Muting device for stringed musical instruments

Claim 1

IN A STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, THE COMBINATION OF A SOUND BOX HAVING A TOP, A BRIDGE MOUNTED ON SAID TOP, A PLURALITY OF STRINGS SUPPORTED BY SAID BRIDGE, SAID TOP HAVING AN APERTURE IN FRONT OF SAID BRIDGE AND HAVING A THREADED BORE IN BACK OF SAID BRIDGE, A LEVER HAVING A TRANSVERSE INTERMEDIATE SECTION PIVOTALLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID SOUND BOX, MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID LEVER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID SOUND BOX THROUGH SAID APERTURE IN FRONT OF SAID BRIDGE, A DAMPER MOUNTED ON SAID MEANS AND MOVABLE THEREWITH FOR ENGAGING THE UNDERSIDE OF AT LEAST CERTAIN OF SAID STRINGS TO MUTE THE SAME, MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS AT THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SOUND BOX INCLUDING A THREADED ELEMENT IN MESH WITH SAID THREADED BORE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID THREADED BORE IN BACK OF SAID BRIDGE FOR INWARD AND OUTWARD MOVEMENT THERETHROUGH AND BEING LOCATED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER FOR EFFECTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER, AND A MANUALLY OPERABLE KNOB AT THE OUTER END OF SAID ELEMENT FOR EFFECTING ROTATION OF SAID ELEMENT.