Capo for plucked instruments with a neck, especially for saz, baglama, guitar

Abstract

A capo (100) for plucked instruments with a neck (H) comprises the following components: a clamping element (6) with a pressure-reducing section (7) that can be placed on the strings on the fingerboard of the neck (H) and a spacer section (8), a clamping element (2) pivotably mounted on the spacer section (8) at a first pivot point (11) about a first pivot axis, a lever element (1) mounted on the clamping element (2) at a second pivot point (12) arranged at a distance from the first pivot point (11) and pivotable about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis, which has a first lever arm (9) and a second lever arm (10), a compression spring (5) arranged between the clamping element (2) and the first lever arm (9) of the lever element (1) and a fixing wheel (3) which can be rotated laterally about an eccentric axis of rotation (16) on the spacer section (8) of the bracket element (6). The locking wheel (3) engages the second lever arm (10) with its circumference to displace the lever element (1) when the locking wheel (3) rotates about the eccentric axis of rotation (16). The locking wheel (3) has a recess (17) on its circumference into which the second lever arm (10) can engage when it is aligned with the second lever arm (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to capos for plucked instruments with necks, in particular for guitar, saz or baglama.

[0002] A capo is a movable device used to shorten the vibrating length of the strings of a guitar or a related plucked or strummed string instrument, such as a saz or baglama. It is mounted between two frets around the neck of the instrument and presses the strings onto the fingerboard in front of the fret.

[0003] Known designs for such capos are described, for example, in the documents DE 20 2009 017 353 U1, US 4 270 432 A and CN 2 12 303 034 U.

[0004] The present invention is intended to provide a capo that is improved compared to known embodiments.

[0005] This object is achieved by a capo for plucked instruments with a neck having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are specified in more detail in the dependent claims.

[0006] A capo according to the invention therefore comprises the following components: • a bow element having a depressing portion and a spacer portion that can be placed on the strings on the fingerboard of the neck; • a clamping element which is pivotally mounted on the spacer section of the bracket element at a first pivot point about a first pivot axis and which serves for clamping it to the neck at a position opposite the fingerboard; • a lever element which is pivotably mounted on the clamping element at a second pivot point arranged at a distance from the first pivot point about a second pivot axis running parallel to the first pivot axis and which has a first lever arm and a second lever arm; • a compression spring arranged between the clamping element and the first lever arm of the lever element; and • a fixing wheel that can be rotated laterally around an eccentric axis of rotation on the spacer section of the bracket element.

[0007] The locking wheel engages with its circumference on the second lever arm of the lever element, displacing the lever element as the locking wheel rotates around the eccentric axis of rotation. The locking wheel has a recess on its circumference into which the second lever arm can retract when aligned with the second lever arm.

[0008] The capo according to the invention functions with a locking wheel attached to the side of the spacer section of the bow element for clamping the guitar neck. The pivot point of the locking wheel is not centered in the middle, but rather arranged eccentrically. Turning the locking wheel in one direction, with the locking wheel resting against the second lever arm with a circumferential section in an area with a longer radius, allows the lever element to be firmly adjusted and the desired pressure and tension applied to the clamping element by the lever element.

[0009] The capo is controlled by the lever element, which is pressed onto the clamping element by means of the compression spring. The lever element is mounted parallel to the clamping element at the second pivot point, so that both elements, lever element and clamping element, are coupled via the compression spring and rotate together around the first pivot point. The compression spring, which can be arranged approximately centrally between the first lever arm of the lever element and the clamping element, enables compression spring action between the two aforementioned elements.

[0010] Once the desired pressure is reached, the position of the lever element, and thus also of the clamping element, is held in the clamping position by rotating the laterally mounted locking wheel, which can particularly be a knurled wheel with peripheral knurling. The eccentric locking wheel, due to the ellipse of its peripheral surface described during rotation, enables the lever arm to be raised in a region with a longer radius when the peripheral surface of the locking wheel rests against the second lever arm.

[0011] The eccentric locking wheel can be rotated both clockwise and counterclockwise. If the lever element is raised by the circumferential surface of the locking wheel contacting the second lever arm in a circumferential area with a longer radius, it can be fixed in the desired holding position by turning the locking wheel.

[0012] Due to the pressure exerted on the lever element by the fixing wheel, the clamping element exerts pressure on the back of the instrument neck and against the depression section of the bracket element.

[0013] The controlled application of pressure to the lever element and, via the compression spring, to the clamping element ensures secure fixation without damaging the instrument neck.

[0014] The lever element allows control over the positioning of the capo on the instrument neck.

[0015] The spring-supported mechanism not only ensures stable and quick fastening, but also allows adjustable fixation using the lateral fixing wheel.

[0016] The spring, which is mounted between the lever element and the clamping element, allows the capo to apply the desired pressure to the strings.

