US2476244A - Tree easel - Google Patents

Description

July 12, 1949. H. 1.. JOHNSON TREE EASEL Filed April 25, 1947' INVENTOR.

' fihmzd Z Tfo W o Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TREE EASEL Harold L. Johnson, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 25, 1947, Serial No. 743,877

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an easel for artists, engineers, field personnel, or for any other individuals including picnickers who find need for a device which is capable of attachment to a tree, post, or other similar protuberance for the purpose of supporting a sketching board or other suitable table means particularly in places where the terrain is such as to make the support of any other type of easel impractical and entirely out of the question.

It is therefore, one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a simple and practical easel which is capable of being attached to a tree, post, or other convenient upright and which easel can support a sketching board or suitable table means in a horizontal relation with respect to the ground or at various selected angular positions with respect to the ground depending upon the purpose and conditions of use of such a. board or table means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an easel of this type which for all intents and purposes may be referred to as a tree easel which is designed of two main interchangeable assemblies which together function to engage opposite sides of a tree or the like and wherein the parts are instantly capable of disassembly after use to be compactly arranged into a relatively small diameter bundle, or into a bundle of small girth but having an overall length which is no greater than the lengths of the longest pieces that form the parts of this tree easel.

This easel is arranged for including at least one or more braces which terminate in prongs that are adapted for sturdy and penetrating contact with the tree or other object to which the ease] is attached.

This easel further provides means forming protect-ive elements which act to shield the pointed ends of the braces when disposed in carrying position. As a further object, these shielding members also provide positioning members for the purpose of holding the sketching board or other supported table means in place upon the main supporting bars or rods provided for this purpose.

There are other details of construction and advantageous features inherent in the tree easel of this invention. All such other details together with further objects and advantages relating to the device of the present invention shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

' "Fig. 1 is the general perspective view of the tree easel as the same would appear in use and attached in operative position to a. tree supporting a suitable sketching board;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the arrangement to better portray certain details of construction and to show a true relationship of the various elements of the easel when attached in one position to a, tree;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the unitary assemblies of the bracing and supporting members of the tree easel with the prong brace disposed adjacent the supporting rod and portably arranged;

Fig. 4 is a small diagrammatic view of the parts of the tree easel shown in clustered position which would represent the carrying position of the easel;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a board structure composed of a plurality of slats tied together with flexible fastenings or bindings to permit such board to be rolled to further portray a collapsible arrangement together with the easel structure proper wherein the entire unit can be rolled into the board and secured or otherwise placed into a bag provided for carrying such an easel and its associated support or board; and

Fig. 6 shows a modified brace provided with a hook to engage'the tree to form a suspension arrangement to stabilize the easel parts.

The general construction of the easel as best depicted in the Fig. 1 illustration comprises a pair of clamp rods l and 2 each carrying adjustable and slidable clips 3-4 and 5-6 respectively. These clamp bars or rods 1 and 2 are adapted for engaging opposite side portions of the tree which is diagrammatically illustrated at I, and such rods can be brought into tight and frictional engagement with respect to the tree I by means of the cross ties 8 and 9 when adjustably tensioned between the rods. I

Such cross ties 8 and 9 may be made of cords, woven materials, flexible wires, or preferably suitable link chains, such ties as chains being illustrated in the drawings and generally indicated by the reference numerals 8 and 9. For the sake of uniformity, each of the rods l and 2 carry a fixed pin, screw, or other attachment at one end to secure the chain to such rod, and each rod carries a hook or pin for releasably holding the chain which would come from the other'rod of the set.

As seen in Fig. 1,-the chain 8 is secured by means of a nail or screw In to the near end of the rod 2 while the rod l carries a pin or hook detent ll over which-one of the links of the chain 8 may be passed to properly tension the forward and free ends of the rods I and 2. The arrangement at the other end of the rods is identical excepting that in the construction shown, rod I carries a fixed nail or screw I2 securing the chain 9 to such rod while the other end of .the rod 2 carries a pin or hook I3 over which one of the links of the chain 9 may be passed to obtain the proper spacing and tensioning of these ends of the rods I and-2 in attaching such rods to the opposite sides of the tree.

