the aerial vibration can be amplified by occurrence of the Helmholtz resonance, and the transmission of the vibration can be promoted with the shoulder grooves51and the reinforcement grooves27. Accordingly, the vibration transmitted to a hand at the time of beating with the drumstick can easily be felt, thereby enabling a more sensitive performance.

Further, according to the drumstick1of this embodiment, a more sensitive performance can be achieved as compared to a normal drumstick. Thus, various tones can be expressed with one drumstick and a dynamic range can be widened. Accordingly, the drum performer can express various tones without preparing toms having different sizes and drumsticks having different thicknesses or the like.

Further, as illustrated inFIG.5, dimples may be formed in an outer peripheral surface of the tip4. With such configuration, even in a case of a drumstick including the tip4made of a synthetic resin, a soft sound can be generated similarly to a drumstick made of wood.