Abstract: A baton useable by a drum major or by any other user capable of twirling the baton and in doing so varying its overall length the baton including an open-ended main tube that can be grasped by the user, the tube being divided by an internal transverse beam into opposing half sections. Telescoped into each half section through the open end thereof is a cylindrical rod having secured to its outer end a weighted ball. The inner end of each rod is connected by an elastic band to the beam whereby in the static state of the baton the balls are equidistant from the beam and the baton has a predetermined overall length. When a user twirls the baton, the resultant centrifugal forces acting on the balls causes the rods to advance outwardly to lengthen the baton to an extent that depends on the twirling velocity. A diminishing action causes the rods to retract into the half sections of the tube to shorten the baton.

Abstract: A performance control apparatus is provided to control a manner of performance played by an electronic musical apparatus. Herein, sensors are provided to sense a swing motion of a baton which is swung by a human operator in response to time of music to be played (e.g., triple time). Then, a peak is detected from outputs of the sensors in accordance with a peak detection process using a fuzzy inference process. A kind of the swing motion is discriminated by effecting another fuzzy inference process on a result of the peak detection process. Concretely, the kind of the swing motion is discriminated as one of predetermined motions which are determined specifically with respect to time of the music. Performance control information is created based on the discriminated kind of the swing motion. Thus, a tempo and/or dynamics of performance is controlled in response to the performance control information.

Abstract: An electronic visual music conducting device is provided which is adapted to receive electronic timing signals representative of the tempo of a piece of music, and to use these timing signals to control a visual display which indicates tempo and rhythm by simulating the movement of a conductor's baton, including the acceleration normally present as the baton approaches the point of a beat, and the deceleration normally present as the baton moves away from the point of a beat. The electronic timing signals are preferably MIDI System Exclusive Real Time Message Timing Clock signals (F8H). The electronic visual music conducting device may also be provided with a bar display to indicate numerically which bar is currently being played. The electronic visual music conducting device may also be provided with a beat display to indicate numerically the number of beats per minute associated with the bar currently being played.

Abstract: A musical baton is arranged to include an illumination source therewithin projecting into a translucent rod extending from the baton, with the translucent rod arranged to receive illumination from the handle portion of the baton structure, with the illumination projected through one of a plurality of contrastingly colored lenses to alter illumination within the baton structure during use.

Abstract: The invention is an refers to a multiple flag marching baton which can be extended or hidden, respectively, such that the overall length of the baton remains constant for easier control.

Abstract: A multi-flag marching baton formed from an elongated tubular sleeve within which an elongated member is telescopically received. There is a space between the inside wall surface of the tubular sleeve and the outer surface of the elongated member to form an annularly shaped flag storage chamber. A strap passes along the outside length of the tubular sleeve and has its opposite ends attached adjacent one end of the elongated member. A first display flag is secured to this strap. A second display strap is secured to the elongated member. When the elongated member is telescopically withdrawn from one end of the tubular sleeve, the second flag will be withdrawn from the flag storage chamber within the tubular sleeve and unfurled for display while at the same time the first display flag that is attached to the strap will be drawn into the opposite end of the tubular sleeve and its flag compressed into the flag storage chamber.

Abstract: An improved illuminated drumstick of the type having a light-emitting diode powered by batteries. The improvements include a switch using a flexible metal strap over a resilient pad affixed to one end of the batteries. Additionally, the batteries may be connected by a thin flexible strap, and the light emitting diode is rectangular in shape and securely held in a channel at the tip of the drumstick.

Abstract: A police baton having a crosshandle is provided with a short shaft on the free end of the crosshandle. The short shaft extends parallel to the baton to form a hook near one end of the baton that may be used to hook a limb of a person to be brought under control. The short shaft allows the baton to be used in other ways, such as to swing freely in a loosened grip without risk of the crosshandle slipping out of the loosened grip.

Abstract: A police baton is disclosed which is designed to be gripped in the center. The center gripping section comprises approximately one third the length of the baton with one third of the baton extending on either side of the operator's hand when the baton is in use. The gripping portion is comprised of a pair of double tapered sections which cause the shaft to neck to a waist in both directions from the center. The baton is designed to be used with a flicking wrist motion which allows effective strikes with a short trajectory and the contoured center gripping section maximizes the effect of the flicking wrist motion.

Abstract: An adjustable baton to be used for twirling is provided having an elongated shaft formed from a hard material such as stainless steel. A resilient ball is mounted at one end of the shaft and a smaller resilient tip is mounted at the other end thereof. The shaft comprises three axially aligned tubular pieces, namely a main shaft with an extension shaft mounted at each end thereof. Mating internally frusto-conical surfaces are formed at the ends of the main shaft and the extension shaft at each end of the main shaft has a mating externally frusto-conical surface to be received by the mating surface of respective end of the main shaft. A threaded rod internally received by each extension shaft and one end of the main shaft is provided for each extension shaft to connect the extension shafts to the main shaft. Adjustment is accomplished by extracting a desired length of threaded rod from inside the main shaft.

Abstract: In an automatic performing apparatus, an amount of change in a motion of a moving element provided in a baton is detected, and the detected change amount is converted into an electrical signal. A tempo clock signal generator provided in the apparatus is driven by the electrical signal to produce a tempo clock signal for reading out musical data preset in a memory. A volume level of a musical tone is set by a control section on the basis of the data of a peak level of the change amount in the motion of the baton. The tone data stored in the memory is read out on the basis of the tempo clock and is automatically sounded as a musical sound, at the set volume level.

Abstract: A wand adapted to be held in the hand and provided with a rod-like body provided with a handle having a base at one end and a visual indicator at the opposite end. The base defines a handle for grasping the wand and the base is hollow to house an electronic circuit and a battery for operating the circuit. The circuit is a multivibrator whose output signal oscillates at a given frequency, such as 120 Hz. The visual indicator is coupled with the circuit and is caused to flash at the operating frequency of the circuit when the circuit operates. The base has a pair of spaced terminals thereon which are bridged by the palm of the hand when the base is grasped, and the palm therefore provides a resistance forming part of the circuit to cause the frequency of flashing of the visual indicator to change depending upon the extent to which hand pressure is applied to the base. For increased frequency, greater hand pressure is applied to decrease the resistance accordingly.

Abstract: A game or sport utilizing a baton which is thrown and caught between players in a prescribed manner. The baton has a blade and a handle and may be provided with a high visibility protective covering and protective end tips. The complete assembly includes a field assembly using a flexible member or rope having color coded markers and ground stakes for establishing the proper playing areas and boundaries.

Abstract: A toy device comprising a hand-held manipulating handle having an opening at one end through which at least one end of a straight, round shaft can pass.

Abstract: A twirling baton with a handle mounted on an axis extending perpendicular to the axis of the baton shaft by which the baton may be twirled with minimal effort, said handle being equipped with braking means to quickly stop the rotation of the baton when desired.