GB2202431A - Painter's portable box-easel - Google Patents

Abstract

A painter's portable box-easel is proportioned so that when erected the paintbox 1 and its lid 9, which carries the painting on its front face, are supported at a steep angle by three telescopic legs 2,4, two at the front, pivoted near the lower corners of the paintbox, which swing from folded to service positions in the same plane as the paintbox and are latched in their service position, and a third leg swinging backwards on a pivot near the top of the paintbox, into which it can be folded. The lid is displaced upwards to its service positions covering a range of heights and angles, guided and secured in position by couplings between lid and paintbox, the displacement of the lid providing access to the paintbox from the front of the equipment. <IMAGE>

Description

A PAINTERS PORTABLE BOX-EASEL Background The concept of a portable box-easel supported on three telescopic legs which can be folded to make a compact package for carrying is well known.

The objectives of the present invention are to improve the ergonomic features of portable box-easels in relation to erecting, dismantling, and carrying the equipment, to the range of working positions afforded, and to accessibility and display of painting accessories carried.

Essential Technical Features According to the present invention the paintbox is supported at a steep angle on three telescopic legs, the front two of which can be swung, preferably, in the same plane as the paintbox from folded to service position, in which they are latched against reversal, the latches being released by telescoping the legs. They may alternatively be swung in different planes, with screw tightening systems.

The paintbox lid which carries the painting is displaced upwards to provide a range of service positions, guided and secured in each position by a mechanical coupling system between lid and paintbox, which displacement exposes th6 paintbox and gives access to its contents from the front.

The coupling system comprises a pair of latches, a pair of adjustable length links, and either an additimal pair of fixed length links, or an additional pair of adjustable length links, or a pair of struts which can be partially extracted from the guides within the paintbox structure by the lid movement.

Examples Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates schematically in perspective the complete equipment with coupling system (A) comprising one pair of adjustable length links, one pair of latches, and one set of retractable struts.

Fig. 2 illustrates schematically the front leg latching system common to all systems A, B, and C.

Fig. 3 illustrates the latch and lost motion design of system (A).

Fig. 4 illustrates schematically in perspective the complete equipment with coupling system (B), comprising one pair of adjustable length links, one pair of fixed length links, and one pair of latches.

Fig. 5 illustrates schematically typical positions afforded bY coupling svstems (B) and (C).

All systems, A, B, and C Figs. 1, 2, 4 Referring to the drawings: the paintbox (1) when erected is inclined at a steep angle similar to that of the front legs of an easel. The front legs (2) are pivoted (3) near the lower corners of the paintbox (1), and swing in the same plane as the paintbox. A third leg > is pivoted (5) from the centre of the upper end of the back of the box, swinging backward with movement limited by a stop (7) engaging with an extension of the leg.

The legs telescope for folding away alongside the paintbox and within the rear of the box. The downward swing of the front legs (2) is limited by stops on the paintbox structure, their reversal is prevented by spring-loaded latches (Figs. 1 & 2 (6)) which engage with extensions of the legs. To fold away the leg, cam or screw locks fixing length (20) are released and legs are telescoped, the final movement of the front legs drives rods (26), guided within the legs, which displaces the latches (6) from engagement with the legs, freeing them to swivel.

Extending the legs allows the spring-loaded latches to reset the rods (26).

The painting (8) is carried on the paintbox lid (9) by adjustable stretchers (10, 11). The lid can be displaced up and down; in the down closed position it covers the paintbox, in the top service position its lxeredge is near the top of the paintbox, the displacement giving access to the paintbox contents from the front.

The paintbox also contains a palette, mounted between the paintbox contents and the lid, so shaped that it retains the contents in position during transit.

Coupling System (A) Figs. 1, 3, 4 In scheme A the lid (9) is displaced up and down with its lower end guided by latches (12) sliding within channel section struts (14) which are guided within the paintbox and are driven by the latches, which are spring-loaded (13) inwards to their engaged positions.

In top and bottom positions of the lid, the re-entrant sector of the latches Dasses through the lid wall (31), the sliding struts (14), and through the paintbox wall (15) at (32), so locking both lid and struts against further sliding but permitting the lid to swing on the latches as fulcrums to adjust lid angle.

The lid angle is secured by adjustable length links (16) coupling the lid to struts (14). The struts are partially extracted from guides within the paintbox by the opening movement of the latches and lid, the difference in travel between lid and strut being controlled by the latches engaging with stops on either side of the latches, stop (24) for retracting and stop (30) for raising, the distance between the stops providing the lost motion needed.

