Capo

A capo for use with a stringed instrument having a neck having a fingerboard and a back and a plurality of strings that extend longitudinally over said fingerboard comprising:

• (a) a frame that includes a top arm that extends across the fingerboard above the strings, a resilient pad on the underside of the top arm, and a side arm that extends generally laterally of the neck;
• (b) a jaw member, one end of which is pivotally attached to the side arm, said jaw member extending under said neck and being inclined downwardly relative to the top arm, being curved to facilitate snug engagement with said back, and having a resilient pad on its upper side;
• (c) a lever member, one end of which is pivotally attached to the side arm below the jaw member, said lever member being planar and of such length that its free end extends beyond the free end of the jaw member when the capo is closed about the neck;
• (d) an adjusting screw having a threaded shaft that is received through a threaded bore in the lever member located between the attached end of the lever member and the midpoint of the lever member, one end of said shaft bearing against the underside of the jaw member and the other end carrying a head by which the screw may be gripped and turned to advance or withdraw the screw within the bore to vary the extent to which the jaw member is closed when the lever member is pivoted toward the jaw member, there being a zone of interference between the shaft and the jaw member whereby a positive locking action of the capo about the neck is effected when the jaw member is closed by pivoting the lever member upwardly;
• and
• (e) a helical spring about said shaft between the underside of the lever member and said head for maintaining the position of the screw within the bore.