Drumstick holder device and method

Abstract

An improved drumstick holder device allowing for two drumsticks to be held and manipulated by a single hand.

Claims

1. A method of striking a percussion instrument with a plurality of drumsticks held in a single hand comprising: grasping with the single hand an exterior handgrip of a drumstick holder having an elastomeric body, wherein the elastomeric body has a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, a plurality of drumstick cavities defined by the elastomeric body and having an elongate shape extending from the second end towards the first end within the elastomeric body, and the exterior handgrip is positioned between the first end and the second end; striking a percussion instrument with a plurality of drumsticks, wherein each drumstick is inserted into one of the plurality of drumstick cavities, wherein each drumstick cavity length is sized to receive a maximum of less than half of the drumstick such that a majority length of each drumstick is exposed exteriorly of the elastomeric body when each drumstick is fully seated within a corresponding one of the drumstick cavities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each drumstick is a standard drumstick.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of drumstick cavities comprises a first cylindrical cavity and a second cylindrical cavity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second cylindrical cavities are substantially parallel to each other.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein a central axis of the first cylindrical cavity is oriented 30 degrees from a central axis of the second cylindrical cavity.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second cylindrical cavities extend from the second end toward the first end.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second cylindrical cavities extend between 25% and 75% of a maximum length between the second end to the first end.

8. A system for holding a plurality of drumsticks in a single hand, comprising: a drumstick holder having an elastomeric body having a first end, a second end opposite from the first end, and an exterior handgrip positioned between the first end and the second end, and a plurality of drumstick cavities defined by the elastomeric body and having an elongate shape extending for a drumstick cavity length from the second end towards the first end within the elastomeric body, wherein each drumstick cavity length is sized to receive a maximum of less than half of a standard drumstick such that a majority length of each standard drumstick is exposed exteriorly of the elastomeric body when each standard drumstick is fully seated within a corresponding one of the drumstick cavities; and a plurality of drumsticks, wherein each of the plurality of drumsticks is inserted into one of the drumstick cavities.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of drumsticks is a standard drumstick.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of drumstick cavities comprises a first cylindrical cavity and a second cylindrical cavity.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second cylindrical cavities are substantially parallel to each other.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a central axis of the first cylindrical cavity is oriented 30 degrees from a central axis of the second cylindrical cavity.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an improved drumstick holder device.

(2) FIG. 2 shows an alternative perspective view of FIG. 1 including a hand gripping the improved drumstick holder device.

(3) FIG. 3 shows an alternative perspective view of FIG. 1 with drumsticks inserted into the improved drumstick holder device.

(4) FIG. 4 shows improved drumstick holder device of FIG. 3 including a hand gripping the improved drumstick holder device.

(5) Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an improved drumstick holder device 100 is shown. The improved drumstick holder device 100 may have a first end 105 and a second end 110. Optionally, improved drumstick holder device 100 may be wider at second end 110 than at first end 105 and tapered between the two ends, so as to provide an ergonomic position for a musician's hand to grip drumstick holder device 100. In some embodiments, first end 105 is tapered to a point, whereas in other embodiments first end 105 is tapered but retains a width at its narrowest point. In particular implementations, the length from first end 105 to second end 110 is greater than the maximum width of drumstick holder device 100.

(7) In some embodiments, improved drumstick holder device 100 may further comprise an exterior handgrip 104, which may optionally include a textured gripping surface (not shown) between first end 105 and second end 110. In other embodiments, exterior handgrip 104 of improved drumstick holder device 100 may optionally include cut outs or depressions sized to accommodate a musician's fingers (also not shown). In some implementations, exterior handgrip 104 is formed by texturing the surface of drumstick holder device 100. In other implementations, exterior handgrip 104 may be a separate gripping surface affixed to drumstick holder device 100.