[0017] By pressing the free ends of the lever element and the bracket element together, the locking wheel loosens, allowing the locking wheel to be rotated into a position where the circumferential recess rests against the second lever arm. This allows the second lever arm to retract into the recess and the lever element to open, thus releasing the clamping force. The recess on the locking wheel allows the lever element to be retracted a large distance with the clamping element.

[0018] For a maximum adjustment path that can be achieved by turning the fixing wheel, the circumferential recess of the fixing wheel can in particular be arranged at a circumferential position that has the smallest distance from the eccentric axis of rotation.

[0019] The clamping element can be substantially L-shaped, with a longer, concavely curved contact section for contacting the back of the instrument neck and a shorter bearing section. The first and second pivot points are then arranged in the bearing section, and the second pivot point is offset toward a free end of the bearing section.

[0020] In the capo according to the invention, the compression spring can be designed as a spiral spring and arranged around a locking pin pivotally attached to the clamping element at a third pivot point. This locking pin then passes through a channel in the lever element with a free end and has a head at the free end with a diameter that exceeds the diameter of the channel. The locking pin, which is pivotally attached to the clamping element in the manner described above and around which the spiral spring is arranged, is guided in the channel in the lever element.

[0021] The invention is illustrated once again below by a description of a possible embodiment based on the attached figures. In the figures: Fig. 1 a view of an embodiment of a capo according to the invention from the front and in a position placed on and clamped to a neck of a plucked instrument; Fig. 2 the capo Fig. 1 in a position clamped on the neck of the plucked instrument in a three-dimensional view obliquely from a first side; Fig. 3 the capo Fig. 1 in a three-dimensional view obliquely from a second side, clamped onto the neck of the plucked instrument; Fig. 4 the capo Fig. 1 in one of the Fig. 1 comparable view in the position placed on the neck of the plucked instrument, but released; Fig. 5 the capo Fig. 1 in a three-dimensional view obliquely from the second side when loosely attached to the neck of the plucked instrument; Fig. 6 a top view of the capo's locking wheel Fig. 1; Fig. 7 a three-dimensional view of the Fig. 6 shown fixing wheel; Fig. 8 three representation of the fixing wheel from Fig. 6 to illustrate the adjustment possibilities obtained by turning the fixing wheel; Fig. 9-11 in three views of the capo Fig. 1 to illustrate the release of the clamped position; Fig. 12-14 three views of the capo from Fig. 1 without the neck to further illustrate the release of the clamped position.

[0022] The figures show various views of a possible embodiment of a capo 100 according to the invention and its essential components.

[0023] The capo 100 comprises a bracket element 6 having a depression section 7 and a spacer section 8. The capo 100 serves, in the manner familiar to those skilled in the art, to be placed on and secured to a neck H of a plucked instrument, such as a guitar or a saz or a baglama, and to press the strings of the instrument down on the fingerboard to shorten the vibrating length of the strings of the instrument.

[0024] On the bracket element 6, more precisely at its spacer section, a clamping element 2 is arranged at a first pivot point 11, pivotable about a first pivot axis. The clamping element is L-shaped with an elongated and concavely curved contact section 14 for contact with the back of the neck H of the plucked instrument and with a shorter bearing section 15 in which the first pivot point 11 is located.

[0025] A lever element 1 is pivotally connected to the clamping element 2 at a second pivot point 12 about a second pivot axis. The second pivot axis runs parallel to the first pivot axis. The lever element 1 has a first lever arm 9 and a second lever arm 10. The second lever arm 10 is shorter than the first lever arm 9.

[0026] A locking pin 4 is pivotably mounted on the clamping element 2 at a third pivot point 13. A compression spring 5 in the form of a helical spring is arranged around the locking pin 4, extending between the clamping element and the first lever arm 9 of the lever element 1 and supporting it against these two elements. The locking pin 4 extends with a free end through the lever element 1 through a channel 20 formed in the first lever arm 9 and has a head 19 at the free end with a diameter that exceeds the diameter of the channel 20 and thus forms a stop.

[0027] A fixing wheel 3 is arranged laterally on the spacer section 8 of the bracket element 6. The fixing wheel 3 is designed here as a knurled wheel with a peripheral knurling 18. It has a recess 17 along the circumference. The fixing wheel 3 is mounted on the spacer section 8 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 16. The rotation axis 16 does not extend through the fixing wheel 3 centrally, but is positioned eccentrically there, as is particularly the case with the Fig. 6-8. Accordingly, the distance R of the circumference of the fixing wheel 3 to the rotational axis 16, which distance R is also referred to here as the radius, varies along the circumference of the fixing wheel 3. This distance R is smallest in the area in which the recess 17 is made and increases from this position. Thus, the fixing wheel 3 describes an ellipse when rotating about the rotational axis 16, as shown in Fig. 8 is illustrated in the right-hand diagram.

[0028] The second lever arm 10 of the lever element 1 projects laterally to one side of the capo 100 in such a way that it rests there on the circumference of the fixing wheel 3.

