Abstract:
A fully adjustable paint box and easel which folds into a compact, light portable box shape for carrying. The novel tripod head assembly allows the outer legs to rotate out, the middle leg to rotate down, the painting holder assembly to rotate up, and the paint box to open forming a painter&#39;s easel.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates in general to an artist&#39;s combined paint box and easel assembly mounted on a folding tripod assembly that is easily opened and folded up for carrying. A combined paint box and easel assembly is commonly called a box easel in the trade. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many types of portable and folding easels and tripods that can hold a painter&#39;s canvas, palette tubes, and brushes, etc. In most applications of folding easels and tripods, there are many devices which protrude even in the folded position, i.e., knobs, screws, wing nuts, lock pins and painting holder pins, etc. These protrusions are undesirable since they may injure the carrier or hook onto adjacent structures or objects. Additionally, they can fall off and become lost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the purpose of this invention to provide a fully adjustable tripod mounted box easel which can support painting holders, a paint box and painting supplies. It is also a purpose of this invention to provide a combined easel and painter&#39;s box that folds up and has an absolute minimum of protruding devices that can fall off and become lost, or present protrusions when in the folded or stored position. It is also a purpose to provide compact and light devices that are easily and quickly operated. 
     The invention consists of tripod legs, a tripod head assembly, a painters box and a painting holder assembly. 
     The tripod head assembly supports a folding paint box which unfolds and opens up to give access to containers of paint pigment, brushes and storage, etc. The head assembly also supports a painting holder assembly having adjustable upper and lower arms each having novel adjustable painting holders that retract close to the arms when not in use. The paint box and easel fold into a compact rectangular box shape of 2⅝ inches by 12½ inches by 19½ inches length. The weight is about 9 pounds and can be set up in less than half a minute. 
     The adjustability permits converting from tripod support to a lap-top or table-top easel. The paint holder assembly supports paintings up to 30 inches high. Tripod legs are fully adjustable and have touch adjustments for quick setup and take down. These telescopic legs are covered by patent application Ser. No. 08/910,835 and utilize a push button to retract the legs. 
     Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the portable box easel of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the easel in a folded position. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial section plan view of the easel tripod head assembly in the folded position. 
     FIG. 4 is a section view taken through lines  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front exploded perspective view of the easel tripod head. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the middle leg clamp. 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the middle leg clamp. 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the two post clamps. 
     FIG. 9 is a section view taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the two post clamps. 
     FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the painting holder assembly. 
     FIG. 12 is a section view taken along lines  12 — 12  of FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 is a section view taken along lines  13 — 13  of FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 14 is a front section view taken along lines  14 — 14  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the box and painting holder assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the box easel  10  in an open position, supported by telescopic tripod legs  15 . The paint holder assembly  20  consists of the lower crossbar  25 , upper crossbar  30 , post  35  and post extension  40 . The paint box  45  is illustrated with the lids  50  in the open position permitting access to stored materials, i.e. paints, brushes, tools and the palette  55 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the compact box easel  10  in the folded position in plan view. In this position, outer legs  15   a  and  15   b  are folded into the side of paint box  45  and middle leg  15   c  is folded up from underneath the paint box. The post extension  40  is retracted within post  35  and the post  35  is folded down over a flange of each lid  50 . Crossbar  25  is raised to an upper position before folding post  35  and when folded, crossbars  25  and  30  are shown at the ends of paint box  45 . In this folded position, the overall dimensions are approximately 2½ inches by 12½ inches by 19½ for easy carrying and storage. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the easel head assembly  60  in a cutaway section with the lids  50  removed. Leg  15   a  and post  35  are shown in their folded positions. (Leg  15   d  shows the “open” position for leg  15   a  when rotated as at arrow  65 .) Leg clevis  70  inserts within leg tube of leg  15   a  and is attached to the axle block  80  by adjustable screw  85 . End cap  90  is shown cutaway to reveal the interior parts of head assembly  60 . Axle  95  rotatably supports a pair of box clamps  100 . The clamping force of these clamps  100  is adjustable by box clamp screw  105  (one shown). Post clamps  110   a  and mirror image  110   b  connect post  35  to easel head assembly  60 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the box clamp  100  connection between axle  95  and box end  115 . Screw  120  and adjustable box clamp screw  105  affix the box clamp  100  to the box end  115  and hold down the end cap  90  against the box end  115 . FIGS. 3 and 4 also illustrate the palette  55  located within box  125 . The middle leg clamp  130  is shown rotatably attached to axle  95 . 
