US3938772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding display easel
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-11-25
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Granted: 1976-02-17
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Expires: 1994-11-25
Abstract
Abstract Folding display easel for supporting documents for easy viewing. Easel has a center panel with upper and lower flanges, two inner panels slidingly engaging the flanges, and two outer panels hinged to outer edges of respective inner panels. Inner panels engage track means on flanges of center panel and are supported so that inner panels are spaced laterally from each other and from the center panel to permit the five panels to be stacked together without interference between adjacent panels. One leg hinged to rear of center panel, when extended supports the easel erected, and when folded serves also as handle. When extended outer panels are inclined obliquely to inner panels for easy viewing. Latch means holds panels together for carrying.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter W. M. Andrusiak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:52
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B23/00; A47B23/04; A47B23/042; A47B23/043; A47B23/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A folding display easel for supporting documents for easy viewing, the easel having: a. a center panel having a front face and spaced, parallel upper and lower edges and spaced side edges, the upper and lower edges having parallel track means spaced forwardly of said front face, b. a leg hinged to the center panel and adapted to extend therefrom, the leg being restricted against swinging relative to the center panel to support the center panel generally upright when the easel is erected and stood on a generally horizontal working surface, c. right-hand and left-hand inner panels engaging the respective parallel track means of the center panel for sliding of the inner panels relative to the center panel, the inner panels being spaced laterally from each other and forwardly from the center panel to permit sliding together of the panels for stacking, each inner panel having respective inner and outer edges and respective parallel upper and lower edges, d. right-hand and left-hand outer panels having respective inner and outer edges, the inner edges of the left-hand and right-hand outer panels being hinged to the outer edges of the left-hand and right-hand inner panels respectively, each outer panel being adapted to be folded essentially flat against the respective inner panel and when so folded to be spaced laterally from the adjacent inner panel and the center panel, so that when each outer panel is folded against its respective inner panel, the inner panels can be slid together along the track means without interference between adjacent panels so that the five panels are stacked together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A folding display easel for supporting documents for easy viewing, the easel having: a. a center panel having a front face and spaced, parallel upper and lower edges and spaced side edges, the upper and lower edges having parallel track means spaced forwardly of said front face, b. a leg hinged to the center panel and adapted to extend therefrom, the leg being restricted against swinging relative to the center panel to support the center panel generally upright when the easel is erected and stood on a generally horizontal working surface, c. right-hand and left-hand inner panels engaging the respective parallel track means of the center panel for sliding of the inner panels relative to the center panel, the inner panels being spaced laterally from each other and forwardly from the center panel to permit sliding together of the panels for stacking, each inner panel having respective inner and outer edges and respective parallel upper and lower edges, d. right-hand and left-hand outer panels having respective inner and outer edges, the inner edges of the left-hand and right-hand outer panels being hinged to the outer edges of the left-hand and right-hand inner panels respectively, each outer panel being adapted to be folded essentially flat against the respective inner panel and when so folded to be spaced laterally from the adjacent inner panel and the center panel, so that when each outer panel is folded against its respective inner panel, the inner panels can be slid together along the track means without interference between adjacent panels so that the five panels are stacked together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A folding display easel as claimed in claim 1 further including: i. hinge stop means cooperating with respective inner and outer panels to limit the swinging of the outer panels relative to the respective inner panels and to support the outer panels at a desired angle for convenient viewing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A folding display easel as claimed in claim 1 further including: i. support means on each panel to hold documents against the panel for convenient viewing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
A folding display easel as claimed in claim 1 in which the track means have stops at ends thereof and each inner panel has: i. a pair of spaced parallel extensions extending from the inner edge of the inner panel and aligned with the upper and lower edges of the inner panel, the extensions being adapted to engage the track means to permit outward sliding of the inner panel relative to the center panel with negligible rocking of the inner panel relative to the center panel, ii. stop means cooperating with the stops of the track means to limit outwards sliding of the inner panel relative to the centre panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
152 words
A folding display easel as claimed in claim 1 in which: i. the center panel has a rear face ii. the leg has an inner end hinged to the rear face of the center panel, and has an outer end having a handle adapted to contact the working surface when the easel is erected, the handle being spaced from the hinge a distance greater than the hinge is spaced from the upper edge of the center panel so that when the leg swings to a raised position the handle is spaced upwards from the upper edge of the center panel for carrying, iii. a tie means cooperates with the leg and the center panel to limit outwards swinging of the leg when the leg is to support the easel erected, and to permit the leg to swing upwards to the fully raised position when the easel is to be folded and carried.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A folding display easel as claimed in claim 5 further including: i. latch means cooperating with the leg and the center panel to engage the leg when in the raised position to hold the leg adjacent the rear face of the center panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
231 words
A folding display easel as claimed in claim 5 in which: i. the leg has a pair of spaced leg members hinged at inner ends thereof to the rear face of the center panel for swinging about a common hinge axis of the hinges, one of the leg members adjacent the outer end thereof having a latch means, ii. a connecting member extends between the outer ends of the spaced leg members parallel to the common hinge axis, the member serving as a handle when the device is to be folded and carried, iii. the tie means is a strap having an inner end hinged to the rear face of the center panel and an outer end having a pin extending transversely therefrom and disposed parallel to the common hinge axis, the pin being adapted to be retained between the leg members and the center panel when the leg is in the raised position, the outer end of the strap also having a complementary latch means to be engaged by the latch means of the leg member when the leg member and the strap are extended to a supporting position thus preventing the leg members from swinging about the center panel, iv. the center panel has a complementary latch means to be engaged by the latch means of the leg member when the leg members are folded against the center panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
A folding display easel as claimed in claim 5 further including: i. a releaseable chain attachment means provided adjacent an outer end of the leg, and in which the tie means includes: ii. a flexible chain of interconnected links attached to the center panel, a link of the chain being releaseably attached to the chain attachment means to hold the leg at an angle for supporting the device when erected, and when the leg is released from the chain to swing upwards to the fully raised position, the chain having sufficient length to extend to the attachment means for re-attachment thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A folding display easel as claimed in claim 1 in which: i. the center panel has a pair of spaced parallel flanges extending forwardly from the upper and lower edges of the panel, the flanges having oppositely disposed parallel inner faces, ii. the track means includes a pair of spaced parallel grooves provided in each inner face of the flanges of the center panel, the grooves being of sufficient width and spaced apart to accept the upper and lower edges of respective inner panels with the outer panels folded thereagainst, lateral spacing between adjacent panels being such that there is negligible interference between the panels when folded and stacked together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A folding display easel as claimed in claim 1 in which: i. the right-hand inner and outer panels are spaced forwardly of the left-hand inner and outer panels so that when the easel is folded the right-hand outer panel is on the outside, ii. a panel latch means portion is provided on the outer edge of the right-hand outer panel, iii. a complementary panel latch means portion is provided at the left-hand edge of the center panel, the latch means being adapted to hold the panels stacked together when the easel is folded.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1748034A
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US2538318A
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US2656632A
Cited
US2587698A
Cited
US2784779A
Cited
US3132432A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-16 | 1979-08-18 | 1980-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-16 | 1983-08-18 | 1984-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-08-18 | 1988-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |