US Patent 7906716 Mute for bowed stringed instruments

A three-position mute for use with a musical stringed instrument, such mute having an elongated body with two pairs of legs extending therefrom, a slot defined between each pair of legs, a pair of notches defined in the bottom of the elongated body, such notches for engagement with selected strings of the musical instrument in selected modes of use and the slots for engagement on the musical instrument's bridge in a selected mode of use, such modes of use including a bridge engagement position in a first mode of use, a bridge-contacting position in a second mode of use, and a resting position with the mute installed on the strings between the bridge and the tailpiece.