Abstract:
According to one aspect, a grip for drumsticks is provided. The grip comprise a substantially cylindrical sleeve that slips onto a drumstick comprising a tip end and a handle end. The sleeve comprises a first opening and a second opening on opposite ends of the sleeve and is capable of slipping onto either the tip end or the handle end of the drumstick via either the first opening or the second opening of the sleeve. In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises a flexible material such as polyurethane foam material or a nitrile rubber material.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to the following provisional application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61/646,838, titled DRUMSTICK AND GOLF CLUB GRIP, filed May 14, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to grips and, more particularly, to grips for drumsticks. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Drummers use drumsticks to strike the drum to create a desired sound. However, repeating this striking motion many times over a period of time can lead to side effects for the drummer such as hand fatigue, muscle cramping and joint pain. In addition, after playing in sessions on the drums, sweat can become a problem making it more difficult for the drummer to grip the drumsticks. Also, some drummers, such as those with large hands, often have problems gripping the drumsticks during normal usage. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to one aspect, a grip for drumsticks is provided. The grip comprise a substantially cylindrical sleeve that slips onto a drumstick comprising a tip end and a handle end. In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises a first opening and a second opening on opposite ends of the sleeve and is capable of slipping onto either the tip end or the handle end of the drumstick via either the first opening or the second opening of the sleeve. In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises a flexible material such as a polyurethane foam material or a nitrile rubber material. In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises an inner cylindrical wall and an outer cylindrical wall, wherein the distance between the inner cylindrical wall and the outer cylindrical wall is approximately 0.20 inches to 0.25 inches. In an embodiment, the longitudinal length of the sleeve is approximately 5.25 inches to 6.5 inches, the diameter of the inner cylindrical wall is approximately 0.425 inches, and the circumference of the outer cylindrical wall is approximately 0.875 inches to 3.0 inches. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect, a grip for drumsticks is provided comprising a substantially cylindrical sleeve that slips onto a drumstick comprising a tip end and a handle end, and where the sleeve comprises a proximal end and a distal end on opposite ends of the sleeve. In an embodiment, the proximal end of the sleeve comprises an opening and the distal end of the sleeve comprises a cap, where the proximal end of the sleeve is designed to slip onto a handle end of the drumstick. In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises a flexible material such as a polyurethane foam material or a nitrile rubber material. In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises an inner cylindrical wall and in outer cylindrical wall, wherein the distance between the inner cylindrical wall and the outer cylindrical wall is approximately 0.20 inches to 0.25 inches. In an embodiment, the longitudinal length of the sleeve is approximately 5.25 inches to 6.5 inches, the diameter of the inner cylindrical wall is approximately 0.425 inches and the circumference of the outer cylindrical wall is approximately 0.875 inches to 3.0 inches. In an embodiment, the cap comprises an inner wall and an outer wall that are substantially hemispherical in shape. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect, a grip for drumsticks is provided comprising a flexible, tubular sleeve that slips onto a drumstick comprising a tip end and a handle end. In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises a first opening and a second opening on opposite ends of the sleeve and is capable of slipping onto either the tip end or the handle end of the drumstick via either the first opening or the second opening of the sleeve. In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises a closed-cell polyurethane foam material. In an embodiment, the sleeve comprises an inner cylindrical wall and an outer cylindrical wall, wherein the distance between the inner cylindrical wall and the outer cylindrical wall is approximately 0.20 inches to 0.25 inches. In an embodiment, the longitudinal length of the sleeve is approximately 5.25 inches to 6.5 inches, the diameter of the inner cylindrical wall is approximately 0.425 inches and the circumference of the outer cylindrical wall is approximately 0.875 inches to 3.0 inches. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a drumstick grip according to a first embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the drumstick grip of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side plan view of the drumstick grip of  FIG. 1  attached to a standard drumstick; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative drumstick grip according to a second embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side plan view of the drumstick grip of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the drumstick grip of  FIG. 4  attached to a standard drumstick. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a drumstick grip that improves grip friction for the drummer, relieves hand cramps and pain, installs easily, and is washable and reusable. After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a drumstick grip  10  in a first embodiment. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the grip  10  is generally cylindrical in shape, with a cylindrical internal passageway  20  comprising the longitudinal length of the grip  10 . The grip  10  comprises a first end  12  and a second end  14  that are similar in form in this embodiment. In this embodiment of grip  10 , the cylindrical internal passageway  20  is designed to receive a drumstick through either the first end  12  or the second end  14 . The grip  10  comprises an outer cylindrical wall  16  and an inner cylindrical wall  18 . A width  22  is the diameter of the cylindrical internal passageway  20  within the inner cylindrical wall  18 . A width  24  of the grip  10  is the distance between the outer cylindrical wall  16  and the inner cylindrical wall  18 . The grip  10  comprises a longitudinal length  26  which is the distance from the first end  12  to the second end  14 . Furthermore, a circumference  28  is the length of the circumference of the outer cylindrical wall  16  of the grip  10 . 
