Patent Publication Number: US-2003226948-A1

Title: Easel workstation

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001] Graphic artists have long used the simple three-legged easel. Many improvements have been made to easels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,264 disclosed a mobile easel workstation comprising a wheeled cart while U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,345 B1 disclosed a four-legged adjustable easel capable of supporting works in progress on both sides of the easel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] An easel workstation that comprises four legs fastened at each end thereof to a base so that the legs form a pyramid structure. Adjustable supports are positioned on the legs for supporting articles on the supports and leaned against the legs of the workstation. When desired work can be placed on all four sides of the workstation. The base is preferably provided with locking casters so that the workstation can be more easily moved from place to place. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0003]FIG. 1 shows a front view of a preferred easel workstation of the instant invention; and  
     [0004]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the easel shown in FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0005] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, therein is shown a front and side view of a preferred easel workstation  10  of the instant invention. The easel workstation  10  is provided with a base  11 . The base  11  defines a first base socket  12 , a second base socket  13 , a third base socket  14  and a fourth base socket (not shown), the base sockets being spaced apart horizontally as shown. The base sockets are formed from lengths of square four inch outside diameter steel tubing welded together with lengths of square three-quarters inch outside diameter steel tubing to form the base  11 . Each side of the base  11  is thirty-seven inches long.  
     [0006] The easel workstation  10  is also provided with a cap  15 . The base  15  defines a first cap socket  16 , a second cap socket  17 , a third cap socket  18  and a fourth cap socket (not shown), the cap sockets being spaced apart horizontally as shown. The cap sockets are formed from lengths of square four inch outside diameter steel tubing welded together with lengths of square three-quarters inch outside diameter steel tubing to form the cap  15 . Each side of the cap  15  is fourteen inches long.  
     [0007] The easel workstation  10  also incorporates a first leg  19 , having an upper end positioned in the first cap socket  16  and a lower end positioned in the first base socket  12 . The first leg  19  is oriented so that the upper end of the first leg  19  leans toward the center of the workstation  10  as shown. The easel workstation  10  also incorporates a second leg  20 , having an upper end positioned in the second cap socket  17  and a lower end positioned in the second base socket  13 . The second leg  20  is oriented so that the upper end of the second leg  19  leans toward the center of the workstation  10  as shown.  
     [0008] The easel workstation  10  also incorporates a third leg  21  having an upper end positioned in the third cap socket  18  and a lower end positioned in the third base socket  14 . The third leg  21  is oriented so that the upper end of the third leg  21  leans toward the center of the workstation  10  as shown. The easel workstation  10  also incorporates a fourth leg (not shown) having an upper end positioned in the fourth cap socket (not shown and a lower end positioned in the fourth base socket (not shown). The fourth leg is oriented so that the upper end of the fourth leg also leans toward the center of the workstation  10 .  
     [0009] The legs are each seven-foot lengths of 4×4 lumber fastened to the sockets with lag bolts  22 . Each leg is bored with a plurality of cavities  23  sized to accept wooden pegs  25 . The cavities  23  and pegs  25  provide an adjustable support system for supporting an article(s) to be placed on the workstation  10  at a selected height or position. Locking castors  26  are preferably welded on the bottom of the base  11  so that the workstation can be more easily moved from place to place. A sheet metal shelf, not shown, is preferably welded on the top of the base  11  to provide a convenient shelf surface for the workstation  10 . A handle  27  made of tubular steel is preferably attached to the legs  20  and  21  as shown with screws  28  to provide a convenient means for pulling the workstation  10  from place to place. Stainless steel and rot resistant pressure treated lumber are preferred materials of construction if the workstation  10  will be used outside and exposed to the weather  
     [0010] The description above relates to a specific preferred embodiment of the instant invention and it should be understood that many other embodiments are possible. For example, it should be understood that the base, the cap and the legs can be made of any suitable material of construction. It should also be understood that the cavities  23  and pegs  25  are but one example of an adjustable support system that can be used in the instant invention. Any suitable adjustable support system can be used in the instant invention. Such systems include, without limitation, adjustable shelf brackets, adjustable supports that slide up or down on the legs or even the hole and rod system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,345 B1. Although the sockets described above are preferred, the legs of the instant invention can be attached to the base by any suitable means such as by welding or by the use of fasteners such as screws or rivets.  
     [0011] The instant invention is useful in the sign making trade. The specific embodiment described above will hold 4×8 foot sheets of sign foam stock or relatively small finished signs. Work in progress can be positioned, if desired, on all four sides of the workstation  10  so that work can progress with increased efficiency. In addition, the pyramid like design of the legs of the workstation  10  strengthens and stiffens its structure.  
     [0012] The instant invention is also useful in schools and day care centers and for this application it is preferable to make the legs and base of a formed plastic material. For example, the base can be formed with upwardly and inwardly projecting pins at each corner of the base over which pins tubular plastic legs are placed.