GB2123703A

GB2123703A - Illusionist's apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2123703A
Application number: GB8220295A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Taylor; Eric Jackson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-07-13
Filing date: 1982-07-13
Publication date: 1984-02-08

Abstract

The apparatus is intended to make an apparent stack of coins appear and disappear. It comprises a hollow cover 2 which can completely receive an apparent stack of coins formed by a real coin C on a dummy 4 having an outer surface formed to appear to be a pile of real coins. The apparent stack is retained frictionally within the cover by a lip 18 engaging the inner face of the cover side wall. To make the stack reappear a ring 6 is fitted about the lower part of the cover and sits on a supporting surface to mask the dropping of the stack from the cover when the frictional retention of the stack is released by a finger tap on the cover. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Illusionist's apparatus This invention relates to an illusionist's apparatus or trick.

According to the invention an illusionist's apparatus or trick whereby an apparent stack of coins can be made to disappear and appear, comprises a cover or first tube open at one end and closed at the other and having an internal cross-section of substantially the same size and shape as the size and shape of a coin with which the apparatus is to be used, a second tube closed at one end and open at the other and having a relatively thin side wall, the external cross-section of the second tube being of substantially the same size and shape as said coin, the whole of the outer face of the side wall of the second tube being formed to appear similar to the side edge of said coin or to appear similar to the side edges of a plurality of said coins one on top of another in a regular pile so that when a real said coin is placed on the closed end of the second tube having its open end standing on a surface the combination of real coin and second tube appear to be a stack of real coins, the internal length of the first tube being substantially equal to the height of said stack so the stack wholly fits within the first tube when the latter is placed over said stack, the second tube being arranged to releasably engage the first tube when the latter is fitted over the stack, and a mask or third tube open at both ends and fitable about the open end of the first tube so as to be able to support that open end off a surface on which the ring can stand, such that when the third tube is in position around the first tube the third tube masks from an observer the emergence of the stack from the first tube when the second tube is released from the first tube in response to a blow or finger tap applied to said first tube.

A projection extending transversely to the axis of the second tube may be provided enternally of that tube at or adjacent to the open end thereof, said projection being so slight as to be virtually undetectable to the naked eye and being arranged to frictionally engage an inner face of the first tube in a manner such that the frictional engagement releases in response to said blow or tap.

The projection can be a lip extending about the first tube.

The tubes may be formed of metal, for example brass.

The first tube may comprise a head at its closed end from which extends a neck to said open end such that the head provides an abutment for the third tube which has as axial length greater than that of the neck.

Preferably the second tube has an external length substantially equal to the total thickness of a whole number of a plurality of said real coins, the external surface of the second tube is surrounded by one or more grooves, and the or each groove represents the imaginary junction between two adjacent imaginary coins represented by the second tube.

If the real coin with which the apparatus is to be used has a serrated edge, then the outer face of the side wall of the second tube is serrated representing the serrations at the edge of the real coin. Also the outer face of the side wall and the outer face of the closed end of the second tube are of the same colour as that of said real coin, for example a silver colour.

To increase the number of possible illusions which can be performed, the apparatus can be augmented to comprise the third tube, two similar first tubes and two similar second tubes.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded view, in perspective, of an illusionist's apparatus or trick formed according to the invention in conjunction with a real coin used with the apparatus to perform a trick; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale of the assembled apparatus in Fig. 1 with the real coin; Fig. 3 is an inverse plan view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an exploded view, in perspective, of an augmented version of the apparatus in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus in Fig. 4, assembled together.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the illusionist's apparatus or trick comprises a cover 2, a dummy pile of coins 4, and a mask 6, all of which are formed to close tolerances from rigid material.

Preferably the material is metal, for example brass.

The dummy coin pile 4 is a tube of substantially right cylindrical form having a relatively thin side wall 8 with a closed end 10, which is also relatively thin, and an open end 11. The external cross-section of the dummy 4 is of substantially the same size and shape as the size and shape of a real coin C with which the apparatus is to be used.

Dummy 4 represents a regular pile of four real coins as represented at the outer face of side wall 8 by annular bands 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d between adjacent ones of which are respective annular grooves 12 representing junctions between adjacent imaginary coins. Because the edge of coin C is serrated, the outer face of side wall 8 is also similarly serrated at 14. The outer faces of side and end walls 8 and 10 are also of the same colour as the coin C. If the coin C is silver coloured, the outer faces of the walls 8 and 10 may be chromium plated. When the real coin C is placed on the dummy 4, standing on a flat surface, the combination of coin and dummy appears to be a stack of five real coins.

