Abstract:
An adjustable paint easel and display rack assembly includes a base having first and second legs extending upwardly therefrom. First and second risers are slidably connected to the first and second legs for adjusting the height of the assembly. Extensions may be pivotally attached to upper ends of the risers and movable between folded and extended positions to further adjust the height of the assembly. An arm is attached to the risers or extensions and has a canvas board platform pivotally and rotatably attached thereto, enabling the height and angle of the canvas board platform to be adjusted. The assembly may include pivoting table leaves, and model attachment plates as well.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/336,421, filed Oct. 30, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to paint easels. More particularly, the present invention relates to a paint easel and display rack which is adjustable in orientation and height for the benefit of the artist.  
           [0003]    Paint easels have been in existence for hundreds of years. Some easels are relatively small and lightweight and allow an artist to work outside of the convenience of a studio. Others are relatively immobile and large, but allow an artist to securely fix canvas thereon to paint.  
           [0004]    However, the current design of easels, particularly studio easels, present certain disadvantages. Oftentimes, the easel is at a predetermined height, requiring the artist to either stand or sit upon a stool or the like to paint the canvas. Due to the relatively fixed position of the canvas, the artist must adjust his or her position and height with respect to the canvas board. Another problem experienced by artists is that the artist must place himself or herself in awkward positions to paint various areas on the canvas board. For example, the canvas board is typically fixed in position, with some easels allowing a little latitude or movement in the vertical and horizontal directions. None allow the canvas board to be rotated or placed into a completely flat orientation. This requires the artist to remove the canvas board from the easel and place it upon a table or other flat surface, and rotate the canvas board upon the table, to paint certain areas of the canvas.  
           [0005]    Yet another problem encountered by many artists is the positioning of models which are to be illustrated. The model, such as a book, shoe, etc., is placed on a table or the like and drawn. The artist must manually move the model to obtain other viewpoints. In a group setting, such as an art class, the teacher has reverted to hanging a single model from the ceiling so that all students can view the model form the same general orientation with as much of the model viewable from their angle as possible.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, there is a continuing need for an easel which is adjustable in height, mobile, capable of moving the canvas board into many different orientations, and capable of movably mounting a model thereto. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention resides in a paint easel and display rack assembly which is adjustable, whereby the height and angle of a canvas board can be altered to suit the needs of the artist. The assembly generally comprises a base having first and second legs extending upwardly therefrom. First and second risers are slidably connected to the first and second legs, respectively, and able to be locked into position. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the risers and legs include apertures or slots configured to receive a clamping device for locking the risers in position. The clamping device may comprise a rod inserted through the aperture or slots and having a clamping plate at an end thereof. Thus, the height of the assembly can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the risers with respect to the legs. Additionally, extensions may be pivotally attached to upper ends of the risers and movable between folded and extended positions to further adjust the height of the assembly.  
           [0008]    An arm is attached to the risers or extensions. Preferably, the arm is removably attached so as to be positioned at the proper height. A canvas or platform is pivotably and rotatably attached to the arm. This enables the canvas board to be tilted and turned to the proper orientation relative to the artist.  
           [0009]    A support stand may be attached to the legs or risers. The support stand includes multiple table leaves which are pivotally attached to the support stand for supporting paint brushes, paints, etc.  
           [0010]    In a particularly preferred embodiment, a model attachment member is attached to the legs or risers. The model attachment member includes plates which can be pivoted and turned so as to be properly oriented. The plates include apertures therethrough for securing models to the plates.  
           [0011]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an easel assembly embodying the present invention in a fully extended state;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1, in a partially extended state;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 3, illustrating top members thereof hinged downwardly;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the assembly configuration of FIG. 4;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 5;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 2;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a partially fragmented cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8, illustrating the assembly in a partially extended state;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a top cross-sectional view taken generally along line  10 - 10  of FIG. 1, illustrating a support screw used to adjust the height of the assembly;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the assembly having a canvas board platform attached thereto;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 11, illustrating the movement of the canvas board platform in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the assembly in a lowered state, and having the canvas board platform positioned at a generally horizontal orientation;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the assembly, illustrating the rotation of the canvas board platform in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 15 is a rear elevational view of the assembly and canvas board platform of FIG. 14;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 16 is an exploded cross-sectional view taken generally along lines  16 - 16  of FIG. 15, illustrating the inter-connection and movements of components of the assembly to permit the movement of the canvas board platform;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 17 is a top view taken generally along line  17 - 17  of FIG. 15, and illustrating movement of table leaves in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 18 is a side perspective view of the assembly having model attachments connected thereto;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 19 is a front elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 18; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  20 - 20  of FIG. 18, illustrating the movements of the model attachments.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]    As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in an easel assembly, generally referred to by the reference number  10 , which is adjustable and includes attachments which are designed to aid the artist.  
         [0034]    With reference to FIGS.  1 - 10 , the easel  10  includes a base  12  which preferably has wheels  14  or the like attached to a bottom surface thereof so that the easel  10  can be moved easily from one location to another. A supportive box structure  16  is removably attached to the base  12  via a thumb screw  18  or the like and into which multiple legs  20  extend upwardly therefrom. The legs  20  are removably attached to the box  16  by a screw  22  extending through the box  16  and legs  20  so as to hold the legs  20  in position.  
