Adjustable easel

Claim 2

An easel comprising a face for supporting an object in an inclined position, a first back member hinged to the top edge of the easel face and generally depending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge of the face, a first base member hinged to the bottom edge of the easel face and extending generally horizontally rearwardly, a second base member hinged to the rearward edge of the first base member, a second back member hinged to the edge of the second base member opposite the hinge attachment of the second base member to the first base member, said second back member generally projecting upwardly and at least partially overlapping the first back member, means joining said first and second back members in any selected overlapping relationship to change the angular inclination of the easel face, and utilizing the second base member in a position folded back on the first base member to position the easel face in a more upright position or in an extended position with the first base member to position the easel face in a more inclined position.

Claim 3

An easel as set forth in claim 1 in which said means joining the first and second back members comprises said first back member having a centrally disposed elongated slot in a generally vertical position when the first back member depends from its upper hinge, a headed bolt member centrally disposed in said second back member and adapted to have its threaded shank pass through said slot in the first back member, and a cooperative nut-knob to engage the threaded shank.

Claim 4

An easel as set forth in claim 2 in which said easel face has a hole therein arranged for axial alignment with the bolt member when the easel is folded in a compact arrangement, whereby the head of the bolt member passes through the axially aligned hole to facilitate the compact folding of the easel.

Claim 5

An easel comprising a face for supporting an object in an inclined position, spaced clip means on the face near the lower edge for gripping an object supported by the face, a first back member hinged to the top edge of the easel face and generally depending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge of the face, a first base member hinged to the bottom edge of the easel face and extending generally horizontally rearwardly, a second base member hinged to the rearward edge of the first base member, a second back member hinged to the edge of the second base member opposite the hinge attachment of the second base member to the first base member, said second back member generally projecting upwardly and at least partially overlapping the first back member, means joining said first and second back members in any selected overlapping relationship to shange the angular inclination of the easel face, and utilizing the second base member in a position folded back on the first base member to position the easel face in a more upright position or in an extended position with the first base member to position the easel face in a more inclined position.

Claim 6

An easel comprising a face for supporting an object in an inclined position, spaced clip means on the face near the lower edge for gripping an object supported by the face, a first back member hinged to the top edge of the easel face and generally depending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper edge of the face, a first base member hinged to the bottom edge of the easel face and extending generally horizontally rearwardly, a second base member hinged to the rearward edge of the first base member, a second back member hinged to the edge of the second base member opposite the hinge attachment of the second base member to the first base member, said second back member generally projecting upwardly and at least partially overlapping the first back member, means joining said first and second back members in any selected overlapping relationship to shange the angular inclination of the easel face, and utilizing the second base member in a position folded back on the first base member to position the easel face in a more upright position or in an extended position with the first base member to position the easel face in a more inclined position.

Claim 7

An easel as set forth in claim 4 in which the spaced clip means are generally horizontally disposed and having book supporting crotches spaced above the base of the easel whereby book pages may be easily grasped and turned by a user from the bottom of the easel.

Claim 8

An easel comprising a series of five sections arranged end-to-end and each of said sections joined to its adjacent section by hinge means, the two extreme end sections together constituting an easel back, one of said intermediate sections immediately adjacent one of said end sections constituting an easel face, the other two of said contiguous intermediate sections disposed between the easel face and the other of said end sections constituting an easel base, and means joining said back sections in selected overlapping relationship.

Claim 9

An easel comprising a series of five sections arranged end-to-end and each of said sections joined to its adjacent section by hinge means, the two extreme end sections together constituting an easel back, one of said intermediate sections immediately adjacent one of said end sections constituting an easel face, the other two of said contiguous intermediate sections disposed between the easel face and the other of said end sections constituting an easel base, and means joining said back sections in selected overlapping relationship.

Claim 10

An easel as set forth in claim 6 in which said contiguous intermediate base sections can be arranged so one of said sections overlaps the other of said sections or so that said sections are extended in end-to-end relationship.

Claim 11

An easel as set forth in claim 7 in which said series of sections can be folded in a collapsed state for ease of shipment of the easel.