US2127494A

US2127494A - Easel

Info

Publication number: US2127494A
Application number: US740462A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tepper Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-08-18
Filing date: 1934-08-18
Publication date: 1938-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1955-08-23

Description

Aug. 23, 1938.

I 4 rIlIlIllIllllllllllll/A:

. J. TEPPr-:R

EASEL Filed Aug. 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. TEPPER Aug. 23, 1938..

EAsEL Filed Aug. 18,v 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED- .f S11-Aras PATENT OFFICE l.5 claims.

The present invention, though having elds `oi more general utility, is particularly related to easels.

Easels as commonlyused comprise a tripod with collapsible legs, a canvas support carried by the tripod and-a clamping member for clamping the canvas'to the support. To s et up theeasel it is necessary to unclamp three clamping screws to release the members of the threecollapsible legs, and to retighten them after the legs have been extended; to perform similarmanipula-` tions for the canvas support; to actuat'e "a further clamping screw to secure the clamping member in place;"an`d to go through a number of other and further `time-consumingsteps; and all thisbefore it is possible to put brush to canvas. The very purpose of employing easels oithis character is to make it possible for ftheartist to travel from place to place in the endeavor tolnd a scene worthy of reproduction; but these scenes are often so ileeting in naturethat, by the time that 'the easel has been set up, Vthe 'scene' has shifted, and it may never be possible to nd another just like it.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to improve upon easels of the above-de scribed character, to the ends that they may be rendered as self-adjusting as possible, in a minimum of time.

A-further object is to provide an easel or the like with a tripod the collapsible legs of which shall become extended very rapidly and shall thereafter automatically remain in extended position until itis desired to collapse them again.

A further object still is to eliminate the neces sity for using clamping screws or other timeconsuming mechanisms. y

A further object is to provide an easel that will stand up very rmly so as not to be blown over by wind, and so as not to be easily spread out in the studio.

Other and further objects Will be explained hereinafter and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that it is intended, by suitable expressions in the claims, to set forth al1 the novelty thatthe `invention may possess.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective of an easel constructed according to one embodiment of this invention, parts being shown broken away, the easel being shown open and holding a canvas in pcsition; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail upon a larger scale; Figs. .3 and 4 are similar details, upon other portion of the easel support; Fig. 11 is an eleval tion of the easel, shown collapsed; Fig. 1-2 isa perspective vcorresponding `to Fig; 2 of `a further modification; and Fig. 13 is a perspective of a further detail.

The novell tripod of the present invention comprises threecollapsible legs,` pivoted together at their upper portions, and each comprising two collapsible'members that `may be in the form o'f tubes 2, l (Figs. 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9) or bars 90, 92 (Figs. l to 3, 6,8, and to `i3). If the members are tubular, they maybe of metal; and if in the forms of bars, of wood. The tube 4 is of smaller diametenso as to t Within the tube 2. The Abars 9B and S2, on the other hand, may both be o'f the same cross-sectional shape and area, more `or less square, or oblong.

l'rilcc'zording to the modification shown in Fig. 8, the lower member 92 is slidably mounted in a l'cor respondingly shaped, tubular member `2. The member 92may also be tubular.

The diameters of the tubes 2 and 4 arepreerably such that the Outside wall of `the inner tube fl engages more `or less-snuglyagainst the inside wall of thefouter tube 2, so as to permit frictiona'l telescoping movement of the tubes. If desired, however, the outside Wall of the `inner tube 4 may be of slightly smaller diameter than the inside wall of the outer tube 2, and collar stops (not shown) may be provided to take up the space between `the tubes, so as to provide for the frictional engagement ofthe tubes, and also Yto limit the degree `of relative, outward, telescoping movemento` the tube d with respect to the tube 2, as described in application Serial No. 660,420, filed March 11, 1933, of which the present application is a contlnuationin part, and which matured, on December l5, 1936, into Letters Patent No. 21064,- 232.

The lower end of 'the upper bar 90 may be provided with a metal, U-shaped guide 94, within which the lower bar 92 is slidable, and `theupper end of the lower bar 92 may similarly be provided with a metal, U-shaped guide 95, within 4which the upper bar @il is slidable.

The lower end of the tube 2 may be provided, vas shown in Fig. 7, with an integral tongue 6, the extremafree end 8 of which is bent over so as freely to hold pivotally a split -end portion I3 of a ring I 0, preferably of metal wire, surrounding the tube 4. Corresponding metal, `oblong-shaped members 96, corresponding in shape to the shape of the

bars

90 and 92, may be used with the

wooden bars

90 and 92. The members 96 are constituted, as shown, of two side pieces, engaging opposite sides of the bars 9|) and 92, and two end rods 98 and IDI connecting the ends of the side pieces. Each rod 98 is pivotally held freely, with lost motion, in the hollow |02 between two humps or projections |04 formed in a bent metal plate secured by rivets or screws |06 near the upper end 99 of a bar 92. The end rod IUI opposite to the end rod 98 will thus bind against the bar 9U, as hereinafter described, to prevent relative collapsing movement of the

