US4856749A — Expandable easel

Claim 1

Independent Claim 121 words

In an expandable easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a frame comprising a pair of upstanding posts and at least one cross member extending between the posts, each of said posts and said cross member having a plurality of telescopically extensible sections whereby the height and the width of the frame can be adjusted to receive work pieces of different sizes, a plurality of work piece support arms which project outwardly in a horizontal direction from the frame and can be adjusted to extend different distances from the frame, the spacing between the support arms changing as the frame is adjusted for work pieces of different sizes, and a work piece holder mounted on each of the support arms.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 121 words

In an expandable easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a frame comprising a pair of upstanding posts and at least one cross member extending between the posts, each of said posts and said cross member having a plurality of telescopically extensible sections whereby the height and the width of the frame can be adjusted to receive work pieces of different sizes, a plurality of work piece support arms which project outwardly in a horizontal direction from the frame and can be adjusted to extend different distances from the frame, the spacing between the support arms changing as the frame is adjusted for work pieces of different sizes, and a work piece holder mounted on each of the support arms.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

The easel in claim 1 wherein each of the work piece support arms comprises an L-shaped arm having an outer section which carries the work piece holder and can be oriented in different rotative positions in a vertical plane to further vary the spacing between the work piece holders.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

The easel of claim 1 wherein each of the work piece holders comprises a clamp engageable with the work piece and means mounting the clamp for pivotal movement about two axes whereby the clamp can be moved to different positions for engagement with different workpieces.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 145 words

In an expandable easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a plurality of upstanding posts having upper and lower sections which can be extended and retracted relative to each other to change the lengths of the posts, an upper cross member of adjustable length extending between the upper sections of the posts, a lower cross member of adjustable length extending between the lower sections of the posts and being slidably connected to the posts to permit adjustment of the position of the lower cross member along the posts, a first pair of L-shaped arms mounted on the upper sections of the posts for movement between different rotative positions relative to the posts, a second pair of L-shaped arms mounted on the lower sections of the posts for movement between different rotative positions, and a work piece holder carried by each of the L-shaped arms.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 145 words

In an expandable easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a plurality of upstanding posts having upper and lower sections which can be extended and retracted relative to each other to change the lengths of the posts, an upper cross member of adjustable length extending between the upper sections of the posts, a lower cross member of adjustable length extending between the lower sections of the posts and being slidably connected to the posts to permit adjustment of the position of the lower cross member along the posts, a first pair of L-shaped arms mounted on the upper sections of the posts for movement between different rotative positions relative to the posts, a second pair of L-shaped arms mounted on the lower sections of the posts for movement between different rotative positions, and a work piece holder carried by each of the L-shaped arms.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

The easel of claim 4 wherein the second pair of L-shaped arms is mounted in brackets carried by the lower cross member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

The easel of claim 4 wherein each of the work piece holders includes means permitting pivotal movement of the holder about two axes for engagement with different work pieces.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

The easel of claim 4 wherein the L-shaped arms are adjustable relative to the plane of the posts and the cross members whereby a work piece held by the holders can be inclined at different angles relative to the posts and cross members.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 55 words

The easel of claim 4 including a central vertical arm positioned between the posts and connected to the upper cross member, means slidably connecting the lower cross member to the vertical arm, and a central cross member of adjustable length slidably mounted on the vertical arm and connected to the lower sections of the posts.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The easel of claim 8 including stop means carried by one of the cross members for limiting the distance by which the posts can be separated.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

The easel of claim 4 including a pair of horizontally extending arms at the lower ends of the posts, said arms extending rearwardly from the posts and having ground engaging wheels at the rear ends thereof.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

The easel of claim 10 wherein the first pair of L-shaped arms extends rearwardly from the posts and are engagable with the ground to support the work piece in a horizontal position when the easel is tilted back about the wheels.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 141 words

In an expandable easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a plurality of upstanding posts having upper and lower sections which can be extended and retracted relative to each other to change the lengths of the posts, an upper cross member of adjustable length extending between the upper sections of the posts, a lower cross member of adjustable length extending between the lower sections of the posts, first and second work piece holders mounted on the upper and lower sections of the posts, one of the cross members having a plurality of telescopically extensible sections, a stop member pivotally mounted in one of the sections and engagable with a slot in another one of the sections, and means for yieldably urging the stop member into engagement with the slot to limit the distance by which the posts can be separated.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 141 words

In an expandable easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a plurality of upstanding posts having upper and lower sections which can be extended and retracted relative to each other to change the lengths of the posts, an upper cross member of adjustable length extending between the upper sections of the posts, a lower cross member of adjustable length extending between the lower sections of the posts, first and second work piece holders mounted on the upper and lower sections of the posts, one of the cross members having a plurality of telescopically extensible sections, a stop member pivotally mounted in one of the sections and engagable with a slot in another one of the sections, and means for yieldably urging the stop member into engagement with the slot to limit the distance by which the posts can be separated.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 76 words

