Universal capo for variety of instruments and string gauges
AssigneeD'Addario & Company, Inc.
InventorRichard Ned Steinberger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A universal capo for use with a variety of stringed instruments and with a variety of gauged strings has an upper rigid arm extending longitudinally. A core block made from an elastomer with a first durometer is mounted to the rigid arm. A wrap layer made from an elastomer with a second durometer cradles the core block on the bottom and lateral sides and can extend over the top of the rigid arm. The second durometer hardness is at least 1.5 times the first durometer hardness and the core and wrap have thicknesses collectively contributing to a substantially even pressure on strings of varying gauges to effectively clamp the strings to the neck of an instrument without application of undue pressure.
Claims21
A capo for clamping to the neck of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:
- an upper rigid arm extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a upper surface and lower surface;
- an core block mounted to the upper rigid arm, the core block being made from an elastomeric material having a first durometer hardness, the core block extending longitudinally along the lower surface of the rigid arm and defining a bottom side and opposite lateral sides;
- a wrap layer around the bottom side and lateral sides of the core, and around the top surface of the rigid arm, the wrap layer being made from an elastomeric material having a second durometer hardness, wherein
- the first durometer hardness is less than the second durometer hardness as measured on the Shore A hardness scale.
A capo for clamping to the neck of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:
- an upper rigid arm extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a upper surface and lower surface;
- an core block beneath the rigid arm lower surface, the core block having a first thickness T1 measured from its top to bottom and being made from an elastomeric material having a first durometer hardness;
- a wrap layer around the core block cradling the core block to the rigid arm, the wrap layer defining a string contacting surface beneath the core block and being made from an elastomeric material having a second durometer hardness, the string contacting surface having a second thickness T2, wherein
- the ratio of the second durometer hardness to the first durometer hardness is at least 2:1, as measured on the Shore A hardness scale, and
- the ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness (T1:T2) is at least 2:1.
A capo for clamping to the neck of a stringed musical instrument, comprising:
- an upper rigid arm extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a upper surface and lower surface;
- an core block beneath the rigid arm lower surface, the core block being made from an elastomeric material having a first durometer hardness;
- a wrap layer cradling the core block to the rigid arm, the wrap layer defining a string contacting surface beneath the core block and being made from an elastomeric material having a second durometer hardness, wherein
- the first durometer hardness of the core block is within the approximate range of 5 A-25 A and the durometer hardness of the wrap is within the approximate range of 20 A-60 A, as measured on the Shore A hardness scale, and
- the ratio of the second durometer hardness to the first durometer hardness within the approximate range of 2:1 to 6:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.