US3117816A

US3117816A - Art students collapsible work bench

Info

Publication number: US3117816A
Application number: US302206A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sena Joseph De
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-08-14
Filing date: 1963-08-14
Publication date: 1964-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-14

Description

Jan. 14, 1964 J, DE SENA 3,117,816

ART STUDENT'S COLLAPSIBLE WORK BENCH Filed Aug. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 54 `lmm`7 35 32a 31 l`fn '8 l ,f1/ed 2s 21 2o 25 325s 1 3s im J 22 'm A m1 mul 1' .111111 dllil E 17 M5 '2 2| INVENTOR. 1s T? E, JOSEPH DE SENA Wwf Jan. 14, 1964 ART STUDENT'S COLLAPSIBLE WORK BENCH Filed Aug. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSEPH DE SENA J. DE SENA 3,117,816 l nur United States Patent O 3,117,816 ART STUDENTS COLLAPSlBLE WRK BENCH oseph De Sena, 36-27' lZth St., Long island City, Filed Aug. 14, llll. Ser. No. 3512,296

19 ClInns. (El. 297-156) This invention concerns a collapsible bench and easel for use by artists and art students.

According to the invention there is provided a bench and easel made of a plurality of hinged panels which can be quickly set up for use and folded for convenient transportation and storage. The panels may be niade of metal, plastic wood, tempered hardboard or other suitable rigid material. The easel is arranged on the bench in such a manner that it can be extended or retracted and its angular position on the bench can be changed. The bench has live hinged panels providing a seat and elevated end or back rest. The easel includes two large panels and a plurality of narrow connecting panels for adjusting the easel in various positions. if desired, the easel can be removed and the bench can be used alone.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a collapsible bench and easel including hinged panels which can be folded to occupy a small space.

lt is another object to provide a collapsible bench and easel as described, wherein the easel can be adjusted to various lengths and angular positions on the bench.

A further object is to provide a bench having a back or end rest forrned from live hinged panels with braces to hold the panels in fixed positions with respect to each other.

`For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

ln the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

PIG. l is a perspective view of a bench and easel in set-up position.

PEG. 2 is a side View on an enlarged scale of the bench and easel in partially collapsed or folded position.

FlG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of parts of a brace assernbly.

FlG. 4 is a side elevational view of the bench and easel in a set-up position, showing the easel in a different position from that of ETG. l.

FlG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to a portion of FlG. 4, showing the easel in still another position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an artists bench and easel assembly lil including two rectangular end panels l2, le which serve as vertical supports or legs for the assembly. The upper end l2. of panel l2 is secured by a hinge or hinges lo to a rectangular panel l. The hinges le are spaced slightly from the forward end E of panel l so that the upper end of panel r2 will underiay and support panel i3 at end E when the assembly is set up. Hinges i6 may be of conventional type with leaves l5 having intertting eyes joined by a pin l?. The hinges are located at the underside of panel 18 and the inner or rear side of panel l2.

lf desired, a single, piano-type hinge may be employed instead of two hinges 16. Two hinges 2i? are provided at opposite sides of the assembly lil. Opposite ends of the hinges 20 are secured to lateral edges of panels 12 and l. Each hinge has a lower arm 2l provided with a finger 22 to overlay upper arm 23 of the hinge so that the hinges when extended serve as reinforcing corner braces for mutually perpendicular panels l2, 1S at the front end of the assembly lil; see FlG. l.

Fanel i8 serves as the front part of a horizontal seat llllh Patentes aan. raises ICC of the bench portion of the assembly l0. Another rectangular panel 24 serves as a rear part of the horizontal seat. Panel 24 is connected to panel l by leaf hinges 25 located at upper sides of the panels on the rear end of panel l and front end of panel 24, which ends are abutted to each other when the seat is set up.

