US471127A

US471127A - Apparatus for producing illusory dramatic effects

Info

Publication number: US471127A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1892-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1909-03-22

Description

(No Model.)

J. W. KNELL.

By judicial change of name now NEILSON BURGESS. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY DRAMATIG'BFPEGTS.

Patented Mar. 22,

gggggmfilnllrill' II HWI NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. KNELL, BY J UDIOIAL CHANGE OF NAME NOW NEILSON BURGESS, OF HIGHLANDS, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY DRAMATIC EFFECTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,127, dated March 22, 1892.

Application filed March 28, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NEILSON BURGESS, formerly JAMES WV. KNELL, of Highlands, in the county of Monmouth and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Illusory Dramatic Effects, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art can make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple, cheap, and comparatively light and easily-handled apparatus for use in produc ing certain illusory effects in the representation on a stage of a race scene; and my invention is particularly intended for use in footrace scenes.

To this end my invention consists in the combination of a stage, the movable carriage, and the peculiar endless path borne thereon; and it further consists in detail of the several elements and their combination, as more particularly hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a stage, illustrating an embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view, on enlarged scale, of one of the carriages. Fig. 3 is a view showing the carriage provided with an arm and guide projecting through a slot in the stage.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter Ct denotes the stage b,a background-scene that is preferably a panorama. On the stage, either in a suitable guideway, on tracks, or like device for controlling the direction of motion of the carriage, there are arranged two or more carriages c. To each carriage there is connected, when a considerable weight is to be borne on the carriage, a rope d or like flexible connection leading to a Windlass or winch 6, so that the rope may be wound thereon or unwound in such manner as to perfectly control the position and motion of the carriage that may be mounted on wheels or may slide on suitable tracks or guides. Each carriage is made up of a frame-work 0, between the side parts of which extend a number of shafts or journals f, on which are mounted rollers g, each of which forms a short endless path on which a person may stand and move in such manner as to cause the roller to turn on its bearings. Each roller g is mounted so as to turn with the least possible friction, and its periphery is preferably covered with a ma- Serial No. 345,760., (No model.)

an arm h extending through a groove a through the stage, so as to be accessible from below, and a guide it may extend from the rear part of the frame of the carriage into the same groove to, so that the direction of the movement of the carriage may be easily controlled.

In order to represent a race, a runner may be placed on each of the carriages, that are provided, if need be, with a brace or guard to support the runner while he is in motion. The alternating forward movement of the two carriages, either with or without the moving panoramic scene, will then be so controlled as to convey to the audience the impression of a contest of speed.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a stage, the panoramic scene, the carriage located on the stage, the means for moving the carriage along the stage, and the endless path consisting of a series of rollers mounted in the frame of the carriage and adapted to support a moving object 011 their peripheries, all substantially as described.

2. In combination with a stage having a groove or channel therethrough, a scene and a movable carriage mounted on the stage with an arm projecting through the groove, the said carriage consisting of a frame supporting rollers adapted to support a moving object, all substantially as described.

3. In a device for producing race effects on astage, a movable carriage, a series of rollers journaled in the carriage, mechanism connected to one end of the carriage to move it