Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 23rd July, 1898
I, WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY, of the Firm of Wheatley and Mackenzie,
Engineers and Patent Agents, of 40, Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
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:-
The invention relates to easels, and more particularly, portable sketching easels,
and has for its objects, lightness of construction, adjustability to size of drawing,
stability on uneven ground, and rapidity and ease in varying the angle of the
surface of block or canvas stretcher.
Sketching easels have hitherto been constructed generally in the form of
tripods, on which the drawing has been merely supported by a bracket. This had
little stability, and was easily disturbed, besides having no adjustability.
By means of this invention a frame of light weight is readily adjusted to a
canvas or block of any size. This canvas or block may be arranged at any suitable
height, and every variation of slant to the surface of same, quickly obtained
without disturbing the easel which is firmly attached to the ground if necessary.
The general construction is as follows:
The apparatus consists in the two adjustable side standards which may be con-
nected by the extensible cross bar, and having adjustable pivoted clamping frames
adapted to hold the canvas or block in any desired position, by means of adjustable
pivots. The block or canvas when held by the clamps becomes an essential part
of the frame of the easel.
The form illustrated is that of a light sketching easel which folds up readily,
and is very portable.
Reference is made to the annexed drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a front view,
Fig. 2 a side view opened,
Figs. 3 and 4 details of pivot pins,
Figs. 5 and 6 details of clamp,
Fig. 7 view of casel closed.
The side standards are composed of two pairs of legs A1 and A2, provided with
spikes, A3 at one end, the said legs A3 being slotted towards the top in which
slots H, the pivot pins C travel. The cross bar B consists of a solid piece N¹
and a slotted piece B3, connected by the threaded pin and milled nut 133. This
bar is pivoted at one end 13 to the bottom of one leg A2 of one side standard,
and at the other end B to the corresponding leg of the other standard near
the top.
The cross bar is not necessary when the side standards connected by the canvas
or block form a sufficiently rigid easel.

page_text: The clamping frames D are pivoted at one end on the pivot pins C and consist
in a main part D on which is secured on the inside, the clamp 1) having a series
of lugs. D and the adjustable thumb-screw 1 with a loose washer D the lug
opposite which is toothed to give a firm grip to the clamp. The pivot pins C
are made with the flat portion which fits the slot H*.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
The canvas or block E is clamped on either side by the clamps 1 the thumb
screw B³ being loose to permit the standards H to separate readily, it is then
tightened and the frame is rigid. The canvas or block E can then be turned on
the pivots C so that its surface takes the required slant.
Should the ground be uneven, the length of the legs can be adjusted by means
of their pins C travelling in the slots H. A cord attached to the middle of
one leg, passing through a hole in a peg F driven into the ground and fastened
in a slot F in the other leg, makes the easel very steady and firm.
It is thus seen that the canvas or block itself becomes part of the easel, and
thereby reduces the weight of the frame, besides giving greater freedom of action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In an easel, the combination of side standards, an extensible cross bar
pivotally connected thereto, clamps pivoted to the top of such standards, and
adapted to hold a canvas or block between them as described.
2. In an easel, the combination of two pairs of legs pivoted at their upper ends,
an extensible cross bar pivotally connected to the corresponding leg of each pair;
clamp frames pivoted on the pins connecting the legs, and adapted to hold the
canvas or block between them.
3. In an easel, the combination of clamps adapted to hold the opposite edges
of a canvas or block, and adjustable pivot pins thereto in the sides of the easel,
as described.
4. In an easel, the combination with adjustable side standards of adjustable
clamps pivoted thereto, and a block or canvas adapted to be held by such clamps
and to form a rigid connection between the side standards as described.
Dated this 21st day of March 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.