It is to be understood that the exact angle or the common plane passing through both of the rods I and 2 with respect to the perpendicular axis of the tree can be adjusted by the individual when attaching such rods to the tree by means of the cross ties 8 and 9. The rods I and 2 may be disposed in a plane at right angles to the axis of the tree and substantially parallel to the normal horizontal surface of the ground, or else such rods may be tiite'd into a common plane having angular, disposition with respect to the axis of the tree and also with respect to the nor m'al horizontal surface of the ground. If the rods I and 2 are made of a reasonably sprin-gy hard wood such asdowel rods, it may be preferable to increase the tension of these units so that the, rods will partially bow inwardly from each of the sides of the tree engaged by such rods. By referring to Fig. 2, it should be noted that the particular angles with which the rods I and "2 engage the side portions of the tree 1 may be varied to suit the individual and also to suit the particular occasion or condition of use.

The Fig. 2 arrangement is very much the same as the Fig. 1 position of the easel and it is shown that here the rear cross tie 9 is relatively short placing the ends of the rods I, and 2 fairlyclose together "at this location. The forward and outwardly projecting ends :of the'rods are considerably spread apart througli thisparticular selection of attachment so that the cross tie 8 forms a much greater span and also acts to further introduce the necessary tautness between the outer free ends'of the rods-I and-2 to firmly cause such rods. to frictionally clamp the sides 'of the tree "I. If the rods I and? are made 'of relatively stiff tubing such as aluminum or fairly light steel, such parts would apparently remain fairly rigid and substantially straight as shown in the full lines in Fig. 2. However, if other materials are used for the rods I and 2. such as hard wood dowels, it is possible that the forward or longer endportions thereof may bow inwardly into the positions illustrated by the jdotted lines in Fig. 2 to "obtain a somewhat different frictional contact engagement with the tree which is equally efiective as in the other less flexible constructions regardless of theparticularselect'ron of materials used for the rods I and.2.

In order to stabilize the particular positions of the rods I and'2, each of these rods I and "2 swingably carries a brace F4 and 'I 5,'an'd"each of the "braces terminate in-prong "points It and !'l respectively. Such points "are usedfor the purpose of engaging and penetrating surface portions of the supporting member such as the tree Ito form a s'tabilizingsupport'or brace For each of the rods *Ian'd 2"toiiir the positions of such rods at points remote from the tree andobvicusly outwardly therefrom.

It should be understood that the rods '1 and 2, as drawn together by the cross ties =8 and 9, no form fulcrum clamp means to prevent ver ticabor general up anddown displacement of the rods at their points of contact with the tree I. The stabilizing means however will support such rods at points remote from the tree to prevent rocking movement of such rods at their points of frictional contact with the tree and such means will also counteract girth movement of such rods.

Each of the prong braces I4 and I5 are pivotally carried at I8 and I9 respectively on suitable ears which form integral or otherwise secured parts of the sleeves 20 and 2| which are slideably supported upon their rods I and 2 respectively. The sleeves 20 and 2| can also rotate upon the rods as well as move lengthwise thereof and may be adjusted to such tightness as to normally remain in certain adjusted positions as selected by the user of the easel in setting up this unit. However, it may be preferable to provide each of these sleeves with the suitable set screw or other self operated detent. Manually operable screws 22 and 23 are illustrated to better insure a fixed relationship during the setup and use of this tree easel. The object of the connection of the braces with the rods is to provide swingable stabilizing means easily adjusted to engage the tre and to fixedly support the rods at points remote from the tree. A radially inwardly sprung split sleeve could also be used in place of sleeves 20 and '2I to eliminatethe use of independent securing means.

Such set screws or other detent means are best located radially with respect to the normal setup of this brace and rod combination and in positions wherein these screws will not extend in the direction 0f the supporting planes of the rods 1 and 2 so as to not interfere with the proper sup- .port of a suitable sketch board such as indicated at :24 which is placed to rest upon the rods I and '2. Such-a board 24 is confined between the adjusted positions of the clips 3, 4, 5 and 6 which will normally hold the board in position. Although the clips 3 to 6 inclusive are shown with their two free ends extending upwardly, it is also possible to revolve such clips over into horizontal positions wherein thesame will be disposed substantially flush with the top surface of the board .24. Such clips may also be revolved degrees to present the rounded and curved per-- tions thereof in the upward direction and in a position to make the same more convenient to the user with respect to clearance and comfort purposes.

