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A portable drawing apparatus configured to act as an easel and/or desk includes a pair of upper support members each pivotally connected to a respective lower support member, and also each pivotally connected to a respective rear support member. In an operational configuration, the rear support memb

A portable drawing apparatus configured to act as an easel and/or desk includes a pair of upper support members each pivotally connected to a respective lower support member, and also each pivotally connected to a respective rear support member. In an operational configuration, the rear support members can project rearwardly in a plane substantially normal to a plane defined by two mutually parallel upper support members. A lower cross frame and upper cross frame are each connected to respective lower support members, and upper support members, and each further connected to the non-removable portion. A hinged lateral member, when configured in a locked position, defines the apparatus width. In a collapsed configuration, the distal portions of the upper and lower support members are configured to point in the same direction and form a bundle whose length is substantially less than that of the apparatus length in operational configuration.

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What is claimed is: 1. A portable drawing apparatus, comprising: a pair of drawing surface support members arranged as narrow elongated structures, each drawing surface support member configured to connect to a drawing support surface along an edge of the drawing support surface; a pair of lower su

What is claimed is: 1. A portable drawing apparatus, comprising: a pair of drawing surface support members arranged as narrow elongated structures, each drawing surface support member configured to connect to a drawing support surface along an edge of the drawing support surface; a pair of lower support members arranged as narrow elongated structures, each lower support member pivotally connected to a respective drawing surface support member; a pair of rear support members arranged as narrow elongated structures, each rear support member pivotally connected to a respective drawing surface support member; a lower cross frame having first and second members pivotally connected to each other in a center region, the lower cross frame connected to a distal region of each front support member and to the rear support members; an upper cross frame having first and second members pivotally connected to each other in a center region, the upper cross frame connected to a distal region of each drawing surface support member and to the rear support members; a hinged lateral member comprising two portions rotatable about a common pivot, the hinged lateral member connected at each of two ends to one of a respective rear support member, a respective drawing surface support member, and a respective lower support member, wherein, in an operational configuration: the drawing support surface forms a planar upwardly and rearwardly reclined surface connected to each of the drawing surface support members along opposite edges of the drawing support surface, each lower support member is substantially parallel to a respective drawing surface support member, the rear support members and lower support members are configured to rest on a common substantially planar surface, wherein each rear support member extends at a substantial angle with respect to the drawing surface support members, and wherein, in a collapsed configuration, the portable drawing apparatus is operable such that the drawing surface support members and the lower support members are substantially mutually parallel and have their respective distal ends substantially pointing in a same direction with respect to a common hinge, the drawing surface support members, the lower support members, and at least a portion of the rear support members forming a bundle. 2. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear support members each comprise a first portion connected to a respective drawing surface support member and a second portion that is detachable from the first portion, wherein each of the lower and upper cross frames are connected to the first portion, and wherein, in the collapsed configuration, a longitudinal dimension of the bundle is substantially less than a length of the portable drawing apparatus in operational configuration. 3. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second portions of each rear support member is substantially curved. 4. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drawing surface support members, the rear support members, and the lower support members comprise one of elongated tubes and elongated rods. 5. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hinged lateral member is connected at each of two ends to one of a respective rear support member, the portable drawing apparatus further comprising: a front hinged lateral member comprising two portions pivotable about a common hinge, the front hinged lateral member connected at each of two ends to a respective drawing surface support member; a pair of side lateral members each connected on one end to a respective rear support member and each connected to a respective lower support member; and a lower lateral member coupled on opposite ends to distal portions of the rear support members. 6. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drawing support surface comprises one of a rigid body configured to detach from the drawing support surface members in an operational configuration before collapsing the portable drawing apparatus and a compliant body configured to remain attached to the drawing surface support members whether in an operational or collapsed configuration. 7. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 6, wherein the rigid body comprises two panels that are reversibly joinable along a respective inner edge of each panel, and are each configured to connect to a respective drawing surface support member along an outer edge. 8. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a top member connected to distal ends of respective drawing surface support members, and configured to reversibly detach at at least one distal end, the top member further configured to extend through a tube containing a consumable drawing medium sheet, wherein, in the operational configuration, the drawing medium sheet is downwardly extendable over the drawing surface. 9. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more of: at least one side pouch reversibly attachable to a respective drawing surface support member; a front tray reversibly connectable to a front region of the portable drawing apparatus; and a lower container reversibly attachable to the lower support members and the rear support members. 10. A portable easel, comprising: a drawing support surface; a pair of upper support members being substantially mutually parallel and each configured to connect to the drawing support surface along opposite sides of the drawing support surface; a pair of lower support members, each lower support member pivotally connected through a hinge to a respective upper support member, wherein the upper support and the lower support members are configured such that their distal ends can form a mutual angle with respect to the hinge that spans a range from about zero degrees to about one hundred eighty degrees; a pair of rear support members each pivotally connected to an upper support member; a hinged lateral member having a central pivot and being connected on opposite ends to one of a pair of rear support members, a pair of lower support members, and a pair of upper support members, the hinged lateral member comprising two portions rotatable about a common pivot and configured to engage into a locked position defining a substantially straight line; a lower cross frame comprising two members pivotally connected in their respective central regions, the lower cross frame connected on each of a pair of distal ends to a respective lower support member and on each of a second pair of distal ends to a respective rear support member; an upper cross frame comprising two members pivotally connected in their respective central regions, the upper cross frame connected on each of a pair of distal ends to a respective upper support member and on each of a second pair of distal ends to a respective rear support member; wherein, in an operational configuration, the hinged lateral member is disposed in a locked position, the upper, lower, and rear support members define a substantially rigid easel in which the upper and lower support members define a substantially planar inclined surface having a substantially rectangular shape whose lateral dimension is about that of the hinged lateral member, and wherein, in a collapsed configuration, the lower support members, upper support members, rear support members, upper and lower cross support members, and hinged lateral member are collapsed in a bundle, wherein the upper and lower support members are configured such that their distal ends point in the same direction with respect to the hinge. 11. The portable easel of claim 10, wherein the hinged lateral member is connected at each of two ends to one of a respective rear support member, the portable easel further comprising: a front hinged lateral member comprising two portions pivotable about a common hinge, the front hinged lateral member connected at each of two ends to a respective upper support member; a pair of side lateral members each connected on one end to a respective rear support member and each connected to a respective lower support member; and a lower lateral member coupled on opposite ends to distal portions of the rear support members. 12. The portable easel of claim 10, further comprising: a drawing roll pin connected to distal ends of respective upper support members, and configured to reversibly detach at at least one distal end, the drawing roll pin configured to extend through a tube containing a consumable drawing medium sheet, wherein, in the operational configuration, the drawing medium sheet is downwardly extendable over the drawing support surface. 13. The portable easel of claim 11, farther comprising at least one of: one or more side pouches reversibly attachable to a respective drawing surface support member; a front tray reversibly connectable to a front region of the portable drawing apparatus and configured to rest upon front portions of the side lateral members; and a lower container reversibly attachable to the lower support members and the rear support members. 14. The portable easel of claim 10, wherein the drawing support surface comprises one of: a dry erase board configured to detach from the upper support members while the portable easel is in an operational configuration before collapsing the portable easel; and a compliant sheet configured to remain attached to the drawing surface support members whether in an operational or collapsed configuration. 15. The portable easel of claim 14, wherein the dry erase board comprises a pair of reversibly joinable panels. 16. The portable easel of claim 10, wherein in the collapsed configuration, the portable easel is operable to fit inside an elongated carry case, wherein the carry case is substantially shorter than the portable easel in the operational configuration, and wherein a lateral dimension of the carry case is less than about half a lateral width of the portable easel in the operational configuration. 17. A portable drawing apparatus, comprising: a drawing support surface; a pair of upper support members being substantially mutually parallel and each configured to connect to the drawing support surface along opposite sides of the drawing support surface; a pair of lower support members, each lower support member pivotally connected through a hinge to a respective upper support member, wherein the upper support and the lower support members are configured such that their distal ends can form a mutual angle with respect to the hinge that spans a range from about zero degrees to about one hundred eighty degrees; a pair of rear support members each pivotally connected to one of an upper support member and a lower support member; a hinged lateral member comprising two portions rotatable about a common pivot and configured to engage into a locked position defining a substantially straight line and being connected on opposite ends to one of a pair of rear support members, a pair of lower support members, and a pair of upper support members; a lower cross