US3168363A

US3168363A - Artist's kit

Info

Publication number: US3168363A
Application number: US283065A
Authority: US
Inventors: James R Monsour
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-05-24
Filing date: 1963-05-24
Publication date: 1965-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-02

Description

J. R. MONSOUR ARTIST'S KIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1963 Feb. 2, 1965 J. R. MONSOUR 3,168,363

ARTIST'S KIT Filed May 24, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (X; :14/1455 2 mo/msoae, BY

ATTOEA/S'Y 9.

United States Patent 3,168,363 ARTISTS KIT James R. Monsour, 6260 SW. 21st St., Miami, Fla. Filed May 24, 1963, Ser. No. 283,065 4 Claims. (Cl. 312-231) This invention relates to equipment for artists, and more particularly to a portable cabinet device for art equipment which may be set up at times to serve as an easel.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved artists cabinet which is adapted to be employed to store and transport artists materials and which is arranged so that it may be easily and rapidly set up as an easel, if so desired, the device being of simple construction, being of relatively inexpensive materials, and being compact in size.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved artists cabinet which is convertible into an easel, the cabinet being relatively light in weight, being of durable construction, being arranged so that it can be set up as an easel without requiring the use of any tools, and having a wide range of adjustability.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved artists kit according to the present invention, shown set up for use as an easel, and showing the palette member thereof separated from the kit.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional View taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the artists kit of FIGURES l to 6 in its folded condition prepared for transportation or storage.

Referring to the drawing, the improved artists kit is designated generally at 11, and comprises a rectangular main tray-like receptacle 12 having a bottom wall 13, parallel

upstanding sidewalls

14, 14 and an upstanding rear wall 15. The receptacle has a short upstanding lower front wall portion 16 and a hinged additional front wall portion 17 of substantial width, the portion 17 being formed on its inside surface with a longitudinally extending groove or recess 18 shaped to receive brushes, paint tubes, and similar artists material when the wall portion 17 is in its forwardly extending horizontal position, shown in FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURE 1, the inside front edge portions of the

sidewalls

14, 14 are recessed, as shown at 19, to define rightangled receiving corners to receive the opposite ends of the hinged wall member 17, so that said members can be folded flush with the lower front wall portion 16, for example, as shown in FIGURE 7. The hinged member 17 is pivotally connected to the ends of the

sidewalls

14, 14 by hinge pins 20 which are located adjacent the inside surface plane of the lower front wall portion 16 so that when the hinged wall member 17 is in its forwardly extending horizontal position, shown in FIGURE 2, it will be supported on the top edge of the stationary lower front wall portion 16.

Secured to the intermediate portion of the fixed lower front wall element 16 is a generally U-shaped carrying handle 21 which is located adjacent to and which extends parallel to the longitudinal upper edge of the fixed lower wall portion 16, as viewed in FIGURE 2, so that the hanice dle 21 is located immediately beneath the hinged shelf member 17 when said shelf member is in its horizontal, forwardly projecting position shown in FIGURE 2.

Secured to the forward corner portions of the bottom Wall 13 are a pair of

leg brackets

22, 22 formed with apertures 23 adapted to receive the top pins 24 of respective supporting

legs

25, 25, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2. A similar bracket 26 is secured to the intermediate portion of the rear margin of the bottom of wall 13, said bracket 26 being formed with an aperture 27 adapted to receive the upstanding pin 24 on the top end of a similar leg 25. The leg-contacting surfaces of the

brackets

22, 22 and 26, and the

apertures

23 and 27 are so oriented that the legs will be engaged with the brackets so as to diverge downwardly in the manner clearly illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 3. 1

The legs 25 are provided with detachable bottom extension portions 28 which may be removed if it is desired to shorten the legs so as to support the member 12 at a lower elevation than that illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

Secured in the tray-like receptacle 12 are a pair of spaced upstanding

longitudinal partition walls

29 and 30, and secured transversely between the

upstanding partition members

29 and 30 are the parallel opposing

rib members

31, 32 which extend upwardly above the top edges of the

members

29 and 30 and which are formed with opposing channels or grooves 33, 33 adapted to slidably receive the opposite edge portions of a palette board 34.

