Patent Publication Number: US-2002012113-A1

Title: Maxiprint easel

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is a continuing application of commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/072,570 filed on Jan. 26, 1998, and which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The invention relates to easels for photographic darkroom printing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Photographic darkrooms commonly have easels to hold photographic paper for processing. The outside perimeter of the paper is secured to the easel by a rectangular frame. The frame thus occludes the perimeter of the photographic paper, wasting recording space that might otherwise be used for imagery. The outside perimeter is typically clipped from the picture after processing completes.  
       [0004] One object of the invention is to eliminate the need for the frame required in prior art easels. Another object of the invention is to increase the usable space of photographic paper for print processing and imagery. These and other objects will become apparent in the description that follows.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The invention provides a vacuum operated maxiprint easel. An enclosure is the main structure of the easel. The enclosure has a flat white focus board for placement of the photographic paper thereon. A vacuum port provides access to the interior of the easel such that a vacuum applied to the port reduces pressure within the interior. A series of holes in the focus board thus create suction for photographic paper disposed on the focus board.  
       [0006] In operation, photographic paper is laid upon the focus board in a manner similar to existing easels. A vacuum source, e.g., a vacuum cleaner, is connected to the port to suck air from the interior and to force the paper tightly to the focus board, thereby eliminating the need for an easel frame such as in the prior art.  
       [0007] In one aspect, the enclosure is made from a rigid material such as plastic or metal. In another aspect, the port is also made from a rigid material such as plastic or metal.  
       [0008] In yet another aspect, the focus board is substantially rectangular to accommodate generally rectangular photographic paper.  
       [0009] In one aspect, the port includes a generally tubular member, with an open end, that extends from the enclosure. A vacuum source is coupled to the member to draw a vacuum within the enclosure. Preferably, the source includes a hose that couples to the member.  
       [0010] In another aspect, the focus board is marked with a series of concentric rectangular lines which define standard photographic paper sizes. An array of holes are constructed and arranged inside the lines so that paper of each standard size is forced onto the focus board at the edges of the paper. Holes outside of the selected standard size are temporarily blocked via a rectangular template so that suction is not wasted through holes that do not assist in forcing the paper onto the focus board.  
       [0011] In still another aspect, the enclosure is box-like and forms an interior between the focus board, a backing board, and support strips. In one aspect, the vacuum port connects through the strips on one side of the enclosure to reduce pressure within the interior.  
       [0012] The invention is next described further in connection with preferred embodiments, and it will become apparent that various additions, subtractions, and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013] A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the drawings, in which:  
     [0014]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one maxiprint easel of the invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the easel of FIG. 1;  
     [0016]FIG. 3 shows another cross-sectional view of the easel of FIG. 1; and  
     [0017]FIGS. 4 and 5 show representative mask templates for use with the easel of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an easel  10  constructed according to the invention. Generally, the easel  10  is used in conjunction with three paper sizes, 8×10 inch paper, 11×14 inch paper, and 16×20 inch paper. The easel includes a generally rectangular enclosure  12  with a flat focus board  14  disposed at a top of the enclosure  12 . Three black lines disposed on the focus board  14  preferably define the relevant paper sizes for use with the easel  10 , including a 16×20 line  16 , a 11×14 line  18 , and a 8×10 line  20 . An array of holes  22  are disposed within the focus board  14  and inside each line  16 ,  18 ,  20  in order to create suction for paper disposed on the board  14 : holes  22   a  correspond to 16×20 inch paper usage; holes  22   b  correspond to 11×14 inch paper usage; and holes  22   c  correspond to 8×10 inch paper usage. A suitable hole diameter for each of holes  22  is {fraction (7/16)}′ in diameter. Adjacent holes for any one line  16 ,  18 ,  20  are preferably spaced at less than one inch intervals.  
     [0019] The enclosure  12  forms an interior that can be de-pressurized by a vacuum through the hose attachment cylinder  24 . Specifically, a vacuum source (e.g., a vacuum cleaner with a hose) attached to the cylinder  24  creates a vacuum within the enclosure interior such that suction is drawn through the holes  22 . Photographic paper disposed on the focus board  14  is thus forced tightly against the focus board  14 , as desired in photography.  
     [0020] The enclosure  12  includes one or more (preferably four) internal supports  26  to prevent collapse, and a corner support strip  28 . A backing board  30  completes the enclosure  12  to form the interior therein.  
     [0021] In use, photographic paper of the desired size is placed onto the focus board  14 . If the paper is smaller than the largest size—i.e., 16×20 inches—then a mask template is also placed onto the focus board to block holes  22  that are outside the selected paper size. FIGS. 4 and 5 show, respectively, mask templates  98   a  for 8×10 inch paper and mask template  98   b  for 11×14 inch paper. The outer perimeter  100   a  of template  98   a  fits on the easel  10  to cover holes  22   c  and  22   a  to block suction therethrough. The outer perimeter  100   b  of template  98   b  fits on the easel  10  to cover holes  22   a  to block suction therethrough.  
     [0022]FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the easel  10 , including a view of the cylinder  24 , focus board  14 , backing board  30 , and corner support  28 . FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the easel  10 , including a view of the focus board  14 , backing board  30 , and internal support strips  26 .  
     [0023] The invention thus attains the objects set forth above, among those apparent from preceding description. Since certain changes may be made in the above systems and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.