GB2423469A

GB2423469A - Collapsible artist's easel and case with unfolding seat

Info

Publication number: GB2423469A
Application number: GB0503963A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Kershaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-25
Filing date: 2005-02-25
Publication date: 2006-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-25
Also published as: GB2439218B; GB2423469B; GB0503963D0; GB2439218A; GB0711551D0

Abstract

A collapsible artist's easel comprising support means 13 for supporting a workpiece 19 and legs 1, 2 deployable to hold the support means 13 in an elevated working position. A pair of legs 1, 2 are pivotally connected by a lateral pivot axis 3 and are lockable in a working position in which a first leg member 2 extends upwards and forwards and pivotally supports the support means 13 . A container 26 and surface (30) for artist's materials are supported between the upper ends of the legs 1, 2. A strut member 15 is provided for holding the support means 13 in the working position and is pivoted about a rear lateral axis 9. A platform (18) is provided at the distal end of the strut member 15 to project forwards of the support means 13 and support the lower edge of a workpiece. A clear space beneath the platform (18) allows access to the container 26 and working surface (30). A clamp member 24 engages an edge of the workpiece to hold it in the upright working position, and a pair of arms 21 are pivotally connected to the clamp 24 and are freely moveable under their own weight to urge the clamp member 24 against the workpiece. The arms 21 fold to a stowed position within the profile of the support means 13. A carry case (32) incorporates a seat (39) that can be unfolded to a sitting position.

Description

ARTIST'S EASEL This invention relates to an artist's portable easel

comprising a collapsible or folding structure which assumes a folded state in which it can be transported, and which can be readily erected to a working state when required.

An object of the invention is to provide an easel which is easy to erect from a compact folded state, preferably by a single lifting movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easel to support a workpiece, such as a canvas or board, and to provide a working surface to support artists' materials in an accessible manner.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate a container for artists' materials within the structure of an easel so that both the easel and artists' materials are transportable as a single entity, and the artists' materials are readily available once the easel is erected.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an easel with means to support a workpiece which will accommodate different sizes of workpiece both in terms of width and height and yet which is readily transportable.

According to a first aspect, the invention consists in an easel comprising support means for supporting a workpiece and legs deployable to hold the support means in an elevated working position, with the workpiece in a generally upright orientation facing the artist.

The legs preferably comprise a pair of legs pivotally connected together with a lateral pivot axis and are lockable in a working position in which a first leg member extends upwards and forwards, and a second leg member extends upwards and rearwards. The support means is preferably pivotally connected to the upper end of the first leg member.

Thus, when the easel is erected, the support means is located towards the front of the structure for maximum convenience in presenting a workpiece to an artist.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, similar pairs of legs are provided either side of the easel and are connected together by lateral cross-pieces so as to pivot together about a common lateral pivot axis. Furthermore, the legs preferably support a container for artists' materials andlor a working surface for artists' materials between the upper ends of the legs, and the support means is adapted to support the workpiece at an elevated position above the working surface or container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support means comprises two upright side members, each pivotally connected at their lower end to the upper end of a respective first leg member, and connected together at their upper end by a lateral cross-piece.

According to a second aspect of the invention, an easel comprises support means for supporting a workpiece in an upright working position, the support means comprising a pair of upright members pivoted about a lateral axis at their lower end so as to be moveable between the upright working position and a folded position. Strut means is provided for holding the support means in the working position and is itself pivoted about a lateral axis at its lower end so that the strut member is moveable between a support position in which it holds the upright members in the working position and a folded position in which the support means also assumes the folded position. A workpiece support platform is provided at the distal end of the strut member between the upright members so as to project forwards of the support means to support the lower edge of a workpiece.

The strut means therefore serves a dual function of holding the support means in the upright working position and also in canying the workpiece support platform on which the workpiece is to stand. A clear space is left free beneath the workpiece support platfonn between the upright members so that an artist can access a working space for artists' materials behind the upright members.

According to a third aspect of the invention, workpiece support means comprises a clamp member adapted to engage an edge of an upright workpiece to hold it in a working position, and a link pivotally connected to the clamp and mounted so as to be freely moveable under the effect of its weights to urge the clamp member against the workpiece.

Preferably, the support means comprises a pair of links pivotally connected to the clamp member and arranged symmetrically with respect to the clamp member so that both are moveable to urge the clamp member against the top edge of the workpiece. The links also serve to support the rear surface of the workpiece. Preferably, the links are pivotally mounted on a support frame, and in their working position, extend upwardly and laterally beyond the outer profile of the support frame so as to support a larger workpiece.