         [0018]    In one example of the grip  10 , the width  22  of the diameter of the cylindrical internal passageway  20  within the inner cylindrical wall  18  is approximately 0.425 inches, while the width  24  of the grip  10  between the outer cylindrical wall  16  and the inner cylindrical wall  18  is approximately 0.20 to 0.25 inches. Further, in another example, the longitudinal length  26  of the distance from the first and  12  to the second end  14  is approximately 5.25 to 6.50 inches. In addition, the circumference  28  of the outer cylindrical wall  16  of the grip  10  is approximate 2⅞ to 3 inches. The above dimensions are examples, and it is recognized that these dimensions can be modified depending upon such factors as hand sizing and personal preference of a user. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the grip  10  is formed from a closed-cell polyurethane foam material. In an embodiment, this closed-cell polyurethane foam material comprises nitrile rubber. This type of material allows the grip  10  to provide non-slip gripping qualities for the drummer. In addition, the material is flexible, washable and easy to install. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates the grip  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  as installed on a standard drumstick  52  according to one embodiment. As shown, the drumstick  52  includes a tip  56  and a handle end  54 . For installation, a slippery substance such as liquid soap is applied to the handle end  54  of the drumstick  52 . Then the handle end  54  of the drumstick  52  is inserted into either the first end  12  or the second end  14  of the grip  10 . The grip  10  is maneuvered onto the drumstick  52  by the user until reaching the desired position and length. As the liquid soap dries, the grip  10  will tend to stay firmly in this desired position on the drumstick  52 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a drumstick grip  30  in a second embodiment. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the grip  30  is generally cylindrical in shape, with a cylindrical internal passageway  40  substantially comprising the longitudinal length of the grip  30 . The grip  30  comprises an outer cylindrical wall  36  and an inner cylindrical wall  38 . The grip  30  also comprises a first end  32  and a second end  34 . The first end  32  of the grip  30  is substantially similar to the first end  12  and the second end  14  of the grip  10  as described above and shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . In this embodiment, the second end  34  comprises an end cap  44  that is substantially hemispherical in shape along an outer hemispherical wall  45  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). In various embodiments, the end cap  44  comprises an inner wall  47  that in various embodiments can be, for example, substantially hemispherical, flat or other shape. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the inner wall  47  of the end cap  44  is substantially hemispherical in shape. In this embodiment, the cylindrical internal passageway  40  is designed to receive a drumstick through the first end  32  of the grip  30 . 
         [0022]    In one example of the grip  30 , a width  46  is the diameter of the cylindrical internal passageway  40  within the inner cylindrical wall  38 . A width  48  of the grip  30  is the distance between the outer cylindrical wall  36  and the inner cylindrical wall  38 . The grip  30  comprises a longitudinal length  42  is the distance from the first end  32  to the end cap  44  at the second end  34 . Furthermore, a circumference  50  is the length of the circumference of the outer cylindrical wall  36  of the grip  30 . 
         [0023]    In one example of the grip  30 , the width  46  of the diameter of the cylindrical internal passageway  40  within the inner cylindrical wall  38  is approximately 0.425 inches, while the width  48  of the grip  30  between the outer cylindrical wall  36  and the inner cylindrical wall  38  is approximately 0.20 to 0.25 inches. Further, in another example, the longitudinal length  42  of the distance from the first end  32  to the end cap  44  at the second end  34  is approximately 5.25 to 6.50 inches. In addition, the circumference  50  of the outer cylindrical wall  36  of the grip  30  is approximately 2⅞ to 3 inches. The above dimensions are examples, and it is recognized that these dimensions can he modified depending upon such factors as hand sizing and personal preference of a user. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the grip  30  is formed from a closed-cell polyurethane foam material. In an embodiment, this closed-cell polyurethane foam material comprises nitrile rubber. This type of material allows the grip  10  to provide non-slip gripping qualities for the drummer. In addition, the material is washable, and easy to install. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates the grip  30  of  FIGS. 4 and 5  as installed on a standard drumstick  52 . As shown, the drumstick  52  includes a tip  56  and a handle end  54 . For installation, a slippery substance such as liquid soap is applied to the handle end  54  of the drumstick  52 . Then the handle end  54  of the drumstick  52  is inserted into the first end  32  of the grip  30 . The grip  30  is maneuvered onto the drumstick  52  by the user until reaching the desired position and length and the handle end  54  is substantially adjacent the end cap  44  of the grip  30 . As the liquid soap dries, the grip  30  will tend to stay firmly in this desired position on the drumstick  52 .