Patent Application
20140263922
The invention relates to artist's easels. More particularly, this invention relates to an artist's easel that can be easily mounted to either side of a door.
Economy artist's easels typically are composed of a three-legged wooden framework, of much the same format as the traditional blackboard easel, that “stand” on the floor via the framework's legs. Higher quality easels typically have a wooden frame with pinned segments that can be moved so that the frame will rest on the floor. For an easel to be stored, it must be folded up and moved off the floor space. Once it has been folded up, the easel is not stable and not in a state that it can be used in an effective manner.
All floor easels have one feature in common: they require floor space while being used, and sometimes while being stored. If a person does not have enough space to leave the easel set up while not being used, he/she must typically remove the artwork from the easel, fold the easel up, and put it away for storage, as well as find a safe place to store the art panel until ready to work on it again. Having to set-up and take-down the easel is inconvenient, especially in a small studio or work area where floor space is at a premium.
In view of the above, there has been a long standing need in the artist's community for a more “space-friendly” easel. Accordingly, details of a door-mountable artist's easel are elucidated below that obviates many of the above difficulties.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview, and is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present disclosure, wherein in one aspect of an embodiment, a door-mountable artist's easel is provided, comprising: an upper door mountable bracket with a door mounting portion and a fixture portion, the door mounting portion shaped to fit around a top edge of a door; a workpiece attachment fixture, comprising: a vertically arranged, substantially longitudinal support member with a door-side face, an artist-side face, a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion is attached to the fixture portion of the bracket; a plurality of workpiece securing members, bounding a top and lower portion of a workpiece, and slidably attached to the artist-side face of the workpiece attachment fixture, wherein at least one of the plurality of workpiece securing members is adjustable in height along the longitudinal support member; and at least one tightening fixture, fixing a position of at least one of the plurality of workpiece securing members that is adjustable in height; and an adjustable length bracket assembly, comprising: a lower door mountable bracket with a lower door mounting portion and an upper fixture portion, the lower door mounting portion being shaped to fit around a bottom edge of a door; and an adjustable length member attached at one end to the upper fixture portion and at an other to the lower door mounting portion.
In another aspect of an embodiment, a door-mountable artist's easel is provided, comprising: an upper door mountable bracket with a door mounting portion and a fixture portion, the door mounting portion shaped to fit around a top edge of a door; and a workpiece attachment fixture, comprising: a back frame, a top portion of the back frame being attached to the fixture portion of the bracket; a vertically arranged, substantially longitudinal workpiece support member with an artist-side face, attached to the back frame; a plurality of workpiece securing members, bounding a top and lower portion of a workpiece, and slidably attached to the artist-side face of the workpiece support member, wherein at least one of the plurality of workpiece securing members is adjustable in height along the workpiece support member; and at least one tightening fixture, fixing a position of at least one of the plurality of workpiece securing members that is adjustable in height.
In yet another aspect of an embodiment, a door-mountable artist's easel is provided, comprising: an upper door mountable bracket with a door mounting portion and a frame attachment portion, the door mounting portion shaped to fit around a top edge of a door; a back frame with a top portion and a bottom portion, a top portion of the back frame being attached to the frame attachment portion of the bracket; a front frame with a top portion and a bottom portion, a top portion of the front frame being pivotally attached to another top portion of the back frame; a rigidity guide pivotally attached to the back frame and pivotally attached to the front frame; a vertically arranged, substantially longitudinal workpiece support member with a door-side face and an artist-side face, the door-side face being attached to the front frame; a plurality of workpiece securing members, bounding a top and lower portion of a workpiece, and slidably attached to the artist-side face of the workpiece support member, wherein at least one of the plurality of workpiece securing members is adjustable in height along the workpiece support member; and at least one tightening fixture, fixing a position of at least one of the plurality of workpiece securing members that is adjustable in height.
As described in the following FIGS., various embodiments of an artist's easel are shown comprising a framework adapted to receive and hold an artist's canvas, art panel, clipboard, or some other item that would normally be affixed to an easel; and is structured so as to allow a mounting bracket(s) to be attached to the frame so the entire device may be hung on a door in a room, for example, in a home, workplace, or school environment.
