Supports – Easel; book – copy or music score holder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-11
2001-05-15
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Easel; book, copy or music score holder
C248S444100, C248S450000, C248S460000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231023
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention, in general relates to artist and presentation supplies and, more particularly, to easels.
Easels are well known devices used by artists to hold a canvas, or the like, during formation of the artwork. There are, however, a number of problems that previous types of easels may experience.
One problem relates to the portability of the easel and, in particular, the thickness of the easel when it is folded for transport and also its weight. Previous types of easels are often thicker and heavier than is desirable. Therefore it is desirable to construct an easel that is as thin and as light in weight as possible.
A second problem with known types of easels relates to the stability of the easel. If the easel is placed on a table having an especially smooth surface, there is the possibility with some previous types of easels, that the legs which support them may slip, possibly causing the artwork to fall. Therefore, a stable easel is required.
A similar need exists in the presentation arts in that a stable erasable board that is easy to transport is useful in creating effective presentations, and then by erasing the images on the board, reusing it later.
Another rather unique need exists for artists as well. Often, artists make preliminary sketches and then, using the sketch, actually compose the final artwork. Sometimes, changing conditions like a sunset or moving cloud patterns demand that only the most essential features of the scene be quickly recorded.
It is desirable to be able to use the easel itself to make such sketches directly upon its surface. This ability saves the artist from having to transport any “boards” (canvas or otherwise). The board would not be a separate piece requiring transport. The easel, ideally, would function so as to provide both a stable platform as well as the surface upon which an image could be formed by the artist.
The artist would then take the easel having the cursory image (sketch) to his or her studio and, using it along with his or her memory of the scene, create the finished artwork. Afterward, the image on the easel would be erased for later reuse.
There is also a further need to be able to readily adjust the angle at which an easel leans backward. This utility applies to both artists and for presentation purposes. For example, in a still indoor setting, a more vertical orientation may facilitate display and access to the image. However, in a windy outdoor setting, a more angled orientation would provide greater stability and immunity from the wind.
Not only is it desirable to be able to adjust the angle, but it must be accomplished quickly and it must maintain itself at the proper attitude. Prior types of easels, while being adjustable as to the angle, can slip if a thumbscrew, for example, is not adequately tightened. It is difficult for a user who has had one of the prior types of easels fall to feel secure that he or she has in fact sufficiently tightened the thumbscrews. As a consequence of this uncertainty, there is a tendency to over tighten the thumbscrews, thereby making it difficult to later loosen them. The overall effect is to provide a product that is unpleasant to use, at least, in this regard.
Accordingly there exists today a need for an erasable easel that includes a surface that can receive an image that can later be erased and which is light in weight, folds thin and is readily adjustable as to the angle presented and is stable when so adjusted.
Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device.
2. Description of Prior Art
Easels are, in general, known. For example, the following patents describe various types of these devices:
U.S. Pat. No. 937,671 to Borgzinner, and
U.S. Pat. No. 2,127,494 to Tepper.
While the structural arrangements of the above described devices, at first appearance, have similarities with the present invention, they differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an erasable, portable easel that is easy to transport.
It is also an important object of the invention to provide an erasable, portable easel that is light in weight.
Another object of the invention is to provide an erasable, portable easel that folds thin for transport.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an erasable, portable easel that includes a first planar member adapted for holding a canvas that is adjustable in its angle of presentation with respect to a user.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide an erasable, portable easel that includes a second planar member that is hingedly attached about an axis to a first planar member.
Yet another important object of the invention is to provide an erasable, portable easel that includes a flexible membrane hinge.
Still yet another important object of the invention is to provide an erasable, portable easel that includes a method of adjusting the relative position between the first and second planar members.
Still yet one more object of the invention is to provide an erasable, portable easel that includes a carrying strap to aid in portage.
Briefly, an erasable, portable easel that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a first planar member that includes a glossy surface that is adapted to receive a marking thereon and which is readily erasable. The first planar member also includes a lip attached thereto that is adapted to hold a planar object, such as a painting, adjacent to and in parallel planar alignment with respect to the first planar member. A second planar member that is preferably smaller in both length and width than the first planar member is disposed behind the first planar member and is hingedly attached thereto about an axis with a membrane type of a hinge that is attached to both the first and the second planar members. A first end of a cord passes through a first aperture in the first planar member and the lip where it is secured in position. The cord extends through a second and a third aperture in the second planar member and back to the first planar member where it passes through a fourth aperture where it is secured where desired along the length of the cord by an adjustable stopper. By adjusting the position of the stopper, the length of cord intermediate the first end and the stopper is varied. As the length of the cord is varied, the position of an-end of the second planar member that is opposite the membrane hinge is determined as it pivots about the axis either closer to or further away from the first planar member. The second end of the cord passes through a fifth aperture in the first planar member and is secured in a notch formed in the first planar member to provide a carrying strap for portage of the device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4143847 (1979-03-01), Cross
patent: 4544123 (1985-10-01), Peacock
patent: 4848243 (1989-07-01), Giordano
patent: 4926512 (1990-05-01), Coyle
patent: 4951993 (1990-08-01), Taboada
patent: 5149047 (1992-09-01), Tucker
patent: 5193777 (1993-03-01), Faulstich
patent: 5234190 (1993-08-01), Cross
patent: 5244267 (1993-09-01), Fossier, Jr. et al.
patent: 5377794 (1995-01-01), Book
patent: 5451025 (1995-09-01), Hames
patent: 5480118 (1996-01-01), Cross
patent: 5570526 (1996-11-01), Wallon
patent: 5653333 (1997-08-01), Webster
patent: 5720464 (1998-02-01), Meinscher et al.
patent: 5722628 (1998-03-01), Menaged
patent: 5810182 (1998-09-01), Levin
patent: 5823500 (1998-10-01), La Coste
patent: 5893546 (1999-04-01), Renfroe
patent: 6053467 (2000-04-01), Walker et al.
Braun Leslie A.
Le Tan
Rinne, Jr. Risto A.
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