ln order to reinforce the joints provided by hinges 25, two brace assemblies 3? are provided at opposite sides of the seat. Each brace assembly includes a first brace plate 32 as shown best in FIG. 3. This plate has a channel-shaped central portion 33 which is provided with holes 34 to receive screws 3l for attaching the plate to one lateral edge of paneL l near its rear end. The plate has two coplanar spaced flanges 36 which extend upwardly and downwardly respectively from the outer edges of central portion 33. Another or second brace plate 32a similar to plate 32. with similar channel-shaped central portion 33' and spaced flanges 3o is secured to one lateral edge of panel 24 near its front end. A slidable channel bar or plate 35 with two inwardly turned flanges 3S is movably engaged on plates 32, 32a. Flanges 38 engage behind or inside of franges 36 above and below the channel-shaped central portions. The bar 35 bridges the joint at the abutted ends of panels f8, 24 and reinforces the joint. Thus a person can sit astride the seat facing the rear end thereof and the panels l and 24 will remain in coplanar horizontal position.

The upper end of Vertical support rear panel i4 is connected by leaf hinges lil to the rear end of horizontal seat panel 24. The hinges are located underneath panel 24 at the front side of panel 14; see FlGS. 2, 4 and 5. This arrangement permits panel leito fold against the underside of horizontal panel 24.. Two hinges l2 serve as rear corner braces for the seat. Opposite ends of arms -S, 44 of the hinges d2 are pivotally attached to lateral edges of panels i4 and 24. Lower arms i3 have fingers l5 which engage on upper edges of arms i4 to prevent downward collapsing of the hinges as viewed in FlG. l.

Vertical panel lo is provided as a back or end rest. This rectangular panel is joined to vertical support panel 14 by leaf hinges 4S at the rear sides of the panels. The upper end of panel ld and lower end of panel 46 are abutted when the bench is set up as shown in FlG. l. ln order to hold the panels llland 45 in a vertical coplanar arrangement and to supplement and reinforce the joint at hinges Alg, there are provided two brace assemblies Sil which are similar to assembly 3? shown in Fl. 3. Each of brace assemblies 3% includes a brace plate 32 similar to plate 32. Trlate 32. is attached to one lateral edge of panel 14 near its upper end. Another plate 32 like plate 32 is attached to a lateral edge of panel 46 near its lower end. Slidable channel-shaped brace bar 35 engages on the flanges 36 of the plates 32', 32 and bridges the joint of the abutted edges of the panels l, 46. This holds the panel 46 erect and coplanar with lower support panel ll.

The assembly l@ is provided with an easel 5@ which can be collapsed as shown in FlG. 2 or set up and used in any one of a number of different positions shown in FIGS. l, 4 and 5, respectively. The easel includes a first narrow panel 52 which is secured by leaf hinge 54 to the rear end of panel Z4 at its upper side. Hinge 54 has a narrow leaf 55 secured to panel 24 and a wide leaf 56 secured to one end of panel 52. Panel 52 is secured by a leaf hinge 58 to a second narrow panel dll. lanel of? is secured by a leaf hinge o?. to a third narrow panel 6e. Panel d4 is secured by a leaf hinge 65 to one end of a long rectangular panel 66. A narrow panel 63 is secured by leaf hinge 7il to the other end of panel 66. A long rectangular panel 72 is secured by leaf spring 74 to narrow panel 68.

PIG. l shows one arrangement of the easel Sil, in which panels 52 and dll are horizontal and supported on the top of panel 24. Panel 65e is coplanar with panel 66 and disposed at an angle or obliquely to the horizontal panel 24 to serve as an inclined support for an artists painting or drawing work. Panel 63 overlays the top of the panel 46 and panel 72 hangs down at the back of panel 45.

In FlG. 4, only the first narrow panel 52 rests horizontally on panel 24. Both narrow panels 69 and 64 are coplanar with long panel 66 which extends beyond the upper end of panel 46. Both panels 68 and '72 hang down at the bank of panel 45.

Panels

66 and 64 provide a longer support for an artists work. The two panels of), 64 provide a more upright or less inclined surface than the panel 64 alone arranged as shown in FlG. l.

