Year: 1886

page_text: I HENRI MEUNIER of 8 Bury Street Fulham Road Chelsea in the county of
Middlesex Cabinet Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide an easel for the use of artists and others
that shall be extremely convenient and shall be capable of holding one two or
more pictures or other articles at the same time and of supporting the same in the
desired positions and at the required levels which positions and levels can be
rapidly and easily altered and varied as may be desired and these pictures or
articles may be of various and different sizes and shapes.
In order the more clearly to explain my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawings in which I have shewn a
double fronted complete easel.
Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the fronts of this easel.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the other front thereof.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of this easel.
Figure 4 is an horizontal section of the same taken at a. b. in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an horizontal section of the same taken at d. e. in Figure 3.
On a suitable base I erect a convenient frame A in and between the vertical
side posts of which can slide an horizontal table B of the desired shape and size on
which table B is secured a vertical central support or post C in cross section pre-
ferably formed as shewn in Figures 4 and 5 which post C can slide in a suitable
recess made therefor in the horizontal rail A¹ of the frame. A rod D on which is a
screw thread passes up behind the post C through a suitable bush with a female screw
thread in the rail A¹ the end of which rod D bears a block E secured on the post C.
This rod D can be revolved by any usual or convenient appliances and I have shewn
in the drawings a very suitable method in and by which a bevelled wheel on the
end of this rod gears into another bevelled wheel mounted on the end of an hori-
zontal rod which can be revolved by an handle and when the rod D is revolved
the post Cand therefore the table B also is raised or lowered in and on the frame A.
On the post C is fitted a sliding block F which can be clamped in position by a
screw to which block F is attached a small table or shelf G below which is hinged
the table H. This table H can be allowed to hang vertically downwards as shewn

page_text: in Figure 4 when a picture or other article may be supported thereon or by the
table B while the top thereof would be held by the shelf G or the table H may be
extended from the frame A by the hinged legs I engaging in notches or recesses
formed in the frame A in convenient positions or otherwise in any desired inclined
position. When it is desired that the table H shall be supported in an horizontal
position the legs I may be placed on the floor but I preferably make two notches
or recesses B¹ on the front of the table B in which the ends of the legs I can be
placed and the sliding block F to which this table H is hinged is clamped on the
post C in such a position that the table H is level or horizontal and obviously can
be raised or lowered in such condition as may be desired. A tray K for paints or
other articles may be fitted to the table H being conveniently attached thereto by
claws L which can be fitted with clamping screws if desired and to allow this
tray K to be level and horizontal when the table H is inclined one claw L is
swivelled on the side of the tray K and the pin of the other claw L passes through
a slotted bar L' attached vertically to the other end of the tray K in which slotted
bar L¹ the pin can be clamped by a screw nut in the desired position. On the
post C above may be fitted another sliding block M also provided with a clamping
screw and to which block M also is attached a small table or shelf N so that a
picture or other article can be supported by the shelf G while the top thereof would
be held by the shelf N. In a similar manner other sliding blocks M and shelves N
may be fitted on the post C when desired and this front of my complete easel will
be found very convenient for the smaller pictures and other articles.
The other front of this easel is more especially adapted for the larger pictures
and other articles and is fitted therefor in the following manner. Au horizontal-
table O of the desired shape and size is fitted to slide in and between the vertical
side posts of the frame A on which table O a bracket P is erected extending a suit-
able height thereabove and on this bracket P is secured a vertical central support
or post R in cross section preferably formed as shewn in Figure 4 which post R
can slide in a suitable recess made therefor in the horizontal rail A' of the frame
and this post R with its connected table O is likewise supported and the height
thereof is likewise adjusted in manner as herein before described by a screw rod.
In this double fronted easel I preferably use only one screw rod in which case the
block E is also secured to the post R as well as on the post C as aforesaid being
borne by the screw rod D and the tables B and O are also connected together. On
the projecting front edge of the bracket P is centrally hinged a small table or
shelf S whereon is secured a vertical central support or post T on which post T
can slide an elongated sleeve or cover T¹ fitted with a clamping screw whereby the
post T can be made as long as may be required and on the sleeve or cover T¹ is
fitted a sliding block V which can be clamped in position by a screw to which
block V is attached a small table or shelf W and thus a larger picture or other
article can be supported by the shelf S while the top thereof would be held by the
shelf W. It may oftentimes be desired to make the upper edge or part of the
picture or other article incline forwards when so held on and by these shelves and
to accomplish this object I make a vertical recess up the back of the post R
wherein I place a rod X also preferably actuated through two bevelled and geared
wheels by an horizontal rod as shewn in the same manner as is the rod D herein-
before described or this rod X may pass up in other convenient manner behind or
before the post R and may be actuated in manner as may be desired and on the
upper end of this rod X is a screw thread. A sliding block Y is fitted on the
post R wherein is a bush with a female screw thread in which bush the end of
the rod X engages and this block Y is connected by the arms Z with the upper end
or part of the post T. Thus when the rod X is revolved the block Y is raised or
lowered and through the arms Z the upper end or part of the post T with the
sleeve or cover T¹ is inclined forwards as shewn in Figure 3 or brought back to a
vertical position as may be desired.
I consider that this double fronted easel as hereinbefore described is the best
and most complete but when for any cause I may so desire
may separate the

page_text: same and make thereof two easels the one being fitted with the one front the other
with the other front to each of which would be applied the elevating screw rod
hereinbefore described.
I have thus described and I have shewn in the drawings most convenient and
suitable methods and details of constructing and fitting this my improved easel
and also very desirable shapes and proportions of the same and of the several parts
thereof but I do in no wise limit myself thereto for it is obvious that this easel and
all the several parts thereof can be formed of such shapes and proportions and such
methods and details of constructing and fitting the same can be observed and followed
as may be convenient or suitable or desirable in each particular case.
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
1. In an easel the combination on a suitable frame of the table B the post Ơ the
sliding block F with shelf G the hinged table H with hinged legs I and the screw
rod D substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and declared.
2. In an easel the combination of the sliding block F the hinged table H with
hinged legs I and the notches B¹ substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described and declared.
3. The combination with the hinged table H of the tray K with claws L and
slotted bar L' substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In an easel the combination on a suitable frame of the table B the post C the
sliding blocks F and M with shelves G and N the hinged table H with hinged
legs I and the screw rod D substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and declared.
5. In an easel the combination on a suitable frame of the table O the bracket P
the post R the screw rod D the hinged shelf S the post T with sliding sleeve or
cover T¹ the sliding block V with shelf W and the screw rod X with sliding block Y
and arms Z the whole combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and declared.
6. The double fronted easel substantially as herein before described and shewn in
the accompanying drawing.