Coupling System (B) Fig. 4 In system B the lid (9) is coupled to the paintbox (1) by a pair of adjustable length links (16), a pair of fixed length links (35) replacing the struts of scheme A, and a pair of latches (34). In its top position the bottom of the lid (9) is biked to a position near the top of the paintbox by the latches (34), the lid being able to swing on the latch mechanism to adjust angle. The lid may be cut away as at (36) to improve access to the top of the paintbox when in its top position.

To reach its top position the lid is displaced upwards by swinging on the links (35) and can then be secured at intermediate positions by locking the length of the adjustable links (16), providing typical positions as shown schematically in Fig. 5 (A,B,C, and D).

In the bottom closed position of the lid the latches (34) also engage with the paintbox, securing the lid closed at this position.

Coupling System (C) Scheme C coupling is as scheme B except that both sets of coupling links are adjustable in length, both sets require locking to secure the lid in position, and the system offers additional service positions as shown schematically in Fig. 5 (E).

All Systems With all systems, A, B, and C, the final displacement downwards of the lid to the closed position engages catches between the top of the lid and top of the paintbox, so securing the top of the assembly in the closed position.

With all systems A, B and C, the mechanical latches securing lid to paintbox may be replaced by permanent magnets which perform the same securing functions

Claims (9)

1. CLAIHS 1A painter's portable box-easel so proportioned that when erected the paintbox and its lid component that carries the painting on its front face are supported at a steep angle by two adjustable length front legs pivoted on fulcrums adjacent to the lower corners of the paint box and a third adjustable length leg pivoted at the rear of the paintbox, in which the lid component carrying the painting is dis placed upwards to reach its service positions, guided and secured by couplings between the lid and paintbox, which displacement also gives access to the contents of the paintbox from the front.
2. 2 A painters portable box-easel as in Claim 1 in which the adjustable length front legs swing on their pivots in the same plane as the paint box structure from their folded-away positions adjacent to the paint box sides to their down service positions, where they are locked against reversal by latches.
3. 3 A painter's portable box-easel according to Claims 1 and 2, in which the legs are telescopic, the front leg latches are spring-loaded to their latched positions and are released automatically by the action of telescoping the legs towards their shortest length, which action displaces the latches from engaging with the legs.
4. 4 A painter's portable box-easel according to Claims 1, 2, and 3 above in which the coupling between lid and paintbox comprises a pair of latches mounted on the lower extremity of the lid, a pair of adjust able length links connecting fulcrums on the lid to fulcrums fixed near to or above the top of the paintbox, and a second pair of fixed length links connecting fulcrums on the lid in-a position between the latches and adjustable link fulcrums to fulcrums on the paint box with dimensions so proportioned that when fully displaced upwards the lid latches engage with the paintbox near to or below its top, the latch mechanisms then serving also as fulcrums on which the lid can swing to adjust angle.

   (CLAIMS, ctd)
5. 5 A painter's portable box-easel according to Claims 1,2,3, and 4 above, except that the second pair of links as in Claim 4 are also adjustable in length.
6. 6 A painters portable box-easel according to Claims 1, 2,and 3 above in which the coupling between lid and paintbox comprises a pair of latches mounted on the lower extremity of the lid, a pair of adjustable length links connecting fulcrums at an intermediate posi tion on the lid to fulcrums fixed to the top end of struts guided within the paint box-structure, which strutS are partially extracted upwards from their guides to their service position by the displace ment of the lid arranged by the latches engaging with stops secured to the struts on either side of the latches, the clearance between stops and latches providing the lost motion needed, and in which lid and struts are locked in their top position by the latch mechanism, in which position the lid can swing on the latches to adjust angles.
7. 7 A painter's portable box-easel according to Claims 1,2,3, and 6 above, in which the latches slide within channel section struts sliding within channel section guides on the paintbox, the latches locking the assembly by penetrating holes in both strut and paint box guide.
8. 8 A painter's portable box-easel according to Claims 1 to 7 above in which the same latches also engage with the lower end of the paintbox in the closed position.
9. 9 A painter's portable box-easel according to Claims 1 to 8 above in which the final closing displacement of the lid relative to the paintbox engages catches between lid and box at the top of the paintbox to prevent the lid swinging open at the top when latched closed at the bottom.

   (CLAIMS , ctd ) 10 A painter's portable box-easel according to claims 1 to

   9 above in which the latching functions between lid and paintbox are carried out magnetically 11 A painters portable box-easel according to claims 1 to

   10 above in which paint brushes are carried in a shelf like structure pivoted at its lower end within the paint-bot which can swivel outward to improve access to the brushes 12 A painters portable box-easel constructed substantially as described above and with reference to and as shewn in the accompanying drawings