Patent ID: 8324490

Claim:
A capo for a dulcimer or other stringed instrument having a raised fret board with opposing first and second sidewalls and a set of strings above the fret board, the capo comprising: a bent, L-shaped member having a first arm configured to face the first sidewall and a second arm configured to cross over the fret board, the second arm being configured to extend past the second sidewall of the fret board; a bar member for applying pressure to the strings against the fret board, the bar member having first and second ends, the first end of the bar member being pivotally coupled to the first arm of the L-shaped member, the second end of the bar member extending past the second sidewall of the fret board; an extension member having a first end coupled to the second end of the bar member and a second end configured to face the second sidewall of the fret board; a first bumper on the first arm of the bent, L-shaped member, and a second bumper on the second end of the extension member; a lever pivotally coupled to the second end of the bent, L-shaped member, the lever having a cam surface configured to interact with the second end of the bar member, the lever facilitating: a first position, wherein the cam surface is disengaged from the second end of the bar member, allowing the second arm of the L-shaped member to move toward the bar member and the bumpers to move apart for placement on the instrument, and a second position, wherein the cam surface is engaged with the second end of the bar member, causing the bumpers to move toward one another, thereby applying pressure to the opposing sidewalls of the fret board to maintain pressure applied by the bar member against the strings.