US1003807A

US1003807A - Device for rendering stage-figures of miniature house-theaters (puppet-shows) movable.

Info

Publication number: US1003807A
Application number: US60389911A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter Rutz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1911-01-21
Filing date: 1911-01-21
Publication date: 1911-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1928-09-19

Description

W. RUTZ.

DEVIOE FOB RENDERING STAGE FIGURES 0F MINATUBE HOUSE THEATERS (PUPPET SHOWS) MOVABLE.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 21, 1011.

1,003,807. Patented Sept. 19,1911.

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W. RUTZ. DEVICE I'OB RBNDERING STAGE FIGURES 0F MINATURE HOUSE THEATERS (PUPPET SHOWS) MOVABLE.

APPLICATION mum 1,111.21. 1911.

1,003,807. Patented Sept. 19,1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER RUTZ, F ROSENBERG, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR RENDERING STAGE-FIGURES OF MINIATURE HOUSE-THEATERS (PUPPET- SHOWS) MOVABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Application filed January 21, 1911. Serial No. 603,899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VAL'IER Run, a subject of the German Emperor, and resident of Rosenberg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Rendering Stage Figures of Miniature House-Theaters (Puppet-Shows) Movable, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for rendering stage figures of miniature house theaters (puppet shows) movable.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 shows the back View of a stage figure partly in section. Fig. 2 shows the elevation of the elongated neck. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the neck portion of the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the arm securing device. Fig. 4 shows the two small actuating rods. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the method employed for actuating the figures.

The new device essentially comprises the two actuating rods 0:, b, the device for mov- '1. ing the arm 0 which device is actuated by the rod or as well as the head (Z adapted to move on a ball point.

The actuating rods 0, Z), are constructed in the following manner: The rod a which i is actuated by means of the right hand is composed of two superposed round rods hav ing each a diameter of about 4 millimeters. The part 1 of the rod only comprises one round rod having a length of about 6 centimeters and carrying a raised part 2. The right leg of the stage figure is slid over the pin 3 and rests with the sole of the foot on the raised part 2. The pin 3 the length of which is about 10 centimeters forms so to speak the vertical shaft of the right leg and this in such a manner that this shaft is Well guided in the sole while having ample room to move in the hollow thigh and in the abdomen of the figure.

The actuating rod 1) which is actuated by means of the left hand has a square section about 6 millimeters thick. The part 4 of this rod being on its lower side reduced to half its thickness, so that when it is placed upon the reduced portion of the actuating rod a, the soles of the feet of the stage figure will be located in substantially the same plane. The left leg of the figure in which lead 5 or the like has been cast is slid on the pin 6 of the rod 1) which has a length of about 3 centimeters. As readily seen the pin 6 forms so to speak the vertical shaft of the left leg and is everywhere guided in an easy but perfect manner. Owing to these small actuating rods a and b it is possible to cause the stage figures to perform motions and to wheel around. As readily seen when the rod a is moved forward the figure will always wheel around to the left and when the same rod is pulled backward, the figure will always wheel around to the right. These motions are possible to such an extent that the person faces about.

The arms are secured to the body in the following manner and are moved by the following mechanism: A plate 7 the dimensions of which correspond to the diameter of the upper arm, projects beyond the shoulder of the figure. This plate is provided at its outer part with a hole 8. The upper arm of the figure has been provided with two

eyelets

9 and 10. A small cotter pin is passed through the eyelet 9 of the arm and the hole 8 of the plate and is then bent. In this manner the arm is movably secured. The eyelet 10, of the arm serves to secure a thread 11 which passes throu h the opening 12 inside of the body of the gure. The eyelets 13 secured to the inside of the body by soldering serve to guide the thread. Now, the latter is provided with a ring 14 through which passes the pin 3 of the actuating rod a. This pin 3 has as already stated ample room to move in the thigh of the figure. If therefore the actuating rod is tilted laterally, the pin 3 fOllOWllig this motion pulls the ring and with it the arm into the position shown in dotted lines in the drawing. It is quite in the power of the director of the theater to cause these motions of the arms to take place to a more or less great extent. The palms of the hands of the figure are also pierced with holes 15 which serve to receive occasional requisites (such as nosegays, sabers, stick or the like). These requisites then perform mechanically the same motions as the arm.

The head (Z is constructed and moves in the following manner: In the body of the stage figure a carrier 16 is soldered in such a manner that the point 17 formed of a hardened ball projects from the body through the neck hole. The head is provided with a neck extension (Fig. 2) shaped in the inside like a hollow cone into which the carrier projects. The base surface 18 of this hollow cone is provided with a semi spherical depression adapted to receive the point 17. The uppermost portion 18 of the recess in the hollow conical neck is, preferably, oblong in cross section, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The cross section of the carrier 16 is also oblong, but the longer side of its cross section is greater than the smaller side of the cross section of the said recess 18, whereby the head may perform lateral motions with reference to the diagonal of the base surface of the hollow cone, as well as motions forward and backward but never an entire turn, so that the head never can place itself accidentally on the wrong side. The. ring of lead 19 which has been inserted and secured in the extended neck always holds the head in the vertical position. The motions performed by the head are arbitrary ones and are partly right, and partly extremely comical. The operator may however, by skilfully manipulating the actuating rods modify advantageously the movements of the head.

The theaters for children, which may actually be bought, are, as experience has shown, too monotonous to please the child. The reason of this is that the question of the figures has not yet been solved. The spoken parts have a monotonous and fatiguing effect when the speaker remains invisible and when the figure replacing him does nothing for giving the spoken word life.

The new device described above has for its object to remedy this in the best possible and at the same time in not too costly a manner. The figures of the stage become lively, the performance gains in direction because the spectator recognizes more than before that the spoken word is in connection with the figure. This is the object of the invention.

Having now fully described my said in vention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device for rendering stage figures of miniature theaters movable comprising in combination with the figure to be moved two actuating rods, a guide pin provided on one end of each of said rods, and a hole provided in the sole of each foot of the said figure and adapted to receive the said pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A device for rendering stage figures of miniature theaters movable comprising in combination with the figure to be moved, arms, eyelets on said arms, a shoulder plate secured to the body of said figure so as to project therefrom, means adapted to secure the said arms to the said shoulder plate, a thread adapted to connect the two arms together, a plurality of eyelets provided inside the body of said figure and adapted to guide the said thread, an actuating rod, a guide pin on said actuating rod, a hole provided in the sole of one of the feet of said body of the figure, and adapted to be engaged by the said guide pin of the actuating rod and means for operatively connecting the said guide pin with the said thread, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A device for rendering stage figures of miniature theaters movable comprising in combination with the figure body a separate head, an elongated neck shaped as a hollow cone and connected with said head, a carrier secured inside the said figure body and provided with a ball point at its upper end, means provided in the said head for receiving the said ball point, and means for pre venting said head from making an entire turn upon said neck, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a device for rendering stage figures of miniature theaters movable, the combination with the figure body having a hole in the sole of each foot, of two actuating rods provided with handle portions at one of their ends and with reduced portions at their other ends, a guide pin carried by the reduced portion of each of said actuating rods adapted to engage the hole in the sole of its corresponding foot of said figure, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I my hand in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER RUTZ.

Witnesses OSKAR SCHULTZ, Josnr H. ErsTEIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.