Because the easel can be mounted to a door, no floor space is needed to store it. In some embodiments, the easel has the capability to be used while in a mounted state. Therefore, the user may simply “store” the easel upon a door or use it while mounted to the door. In some scenarios, the user may move the easel from one door to another door having more desirable lighting or utility. Accordingly, individuals, who are very space limited such as in a small apartment or dormitory room, will be able to have an easel to work on without giving up any needed floor space.
The art piece being worked on can be left mounted to the easel for drying or viewing, and the door can still be opened and closed normally with the easel mounted to it.
While providing space saving, the easel's stability is actually enhanced by being mounted to a door, understanding that a door is firmly fixed to the walls of a room via its hinges. Therefore, the easel, and thus the mounted artwork, cannot be “accidentally” tipped over as is often experienced in conventional easels, thus preventing damage to the art as well as the easel.
Additionally, in some embodiments, the user can set the working angle of the artwork from a vertical (e.g., folded) up position to a desired viewing/working angle, for example, up to 15 degrees off vertical. This ability to adjust the angle makes the easel desirable for artists of all kinds, from pastel users to acrylics and oil users. Further, in embodiments with adjustable positioning, the art being worked on can be positioned so that the user can be seated or standing.
Referring to
By use of “skeletal” rear and front frames 10, 15 a significant weight savings can be achieved versus using a solid frame. However, in some embodiments, use of different materials or lighter/stronger materials may obviate the need for a skeletal framing approach and therefore, while the FIGS. illustrate a frame-like “structure,” other structures, whether frame-like or not may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, rear frame 10 may be a solid structure, as well as front frame 15, thus obviating the need or utility of supporting members 32, 34. Also, if supporting members(s) 32, 34 are used, they may be diagonally positioned or arched or of any configuration or shape that provides support to vertical members 28, 29.
Continuing, bracket(s) 20 is bolted or fastened in a secure manner to rear frame 10 and is joined to front frame 15, typically by a pivot enabling bolt/pin (not shown). Bracket(s) 20 may use a hinge or any other similarly functioning mechanism to secure back frame 10 to front frame 15. Pin/hinge provides the ability for the top portion of front frame 15 to pivot, allowing the bottom portion of front frame 15 to swing “outward” away from a door or back.
Side link(s) 25 are attached to the bottoms of back frame 10 and front frame 15 to provide support and stability for front frame 15, when in an extended position. One end of side link(s) 25 is “pinned” by a rotatable bolt or link (not shown) to vertical member(s) 29 of front frame 15 and the other end of side link(s) 25 is connected to vertical member(s) 28 of frame 10 by a bolt/pin (not shown) that may go through a slot 27 in vertical member(s) 28. The travel of side link(s) 25 determines how far front frame 15 is able to be extended out from back frame 10. Therefore, depending on the length of side link(s) 25 (and length of groove 27), various degrees of extension of front frame 15 from back frame 10 can be realized.
It is readily apparent that one of ordinary skill may make changes or modifications to the side link(s) 25 and groove 27 arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, groove 27 may be disposed on the front member 29 of front frame 10, reversing the arrangement seen. Moreover, while a pin/slot mechanism is used to control movement of side link(s) 25, other forms of front frame 15 extension control may be used. For example, a arm that “locks” when extended may be used instead of side link(s) 25, or a springing mechanism. Accordingly, it is expressly understood that various modifications that are within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art are within the scope of this disclosure.
To provide the ability to fix an angle of extension, knob(s) 26, or equivalent for tightening, are disposed on one or more of the bolts/pins that go through side link(s) 25 so that a position of the easel 5 can be locked, providing stability and stiffness to the font frame 15 when extended.
The bracket(s) 30 that is attached to the top of rear frame 10 is shaped so that it can be placed over the top edge of a door (not shown). The size of bracket(s) 30 can be fixed or adjustable, depending on design preference, to enable bracket(s) 30 to “hang” onto the top of a door. It is understood that in a commercial embodiment, bracket(s) 30 may be sized to accommodate the great majority of standard door widths. If smaller door thicknesses are present, small shims can be inserted between the door and the bracket(s) 30 to provide a good fit. If the door thickness is too great, then bracket(s) 30 can easily be made to meet the need. In some embodiments, bracket(s) 30 may be detachable from front frame 15 and back frame 10, allowing a user to replace bracket(s) 30 with another bracket(s) that is sized for the thickness of the door of interest.
