Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02561456 2006-09-28
EASEL WITH SUPPORT STRUCTURE
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates generally to easels for display and
support
and more specifically to a reinforcing structure for collapsible easels.
Background
[0001] There are many applications where a collapsible easel for display of an
article is desired. Typical easels include an arrangement of spaced apart
legs. In
some easels, the legs of the easel include telescoped tubes or foldable struts
that are
extendable linearly to a predetermined height. A display support platform is
generally
supported by the easel. The display platform is generally movable, and in some
instances may be removable.
[0002] One known prior art easel having a board support includes a plurality
of
legs. The legs are gf;nerally pivotally connected together. Each leg includes
multiple
interlocked sections that are biased together when in an assembled position,
but may
be selectively manipulated for separation and folding into a bundle with one
section
against another. A board support is mounted on two legs, but may be
selectively
moved to a desired position on any of the interlocking sections. Each board
support is
relatively small with a general C-shape configuration. The board supports are
pivotally mounted, such that they are pivotal between two positions, one where
it is
folded against the leg on which it is mounted and one where it is folded away
from
the leg. The board supports serve to hold a small section of a canvas or other
item
when folded away from the leg.
[0003] While portable, known art easels as described above have disadvantages.
For example, the legs and the board supports are unstable and not suitable for
holding
heavy boards or paintings. Moreover, because the board supports are so small,
height
adjustment is limited by the width of the article being displayed.
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[0004] Another known prior art easel includes two front support legs having an
upper end connected to a selectively movable retaining mechanism. A single
support
brace that is selectively movable, extends laterally to connect the two front
support
legs together. A rear support leg is hingedly connected to a separate upper
plate that
is frictionally engaged with a central member. Rear support braces have a
first end
pivotally connected to a portion of the rear support leg and a second end
pivotally
connected to a fixed location on a portion of the central member. A board
support is
removably mounted to a front portion of the central member.
[0005] While prior easels of this type are collapsible and relatively
lightweight,
they are difficult to set up into an operative position that is stable. For
example, the
front support legs and the rear support legs must be separately adjusted until
the easel
is balanced due to the separate connection of the support braces and support
legs.
Additionally, these prior art easels may include clamping mechanisms that must
be
secured in order to set up the easel into a stable configuration. Accordingly,
more
time is required to insure an operative set up of the easel. Moreover,
experimentation
is required to properly balance the easel among the support legs.
[0002] Therefore, there exists a need for a collapsible easel that is easy to
set up,
but provides increased stability over prior art easels.
Summary
[0003] One embodiment of the present invention provides an easel for holding
an
article that includes a plurality of support members. Each of the support
members has
a proximal end, a distal end and a central portion. The easel also includes an
elongated post merr~ber. The post member includes a top end, a bottom end, and
a
guide surface. The post member is defined generally by an axis, and the post
member
is pivotally coupled to each of the support members adjacent the proximal end.
The
easel further includes a first-linkage member having a first post end, a first
support
end, and a first middle portion. The first post end is pivotally coupled to
one of the
support members. Additionally, the easel includes a lower support selectively
coupled to at least one of the central portions. The lower support selectively
supports
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a lower portion of the article. At least a portion of the proximal end is
selectively
guided relative to at least a portion of the post end.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0004] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0005] FIG. I is a perspective view of an easel according to an embodiment of
the
present invention, with a top support rotated 90° for clarity.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the easel of FIG. I, illustrating the
easel in
a partially stowed position, again with the top support rotated 90° for
clarity.
(0007] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the easel ofFIG. 2, identified
generally as area 3 of FIG. 2, illustrating a portion of a guide member
reinforcing
system.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a top view of a guide member of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the guide member of FIG. 4 taken along
line
5-5 of FIG. 4.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the guide member of FIG. 4.
Detailed Description
[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an easel 20 is illustrated. Easel 20
includes a
post member 22, a plurality of telescopic support members 24, a guide member
26
slideably coupled to the post member 22, a plurality of linkage members 28, a
central
connector 30, and a lower support 32. The post member 22 generally defines an
axis
A-A and includes an outer guide surface 36 having a stop member groove 38
formed
therein, and a top support member 40 interposed therein and extendable
therefrom.
[0012] The support members 24 are each defined by a first portion 42 having a
proximal end 44, a second portion 46 having a distal end 48, and a telescopic
guide
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50. Each linkage member 28 includes a post end 54, a support end 56, and a
middle
portion 58.
[0013] As best seen in FIG. 3, each telescopic guide 50 includes a tubular
body 60
having a linkage member support 62, a guide clasp 64 rotatably supported to
the
tubular body 60 via a clasp pin 66, a first portion opening 68, and a second
portion
opening 70. In operation, as discussed in greater detail below, guide clasp 64
is
rotated away from tubular body 60 in order to allow second portion 46 to
translate
relative to the first portion 42. When first portion 42 and second portion 46
are in a
desired relative position, guide clasp 64 may then be rotated via clasp pin 66
to the
locked position (FI(~. 3).
[0014] Each telescopic guide 50 is pivotally supported to a linkage member 28
via
a linkage pin 80 that is inserted into linkage member support 62. The guide
member
26 pivotally connects each linkage member 28 via a linkage pin 82 with the
post
member 22. Each linkage member 28 interconnects the guide member 26 with a
support member 24..
