GB2030340A

GB2030340A - Capodastro

Info

Publication number: GB2030340A
Application number: GB7930779A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GOULD T
Current assignee: GOULD T
Priority date: 1978-09-05
Filing date: 1979-09-05
Publication date: 1980-04-02
Also published as: GB2030340B

Abstract

Capo has fixing strap D with an adjustable fastening H, I whereby length of strap may be altered to vary tension applied by capo or to accommodate necks of different sizes. The fastening includes a toggle lever H with transverse notches I which is passed through a rectangular element I and rotated with the end bar of the element I in any one of the notches. The fastening lever is attached to one end of a strap D, D2 whose other end is attached to the string engaging bar C. The element I may be attached to the end of a second strap D1 whose other end is fixed to the other end of the string engaging bar Fig. 3, or directly to the other end of the string engaging bar, or, Fig. 5, directly to the first end of the string engaging bar. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Capodastro A capodastro is sometimes called a capo tasto, or simply a capo. It is a device used by players of stringed musical instruments, and is comparable to a clamp which may be mounted around the neck of the instrument at any desired position and which presses the strings onto the fingerboard for the purpose of enabling the player to play in a variety of keys while employing the same fingering.

A capodastro normally has two main constituent parts. Firstly it has a bar which when the capodastro is in use upon the instrument presses the strings onto the fingerboard. Secondly a strap or other means of maintaining the bar In position is normally provided, which strap passes around the neck of the instrument and has fastening means to facilitate the mounting of the capodastro upon, and its detachment from, the neck.

An object of my invention is to provide a capodastro which presses all the strings of the instrument firmly onto the fingerboard, and that the pressure which it exerts may be variable at the will of the player.

Another object of my invention is to provide a capodastro which may be used on a variety of stringed instruments having necks of different sizes and fingerboards of various widths and having various numbers of strings.

A further object of my invention is to provide a capodastro which may be simply and quickly mounted upon and detached from the instrument.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a capodastro which may be simply and quickly moved from one position on the neck of the instrument to another position by the player at will using one hand only.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description in relation to the accompanying drawing which illustrates three versions of a preferred embodiment, wherein, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of part of the neck of a stringed musical instrument with a capodastro mounted in position.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the lever and the hollow rectangle which are the fastening and adjusting means used on the strap of my capodastro.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the neck of a stringed instrument with the first version of the preferred embodiment of my invention mounted in its open position.

Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the neck of an instrument showing the lever and hollow rectangle in the closed position, Figure 5 is a view in perspective of part of the neck of an instrument with a second version of the preferred embodiment of my invention mounted in its open position, Figure 6 is a view in perspective of part of the neck of an instrument with a third version of the preferred embodiment of my invention mounted in its open position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Part of the neck A of a musical instrument is shown in perspective in Figure 1, having fingerboard F and four strings E. A capodastro is mounted in place having bar C and strap D.

In my invention bar C may be made of any convenient material or combination of materials, which would most appropriately be plastic or rubber strip or extrusion supported or stiffened by metal rod or plate.

Strap Din my invention is a band of fiexible stretch-resistant material which may be in two portions, D1 and D2, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, which illustrate the first version of my invention. Portion D1 is attached at one end to bar C and at the other end to hollow rectangle Portion D2 is attached to the other end of bar C and to lever H which has any number of transverse notches shown here as J 1 to J4 across one longitudinal face.

In its open position shown in Figures 2 and 3 free end K of lever H has been passed through hollow rectangle I in order to mount the capodastro around the neck of the instrument.

One side of hollow rectangle I has been located in any desired notch J 1. When rotated in direction 1 the two portions of strap D are'drawn together and bar C is made to press strings E onto fingerboard F, as is evident from Figure 3 and 4.

The closed position is shown in Figure 4. From the closed position, if lever H be rotated in direction 2 the open position is resumed and bar C ceases to press strings E onto fingerboard F.

