WO2000028520A1

WO2000028520A1 - Capo

Info

Publication number: WO2000028520A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/002012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Helge Ekwall; Christer ÅDIN
Original assignee: Ådin & Ekwall Instrumentbyggare Hb
Priority date: 1998-11-04
Filing date: 1999-11-05
Publication date: 2000-05-18
Also published as: SE9803777L; SE9803777D0; SE524295C2; AU1435900A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capo for adjusting the shortening of the ringing part of an individual string/pair of strings of a string instrument, whereby it comprises a sleeve (1) being attachable to a fretted neck and a pin (4) being axially displaceable in said sleeve (1) and comprising a pressure washer (10) arranged to be able to grip an individual string or a pair of strings in pairs.

Description

CAPO

DESCRIPTION

Technical field The present invention relates to a point capo (or capo tasto) for adjusting the shortening of the ringing part of an individual string of a string instrument.

The object of the present invention is to obtain a device by means of which an individual string(-s) can be shortened in a simple way or be set free for shortening in order to obtain a desired tone height of an individual string, partly obtainingm different tone heights in a free position.

Background of the invention

String instrument comprises a fretted neck over which a number of strings, as a rule four, six, eight, ten or twelve strings run, which strings are attached in their one end to the resonance box/body and in their other end are attached in a corresponding number of pegs arranged at the uppermost part of the fretted neck. The exact design of this is depending on which type of instrument and other factors, which is of no interest in the present case. Along the fretted neck a number of bands are arranged against which the string is pressed at the playing to obtain a desired tone. In certain cases a total shortening of all strings is desired, whereby a fixed finger grip (barre) is arranged across the fretted neck immediately behind a band.

It is thus previously known to arrange fixed finger grips behind the bands on a fretted neck of a string instrument, such as a lute, guitar or base, in order to shorten a whole series of strings. Likewise it is previously known to have a series of screws placed on a band-like holder across the fretted neck to lift the strings of a string instrument from the fretted neck and its band (DE-A-3,210,939).

Further it is known to arrange a capo which extends across the whole neck, whereby the capo is arranged to the neck via one single joint in the form of a sleeve in the neck in which sleeve the capo is screwed. To lift the strings from the neck of a zither is further known from DE-A-2,745,636, whereby a series of shoulders, each placed underneath a string at the end of the neck at tha attachment of the string, lift the string. The shoulders are placed on screws which extends through the neck and allow for adjustment of the shoulder height and thereby the string height above the neck.

US-A-4,620,470 shows a guitar having adjustable, individual bands to make tuning of the guitar easier. Hereby the bands are placed on an attachment device being movable along the longside of the neck, which attachment device is fixed by means of a screw to the neck.

US-A-4,829,873 shows a string attachment device of string instrument, in particular electric guitars, whereby the device is fixed to the neck and comprises a series of locking shoulders which in turn are fixed by through-going screws.

US-A-5,097,737 relates to a device at string instruments, in particular guitars, in order to prolong or shorten the effective scale length. The device comprises a shoulder provided with an adjustment screw to be placed on the neck head beneath a string in order to lift the same and thereby prolonging the scale length by eliminating the last band (fret).

None of these publications belonging to the prior art shows a capo for individual strings or pair of individual strings (e.g., a lute).

Description of the present invention

It has now turned out possible to be able to solve the problem of individual capo by means of the present invention which is characterized by a sleeve being attachable to a fretted neck and a pin being axially displaceable in said sleeve and comprising a pressure washer arranged to be able to grip an individual string or a pair of strings in pairs.

By means of the present invention each string of a string instrument, such as guitar, lute, mandola, violin (violin, alt violin, cello, and contra base), zither, ukulele, banjo and the like can be shortened and set free from shortening more or less momentarily, as well as each string or pair of strings can be shortened after different bands (frets) on a fretted neck. Further characteristics are evident from the accompanying claims.

The invention will be described more in detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawing showing some preferred embodiments of the invention, without, however, this being restricted hereto. In the drawing

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a capo according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows part of a guitar neck with fretted neck and capo arranged according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a second preferred embodiment of the invention

1 denotes a steel sleeve having a diameter of 3 to 8 mm, usually 4 mm for guitars, and the corresponding, which sleeve is provided with threads 2 on its outer side for attachment to a neck. The sleeve which is tubular is provided with a further thread 3 on its inside, which thread 3 is intended to receive a pin 4. The thread 3 can comprise whole of or part of the inside of the sleeve 1. The sleeve 1 is further, in its one end 5, provided with a cross-going, diametrically extending slot 6 to allow screwing by means of a screw driver.

