US113277A - Improvement in ceilings for stages - Google Patents

Description

ttul-it Sitter @atari (tie,

JOHN w. DNNE, or NEW YORK, N. Y

Letters Patent No. 113,277, dated 4, 187.1.

IMPROVEMENT iN cElLlNes FOR' STAGES.

The Schedule referred to in thse Letters Patent and making pari: of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Figure l represents a side view, partly Vinl section,

of my improved hipped ceiling for stages. v

Figure 2 is a face view of the same, showing 1t sus# pended when not in use.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same. Similar letters of reference .indicate corresponding parts.

VThis invention relates to an improvement in ceil`A ings'which are to be used on the stagesof theaters, opera-houses, &c., to complete and perfect the display of scenery.l

Complete ceilings for scenery were heretofore only made fiat, and could not be produced in single pieces, arched or hipped.

My invention consists in the construction of jointed ceilings, which are by lines or cords suspended from hatteus or rigid bars, so thatI they can, by varying the lengths of said lines, be brought to any'desired shape.

The .good effect of scenery on stages is, by the introduction of arched, hipped, or otherwise bent ceilings,

materially increased, and the complete 'imitation of every style of architecture made possible.

A in the drawing represents the sheet or canvas, which is painted on its lower surface in imitation of a fceling.

from strong bars" or battens C G, which hang by ropes e from a windlass, D.

The lines d are, by snap-hooks f f, fastened to small loops g on the' cross-pieces, so as to be readily detachable.

The -lines d d are .of 'such varying lengths fthat, when the ceiling is suspended from the horizontal battens O, it will, on the joints c c, be bent to the requisite shape, as in Iig. 1.

For arched ceilings the cross-piecesareeither jointed throughout or made flexible, to bend of theirown weight, and all lines di'erin length, becoming larger toward the ends.

For hipped-ceilings, as in lig. 1,-the lines d arejof equal lengths, except at the ends, wherethey are lengthened, as shown.

' By means of the ropes ethe ceiling can be raised and lowered at will, to be brought tothe proper place on the uprightl scenery.

v When the ceiling is to be-removed from sight, it is lowered to the stage and detached from the1 battens .0, which can be easily done by the aforesaid snaphooks.

It is then, by other lines hh, suspended at one side from a vertically-adjustable horizontal-bar, E, and hoisted, so'as to hang vertically, as in figs. 2 and 3.

When thus hanging it isquite straight, the joints'Y in the cross-pieces allowing it to hang so from the bar E.

` The ceiling can now be carried out of Vthe way and hung between the other scenery, and does not occupy A l more room than any other flat piece of' equal extent.

' When to be used again, it is lowered to the stage` and detached from E, to be refastened to O, and ele'- vated to its. position.

Having thus described my invention- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. lThe jointed-ceiling Ior stage'Is,-'suspe`nded from lines d el, of varying lengths, to thereby receive the desired shape, as set forth.

2.4 The bar E, combined with the jointed ceiling,l

f Witnesses:

A. V. BRIEsnN, ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

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