Patent Publication Number: US-2022238085-A1

Title: Capo

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to prior-filed and co-pending Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/142,414, filed Jan. 27, 2021 by David Adam, et al., the compete contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present device relates to the field of apparatus used with stringed instruments and more particularly to the field of capos. 
     Background 
     Stringed instruments allow a player to selectively press a string against a fret board, neck, fingerboard, or the like, at different points along the string in order to produce certain tones or notes upon simultaneous strumming of the string. With multiple strings available for successive or simultaneous manipulation, a player can thus produce chords and melodies within the original pitch range for a particular instrument. However, it is often desirable to adjust the pitch of the entire instrument without permanent alteration, such that a player can then manipulate the instrument&#39;s strings to temporarily produce chords and melodies within a different pitch range. 
     A capo device allows a player of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, to temporarily adjust the pitch of the instrument by pressing all strings of the instrument against a fret board at a desired point along the length of the fret board and locking in place, freeing the player&#39;s hand to manipulate the strings below the capo device. However, traditional capo devices can only properly be used with one size of stringed instrument neck. An ill-fitting capo device inhibits application of proper force applied to instrument strings, resulting in undesirable sound and pitch effects. Therefore, with traditional capo devices, a musician must own a different capo device for each stringed instrument for which a capo device is desired. Moreover, traditional capo devices can be cumbersome to move from one place to another along the neck of the instrument making it difficult and time consuming to transition the capo device from one location to another. 
     What is needed is a capo device adapted to properly engage a variety of stringed instrument neck sizes which can be quickly and easily moved from one location on the neck of a stringed instrument to another location on a stringed instrument and/or from instrument to instrument. 
     SUMMARY 
     One general aspect disclosed herein comprises a capo device for stringed instruments. The capo device can comprise a substantially j-shaped main body having an elongate arm and a short arm; a pivot arm pivotally coupled with said short arm of said j-shaped main body; an elastomeric component pivotally and compressably coupled between a portion of said elongate arm of said j-shaped main body and a proximal end of said pivot arm; and a main arm pivotally coupled with said pivot arm and said main body; wherein when said main arm is pivoted such that said main arm is in a first configuration relative to said pivot arm, said pivot arm is at a prescribed distance from said main body; and wherein when said main arm is pivoted such that said main arm is in a second configuration relative to said pivot arm, said pivot arm is biased via said spring toward a second position where said pivot arm is closer to said main body than said prescribed distance. 
     Embodiments and implementations can comprise one or more of the following features: the capo device wherein said pivot arm further can comprise a pivot clamp; wherein aid main arm can be pivotally coupled with said pivot arm via a linkage, which can be configured to selectively engage with a linkage seat on said pivot arm; wherein said linkage further comprises a protrusion extending from a lateral edge, and wherein said protrusion selectively engages with said linkage seat. Further, the capo device can comprise a grip component on said main arm and/or the capo device can comprise cushioning on an inner surface of said distal elongate arm and said proximal pivot arm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details of the present device are explained with the help of the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of an embodiment of a capo. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an elevation view of the capo depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts an exploded view of the capo depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts a cross-sectional view of capo depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  in a first configuration. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a cross-sectional view of capo depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  in a second configuration. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the capo depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  in a first configuration. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capo depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  in a second configuration. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a side view of another embodiment of the present device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of an embodiment of a capo  100 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the capo  100  can comprise a main body  102  coupled with a pivot arm  104  and a pivot clamp  106 . In some embodiments the main body  102  can be substantially J-shaped and have a distal elongate arm and a proximal short arm. The pivot arm  104  and the pivot clamp  106  can be coupled with a substantially J-shaped main body  102  via pins (and/or any other known and/or convenient devices allowing for pivotal connections) inserted through apertures  108   110 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the capo  100  can comprise a main arm  112  coupled with the main body  102  and pivot arm  104  and pivot clamp  106  via pins (and/or any other known and/or convenient devices allowing for pivotal connections) inserted through apertures  114   116 . Additionally, in the embodiment of the capo  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 , the capo  100  can comprise a fret cushion  118  adapted and configured to engage the strings and fret board of a stringed instrument. Further, in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the capo  100  can comprise a grip  120  and a housing  122 . 