The cover 2 is formed by a tube which is closed at one end and internally has a substantially right cylindrical bore 1 6 of a length substantially equal to the height of the stack formed by the coin C on the dummy 4. The bore 1 6 has a cross-sectional shape of substantially the same size and shape as the coin C. However, it should be understood that the size of the bore 16 is slightly larger than the coin C so that a slight lip 18 on the wall 8 and projecting radially outwardly from the open end of the dummy 4 can frictionally engage the face of the bore 1 6 when the cover 2 is fitted over the stack so that the latter is retained within the cover as shown in Fig. 2. Cover 2 has an enlarged annular head 20 from which depends a neck 22 to the open end of the cover.The lip 1 8 is so slight as to be scarcely visible to the naked eye, at least to the casual observer or during a brief glance. The wall 8 is thin to the extent that when the cover containing the stack is viewed from the open end of the cover, the casual observer might not appreciate that the internal diameter of the cover had been reduced by the presence of the dummy 4 therewithin. Also it is preferable that the dummy 4 has a height equal to the thickness of several coins C and the wall 10 is relatively thin so that when the stack of coin C and dummy fits inside the cover 2, the casual observer would not appreciate the length of bore 1 6 has been appreciably reduced by the presence of the stack.

The mask 6 is a ring of right cylindrical shape which can removably fit about the neck 22 and abut the head 20. The length of the ring 6 is greater than that of the neck 22.

When the apparatus is in the attitude in Fig. 2, with lower end 24 of the ring 22 on a supporting surface, and the top of head 20 is subject to a sharp blow or tap by the finger, this shock interrupts the frictional engagement between the lip 18 and bore 16 and so under the concealment of the cover the apparent stack (dummy 4 with the coin C) of coins drops down of the surface to miraculously appear when the cover and mask are lifted clear.

The make the stack disappear the cover 2 is simply fitted completely thereover.

In the augmented version in Figs. 4 and 5, there is an additional cover 2a similar to the cover 2 and an additional dummy 4a similar to the dummy 4 which can all be fitted simultaneously within the mask 6. With this version, the apparent stack of coins can be made to appear to transfer from one cover to the other, and to become two stacks.

Claims

1. An illusionist's apparatus or trick whereby an apparent stack of coins can be made to disappear or appear, comprising a cover or first tube open at one end and closed at the other and having an internal cross-section of substantially the same size and shape as the size and shape of a coin with which the apparatus is to be used, a second tube closed at one end open at the other and having a relatively thin wall, the external cross-section of the second tube being of substantially the same size and shape as said coin, the whole of the outer face of the side wall of the second tube being formed to appear similar to the side edge of said coin or to appear similar to the side edges of a plurality of said coins one on top of another in a regular pile so that when a real said coin is placed on the closed end of the second tube having its open end standing on a surface the combination of real coin and second tube appears to be a stack of real coins, the internal length of the first tube being substantially equal to the height of said stack so the stack wholly fits within the first tube when the latter is placed over said stack, the second tube being arranged to releasably engage the first tube when the latter is fitted over the stack, and a mask or third tube open at both ends and fitable about the open end of the first tube so as to be able to support that open end off a surface on which the ring can stand, such that when the third tube is in position around the first tube the third tube masks from an observer the emergence of the stack from the first tube when the second tube is released from the first tube in response to a blow or finger tap applied to said first tube.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a projection extending transversely to the axis of the second tube is provided externally of that tube at or adjacent to the open end thereof, said projection being so slight as to be virtually undetectable to the naked eye and being arranged to frictionally engage an inner face of the first tube in a manner such that the frictional engagement releases in response to said blow or tap.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the projection is a lip extending about the first tube.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the tubes are formed of metal.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the tubes are formed of brass.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim in which the first tube comprises a head at its closed end from which extends a neck to said open end such that the head provides an abutment for the third tube which has an axial length greater than that of the neck.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the second tube has an external length substantially equal to the total thickness of a whole number of a plurality of said real coins, the external surface of the second tube is surrounded by one or more grooves, and the or each groove represents the imaginary junction between two adjacent imaginary coins represented by the second tube.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the outer face of the side wall of the second tube is serrated representing serrations at the edge of a real coin with which the apparatus is to be used.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the outer face of the side wall and the outer face of the closed end of the second tube are of a silver colour.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, comprising a said third tube, two similar first tubes and two similar second tubes.

1 An illusionist's apparatus or trick whereby an apparent stack of coins can be made to disappear or appear, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.