bars

90 and 92. If desired, however, the rod 98 may be replaced by a pintle |98 extending through the bar 92, as shown in Fig. 3. The rings I may, if desired, be provided with an extending thun'b piece I2, disposed diametrically opposite to the split portion I3. The diameter, shape andother dimensions of the rings I0 and the members 96, as well as the diameter of the wire or other material of which they are constituted, are such that, when it is attempted to force the tube 4 telescopically upward into the tube 2, the tube 2 will automatically be caused to bind against the inner walls of the ring I0. When a similar collapsing, slidable movement of the

bars

99 and 92 is attempted, the bar 90 will bind against the end IUI of the member 96, that is opposite to the freely pivotal part 98. This is assuming that the rings I0 and the members 96 occupy their illustrated position, beyond deadcenter. To aid this binding action, the metal of the rings I0, as well as of the tongue 6, may be built so as to have a slight spring action. This is facilitated by splitting the rings `II) at the portions I3. It is also facilitated by having the tongue 6 suii'iciently slender.

All that is necessary to set up the tripod, therefore, is to let the tubes 4 fall telescopically out of the tubes 2, or to move the bars 92 downward with respect to the bars 90, and then to set the sharpened lower ends II of the tubes 4 or the bars 92 upon the ground.

When the tripod is thus set up, with its lower ends II dug into the ground, and left to itself, the legs would tend to collapse, due to the weight of the tripod. Such tendency to leg-collapsing movement will, however, introduce forces such as to control the rings I0 and the members 96, causing the rings I0 to pivot slightly upward and the members 96 to pivot slightly downward about their pivoting portions I3 and 98. For the reasons before given, the tubes 4 and the bars 92 will each then bind against its corresponding ring I0 or member 96. Collapsing movement of the legs will thus be prevented by the rings I0 and the members 96, and the easel will be automatically held, uncollapsed, in place.

To permit collapsing the legs of the tripod, when the painters work is nished, one needs only to press with the fingers or the thumb downward upon that portion of the rings where the thumb pieces I2 are situated.

The rings I9 may be replaced by any suitable equivalent, such as perforated metal plate members 82, each supported by a spring tongue 84, secured to the lower end of the tube 2 at 86, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The tubes 4 are received in the perforations 88 of the plate members 82 and bind against the opposite walls |96 and |98 thereof in the same way as before described, as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 5. The outer wall |98 may, in fact, be omitted, as the inner wall |96 will alone serve to perform this binding action. The plate member 82 may, therefore, be replaced by a mere tongue, terminating ln the wall |96. The spring tongue 84 must, however, be properly designed to bring about the desired result.

As a further modification, the tongue B4 may be made wider than as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and preferably somewhat cup-shaped, as illustrated at 64 in Fig. 9, to receive a locking ball or balls |15. When the easel is set up in position, the ball or balls |15 will bind between the cupshaped tongue 64 and the tube 4 to prevent accidental collapse of the tripod legs. The balls |15 may be caused to fall away, out of binding contact, merely by inverting the tripod, thus permitting collapse of the tripod legs.

As shown in Fig. 12, oppositely disposed plates |2| on the lower bar 92 may be provided with oppositely disposed openings |23 that extend obliquely downward to receive a locking pin |25 for binding against the upper bar 90 to prevent collapsing movement of the legs.

After collapsing the legs, it may be desirable to lock the tubes 2 and 4, or the

bars

90 and 92, against relative outward, or uncollapsing movement. This may be effected in any desired way, as by means of spring catches (not shown) provided upon one of the

members

2 and 4 or 90 and 92 and engaging against the other member. In practice, however, the same rings I0 or members 96 may be relied upon, if they are permitted to swing freely about their pivoting portions I3 and 98, in a direction of pivotal movement downward, or to the other side of the dead-center position from that illustrated. When a tube 4 or bar 92 starts to fall or otherwise move downward, therefore, it will cause the corresponding ring I6 to pivot downward or the member 96 to pivot upward about the respective pivoting portions I3 or 98, causing a binding action similar to that before described, but in the opposite direction.

As is also described in the said Letters Patent, the canvas-supporting members are adjustable on their respective tubes 2 or bars 90, and are automatically retained in their adjusted position. These canvas supports may be constituted of upwardly extending, canvas-supporting hooks |12, pivoted at one end, about a pintle |14 to the free end of one leg of a removable, U-shaped or other suitably shaped guide |16, within which the correspondingly shaped, four-sided bars 90 are slidably received, so as to be capable of being pivotally received in a wedge-shaped slot |18 at the free end of the other leg. The hook member |12 thus extends forward, beyond the guide |16, as illustrated. W'hen the hook |12 is raised about its pivoting pintle |14, the guide will be held in place by an enlarged plate portion I 53 of the hook |12. A spring washer (not shown) may be provided to help press the hook |12 against the tripod bar 90.