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the main body  102  can comprise an elongate component and an integral curved component, and the pivot arm  104  can be pivotally coupled with the main body  102  at a first or proximal end and pivotally coupled with the pivot clamp  106  at second or distal end. Additionally, in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , main arm  112  can be pivotally coupled with the main body  102  and coupled with the pivot arm  104  and the pivot clamp  106 , such that when a force directed toward the elongate is applied to the main arm toward the elongate component of the main body  102 , the pivot arm  104  and/or the pivot clamp  106 , at least one of the pivot arm  104  and the pivot clamp  106  will move away from the elongate component of the main body  102  and toward the main arm  112 , thus increasing the distance between the pivot clamp  106  and the elongate portion of the main body  102 . When a main arm  112  is pivoted such that a main arm  112  is in a first configuration relative to a pivot arm  104 , a pivot arm  104  can be at a prescribed distance from a main body  102 ; and wherein when a main arm  112  is pivoted such that a main arm  112  is in a second configuration relative to a pivot arm  104 , a pivot arm  104  can be biased via a spring  306  toward a second position where a pivot arm  104  can be closer to a main body  102  than said prescribed distance. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the main body  102 , the pivot arm  104 , the pivot clamp  106  and the main arm  112  any or any other desired component can be comprised of material and/or materials that are rigid in nature such as metal, aluminum, steel alloys, hardened plastics and/or any other known, convenient and/or desired homogeneous or heterogeneous material(s). Additionally, in some embodiments the fret cushion  118  can be comprised of a resilient material, such as rubber or silicone and/or any other known, convenient and/or desired material that can elastically deform and engage the strings and/or the front of a fret board of a stringed instrument. 
     A capo device also can comprise a grip component  120  on said main arm and/or the capo device can comprise cushioning on an inner surface of said elongate arm and said pivot arm. Furthermore, in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , a grip component  120  can be comprised of a material adapted, configured and/or selected to have a higher coefficient of static and/or kinetic friction relative to skin on a human hand, such that a user&#39;s hand will be more likely to engage the main arm  112  instead of slip or slide relative to the main arm  112 . However, in some embodiments, the grip  120  can be absent. 
       FIG. 2  depicts an elevation view of the capo  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the capo  100  comprises a pivot arm cushion  202  and pivot cushion  204 . In some embodiments the pivot arm cushion  202  and/or pivot cushion  204  can be comprised of a material adapted, configured and/or selected to have a geometry and higher coefficient of static and/or kinetic friction relative to non-stringed side of a fret board, such that when the pivot arm  104  and/or pivot clamp  106  engage the rear/non-stringed side of a fret board, the capo  100  will be more likely to engage the rear side of the fret board instead of slip or slide relative to the fret board. 
     In some embodiments, one or more of the pivot arm cushion  202  and/or the pivot cushion  204  can be comprised of rubber and/or silicone. However, in alternate embodiments the pivot arm cushion  202  and/or the pivot cushion can be comprised of any know, convenient and/or desired homogenous or heterogeneous material(s). 
       FIG. 3  depicts an exploded view of the capo depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the main arm  112  can comprise an aperture  302  that is adapted and configured to selectively engage the grip  120  and/or portion of the grip  120 . However, in some embodiments, one or more of the grip  120  and/or aperture  302  may be absent. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the pivot clamp  106  and pivot arm  104  can be pivotally coupled via a pin connector  304  and the apertures  110  and  336 . However, in alternate embodiments, the pivot clamp  106  and the pivot arm  104  can be pivotally coupled via any known convenient and/or desired mechanism. A pivot clamp  106  can be pivotally coupled to the proximal end of a pivot arm  104  at a point substantially at the lateral center point of said pivot clamp  106  or at any other known and/or convenient location. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 3-5 , a spring  306  (or any other known convenient and/or desired elastomeric component) can be coupled with the housing  122  associated with the main body  102  and coupled with a spring guide  310 . Pin connector  308  can pivotally couple main body  102  and pivot arm  104  via apertures  108  and  328 . Pin connector  312  can couple pivot arm  104  and linkage  320  through apertures  318  and  324 . The opposing end of the linkage  320  can also be coupled with the main arm  112  via pin  314  through apertures  116  and  322 . 
