Easel Adaptor - Stretched Canvas Holder

Abstract

An easel adaptor and canvas holder that enables an individual to handle and/or remove a first freshly painted canvas or other material from an existing easel without coming into direct contact with the freshly painted work, thereby enabling another to use the easel before the first painting is completed. The easel adaptor and canvas holder also enables an artist to freely paint the edge surfaces of a canvas without having to wait for the freshly painted canvas to dry before repositioning the canvas relative to the easel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE

[0001] This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/389,756 filed Oct. 5, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a device for retaining and repositioning freshly painted canvases and other paintable surfaces without the need for the artist to come into direct contact with the freshly painted work.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Easels are commonly used by artists and the like to hold a stretched canvas or other paintable surface in place while the artist paints the same. However, prior art easels have many limitations. For example, most easels rely upon gravity to retain the stretchable canvas or other paintable surface, meaning that the bottom of the canvas rests upon a portion of the easel, such as a shelf. Other prior art easels apply pressure to the top and bottom edges of the canvas, and/or to the corresponding sides, to hold the canvas or other paintable surface in place while the artist or painter paints the same. These types of prior art easels make it difficult for the artist or painter to paint the outer edges of the canvas without moving or repositioning the wet canvas, which can damage the painting in progress. Therefore, artists must either wait until the freshly painted surfaces dry, so that the canvas can be repositioned and the outer edges painted, or risk damaging their work.

[0004] However, freshly painted surfaces oftentimes take hours to properly dry, and a painting may need to be repositioned multiple times along a prior art easel so that all of the desires edges can be painted, which can unnecessarily lengthen the time it takes for an artist to complete a single painting and discourage the artist from creating additional paintings.

[0005] Other problems associated with the use of the above described prior art easels can occur in a group setting, such as an art classroom or in a school or studio. For example, an art class comprised of twenty students in each of three consecutive class periods on any particular day, as is common in many schools, would require the use of at least sixty easels. This is true because the students from the earlier class periods may not be able to remove their freshly painted canvases from the prior art easels to permit students in subsequent class periods to use the prior art easel without risking damage to their artwork. The handling of freshly painted canvases and other surfaces can lead to smearing or other damage to the painting, which is undesirable. Further, schools and studios may not be able to purchase, maintain and/or store so many easels due to budgetary or space constraints, which could result in less opportunity for students, artists and painters to participate in an art or painting class.

[0006] Consequently, there exists in the art a long-felt need for a canvas holder that enables an artist or other person to handle and/or move a freshly painted canvas or other material without actually coming into direct contact with the freshly painted work. There is also a long felt need for a canvas holder that enables an artist to freely paint each side of a canvas without having to reposition the freshly painted canvas relative to the easel or wait for the painted surfaces to dry.

[0007] Additionally, there is a long felt need for a canvas holder that can be used with an existing easel and that enables an individual to remove a first freshly painted canvas from said easel without damaging the same, thereby enabling another to use the same easel before the first freshly painted canvas is completed and reducing the number of overall easels required.

[0008] Finally, there is a long-felt need for a device that accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives, that is relative easy and inexpensive to manufacture and use, and that can be used with various sized canvases.

SUMMARY

[0009] The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0010] The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a canvas holder device that enables an individual to handle and/or remove a first freshly painted canvas or other material from an existing easel without coming into direct contact with the freshly painted work, thereby enabling another to use the easel before the first work is completed. The canvas holder also enables an artist to freely paint each side of a canvas without having to reposition the canvas relative to the easel or wait for the freshly painted surfaces to dry. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the canvas holder device comprises a pair of spaced apart first members, a second member adjacent to said pair of spaced apart first members and repositionable relative to at least one of said pair of first members, at least one support and a fastening device.

[0011] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of the canvas holder device of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear elevational view of the canvas holder device of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2A is a partial perspective view of a portion of a bracket.

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevational view of the canvas holder device of the present invention with the second member repositioned relative to the pair of first members.