(8) In some embodiments, improved drumstick holder device 100 may be construed from a single piece of elastomeric material, such as rubber or silicone. Such materials may provide a pliable surface that is easy for a musician to hold while providing a dampening effect to vibrations from drumsticks. Such vibrations may be unpleasant, particularly after longer sessions of playing the drums. In yet other embodiments, improved drumstick holder device 100 may be constructed from other resilient materials, or may be constructed from multiple pieces, rather than a single piece.

(9) As shown in FIG. 1, some embodiments of improved drumstick holder device 100 may include a plurality of elongate drumstick cavities 115 proximate second end 110 and extending from second end 110 to first end 105. Optionally, each of the drumstick cavities 115 can be defined by drumstick holder device 100 as cylindrical cavity having a diameter that is selected to achieve a frictional engagement with a drumstick when the drumstick is pressed into the cavity 115. In other embodiments, drumstick cavities 115 may be of other shapes, such as a rectangular, hexagonal, or other cross-sectional shape as opposed to circular.

(10) Drumstick cavities 115 may optionally be sized to each receive and retain a drumstick (FIG. 3) therein. In some embodiments, drumstick cavities 115 are sized to accommodate a standard drumstick. As used herein, the term “standard drumstick” means a percussion mallet comprising a butt, shaft, shoulder and tip with an overall length between 15.5 and 18 inches and a diameter between 0.4 and 0.65 inches.

(11) In some embodiments, drumstick cavities 115 may extend a portion of the distance between second end 110 and first end 105, or in other embodiments drumstick cavities 115 may extend all of the way from second end 110 to first end 105. In some embodiments, drumstick cavities 115 have a cavity length sized to receive a maximum of less than half of a drumstick such that a majority length of each drumstick is exposed exteriorly of the drumstick holder device 100 when each drumstick is fully seated within a corresponding one of the drumstick cavities.

(12) In particular embodiments, such as when drumstick holder device 100 is constructed from a resilient material like silicone or another elastomeric material, drumstick cavities 115 may be sized more narrow than the drumstick so that each of drumstick cavities 115 will stretch around the drumstick (when inserted therein) in order to releasably and frictionally secure the drumstick within drumstick holder device 100. In other embodiments, clips or clamps (not shown) may be used to secure a drumstick within one of drumstick cavities 115. Although FIG. 1 shows two drumstick cavities 115, other embodiments may have three or more drumstick cavities 115 for accommodating additional drumsticks.

(13) Still referring to FIG. 1, may be placed at an angle to one another with respect to drumstick holder device 100. For example, drumstick cavities 115 may be oriented at an angle approximately 30 degrees from one another, although other orientations up to 90 degrees are possible as well. In other embodiments, drumstick cavities 115 may be oriented parallel to one another. In some embodiments, improved drumstick holder device 100 may include a hinged connector (not shown) between drumstick cavities 115 and the remainder of drumstick holder device 100, such that a musician may select and adjust the orientation of drumstick cavities 115 with respect to one another.

(14) Referring now to FIG. 2, drumstick holder device 100 of FIG. 1 is shown with a musician's hand gripping improved drumstick holder device 100. In some embodiments, improved drumstick holder device 100 may include depressions for a user's fingers to grip the device. In other embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 2, improved drumstick holder device 100 may omit such depressions so that improved drumstick holder device 100 may be held in either the user's left or right hand.

(15) Turning now to FIG. 3, drumstick holder device 100 is shown with drumsticks 305 and 310 inserted into drumstick cavities 115. FIG. 4 shows the improved drumstick holder 100 of FIG. 3 with a musician's hand gripping improved drumstick holder device 100.

(16) In use, the embodiments of drumstick holder device 100 depicted in FIGS. 1-4 can be used by a musician to hold a plurality of drumsticks and strike a percussion instrument.

(17) In one example, during operation, a user may place a first drumstick 305 into a first drumstick cavity 115. The user may then optionally insert a second drumstick 310 into another of cylindrical cavity 115. In some embodiments, the user may then grasp both drumsticks in a single hand by gripping exterior handgrip 104. The user may then use improved drumstick holder device 100 to strike a drum or other percussion instrument with one or both of drumsticks 305 and 310.

(18) A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.