Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to multiple-tipped drumming tools. 
         [0002]    Variety is a spice in every phase of human life and endeavor. It is no exception in the field of music. Musical instruments and tools for producing different kinds of sound and tune are always in demand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is therefore an object of this invention to provide drumming tools of a different kind having multiple tips such that a drum, or any percussion instrument, can be struck in different modes and produce different sound effects. 
         [0004]    A drumming tool according to this invention may be characterized as being a multiple-tipped tool and as comprising a plural number of sticks each having a throughhole formed therethrough and a connector which passes through these throughholes such that the sticks are rotatably joined together. The sticks may be each 9 inches to 18 inches in length, and the plural number of sticks may be 2-4. The throughhole may be at a position 2 to 3 inches from one end of each of the sticks, and the connector may comprise a threaded rod and a threaded nut which engage each other. 
         [0005]    Another drumming tool according to this invention may be characterized as comprising a plural number of sticks each having a throughhole formed therethrough and a fiber member passing through the throughholes of these sticks and being wrapped around these sticks such that these sticks are flexibly joined together. In this example, too, the sticks may be each 9 inches to 18 inches in length and the plural number of sticks may be 2-4. The throughhole may be at a position about one inch from one end of each of the sticks. The fiber member may comprise a plastic material and may have a diameter in the range of 1/32 inches to ⅛ inches, being wrapped around each of the sticks 6 to 25 times. 
         [0006]    Still another drumming tool according to this invention may be characterized as comprising a plural number of sequentially arranged sticks each having a hole at one end and a spring metal connecting each mutually adjacent pair of these sticks. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a drumming tool embodying this invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the drumming tool of  FIG. 1  when the sticks are opened. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the connector. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front view of another drumming tool embodying this invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is another front view of the drumming tool of  FIG. 4  before the sticks are joined together. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the drumming tool of  FIG. 4  showing the range of motion of each stick. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are views of portions of still other examples of the drumming tool with sticks connected by using a spring metal according to this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an example of drumming tool  100  embodying this invention, characterized as having a plural number (preferably 2, 3 or 4) of sticks  110  positioned sequentially in a side-by-side relationship, adjacent to one another and joined together by means of a connector  111  passing through each of the sticks  110  such that the sticks  110  are rotatable with respect to one another and around the connector  111 . Thus, the sticks  110  may be mutually parallel to each other, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be spread such that the angle between each mutually adjacent pair of them can be varied within a certain limit, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0015]    There is no particular limitation on the sticks  110 . They may be identical in size and shape, as in the illustrated example, but this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The length of each stick  110  is typically in the range of 9 inches to 18 inches. The material of the sticks  110  does not limit the scope of the invention. Any material with adequate hardness for producing conventional drum sticks may be used. 
         [0016]    Each of the sticks  110  is provided with a throughhole  112  through which the connector  111  is passed. The position of the throughhole  112  through each of the sticks  110  is typically where the user (drummer) grasps the tool  100  for playing. This is typically 2-3 inches from one end. 
         [0017]    The connector  111  may comprise, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a hollow metal rod  113  with a threaded interior surface, or a female thread, and a removable head nut  114  having a matching male thread on its exterior. The unthreaded end of the rod  113  and the nut  114  may each have a flange to keep the sticks  110  together. Silicone washers (not shown) may be mounted on the rod at either end or between the sticks  110  if an additional ease of motion is desired for the sticks  110 . Additionally, a set screw (not shown) may be inserted into the nut  114  to fix it in place on the rod  113  and to keep it from becoming loose when the tool  100  is being used. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows another example of drumming tool  200  embodying this invention, characterized as having three sticks  210  positioned sequentially in a side-by-side relationship, adjacent to one another and flexibly joined together by means of a fiber member  211  passing through and wound around each of the sticks  210  such that the sticks  210  are rotatable with respect to one another into positions such as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0019]    Although three sticks  210  are shown tied together in the illustrated example, this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The number of sticks  210  to be tied together in the manner shown in  FIG. 4  may be varied, say, between 2 and 4. The material to be used for producing these sticks  210 , their size and shape are as described above for the sticks  110  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0020]    Each stick  210  is provided with a throughhole  212  at a position about 1 inch from one end. The fiber member  211  is passed through these throughholes  212 , wound and wrapped around each of the sticks  210  and between the sticks  210  and tied such that a strong but elastic and flexible connection is formed so that the sticks  210  can rotate with respect to one another to vary the angles made between them, not only in one plane but in a conical trajectory as shown by dotted lines in  FIG. 6 . The diameter of the base of these conical trajectories may be no more than a few or several inches, limited in part by the tension and elasticity of the material of the fiber member  211  because these sticks  210  are thereby joined together. For strength, it is preferable that fiber member  211  be not only passed through the throughhole  212  of each stick  210  but also wrapped around each stick  210  6 to 25 times. 
         [0021]    The invention does not impose any strict limitation on the physical property of the fiber material but it is preferable that its diameter be in the range of 1/32 inches to ⅛ inches and may be made of any material capable of providing sufficient strength and elasticity such as plastics, leather and cotton. Any such material which is now available or will become available in the future is to be considered usable for the purpose of this invention. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show still another way in which a plurality of sticks  310  may be connected to form a multiple-tipped drumming tool  300  of this invention. According to these examples, a spring metal  320 , which is generally π-shaped with two end portions perpendicularly bent from a center portion, is used to connect each mutually adjacent pair of the sticks  310  so as to allow a limited relative motion therebetween. A small hole, say, of ⅛″ in diameter and 1½″ in depth, may be prepared at one end of each stick and filled with epoxy together with one end of the spring metal  320 .  FIG. 7  shows only two sticks and  FIG. 8  shows only three sticks thus connected, but they are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The total number of the sticks  310  to be thus connected sequentially may be 2-4.  FIG. 7  shows the sticks  310  separated from each other, while  FIG. 8  shows the mutually adjacent pairs of the sticks  310  in contact with each other. This is intended to indicate that the invention does not impose any requirement as to the mutual separation of the connected sticks  310 . It also goes without saying that any hardening material may be used to seal the spring metals  320  in the end holes of the sticks  310 . 
         [0023]    In summary, the disclosure is intended to be illustrative, not limitative. Many modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Technology Category: g