The palette board 34 is thus engageable with the channels or grooves 33, 33 to support the board in a retracted position within the tray-like receptacle 12 when the palette board is not in use, but may be readily withdrawn from the receptacle for use, when required. As shown in FIGURE 1, the channels 33, 33 are located above the plane of the top edge of the forward partition wall member 30 so as to provide free access thereto for inserting the edges of the palette board 34 into the channels.

Designated at 35 is a rigid, generally rectangular cover member whose side edges are slidably engageable in

respective guide grooves

36, 36 formed at the upper margins of the inside surfaces of the

sidewalls

14, 14, the cover 35 being of sulficient area to completely overlie the top of the tray-like receptacle 12 when its side edges are fully engaged in the

grooves

36, 36.

The cover member 35 is formed at its top edge, as viewed in FIGURE 2, with a rearwardly extending flange 37, and the member 35 is integrally formed with a sleeve portion 38 extending perpendicular to the flange 37 and slidably receiving a bar member 39 which extends through the flange 37 and which is provided at its top end, as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 3 with a forwardly extending hooked flange 40. The sleeve 38 is formed with a longitudinal slot 41 through which extends a lug 42 formed integrally on the lower end portion of the rod 39, and which threadedly receives a screw eye 43, as shown in FIGURE 6. The screw member 43 is employed as a set screw to lock the bar 39 in an adjusted position in the sleeve 38, so as to correspondingly lock the hookshaped flange 40 in engagement with the top edge of the frame of a canvas, or other article supported on the easel board 34. The board 34 is provided at its lower edge, as viewed in FIGURE 2, with a forwardly extending ledge 44 serving to support the bottom edge of a canvas frame or other article on the board 34.

When the cover board 35 is received in the

guide grooves

36, 36, the bar member 39 is completely retracted. Suflicient clearance is provided to allow the hinged wall portion 17 to be closed against the hooked flange member 40 of the retracted bar member 39. As

will be readily understood, when the cover board 35 is inits covering position, the flange 37 is directed downwardly and inwardly into the receptacle 12, and the sleeve 38 is on the underside of the cover board.

Designated at '45, '45 are respective circular blocks which are pivotally secured at their centers to opposing inside portions of the

sidewalls

14, 14,.for example, by means of fastening screws 46, as shown in FIGURE 5.

The screws- 46 extend through the centers of the blockstS and through the sidewalls'14 and are provided on their outer portions with wing nuts 47 which may be tightened to lock the oircularblock s 45 in desired positions of angular adjustment. The blocks 45 are formed with radial grooves 47. The corner portions of the cover board 35 are formed with rectangular notches 48 defining edge portion-s49 extending parallel to the side edges of the cover board which are slidably receivable in the ra- I dial grooves 47 of the circular blocks '45.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the notches 4-8 provide clearance for the top edges of the sidewalls 14, sufficient clearance being provided to allowthe cover board 35 to be adjusted angularly over a wide range. The blocks 45 are locked in the selected positions of angular adjustment by tightening the Wing nuts 47.

When the kit is in its closed position, preparatory for 'transponlation and storage, as shown in FIGURE 7, all

the parts thereof are contained inside, including the legs 25. When the kit is to be set up for use,-it is first opening the hinged front wall member 17 to its horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 2, andthe legs are engaged in the

brackets

22, 22 and 26, whereby thejreceptacle 12 is, supported in an elevated position. The cover board rnaythen be engaged in the radially grooved blocks 45 andadjusted to the desired angle. The'wing nuts 47 are then tightened to lock the blocks 45 in the positions of desired angular adjustment The bar 39 may then be released to elevate it to a position to clampingly engage the top edge of a canvas frame or other article tobe held on the easel. The palette board 34 may 7 arranged horizontally, the cover 35 is removed, after Iii be withdrawn 'so'that it can be held by'the artist in the usual manner while he is at work. 7 7