A further form, suitable especially for a studio easel, is illustratedin Fig. 6. The canvas-supporting hook |40 is fixed to a bar |42 and has a square-shaped opening |43 in which the bar 9U is slidably received, and that is provided with an oblong, or square-shaped member |44 similar to the member 96, retained in similar fashion, and acting similarly to cause the parts to bind.

A hook 39, at the free end of a clamping rod or bar 32, engages the upper end of the canvas to clamp it against the supports |12. The other end of the bar 32 is shown extending through an opening |92 in a projecting portion |90 of a sheet-metal, oblong-shaped member |86, freely mounted on the rear leg of the tripod. The said other end of the bar 32 is preferably curved to provide a large range of angular clamping adjustments against the lupper end of the canvas. Because the canvas presses upward upon the bar 32, it is automatically retained frictionally in canvas-clamping position, by binding against opposite side walls oi the opening 92. A wide range of adjustment is permitted by this construction, so as to make it possible to clamp readily canvases i4 of different height, arranged at different angles, in diierent planes, merely by having the bar 32 assume diierent pivotal positions in the opening |92. The artist will approximately adjust the lower end of the member 32 to the size of the canvas I4, so that the upper end of the member 32 is positioned slightly below the upper end of the canvas. He will then give a slight springy, upward movement to the bar 32 and slip the upper end of the canvas under the hook 3i).

Alternatively, the hook 30 may be adjusted rst against the upper end of the canvas I4 and the canvas may then be tightened by moving the supports |72 upward.

When the clamping rod 32 is released, the guide |86 will tilt, so as to be held in place on the bar 98 by its own weight.

When the easel is not in use, or collapsed, the rod 32 may be slid through the opening |92, as is illustrated in Fig. 11, until its end 3U engages the walls thereof. The bar 32 will thus be freely suspended, as illustrated in the said Fig. 11, with the end 38 in the slot |92, so as to be held in place. When the guide |86 is slid to the top of the rear les, the easel being collapsed, it may be held in place against falling by its own weight, augmented by the weight of the bar 32, and frictional binding.

When the legs are fully opened out pivotally, as shown in Fig. l, a support for a painting box and palette or the like may be constituted of rigid bars i5 and 83, The bar 'I5 may be pivoted to one of the front legs at l1 and received in a member 8| xed to the other front leg at the same elevation as the pivot ll. 'Ihe opening between the member 8| and the bar 90 is wedge shaped, so as to permit the bar '|5 to enter at the upper end of the said wedge-shaped opening and to become bound in at the lower'end of the said wedge-shaped opening. A bar 83, pivoted at one end to the rear' leg at 85, also at the same elevation, adjustably carries at its other end a member 286 to which is pivoted at |78 a slide 8l in which the bar 'l5 is slidably received. The member 286 is V-shaped, and is of spring metal, being provided with alined openings 93 in the oppositely disposed arms of the V, through which openings 93 the bar 83 extends. The arms of the V bind against the bar 83 to hold it in place, but the binding may be released by pressing the said arms toward each 'other with the fingers.

When the tripod is collapsed, the rods 'F5 and 83 become nested in between the legs of the tripod, as illustrated in Fig. 11. When the tripod is opened, the bar 'l5 may fall by gravity and the bar 83 will slide downward with it. A reverse action takes place when the tripod is collapsed.

As explained in the said Letters Patent, the tripod legs may be pivoted together in any of a number of different ways. According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the upper ends of each of the two front tripod legs may be fixed in U-shaped, metal members, shown at |88 and |89, which are pivoted together by means of a pintle IJ. The upper end of the rear leg is pivoted about a pintle H6 in a U- shaped member that is likewise pivoted at HU.

Further modifications will occur to persons skilled in the .art and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tripod having, in combination, three legs, two pivoted, U-shaped members in each of which the upper end of one of the legs of the tripod is secured, and a third U-shaped member pivoted about the pivot of the two rst-named U-shaped members, the upper end of the third leg being pivoted in the third U-shaped member.

2. A tripod the three legs of which each com- .Y

prises two relatively slidable members, one of the members of each leg having openings disposed obliquely to the direction of extension of the said one member, and means in the openings for binding against the other member of each leg to prevent relative slidable movement of the members of each leg.

3. A tripod the three legs of which each comprises two relatively slidable members, and latching means connected with one of the members of each leg and actuated by the weight of the upper portion of the tripod to bind against the other member of each leg to prevent slidable movement of the members of each leg.

4. A tripod the three legs of which each comprises two relatively slidable members, a latch pivoted to one of the members of each leg so as to swing freely about its pivot and actuated by the Weight of the upper portion of the tripod to bind against the other member of each leg to prevent slidable movement of the members of each leg.

5. A palette support for use with a tripod, comprising a bar having one end pivoted to one of the legs of the tripod and the other end slidably engaging another leg of the tripod, a second bar having one end pivoted to the third leg of the tripod, means for connecting the other end of the second bar for longitudinal adjustment on the rst-named bar, and means for adjustably clamping the second-named bar to said connecting means.

JOSEPH TEPPER.