Patent ID: 7832701

Claim:
A portable easel for use in holding an artist's canvas, comprising: a cap plate defining a first leg receiving area and a second leg receiving area spaced apart from said first leg receiving area; a first leg having a first coupling member positioned at an upper end thereof that is pivotally coupled to said cap plate at said first leg receiving area such that said first leg is movable between open and closed configurations, said first coupling member having a first flange at a terminal end thereof; a second leg having a second coupling member positioned at an upper end thereof that is pivotally coupled to said cap plate at said second leg receiving area such that said second leg is movable between open and closed configurations, said second coupling member having a second flange at a terminal end thereof; a third leg fixedly attached to said cap plate; wherein said first leg receiving area defines a cavity configured to receive said first flange and having opposed walls for stopping said first flange so as to hold said first leg at said open and closed configurations, respectively; wherein said second leg receiving area defines a cavity configured to receive said second flange and having opposed walls for stopping said second flange to hold said second leg at said open and closed configurations, respectively; a plurality of gas springs operatively coupled to respective legs; wherein said respective first, second, and third legs include telescopic inserts; an upper artist's canvas support bar attached to said cap plate and an upper bracket attached to an upper end of said upper artist's canvas support bar; and a lower canvas support bracket attached to each of said first and second legs adjacent upper ends of said first and second legs and configured to hold the artist's canvas.