In other embodiments, bracket(s) 30 may be attached to supporting member 32 of back frame 10, understanding that in the embodiments shown, for example, in
Easel 5 in a closed or retracted state (an angle of nearly zero degrees between the rear frame 10 and the front frame 15) in
In addition to side member(s) 29, front frame 15 will have adjustable height bottom artwork fixture 35 and top artwork fixture 40, which slide via rear locking bolts/pins (not shown) traveling in slotted hole 53 in vertical fixture base 50. Vertical fixture base 50 is attached to supporting member(s) 32. Bottom and top artwork fixtures 35,40 are secured or tightened to vertical fixture base 50 via tightening knob(s) 45 connected to rear locking bolts/pins.
In this arrangement, bottom artwork fixture 35 and top artwork fixture 40 can be adjusted to hold an artist's canvas or panel at a suitable working height. Each of bottom and top artwork fixtures 35, 40 are positioned by loosening knob(s) 45 to release the tension on the locking bolts/pins, moving the respective fixture to the desired height, and then tightening the knob(s) 45. Vertical fixture base 50 can be rigidly affixed to front frame 15 so that the weight of the artist's canvas or panel is sufficiently distributed to the easel 5. It should be understood that in some embodiments, bottom artwork fixture 35 may be stationary, the artwork being placed on stationary bottom artwork fixture 35 and top artwork fixture 40 being lowered to constrain the artwork from movement. Conversely, in some embodiments, it may be designed to where to artwork fixture 40 may be fixed and bottom artwork fixture 35 may be adjustable in height.
While the mechanism for securing an artist's canvas/panel is illustrated as being accomplished via sliding fixtures 35, 40 controlled by slotted hole 53, and tightened by knob(s) 45, other commonly used mechanisms for securing a canvas/panel or adjusting its height and/or location on front frame 15 are understood to be within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art and are incorporated herein. For example, a pulley system connecting bottom and top artwork fixtures 35, 40 may be used. Or springs pushing against bottom and top artwork fixtures 35, 40 to put pressure on an inserted canvas/panel. Therefore, while the FIGS. show one possible mechanism for securing a canvas/panel and adjusting it height, other mechanisms maybe utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
Front frame 15 can be positioned by the user to hold the artist's canvas/panel at a desired working height by appropriately moving bottom artwork fixture 35 and top artwork fixture 40. As stated above, each top and bottom fixture 35, 40 can be positioned by loosening knob(s) 45 to release the tension on the respective locking bolt, moving the respective fixture to the desired height, and then tightening knob(s) 45.
The entire easel 6 is hung from a door with bracket(s) 30. The bracket(s) 30, are coupled to the rear frame 10, and configured in a manner to allow placement over the top edge of a door. The width and weight of the rear frame 10 gives some stability to the overall assembly, however an optional stabilizing strap assembly 60 (as shown in
The reduction of materials for this configuration and the compactness offers potential cost benefits, as compared to the easels described above.
While the straps and releasable connectors attached to the straps are illustrated in the above FIGS. as being separate from the top mounting (or bottom mounting) brackets, it is expressly understood that in some embodiments, it may be of a preference to have the releasable connector directly attached to the bracket. That is, the strap may release or be tensioned via a direct coupling to the bracket rather than through an intermediary strap-to-connector-to-strap arrangement. Conversely, the releasable connector (and/or tensioning mechanism) can be directly attached to the supporting member. Thus, various modifications are within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art.
Similarly, while the above FIGS. illustrate a releasable strap (with connector) configuration, it is understood that other mechanisms for releasing and/or tensioning may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, a belt-like tensioning/connector may be utilized. Therefore, the connector arrangements shown above are simply illustrative and understood not to be limiting, as there are numerous other mechanical devices well known to one of ordinary skill in the art that may be substituted to provide a similar tensioning and/or connector-like effect.
Further, while the embodiments of
Fixtures and add-ons can be easily added to various embodiments of the easels. Non-limiting examples being lighting, a flat table surface, storage boxes, clipboard holder, electrical outlets, etc. The versatility and utility of the easel(s) will make it desirable by amateur and professional artists, as well as the parents, who want a quality working area for their children that is easy to set-up, maintain and clean up, and that requires no additional free floor space.
It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