While in the open position lever H may be withdrawn through hollow rectangle I in order to detach the capodastro from the instrument.

Also while in the open position hollow rectangle I may be removed from notch J 1 and relocated in any of notches J2 to J4. When returned to the closed position the tension on portions D1 and D2 will be increased to a degree varying according to the new notch chosen and bar C will press strings E more firmly onto fingerboard F.

The relocation of hollow rectangle I to any of notches J2 to J4 also serves to shorten the combined lengths or portions D1 and D2, which shortening accommodates the variety of neck sizes and fingerboard widths common among stringed musical instruments, While in its open position my capodastro may be easily and quickly slid along the neck of the instrument by the player using only one hand, to a new position before being closed again in preparation for playing in a new key.

While in the closed position the tension exerted by portions D1 and D2 upon hollow rectangle I maintains a pressure on lever H in direction 1, which pressure maintains the lever in the closed position against neck A, as shown in Figure 4.

It will be apparent that the novelty of my capodastro lies in the form and functions of lever H, made of any convenient material, but most appropriately of metal or thermoplastic or thermosetting materials or any combination thereof, and of hollow rectangle I, made of similar materials. The interrelationship of these two constituent parts of my invention is similar in all three versions of my capodastro which are illustrated in Figure 2 to 6.

A second version of my invention is shown in Figure 5 wherein strap D is a continuous band attached at one end L1 to one end of bar C and at end L2 to lever H. Rectangle I is attached at end M to the aforementioned end of bar C. Guide posts N 1 and N2 are provided at the other end of bar C on its top surface in order to retain strap D in its correct position. The function of the constituent parts of my invention in its second version are apparent from the above description of its first version.

A third version of my invention is shown in Figure 6, wherein end L1 of continuous strap D is attached to one end of bar C. End L2 is attached to lever H. Edge M of hollow rectangle I is attached to the vertical face of the other end of bar C in such a manner that rectangle I may swing freely on its mounting. The functions of the constituent parts of my invention in its third version are apparent from my above description of its first version.

While the invention has been described in three preferred versions, there are other versions which it may take without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and protection is desired for all forms within the following claims.

Claims

1. A capodastro for stringed musical instruments comprising a bar of rubber or plastic strip or extrusion supported or stiffened by metal rod or plate or of any other convenient materials, and a strap of stretch-resistant flexible material in two portions, the first of which portions being attached at one end to one extremity of the bar and at the other end to a hollow rectangle, the second of which portions being attached at one end to the other extremity of the bar and at its other end to one end of a lever which has a plurality of transverse notches across one longitudinal face, each of which notches being adapted to receive the free end of the hollow rectangle, the lever and rectangle being made of metal or thermoplastic or thermosetting materials or other convenient material or combinations thereof.

2. A capodastro for stringed musical instruments comprising a bar of rubber or plastic strip or extrusion supported or stiffened by metal rod or plate or of any other convenient materials, and a strap of stretch-resistant flexibie material one end of which strap being attached to one extremity of the bar, at which extremity of the bar on its upper surface being also attached one side of a hollow rectangle in such a manner that the rectangle can swing freely on its mounting, the other end of the strap being attached to one end of a lever which has a plurality of transverse notches across one longitudinal face, each of which notches being adapted to receive the free end of the hollow rectangle, the lever and the hollow rectangle being made of metal or of thermoplastic or thermosetting or other convenient material or materials.

3. A capodastro for stringed musical instruments comprising a bar of rubber or plastic strip or extrusion supported or stiffened by metal rod or plate or of any other convenient materials, and a strap of stretch-resistant flexible material, one end of which strap being attached to one extremity of the bar and the other end of the strap being attached to a lever having a plurality of transverse notches across one longitudinal face, each of which notches being adapted to receive the free end of a hollow rectangle, the opposite end of which rectangle being attached to the other extremity of the bar on its vertical face in such a manner that the rectangle can swing freely on its mounting.