Collapsible Top Hanger Easel

Abstract

A folding and collapsing easel that includes one or more retainer devices or attachments that can be coupled to the top of the display material. The easel includes a top portion and a bottom portion, each portion having three legs that are coupled together to form a stand. The top portion of the easel includes two elongated members that are pivotally coupled to two of the legs and further coupled to each other at adjacent ends, such that the elongated members may form a “V” shape when extended. The easel further includes one or more chart holding pins with retainer springs to secure display materials to the easel.

1 . An improved folding and collapsing top hanger easel of the type that has a top portion comprising a plurality of legs that can be deployed into a stand and folded such that the legs are closer to one another, the improvement comprising:
 a pair of elongated members pivotally coupled to the top portion of the easel, with one member pivotally coupled between its two ends to one leg of the easel, and the other member pivotally coupled between its two ends to a second leg of the easel;   where the members are pivotally coupled to one another; and   at least one mechanical hanger or retainer for a flip chart or the like, coupled to at least one member.   
   
   
       2 . The improved easel of  claim 1 , where the members are pivotally coupled to one another at adjacent ends thereof, so that the members form a generally “V” shape when deployed. 
   
   
       3 . The improved easel of  claim 1 , further comprising a second mechanical hanger or retainer, where each mechanical hanger or retainer is coupled to one of the members. 
   
   
       4 . The improved easel of  claim 1 , where the mechanical hanger or retainer comprises a pin and a spring clamp. 
   
   
       5 . The improved easel of  claim 1 , where each of the members is pivotally coupled to their respective legs of the easel at a location proximate the midpoint of the length of each of the members. 
   
   
       6 . The improved easel of  claim 1 , where a rivet pivot joint is used to pivotally couple the members to one another. 
   
   
       7 . The improved easel of  claim 1 , where a rivet pivot joint is used to pivotally couple the members to the legs of the easel. 
   
   
       8 . An easel comprising:
 a top portion comprising
 two generally rectangular bars, each bar having a first end and a second distal end, a plurality of top legs, each leg comprising a lower end and a distal upper end, and at least one retainer device; and 
   a bottom portion comprising an equal plurality of bottom legs, each leg having a lower end and a distal upper end;   where the upper ends of the bottom legs are each coupled to a lower end of one of the top legs to form a stand;   where the rectangular bars are pivotally coupled to each other, and each of the rectangular bars is pivotally coupled to one of the top legs; and   where the retainer device is coupled to one of the rectangular bars proximate the upper end of the retainer bar.   
   
   
       9 . The easel of  claim 8 , where the rectangular bars are pivotally coupled to each other proximate their lower ends. 
   
   
       10 . The easel of  claim 8 , where each of the rectangular bars is pivotally coupled to one of the top legs at the approximate midpoint of the rectangular bar. 
   
   
       11 . The easel of  claim 8 , where each of the rectangular bars are pivotally coupled to one of the top legs at the approximate midpoint of the top leg, such that the rectangular bars form a generally “V” shape when extended. 
   
   
       12 . The easel of  8 , where a rivet pivot joint is used to pivotally couple the rectangular bars to one another. 
   
   
       13 . The easel of  8 , where a rivet pivot joint is used to pivotally couple the rectangular members to the top legs. 
   
   
       14 . A method of improving a folding and collapsing easel of the type that has a top portion comprising a plurality of legs that can be deployed into a stand, and folded such that the legs are closer to one another, the method comprising:
 forming a first hole in a first leg;   forming a second hole in a second leg;   pivotally coupling a first generally rectangular bar to the first leg at the location of the first hole;   pivotally coupling a second generally rectangular bar to the second leg at the location of the second hole;   pivotally coupling the first rectangular bar to the second rectangular bar; and   coupling a retainer device to each of the rectangular bars.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , where rivet pivot joints are used to pivotally couple the rectangular bars to the legs and to each other. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , where at least one of the first hole or the second hole are formed at a location proximate the midpoint of its respective leg. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , where the first rectangular bar is coupled to the second rectangular bar at a location proximate a first end of each of the rectangular bars, such that the rectangular bars form a generally “V” shape when extended. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , where the retainer devices are coupled to the distal ends of each of the retainer bars.