     The exploded view FIG. 5 illustrates in further detail the easel head assembly  60 . Axle  95  passes through the box clamp  100  and terminates in axle block  80 . The axle  95  is restrained within block  80  by clevis screw  85  which penetrates axle block hole  135  and axle hole  140 . Slot  145  in the axle block  80  may be used for a carrying strap. 
     The leg clevis  70  has two expansion prongs  150  which engage dowel nut  155  which engages screw  160 . Tightening screw  160  spreads prongs  150  by pulling dowel nut  155  against the prongs  150 . The prongs  150  engage the interior of leg tube  15   a  (FIG.  3 ). Rotation of leg clevis  70  and leg tube  75  is stopped when edge  165  of axle block  80  engages an interior section of leg clevis  70 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the side and front elevation of the middle leg  130 . The tube of middle leg  15   c  (section view) is firmly engaged by leg prongs  175  that are expanded by set screw  180 . The clamping force of middle leg clamp is adjusted by middle leg clamp screw  185  and rotation of middle leg clamp  130  and the middle leg is stopped in two directions by stop pin  190  within slot  195 . The clamp  130  and pin  190 , as shown, is in the folded position. Clamp screw  185  is easily adjustable when the easel is in the open or folded position. 
     FIGS. 8,  9  and  10  illustrate the details of the two post clamps  110   a  and  110   b  which are mirror images and clamp as shown on axle  95 . The clamping force on the axle which restricts rotary motion of the post  35  is controlled by post clamp screws  200   a  and  200   b.    
     The post  35  is firmly clamped internally by post prongs  205   a  and  205   b  which are spread by tightening prong clamp screw  210  within threaded dowel nut  215 . Post clamping screws  200   a  and  200   b  are accessible when the post  35  is in the open and upright position. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates details of the painting holder assembly  20  in the open and upright position. The upper and lower crossbars  30  and  25  have similar painting holders  220  at each end. The painting holders  220  are each held in place by screw  225  and nut  230  which is in a shaped hole so it will not rotate. Painting holders  220  can swivel over 180° to a back position  235  as shown in phantom to permit mounting a painting from the back side of assembly  20 . The painting holders  220  each have an inner peg  240  and an outer peg  245 . Whichever peg is used to hold a painting, the opposite peg can be used to make adjustments and avoid getting paint on the fingers. 
     The upper crossbar  30  is firmly affixed to post extension  40  which slides up or down within post  35  and plastic post glide  250 . The clamping friction force between post  35  and post extension  40  is adjusted by post extension clamp screw  255  within lower post plastic glide  260  that engages nut  265 . Clockwise screw motion causes the plastic screw to bear against inner surface of the post  35 , as best seen in FIG. 12, thereby clamping post extension  40  against post  35 . Access to screw  255  for adjustment is through aperture  220 . 
     Referring to FIG. 13, the sliding friction of the lower crossbar  25  on post  35  is adjusted by tightening screw  275  within nut  280  thereby compressing dowel  285  against post  35 . 
     FIG. 14 illustrates details of the box  125  with the lids  50 , tripod legs  15   a  and  15   c , and posts  35  and  40  in the folded position. This view and FIG. 2 illustrate the extremely compact configuration of elements of this paint box and easel. 
     The box  125 , having a channel shape, is affixed by fasteners  290  to box end  115  and has a hinge pin  295  supporting lid  50 . It is necessary to raise the posts  35  and  40  to permit opening lids  50 . When lids  50  are rotated about 180° to open position as at arrow  300  and as shown on FIG. 1, the lids  50  rest on bumper  305  attached to flange  310  thereby allowing access to the palette  55 . In the open position of the lids  50 , the lid flanges  315  and lid ends  116  (FIG. 14) prevent the various painters tools on the inverted lid from falling off. 
     FIG. 15 illustrates the multiple socket screw adjustment points on the paint box and easel while in the open position. Here, the box lids are removed for clarity. 
     The rotatable painting holders  220  can be adjusted for rotating friction at socket screw  225 . The lower crossbar  25  friction on post  35  is adjusted by socket screw  275 , and extension post  40  friction within post  35  is adjusted through aperture  270  at screw  255 . 
     The rotary friction force for the post is adjusted at screws  200   a  and  200   b  and leg clamp screw  185  in the center adjusts middle leg motion friction. The four screws  105  adjust the rotary friction of the box and palette  55  relative to the outer legs  15   a ,  15   b  and center leg  15   c . The outer leg rotation friction adjustment is at screws  85 . As seen in this view when the lids are opened and the post is raised, all Allen wrench adjustment points are clearly visible. 
     The materials used in construction of the box easel are space age aluminum and polymers providing light weight and durability.