The easel of claim 12 wherein the stop member has a surface at one end thereof for abutment against one end of the slot to prevent further extension of the cross member when the stop member is engaged with the slot and an oppositely facing inclined surface engagable with the other end of the slot for deflecting the stop member out of engagement with the slot as the cross member is moved toward a retracted position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 163 words

In an expandable easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a frame comprising a pair of upstanding posts and at least one cross member extending between the posts, each of said posts and said cross member having a plurality of telescopically extensible sections whereby the height and the width of the frame can be adjusted, a plurality of work piece holders mounted on the frame in such manner that the spacing between the work piece holders can be adjusted to hold work pieces of different sizes, a first pair of horizontally extending arms at the lower ends of the posts engageable with a supporting surface for supporting the frame in an upright position, and a second pair of horizontally extendable arms toward the upper ends of the posts, said arms extending rearwardly from the frame and being engageable with the supporting surface for supporting the frame in a horizontal position when the frame is tilted rearwardly about the lower pair of arms.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 163 words

In an expandable easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a frame comprising a pair of upstanding posts and at least one cross member extending between the posts, each of said posts and said cross member having a plurality of telescopically extensible sections whereby the height and the width of the frame can be adjusted, a plurality of work piece holders mounted on the frame in such manner that the spacing between the work piece holders can be adjusted to hold work pieces of different sizes, a first pair of horizontally extending arms at the lower ends of the posts engageable with a supporting surface for supporting the frame in an upright position, and a second pair of horizontally extendable arms toward the upper ends of the posts, said arms extending rearwardly from the frame and being engageable with the supporting surface for supporting the frame in a horizontal position when the frame is tilted rearwardly about the lower pair of arms.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The easel of claim 14 wherein the lower pair of arms has wheels at the rear end thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

The easel of claim 14 wherein the arms at the lower ends of the posts can be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly relative to the posts.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 90 words

In an easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a frame adapted to receive work pieces of different sizes, and a plurality of work piece holders mounted on the frame, each of said work piece holders having a base, a pivot pin mounting the base on the frame for rotational motion about the axis of the pin, an arm hingedly connected to the base for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pin, and means carried by the arm for engagement with the work piece.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 90 words

In an easel for holding work pieces of different sizes: a frame adapted to receive work pieces of different sizes, and a plurality of work piece holders mounted on the frame, each of said work piece holders having a base, a pivot pin mounting the base on the frame for rotational motion about the axis of the pin, an arm hingedly connected to the base for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the pin, and means carried by the arm for engagement with the work piece.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

The easel of claim 17 wherein the arm comprises a generally J-shaped arm with two generally parallel sections, and the means for engagement with the work piece comprises a clamping screw threadably mounted in one of the generally parallel sections of the J-shaped arm.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 93 words

In combination; a work piece having a peripheral frame with a central opening and a canvas mounted on the frame, an adjustable support, and a plurality of work piece holders mounted on the support, each of said work piece holders comprising a J-shaped hook which extends through the opening in the peripheral frame from the back side of the canvas and engages the front side of the frame, and a clamping screw threadably mounted in the hook and engaging the back side of the frame to secure the frame and the hook together.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 93 words

In combination; a work piece having a peripheral frame with a central opening and a canvas mounted on the frame, an adjustable support, and a plurality of work piece holders mounted on the support, each of said work piece holders comprising a J-shaped hook which extends through the opening in the peripheral frame from the back side of the canvas and engages the front side of the frame, and a clamping screw threadably mounted in the hook and engaging the back side of the frame to secure the frame and the hook together.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 145 words

In an easel for holding a work piece comprising a canvas mounted on a peripheral frame: a support, a first work piece holder mounted on the support for engagement with a first side of the frame, and a second work piece holder mounted on the support for engagement with a side of the frame opposite the first side, each of said work piece holders comprising a J-shaped hook which is adapted to extend through an opening in the peripheral frame from the back side of the canvas and to engage the front side of the frame, and a clamping screw threadably mounted in the hook for engagement with the back side of the frame to secure the frame and the hook together, said J-shaped hooks having openings which face away from each other and are adapted to receive the opposite sides of the frame therein.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 145 words

In an easel for holding a work piece comprising a canvas mounted on a peripheral frame: a support, a first work piece holder mounted on the support for engagement with a first side of the frame, and a second work piece holder mounted on the support for engagement with a side of the frame opposite the first side, each of said work piece holders comprising a J-shaped hook which is adapted to extend through an opening in the peripheral frame from the back side of the canvas and to engage the front side of the frame, and a clamping screw threadably mounted in the hook for engagement with the back side of the frame to secure the frame and the hook together, said J-shaped hooks having openings which face away from each other and are adapted to receive the opposite sides of the frame therein.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-08-14	1993-02-13	1993-08-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-08-14	1997-02-13	1997-08-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-08-14	2001-02-13	2001-08-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Expandable easel

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