Artistic media stretcher

Abstract

This application relates to systems and methods for stretching artistic media, such as watercolor paper and/or canvas. In particular, this application discusses an artistic media stretcher and associated methods. Generally, the media stretcher includes a frame on which the medium is stretched and a hinged clamping mechanism that is adapted to both stretch the medium and to secure the medium to the frame. Some examples of suitable hinged clamping mechanisms include a double-hinged; single-hinged, tongue-and-catch; a barbell-hinged, half-barbell hinged, and a hybrid-hinged clamping mechanism. In some cases, the media stretcher is made so that paint can run off the medium without collecting at the edges. For example, the medium may be raised above the closest edges of the hinged-clamping mechanism so that paint is not retained in contact with the medium by the clamping mechanism.

1 . An artistic media stretcher comprising:
 an artistic media frame; and   a hinged clamping mechanism adapted to stretch an artistic medium,   wherein the frame and the clamping mechanism are adapted to allow paint to run off of the medium without being retained against the medium by the clamping mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The media stretcher of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged clamping mechanism is selected from a double-hinged clamping mechanism; a single-hinged, tongue-and-catch clamping mechanism; a barbell-hinged clamping mechanism; a half-barbell-hinged clamping mechanism; and a hybrid-hinged clamping mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The media stretcher of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping mechanism is selected from a barbell-hinged clamping mechanism, a half-barbell hinged clamping mechanism, and a hybrid-hinged clamping mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The media stretcher of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a first interchangeable media interface and a second interchangeable media interface that are configured to press against each other when the clamping mechanism is in a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The media stretcher of  claim 3 , wherein the clamping mechanism further comprises a cam-action media interface. 
     
     
         6 . The media stretcher of  claim 3 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a first clamp member and a second clamp member that are connected to each other with a connector selected from a half-barbell member and a full-barbell member. 
     
     
         7 . The media stretcher of  claim 3 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a media interface component that is connected to a clamp member by a half-barbell member. 
     
     
         8 . The media stretcher of  claim 3 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a media interface component, and wherein a movement of the interface component is restricted by a projection that fits into a slot. 
     
     
         9 . An artistic media stretcher comprising:
 an artistic media frame; and   a clamping mechanism selected from a double-hinged clamping mechanism, a barbell-hinged clamping mechanism, a half-barbell-hinged clamping mechanism, and a hybrid-hinged clamping mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . The media stretcher of  claim 9 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises the double-hinged clamping mechanism, the double-hinged clamping mechanism comprising:
 a clamp member that is attached to a first hinge that, in turn, is attached to a second hinge, which, in turn, is attached to the artistic media frame.   
     
     
         11 . The media stretcher of  claim 9 , wherein the clamping mechanism is selected from a barbell-hinged clamping mechanism, a half-barbell-hinged clamping mechanism, and a hybrid-hinged clamping mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The media stretcher of  claim 9 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a first clamp member and a second clamp member that are moveably connected to each other by a full-barbell member, and wherein the clamping mechanism further comprises a media interface component that is connected to the clamping mechanism by a half-barbell member. 
     
     
         13 . The media stretcher of  claim 9 , wherein the clamping mechanism further comprises a cam-action media interface. 
     
     
         14 . The media stretcher of  claim 9 , wherein the media stretcher is expandable, allowing a size of the media stretcher to be tailored to stretch media of differing sizes. 
     
     
         15 . A method for stretching an artistic medium, the method comprising;
 providing an artistic media stretcher comprising:
 an artistic media frame; and 
 a clamping mechanism selected from a double-hinged clamping mechanism, a barbell-hinged clamping mechanism, a half-barbell-hinged clamping mechanism, and a hybrid-hinged clamping mechanism, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a first media interface and a second media interface; 
   placing an artistic medium on the media frame so that an edge of the artistic medium is disposed between the first and the second media interface; and   stretching the artistic medium by moving the clamping mechanism to a closed position.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises the double-hinged clamping mechanism, and wherein the double-hinged clamping mechanism comprises:
 a clamp member that is attached to a first hinge that, in turn, is attached to a second hinge, which, in turn, is attached to the artistic media frame.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a media interface component that is connected to a clamp member by a half-barbell member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the clamping mechanism further comprises a cam-action media interface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises the barbell-hinged clamping mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a first interchangeable media interface component and a second interchangeable media interface component.