- Rockin’ Patent®: US Patent No. 9,293,120
- Filed: 26 September 2014
- In the name of: Jonathan Charles Devlin West
- Title: Adjustable Capo Device For Fretted Stringed Instruments
- What’s claimed: “A capo element for use with a fretted stringed musical instrument having a fretboard surface containing a plurality of frets and at least one string stretched between two points to provide a vibrational length of string that overlies the plurality of frets on the fretboard surface, the capo element comprising: a body having a top and a base, a groove in the top of the body, which groove is configured to accommodate and mechanically secure the string part of the way along its length, wherein the groove has a width that is configured to prevent vibration of the string beyond the capo element and selectively set the vibrational length of the string to be between one of the two points and the capo element, and an adhesive on the base of the body that can secure the capo element to the fretboard at the desired position.”
- Why this patent rocks: This rockin’ patent relates to an adhesive “capo element” that can be used to secure a single string at a desired position on a fretboard. The string is trapped in the groove of the capo element with friction, instead of being depressed onto a fret. The capo element is narrow enough to allow multiple capo elements to be used side by side on the same fret. This patent appears to relate to the Fretlocks product, which no longer appears to be on the market (here).
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The information above is for general interest and information only and does not constitute legal advice.
