Patent ID: 7390948

Claim:
A capo for Dobro and slide guitars, and other raised-string instruments, comprising: a bar member having length defined by two ends, an upper surface, and a lower surface adapted for string contact; a sliding link member extending through a central bore in the bar member, the link member having an upper end positioned above the upper surface of the bar member and a lower end positioned below the lower surface of the bar member; a clamping member extending through a bore formed through the lower end of the link member, the clamping member having two opposing arms extending away from the link member, each arm terminating proximate to a respective end of the bar member; an adjustment arm pivotally coupled to the upper end of the link member, the adjustment arm having a first end with an adjustment mechanism that engages with the upper surface of the bar member, a second end pivotally coupled to a clamping lever; and wherein the clamping lever includes user-graspable portion and a corner spaced apart from the pivotal attachment to the link member, such that: when the user-graspable portion of the lever is folded down onto the upper surface of the bar member, the clamping member is brought sufficiently close to the lower surface of the bar member to trap strings disposed therebetween to effectuate a chord formation, and when the user-graspable portion of the lever is lifted up and away from the upper surface of the bar member, the strings are released, allowing the capo to be removed or repositioned.