         [0035]    The legs  20  are sized such so as to fit within hollow risers  24 , each having an elongated slot  26  extending substantially the length thereof. Apertures  28  are formed through each leg  20  so as to be generally aligned and allow a screw  30 , or a rod or the like, to be placed therethrough to clamp the risers  24  to the legs  20 . Typically, the screw  30  includes a hand knob  30  at one end thereof and clamping brackets  32  which are threadably attached to the screw  30  and which are positionable on opposite sides of the easel  10  so that as the hand knob  30  is increasingly rotated, the clamping brackets  32  compress against opposing sides of the risers  24  and hold the risers  24  in place. Thus, the screw  30  can be loosened and the risers  24  raised or lowered depending upon the need of the artist, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3,  6  and  7 .  
         [0036]    Extension members  36  are pivotally attached to the upper ends of the risers  24  by hinges  38  in order to provide more height to the easel  10  when such height becomes necessary, such as when the artist is standing and working on a relatively large canvas. A screw  40  extends through apertures  42  of the extension members  26  to hold the extension members  36  in an upright and fully extended position. As will be described more fully herein, the screw  40  also serves as an attachment point for other components of the easel  10 . Thus, it will be appreciated by the reader that not only can the easel  10  be adjusted in height by adjusting the positioning of the legs  20  within the risers  24 , but also by the extension or folding over of the extension members  36 .  
         [0037]    With reference now to FIGS.  11 - 16 , an arm  44  is attachable to the easel  10  via connection with either screw  30  or  40  extending through an aperture  46  thereof so as to extend generally vertical with respect to the predominant plane of the easel  10 . The arm  44  thus rests generally in a horizontal orientation and supports a canvas board platform  48  at an end thereof. The canvas board platform  48  is sized and configured such to removably receive canvas thereon.  
         [0038]    As shown in FIGS.  11 - 13 , the arm  44  includes a jointed extension  50  which is pivotally attached to the arm  44  so as to be raised and lowered to alter the angle of the canvas board platform  48  with respect to the artist. As shown in FIG. 13, the easel  10  can be reduced to its lowest height by inserting the legs  20  fully within the extension members  24 , and pivoting the arm extension joint  50  completely vertical so that the canvas board platform  48  lies in a horizontal position. Although the canvas board platform  48  could be pivoted into the fully horizontal position above the fully extended extension members  36 , such a position would require that the artist stand upon a chair or the like in order to paint on the canvas. By lowering the easel into its shortest state, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the artist is able to remain seated, or stand over the canvas board platform  48  in order to continue painting.  
         [0039]    As illustrated in FIG. 14, the canvas board platform  48  is also rotatable so that the artist can position the canvas board platform  48 , and thus the canvas, at any desired position. As shown in FIG. 16, the movements of the canvas board platform  48  are allowed by inserting a screw  52  extending from the rear surface of the canvas board platform  48  into the arm extension joint  50 , which is pivotally attached to the arm  44  via a bolt  54  or the like which extends through the arm  44  and joint  50 . The arm  44  includes an aperture  46  through which the screw  30  is inserted so that as the screw  30  is clamped onto the risers  24 , the arm  44  is clamped in place as well. Thus, the canvas board platform  48  can be raised or lowered, tilted and rotated to be conveniently position for the artist.  
         [0040]    With reference now to FIGS. 14 and 15, a support stand  56  is removably secured to the legs  20  of the easel  10  by a screw  58  extending through a main beam  60  of the support stand  56  which tightens a crossbar  62  that is threadably attached to the screw  58  against the opposing legs  20  to hold the support stand  56  in place. Two pairs of table leaves  64  are pivotally attached to the support stand beam  60  on opposite ends thereof and serve to hold brushes, oils, and other necessary instruments for the artist. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the leaves  64  are pivotal with respect to one another so that a larger supporting surface area is provided when needed, and the leaves  64  can be moved so as not to impede the artist.  
         [0041]    With reference now to FIGS.  18 - 20 , as mentioned above, there is a continuing problem with the positioning of models which are to be illustrated. The present invention may include model attachment members  66  having beams  68  extending through the gap between the legs  20  and risers  24  and having screws which tighten a crossbar  70 , as described above. A model attachment plate  72  is movably attached to each end of the beams  68 . Each plate includes a central elongated slot  74  and a plurality of apertures  76  spaced throughout the surface of the plate  72 . This allows a model to be secured to the plate by means of wire, twine, a thumb screw extending into the model, etc.  
         [0042]    As illustrated in FIG. 20, each plate  72  is movably attached to the end of the beam  68  by a screw or bolt  78  extending through the plate  72  and into a foot  80 , also having a screw or bolt  82  extending into the end of the beam  68 . Thus, the foot can be rotated along one axis, whereas the plate  72  can be rotated upon a transverse axis so that the plate  72  can be positioned to nearly any desired angle so that the model attached thereto can be illustrated from any given angle. This can be particularly useful in the classroom setting where a single easel  10  can support many models simultaneously, or the same model at different angles so that the art students can illustrate the model object from various angles. Of course, the plates  72  are also useful for a single artist using the easel  10  as the artist can have the model in close proximity to the easel  10 , and move the orientation of the model by moving the plate  72  and retaining the model in such orientation as long as desired.  
         [0043]    Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications of each may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.