US2683292A - Stage - Google Patents

Description

July 13', 1954 J. w; suiIAKER STAGE Filed Feb. 13, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOH N W.'SLONA KER TORNEY 1954 J. w. SLONAKER 2,683,292

- STAGE Filed Feb. 13, 1946 3 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTYOR JOHN W. SLONA KER,

J. W. SLONAKER STAGE July 13, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 13, 1946 INVENTOR JOHN w. SLO NAKER BY 5 Q I TTORNEYS Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 2 Claims. (Cl. 20-1123) This invention relates to improvements in stages and more particularly to a disappearing stage adapted to be moved from a concealed position, into a ballroom, club room or the like, so that performers in such rooms may be easily seen by an audience seated in conventional chairs, or standing, on the floor of the room.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a movable stage constructed and arranged to be stored beneath a conventional stage at one wall of a room and adapted to be extended into the room in order to form an enlarged platform for the use of the artists.

Another object of the invention is to supply a movable or extensible stage with motor operated means, under manual control, for projecting the stage into a room or retracting it into a concealed position.

A further object is to provide electric motor operated means for this purpose, including a switch or the like to automatically out off the current to the motor when the stage approaches the limit of projected or retracted position.

A still further object is to furnish a duplex stage, including a stationary platform and a movable platform, in combination with a step adapted to be automatically propelled into a usable position between them, when the movable platform is projected into extended position.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in vertical section and partly broken away, of a stage, with one example of my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a detail including a disappearing stage, shown in retracted position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the stage in partially projected position.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a detail including a limit switch and stop cams for operating the same.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the motor actuated means for moving the shiftable section of the stage .from retracted to projected position and vice versa.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of they structure shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a detail including one of the rollers employed in supporting the movable section of the stage on a rail or track.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10- is a side elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates one side of the front frame of a stage l2 having a stationary floor l3 which juts forwardly, as indicated at M, from the wall E5 in which the frame is positioned. The space to the left of the stage in Fig. 2may be that of a club room, dining room, or an open air area, into which the movable section l6 of the stage maybe projected.

Such movable section, when in retracted position, occupies a cavity or pocket l'l beneath the stage floor and mainly at one side of the wall it. The section It may be of any suitable strong construction and consist of rigid posts It, rigidly connected by horizontal bars l9 and braced by inclined struts 2%. The framework so constructed, carries beams 21 supporting a floor 22, elevated above the main floor 23 of a room or its equivalent.

In accordance with the invention, caster wheels 24, which may be provided with rubber tires, are connected to the bottom portion of the framework, and support the movable section is on the main floor 23. In order to guide the movable section in its movement from retracted to projected position and vice versa, parallel foundation rails 25, arranged on the main floor in perpendicular arrangement to the wall l5, support parallel angle irons 26, fixed to the rails. The vertical webs of the angle irons abut opposite sides of guide wheels 2'] of the type shown in'Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive. Each wheel has oppositely projecting pintles 28, journalled in sleeves 28 fixed to thebottom of a plate 30. The lat ter is provided with apertures 3! for the reception of screws, employed in securing the plate to the bottom of the framework.

The movable section may be moved from one position to another by hand, or by any appropriate prime mover. electric motor 32 (Figs. 6 and 7) fixed to the floor 23, drives, through a reduction gear 33, a winch 34. A cable 35 is wound about the winch, and has one of its ends extending through a station-- ary bracket-or bar 36 at the front of the movable section of the stage, and its other end extending through a bar or bracket 3! at the rear end of the section [6. For adjustment and shock absorbing purposes, nuts 38 have threaded engagement with the end portions of the cable, and coil springs 39 are arranged on the cable between the brackets and nuts.

In order to automatically stop themotor when the'movable section reaches its forward position, a stop cam 49 (Fig. 5) adjustably connected to the framework of it, contacts and operates a limit switch ll that is fined to the floor 23 and interposed in the motor circuit. To stop the motor when the movable section reaches its stored position, a similar cam 42 adjustably connected to the framework, forwardly of the cam For example, a reversible 3 40, acts upon the limit switch. Of course, the motor will be started by any suitable manually operated switch (not shown).

