US513850A - Electrical theatrical - Google Patents

Description

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UNITED STATES lPATENT OEEICE.

HENRY E. VAITE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ll. O. MINER, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRICAL THEATRICAL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,850, dated January 30, 1894. Application filed August Z9, 1893. Serial No. 484,302. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. VVAITE, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Theatrical Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to theatrical appliances adapted to be used in connection with theatrical displays of various kinds, the object being broadly to provide means whereby the actor or performer can readily, easily and quickly, through automatic mechanisms, produce various effects in harmony with or accompaniment with the performance, such for instance, as operating musical instruments, moving scenery or mechanical figures, or anything of the kind, and to these ends my invention consists in a construction embodying the general features, substantially as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Ihave illustrated so much of an apparatus embodying the general principles of my invention as will enable those skilled in the art to understand and use the same, and Figure 1, is a partial perspective and partial diagrammatic view, showing one way of operating my device. Fig. 2, is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a diagram of one arrangement of part of the circuits, and Fig. 4,is an enlarged sectional view of one form of circuit-controller adapted to be used in carrying out my invention.

In theatrical or similar performances, it is often desirable to add to the effect of the performance by incorporating therewith at proper times and in proper relations thereto, certain mechanical, musical or other effects, such as illumination, te., and it is also desirable to have appliances whereby the performer may readily and quickly bring these adjunctive devices into co-operation with his performance at will, through the means of automatic mechanism, and it is the object of my invention to provide such means, which shall be simple and effective, and capable of being adapted formany and various purposes.

My invention embodies a number of circuit controllers, properly arranged in connection with the stage and having electrical connectionswith various devices, whereby the movements or operation of these devices can be controlled by the performer, andi have shown a platform A, which may be a portion of the regular stage, or may be a supplementary portion, and this platform is provided with a number of circuit controllers B. These controllers are arranged so that they project but slightly above the face of the platform, and 6o in such positions that they can be operated by the foot or other portion of the performer. rlhus, I have shown a series of push-buttons embedded in the body of the platform, and

having electrical connections with the various devices which are to be operated thereby.

For instance, the controller B', is connected with a circuit C, including a battery and a musical instrument shown for the sake of simplicity as a bell, and it will be readily un- 7o dei-stood that any other instrument may be used, and any number of them, the circuit controllers being arranged so that by operating any particular controller a particular sound or musical tone or other signal will be produced. The circuit controllers 132,133, for instance, are connected with an electric circuit O, including a relay D, and the armature of this relay is connected to operate a reversing switch E, controlling acircuit E of 8o an electro-motor F. The circuit C in the present instance, is arranged so that on pressing the controller B2, the contacts c, c, c', c', will be closed, while on pressing the controller B3, the contacts c2, c2, c3, c3, will be closed, thus S 5 reversing the direction of the current of the y battery or generator X, and operating the relay D to move the armature to one extreme or the other of its positions, and thereby remove the pole-changer E, to reverse the cur- 9o rent through the motor F. This arrangement of circuits is only given as an example, as any electrician will understand that the circuits can be changed or arranged in any wellknown Way to produce the desired results.

This motor F is shown in the present instance as mounted on or connected with a mechanical figure Gr, which is shown in a conventional way, and as being provided with rollers g,

adapted to run upon a way H, in proper re roo lation with the stage, and it will be seen that the performer, by operating the proper controller can cause the mechanical ligure to move back or forth, and off the stage, or to perform other arrangements, according to the nature of the case. In this instance, I have shown the motor as mounted on the ligure and moving therewith, but it is evident that the motor can be stationary and be connected by suitable belts, bands, or otherwise, with the figure.

While I have shown the circuit connected with the mechanical figure, it is evident that other devices may be substituted; that for instance, the scenes may be shifted; thatillu minating eects may be controlled, and in fact any well-known and desirable eifect can be produced on or near the stage, automatically by the performer; for instance, some of the controllers can be connected to the instruments of the orchestra, or with other appliances in different parts of the theater or hall while the performance is taking place, and without attempting to enumerate all the adaptations and uses of myinvention, I have shown enough to clearly set forth the principles thereof, so that those skilled in the art can readily avail themselves of the benefits of my invention.

While I have shown push-buttons mounted in the platform, it is evident that other wellknown circuit controllers can be used, it only f being necessary to provide some simple and effective means so arranged thatthe performer f may readily operate the controllers in a natural and graceful manner, without attracting too much attention to the movements of the performer in accomplishing this result.

I am aware that it is old to provide printing telegraphs and typewriting devices with a series of banks of key-levers arranged to control electric circuits, which in turn control the various printing mechanisms, and I do not claim any such construction.

' 1. In a theatrical appliance, the combination with a platform adapted to support the performer and having circuit-controllers connected therewith adapted to be operated by the foot of the performer, of circuits connected with the controllers, motors operated by said circuits, and devices connected with said motors to be operated thereby, substantially as described.

2. In a theatrical appliance, the combination with a platform and circuit controllers thereon arranged to be operated by the performer, of a track, mechanical appliances mounted on the track, a motor connected with said appliances, and circuits between the circuit controllers and motor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY E. WAITE.

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