US559031A - Stage race-track - Google Patents

Description

STAGE RAGE TRAGK- Patented Apr. 28, 1896.

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"(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 28, 1896.

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s. E. HooPBs. STAGE RAGE TRACK. No. 559,031. PatentedApr. 28, 1896.

Y y .Q f/N -EV (PML 64h/ We? v .77.7'5 :75m/'ng Nrrnn STATES SAMUEL-E. Hoorns, or MINNEAPQLIS, MINNESOTA.

STAGE RAC E-TRACVK.

' SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No..559',031, dated VApril 28, 1896.

Application {ile-d February 15,1896. Serial No. 579,361. (No model.)

To all whom it mag/concern: y Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. Hoorns, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stage Raceflracks, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to improvements in theater racetracks, and particularly to a preferably continuous oval or circular racetrack, which may be quickly erected' or taken down, will be adapted to any theater, and the construction of which will permit its easy transportation fromplace to place.

Further, my invention relates to a bicycle race-track not confined to the stage, but occupying the auditorium as Well, and raised I parts of which are `performed in a theater as an adjunct to a u vided, that the track be one which will peri that it will bein view to such a height above the floor ofthe house from allparts of the. theater.

lleretofore theatrical' races composing a chief part of the play have taken place er1-- tirely upon the stage, and usually before a moving panorama, by 'which the illusion of movement Was obtained.

It is the object of my invention to provide means whereby a real'race upon a track, all clearly in view, may be play. To thisend it is necessary that a track of sufficient length for a realistic race be promit the riders to make several laps thereon,

` and that the entire track shall be in view olf I find upon consideration that the audience. it is further necessary that the track be of such a construction that it may be in position throughout the performance of which the race forms the last act, and yet not materially in- `teriere with the view of the stage. Further, as a theatrical appliance the track structure must be light and composed'of sections, so that it may be easily transported with other theatrical properties. It must be of a construction so'- simple hands may erect it. It must be extensible, to adapt it to theaters of various sizes, as to the length of the hall and the depth of the stage. Means must be provided for supporting the track over uneven or inclined floors and at a considerable height above' the same, all without obstructing the theater aisles or seats or the view of the stage;

must be provided for firmly anchoring the track, which means should preferably be independent ofthe Walls of the house, as few theaters arev provided with such permanent fixtures as would be required for the purpose. Further, the track must'be of such a nature that persons sitting Watch the approach of riders thereon. Devices must be provided for the safety of the beneath 'the same may` riders, which devices,fexcept during the race,

should be either collapsible into a small space or removablegand, further, as the track isl preferably raised above the stage floor, means must clear to the floor.

Having determined the requirements, it is the particular obj ect of this invention to provide a ytheater race-track conforming therewith.

that the ordinary stagel be devised to allow the curtain to drop My invention consists generally in a theater bicycle race-track occupying space both above the stage and the floor of the auditorium; and, further, .my invention consists, in such a track, preferably in oval Vor circular form, whereon the riders may make a n'umber of laps; and, further, the invention consists in particular constructions, arrangements, and combination of parts, all as here inafter describedand particularly pointed` out in the claims.

stood by referenceto the -accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specication, Figure 1 is a plan tion. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a .cross-section on the line am of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the standards which support the guard wire or netting surrounding the track. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the track arranged to rest directly upon the door of the@ stage. Fig. 6 is a plan View of a portion of Fig. 5'. Fig. 7 is a detail of the standard supporting the inner end 0f the track, as shown in Fig. 5. In the drawings, 2 represents the stage raised above the door of the orchestra-pit V3, and 4 represents the boxes arranged upon either side of the stage.'` By these outlines the position of the track is' defined.` 1 .i

and, further, means The invention will be more .readily underview of a bicycle-track embodying my inven-` 4 In Fig. 2, 5 representsthe balcony' supported i i than the cross-bars 16, to provi( e for the inby the posts 6 and?, and from the balcony hangers 8 may depend to support Lthe inner end of the track. Beneath the track are arranged upright standards 9, adjustable if desired. These support the track, and at the inner end of the track I preferably provide the inclined standards or guys l0,which serve io'prevent any longitudinal movement of the track. .I may provide hangers and standards upon each side of the track,if they are needed,

to prevent it from swaying.

