US2988949A - Baton - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1961 E. J. ROHMANN BATON Filed April 22, 1959 INVENTOR. Jfia/mzann,

Edward my I United States Patent 2,988,949 BATON Edward J. Rohmann, 628 Parkside St., Elmhurst, 111. Filed Apr. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 808,079 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-477) This invention relates to batons and more particularly to the type twirled by drum majors and majoret-tes.

The twirling of a baton has been in the past limited to those who have gained the necessary aptitude to rapidly manipulate the baton among their fingers. This aptitude was gained only through considerable practice and skill. However, the increasing popularity of baton twirling as an entertaining spectacle or self-amusement has created a need for an easy to operate baton.

The present invention provides a baton structure to meet the above need. The operator need only grasp a handle disposed near to the middle of the baton and move the handle in various gyrations. The baton will swivel about an axis transverse to baton shaft, thereby simulating a number of seemingly diflicult finger sequences.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a new and improved baton.

A further object of the invention is to produce a baton having a handle means swivelly connected thereto to permit baton twirling without finger manipulations.

Another object is to provide protective end pieces preventing excessive damage from dropping.

Another object is to provide a baton have unequal arms and unequally weighted ends to create a necessary twirling momentum upon movement of the baton handle.

A still further object is to provide a durable and economical twirling baton.

These and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following detailed description, and drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a girl holding the handle of the baton device in operating position.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the baton device having a out-away portion to show the construction of one end.

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken of the device shown in FIG. 2 rotated 90 therefrom.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the handle portion of the baton, taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the handle portion of another modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts, there is shown in FIG. 2 a baton generally designated having a circular cylindrically shaped tube or shaft 11. The shaft can be aluminum tubing, as shown in the present embodiment, or any durable and suitable material. Intermediate between the ends of the shaft, but oflfset from the middle, are diametrically opposite openings 12 and 12 drilled through the shaft to receive a swivel bolt 13. The bolt has a head 14 disposed against the shaft surface surrounding the opening 12. An annular handle knob 15 is rotatably mounted on the bolt shank 16 protruding from the opening 12' and is spaced from the shaft by an integral cylindrical sleeve portion 17 encircling the bolt shank. The handle knob is rotatably secured on the shank by a speed nut 18 fastened to end 19 of the bolt shank. The speed nut is recessed within a cut-away portion of the outer surface of the handle knob to permit an unobstructed grip to be attained. The handle knob and spacer can be made of plastic, as shown in the present embodiment, or of any suitable lightweight material.

A distinctive feature of my invention is the mounting of the handle knob offset from the middle of the shaft. The longer shaft arm 26 provides a given weight at a 2,988,949 Patented June 20, 1961 greater distance from the swivel than arm 25, thereby enabling a slight movement of the handle to create a swinging momentum in arm 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lead plug 20 is inserted in the shaft end 21 to add a given weight to the end. Rubber end pieces 22 are adapted to fit about ends 21 and 23 thereby protecting against damage from dropping. The rubber end pieces additionally add weight to the outer extremities of the baton arms 25 and 26.

In the modification as shown in FIG. 5, a stub arm 24 is fixedly attached normal to the shaft 11 at a point offset from the middle section of the shaft. The stub arm has an enlarged base 27 to permit a stronger attachment by the use of welding or other industrial adhesive. The stub arm has a ball shaped end 28 to mate within a socket 29. The socket has a circular cylindrical extension 30 passing through an annular handle knob 31. A speed nut 32 is fastened to outer end 33 of the socket extension to swivelly secure the handle knob on the extension.

To operate a user grasps the handle knob in one hand and merely gyrates the handle in any suitable rotary or spiral motion. The heavily weighted end, having the longer twirling arm, will be actuated by a centrifugal force to spin about the swivel bolt or within the socket as the case may be. There is no need to spin the baton shaft with the other hand.

Although specific embodiments of my invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that such description is for illustrative purposes only. The invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An easy-to-operate baton, comprising, in combination: a hollow straight shaft; a handle; means connecting the handle to the shaft at a point offset from the middle of the shaft, to permit the shaft to rotate about an axis transverse to said shaft, said means including a shank passing through the handle and shaft, a spacing sleeve disposed between the shaft and the handle and disposed concentrically about the shank, a head at one shank end and a fastener at the other shank end to rotatably secure the shaft and handle theretogether, said spacing sleeve and shank head having bearing surfaces on their inner faces to engage the shaft and prevent relative longitudinal movement therebetween, said shaft being free to rotate about said shank upon gyration of said handle causing said shaft to develop momentum in its longer side and overcome the friction of said bearing surfaces and said shank.

2. A baton, comprising, in combination: an elongated shaft; a handle rotatably connected to the shaft at a point intermediate the ends of said shaft, said handle being generally torus shaped providing a comfortable and easily enclosed grip for the hand; means connecting the handle to the shaft to permit the shaft to rotate about an axis transverse to said shaft, said means including a shank passing through the handle and shaft, said handle having an integral sleeve extension disposed between the shaft and handle and disposed concentrically about the shank, a head at one shank end and a speed fastener at the other shank end to rotatably secure the shaft and handle together, said speed fastener lying within the handle torus to maintain the comfortable grip; a weight plug inserted in one end of said shaft, the distance from said shank to said one end being greater than the distance from said shank to the other end of the shaft, whereby the shaft will overcome the friction of said connecting means and rotate about the shank upon gyration of said handle means.

3. An easy-to-operate baton, comprising, in combination: a hollow elongated straight shaft; a handle to cause said shaft to rotate; means interposed between the handle and the shaft at a point offset from the middle of the shaft to permit the shaft to rotate about an axis transverse to said shaft, said means including a stub arm projecting from said shaft at a point intermediate the ends of said shaft, said stub arm having a ball at the projecting end, a socket adapted to mate with said ball on the end of said stub arm, said socket having a cylindrical extension passing through said handle, and a fastener mounted on the outer end of the sqeket extension thereby rotatably fastening said handle to said sock'et extension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Leonard Sept. 7, 1937 Rosen June 24, 1941 Foster Oct. 5, 1948 Harrold et a1. Nov. 12, 1957 Kaplan Dec. 29, 1959

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