[0015] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the central connector 30 includes a
central support 88 connected to the post member 22, a top support aperture 90,
and a
plurality of first portion connectors 92. The first portion connectors 92 are
each
pivotally connected to central connector 30 thereby permitting each support
member
24 to rotate relative to axis A-A (FIG. 2). The top support member 40 extends
through the top support aperture 90 and into post member 22 in telescopic
fashion, as
discussed in greater detail below. The first portion connectors 92 of central
connector
30 are each connected to one of the support members 24 at the proximal end 44.
[0016] The top support member 40 may include a top support 94 for restraining
an article. The top support member 40 is extendable from a stowed position to
an
extended position (FIG. 1). An intermediate position, between the stowed
position
and the extended position is illustrated in FIG. 2. In the stowed position,
telescopic
guides 50 are in close proximity and may be touching, while support members
are
retracted such that second portions 46 (and other portions if present) are
stowed
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within first portions 42, and top support member 40 is retracted within post
member
22.
[0017] Preferably, post member 22 may also include a stop member 96 positioned
at least partially within the stop member groove 38. Stop member 96 provides a
lower stop for guide member 26, and also provides a cushioned surface for
linkage
members 28 to cont<~ct when easel 20 is folded into the stowed position. In
one
embodiment, the stop member 96 is an o-ring, although the stop member 96 may
be
multiple portions or a single piece that is molded onto post member 22.
[0018] Lower support 32 is illustrated to include an angle 110 and a pair of
lower
support adjusters 112. Angle 110-may include a hook 116, a selectively
rotatable
brush holder 118 attached thereto, and/or one or more mounting apertures 120.
The
lower support adjusters 112 are tubular members that slideably translate on
the outer
surface of first portions 42. The lower support adjusters 112 include a clasp
126 that is
similar to guide clasp 64, and a lower support engaging protrusion 130. Brush
holder
I 18 may be extended (FIG: 1)
[0019] As;illustrated, each lower support engaging protrusion 130 is inserted
through a mounting aperture 120 in lower support 32 to releasably attach angle
110 to
easel 20. While lower support 32 is illustrated as including a hook 116 and
brush
holder 118, other useful articles may be incorporated into the lower support.
As will
be appreciated, top support 94 may restrain the uppermost surface of a
generally
rectangular article, and angle I I 0 may support the lowermost surface of the
article.
[0020) With reference. to FIGS. 4-6, the guide member 26 is illustrated in
greater
detail. Guide member 26 includes a generally annular body 140, defined, at
least in
part, by an inner surface 142, a top surface 144, a generally conical outer
surface, 146,
and a lower surface 148 with a plurality of linkage member connectors I 50
extending
therefrom. As best seen in FIG. 5, linkage member connectors,150 each have a
linkage pin aperture I52 formed therein to accommodate a linkage pin 82.
[0021) As best seen in FIG. 3, inner surface 142 of guide member 46 slides
along
guide surface 36 as guide member 26 translates generally parallel to axis A-A
on post
member 22.
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[0022] When in the fully extended position (FIG. 1 ), linkage members 28 are
generally horizontal and post member 22 is generally vertical. This
configuration has
been found to provide a stable, relatively rigid support for large articles
while
minimizing the weight of easel 20.
[0023] As guide member 26 translates on post member 22 toward central
connector 30 (FIG. 2), distal ends 48 of support members 24 converge generally
to a
point defined by axis A-A. When guide member 26 is translated on post member
22
to a maximum extent tbward central connector 30, linkage members 28 contact
stop
member 96, and easel 20 is in at least a partially stowed position.
[0024] Telescopic guide 50 releasably interconnects the first portion 42 of
support
member 24 with the second portion 46. When height adjustment of the easel 20
is
desired, telescopic guides 50 may be unlatched, allowing first portions 42 to
move
axially relative to second portions 46. When the desired height is attained,
the
telescopic guides 50 may the latched, thereby releasably affixing first
portion 42 to
second portion 46. The support members 24 may each have one more than one
telescopic guide 50 that, for example, interconnects the second portion 46 to
a third
portion (not shown).
[0025] Once thc~ support members 24 of the easel 20 has been fully extended to
the position illustrated in FIG. l, the lower support adjusters 112 may be
vertically
positioned on first portions 42 to desired positions and secured via clasp
126. Then
lower support engaging protrusions 130 may be aligned with mounting apertures
120
and inserted therein.
[0026] Top support 94 may be vertically adjusted to support or restrain a
portion
of the article by telescopically moving top support member 40 along axis A-A
relative
to post member 22. A knob screw may be threaded through an aperture in central
support 88 and tightened until the knob screw contacts top support member 40
to
restrain top support member 40 and post member 22 in a desired relative
position.
[0027] In one embodiment, lower support engaging protrusions 130 are screws
that are each threaded into one lower support adjuster 112. In this manner,
the heads
of the screws will interfere with the uppermost portions of angle 110 that
define the
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mounting apertures 120. Additionally, the screws may be tightened to further
secure
the angle 110 to the support members 24.
[0028] If it is desired to change the vertical position of lower support 32,
angle
110 is released from the lower support engaging protrusions 130, and lower
support
adjusters 112 are moved to the desired locations. Angle 110 may then be
reattached
to the lower support adjusters 112, as described above.
[0029] While the invention has been described with respect to specific
examples
including preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the
art will
appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above
described
systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention
as set
forth in the appended claims.