frame comprising two members pivotally connected in their respective central regions, the lower cross frame connected on each of a pair of distal ends to a respective lower support member and on each of a second pair of distal ends to a respective rear support member; an upper cross frame comprising two members pivotally connected in their respective central regions, the upper cross frame connected on each of a pair of distal ends to a respective upper support member and on each of a second pair of distal ends to a respective rear support member; wherein, in an operational configuration, the hinged lateral member is disposed in a locked position, the upper, lower and rear support members define a substantially rigid easel in which the upper and lower support members define a substantially planar inclined surface having a substantially rectangular shape whose lateral dimension is about that of the hinged lateral member, and wherein, in a collapsed configuration, the lower support members, upper support members, rear support members, upper and lower cross support members, and hinged lateral member are collapsed in a bundle, wherein the upper and lower support members are configured such that their distal ends point in the same direction with respect to the hinge. 18. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the rear support member is connected to the upper support member, further comprising a pair of side lateral members each connected to a respective rear support member and a lower support member, the side lateral members forming in an operation configuration an angle of about minus fifteen to about plus fifteen degrees with respect to a horizontal surface upon which the lower and rear support members rest. 19. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the lower cross frame defines a plane that extends upwardly and rearwardly as viewed from a side of the easel, wherein each endpoint of the hinged lateral member intersects a respective rear support member at a point in which a respective lower cross frame member, upper cross frame member and side lateral member also mutually intersect. 20. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 17, wherein, in an operational configuration, the lower cross frame lies in a plane that is substantially horizontal, and wherein the rear support members are substantially straight. 21. A portable drawing apparatus, comprising: a drawing support surface; a pair of upper support members being substantially mutually parallel and each configured to connect to the drawing support surface along opposite sides of the drawing support surface; a pair of lower support members, each lower support member pivotally connected through a hinge to a respective upper support member, wherein the upper support and the lower support members are configured such that their distal ends can form a mutual angle with respect to the hinge that spans a range from about zero degrees to about one hundred eighty degrees; a pair of rear support members each pivotally connected to one of an upper support member and a lower support member; a hinged lateral member comprising two portions rotatable about a common pivot and configured to engage into a locked position defining a substantially straight line and being connected on opposite ends to one of a pair of rear support members, a pair of lower support members, and a pair of upper support members; a lower cross frame comprising two members pivotally connected in their respective central regions, the lower cross frame reversibly connectable on each of a pair of distal ends to a respective lower support member and on each of a second pair of distal ends to a respective rear support member; an upper cross frame comprising two members pivotally connected in their respective central regions, the upper cross frame connected on each of a pair of distal ends to a respective upper support member and on each of a second pair of distal ends to a respective rear support member; wherein, in an operational configuration the hinged lateral member is disposed in a locked position, the upper, lower and rear support members define a substantially rigid easel support surface in which the upper and lower support members define a substantially planar inclined surface having a substantially rectangular shape whose lateral dimension is about that of the hinged lateral member, the portable drawing apparatus is configured to retain a substantially horizontal removable support surface disposed between sides of the portable drawing apparatus, the lower cross member is configured to fold out of the way of a person seated with legs at least partially below the horizontal support surface, and wherein, in a collapsed configuration, the lower support members, upper support members, rear support members, upper and lower cross support members, and hinged lateral member are collapsed in a bundle, wherein the upper and lower support members are configured such that their distal ends point in the same direction with respect to the hinge. 22. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a pair of side lateral members each connected on one end to a respective rear support member and each connected to a respective lower support member, wherein the side lateral members form in an operation configuration an angle of about zero degrees with respect to a horizontal surface defined by distal ends of the lower support members and rear support members, and wherein a height of the horizontal support surface is approximately that of the side lateral members. 23. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the removable horizontal support surface is configured to rest on members of the portable drawing apparatus without otherwise being attached to the portable drawing apparatus. 24. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the removable horizontal support surface is configured to reversibly attach to members of the portable drawing apparatus. 25. The portable drawing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the lower cross frame is configured to detach from each of the two lower support members, wherein the lower cross frame comprises one of a removable pivot and a slidable pivot, wherein the lower cross frame is configured to fold while remaining attached to the rear support members.