# US 5,341,716 A · Plastic-clad wooden drumstick and method of making > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,341,716 A - Document ID: US5341716A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/110,765 - Filed: 1993-08-23 - Granted: 1994-08-30 - Earliest claimed: 1992-03-02 - Assignees: Aquarian Accessories Corporation - Inventors: David G. Donohoe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5341716A ## CPC - G10D 13/12: Drumsticks; Mallets (pedals for beaters G10D13/11) - G10D: STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H) ## Abstract A drumstick of improved durability for use with musical instruments such as drums and cymbals includes an elongated wooden core having an elongated, generally cylindrically shaped shaft section, a shorter frusto-conically shaped front section which tapers to a smaller diameter neck, and a short tip section joined to the neck. Formed in the outer cylindrical wall of a central longitudinal portion of the shaft is an elongated, shallow annular groove. A polymer sleeve having greater resistance to rimshot damage than wood is positioned coaxially over the shaft, within the groove. In the preferred method of fabrication, the wooden core is placed in a cavity of an injection mold, and molten fiberglass-filled nylon injected into a first enclosed region surrounding the grooved portion of the shaft, to form the sleeve. Optionally, the cavity may have a second enlarged region surrounding the tip section of the core, the second enlarged region communicating with the first enlarged region. When molten plastic is injected into the mold, the second enlarged region is also filled with liquid plastic, forming a durable striking bead over the tip section of the core. Preferably, the front portion of the tip section has a larger diameter than the neck portion, thereby securely captivating the striking bead when the plastic solidifies. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drumstick for use with musical percussion instruments, said drumstick having improved durability and comprising; a. an elongated rigid body, said body having an elongated generally cylindrically-shaped shaft section having an outer cylindrical surface, a shorter frusto-conically-shaped front section which tapers to a smaller diameter neck, and a still shorter tip section of larger diameter than said neck, and b. an elongated tubular sleeve fitted coaxially over a longitudinal portion of said shaft section and attached thereto, said sleeve being fabricated from an impact-resistant material and having an outer cylindrical wall surface continuous with said outer cylindrical surface of said shaft section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drumstick of claim 1 wherein said body is one-piece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drumstick of claim 1 wherein said body is further defined as being made of wood. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drumstick of claim 1 wherein said impact resistant material is further defined as being substantially void-free. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drumstick of claim 4 wherein said void-free material is further defined as having a surface hardness approximating that of wood. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drumstick of claim 5 wherein said void-free material is further defined as being a polymer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The drumstick of claim 6 wherein said void-free polymeric material is further defined as being a composite. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drumstick of claim 7 wherein said composite material is further defined as containing fiberglass strands. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The drumstick of claim 7 wherein said composite material is further defined as containing carbon fibers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The drumstick of claim 7 wherein said composite material is further defined as containing boron fibers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The drumstick of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is further defined as being a one-piece solid cylinder having a central coaxial bore; wherein, said outer surface is continuous. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The drumstick of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is further defined as having a central coaxial bore; wherein said outer surface is continuous. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The drumstick of claim 12 wherein said sleeve is further defined as being made of a polymeric material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The drumstick of claim 13 wherein said polymeric material is further defined as containing tensile-strength increasing fibers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The drumstick of claim 14 wherein said polymeric material is further defined as being nylon. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The drumstick of claim 15 wherein said tensile-strength increasing fibers are further defined as being fiberglass. ### Claim 17 A drumstick having improved resistance to damage by rim shots, said drumstick comprising; a. an elongated rigid body, said body having an elongated generally cylindrically-shaped shaft section, said shaft section having formed in the outer cylindrical wall surface of a longitudinal portion thereof a longitudinally elongated, shallow annular groove, an elongated frusto-conically-shaped front section which tapers to a smaller diameter neck, and a short tip section, and b. a tubular sleeve fitted coaxially over said shaft section, said sleeve being positioned longitudinally within said groove and being secured within said groove, said sleeve having an outer cylindrical wall surface continuous with said outer cylindrical wall surface of said shaft section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The drumstick of claim 17 wherein said body is one-piece. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The drumstick of claim 17 wherein said body is further defined as being made of wood. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The drumstick of claim 17 further including a protective oval cross-sectional shape striking head covering said tip section of said body, said tip section having an outer transverse end and a reduced diameter portion located longitudinally inwards thereof, said head having an inner cavity, said inner cavity having an inner wall surface which conformally contacts said tip section. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The drumstick of claim 17 wherein said sleeve is further defined as being a solid cylinder.