[0029] The recess 17 in the circumference of the fixing wheel 3 is dimensioned and shaped such that the second lever arm 10 of the lever element 1 can move into this recess when the fixing wheel 3 is oriented in a rotational position in which the recess 17 is aligned with the second lever arm 10.

[0030] The capo 100 is attached to a neck H of a plucked instrument as follows: In an open or released position, as shown in the Fig. 3-5 as well as 11, 13 and 14 and in which the fixing wheel 3 is in a rotational position such that the second lever arm 10 moves into the recess 17 so that the first lever arm 9 of the lever element 1 opens up as far as it can and in the process also takes the clamping element with it, the capo 100 can be guided laterally over the neck H of the plucked instrument such that the neck H lies between the pressing-down section 7 of the bow element 6 and the clamping element 2. The pressing-down section 7 is positioned resting on the fingerboard of the neck H and the clamping element 2 is positioned on the opposite back side of the neck. Now the first lever arm 9 of the lever element 1 is pressed down far enough that the second lever arm 10 moves out of the recess 17. The fixing element is then rotated, whereby this can be done both anticlockwise and clockwise.The first lever arm 9 can then be released when the second lever arm 10 rests against the knurled circumference of the locking wheel 3. By further rotating the locking wheel 3 about the rotational axis 16, the eccentric positioning of the rotational axis 16 causes the second lever arm 10 to be raised, so that the first lever arm 9 is lowered towards the neck H. As a result, the clamping element 2, coupled via the locking pin 4 and the compression spring 5 arranged around it, is pressed against the back of the neck H with the compressive force applied by the compression spring 5, and a pressing force is built up. If this pressing force is sufficient to hold the capo 100 in position and to press the strings with the pressing-down section 7 against the fingerboard of the neck H, this pressure holds the locking wheel 3 in the set rotational position.

[0031] In order to release the capo 100 from the fixed position, the user must press the free ends of the first lever arm 9 of the lever element 1 and the depression section 7 of the bracket element 8 towards each other against the force of the compression spring 5 (cf. Fig. 10). This lifts the second lever arm 10 of the lever element 1 from the periphery of the locking wheel 3, and the locking wheel 3 can be rotated back into a position in which the recess 17 is aligned with the lever arm 10 in such a way that the second lever arm 10 can retract into the recess 17. This then returns the capo 100 to its open position, in which it can be removed laterally from the neck. List of reference symbols 1 lever element 2 clamping element 3 Fixing wheel 4 socket pins 5 compression spring 6 bracket element 7 Press-down section 8 Distance section 9 first lever arm 10 second lever arm 11 first hinge point 12 second hinge point 13 third pivot point 14 Plant section 15 storage section 16 axis of rotation 17 Recess 18 Knurling 19 heads 20 channels 100 capos H instrument neck R distance

Claims

[1] Capo (100) for plucked instruments with neck (H) with • a bow element (6) having a pressing section (7) that can be placed on the strings on the fingerboard of the neck (H) and a spacer section (8), • a clamping element (2) pivotably mounted on the spacer section (8) at a first pivot point (11) about a first pivot axis for clamping to the neck (H) at a position opposite the fingerboard, • a lever element (1) which is pivotably mounted on the clamping element (2) at a second pivot point (12) arranged at a distance from the first pivot point (11) about a second pivot axis running parallel to the first pivot axis and which has a first lever arm (9) and a second lever arm (10), • a compression spring (5) arranged between the clamping element (2) and the first lever arm (9) of the lever element (1), and • a fixing wheel (3) which is laterally rotatable about an eccentric rotational axis (16) on the spacer section (8) of the bracket element (6), wherein the fixing wheel (3) engages with its circumference on the second lever arm (10) for displacing the lever element (1) when the fixing wheel (3) rotates about the eccentric rotational axis (16), and wherein the fixing wheel (3) has a recess (17) on its circumference into which, when it is aligned with the second lever arm (10), the second lever arm (10) can move. [2] Capo (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that the circumferential recess (17) of the fixing wheel (3) is arranged at a circumferential position which has the smallest distance (R) from the eccentric axis of rotation (16). [3] Capo (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fixing wheel (3) is designed as a knurled wheel with a circumferential knurling (18). [4] Capo (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the clamping element (2) is formed substantially L-shaped with a longer, concavely curved contact section (14) and a shorter bearing section (15), wherein the first (11) and the second (12) articulation point are arranged in the bearing section (15), wherein the second articulation point (12) is offset towards a free end of the bearing section (15). [5] Capo (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plug pin (4) which is pivotably fixed to the clamping element (2) at a third articulation point (13), around which the compression spring (5) is arranged as a spiral spring and which has a free end passing through a channel (20) in the lever element (1) and has a head (19) at the free end with a diameter which exceeds the diameter of the channel (20).

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