US2473865A

US2473865A - Instrument mallet

Info

Publication number: US2473865A
Application number: US710135A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruce W Dane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-11-15
Filing date: 1946-11-15
Publication date: 1949-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1966-06-21

Description

B. w. DANE 2,473,865

INSTRUMENT MALLET June 21, 1949.

Filed Nov. 15, 1946 Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSTRUMENT MALLET Bruce W. Dane, Newark, N. J. Application November 15, 1946, Serial No. 710,135

2 Claims. (01. 84-404) This invention pertains to a mallet for percussion instruments and more particularly to a mallet of novel construction and which is particularly well adapted for use in playing such musical instruments as the marimba and Vibraharp.

Present mallets of the general class contemplated by this invention comprise a slender, resilient handle having a striker head attached to one end. The head is in the form of a solid sphere and is usually made of wood. The characteristically sharp, metallic tones of an Xylophone are produced by striking the tone bars directly with the Wooden head of the mallet. However, such sharp tones are considered as harsh and objectionable in a marimba or Vibraharp. Hence, the spherical head of a marimba mallet is wrapped with several layers of wool yarn. While such a mallet produces a relatively soft tone it is accompanied by a marked sacrifice of volume.

It has been proposed to make the head of molded rubber and while such a mallet does not produce the objectionable hard tone the volume level of the note is also relatively low.

An object of this invention is the provision of a mallet having a head of novel construction whereby the user may produce notes of substantial volume yet of a pleasing quality.

An object of this invention is the provision of a mallet having a striker head provided with a circumferential groove whereby the head possesses increased resiliency at the region of impact with the tone bar.

An object of this invention is the provision of a mallet comprising a disc-shaped head that includes a circumferential groove, a balance weight in said head, a handle attached to the head through the medium of the balance weight and a wrapping of yarn surrounding the head.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention. The drawings are for purposes of illustration and are not to be construed as defining the scope or limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like numerals identify like parts in the several views;

Figure 1 is an isometric view showing the components of a mallet made according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the complete, assembled mallet; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the striker head and illustrating the angle at which the head strikes the tone bar when the mallet is in use.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral It refers to the head of the mallet which may be made of any suitable, non-metallic material, preferably wood. The head includes a bore ll of a diameter related to that of the metal bushing I2 so that the latter may be forced into the bore by pressure. The use of the metal bushing I2 is optional as its purpose is to weight or balance the mallet for maximum ease and speed of manipulation. When the metal bushing is omitted the size of the bore H is determined by the diameter of handle l3 which comprises a thin rod of resilient material such as plastic or rattan Wood.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the end of the handle [3 is adapted to be force fitted into the hole of the metal bushing l2. To assure a firm, permanent assembly of the component parts the coacting surfaces of the bore I I, bushing l2 and handle l3 may be coated with a thin film of cement prior to the assembly thereof. After the parts are assembled the head of the mallet is covered with a wrapping H such as wool yarn.

It is pointed out that the head I 0 is shaped somewhat in the form of a disc, rather than a solid sphere, and is provided with a relatively deep, circumferential groove IS. The groove [5 affords a certain amount of motion or give to the wood in the region of impact with the tone bar when the mallet is used in playing as shown in Figure 3. Added to the inherent resiliency of the wood the fibers of the wood at the point of impact I6 are afforded a certain amount of motion toward the groove Hi, the extent of such motion being a function of the force of the impact. Thus, when the user strikes the tone bar lightly to produce a tone of low volume, the yarn covering serves to prevent the production of a hard, metallic tone. On the other hand, when the user strikes the tone bar with considerable force to produce a tone of substantial volume the initial force of the impact is absorbed in causing the slight amount of motion of edge Hi. It will now be apparent that a mallet made in accordance with my invention affords the player a means for controlling volume without fear of producing harsh tones.

Having described my invention certain variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. An instrument mallet comprising a head of 3 rigid material said head having substantially parallel opposed surfaces, a metal bushing centrally disposed in said head, a resilient handle having one end inserted into said metal bushing, a circumferential groove in the edge of said head, and a covering of yarn encasing the said head.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the head is made of wood.

BRUCE W. DANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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