Abstract:
A clamp is attachable to a rim or rim region of a drum, and is suited for resiliently retaining an ancillary drumstick such that a terminal end of the ancillary drumstick is positioned above a skin of the drum, and advantageously spaced apart from the skin by a selected distance, allowing a single drumstick strike to the ancillary drumstick by another drumstick held by the drummer to create multiple hits by the clamped ancillary drumstick in response to a drum strike by the hand-held drum stick.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/141,265 filed Apr. 1, 2015 entitled DRUM ACCESSORY AND DRUMMING METHOD. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a drum accessory, and more particularly to an attachment which provides enhanced drumming effects when assembled to a drum. 
         [0003]    A drummer typically uses two drumsticks, held in respective hands, to strike a skin of a drum so as to effect a rhythmic beat, generally in concert with a musical performance. However, regardless of the skill level of the drummer, each strike of a given one of the sticks producing a single audible beat. 
         [0004]    Guitars and synthesizers are readily adapted to modification of output to augment or vary the sound perceived by the listener. For example, by passing the output of an electric guitar through an electronic effects device, it is possible to add reverberative quality to the output, fuzz, wah-wah or other distortion effects. Similarly, by suitable programming, a synthesizer can, for example, output a chord when only a single note is played. However, with the exception of a snare attachment, which is a wire or the like stretched across a drumhead to produce a rattling sound when the drum is hit with a drumstick, the sound of a drum has heretofore not been significantly varied from the beat produced by the drummer him or herself. 
         [0005]    It would therefore be desirable to provide an apparatus which could allow a drummer&#39;s playing to be enhanced through mechanical means to provide a wider range and quality of sound of a rhythmic output. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the invention to provide a drum attachment mechanism which would allow a drummer&#39;s beat to be acoustically enhanced mechanically for a fuller, more complex, sound, and which is easy to use and relatively economical to produce. 
         [0007]    In accordance with these and other objects of the invention, there is provided an apparatus which comprises a clamp or other mounting device which is suitably mountable to a support, advantageously stable, for example, attachable to a rim or rim region of a drum, or a side stand (like a microphone stand), and which is suited for resiliently retaining an ancillary drumstick at a position thereof similar to that typically held in a hand of a drummer, such that a terminal end of the ancillary drumstick is positioned above a skin of the drum, and advantageously spaced apart from the skin by a selected distance, allowing a single drumstick strike to the ancillary drumstick by another drumstick held by the drummer to create multiple hits by the clamped ancillary drumstick in response to a drum strike by the hand-held drum stick. 
         [0008]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the clamped ancillary drumstick is resiliently supported and held close to, or in contact with, the surface of the drum skin Movement of the ancillary drumstick is restricted below by the skin of the drum, and above by a resistive component, conveniently for example, a bumper, carried on the clamping mechanism which restrains the clamped ancillary drumstick. The compression rate of the bumper is optionally adjustable, to allow alteration of a degree of reverberation in response to a drumstick strike by the hand-held drumstick. 
         [0009]    When the clamped ancillary drumstick is struck by the handheld drumstick, the clamped ancillary drumstick reverberates multiple times, the number thereof and amplitude produced, depending on the height of the bumper and the force of the strike. 
         [0010]    The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a drum accessory, and a drum to which it is to be mounted, according to the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the drum accessory of  FIG. 1  shown mounted to the drum; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is top plan view of the drum accessory and drum of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the drum accessory and drum of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the drum accessory of  FIGS. 1 and 2  shown alone; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the drum accessory of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a drum accessory, and a drum to which it is to be mounted, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the drum accessory of  FIG. 8  shown mounted to the drum; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is top plan view of the drum accessory and drum of  FIGS. 8 and 9 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the drum accessory of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the drum accessory of  FIGS. 8-12  shown mounted to the drum, with ancillary drumstick rotated; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the chassis assembly of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the chassis assembly of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is perspective view of the mounting bracket assembly of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is an exploded view of the mounting bracket assembly of  FIG. 16 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a plan view of the chassis assembly of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is an side view of the chassis assembly of  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  20 - 20  of  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is an exploded view of a second alternative embodiment of a drum accessory according to the invention; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of drum accessory of  FIG. 21  shown mounted to the drum. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0033]    A method according to the invention comprises supporting an ancillary drumstick with a terminal end thereof in contact with, or in a spaced apart condition from, a drum skin, and striking the ancillary drumstick with a handheld drumstick. 
         [0034]    In its most basic embodiment, it is noted that the method according to the invention includes simply resting an ancillary drumstick on a drum rim such that a greater portion of the ancillary drumstick (by weight) extends inward of the rim, such that the terminal end of the ancillary drumstick rests against the drum skin by operation of gravity. A drummer then strikes the ancillary drumstick with a handheld drumstick at a position of the portion of the ancillary drumstick extending inward of the rim, causing a reverberation of the ancillary drumstick after the strike. Positional stability of the ancillary drumstick can be maintained by adjusting successive strikes by position along the ancillary drumstick, and by strike direction and intensity. 
