Patent Publication Number: US-11019927-B1

Title: Rotating painting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to painting devices and, more particularly, to a painting apparatus in which one canvas may be painted upon and then rotated and stowed away while another canvas is automatically positioned for receiving paint. The rotating painting apparatus may include two, three, or four canvas faces and a plurality of painting stations may be rotated simultaneously via a motorized chain device. 
     Traditionally, an artist may apply paint to a canvas positioned on an easel. Then, when complete or if the artist chooses to work on another painting, the original canvas must be removed from the easel and a new canvas installed and made ready for painting. The process of removing and replacing a canvas can be very time consuming and inconvenient, especially when considering an art studio in which multiple canvases are being painted at one time and may, potentially, all need to be removed, stored, and replaced multiple times over days or weeks of instruction. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a rotatable painting apparatus that enables an artist to rotate a painting to a stowed position and work on another painting without having to change out one canvas for another. Further, it would be desirable to have a rotatable painting apparatus that separates canvas portions with a shield member so that paint does not bleed from one painting area to an adjacent painting area. In addition, it would be desirable to have a rotatable painting apparatus having a plurality of painting stations that are linked together by a motorized chain drive and operable to rotate simultaneously. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A rotating painting apparatus according to the present invention includes a base plate and a predetermined number of painting stations rotatably mounted to the base plate and each painting stations having 2, 3, 4, or more faces on which to apply paint. Specifically, a “quad-fold” design may include a plurality of painting stations (referred to as stretcher frame assemblies) and each assembly may present four faces, i.e. four canvases, that may be painted on and then rotated out of the way to reveal another canvas to paint on, and so on. 
     The base plate, which may be mounted to a wall, includes opposing ends and a linear configuration. A painting station, aka a stretched frame member, includes a bottom wall from which a drive shaft depends and about which the bottom wall is rotatably coupled to the base plate. Rotation of the drive shaft causes the painting station to swivel, i.e. to rotate. The stretched frame member includes a number of side support members extending from the bottom wall and about which a length of canvas may be stretched to form a painting station having two faces (front and rear), three faces (triangular), or four faces (cube), and so on. The rotating painting apparatus may include a plurality of frame assemblies that are adjacent to yet separated from one another. A chain drive operated by a drive motor enables all of the frame assemblies to be rotated together. 
     Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a rotatable painting apparatus that enables an artist to rotate a painting to a stowed position and work on another painting without having to change out one canvas for another. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a rotatable painting apparatus, as aforesaid, that separates canvas portions with a shield member so that paint does not bleed from one painting area to an adjacent painting area. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a rotatable painting apparatus, as aforesaid, having a plurality of painting stations that are linked together by a motorized chain drive and operable to rotate simultaneously. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 a    is a perspective view of a rotatable painting apparatus according to a quad-fold embodiment of the present invention, illustrated mounted to a wall in a horizontal configuration; 
         FIG. 1 b    is a perspective view of a rotatable painting apparatus according to a quad-fold embodiment of the present invention, illustrated mounted mounted to a wall in a vertical configuration; 
         FIG. 2 a    is a perspective view of a rotatable painting apparatus according to a bi-fold embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in a stowed configuration; 
         FIG. 2 b    is a perspective view of a rotatable painting apparatus according to a bi-fold embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in a swiveled configuration; 
         FIG. 3 a    is a front view of the rotatable painting apparatus as in  FIG. 2   b;    
         FIG. 3 b    is a sectional view taken along line  3   b - 3   b  of  FIG. 3   a;    
         FIG. 3 c    is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from  FIG. 3   b;    
         FIG. 4 a    is a side view of the rotatable painting apparatus as in  FIG. 2   b;    
         FIG. 4 b    is a sectional view taken along line  4   b - 4   b  of  FIG. 4   a;    
         FIG. 4 c    is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from  FIG. 4   b;    
         FIG. 5 a    is a perspective view of a rotatable painting apparatus according to a bi-fold embodiment of the present invention, modified to include a manual crank assembly; 
         FIG. 5 b    is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from  FIG. 5   a;    
         FIG. 6 a    is a perspective view of a stretcher frame member removed from  FIG. 2 a    for clarity; 
         FIG. 6 b    is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from  FIG. 6   a;    
         FIG. 6 c    is an exploded view of the stretcher frame member as in  FIG. 6   a;    
         FIG. 6 d    is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from  FIG. 6   c;    
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a rotatable painting apparatus according to a tri-fold embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8 a    is a perspective view of a single triangular stretcher frame assembly taken from the rotatable painting apparatus of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 8 b    is an exploded view of the stretcher frame assembly as in  FIG. 8   a;    
         FIG. 8 c    is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from  FIG. 8   b;    
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a rotatable painting apparatus according to a quad-fold embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10 a    is a perspective view of a single cube-shaped stretcher frame assembly taken from the rotatable painting apparatus of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 10 b    is an exploded view of the stretcher frame assembly as in  FIG. 10 a   ; and 
         FIG. 10 c    is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from  FIG. 10   b.    
