US2981231A - Portable, collapsible easel - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1961 M. E. HOWARD 2,981,231

PORTABLE, COLLAPSIBLE EASEL Filed Oct. l. 1957 INVENTOR. 68 MARY E.HOWARD A7' TOR NE Y United States Patent() 2,981,231 PORTABLE, COLLAPSIBLE EASEL Mary E. Howard, 823 Harmon Drive, Mamaroneck, N.Y. Filed Oct. 1, 1957, Ser. No. 687,514 2 Claims. (Cl. 120-33) This invention relates to an easel and in particular to an easel adapted to support copy for such uses as those which a copyist may require of it.

It is a fundamental observation that copy Work requires certain mechanical aids to relieve its tedious aspect and to improve its efliciency. Though there are many aids available for displaying copy to a copyist, they all have some deficiency', not the least of which is their awkwardness, rigidity andv costliness. Also, a copyist actually Working at a desk requires access to certain minor tools such as pencils and erasers, and in the interest of having these readily accessible, means for providing them immediately would also be desirable.

It is, accordingly, a fundamental object of this invention to provide an easel suitable for being propped in a spot most convenient to use, the easel being equipped to support at least a conventional page size of copy and, further, being equipped with an alignment device to select the line being copied, as Well as support means for pencils, erasers, clips, and rubber bands.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

The invention, accordingly, is embodied in a portable, collapsible easel characterized by its having a work board, clips for holding the copy, and vertical grooves or channels in combination with a straightedge or ruler for aligning the copy to bev reproduced, the easel being further equipped with a side panel for carrying pencils and other tools as well as being equipped with a rear support to permit propping it on a work table in a spot for convenient use.

Reference to the drawing illustrating further details will aid in understanding ings- Figure 1 is a general perspective view of an easel formed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the alignment device;

Figure 4 is a rear view of the device; and

Figure 5 is a detailed drawing showing alternative mechanism useful for the alignment device.

In Figure l, represents the general easel structure which is composed of a board 11 having a top edge 12 and a bottom edge 13. The board is preferably formed as a planar sheet large enough to take, for example, a sheet of legal cap and along both its longitudinal edges 14 and 15 it is bent to form sides 16 and 17, or to form channels which extend substantially the length of the board.

Side 17 is completed by being turned out to form face 18. Similarly, edge 14 is paralleled by side 16 which further terminates in face 19. Planar faces 18 and 19 are of restricted extent and narrower than the main board itself. Carried by the face 18 are the supports 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, which in this case are indicated to be of a shape to receive pencils and such odd items as erasers, paper clips or rubber bands.

The board 11 itself is provided at its upper edge 12 the invention. In the drawwith spring clips 30 and 31, which may be integral with the face 11 or may be separate spring clips separately manipulatable.

Figure 2 which is a section Vtaken along line 2-2 of Figure l, indicates the contour of the device and, by its contour, demonstrates how aptly it is designed for production in large numbers. That is, it can be formed of a single sheet extruded, injection molded, or stamped, and whether it be of plastic, sheet metal or such wood products as Masonite, and the like, the only consideration necessary is that which would be dictated by the properl ties of the material being fabricated into a shape of the kind shown.

To serve as reading guide, a member 40 having a straightedgeis provided and, inthe preferred form, 'it carries a centrally located spring bend 41 which serves as a finger grip. The ends are formed with short bends 42 and 43 to form bearing surfaces and are then terminated with lateral ends 44 and 45. This particular configuration is useful, because of its adaptability to fabrication. The board sides are grooved at 50 and 51, either by cutting or stamping out the said grooves or merely providing corresponding indentations. 'I'he straightedge at its ends 44 and 45 rides in the grooves 50 and 51.

Groove 50 is provided with an extra cutout 52 to simplify insertion of guide 40. The cutout is also formed at a level immediately below clips 30 and 31 to avoid interference between these parts of the structure.

An alternative structure is shown in detail in Figure 5. Therein a modified form of board `60 is shown having arcuate channels 61 and 62 formed longitudinally along its sides. The sides 63 and 64 of the board are raised to provide a bearing surface for the straightedge or reading guide alignmen Reading guide 65 carries a central spring 66 and vertical ends 67 and 68. 'Ihe vertical ends 67 and 68 in general are preferably formed to place the level of the alignment device 65 about 1/2 inch above the level of the board to permit moving it easily over a package of copy, for example, a stenographers notebook.

To permit quick adjustment of the alignment device and also to guide it in the vertical movement, the ends are formed with arcuate members '69 and 70 to fit the grooves 61 and 62. This fitting of an arcuate channel within a channel serves to guide the alignment device accurately as it need be moved up or down the board.

Lubrication may be provided in the channels 61 and 62 and friction areas on the vertical portions 67 and 68. In use the spring member 66 is compressed with finger pressure, thereby loosening the guide and permitting it to be moved to find a line to be copied.

Stops may be provided at the lower ends of the channels 61 and 62 to retain the straightedge within bounds when grooves are used.

The propping of the easel on a desk may be suitably accomplished by providing the back with a simple frame support consisting of friction loops 81 and 82 with the frame 83 substantially duplicating the outline of the board. The frame 83 at its ends is fitted within the loops 81 and 82 and may be provided with simple detent structure 84 and 85, by bending the ends of the frame 83 at an appropriate angle to limit the angle of separation between the frame and the board, all as shown in Figure 4. It is evident that with a metal or plastic easel, the loops 81 and 82 may be integral with the board.

The frame support may be made of wire and it is quite evident from the structure described that it can be bent slightly, within its degree of elasticity, and removed from the supports.

The easel may be formed of wood, sheet metal, plastic, plastic board, etc., or any sheet material which can con- Paamiad` Apr. 25, 19e/1festasi veniently be worked into the form illustrated. Molding plastics of the phenol-formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, or methacrylate ester types may be used throughout to form all parts of the device.

Though they invention has been described in termsV of .only a limited number of embodiments, it is to be. understood that variations thereof may be practiced without departing from'its spirit or scope.

What is claimed is: 1

1. An easel for supporting copy to be transcribed by a stenographer comprising a single planar sheet of material suitable for fabrication, Vsuch sheet being formed to have a generally rectangular configuration having parallel channels along two parallel sides, said sides defin-v ing a planar surface to face an operator, said channels being open with respect to said planar surface, means on said planar surface for supporting copy resting against the face thereof, and a line guide for finding and following a single horizontal line of copy when it is supported on said'planar surface, said parallel channels having lateral sides and said line guide being adapted to abut against the said lateral sides,rand spring means forming part of the said line guide for providing for frictional engagement of said straightedge line guide with sides of said channels to hold it in place.

2. A device in accordance with claim l in which the means for finding a line of horizontal copy comprises straightedge sections, and spring means in said straightedge urging its ends longitudinally away from center.

References Cited in the tile of this patent VUNITED STATES PATENTS Waggoner Sept. 18,

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