Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 6th Sept., 1887.
I, ANSON KENT CROSS, of 1643 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object simplicity and rigidity of construction by means of
which all the requirements of an easel are attained-i.e., it will hold securely a canvas,
or drawing board in a vertical position or at any desired angle toward or away from
the artist, or at any desired height from the ground, and it can be readily closed not
to exceed in length an ordinary walking stick, thus making it handy for
transportation.
The invention consists in the combination of three or more adjustable legs, a
suitable metal connection near their top to which they are hinged, said metal
connection accommodating a sliding bar which may be secured at any desired
height, and suitable canvas fastening devices both for the vertical sliding bar and the
adjustable legs, all of which will be more clearly explained in the following specifica-
tion and appended claims, and be fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings
forming part thereof-of which-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved easel, showing in dotted lines a drawing
board or canvas as when supported at an angle thereon.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view in detail of one of the canvas fastening
devices adapted for use upon the vertical sliding bar.
Fig. 3 shows a section of the leg of an easel carrying one of the improved adjustable
canvas supports.
Fig. 4 is a group comprising two elevations and a plan view illustrating the
clamping devices forming a part of said support.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional front elevation of one of the metal connections.
Fig. 6 is another view of same part.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the uniting portions of one of the
adjustable legs and its means of adjustment.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of same.

page_text: Similar reference letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the various
views.
The adjustable legs, which may comprise two front and one rear, are composed of
the parts A A¹, and rendered adjustable one upon the other, by means of metal
bands B, two of which are secured about two inches more or less apart upon the
legs A' near their upper end, by screws or rivets b.
Upon the inner surface of either of the parts A', between the bands B, a groove or
slot a¹ is formed similar to that illustrated in Fig. 7, which is adapted to receive an
oval pin or spreading device C-having an arm c at one end by which it may be
turned within said groove and an integral circular collar or flange c³, at the opposite
end to prevent its slipping longitudinally.
This pin or spreader C serves the purpose of a cam, and when it is turned as in
Figs. 1 and 7 it prevents any movement of the parts A A¹, one upon the other by
springing said parts slightly apart, the distance however is very much exaggerated in
Fig. 7.
To prevent the pins or spreaders C, from becoming ineffective by wearing the wood
sufficiently to become loose, a bushing of brass or other metal, as at c³, may be
provided for the inclined groove a', and a metal retaining strap c³ be secured by
brads or otherwise to the parts A', over said groove, thus permitting said spreader (),
to bear against metal only.
Metal pins D, are provided in the lower end of each of the parts A³, to prevent them
from slipping when the easel is in use.
The upper end of the parts A, are each pivoted at a to and between ears e, two of
which extend from either side and two from the back of the casting or metal con-
nection E, and are adapted to be spread therein, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 5
and 6.
A thumb screw F threaded to the back of said metal connection E and far enough
above the rear leg A to avoid contact with the same may be turned therein so as to
bear upon a metal gib, or directly upon the vertical sliding bar G and thus retain it
at any desired point within the casting E.
2
In order that the upper part of a drawing board or canvas may be supported at a
forward inclination or perpendicular, instead of taking the inclination of the easel,
this vertical sliding bar may be formed in two parts G G₁, and jointed at H. The
part G¹, is notched or provided with rectangular grooves y for the reception of the
upper edge of the drawing board, and a sliding sleeve or fastening device I, having a
long and short prong respectively i, and provided with a thumb screw J for setting
the same at any desired point upon the easel, may be slid onto the bar G or
extension G³, as occasion requires; when upon the former it is preferable to have the
long prong point downward, so as to slightly pincture the top edge of a drawing
board or canvas when it is bearing against the front edge at the same inclination;
when upon the latter it is preferable to have the short prong, bear against the back
of a drawing board or canvas, while the top of the latter enters one of the grooves g.
The bottom of said drawing board rests upon supports K consisting of a metal
yoke k which may be placed upon either of the parts A A¹, of the forward legs. A
screw-stud K', having at one end an eye, provided on its under side with a stop k¹
projecting at nearly a right angle therefrom pivoted at L to the said yoke, a clamp
adapted to move loosely upon said screw-stud, and a thumb nut k³ threaded thereto.
The said screw-stud is flattened on opposite sides as seen in Figure 4, and the hole
in the clamp piece k² is accordingly formed oblong or flat on two opposite sides; said
flat portions being so located as to permit of the clamp remaining vertical (when in
use) or nearly so, while the flattened sides of the screw may be at all times parallel
with the sides of the legs upon which the yoke k is placed.
On the front of this clamp are projections which fit loosely into an annular
groove k³, formed upon the nut 43, thus permitting said nut to carry said clamp either
way upon said screw.
The top of said clamp is bent at nearly a right angle, and may be serrated or
otherwise roughened upon its edge so as to easily hold a drawing board or canvas

page_text: when forced thereon by said nut, without danger of marring the same. It is obvious
that the heavier the weight sustained by the screw-stud, the harder the stop k² (of its
eye) will bear upon the leg of casel, the friction of which maintains it whenever
desired, but in order to prevent the whole support from slipping down when not in
use, a spring M, may be riveted about midway from either of its ends to the back of
the yoke k as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. In an easel, the combination with the adjustable legs, and a device for retaining
them at any elevation desired, of a suitable casting to which the upper part of said
legs are hinged or pivoted, adapted to receive a vertical sliding bar, and an adjustable
canvas fastening device applicable to said sliding bar and the front legs of said easel,
all constructed and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set
forth.
2nd. The combination with the adjustable legs, of an oval pin resting between the
adjacent surfaces of the two parts of said legs, and within a groove formed in that
segment to which the retaining bands are riveted, having at one end an annular flange
as shown, and at the other a right angled arm, whereby said pin may be turned and
spread the two segments of said leg within said retaining bands, as and for the
purpose set forth.
3rd. The combination with the adjustable legs of an oval pin resting between the
adjacent surfaces of the two parts of said leg and within a groove formed in that
segment to which the retaining bands are riveted, provided with a metallic bushing
and retaining strap, said pin having at one end an annular flange, and at the other an
arm, all contructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4th. The combination with an adjustable easel, of an adjustable support for the
drawing board or canvas having a clamp adapted to retain various thicknesses of
board or canvas against said easel, by means of a screw, and means whereby the said
support shall be retained at the desired elevation upon said easel substantially as
described.
5th. The combination with a vertical sliding bar, of a pivoted extension having
rectangular slots or grooves for receiving the upper edge of a drawing board or
canvas and an adjustable sleeve having prongs at either end, and a set screw for
retaining the same upon said bar for the purpose set forth.
6th. The combination with an easel of an adjustable support for the canvas, having
a clamp adapted to retain various thicknesses of canvas against said easel and means
whereby the said support shall be retained at the desired elevation upon said easel
substantially as set forth.