Abstract:
An apparatus for the display and presentation of materials, such as an artist&#39;s painting or other presentation material, has a first planar member that is pivotally attached to a second planar member and adapted to rotate at least ninety degrees about an axis passing therethrough from a first, landscape orientation into a second, portrait orientation. A lip is attached to the second planar member for supporting the material. A third planar member is hingedly attached to the second planar member and is adapted to pivot about a hinge in an arc. A cord and retainer limits the maximum amount of pivot of the third planar member away from the second planar member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention, in general relates to artist and presentation supplies and, more particularly, to easels. 
     Easels are well known devices used by artists to hold a canvas, or the like, during formation of the artwork. They can also be used during presentations to hold materials for viewing. There is, however, a problem that previous types of easels experience. 
     That problem relates to the orientation of the easel during use, whether it is disposed in a horizontal or “landscape” orientation or vertically in a “portrait” orientation. 
     Whether the easel is used to hold a canvas or to display an item for viewing, either orientation may be preferred. 
     Accordingly there exists today a need for a rotatable easel that can readily adjust for either vertical or horizontal display of a canvas or presentation material. 
     Clearly, such an apparatus would be useful and desirable. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Easels are, in general, known. For example, the following patents describe various types of these devices: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 937,671 to Borgzinner, 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,127,494 to Tepper, and 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,023 to Morton, the same inventor. 
     While the structural arrangements of the above described devices, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide rotatable easel that is easy to transport. 
     It is also an important object of the invention to provide rotatable easel that is light in weight. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide rotatable easel that folds thin for transport. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide rotatable easel that includes a first planar member adapted for holding a canvas that is adjustable in its angle of presentation with respect to a user. 
     Still yet another object of the invention is to provide rotatable easel that includes a first planar member that is pivotable about a normal axis with respect to a second planar member. 
     Yet another important object of the invention is to provide rotatable easel that allows a first planar member to rotate about an axis that is normal to the plane of the first member at least 90 degrees. 
     A still further object of the invention is to provide rotatable easel that is adapted to support a material such as an artist canvas or a display material in either a portrait or a landscape orientation. 
     Briefly, rotatable easel that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a first planar member that is adapted to rotate at least ninety degrees from a first position into a second position about an axis with respect to a second planar member. A lip is attached to a bottom end of the second planar member. A third planar member is hingedly attached to the second planar member and is secured in position by an adjustable length cord that passes through holes provided in the first and second planar member, the lip, and the third planar member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a rotatable easel with the easel in a first horizontal position. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the easel of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is rear plan view of the easel of FIG. 1 with the easel rotated ninety degrees into a second vertical orientation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to all of the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 is shown, a rotatable easel, identified in general by the reference numeral  10 . 
     A first planar member  12  provides a support for a canvas (not shown) that rests on a lower lip  14 . The lip  14  extends out and away from the surface of the first planar member  12  sufficient to provide a ridge upon which the canvas can be supported on an edge thereof. 
     A cord  16  begins at a first retainer  16 a, passes through a pair of holes  15   a ,  15   b  in the lip  14  of the easel  10 , exits from the front, includes a second retainer  16   b  and terminates in a hook  16   c . The use of the cord  16  is described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The first planar member  12  includes a hand-hold slot  18  that is useful for carrying the easel  10 . The slot  18  is offset from a centerline to aid in carrying the easel  10 . The offset of the hand-hold slot  18  aligns with a center of gravity of the easel  10 , and is described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     The first planar member  12  may include a smooth surface, as shown in general by the reference numeral  20 , applied to one side thereof that is adapted to receive an image (not shown) applied thereto. The smooth surface  20  allows writing directly on the surface  20 , for example with erasable marking pens (not shown). This is useful for presentation purposes. 
     A second planar member  22  is attached at one end thereof to the lip  14 . The second planar member  22  is always parallel to the first planar member  12 . 
     The second planar member  22  includes a mounting slot  24  that includes a longer length than width. 
     A circular spacer  26  is attached to the first planar member  12  and is disposed within the mounting slot  24 . Accordingly, the diameter of the circular spacer  26  must not exceed the width of the mounting slot  24 . 
     A circular retaining ring  28  is disposed over the circular spacer and is attached thereto. The retaining ring  28  is a substantially planar circular member. The retaining ring  28  must include a diameter that is greater than the width of the mounting slot  24 . 
     Any method of attachment of any of the component parts of the easel  10  are possible that preserve its functioning. A possible method of attachment is to adhere the circular spacer  26  to the back of the first planar member  12  (i.e., opposite the smooth surface  20  side) and to then adhere the retaining ring  28  to the circular spacer  26 . 
     Accordingly, the first planar member  12  is adapted to rotate about an axis  30  (identified by a dot) that is normal with respect to the first planar member  12  and the second planar member  22 . 