[0016] FIG. 3A is a typical sectional view through first member and illustrating the groove portion therein.

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a rear elevational view of the canvas holder device of the present invention with a stretched canvas installed thereon.

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the front of the canvas holder device of the present invention, with a stretched canvas installed thereon, removably installed on an easel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details.

[0020] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the canvas holder device 100 of the present invention which is comprised of a pair of first members 120, a second member 130, at least one support 140, and a fastening device 170. Unless otherwise stated herein, all components of device 100 are preferably comprised of wood, though it is contemplated that other materials, such as metal, plastic and the like, could also be used without affecting the overall concept of the present invention.

[0021] Each of said pair of first members 120 is preferably an elongated member with a generally square or rectangular shaped cross-section. Each of said pair of first members 120 is preferably further comprised of a front portion 122, a rear portion 124, and side portion 126, wherein at least a portion of one of said side portions 126 is in contact with second member 130 as illustrated in FIG. 1. First members 120 are in spaced apart, approximately parallel, relationship to one another and can be connected by at least one of supports 140, as will be described in greater detail below. First members 120 may also be connected to each other in spaced-apart, approximately parallel relationship by at least one bracket 129, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The dimensions of each of first members 120 can be suited to user preference, but first member 140 is preferably between 16 and 24 inches in length, 1 and 3 inches in width, and 1/4 and 3/4 inches in depth.

[0022] Each of said pair of first members 120 is preferably further comprised of a groove portion 127 and an opening or slot 128 formed therein for receipt of a fastener body 173 as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In a preferred embodiment, groove portion 127 would be formed along the length of at least one side portion 126 of at least one first member 120 for mating receipt of a tongue portion 136 of second member 130, as will be described more fully below. Slot 128 extends through each of said first members 120 from front portion 122 to rear portion 124, and along at least a portion of the length of each of first members 120. The length of slot 128 is preferably between 8 and 16 inches in length, though it is contemplated that larger or smaller slots could also be used. The width of slot 128 is sized larger than the size or diameter of fastener body 173 to permit fastener body 173 to slide within slot 128 as second member 130 is repositioned relative to said pair of first members 120 or vice versa, as will be described more fully below.

[0023] Second member 130 is also preferably an elongated member with a generally square or rectangular shaped cross-section. Second member 130 is further comprised of a front portion 132, a rear portion 134, and tongue portion 136 along one or more sides of second member 130. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, second member 130 is positioned between and adjacent to each of said spaced apart first members 120, and is slidably repositionable relative to said pair of first members 120. More specifically, second member 130 is positioned between the pair of first members 120 such that tongue portion 136 of second member 130 matingly engages the groove portion 127 of one or more of first members 120 thereby slidably securing second member 130 to each of first members 120. The shape and size of each of groove portion 127 and tongue portion 136 can be designed to suit user preference and can be interlocking, or not interlocking, as shown in FIG. 3A. It is also contemplated that the arrangement could be switched such that each of first members 120 would have a tongue portion and second member 130 would have corresponding groove portions for receipt of said tongue portions.

[0024] Similar to first members 120, the dimensions of second member 130 can also be suited to user preference, but should be of approximately the same depth of first members 120 as explained more fully below. Second member 130 is preferably between 16 and 24 inches in length and 1 and 3 inches in width, and 1/4 and inches in depth.

[0025] Similar to first members 120, second member 130 is also preferably further comprised of an opening or slot 138 formed therein for receipt of a fastener body 173 as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. More specifically, slot 138 extends through second member 130 from front portion 132 to rear portion 134, and along at least a portion of the length of second member 130 as shown in FIG. 1. The length of slot 128 is preferably between 8 and 16 inches in length, though it is contemplated that larger or smaller slots could also be used. The width of slot 138 is sized larger than the size or diameter of fastener body 173 to permit fastener body 173 to slide within slot 138 as second member 130 is repositioned relative to the first members 120 or vice versa, as will be described more fully below.