         [0035]    Various advantageous embodiments, illustrated by the following structural examples, which are not to be considered as in any way limiting of the intended scope of the invention, serve to physically facilitate implementation of the above operations according to the method or methods of the invention, and are deemed within the contemplated scope of the invention. 
         [0036]    Referring now to the figures, and in particular,  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a drum accessory according to the invention is depicted generally at  10 , shown relative to a drum  20  to which drum accessory  10  is to be mounted. The drum accessory  10  is mountable to drum  20 , on or proximate a rim  20   a  of drum  20 . 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , drum accessory  10  includes a mounting device provided conveniently in a form of a clamp assembly  30  structurally configured to receive an ancillary drumstick  11  in a manner providing resilient mounted support thereof. As best seen in  FIG. 5 , a terminal end of ancillary drumstick  11  is advantageously spaced apart a selected distance above a skin  22  of drum  20 , such that when struck by a hand-held standard drumstick  21 , ancillary drumstick  11  reverberates following the strike, continuing to hit skin  22  one or more times. Standard drumstick  21  which is held in a hand of a drummer, in operation of the drum accessory  10 , strikes ancillary drumstick  11  as desired to produce a selected sound effect. 
         [0038]    The various elements which comprise clamp assembly  30  are described as follows with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Appropriate design of these elements will control how the ancillary drumstick  11  will react when struck by hand-held drumstick  21 . 
         [0039]    As shown in each of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , clamp assembly  30  includes a clamp support  31 , a counterweight  32 , a bumper  33 , an optional bumper adjustment mechanism  34  and a counterweight fastener  35 . Clamp support  31  is comprised of a resilient material, for example rubber or other suitable elastomer of selected durometer. An example of such clamp structure is currently used for mounting drum microphones, and is available as the clamp used in a Sennheiser e604 compact dynamic microphone optimized for snare drums and toms. (See website: sennheiser.com). Counterweight  32  is held to clamp support  31  by counterweight fastener  35  which conveniently threadably engages counterweight  32  across a slotted portion of clamp support  31 . 
         [0040]    As mentioned above, when the clamped ancillary drumstick  11  is struck by the handheld drumstick  21 , the clamped ancillary drumstick  11  reverberates, striking drum skin  22  on or more additional times. The number of reverberating strikes on drum skin  22  and amplitude produced, will depend on the height of bumper  33  and the force of the strike. To allow selective adjustment of the height of bumper  33 , optionally, a bumper adjustment mechanism is provided, conveniently comprising, for example, a turn screw  34  threaded through counterweight  32 . 
         [0041]    An alternative embodiment is now described with reference to  FIGS. 8-20 . 
         [0042]    Referring now to the figures, and in particular,  FIG. 9 , the alternative embodiment of a drum accessory according to the invention is depicted generally at  40 , shown relative to a drum  50  to which drum accessory  40  is to be mounted. The drum accessory  40  is mountable to drum  50 , on or proximate one or more rims  51   a  (upper),  51   b  (lower) of drum  50 . 
         [0043]    As best seen in  FIG. 12  drum accessory  40  includes chassis assembly  60  which, like the clamp assembly  30  of the first embodiment described above, is structurally configured to receive an ancillary drumstick  11  in a manner providing resilient mounted support thereof. As best seen in  FIG. 11 , a terminal end of ancillary drumstick  11  is advantageously spaced apart a selected distance  52   a  above a skin  52  of drum  50 , such that when struck by a hand-held drumstick  21 , ancillary drumstick  11  reverberates following the strike, continuing to hit skin  52  one or more times in addition to an initial strike. 
         [0044]    Standard drumstick  21 , which is held in a hand of a drummer in operation of the drum accessory  40 , is caused to strike ancillary drumstick  11  as desired to produce a selected sound effect. 
         [0045]    The various elements which comprise drum accessory  40  are described as follows, with reference to  FIGS. 12-17 . As with the previously described embodiment, appropriate design and/or selection of these elements will control precisely how the ancillary drumstick  11  will react when struck by hand-held drumstick  21 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , drum accessory  40  comprises a chassis assembly  60  (which supports a drumstick clamp  70 , see  FIG. 15 ) and a mounting device  80 . Chassis assembly  60  is rotatably received to mounting device  80 , which is in turn mounted to drum  50 , so as to allow pivotable angling of the chassis assembly  60  relative to the drum  50 , to thereby allow desired positioning of an end of ancillary drumstick  11  over a particular region of the drum skin, as shown in  FIG. 13  (shown moved off-center of the drum skin  52 ). 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , drumstick clamp  70  is comprised of a clamp cylinder  71  and a locking screw  74 , operable to retain ancillary drumstick  11  when tightened. An optional sleeve  75  may be used inside clamp cylinder  71  to allow thinner drumsticks to be stably and securely accommodated. 
