Easel workstation

Abstract

An easel workstation consisting of four legs attached to a base so that the legs form a pyramid or a truncated pyramid structure. Adjustable supports are positioned on the legs for supporting articles on the supports and leaned against the legs of the workstation. When desired work can be placed on all four sides of the workstation. The base is preferably provided with locking casters so that the workstation can be more easily moved from place to place.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Graphic artists have long used the simple three-legged easel. Many improvements have been made to easels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,264 disclosed a mobile easel workstation comprising a wheeled cart while U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,345 B1 disclosed a four-legged adjustable easel capable of supporting works in progress on both sides of the easel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] An easel workstation that comprises four legs fastened at each end thereof to a base so that the legs form a pyramid structure. Adjustable supports are positioned on the legs for supporting articles on the supports and leaned against the legs of the workstation. When desired work can be placed on all four sides of the workstation. The base is preferably provided with locking casters so that the workstation can be more easily moved from place to place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a preferred easel workstation of the instant invention; and

[0004] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the easel shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, therein is shown a front and side view of a preferred easel workstation 10 of the instant invention. The easel workstation 10 is provided with a base 11. The base 11 defines a first base socket 12, a second base socket 13, a third base socket 14 and a fourth base socket (not shown), the base sockets being spaced apart horizontally as shown. The base sockets are formed from lengths of square four inch outside diameter steel tubing welded together with lengths of square three-quarters inch outside diameter steel tubing to form the base 11. Each side of the base 11 is thirty-seven inches long.

[0006] The easel workstation 10 is also provided with a cap 15. The base 15 defines a first cap socket 16, a second cap socket 17, a third cap socket 18 and a fourth cap socket (not shown), the cap sockets being spaced apart horizontally as shown. The cap sockets are formed from lengths of square four inch outside diameter steel tubing welded together with lengths of square three-quarters inch outside diameter steel tubing to form the cap 15. Each side of the cap 15 is fourteen inches long.

[0007] The easel workstation 10 also incorporates a first leg 19, having an upper end positioned in the first cap socket 16 and a lower end positioned in the first base socket 12. The first leg 19 is oriented so that the upper end of the first leg 19 leans toward the center of the workstation 10 as shown. The easel workstation 10 also incorporates a second leg 20, having an upper end positioned in the second cap socket 17 and a lower end positioned in the second base socket 13. The second leg 20 is oriented so that the upper end of the second leg 19 leans toward the center of the workstation 10 as shown.

[0008] The easel workstation 10 also incorporates a third leg 21 having an upper end positioned in the third cap socket 18 and a lower end positioned in the third base socket 14. The third leg 21 is oriented so that the upper end of the third leg 21 leans toward the center of the workstation 10 as shown. The easel workstation 10 also incorporates a fourth leg (not shown) having an upper end positioned in the fourth cap socket (not shown and a lower end positioned in the fourth base socket (not shown). The fourth leg is oriented so that the upper end of the fourth leg also leans toward the center of the workstation 10.

[0009] The legs are each seven-foot lengths of 4×4 lumber fastened to the sockets with lag bolts 22. Each leg is bored with a plurality of cavities 23 sized to accept wooden pegs 25. The cavities 23 and pegs 25 provide an adjustable support system for supporting an article(s) to be placed on the workstation 10 at a selected height or position. Locking castors 26 are preferably welded on the bottom of the base 11 so that the workstation can be more easily moved from place to place. A sheet metal shelf, not shown, is preferably welded on the top of the base 11 to provide a convenient shelf surface for the workstation 10. A handle 27 made of tubular steel is preferably attached to the legs 20 and 21 as shown with screws 28 to provide a convenient means for pulling the workstation 10 from place to place. Stainless steel and rot resistant pressure treated lumber are preferred materials of construction if the workstation 10 will be used outside and exposed to the weather

[0010] The description above relates to a specific preferred embodiment of the instant invention and it should be understood that many other embodiments are possible. For example, it should be understood that the base, the cap and the legs can be made of any suitable material of construction. It should also be understood that the cavities 23 and pegs 25 are but one example of an adjustable support system that can be used in the instant invention. Any suitable adjustable support system can be used in the instant invention. Such systems include, without limitation, adjustable shelf brackets, adjustable supports that slide up or down on the legs or even the hole and rod system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,345 B1. Although the sockets described above are preferred, the legs of the instant invention can be attached to the base by any suitable means such as by welding or by the use of fasteners such as screws or rivets.

