Collapsible artist's easel

Abstract

A collapsible easel for use by an artist or the like. The easel comprises a lower and upper base, each having top, bottom and side members, a tripod leg is attached to the top member of the lower base, a platform is pivotly connected between the side members of the lower base including a pallete work surface and a covered storage compartment and a pair of translatable brackets carried by the side members of the lower base and translatable therealong; the brackets are pivotly connected to the bottom member of the upper base and pivotly connected to link members which are also pivotly connected to the platform. The upper base includes adjustable clamps for holding the medium on which the artist paints. Guides attached to the top member of the lower base fix the upper base member in rotational position and the guides are positionable for relocating the rotational position of the upper base. Locks are provided for locking the easel in a collapsed position and for locking the easel in an open operable position. In a collapsed position the top member of the upper base is positioned adjacent the bottom member of the lower base, the distal end of the tripod leg is adjacent thereto and the brackets are translated to a maximum position from the top member of the lower base. When deploying the easel from a collapsed to an open operable position, the lock is unlocked, the upper base is rotated substantially upright, the hinges are then translated downward causing the platform to rotate upward, forcing the tripod leg outward, when the brackets are fully translated downward adjacent the compartment, the device is locked in position and ready for use. Collapsing is done in a reverse manner.