Furthermore, the links preferably fold with the clamp member to a folded position substantially within the profile of the support frame so that the easel can still assume a compact folded state for transport.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a case is provided incorporating a seat which is connected to the case so that it can assume a folded stored position or an unfolded working position in which it can be sat on by an artist.

Preferably, the seat is received in a recess in an external wall of the case when in the stored position, and is pivotally connected to the case so that it can pivot upwards out of the recess to a generally horizontal sitting position. A strut is connected between the leading edge region of the seat and a sliding pin and slot connection with the case so that it can be deployed to a working position in which it automatically locks the seat in the sitting position.

A case according to the invention can be used as a carry case or cover for a portable easel.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an artists' easel according to the invention in an erected Figure 2 is a front elevation of the erected easel of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side elevation of the easel of Figures 1 and 2 in a folded state, Figure 4 is a front elevation of the folded easel of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a perspective side view of the easel of Figures 1 to 4 in a semi-folded state, Figure 6 is a perspective side view of the easel in the folded state of Figures 3 and 4, Figure 7 is a side elevation of a carry case for an artist's easel when in the folded position, Figure 8 is a front elevation of the carry case of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a detailed side elevation of the carry case of Figures 7 and 8 in use with the seat raised to a sitting position, and Figure 10 is a front elevation of the carry case when in use as shown in Figure 9.

The easel as illustrated comprises a folding framework with generally similar members either side connected by lateral cross-pieces. The lower part of the framework comprises a pair of crossed legs 1, 2 either side, which are pivotally connected in their mid-region and pivot about a common lateral axle 3. The lower ends of the legs are also connected by lateral cross-pieces 4, 5 and are provided with D-shaped pivotal feet 6 at the front ends and wheels 7 at the rear ends. This arrangement facilitates erection and folding of the easel by the rear legs moving on the wheels across the ground.

The upper ends of the crossed legs each side are pivotally connected to a tie member 8 which is adapted to hold the legs in the erected working position. The rear end of each tie member is pivotally connected at 9 to the top of the rearwardly projecting leg 1, and the forward end of the tie member 8 is adjustably engageable with the upper end of the forwardly projecting leg 2. The adjustable engagement is provided by a longitudinal slot 11 in the forward end of the tie member formed with a number of notches 12 engageable by a stop member 10 on the leg. The stop member 10 consists of a lateral cross-piece joining the upper ends of the two forwardly extending legs 2. It will be appreciated that the height of the easel is adjustable by engaging the cross-piece 10 in different notches 12 in the tie member 8.

A pair of upright side members 13 are each pivotally connected to the upper end of each forwardly extending leg 2 using the cross-piece 10 as the pivot axle. These side members 13 are also connected at their upper ends by an upper cross-piece 14. A strut member 15 either side of the easel is pivotally connected at its lower end to the upper end of each of the rearwardly extending legs 1, the pivotable connection being provided by the pivot axle 9 of the tie members 8. Each strut member 15 extends forwards and upwards and adjustably engages the upper cross-piece 14 between the two upright side members 13.

The adjustable connection is provided by a longitudinal slot 16 at the forward end of each strut member formed with notches 17 that engage the cross-piece. The angle of inclination of the upright side members 13 can be varied by selection of the notch 17 which engages the cross-piece 14.

It will be appreciated that the elongate slots 11, 16 formed in both the tie members 8 and strut members 15 are long enough to allow movement to extreme positions in which the easel framework is either fully folded or fully erected.

The forward ends of the strut members 15 carry a workpiece support platform 18 between them which projects forwards of the upright side members 13 so that a canvas 19 can be seated on it. The forward ends 20 of the strut members 15 are preferably cranked downwards slightly so that the workpiece support platform is more nearly horizontal.

The upper ends of the upright side members 13 are limited in height so as to be accommodated within the profile of a compact folded assembly, and they do not fully support the rear of the workpiece 19, which extends above them. However, a further workpiece support mechanism is provided in the form of a pair of pivoted arms 21, each of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the side support members 13 via a pin and slot arrangement 22, 23, and which are both pivotally connected to a clamp member 24 at their upper ends so that they extend symmetrically downwards from the clamp member 24 and project laterally outwards beyond each upright side member 13.