The pin 4, which preferably has a circular cross-section and a diameter of 2 to 5 mm depending on the instrument, is provided with an outer thread 7 to allow screwing into the inner thread 3 of the sleeve 1. Further the pin 4 comprises a knurled head 8 to make screwing of the pin 4 into the sleeve 1 more easy. Beneath the head 8 there are on one hand a steel washer 9, and on the other a rubber washer 10 arranged, whereby the rubber washer 10 is intended to abut one or two strings of a pair of strings lying close to each other of an instrument and thereby provide a pressure washer. The steel washer 9 having a thickness of one to some millimetres, has the task of supporting the rubber washer 10 over its entire diameter (3 to 15 mm). The thickness of the rubber washer 10 can vary depending on instrument and on the fact if one or more strings shall become shortened. In the case a string shall be shortened the rubber washer 10 can be asymmetrically designed having one thinner and one thicker half, whereby the thinner half is intended to rest against the string to be shortened. The washer can also, in such cases, be provided with a slot to grip over the string. The steel washer 9 can form a part of the head 8 or be integrated with the rubber washer 10 by means of a vulcanization process between these washers.

The pin 4 may further, in stead of being provided with a thread 7, be provided with a bayonet pin for attachment to a groove on the inside of the sleeve. Hereby there is an axially extending slot or groove running on the inside of the inside jacket of the sleeve, which at its lower part transforms into a peripheral groove for receiving the bayonet pin of the pin 4. This construction means that the pin is always locked at the same depth whereby regard to the thickness of the different strings can not be taken. In such cases different thicknesses of the rubber washer can be used or the sleeve 1 can be placed at different depths.

Fig. 2 shows a capo attached to a fretted neck of a guitar whereby part of the neck with the frets is shown. As evident from the figure the sleeve 1 is screwed down to such a depth that the sleeve 1 lies in a plane with the neck. The centre axis of the sleeve 1 is further placed at the side of the string extending above, which string is to be shortened. The pin 4 is screwed into the sleeve 1 in such a way that the rubber washer abuts one string (in one part of the figure) and a double string (in the second part of the figure). By placing the sleeve 1 at the side of the string the pin 4 will not touch the string even in the case on allows the pin to remain into the sleeve 1 in a non-dampened position of the pin.

Fig. 3 shows a washer 11 which is used at single-stringed instruments in order to obtain an improved abutment of the rubber washer 10 against the string in order to avoid a creeping of the string out of the grip of the capo with the same. The washer 11 hereby replaces the steel washer 9. The washer 11 is hereby made of a circular washer similar to the washer 9, whereby it has been bent across its centre opening to the formation of a "roof structure". At the screwing of the head 8 the rubber washer 10 being placed beneath the washer 11 but above the string of the instrument to be pressed even harder against the neck along its periphery parallel to the string and thus prevent the string from creeping out of the capo. The washer 11 can have a quadratic or rectangular form to make orientation more easy on the neck and to distinguish from circular washers 9.

Claims

1. Capo for adjusting the shortening of the ringing part of an individual string/pair of strings of a string instrument, characterized in a sleeve (1) being attachable to a fretted neck and a pin (4) being axially displaceable in said sleeve (1) and comprising a pressure washer (10) arranged to be able to grip an individual string or a pair of strings in pairs.

2. Capo according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a sleeve (1), a pin (4) being arranged to be axially screwed into said sleeve (1), and a pressure washer (10).

3. Capo according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a sleeve (1), a pin (4) being arranged by means of a bayonet fitting into said sleeve (1), and a pressure washer (10).

4. Capo according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the pressure washer (10) is a rubber washer.

5. Capo according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the pressure washer (10) is a washer (10) made of a fibre material.

6. Capo according to claims 1-5, characterized in that the sleeve (1) in one end comprises a diametrically extending slot (6).

7. Capo according to claims 1-6, characterized in that a washer (9, 11) is arranged above the pressure washer (10).

8. Capo according to claim 7, characterized in that the washer (11) is bent to achieve an increased peripheral pressure against the pressure washer (10).

9. String instrument comprising one or more capos according to claims 1-8.