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A rotating painting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 a  to 10 c    of the accompanying drawings. The rotating painting apparatus  10  includes a base plate  20 , at least one stretcher frame member  30  (aka a painting station), about which an elongate canvas  24  may be stretched and applied. 
     All of the embodiments of the rotating painting apparatus  10  include a base plate  20  to which at least one painting station  12  is rotatably coupled. Preferably, the base plate  20  includes a first end  21  and a second end  22  opposite the first end  21  and has a generally elongate and linear configuration although other shape configurations may also be possible. For sake of clarity, the base plate  20  defines a longitudinal axis. The base plate  20  includes a top surface that may define a channel  31  or groove along its longitudinal axis and that is configured to receive a lower end of a paint shield member as will be discussed later. 
     The rotating painting apparatus  10  also includes at least one stretcher frame member  30  which forms the basis for a painting station  12  as will be described below. An embodiment having a single stretcher frame member  30  and defining front and back faces  32 ,  33  will be described initially. More particularly, the stretcher frame member  30  includes a pair of bottom ends  34  opposite one another and a pair of side support members  35  extending upwardly from the pair of bottom ends  34 , respectively. In an embodiment, a top support member  36  may extend between upper ends of the side support members  35 , respectively. A drive shaft  40  or similar rod includes a proximal end  41  coupled to a bottom surface of the bottom wall  38  and so that the drive shaft depends therefrom, e.g. extends away from the bottom wall  38 . The drive shaft  40  has a body portion  42  that extends through the base plate  20  and, specifically, is rotatably coupled to the base plate  20 , the drive shaft  40  also having a distal end  43  opposite the proximal end  41  ( FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   ). Further, each drive shaft  40  may be coupled to an associated sprocket  44  for reasons that will become more apparent later when considering a plurality of stretcher frame members  100  being actuated simultaneously. 
     It will be understood that the stretcher frame member  30  may be swiveled relative to the base plate  20  by rotation of the drive shaft  40  between a first position at which the bottom wall is coaxial with said longitudinal axis of the base plate  20  ( FIG. 2 a   ) and a second position at which the bottom wall is offset (angled) from the longitudinal axis of said base plate  20  ( FIG. 2 b   ). In other words, the stretcher frame member  30  may be swiveled between a use configuration at which paint may be applied and a stowed configuration at which one painting may be put aside and another canvas is positioned for use. 
     In another aspect, a canvas  24  may be stretched around respective side support members  35  of the stretcher frame member  30  so as to form a front face  32  and a rear face  33 . Hence, the name “stretcher frame member.” More particularly, the canvas  24  may be a large rectangular sheet that may be wrapped around the side support members  35  of the frame to present square or rectangular faces  32 ,  33  on which to apply paint. In the embodiment described above, the swivel or rotation may be 180 degrees, i.e. front to back or back to front. 