This arrangement is most clearly shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 1, each pivoted arm 21 comprises a pair of parallel strips 47 located opposite sides of a reduced portion 48 at the upper end of each side member 13, through which the pin 22 passes. The two strips 47 are connected by cross-pieces and a foot 25 at their outer ends. These arms 21 are each connected to the clamp member 24 by pivot pins 49. The weight of the clamp member 24 and arms 21 is such as to cause the clamp member 24 to be pulled downwards, thereby firmly engaging the upper edge of a canvas 19 mounted on the workpiece support platform 18. It will be appreciated that this arrangement of the clamp member and arms can be lifted well above the upper ends of the upright side members 13 so as to accommodate a canvas 19 of a substantial height. The rear of the canvas engages against the front faces of the arms 21, and its top edges is engaged by the clamp member 24.

The workpiece support mechanism comprising the clamp member 24 and arms 21 can be readily moved to a folded position, as shown in Figure 4, by moving the clamp member 24 downwards between the upright side members 13 so that the arms 21 move through a fully splayed position and then follow the clamp member to a position in which they also are accommodated substantially fully within the profile of the folded easel as shown in Figure 4. The outer end of each arm 21 is formed with the foot 25 to engage the ground and support the folded easel in a standing condition, as shown in Figure 3.

An artist's paint box 26 is mounted between the tie members 8 and is provided with a pivoted lid 27 which pivots about the same lateral pivot axis 9 as the tie members 8 and strut members. The lid 27 is moveable to a fully open position in which it is substantially upright so as to give access to artists' materials mounted on the inside of the lid.

The underside of the paint box is provided with guide channels 28 along each side to support an artist's palette or workpiece 29, which is slid into the guide channels 28 from the front of the paint box. In this stored position, the upper surface of the palette or workpiece, which has wet material on it, is protected by the base of the paint box 26 against contact with other material or objects.

Furthermore, a working surface 30 is provided between the tie members 8 forwards of the paint box 26 to serve as a support surface for artists' materials. It will be noted from Figure 1, that the geometry of the legs 1, 2 is such as to tilt the paint box 26 and working surface downwards towards the front of the easel for ease of access by a user. It will be appreciated that the upright side members 13 leave a clear space between them and below the canvas 19 for ease of access to the paint box 26 and working surface 30.

In order to accommodate narrow canvases, a pivoted arm 31 is provided on the upper end of each side member 13 to pivot inwardly so as to engage behind the rear surface of a narrow canvas.

Figures 7 to 10 show a case suitable for storage and transport of the artist's easel of Figures 1 to 6 when in the folded state shown in Figures 3 and 4. The case comprises a hard shell 32 which has an opening through which the folded easel can be loaded into the shell. The top of the shell is provided with a carry handle 33. The generally triangular shape of the shell, as seen in side elevation, matches the envelope of the folded easel. The base 36 of the shell is formed with cut-outs 34, 35 to receive the wheels 7 on the ends of the legs of the easel and the feet 25 on the ends of the arms 21 of the easel. The cut-outs 34 for the wheels 7 comprise arcuate cut-outs in the near corners of the shell, and the cut-outs 35 for the feet 15 comprise rectangular cut-outs in the base 36 of the shell towards the front corners. Thus, when the easel is loaded into the shell, the wheels 7 and feet 15 still project from the base of the shell and engage the ground when the case is upright. The wheels 7 can then serve as transport wheels to allow the case to be wheeled across the ground. A back pack harness 37 is provided, which may be connected to the easel or the case.

The wider base 36 of the case compared with its top, serves to give increased stability when the case is stood upright, as shown in Figure 9. Furthermore, the front face 38 of the case is inclined rearward from bottom to top and provides a suitable mounting surface for a seat 39. The seat is received in a shallow recess 40 in the front waIl 38 and is pivotally connected to the shell at the upper end of the recess 40 so that it can pivot outwards and upwards from a stored position within the recess to a generally horizontal sitting position.

The pivot axle 41 connecting the seat 39 to the shell extends across the full width of the recess 40 and engages mounting points 42 in the side walls of the recess. The seat 39 is held in the sitting position by a strut 43, which is pivotally connected at one end to the leading edge of the seat 39 and is connected at its other end to a lateral rod 44, the ends of which engage as a sliding fit in a pair of elongate slots 45 at opposite sides of the recess.

The slots 45 are shaped as shown in Figure 9 to provide notches 46 in which the ends of the rod 44 can engage in the working position so as to hold the seat horizontal. The strut 43 is preferably substantially the same width as the seat 39 and is pivotally connected to it by a hinged connection 47. In the stored position, the seat 39 and strut 43 both lie flat in the recess 40 and substantially fill it.

