US1022433A - Garment for stage effects. - Google Patents

Description

A. L. MGMURTRY. GARMENT FOR STAGE EFFECTS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1911.

1,022,433. Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

STATES ATE GARMENT FOR STAGE EFFECTS.

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garments for Stage Effects, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a garment to be worn by a dancer for producing novel lighting effects, and its object is to provide a simple portable apparatus for this purpose.

I will describe my invention in the following specification and pointout the novel features thereof in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a stage dancer wearing a garment which is made according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram showing a preferred arrangement of certain electrical apparatus and circuits.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in both of the figures.

10 designates a short skirt of a usual form which is preferably constructed of some opaque textile material. The lower edge of this skirt flares outwardly as shown at 11. Running horizontally around the inside of this skirt just above this flaring portion is a band 12 on which are supported several series of small incandescent electric lamps 13, 141 and 15. This band may be placed at such a height as to support the lamps a slight distance above the dancers knees. The band 12 is also used to support certain electrical conductors which run to the lamps.

In Fig. 2, 20 designates a small storage battery which may be carried upon the body of the dancer and concealed. This is for the purpose of supplying current for the lamps. If it is desired to supply the cur rent from an external source of supply the battery may be dispensed with and light flexible wires connected as shown by the dotted lines at and 21 is a lead from the battery to a manually controlled switch 22 which comprises an arm which may be moved onto any one of three stationary contacts 23, 24: and 25, or off from all of them.

A conductor 26 and branches running from it lead from the stationary contact 23 to one of the terminals of each of the lamps in the series 13, 13, etc. Another conductor 27 and its branches connect the stationary Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 625,443.

contact 24 with one side of each of the lamps 14, 142-; and a similar conductor 28 runs between the contact 25 and all of the lamps 15. 29 is a common return wire from the other side of every lamp to the battery 20.

All the lamps in the series 13 are preferably of one color. For example, they may have clear glass bulbs. All the lamps in the series 14 are of another color such as red, and the lamps in the third series, 15, are of still another color, such as green. The switch 22 is to be placed Within easy reach of the dancer who wears this garment. In Fig. 1 it is shown on her belt. All of the connections pointed out are to be conceale within the skirt.

The operation of this device is obvious.

The dancer preferably wears white stockings and shoes, and can execute the movements of a dance in the usual manner. The stage lights may be lowered or entirely turned off during the progress of the dance. Then, at a desired moment, the small arm of the switch 22 is moved onto the stationary contact 23, for example. Immediately circuits are closed through all of the white lights 13 and the dancers stockings and shoes are brilliantly illuminated. The lamps cannot be seen by the audience because of their position within the skirt, and because of the.

fact that at least a part of the skirt is of opaque material so that their rays do not penetrate it. A novel and pleasant effect is thus produced.

At any time the switch arm may be moved onto the middle contact 2 1 to cause the red lights 14 to burn instead of the white ones. In Fig. 2 the circuits are shown thus connected. This, then, causes the dancers stockings and shoes to appear to be made of red material. In the same way the green lights may be turned on to produce a third color effect.

By simple arrangements of circuits and switches evident to any one familiar with such devices, still further color effects may be produced. I have selected and shown only enough of such connections as to clearly illustrate my invention.

This invention is especially designed for use on a theatrical stage, and it is to be understood that a number of persons similarly equipped may dance together, and that they may manipulate the switches to produce either the same or unlike lighting effects and a plurality of electric lamps of differentcolors within said garment.

3. A dancers garment of opaque material, a plurality of electric lamps of different colors within said garment, circuits for said lamps, and means for changing the connections of said circuits.

4. A dancers garment of opaque material, a plurality of electric lamps of different colors within said garment, circuits for said lamps, and a manually operated switch arranged to cause a desired one of said lamps to be lighted.

5. A dancers garment of opaque material, a plurality of series of electric lamps within said garment, all of the lamps in one series being of one color, and the lamps in the different series being of different colors, circuits for said lamps, and a manually operated switch arranged to cause the lamps in any desired series to be lighted.

6. The combination with a portable battery, of a dancers garment of opaque material, an electric lamp within said garment, a circuit between said lamp and the battery, and a switch for controlling said circuit.

7. The combination with a portable battery, of a dancers garment of opaque mate rial, a plurality of electric lamps of difierent colors within said garment, circuits between said lamps and the battery, and a manually operated switch for controlling said circuits.

8. The combination with a portable battery, of a dancers garment of' opaque material, a plurality of series of electric lamps within said garment, all of the lamps in one series being of one color, and the lamps in the different series being of different colors, circuits for the lamps, and a manually operated switch arranged to connect the battery with the circuit of the lamps in any desired series.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALDEN L. MCMURTRY.

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

Washington, D. G.

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