     Once the canvas  24  has been installed (i.e. wrapped about the side support members  35 ), the rotating painting apparatus  10  may include a pair of shield members that, when installed, stretch the canvas  24  tight and also prevent paint from bleeding from one face of the canvas  24  onto an adjacent face. More particularly, a left shield member  50  has a generally linear configuration and is releasably mounted to a left side support member of the pair of side support members. Similarly, a right shield member  53  has a generally linear configuration and is releasably mounted to a right side support member of the pair of side support members  35 . In an embodiment, the left and right shield members  50 ,  53  may be coupled to respective side support members  35  in a friction fit engagement. Alternatively, the left and right shield members  50 ,  53  may be coupled to respective side support members  35  with fasteners. More particularly, the left shield member  50  may include upper and lower ends with the lower end thereof including a first left shield flange  51  configured to be received in the channel  31  defined by the base plate  20  (described above). Similarly, the right shield member  53  may include upper and lower ends with the lower end thereof including a first right shield flange  54  configured to be received in the channel  31  defined by the base plate  20 . Further, the top support member  36  may define a pair of holes  37  and that may be threaded. Then, the upper end of the left shield member  50  may include a second left shield flange  52  configured to be releasably received in a left hole of the pair of holes  37  or to otherwise be coupled to the pair of side support members  35  of the stretcher frame member  30 . Similarly, the right shield member  53  may include upper and lower ends with the upper end thereof including a second right shield flange  55  configured to be releasably received in a right hole of the pair of holes  37  or to otherwise be coupled to the pair of side support members  35  of the stretcher frame member  30 . 
     In an embodiment, the stretcher frame member  30  may actually refer to a plurality of stretcher frame members  100  coupled to the base plate  20 . Each respective stretcher frame member  30  includes a construction substantially similar to the construction described above. Each respective stretcher frame member  30  is adjacent to a next stretcher frame member  30  but, preferably, not touching or overlapping any adjacent stretcher frame member ( FIG. 2 a   ). 
     Accordingly, the plurality of stretcher frame members  100  may swivel between use and storage configurations without conflict. With further detail, each respective stretcher frame member  30  includes a respective bottom wall  38  having the aforementioned bottom ends  34  from which respective side support members  35  may be coupled. Further each respective stretcher frame member  30  includes a respective drive shaft  40  depending and extending away from a bottom surface of the bottom wall and rotatably coupled to the base plate  20 . Accordingly, each respective stretcher frame member  30  is swiveled relative to the base plate  20  when its associated drive shaft  40  is rotated. Each one of the plurality of stretcher frame members  100  is the foundation for a plurality of painting stations  12 . 
     In another aspect, the plurality of stretcher frame members  100  may be operably linked or “ganged” together so that they may collectively or simultaneously actuated to swivel between the first (use) configuration and second (stowed) configuration. More particularly, the rotating painting apparatus  10  may include a drive motor  60  positioned proximate the plurality of stretcher frame members  100  ( FIG. 3 a   ). One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the drive motor  60  may be electrically connected to A/C power (e.g. a wall socket) or battery power and may be energized via a motor actuation button  62  (e.g. an on/off switch). In addition, the rotating painting apparatus  10  may include a chain  64  having a continuous or looped configuration and which is electrically and operably coupled to the drive motor  60  and configured to move linearly in a loop when energized, such as around a chain guide  66  or guide track. Further, the chain  64  may be coupled to each respective drive shaft  40  or, more particularly, to the sprocket  44  associated with said each respective drive shaft  40  ( FIG. 3 c   ). Accordingly, when the chain  64  is energized, the plurality of drive shafts  40  will be collectively rotated which then causes the plurality of stretcher frame members  100  to swivel as described above. 
     Alternately, the stretcher frame members  100 , collectively, may be swiveled manually. More particularly, each drive shaft  40  may be connected together, such as with the chain  64  as described above. Instead of the drive motor  60 , however, a rotary crank  90  may be mechanically connected to the chain  64  or directly to the drive shafts  40  through a mechanical linkage ( FIG. 5 b   ). Accordingly, when the rotary crank  90  is operated by a user, the plurality of stretcher frame members  100  are swiveled and rotated about the axis of respective drive shafts  40 . In addition, the linkage may include a stop (not shown) that may be actuated by operation of rotation lock button  42  and, that is operable, when actuated to prevent the swivel movement described herein. 
     In yet another aspect, the rotating painting apparatus  10  may include a wall mount assembly  14  having at least a pair of wall fasteners  16  coupled to the first end  21  and the second end  22  of the base plate  20 , respectively. As shown, the wall fasteners  16  may be brackets of the like that extend between the base plate  20  and a wall of a house or the like. 
