Collapsible easel for artists

Claim 1

A collapsible easel for use by an artist comprising in combination, an elongated relatively narrow normally horizontal frame member having opposite faces, a relatively narrow support member connected at one end to said frame member and extending perpendicularly therefrom, a first pair of longitudinally adjustable legs pivotally connected at one end to opposite end portions of one face of said frame member, a second pair of longitudinally adjustable legs pivotally connected at one end to opposite end portions of the other face of said frame member, the legs of said pairs being perpendicular to the elongated axis of said frame member and said pairs of legs respectively being pivotally movable in opposite directions relative to each other through arcs of substantially 180° relative to the elongated axis of said frame member respectively between compact folded position adjacent opposite surfaces of said support and extended supporting positions in which said legs all extend from said frame member in opposite directions from said support, a pair of normally horizontal rails extending transversely to the vertical axis of said support member and relatively adjustable to said member and each other, said rails also having grooves therein facing each other to engage opposite horizontal edges of an artist's canvas or boards, a pair of elongated panels hingedly connected along one edge to each other, means connecting the opposite edge of one panel to said frame member to form a shelf when extending horizontally in use from said frame member, the other panel comprising a brace and being adapted to extend downward and inward from the outer edge of said shelf panel for engagement with the first pair of legs to brace said shelf panel substantially in operative horizontal position, pin means adjustably positionable longitudinally at desired selected positions along said first pair of legs below the pivotal connection thereof to said frame member and said first pair of legs having similar rows of holes extending transversely therein to receive said pins in similar selected holes in each row for engagement by the lower edge of said brace panel when the pairs of legs are disposed in downwardly extending supporting position for said horizontal frame member and support thereon, and said panels further being adapted to be disposed in extended planar relation to each other and be hingedly moved into a compact extended position overlying the normally front face of said support member and protect the face of any painting or artist's panel mounted upon said support member for carrying purposes.