It will be appreciated that the geometry of the case and seat is such as to minimise or remove any overhang of the seat relative to the base of the case so that it is stable in use.

The opening in the rear face of the case may be left open once the easel is loaded into the case or could be provided with a closure in the form of a cover or door.

It will be appreciated that the description of the invention makes reference to the orientation of the various parts when in normal use, using terms such as "upwards" and "downwards" and "forwards" and "rearwards", but such terms when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as restricting protection to an easel or workpiece support means or container for artists' materials or a case in any absolute orientation, given that this apparatus is portable and can assume many different orientations in use.

Claims

1. An artist's easel comprising support means for supporting a workpiece, and legs deployable to hold the support means in an elevated working position with the workpiece in a generally upright orientation facing the artist, the legs comprising a pair of leg members pivotally connected together with a lateral pivot axis and being lockable in a working position in which a first leg member extends upwards and forwards and a second leg member extends upwards and rearwards, the support means being pivotally connected to the upper end of the first leg member.

2. An easel as claimed in claim I in which said pair of leg members are pivotally connected in their mid-region.

3. An easel as claimed in claim 1 or 2 comprising two pairs of leg members spaced apart with a common lateral pivot axis about which both pairs of leg members pivot together.

4. An easel as claimed in claim 3 in which said two pairs of legs are connected by a lateral pivot member.

5. An easel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which locking means locks the leg members in said working position, and comprises a tie member engageable between the upper ends of said leg members to hold them against separation.

6. An easel as claimed in claim 5 in which the tie member is adjustably engageable so as to vary the distance between the upper ends of the leg members.

7. An easel as claimed in claim 6 in which the tie member is pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of the second leg member and adjustably engages a first cross-piece which extends laterally between the upper ends of said first leg members.

8. An easel as claimed in claim 7 in which said first cross-piece comprises a pivot member which forms the pivotal connection between the support means and said first leg member.

9. An easel as claimed in claim 7 or 8 in which said tie member is formed with a longitudinal slot through which said first cross-piece extends laterally and along which said first cross-piece is moveable to engage any one of a number of stops formed in the profile of said slot.

10. An easel as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9 comprising a pair of similar pivoted tie members, each pivotally connected to an upper end of a respective one of said second leg members and both connected together towards their forward end by a lateral member which extends forwards of said two side members.

II. An easel as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 10 in which each tie member forms part of a frame which supports an upper working surface for artists' material.

12. An easel as claimed in claim 11 in which said frame supports a container for artists' materials.

13. An easel as claimed in claim 12 in which the top of said container comprises a lid which is substantially co-planar with a working surface for artists' materials that extends forwards of the lid.

14. An easel as claimed in claim 12 or 13 in which the top of said container comprises a hinged lid which is hinged across the lateral rear edge of the container to open upwards and rearwards.

15. An easel as claimed in claim 14 in which said lid is hinged about the same pivot axis as each tie member.

16. An easel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the support means comprises two upright side members, each pivotally connected at their lower end to the upper end of a respective first leg member, and both connected together in their upper regions by a second laterally extending cross-piece.

17. An easel as claimed in claim 16 comprising a pivoted strut member which is adapted to hold the support means in said working position.

18. An easel as claimed in claim 17 in which said strut member is pivotably connected at one end to the upper end of the second leg member, and is releasably engageable at its other end with the support means so as to vary said upright orientation.

19. An easel as claimed in claim 18 in which said strut member releasably engages said second cross-piece.

20. An easel as claimed in claim 19 in which said strut member is formed with a longitudinal slot through which said second cross-piece extends laterally and along which said second cross-piece is moveable to engage any of a number of notches formed in the profile of said slot.

21. An easel as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20 comprising a pair of similar pivoted strut members, each pivotally connected to an upper end of a respective one of said second leg members and both connected together towards their upper end by a lateral workpiece support member which extends forwards of said two upright side members to support the lower edge of a workpiece.

22. An easel as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 21 in which each strut member is pivoted about the same pivot axis as each tie member.

23. An easel as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 22 in which a workpiece support arm is pivotally connected to each upright side member so as to pivot from an upright folded position to a laterally extending support position.

24. An easel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the lower ends of the upright members have ground engaging feet or wheels.

25. An artist's easel comprising support means for supporting a workpiece and strut means for holding the support means in a working position with a workpiece upright, the support means comprising a pair of upright members pivoted about a lateral axis at their lower end so that the upright members are pivotable between the working position and a folded position, the strut means comprising a strut member pivoted about a lateral axis at its lower end so that the strut member is pivotable between a support position in which it holds the upright members in the working position and a folded position in which the upright members also assumes the folded position, and wherein a workpiece support is provided at the distal end of the strut member to project forwards of the upright members and support the lower edge of a workpiece.

26. An easel as claimed in claim 25 in which the strut member engages the support means at a height such that the workpiece support member is located towards the upper end of said pair of upright members to allow access between the legs below the workpiece support members.

27. An easel as claimed in claim 26 in which the strut member and support means releasably engage via stop means.

28. An easel as claimed in claim 27 in which the stop means comprises a lateral projection on the support means which is engageable with each of one or more notches in the strut member.

29. An easel as claimed in claim 28 in which the stop means comprises a longitudinal slot in the strut member in which said projection engages and along which the projection is moveable to engage in a selected notch.

30. An easel as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 29 further including a platform providing an upper working surface for artists' materials, and to which the upright members and strut member are pivotally connected at their lower ends.

31. An easel as claimed in claim 30 in which the platform comprises a container for artists' materials.

32. An easel as claimed in claim 31 in which the container has a lid which is co-planar with a working surface for artists' materials that extends forwards of the lid.

33. An easel as claimed in claim 31 or 32 in which the top of said container comprises a hinged lid which is hinged across the lateral rear edge of the container to open upwards and rearwards.

34. An easel as claimed in claim 33 in which said lid is hinged about the same pivot axis as the strut member.

35. An easel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising guide means mounted beneath the container to guide and support a workpiece or palette to a protected position closely adjacent to the base of the container.

36. An easel as claimed in any of the preceding claims including a clamp member adapted to engage an edge of an upright workpiece to hold it in a working position, and an arm pivotally connected to the clamp and mounted so as to be freely moveable under the effect of gravity to urge the clamp member against the

37. Workpiece support means comprising a clamp member adapted to engage an edge of an upright workpiece to hold it in a working position, and an arm pivotally connected to the clamp and mounted so as to be freely moveable under the effect of gravity to urge the clamp member against the workpiece in the working position.

38. Support means as claimed in claim 37 comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected to the clamp member and arranged symmetrically with respect to the clamp member so that both are moveable to urge the clamp member against the top edge of the workpiece.

39. Support means as claimed in claim 37 or 38 in which each arm is adapted to pivot and slide longitudinally on a fixed pivot.

40. Support means as claimed in any one of claims 37 to 39 in which each arm is adapted to support the rear of said workpiece as the clamp member engages the

41. Support means as claimed in any one of claims 37 to 40 in which each arm is pivotally mounted on a support frame and extends beyond the profile of the support frame.

42. A support means as claimed in claim 41 in which the clamp member and each arm is adapted to pivot to a folded position substantially within the profile of the support frame.

43. A container for artists having guide means mounted on an exterior surface thereof to guide and support a workpiece or palette to a protected position closely adjacent to said exterior surface.

44. A case or cover incorporating a seat which is connected to the case so that it can assume a folded stored position or an unfolded sitting position in which it can be sat on.

45. A case as claimed in claim 44 in which the seat is pivotally connected to the case and pivots upwards to the sitting position.

46. A case as claimed in claim 45 in which the seat is received in a recess in an external wall of the case in the stored position.

47. A case as claimed in claim 45 to 46 which includes a strut which engages between the seat and the case to hold the seat in the sitting position.

48. A case as claimed in claim 47 in which said strut is pivotally connected to the leading edge region of the seat at one end, and to the case at its other end.

49. A case as claimed in claim 48 in which said other end of said strut member is connected to the case via a pin and slot connection in which the pin slides in the slot and engages a notch that holds the seat in the sitting position.

50. A case as claimed in claim 49 in which the pin comprises an elongate member to which said strut is connected and the free ends of which each engage a respective notch.

51. A case as claimed in any one of claims 44 to 50 in which the base of the case is wider than the top, and the seat is connected to an inclined side wall of the case that slopes rearwardly from the base to the top.

52. A case as claimed in any one of claims 44 to 51 which is adapted to store a collapsible apparatus in its collapsed state.

53. A case as claimed in claim 52 which has cut-outs formed in its base to receive parts of the collapsible apparatus.

54. A case as claimed in claim 53 including apparatus stored within the case, the apparatus having wheels which project through said cut-outs and form ground engaging transport wheels for the case.

55. A case as claimed in any one of claims 44 to 54 which is adapted to store an artist's

portable easel.