US501099A - Stage apparatus - Google Patents

Description

4 (No Model.)

' J PATTEN.

STAGE APPARATUS.

No. 501,099. Patented July 11, 1893.

6mm, Jgjemanfadtem "NH-FD STATES 'ATENT OFFICE.

JEFFERSON PATTEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NEILSON I BURGESS, OF HIGHLANDS, ,NEW JERSEY.

STAGE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,099, dated July 11, 1893.

' Application filed November 21 1890- Serial No. 372,247. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON PATTEN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stage Apparatus, 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 ofmy invention is to provide a fence or like part that may be used on a substantially flat surface in connection with an apparatus for the representation of a race effeet on the stage, the fence being arranged so as to change the palings or slats passing it from a horizontal to a vertical position, the latter being the position of the slats that is requisite as the fence moves along in front of the moving animals that are engaged in the race.

To this end my invention consists in the combination of the several parts making up the apparatus as a whole, and in details of such parts, as more particularly hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a length of fence arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail View in side elevation of the motor frame over which the fence is driven. Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of the fence.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a stage or like fiat surface on which the fence I) and its immediate supports are arranged. The fence is composed of an endless belt 0 to which slats or palings d are secured at proper intervals, the slats being located fiatwiseof the belt and so secured thereto as to stand parallel with each other when the belt is turned face outward. At the proper distance apart, determined by the breadth of the stage the pulleys e are secured in a frame f that may be bolted or otherwise secured to the stage floor or other fixed part. These pulleys have preferably a V-shaped groove into which the V-shaped lugs c on the back of the belt fit so as to drive the belt by the rotation of the pulley. These horizontally arranged pulleys e are located in front of the scene in connection with which the fence is to be used, only that portion of the fence that lies at any time between these two horizontal pulleys being in an upright position. At asuitable distance in rear of where these two pulleys are arranged in a suitable frame at each of the back corners of the quadrangle areplaced a pair of grooved pulleys set at right angles with each other and arranged to change the direction of the belt, that is, to give it a quarter turn. That portion of the belt to which the slats are secured passes along the back of the quadrangle in a position substantially at right angles to the position of the belt on the opposite side of the rectangle, the belt and the slats between the corner pulleys e. and g varying from a horizontal to a vertical position. In the motor frame h there is supported a main shaft 11 fast to which is a gear wheel 11, and if required a balance wheel i to which a handle i is secured so that the main wheel may be driven by hand power if desired. The wheel a" has a bevel gear that engages a bevel gear is secured to the upper end of the vertical shaft is to which is also secured a gear wheel 10 in mesh with a smaller gear 10 that is fast to the shaft of the pulley 6.

By means of the mechanism above described the endless belt may be caused to move at any desired rate of speed over the supporting pulleys. It is not essential that these specific means of driving the belt should be employed, as the shaft of one of the pulleys may be extended through the stage floor and connected to any desired source of power, or a motor of any desired form. may be so connected to either of the pulleys that support the belt as to drive the latter.

The main feature of my invention consists in such an arrangement of partsas will enable a movable fence to be employed on a flat surface, the palings being shown in an upright position only in that part of the length of the fence where the efiect is desired. a

This invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with a race scene in which usually horses or like animals supported on endless paths or like structures compete.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with a stage or like flat surface aseries of pulleys arranged parallel to said surface, another series of pulleys arranged to give a sidewise turn to an endless belt, an endless belt movable on said pulleys and supporting slats or palings that project from one end of the belt, and a frame bearing a system of gearing for imparting movement to the pulleys bearing the belt, all substan tially as described.

2. In combination with a theatrical stage, a series of pulleys arranged parallel to the surface thereof, another series of pulleys arranged to give a sidewise turn to an endless belt, an endless belt movable on said pulleys 10 and supporting slats or palings that project from one edge of the belt, and the belt drivin g mechanism, all substantially as described.

JEFFERSON PATTEN. Witnesses:

' A. B. JENKINS,

CHAS. L. BURDETT.

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