Abstract:
The present invention relates to a striker device for striking the playing surface of a percussion instrument. The striker device includes a flexible slapper plate upon which a ball is mounted. A means for adjustably mounting the striker device allows it to be mounted onto a rod of the percussion instrument such that the movement of the rod causes the slapper plate to oscillate causing the ball to strike the playing surface of the percussion instrument.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/401,994 filed Aug. 8, 2002 from which priority is claimed. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Percussionists use a wide variety of percussion instruments. Not only do these musicians use the standard snare drum, bass drum, and other types of instruments with drawn heads, percussionists also use a wide range of other instruments such as chimes, cymbals, and cow bells. Because the percussionist wishes to play as many instruments as he can, many of these instruments have been design to be played without requiring the percussionist to use one of the hand striking motions of the musician to strike the instrument with a drumstick.  
           [0004]    In normal use, virtually all of these instruments, with the possible exception of a hi-hat cymbal, require the musician to strike the instrument with some type of drum stick or mallet. This is especially true of the cow bell. The cow bell is usually placed in near proximity to the percussionist such that when the cow bell is to be played, the percussionist strikes the cow bell with at least one of his drumsticks.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention resides in a striker that can be mounted near a percussion instrument such that the instrument can be played without striking the instrument with a drum stick. Instead, the percussion instrument is played by placing the striker near the instrument to be struck, and then moving the striker in such a manner that the flexible nature of the striker will allow a ball on the striker to come into striking contact with the percussion instrument.  
           [0006]    Additional features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    In the drawings, wherein like numerals and letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     
    
       [0011]    While one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the above referenced drawings and in the following description, it is understood that the embodiment shown is merely for purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any way departing from the spirit and intention of the invention, which is to be limited only in accordance with the claims contained herein.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the striker device A is constructed as shown in FIG. 1. The striker device A includes a slapper plate  1 , a thumb screw  2 , a nut  3 , and a ball  4 . The slapper plate  1  is preferably made from formable metal, but may also be made of any other material that is capable of providing the flexibility needed to allow the striker device A to function properly. The slapper plate  1  is generally channel-shaped with a leg  5  of the channel greatly extended. In fact, the leg  5  is preferred to be about 6.00 inches in length. The shorter leg  6  of the channel is about 1.00 inch in length, and the web  7  of the channel is about 1.00 inch in height. The width of the leg  5 , the leg  6 , and the web  7  are normally the same in one embodiment, which is about 2.00 inches. The width of each of three elements, however, need not be the same. Also, notwithstanding the dimensions indicated for leg  5 , leg  6 , and web  7 , the dimensions for each of these three elements can be adjusted as needed to match the instrument being played and/or the method of mounting the instrument and the striker device A.  
         [0013]    A ball  4  is attached to the outside surface of the leg  5 . The ball  4  can be of any material, but in the present embodiment, the ball  4  is constructed of metal. The ball  4  may be attached to the leg  5  by welding, gluing, or any other method of attachment which adequately secures the ball  4  to the leg  5 . The ball  4  is positioned about 5.50 inches from the web  7  and on the center line of the width of the leg  5 . In other embodiments, the ball  4  can be positioned as required to cause the striker device A to be capable of striking any particular percussion instrument selected by the musician.  
         [0014]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the present embodiment includes a opening  8  located on the vertical and horizontal centerlines of the web  7 . A nut  3  is located in axial alignment with the opening  8 , the nut  3  being positioned on the inside of the channel formed by the leg  5 , the leg  6 , and the web  7 . The nut is welded to the web  7 . A thumb screw  2  is inserted through the opening  8  and threaded into the nut  3 . In other embodiments, the nut  3  can be glued or otherwise attached to the web  7 . In yet other embodiments, nut  3  is not used and instead the opening  8  in the web  7  is threaded to match the threads of the thumb screw  2 . Additionally, while the presented embodiment uses a thumb screw  2 , other fasteners such as hex head bolts, round head screws, or other threaded fasteners may be used provided the fastener has the ability to be threaded into, and out of, the nut  3  or threaded opening  8 .  
         [0015]    A first opening  9  is located in the leg  5  such that the first opening  9  is on the longitudinal centerline of the leg  5  and about 0.50 inch from the corner formed by the intersection of the leg  5  with the web  7 . A second opening  10  is located on the longitudinal and transverse centerlines of the leg  6  and is also about 0.50 inch from the corner formed by the intersection of the leg  6  and the web  7 . The diameter of the openings  9  and  10  are sized to slideably match the vertical rod onto which the striker device A is to be mounted. Because the vertical rod must simultaneously pass through the first opening  9  and the second opening  10 , the first opening  9  and the second opening  10  must be in general axial alignment  
         [0016]    The thickness of the leg  6 , the leg  5 , and the web  7  is obtained by determining the amount of flexure required of the striker device A. For instance, it will be appreciated that a striker device A which is made from about 0.125 inch thick mild steel will have less flexure than a striking device A made from 0.0625 inch thick mild steel. Thus, the thickness of the material is dependent upon the amount of flexure desired and the material used. In any case, however, the material used and the thickness of the material used must be such that the striker device A has enough flexure to allow the striking device to bounce sufficiently when installed such that the ball  4  strikes the percussion instrument in the manner and style selected by the musician.  
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the present invention may be used as a striker to strike a cow bell. In that embodiment, the cow bell is installed onto a cow bell stand which is normally a vertical metal rod having an attachment mechanism at the top of the vertical rod to hold the cow bell onto the top of the rod. In such installations, the cow bell is oriented in a horizontal manner; that is, the large opening of the cow bell is positioned horizontally. In this way, the sides of the cow bell are also horizontal and are perpendicular to the vertical metal rod.  
         [0018]    The striker device A is installed on the vertical metal rod by inserting the vertical metal rod through the opening  9  and the opening  10 . Depending on the choice of sound desired by the musician, the striker device A can be installed above or below the cow bell. The thumb screw  2  is then rotated to move the threaded end of the thumb screw  2  into contact with the outer surface of the vertical metal rod. By further tightening the thumb screw  2 , the striker device A is secured to the vertical metal rod. The position of the striker device A can be adjusted by loosening the thumb screw  2 , sliding the striker device A up or down as desired on the vertical metal rod, and then retightening the thumb screw  2 .  
         [0019]    In operation, the striking device A is positioned on the vertical metal rod as described above such that the ball  4  is against or near the horizontal surface of the cow bell. Then, by manipulation of the vertical metal rod, the flexing nature of the striking device A will allow the leg  5  to bounce. In this manner, a musician can “slap” the plate  1  by hand to cause the ball  4  to strike the cow bell. In another embodiment, the cow bell and the striker device A can be positioned on a hi-hat vertical mounting rod such that the vertical activation of the vertical rod by the foot pedal of the hi-hat assembly will allow the striker device A to bounce up and down vertically while keeping the cow bell in a fixed position. The vertical motion of the striker device A causes the ball  4  to strike the horizontal surface of the cow bell.  
         [0020]    While the above description describes various embodiments of the present invention, it will be clear that the present invention may be otherwise easily adapted to fit any configuration where a striking device for striking any percussion instrument may be utilized. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.