Patent Publication Number: US-2012025048-A1

Title: Artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONCERED RESEARCH  
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     This application relates to artists&#39; easels, specifically to a device for mounting an artist&#39;s palette and shade umbrella to a portable tripod. 
     2. Prior Art 
     For artists interested in pursuing their art in the great outdoors, finding an adequate portable surface to store and work with paint and other materials has historically been a difficult task. Collapsible wooden easels have been the mainstay of artists in search of an easel with a portable storage/work surface. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,818 B2. In their simplest form, such easels feature a palette that is permanently affixed via hinges to an easelback. On many units, a threaded hole for mounting said unit onto a photographic tripod is also provided. However, the palettes on such easels are small and cannot be raised or lowered independently of the easelback. In the studio, most artists prefer to mix paint on a large palette close to waist level while keeping their painting surface closer to eye level. This is impossible under the cramped conditions found on such easels. Additionally, the high center of gravity on such easels makes it difficult to secure an artist&#39;s umbrella to the device without compromising stability. Such umbrellas are used by outdoor painters to shade their painting from the sun and create neutral lighting conditions. 
     An attempt to solve some of these problems utilizes a removable artist&#39;s shelf, or palette that fits on the legs of a tripod. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,857 B1. However, because the shelf only fits in one position on the tripod and cannot be firmly locked in place, the practicality of such a device is limited. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, an artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp comprises a body of material having a clamping aperture on one edge thereof and a means of fastening an artist&#39;s shade umbrella and palette to said body. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS—FIGURES 
       In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes. 
         FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of an artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show fragmentary front perspective views of an artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp being attached to a typical portable tripod. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  show fragmentary front perspective views of a notched palette being attached to an artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp. 
         FIG. 4  shows a front perspective view of an artist&#39;s clamp-on shade umbrella. 
         FIG. 5  shows a fragmentary front perspective view of a clamp-on umbrella attached to the artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp assembly of  FIG. 3B . 
         FIG. 6  shows a front perspective view of an additional embodiment of an artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp with holes and slots. 
         FIG. 7  shows a front perspective view of an artist&#39;s shade umbrella with wingknob fastener. 
         FIG. 8  shows a fragmentary front perspective view of an artist&#39;s shade umbrella with wingknob fastener attached to the artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           10  clamp body 
           12  clamping aperture 
           14  clamp screw 
           16  panel screws 
           18  tripod center column 
           20  notched palette 
           22  notches 
           24  umbrella clamp 
           25  umbrella arm 
           26  holes 
           27  slots 
           28  wingknob fastener 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIG.  1   
     First Embodiment 
     One embodiment of an artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp is illustrated in  FIG. 1  (front perspective view). The artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp comprises a body ( 10 ) with clamping aperture ( 12 ), and panel screws ( 16 ) threaded into face of said body. In the preferred embodiment the clamp body is made of aluminum, although any suitably rigid and lightweight material may also be used. 
     Operation-FIGS.  2 A- 5   
     The palette clamp is secured to the center column of a standard photographic tripod using the clamp screw ( 14 ). Thumbscrews ( 16 ) slide into notches ( 22 ) on a specially-notched palette ( 20 ). Tightening thumbscrews ( 16 ) locks palette in position. An artist&#39;s umbrella may be mounted via a clamp ( 24 ) to the ends of the body ( 10 ). 
     FIG.  6 - 8 -Additional Embodiments 
     Additional embodiments are shown in  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 6  the artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp body has slots ( 27 ) for attaching an umbrella with a wingknob fastener ( 28 ) of the type illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Holes ( 26 ) lighten the clamp body.  FIG. 8  shows an umbrella with a wingknob fastener attached to an artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp with slots and holes. 
     Advantages 
     From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of our artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp become evident: 
     (a) Thumbscrew fasteners accommodate interchangeable palettes of various shapes, sizes, and materials for use with different artists&#39; mediums. 
     (d) One-piece body provides a sturdy platform for mounting an artist&#39;s shade umbrella. 
     (e) Clamping aperture allows palette to be locked securely into position at a comfortable height for the artist. 
     Conclusion, Ramifications, Scope 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp provides a more portable and secure means of attaching an artist&#39;s umbrella and a wide variety of palette shapes and sizes onto a standard tripod. Furthermore, the artist&#39;s palette and umbrella clamp has the additional advantages in that: 
     it provides a rock-solid surface for mixing paint and storing materials;
 
it provides a means of attaching a wide variety of palette shapes and sizes onto a standard photographic tripod;
 
it provides a means of mounting an artist&#39;s shade umbrella to a tripod;
 
it provides a lightweight, portable solution for the traveling artist;
 
its compact size enables hassle-free storage.
 
     While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example, the clamp body may have other shapes; the panel screws may be replaced with other fasteners for use with un-notched palettes, etc. 
     Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.