Patent 1
Source APA:US7968778B2 - Tuner with capo. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2018, from
https://patents.google.com/patent/US7968778B2/en?oq=US7968778
Patent Number: US7968778
Patent Summary: This patent is for a product that combos a guitar tuner and a capo in one. Since
the tuner is directly attached to the capo, it uses vibration rather than microphone to test the key
and pitch. There are LEDs to indicate whether or not a string needs to be retuned.
Patent Critiques: This patent attempts to solve the issue of having too many guitar tools by
combining two together. Good attributes are that it is compact and a bad attribute is the weak
spring mechanism used. A unique aspect is the position of where parts are placed.
Patent 2
Source APA: CN201397668Y - Guitar capo with functions of sound tuning and pick storing.
(n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2018, from
https://patents.google.com/patent/CN201397668Y/en?oq=CN201397668
Patent Number: CN201397668Y
Patent Summary: This patent is for a product that combos a guitar tuner, capo, and a pick storage
unit in one. This patent also contains a pick storage unit and it is quite a simple mechanism. It is
very similar to other commercial products. The description talks of a tuner on-board but is only
mentioned once and is not visible in the provided art.
Patent Critique: This patent tries to combine three common guitar tools together. It is compact
for the amount of tools and sleek enough to slide into your pocket. The tuner however does not
seem easy to understand. It seems too complex to use for the average user.
Patent 3
Source APA: US4183279A - Variable chord-forming capo. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2018,
from https://patents.google.com/patent/US4183279A/en?q=capo&oq=capo
Patent Number: US4183279A
Patent Summary: This patent is version of a guitar cpao that can be adjusted to only certain frets
on the guitar which can allow for an infinite amount of guitar tunings.
Patent Critiques: This capo is a strap style instead of a spring system which can be very difficult
to quickly and accurately place on the guitar. While you can choose the strings you would like to
capo down, because of the strap style, it could prove to be challenging.