         [0048]    Chassis assembly  60  is comprised of a chassis block  61  and a chassis base  66  rotatably attached thereto conveniently via an axial pin  68 . Chassis block  61  includes a bore  61   b  for accommodating drumstick clamp  70  therethrough. Chassis assembly  60  further includes a shuttle  62  which slides inside a cylindrical channel  61   a  through the chassis block  61 . Springs  63  are disposed at each end of the shuttle  62  for biasing shuttle  62  in opposed directions, creating resiliency in both directions which are operative to urge the shuttle  62  to a position of dynamic equilibrium at which the forces exerted by both springs  63  are balanced, creating an oscillatory effect in response to a disturbance of the equilibrium created when the ancillary drumstick is struck, as described more fully below. Thumbscrews  64  and  65  are advantageously provided to allow optional adjustment of a degree of compression of each of the springs  63 . 
         [0049]    Drumstick clamp  70  is pivotably mounted about a drumstick clamp axis  72   a  within chassis block  61 , conveniently by use of mounting pins  72  on each side of drumstick clamp  70 . As best seen in  FIG. 20 , a vertical pin  73  mounted to clamp cylinder  71  advantageously by a threaded end includes a shaft portion  73   a  which is slidably received through a reception hole  62   a  in shuttle  62 , functioning to transfer the resiliently biased linear movement of shuttle  62  to the pivotal movement of clamp cylinder  71  and, in turn, ancillary drumstick  11  held thereby, creating pivotal oscillation of ancillary drumstick about drumstick clamp axis  72   a.  Advantageously, as shown, a top portion of vertical pin  73  is exposed to the outside of chassis block  61  through an elongated slot (which delimits rocking movement) to allow access thereto for facilitated replacement of vertical pin  73  if damaged or bent during play. 
         [0050]    As described above, and as best seen in  FIG. 15 , chassis base  66  is rotatably attached to the chassis block  61  conveniently by axial pin  68 , allowing drumstick clamp  70  to be rotated away from the center of the drum  50  as desired, as shown in  FIG. 13 . Optionally, detents  66   a  are provided in the top of chassis base  66  which are cooperative with a ball nose spring plunger  67  mounted to the underside of chassis block  61  (in a position offset from a center thereof corresponding radially with positioning of detents  66   a )), allowing the alternative horizontal angles of the ancillary drumstick  11  relative to the drum to be set in predetermined increments. An optional wave washer  69  provides pressure between chassis block  61  and chassis base  66  to limit unwanted horizontal movement. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , mounting device  80  is comprised of top support plate  81  holding the chassis assembly  60 , a hinged mount plate  82  holding the above components to the drum  50 , and an optional angle adjust mechanism  85 . Mechanism  85  allows fine adjustments to be made to the angle of the top support plate  81 , and thereby the height  52   a  of ancillary drumstick  11  above drum skin  52 . Locking knob  86  locks the selected angle in place. 
         [0052]    As mentioned above, when the clamped ancillary drumstick  11  is struck by the handheld drumstick  21 , the clamped ancillary drumstick  11  reverberates, striking drum skin  52  one or multiple additional times. The number of reverberating strikes on drum skin  52  and amplitude produced, will depend on the height of ancillary drumstick  11 , the degree of compression of springs  63  and the force of the strike. As noted above, selective adjustment of the height of ancillary drumstick  11  is achieved conveniently by adjusting the angle of the top support plate  81 . Rotation of thumbscrews  64 ,  65  to compress or relax the shuttle springs  63  allows selective adjustment of the resistance of the ancillary drumstick  11  by increasing the opposing bias. This approach optimizes the ability to adjust every aspect of the height and resistance of the ancillary drumstick  11 . 
         [0053]    An alternative simplified embodiment of a drum accessory according to the invention is depicted in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , generally designated  90 . Drum accessory  90  comprises an elastomeric chassis  91  configured to hold ancillary drumstick  11  in a drumstick clamp portion  92  joined to a chassis base portion  93  by a resilient connection conveniently as a curved spring portion  94 , as shown in the example, allowing ancillary drumstick  11  to reverberate when struck. Elastomeric chassis  91  is mounted to drum  50  in any convenient manner, for example, in the depicted example, by use of mounting device  80  of the previous embodiment, which advantageously provides the ability to adjust height of ancillary drumstick  11  above drum skin  52 , as described above. 
         [0054]    The various components of the drum accessory according to the invention can be fabricated, molded or produced by any suitable means from a variety of materials as guided by particular design, as selection thereof is not deemed critical to the invention. For example, the chassis block and base of the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-20  can be fashioned from aluminum or Delrin, and the various plates of the mounting device can be bent steel or aluminum. 
         [0055]    Having described preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.