[0026] Each of supports 140 is also preferably an elongated member with a generally square or rectangular shaped cross-section, and is preferably comprised of a top surface 142 and a bottom surface 144. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, each of supports 140 preferably spans across at least a portion of the front surface 122 of first members 120 and the front surface 132 of second member 130, and is preferably attached to either first members 120 or second member 130 with a support fastener 146, such as a nail, screw, bolt or the like. More specifically, device 100 preferably is comprised of at least two supports 140, with one support 140 being attached to one or more of the first members 120 and the second support 140 being attached to the second member 130 in spaced apart relationship from the first support as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The purpose and usefulness of supports 140 are described in greater detail below.

[0027] Fastening device 170 is preferably comprised of a plurality of fasteners 171 and a bracket 176. Each of fasteners 171 are further comprised of a fastener head 172 and a fastener body 173. At least a portion of fastener body 173 is preferably threaded for matingly engaging a nut 174, such as a wing nut. Bracket 176 has a plurality of openings 178 therein for receipt of fasteners 171, as described more fully below and best illustrated in FIG. 2A. Each of fasteners 171 and bracket 176 are preferably comprised of a durable metal such as steel, though it is contemplated that other durable materials such as plastic and the like could also be used without affecting the overall concept of the present invention.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, fastening device 170 is installed on canvas holder 100 by inserting at least one of fasteners 171 through both slot 128 in first member 120 and opening 178 in bracket 176, which is preferably installed along the rear portion 124 of first member 120 and the rear portion of second member 130, and removably securing the same thereto with nut 174 as best illustrated in FIG. 2. More specifically, as nut 174 is tightened on fastener 171, fastening device 170 clamps down on the first member 120 upon which it is installed thereby limiting its movement along slot 128 relative to fastener 171.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an additional fastener 171 is inserted through both slot 138 in second member 130 and an additional opening 178 in bracket 176, and removably secured thereto with a nut 174. Similarly, as nut 174 is tightened on fastener 171, fastening device 170 clamps down on second member 130, thereby limiting its movement along slot 138 relative to fastener 171 and first members 120.

[0030] Slots 128 and 138 are larger in size than the diameter of fastener body 173 to permit first member 120 and second member 130 to slide or move relative to fasteners 171 in slots 128, 138. However, slots 128 and 138 are smaller in size than the size of fastener head 172 to prevent fasteners 171 from passing completely through slots 128, 138.

[0031] Having now described the preferred embodiment of canvas holder 100, its use and usefulness will now be described. FIG. 4 shows a rear elevational view of a preferred embodiment of canvas holder 100 installed on a stretched canvas 200. Stretched canvas 200 is well known in the art and is comprised of a frame 210 and a canvas portion 220 stretched over and attached to a portion of said frame 210. To properly install canvas 200 on canvas holder 100, a user simply loosens or removes nut 174 on one or more of fasteners 171, thereby lessening the clamping pressure applied thereby to the corresponding first or second member 120, 130 and permitting the fastener 171 to be repositioned along its corresponding slot 128, 138 in said first or second member 120, 130. With respect to canvas 200 in FIG. 4, second member 130 has been repositioned in an upward manner, relative to first members 120 and the fastener 171 installed on second member 130, such that the top surface 142 of the uppermost support 140 attached to the front portion 132 of second member 130 is in contact with the upper member 212 of frame 210. Similarly, each of first members 120 has been repositioned in a downward manner, relative to second member 130 and the fastener 171 installed on each of first members 120, such that the fastener 171 is near the top of the slot 128 and the bottom surface 144 of the lowermost support 140, attached to the front portion of said first member 120, is in contact with the lower member 214 of frame 210. Upon the desired positioning of first and second members 120, 130 relative to canvas 200, each of nuts 174 can be reinstalled and/or tightened on fasteners 171 thereby securing canvas holder 100 in the desired position.