It should be noticed that each of the clips is provided with two aligned openings 25 and 26 formed in the upstanding spring legs 21 and 2-8, and also that the inwardly positioned leg is provided with .a turther opening 29 which is used for the purpose of receiving the prong point H5 .of the brace It when the same is put ill'fOldEd and collapsed position as shown in Fig. 3. Here the same is illustrated as being folded through the proper rotation and manipulation of the :sleeve20 so that the brace has its prong I6 posittiohedthrough the hole 29 of 'leg 28 in the clip d-to'be shielded by the solid upstanding leg 21 of such :clip. When the respective parts are so positioned the clip 3 then can be moved against the sleeve 20 in the direction of the arrow a. -in Fig. '3 to prevent normal withdrawal of the prong 'I B from the adjacent protecting clip as will be obvious from the drawings. Tightening of the screw .22 of sleeve 2owould have the same locking effect to hold the parts in transportable relation.

The other half of the easel assembly can be folded and positioned in a similar "manneraand the entire two assembliesv :canbe placed. sideziby side as illustrated in Fig. 4. to be tied together by the use of the chains of the cross ties 8 and 9 by wrapping the latter around such cluster assembly of the parts of the easel.

Instead of using a solid board such as 24, it is also contemplated to use a multiple slat board such as 30 comprising a plurality of slats 3i suitably tied together by flexible stitching or other flexible tie means 32, 33 and 34 which will permit this board to be rolled into a cylindrical form placed about the cluster illustrated in Fig. 4. When such a board 30 is to be used the same can be unrolled and placed across the rods l and 2 when the latter are secured to the tree or other support with the slats 3| extending substantially in the same direction as the lengthwise dimension of the board 2 3 with each slat supported upon both of the rods i and 2.

Although the braces l4 and I5 have been shown as extending downwardly from the rods I and 2 and having prong ends for penetrating the tree surface to provide necessary stabilization members, it is also possible to provide the same with hooks 35 such as shown in Fig. 6 to suspend the braces from an upper portion of the tree with the sleeves 20 and 2| supporting the rods l and 2 from this position. For all intents and purposes the relationship shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the braces are preferred and most feasible for most conditions of use. But where the braces do not interfere with the actual use intended they may be of the hook kind to suspend the table means by stabilizing the rods 1 and 2 in this fashion.

Another feature to which attention is directed is that the braces of each assembly as shown in Fig. 3 may be used to support either end of the rod 1 by shifting the sleeve 20 accordingly. Each clip 3 and 4 is the same with the exception that such clips are merely reversed upon rod I.

The clips 3 to 6 inclusive are all identical and of springy U-shaped construction where the spreading tendency of the legs 27 and 28 causes a binding grip of rod 1 or rod 2. Pinching the ends of the clip legs together will permit such clips to be adjusted along the lengths of the rods or allow the removal thereof from such rods if desired.

Changes in the exact form, shape of the parts, or in the combination of elements is contemplated, as well as the substitution of equivalent means for the various instrumentalities used in the design and construction of this particular tree easel. Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to the exact disclosure and description excepting insofar as shall be determined by the breadth and scope of the appended claims directed to the salient features thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A tree easel comprising cooperative clamp members for surface contact with the sides of a tree, tensioning means to urge said clamp members into frictional contact with the adjacent surfaces of said tree to prevent vertical displacement of said members, and stabilizing means connected with said members and adapted for contacting other points on the surface of said tree to prevent rocking of said clamp members at their frictional contact points on said tree and to counteract girth displacement of said members relative to said tree, said clamp members comprising spaced elongated supports to carry a general utility table top to one side of said tree, and adjustable clips carried by said clamp members to provide stops to hold said table top in usable position upon said supporting clamp members.

2. A tree easel comprising a pair of rods, connecting means for said rods, braces connected with said rods, said robs being adapted to straddle a tree and to project outwardly therefrom, said connecting means being arranged for connection between said rods at opposite sides of the tree to tension the rods for frictional contact against the sides of said tree, and said braces including slidable means mounted for movement along said rods to position the adjacent ends of said braces in selected positions along said rods, and said braces providing means to engage said tree to rigidly support and hold the outwardly projecting ends of said rods in fixed relation with respect to said tree and remote therefrom.

HAROLD L. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 882,850 Troell Mar. 24, 1908 1,098,945 Frederick June 2, 1914 1,206,574 Miller Nov. 28, 1916 1,237,428 Watrous Aug. 21, 1917

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