     In an embodiment, the rotating painting apparatus  10  may include a stretched frame member that includes not just a front face  32  and rear face  33  but, rather that includes a triangular configuration having a first face  72 , second face  74 , and third face  76 . In still another embodiment, the stretched frame member has four faces arranged in a cube or cubed configuration. In fact, in these embodiments, the stretched frame member will be referred to as a stretched frame “assembly”  70  and  80 , respectively. 
     With specific reference to  FIG. 8 , a triangular embodiment includes the triangular stretcher frame assembly  70  includes three stretcher member portions coupled to one another in a triangular configuration. More particularly, the triangular stretcher frame assembly  70  includes a common bottom wall having three corner points and three side support members extending upwardly from the three corner points, respectively. Respective shield members may also be included for securing and stretching a canvas. Channel  31  may be defined by a bottom wall or bottom support but otherwise is designated using the same numeral  31  indicating a channel. The channel may be configured to receive a lower end of each shield member in a mating engagement as described previously. Further, the common bottom wall  78  is rotatably coupled to the base plate via a drive shaft having a proximal end coupled to the common bottom wall  78  and a body portion extending through the base plate and away from the proximal end (not shown specifically but having the same structure and function as first described above). Also substantially similar to the construction described above, the triangular stretcher frame assembly  70  includes a canvas stretched about the three side support members of the stretcher frame assembly so as to define a first face  72 , a second face  72 , and a third face  74  arranged in a triangular configuration and each face being operable for receiving paint. In operation, the triangular stretcher frame assembly  70  is swiveled by rotation of the associated drive shaft between a first position at which the first face  72  is parallel to the base plate, a second position at which the second face  74  is parallel to the base plate, and a third position at which the third face  76  is parallel to the base plate  20 . It is understood that the triangular stretcher frame assembly  70  described above may include a plurality triangular stretcher frame assemblies  70  situated adjacent one another and each coupled to the base plate  20  ( FIG. 8 ). In the manner first described, all of the plurality of triangular stretcher frame assemblies may be actuated together as they are coupled to the chain and associated assembly. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , a cube embodiment includes the cube-shaped stretcher frame assembly  80  having four stretcher member portions coupled to one another in a cube-shaped configuration. More particularly, the cube-shaped stretcher frame assembly  80  includes a common bottom wall  81  having four corner points and four side support members extending upwardly from the four corner points, respectively. Further, the common bottom wall  81  is rotatably coupled to the base plate  20  via a drive shaft having a proximal end coupled to the common bottom wall and a body portion extending through said base plate  20  and away from the proximal end (not shown specifically but having the same structure and function as first described above). Also substantially similar to the construction described above, the cube-shaped stretcher frame assembly  80  includes a canvas stretched about said four side support members of the cube-shaped stretcher frame assembly  80  so as to define a first face  82 , a second face  82 , a third face  84 , and a fourth face  86  arranged in a cube-shaped configuration and each face being operable for receiving paint. In operation, the cube-shaped stretcher frame assembly  80  is swiveled by rotation of the associated drive shaft between a first position at which the first face  82  is parallel to the base plate, a second position at which the second face  84  is parallel to the base plate  20 , a third position at which the third  86  is parallel to the base plate  20 , and a fourth position at which the fourth face  88  is parallel to the base plate  20 . It is understood that the cube-shaped stretcher frame assembly  80  described above may include a plurality cube-shaped stretcher frame assemblies situated adjacent one another and each coupled to the base plate  20  ( FIG. 9 ). In the manner first described, all of the plurality of cube-shaped stretcher frame assemblies may be actuated together as they are coupled to the chain and associated assembly. 
     In use, a painter, such as an artist or even a plurality of art students, may position himself in front of a painting station  12 , i.e. positioned at a stretcher frame member or stretcher frame assembly. Paint may be applied to the canvas  24  as desired. Then, when the artist desires to put a current painting away and work on another painting, the drive motor  60  may be actuated to swivel or rotate the stretcher frame member  30  as described above. Notably, the canvas  24  on which the current painting is applied does not need to be removed and replaced—but simply rotated to a storage position and a next painting is immediately positioned for use. As described above, the rotatable painting apparatus may be singular, triangular, or cubical in configuration. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.