     The distal end of the linkage  324  can rest within the linkage seat  326  and when the main arm  112  is depressed the linkage  324  can rest within the linkage guide  316  within the pivot arm  104 . 
     The spring  306  can further comprise a spring guide  310  having a notch  332  which can selectively and pivotally engage with a notch engagement portion  334  of the pivot arm  104 . That is, the main arm  112  can be coupled with the pivot arm  104  via a linkage  320  which can have a rounded rectangular geometry. The linkage  320  can be pivotally coupled with the pivot arm  104  via the linkage seat  326 . The linkage  320  can also be pivotally coupled with the main arm  112  via a pin  314  through the apertures  322  and  116 . The linkage  320  can pivot relative to the main body  102 , pivot arm  104  and main arm  112  and is adapted and configured such that in one configuration the linkage  320  can rest between the pivot arm  104  and the main arm  112  in the linkage seat  326  of the pivot arm  104  and can be controlled by the linkage guide  316  which are part of the pivot arm  104 . 
     In operation, in a first configuration when the main arm  112  is depressed and adjacent or substantially adjacent to the pivot arm  104  (when the spring is in a biased or compressed state), the linkage  320  can pivot and the spring  306  can actuate and pivot the pivot arm  104  relative to the notch engagement portion  334  of the pivot arm  104  thus rotating the pivot arm  104  away from the main body  102 . In a second configuration when the main arm  112  is rotated away from the pivot arm  104  (when the spring  306  is in the unbiased, natural or uncompressed state), the pivot arm  104  via the spring  306 , spring guide  310  with linkage  320  can pivotally translate via the linkage  320  such that the pivot arm  104  is closer in proximity to the main body  102  than in the first configuration. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a cross-sectional view of the capo depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  in a first configuration. In the embodiment and configuration of  FIG. 4 , the spring  306  is in a natural or unbiased state and the main arm  112  is substantially pivoted away and distal from the pivot arm  104 . In such state the linkage  320  remains within the linkage guide  316  but does not rest within the linkage seat  326 . In such state, the pivot arm  104  is rotated toward and biased toward the main body.  FIGS. 4 and 5  also show the spring seat  402  adapted and configured to retain the spring  306  relative to the main body  102 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts a cross-sectional view of capo depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  in a second configuration. In the embodiment and configuration of  FIG. 5 , the spring  306  is in a compressed or biased state and the main arm  112  is substantially adjacent to the pivot arm  104 . In such state the linkage  320  remains within the linkage guide  316  and is rotated relative to the main body  102 , pivot arm  104 , and the main arm  112 , and rests within the linkage seat  326 . In such state, the pivot arm  104  is rotated away from the main body relative to the first configuration. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the capo depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  in a first configuration. In such embodiments, a linkage  320  can further comprise a protrusion  602  than can extend from a lateral edge of a linkage  320 . A protrusion  602  can selectively engage with a with a linkage seat  326 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a protrusion  602  can have a substantially rounded triangular geometry, but in other embodiments can have any other known and/or convenient geometry. In such state a protrusion  602  does not rest within the linkage seat  326 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capo depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  in a second configuration. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the linkage  320  remains within the linkage guide  316  and is rotated relative to the main body  102 , pivot arm  104  and the main arm  112 , but a protrusion  602  rests within the linkage seat  326 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts a side view of another embodiment of the present device. In such embodiments, a single pivot arm  202  can be pivotally connected to a main body  102 . 
     In operation, when the main arm  112  is actuated and rotated toward the pivot arm  104 , the pivot arm pivots away from the main body  102  and when the main arm  112  is released and in a position away from the pivot arm  104 , the pivot arm  104  is pivoted and biased by the spring  306  and linkage  320  toward the main body  102 , thus allowing the main body  102  of the capo to be easily positioned along a fret board of a stringed instrument. 
     Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described in detail and in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts above, it is to be understood that those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many additional modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. Moreover, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Accordingly, these and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.