As previously mentioned, all of the various articles required by the artist may be contained inside the kit when his not in use, for example, brushe -paint tubes, or the like. 1 While a specific embodiment of an improved antists kit has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will 1. An ar-tists kit comprising a main tray-like receptacle having'parallel upstanding side walls, 'an upstand-' ing rear wall, and a hinged'front wall, means to support said front wall in a forwardly projecting horizontal position, said front wall having a recessed inside surface shaped to receive brushes and similar art-ists materials, the upper inside marginal portions of said sidewalls being formed with guide grooves, a rigid. cover mema ber slidably engageable in said guide grooves, a pair of supporting blocks, each formed with a groove, and

means to pivotally secure said blocks in opposing relationship to each other to theinside surfaces of said side walls, said cover member being formed with notches'at opposite ends of one-margin thereof todefine substantially parallel edge portions receivable in the grooves in the blocks with the top portions of said notches engaged on the top edges'of said sidewalls to at times support said cover member in an upstanding position between said side walls, whereby to define an easel.

2.' An artists kit comprising a main tray-like receptacle having parallel upstanding side walls, an upstanding rear Wall and a hinged front wall, means to support said front wall in a forwardly projecting horizontal position, said front wall having a recessed inside surface. shaped to receive brushes and sirnilariantists materials, the upper inside marginal portions 'of'saidside walls being formed with guide grooves, a rigid cover member slidably engageable in said guide'grooves, a pair of radially grooved supporting discs, and means to pivotally secure said discs in opposing relation to the inside surfaces of said side Walls, said cover-member having rectangular notches at its corner portions at opposite ends of one margin thereof to define parallel edge portions engageable'in the radial grooves of the discs, to support said 'cover member in an upstanding position between said side walls, whereby to define, an easel.

3. An artists kit comprising a main tray-like receptacle having parallel upstanding sidewalls, an upstanding rear wall and a hinged front wall, means to support said front wall in aforwar dly projectinghorizontal position,

" said front wall having a recessed inside surfaceshaped to to define an easel, at least three supporting legs, and

means to detachably secure said supporting legs to spaced 'po'intson the bottom of said traydike receptacle.

4. An artists "kit comprising a main tray-like receptacle having parallelupstanding side walls, an upstanding rear wall and a hinged front wall, means to support said front wall in a forwardly projecting horizontal position, s'aidfront wall having a recessed inside surface shaped to receive brushes and similar artists materials, the upper inside marginal'portions of said side walls being formed with guide grooves, a rigidco-ver member slidably en- 'gag'eable in said guide grooves, a pair of radially grooved supporting discs, means to pivotally secure said discs in opposing relation to the inside surfaces of said side walls,

said cover member having rectangular notches at its corner portions atopposite ends of one margin thereof to define parallel edge portions engageable in the radial References 'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS.

Zwiesler July 27, 1909 929,365 1,840,595 Moore Jan. 12, 1932 1,901,861 Baker Mar. 21, 1933 2,l72;605 V Bourne Sept. 12,1939 2 ,414,433 Bargenp Ian. 21, 1947 2,672,391 Moore; Mar. 16, 1954

Claims

1. AN ARTIST''S KIT COMPRISING A MAIN TRAY-LIKE RECEPTACLE HAVING PARALLEL UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS, AN UPSTANDING REAR WALL, AND A HINGED FRONT WALL, MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID FRONT WALL IN A FORWARDLY PROJECTING HORIZONTAL POSITION, SAID FRONT WALL HAVING A RECESSED INSIDE SURFACE SHAPED TO RECEIVE BRUSHES AND SIMILAR ARTIST''S MATERIALS, THE UPPER INSIDE MARGINAL PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALLS BEING FORMED WITH GUIDE GROOVES, A RIGID COVER MEMBER SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLE IN SAID GUIDE GROOVES, A PAIR OF SUPPORTING BLOCKS, EACH FORMED WITH A GROOVE, AND MEANS TO PIVOTALLY SECURE SAID BLOCKS IN OPPOSING RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER TO THE INSIDE SURFACES OF SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID COVER MEMBER BEING FORMED WITH NOTCHES AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF ONE MARGIN THEREOF TO DEFINE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL EDGE PORTIONS RECEIVABLE IN THE GROOVES IN THE BLOCKS WITH THE TOP PORTIONS OF SAID NOTCHES ENGAGED ON THE TOP EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS, TO AT TIMES SUPPORT SAID COVER MEMBER IN AN UPSTANDING POSITION BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, WHEREBY TO DEFINE AN EASEL.