[0032] Once a user (not shown) has properly installed canvas 200 on canvas holder 100, the user can then handle and/or remove the freshly painted canvas (not shown) from an existing easel (not shown) without coming into direct contact with the freshly painted work, thereby enabling another to use the easel before the first painting is completed. The canvas holder also enables the user or artist to freely paint the edge surfaces of the canvas portion 220, because said edge surfaces are not in contact with any portion of the easel (not shown), without having to wait for the freshly painted canvas to dry before repositioning the canvas relative to the easel.

[0033] FIG. 5 depicts an alternative manner of installing a stretched canvas 300 on canvas holder 100, wherein canvas holder 100 is also removably attached to a prior art easel 400. More specifically, canvas 300 is positioned between supports 140, as opposed to having supports 140 engage portions of the frame as depicted in FIG. 4. This embodiment may be preferred by an artist whom does not wish to paint the edges of the canvas that are in contact with supports 140.

[0034] As illustrated in the various FIGS. an optional mounting bracket 190 can be attached to canvas holder 100 by any means known in the art to permit canvas holder 100 to be hung from a wall (not shown) or suspended from a ceiling or other structure. Enabling an artist to reposition his or her freshly painted canvas and suspend it from a wall or other structure to properly dry enables the artist or an instructor to make the easel available for another student or artists without jeopardizing the quality of the first painting. Such a device also reduces the amount of easels required in a studio or classroom setting, thereby reducing costs and the space required to store said easels.

[0035] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims

1. A canvas holder comprising: a pair of first members; a second member, wherein said second member is adjacent to at least one of said pair of first members and repositionable relative to at least one of said pair of first members; at least one support; and a fastening device.

2. The canvas holder of claim 1 wherein said fastening device is further comprised of at least one fastener and at least one nut.

3. The canvas holder of claim 2 wherein at least one of said second member or at least one of said pair of first members has a slot therein.

4. The canvas holder of claim 3 wherein a portion of said at least one fastener is positioned within said slot.

5. The canvas holder of claim 1 wherein at least one of the following is comprised of wood: the pair of first members, the second member and the at least one support.

6. The canvas holder of claim 1 further comprising a mounting bracket.

7. The canvas holder of claim 1 wherein said at least one support is attached to either the second member or at least one of said pair of first members.

8. A canvas holder comprising: a pair of first members; a second member; at least one support; and a fastening device, wherein at least one of said pair of first members is adjacent to the second member and repositionable relative to the second member.

9. The canvas holder of claim 8 wherein said fastening device is further comprised of at least one fastener and at least one nut.

10. The canvas holder of claim 9 wherein at least one of said second member or at least one of said pair of first members has a slot therein.

11. The canvas holder of claim 10 wherein a portion of said at least one fastener is positioned within said slot.

12. The canvas holder of claim 8 wherein at least one of the following is comprised of wood: the pair of first members, the second member and the at least one support.

13. The canvas holder of claim 8 further comprising a mounting bracket.

14. The canvas holder of claim 8 wherein said at least one support is attached to either the second member or at least one of said pair of first members.

15. A canvas holder comprising: a pair of first members, wherein at least one of said pair of first members has a slot formed therein; a second member, wherein said second member has a slot formed therein; at least one support; and a fastening device, wherein at least one of said pair of first members is repositionable relative to the second member.

16. The canvas holder of claim 15 wherein said fastening device is further comprised of at least one fastener and at least one nut.

17. The canvas holder of claim 16 wherein a portion of said at least one fastener is positioned within either the slot in at least one of said pair of first members or the slot in said second member.

18. The canvas holder of claim 15 wherein each of said pair of first members further comprise a groove portion for receipt of a tongue portion of said second member.

19. The canvas holder of claim 15 wherein said at least one support is attached to either the second member or at least one of said pair of first members.

20. The canvas holder of claim 15 wherein each of said pair of first members further comprise a tongue portion for insertion into a corresponding groove portion of said second member.