Abstract: An ergonomic musician's pick or pick holder for use with string instruments, such as a guitar, mandolin, bass guitar, or ukelele, has a curved finger grip portion on one side adapted to form a finger cradle for either the thumb or index finger of a user and has a flat generally planar area on another side against which the other fingers of a user may be pressed to allow the user to securely and comfortably grasp the pick for playing. The grip portion positively locates the fingers in a generally predetermined angular relationship to the string engaging pick tip. Different individual picks of the invention may have different angular relationships. The pick functions in the same way to bring the same advantages of the invention to any conventional and some non-standard or custom picks. Holder provides the added advantage that various picks may be used and the angular relationship may be more easily varied through various arrangements for attaching the pick to the holder.

Abstract: An adjustable clutched handle for turning the drive shaft of a tuning peg assembly on a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, and a linear extension tightening post. The clutched handle includes a tubular handle element having a transverse hole formed perpendicular to the axis of the handle element. A generally tubular adapted sleeve, keyed to the end of the drive-shaft, includes a pair of flat drive surfaces on its outer surface. A pair of pistons, sized for movement along the axial bore, are biased against the drive surfaces by a pair of springs. The springs are held in place against the pistons by an adjustable cap. When a predetermined tension has been reached, the force of the springs holding the piston against the drive surfaces is overcome to allow the handle to free-wheel about the drive shaft. The provision of a linear extension tightening post reduces the tendency for the instrument to become out of tune.

Abstract: A safety device for preventing premature expulsion of a stopper in the ridged neck of a container for beverages under pressure, such as a champagne bottle. A body has a top and downwardly extending opposed leg portions attached to the top, each leg portion having upper and lower inner ledge portions, the upper ledge portion being positioned for engagement with the lower rim surface of the stopper, the lower edge portion being positioned to provide a limit stop with the lower surface of the neck ridge upon upward motion of the device. The leg portions can be bent outwardly at the bottom to enable attachment of the device over the stopper and the upper portion of the neck, and a collar slidably disposed on the periphery of the body retains the lower ends of the leg portions during stopper removal to ensure engagement between the lower inner edge portions and the neck ridge.An alternate embodiment incorporates the stopper into the top as a downwardly depending centrally arranged cylinder.

Abstract: An adjustable clutched handle for turning the drive shaft of a tuning peg assembly on a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, is disclosed. The clutched handle includes a tubular handle element having a transverse hole formed perpendicular to the axis of the handle element. A generally tubular adapter sleeve, keyed to the end of the drive-shaft, includes a pair of flat drive surfaces on its outer surface. A pair of pistons, sized for movement along the axial bore, are biased against the drive surfaces by a pair of springs. The springs are held in place against the pistons by an adjustable cap. When a pre-determined tension has been reached, the force of the springs holding the piston against the drive surfaces is overcome to allow the handle to freewheel about the drive shaft.

Abstract: A construction for protecting against damage to or unplugging of an electrical cord or plug connected to a portable musical instrument supported on the performer's shoulder by means of a strap attached to studs or the like projecting from the instrument body. The construction includes a washer removably mounted on one of such studs, serving not only to prevent accidental dislodgement of the strap from the stud, but also as an anchoring point for the electrical cord. The assembly between the cord and washer may include an elongated resilient member to snub or soften any jerk on the cord resulting for example from sudden or excessive movement of the performer. The washer includes two circular members each having a pear-shaped opening, the washer being in locked position when the openings are out of registration with one another.