US203837A - Improvement in trading-pits - Google Patents

Description

, R. s. JENNINGS.

Trading-Pit No. 203,837. Patented May 21,1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OE IcE.

REUBEN S. JENNINGS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRADING-PITS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,837, dated May 21, 1878; application filed December 19, 1877.

) in which- Figure 1 is a plan Fig. 2, a vertical central section of a series of platforms; and Fig. 3, a vertical central section of a trading-pit, as hereinafter described.

The nature of my invention relates to a pit or series of platforms, consisting of steps of convenient height and width, in the form of or approximating a circle or octagon, or of other convenient shape or form, facing each other, and descending to a center space, to be placed upon or sunk below the floor of the building in which it is used. If built upon the floor, it is approached by steps from the outside, and is, for convenience, made in sections, so as to be easily removed, and it is ventilated or warmed through apertures in the risers of the steps, in connection with pipes placed under the steps, conveying warm or cold air.

In the drawings the pit or series of platforms is represented as octagonal but it may be in any form or shape desired, so that it be a series of steps or platforms around a center space, and rising outward therefrom with the width of the steps, such as to allow of one person passing behind another without serious inconvenience to either, and at the same time narrow enough to induce two persons to avoid occupying the same step, one behind the other.

The risers of the steps are of suflicient height to permit a man of ordinary height to see over the heads of those in front of him, from twenty to twenty-four inches being about the proper width, and from six to seven inches the proper height. The upper step or platform should be somewhat wider.

The center space should be about five feet in diameter, or as large as may be Without admitting of enough to crowd. If placed upon the floor, it should have steps from without to furnish convenient access. It is preferably built in sections A B C D E, &c., to be easily removed when desired. If sunk below the -fioor, the floor itself forms the upper step or platform, and steps for approaching it are dispensed with, thus saving about twelve feet in diameter, and it can be floored over when necessary.

Heatin g and ventilation are effected by means of hot and cold air pipes opening in the space below the steps, which should be a closed space, with convenient apertures inthe risers of the steps to admit the cold or warm air in the room.

Thus constructed the pit may be filled without inconvenience in the way of crowding. It also furnishes sufficient standing-room, where persons may stand and conveniently trade with persons in any other part of the pit or platforms. It has great acoustic advantages over a flat floor for trading, and it furnishes superior facilities for heating and ventilation I am aware that amphitheaters have been made circular or polygonal, and that various plans have been proposed to heat or ventilate themwith air admitted in pipes placed under the seats or floor; but my invention does not relate to amphitheaters, to which access is always difficult on account of the rows of seats.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A series of platforms or steps arranged continuously around and rising from a center space, with a broad platform forming the upper step, and a series of steps around and on the outside of said broad platform, substantially as shown and described.

2. A series of platforms forming a pit, and designed to-be placed on or sunk under a floor in sections, so as to be easily removed, substantially as described.

3. A trading-pit formed in removable sections, heated and ventilated by hot or cold air admitted through the risers of the steps from the closed space or air-chamber under said steps, said air-chamber being supplied by pipes, substantially as described.

RE UBEN S. JENNINGS.

Witnesses F. A. WOODBURY, J. A. BLAINE.

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