[0011] The instant invention is useful in the sign making trade. The specific embodiment described above will hold 4×8 foot sheets of sign foam stock or relatively small finished signs. Work in progress can be positioned, if desired, on all four sides of the workstation 10 so that work can progress with increased efficiency. In addition, the pyramid like design of the legs of the workstation 10 strengthens and stiffens its structure.

[0012] The instant invention is also useful in schools and day care centers and for this application it is preferable to make the legs and base of a formed plastic material. For example, the base can be formed with upwardly and inwardly projecting pins at each corner of the base over which pins tubular plastic legs are placed.

Claims

1. An easel workstation, comprising: (a) a base; (b) a first leg having a lower end attached to the base, the first leg being oriented so that the upper end of the first leg leans toward the center of the workstation; (c) a second leg having a lower end attached to the base, the second leg being oriented so that the upper end of the second leg leans toward the center of the workstation; (d) a third leg having a lower end attached to the base, the third leg being oriented so that the upper end of the third leg leans toward the center of the workstation; (e) a fourth leg having a lower end attached to the base, the fourth leg being oriented so that the upper end of the fourth leg leans toward the center of the workstation; (f) a first adjustable support positioned on the first leg for supporting an article to be placed on the workstation; (g) a second adjustable support positioned on the second leg for supporting an article to be placed on the workstation; (h) a third adjustable support positioned on the third leg for supporting an article to be placed on the workstation; and (i) a fourth adjustable support positioned on the fourth leg for supporting an article to be placed on the workstation.

2. The easel workstation if claim 1 wherein the base defines a first base socket, a second base socket, a third base socket and a fourth base socket, the base sockets being horizontally spaced apart, the lower end of the first leg being positioned in the first base socket, the lower end of the second leg being positioned in the second base socket, the lower end of the third leg being positioned in the third base socket, the lower end of the fourth leg being positioned in the fourth base socket.

3. The easel work station of claim 2, further comprising a cap, the cap defining a first cap socket, a second cap socket, a third cap socket and a fourth cap socket, the cap sockets being spaced apart horizontally, the upper end of the first leg being positioned in the first cap socket, the upper end of the second leg being positioned in the second cap socket, the upper end of the third leg being positioned in the third cap socket and the upper end of the fourth leg being positioned in the fourth cap socket.

4. The easel workstation of claim 1, further comprising at least three spaced apart wheeled casters attached to the bottom of the base so that the workstation can be more easily moved from place to place.

5. The easel workstation of claim 2, further comprising at least three spaced apart wheeled casters attached to the bottom of the base so that the workstation can be more easily moved from place to place.

6. The easel workstation of claim 3, further comprising at least three spaced apart wheeled casters attached to the bottom of the base so that the workstation can be more easily moved from place to place.

7. The easel workstation of claim 1, wherein the legs each define a plurality of cavities, the cavities being provided for receiving pegs.

8. The easel workstation of claim 2, wherein the legs each define a plurality of cavities, the cavities being provided for receiving pegs.

9. The easel workstation of claim 3, wherein the legs each define a plurality of cavities, the cavities being provided for receiving pegs.

10. The easel workstation of claim 4, wherein the legs each define a plurality of cavities, the cavities being provided for receiving pegs.

11. The easel workstation of claim 5, wherein the legs each define a plurality of cavities, the cavities being provided for receiving pegs.

12. The easel workstation of claim 6, wherein the legs each define a plurality of cavities, the cavities being provided for receiving pegs.