     The axis  30  is disposed in the mounting slot  24  at a distal location with respect to the lip  14 , recessed only from the most distal end of the mounting slot  24  by an amount equal to the radius of the circular spacer  26 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a first edge  12   a  of the first planar member  12  is in contact with the lip  14 . This position is a first position of the first planar member  12  and it is generally referred to as a horizontal or landscape orientation. 
     The first planar member  12  includes a second edge  12   b  that is perpendicular with respect to the first edge  12   a.  As the first edge  12   a  is longer than the second edge  12   b,  the first planar member  12  includes a width that is less than a length. 
     To rotate the first planar member  12  with respect to the second planar member  22 , the first planar member  12  is pulled up so as to displace the first edge  12   a  (and the circular spacer  26  and the retaining ring  28 ) maximally away from the lip  14 . 
     In this position, the first planar member  12  is free to pivot about the axis  30  at least ninety degrees with respect to the second planar member  22  as shown by arrow  31 . Because the second planar member  22  is attached to the lip  14 , the first planar member  12  also rotates ninety degrees with respect to the lip  14 . 
     The first planar member  12  is then lowered in the mounting slot  24  until the second edge  12   b  makes contact with the lip  14 . Accordingly, the first planar member  12  has been rotated ninety degrees to a vertical or portrait position, as shown in FIG.  3 . It is not necessary for the first planar member  12  to rotate more than ninety degrees, although it certainly is possible to modify the design to achieve a greater amount of rotation, if that is desired. 
     The pair of holes  15   a,    15   b  that pass through the lip  14  also extend and pass through the second planar member  22 . 
     A third planar member  32  (shown in dashed lines, FIGS. 2 and 3) is hingedly attached to the second planar member  22  proximate the mid-point of the second planar member  22  by a pair of hinges  34 . Sufficient clearance is provided under the third planar member  32  to allow for passage of the retaining ring  28 . 
     A lower edge  32   a  of the third planar member  32  is adapted to pivot away from the second planar member  22 . 
     The pair of holes  15   a,    15   b  that pass through the lip  14  also extend and pass through the third planar member  32 , however a pair of friction reducing rings  36  are inserted through the pair of holes  15   a,    15   b  in the openings that pass through the third planar member  32 . 
     The cord  16  loops in through the first of the pair of holes  15   a,  passes around the back of the third planar member  32 , and then passes out the second of the pair of holes  15   b  to the front of the easel  10 . The friction reducing rings  36  help reduce the force that is required to pull the cord  16 , especially when the easel  10  is in use and there is a weight (i.e., of the canvas) disposed on it. 
     If the second retainer  16   b  is loosened and moved closer toward the hook  16   c,  then the third planar member  32  can be pivoted further away from the second planar member  22 . In this position, the first planar member  12  is tilted back to the extend that is desired and once the preferred position for using the easel  10  is achieved, this position is maintained by displacing (i.e., moving) the second retainer  16   b  until contact is made with the first planar member  12 . 
     The second retainer  16   b  includes a push button  17  that is depressed to permit moving the second retainer  16   b  along the length of the cord  16 . When the button  17  is released, the second retainer  16   b  stays in place on the cord  16 . 
     If the hook  16   c  end of the cord  16  is drawn from the easel  10 , the bottom of the third planar member  32  is pulled (i.e., pivoted) toward the second planar member  22  until it is in contact with it. The second retainer  16   b  is then moved until it again contacts the first planar member  12  thereby securing the third planar member  32  against the second planar member  22 . This position is used for transit of the easel  10  as the easel  10  is flat and highly portable in this position. 
     To aid in securing the first planar member  12  during transport, a pair of transport holes  38  are provided proximate the second edge  12   b  of the first planar member  12  and also through the second planar member  22  in alignment with that of the first planar member  12  when the first planar member  12  is disposed in the second vertical position. 
     A pair of pins  40  are included in the third planar member  32  on the side thereof that faces the second planar member  22 . The pins  40  protrude from the third planar member  32 , pass through the transport holes  38  in the second planar member  22  and the transport holes  38  in the first planar member  12 . 
     When the cord  16  is drawn tight, the pins  40  prevent rotational movement of the first planar member  12  as well as any longitudinal movement of the first planar member  12  within the mounting slot  24 , thereby making the easel  10  secure for movement when it is disposed in the second vertical position. 
     A centerline  42  through the hand-hold slot  18  aligns with a center of gravity of the easel in this position, thereby making it even easier to carry. 
     When the cord  16  is secured in the transport position, the hook  16   c  can be used to secure the end of the cord  16  where desired. For example, the cord  16  can be passed through the hand-hold slot  18  and the hook  16   c  can be clasped around the cord  16  thereby securing the cord in position around the hand-hold slot  18 . The cord  16  can then be draped over a shoulder (not shown) to aid in portage of the easel  10 . Alternatively, a corner hole  44  is provided through the first planar member  12  and the hook  16   c  is attached to the corner hole  44  prior to draping the cord  16  over the shoulder. 
     The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.