In FlG. 5, all three narrow panels 52, o and 64 are supported on horizontal panel 24. Panel d6 is coplanar with panels 6d and 72 and provide a very long, inclined surface for a large painting upon which an artist sitting astride of the bench, may be working. The angle of aligned panels e6, 68 and '72 is more inclined or less upright than the arrangement of easel panels in FGS. 1 and 4. lt will be noted that the facing edges of

panels

66, 68 and 72 are in abutment and that panel 72 is supported on the upper end of panel de.

FlG. 2 shows the simple manner in which the entire assembly can be collapsed to a very compact size.

Panels

12 and 18 fold together.

Panels

18 and 24 fold together. Panel le folds over panel 24... Panel 46 folds over panel 14.

The wide leaf 56 of hinge 54 supports narrow panel 52 in a vertical or end position, while

panels

66, 64 and 66 will extend over panel 46.

Panels

68 and 72 will fold under panel 66 and will be disposed over panel 46.

To effect the collapsing of the assembly, brace bars 35 will be moved along brace plates 32a to clear plates 32 and brace bars 35 will be moved along brace plates 32" to clear plates 32. Hinges will be closed toward the joined ends of panels l2, 18 and panels la, 24.

It is apparent that the easel can be removed from the bench by detaching hinge 54 from panel 24, so that the bench can be used alone. Also the easel can be used alone, separate from the bench.

The bench and easel assembly are easily put together with simple tools. lt can be very economically manufactured by relatively unskilled labor. It fulfills a long felt need in that an artist can set up a bench and easel quickly in any place he wishes to work. The bench and easel col- Ybe made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and second panels hinged together at adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, a third panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel to define a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one end thereof to the other end of the second panel to define another vertical support for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means for reinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the third panel to the rst panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; a fifth panel hinged at one end to the one end of the fourth panel to define a vertical end rest at the other end of the second panel, and other brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panels bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold the same in coplanar alignment.

2. A Vcollapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising Y first and second panels hin 'ed together at adjacent ends to defineV a horizontal seat, a third panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel to define a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one end thereof to the other end of the second panel to define another vertical support for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means for reinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the third panel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; a fifth panel hinged at one end to the one end of the fourth panel to define a Vertical end rest at the other end of the second panel, and other brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panels bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold the same in coplanar alignment, the brace means at the joint of the first and second panels and at the joint of the fourth and fifth panels including pairs of stationary brace plates Secured to lateral edges of the first, second, fourth and fifth panels, said brace plates having outwardly extended flanges, and a plurality of channel bars each slidably engaged on flanges of a pair of said brace plates when the bench is set up.

3. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and second panels hinged together at adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, a third panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel to define a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one end thereof to the other end of the second panel to define another vertical support for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means for reinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the third panel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; fifth panel hinged at one end to the one end of the fourth panel to define a vertical end rest at the other end of the second panel, and other brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panels bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold the same in coplanar alignment, the brace means at the joint of the first and third panels and the joint of the second and fourth panels including pairs of hinges having pivotable arms extending in alignment diagonally between the horizontal first panel and Vertical third panel, and between the horizontal second panel and vertical third panel, the brace means at the joint of the first and second panels and at the joint of the fourth and fifth panels including pairs of stationary brace plates secured to lateral edges of the first, second, fourth and fifthY panels, said brace plates having outwardly extended flanges, and a plurality of channel bars each slidably engaged on flanges of a pair of said brace plates when the bench is set up.

4. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising a bench including five panels hinged to ether at ends thereof to define a horizontal seat, two vertical endV surports and a vertical end rest extending upwardly from the seat; and an easel comprising a first narrow panel barge to one of the five panels at one end of said seat, a second narrow panel hinged to the first narrow panel, a third narrow panel hinged to the second narrow panel, and a lonty panel hinged to the third narrow panel, whereby said long panel and the narrow panels can be arranged on said seat and against said end rest to provide an inclined support of variable length rfor an artists work.V

5. A collapsible lbench and easel assembly, comprising a bench including ve panels hinged together at ends thereof to define a horizontal seat, two vertical end supports and a vertical end rest extending upwardly from the seat; and an ease-l comprising a first narrow panel hinged to one of the lfive panels at one end of said seat, a Vsecond narrow panel hinged to the first narrow panel, a third narrow panel hinged to the second narrow panel, a first long panel hinged to the third narrow panel, a fourth narrow panel hinged to thelong panel, and a second long panel hinged to the fourth narrow panel, whereby the long panels and the narrow panels can be arranged on said seat and against said end rest to provide an inclined support of variable length for an artists work, and whereby the panels of the bench and easel can be 5. folded compactly with the several panels supenimposed upon each other.

6. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and second panels hinged together at adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, a third panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel to define a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one end thereof to the other end of the second panel to define another vertical support for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means for reinfoncing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the third panel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; a fifth panel hinged yat one end to the one end of the fourth panel to define a vertical end rest at t e other end :of the second panel, and other brace means at lateral edges of the fourth land fifth panels bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold the same in coplanar alignment, and an easel comprising a first narrow panel hinged to the `second panel at the other end thereof, `a second narrow panel hinged to the firs-t narrow panel, a third nar-now panel hinged to the second narrow panel, and a long panel hinged to the third narrow panel, whereby said long panel and said narrow panels can be arranged on said seat and against said end rest to provide an inclined support of variable length for an -artists work, and whereby the panels of the bench and easel can be folded compactly with the several panels superimposed upon eachother.

7. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and second panels hin-ged together at adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, a third panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel to define a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one end thereof to the other end of the second panel to define another vertical support for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means for reinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the third panel to the first panel, and lthe fourth panel to the second panel; a fifth panel hin-ged at one end to the one end of the fourth panel to define ia vertical end rest at the other end of the second panel, and other brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panels bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold the same in coplanar alignment, the brace means at the joint of the first and second panels and at the joint of the fourth and fifth panels including pairs Iof stationary brace plates secured to lateral edges of the first, second, fourth and fifth panels, said brace plates having outwardly extended flanges, and a plurality of channel bars each slidably engaged on flanges of a pair of said brace plates when the bench is set up, and an easel comprising a first narrow panel hinged to the second panel at the other end thereof, -a second narrow panel hinged to the first narrow panel, `a third narrow panel hinged to the second narrow panel, and `a long panel hinged to the third narrow panel, whereby said long panel and said narrow panels can be arranged on said seat and against said end rest to provide an inclined support of variable length for an artists work.

8. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and second panels hinged together Iat adjacent ends to define a horizontal seat, a third panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel to define a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one end thereof to the `other end of the second panel to define another ventical support for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means for reinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the third panel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; a fifth panel hinged at one end to the one end o-f lthe fourth panel to define a vertical end rest at thel other end of the second panel, and other brace means `at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panels bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold the same in coplanar ali-'gnment, the brace means at the joint of the first and third panels and the joint of the second and fourth panels including pairs of hinges having pivotable `arms extending in alignment diagonally between the horizontal first panel and vertical Ithird panel, and between the horizontal second panel and vertical third panel, the brace means at the joint lof the first and second panels and at the joint of the fourth and fifth panels including pairs of stationary brace plates secured to lateral edges of the first, second, fourth and fth panels, said brace plates having outwardly extended flanges, and a plurality of channel bars each slidably engaged on flanges of a pair of said brace plates when the bench is 4set up, and an easel comprising a finst narrow panel hinged to the second panel at the other end thereof, a second narrow panel hinged to the first narrow panel, a third narrow panel hinged to the second narrow panel, `and a long panel hinged to the third narrow panel, whereby said long panel and said narrow panels can be arranged o-n said seat and against said end rest to provide an inclined support of variable length for an artists work, and whereby the panels of the bench and easel can be folded compact-ly with the several panels superimposed upon each other.

9. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, comprising first and second panels hinged together .at adjacent ends to idefine a horizontal seat, a third panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel to define a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hinged at one end thereof to the other end fof the second panel to define another vertical support lfor the seat parallel :to the third panel, brace means for reinforcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the third panel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; a fifth panel hinged at `one end to the one end of the fourth panel to define a verticd end rest at the other end of the second panel, and other brace means at rlateral edges of the fourth and fifth pane-ls bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold the same in coplanar alignment, and 'an easel comprising a first narrow panel hinged to the `second panel at the other end thereof, a second nar-now panel hinged to the first narrow panel, a third lnarrow panel hinged to the second narrow panel, a first long panel hinged to the third narrow panel, a .fourth narrow panel hinged .to the first lon-g panel, and a second long panel hinged to the fourth narrow panel, whereby the long panels and the narrow panels can be arranged on said seat and against said end rest to provide Ian inclined support of variable length for an artists work, and whereby the panels of :the bench and easel can be folded compactly with the several panels superimposed upon each other.

l0. A collapsible bench and easel assembly, compirsing first and second panels hinged together at adjacent ends to define -a horizontal seat, a third panel hinged at one end to the other end of the first panel to define a vertical support for the seat, a fourth panel hing-ed at one end thereof to the other end :of the second panel to define another vertical support for the seat parallel to the third panel, brace means for rein-forcing joints of the first panel to the second panel, the third panel to the first panel, and the fourth panel to the second panel; a fifth panel hinged at one end to the one end of the fourth panel to define -a vertical end rest at the other end of the second panel, and other brace means at lateral edges of the fourth and fifth panels bridging abutting joined ends of the fourth and fifth panels to hold the same in coplanar alignment, the brace means at the joint of the first and third panels and the joint of the second and fourth panels including pairs of hinges having pivotable arms extending in alignment diagonally between the horizontal first panel and vertical third panel, and between the horizontal second panel and vertical third panel, the brace means at the joint of the first and second pane-ls and at the joint of the fourth and fth panels including pairs of stationary brace plates secured to lateral edges of .the first, second, fourth and fifth panels, said brace plates having outwardly extended flnages, and a plurality of channels bars each slidably engaged on llarifes `of a pair of said brace pilates when the bench is se up, and an easel comprising a firs narrow panel hingel to the sec- Gnd panel at the other end thereof, a second narrow panel hinged to the lirsL narrow panel, a third naiiow panel hinged to y*the second narrow panel, a first long panel hinged to the third narrow panel, a fourth nairow panel hinged to the fst long panel, and a second long panel hinged to the lfourth narrow pane-l, whereby the 10 long panels and vthe `Berrow panels can be arranged `on said sea and against said end rest 1o provide an inclined support of Variable length for an ,artists work, and Wherehy the panels of the bench and easel can be folded con paetly with the several panels superimposed upon each other.

References Cied in he le of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS 88,256 Bacon Mar. 23, 1869 978,390 ivorrison Dec. 13, 1910 2,502,502 Bennett Apr. 4, 1950 2,655,417 Zalkind Oct. 13, 1953 2,913,107 Cote Dec. 22, 1959 FGREIGN PATENTS 595,463 France vMay 7, 1920

Claims

1. A COLLAPSIBLE BENCH AND EASEL ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND PANELS HINGED TOGETHER AT ADJACENT ENDS TO DEFINE A HORIZONTAL SEAT, A THIRD PANEL HINGED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF THE FIRST PANEL TO DEFINE A VERTICAL SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT, A FOURTH PANEL HINGED AT ONE END THEREOF TO THE OTHER END OF THE SECOND PANEL TO DEFINE ANOTHER VERTICAL SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT PARALLEL TO THE THIRD PANEL, BRACE MEANS FOR REINFORCING JOINTS OF THE FIRST PANEL TO THE SECOND PANEL, THE THIRD PANEL TO THE FIRST PANEL, AND THE FOURTH PANEL TO THE SECOND PANEL; A FIFTH PANEL HINGED AT ONE END TO THE ONE END OF THE FOURTH PANEL TO DEFINE A VERTICAL END REST AT THE OTHER END OF THE SECOND PANEL, AND OTHER BRACE MEANS AT LATERAL EDGES OF THE FOURTH AND FIFTH PANELS BRIDGING ABUTTING JOINED ENDS OF THE FOURTH AND FIFTH PANELS TO HOLD THE SAME IN COPLANAR ALIGNMENT.