To provide a stairway from the floor of the stationary section to the floor of the movable section, the apron 43 (Figs. 3 and 4) at the front of the main stage, has a centrally disposed doorway 44 to accommodate a step 45 which may be supported by rollers 46 on the floor 22 of the movable section. A spring or springs 4'1 fixed at one end to the stationary stage and at its other end to the step, normally holds the step against a. stationary stop 48. An abutment 453 at the rear end of the top of the movable section engages the step and automatically pushes it forward when said section is moved into the projected position.

An apron or wall 59 is secured to the framework and functions both as a door for the cavity or compartment I7, and to conceal the framework, when the movable section is in projected position.

In operation, assuming the shiftable section I6 is in retracted position, if the motor 32 is started, to turn the winch 34 (Fig. 2) in a countor-clockwise direction, it will cause the cable 35 to pull on the bar 3'! and move the section id to its outermost position. As the stage approaches that position, the stop cam 4. 3 will come into contact with the limit switch 41 and automatically cut off the current to the motor. As the movable section It approaches its extreme forward position, the abutment 49 will contact the step 45 and move it into projected position, illustrated in Fig. 4.

When the movable section is to be returned to the stored or housed position, the motor 32 is actuated in reverse direction and the winch 34 is turned in a clockwise direction so that the cable 35 pulls on the bar 36 to return the movable section to retracted position. As it moves toward that position, the spring means 41 functions to retract the step 45 into contact with the stop 48, and as the section 16 approaches its innermost position, the stop cam 42 comes into contact with the limit switch 4! and stops the motor.

Due to the elevation of the fioor of the movable section above the floor 23 of a dining room or the like, visibility of the performers is provided from any part of the room, and it will be unnecessary for members of the audience to stand. Prior to the present invention, it was not possible for the smaller theaters to have automatic rising and lowering pits, and mechanical devices incident thereto because of the expense. My device can be installed at a moderate cost and when the movable section is in the retracted position, dancing space is provided on the portion of the main floor previously covered by the movable section.

It is obvious that stages in accordance with the present invention may be built in various sizes and heights, depending on the size of the room or the like with which it is to be employed and it should solve many serious problems confronting clubs and hotels brought about by crowded ball rooms, obstructed views, and limited space.

While I have now disclosed what I consider to be a preferred embodiment of the invention in such manner that the same may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I am aware changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the following claims:

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A stage structure for a ball room or the like comprising in combination, a stationary and fixed stage floor structure, a main floor arranged below said stage floor and extending under the stage floor to provide a cavity thereunder, a stage assembly including a rigid floor secured thereto positioned above the main floor and below the fixed stage floor, rollers supporting the stage assembly for rolling movement on said main floor to a position under the fixed stage floor and to a projected position supported on the main floor .iorwardly of an end of the fixed stage floor, a step member, rollers supporting said step member for rolling movement on the rigid fioor of the stage assembly, a spring attached to the fixed stage fioor structure biasing the step member to a rear position under the stationary stage floor, an abutment carried by the fixed stage floor structure limiting the movement of the step member in response to the action of said spring to position a front end of the step member flush with said end of said fixed stage floor structure, and an abutment carried by the movable stage for engaging the step member and moving it against the action of said spring during movement of the second stage floor to a projected position.

2. In a building structure, a stationary stage floor structure, a main fioor arranged below said stage floor and extending under the stage floor to provide a cavity thereunder, a stage assembly including a second stage iioor movable on the main floor into said cavity under the stationary stage floor, a depending apron at the front of the stationary stage fioor having a doorway therein, a step member mounted for movement under the stationary stage floor above the second stage floor and through said doorway, a spring urging said step member to a position under the stationary stage fioor, an abutment carried by the stationary stage fioor structure limiting the movement of the step member in response to the force of said spring to position a front portion of the step member flush with said apron, an abutment carried by the movable stage for engaging the said step member and moving the step member against the action of said spring during movement of the second stage floor from a position under the stationary floor, and means for moving the stage assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 19,940 Creech 1. Apr. 26, 1936 310,226 Rice et al Jan. 6, 1885 556,866 Rice, Jr Mar. 24, 1896 635,962 Henley Oct. 31, 1899 892,600 Littmann July 7, 1908 1,208,245 Walker Dec. 12, 1916 1,506,974 Cooley Sept. 2, 1924 1,620,785 Roan Mar. 15, 1927 1,670,739 Partington May 22, 1928 2,136,130 Gorlenko Nov. 8, 1938 2,290,242 Kosold July 21, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 354,759 Germany of 1922

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