Upon the stage I provide the upright standards l1 and the inclined rods or guys 12,whiel1 scenrel y brace the sections of the track and hold them firmly in position.

'lo facilitate the movement of the track from place to place, it is made in sections adapted to be securely fastened together. The frame, between the ides of which the floor or track proper is placed, is madcgup of strips or bars, such as 13, 14, and 15. n These bars are connected by cross bars or braces 16, the parts together making up a number of short sections. The cross-bars are provided with holes 17, through which bolts are passed to secure the different secti ons together. The outer bars 13 upon each side of the track majr have sockets 1S to receive the lower ends of the standards 23, between which the safetynets 22 are stretched.

At each end of the oval track I provide cross bars or rails 20 and 21, together wider the ends of the track to enable the riders to make the turn without slackening their speed.

Around the outer edge of the track are the nets 22, arranged on the inclined standards 22). lhe open space in the middle of the oval may, for the further safety of the riders, be closed by a netting' 2l. In this case the nets 22 may be dispensed with around the inner eline required at edge of the track.

A section of the track directly beneath the curtain may be hinged to perlnit its being raised up or dropped down, or the section may be removable to allow the curtain to fall clear to the stage when it is desired to conceal the stage during the progress of the play.

'.lhe track extends from the back of the stage ont into the main body of the house, reaching nearly to the balcony. It is raised above the floor and seats of the auditorium and preferably above the stage.

The length of the track and its exact position with respect to position of theater walls and balcony cannot bc here determined, as the position of the track in each theater wherein it is used must be so adjnstedas to afford the best possible view thereof from all parts of the house. Extra sections are provided to increase either the width or the length of the track oval.

The track proper for bicycles make about may be varied according to the number of riders it is desired to put on.

I prefer t0 In one view I have shown the track composed of thin strips of wood. rihese are preferably arranged upon canvas, so that the flooring may be rolled up; but I do not confine myself to this kind of flooring, as I much prefer to employ a style of flooring which will form less of an obstruction to the view of the stage and of the riders upon the track. I Such a floor is composed or" wire netting or matting, through the meshes of which a view may be had of the stage or of the riders upon the track. The wire-netting may be rolled into a Ismall space and may either be placed in position before the performance or rolled in between the frame parts of the track just before the performance. The guard-nets 22 are preferably thrown down upon the track, except during the race.

The whole track, or at least that part of the same within the auditorium, may be suspended from the ceiling; but I prefer to support the track entirely from beneath, as few theaters are provided with the permanent wallfastenings which would be required for securely anchoring the track.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of the manner of supporting the track, which consists in resting one end upon the floor of the stage and bolting the sections securely thereto, while the end that extends out over the seats is supported by upright standards. This track is also made in sections, and the different sectionsare bolted together in the same manner as the track shown and described in Fig. 1.

The adjustable standards supporting the track comprise the base 26, secured to the iioor of the theater, having a hollow upright standard 27, threaded at its upper end to receive the screw 28, which enters the threaded lower end of the tube 29, hinged to the under side of the track. The screw 28 is provided near its middle portion with a shoulder 3], having square faces to permit the screw to be turned with a wrench to raise or lower the track. The plate or block 30 being hinged to the top of the jackor adjustable standard 29, the track can be easily adjusted to a horizontal or inclined position without regard to lthe unevenne'ss of the floor of the theater.-

In Fig. 6 the track is shown provided with a removable section 32 opposite the main aisle. (Indicated by dotted lines.) This seetion may be hinged at one side or maybe removed entirely when the track is low down and it is desired to seat the people in the spacefsurroundcd by the track. Around the outer edge of the track (shown in Iiig. 5) I provide the vseries of inclined standards 33,

eight feet in width, although this like the parts 23, to sup ort the guard wire or netting while the'trae is in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent-l 1. In a theatrical race-track, thefcombination, with the stage, of the track above the same, said track extending into the body of IOO IIO

' of the stage, the track the house over the front of said stage, and means for supporting said track, for the purpose lset forth.

2. In a theatrical race-track, the combination with the stage, of the sectional track projecting beyond the front of the stage into the body of the house, and means for supporting said track, substantially as described.

The combination, in a device of the class described, with the stage o r platform, of the oval sectional track,having one end supported above said stage, and its opposite end projecting beyond the front of the same and supi being composed "of the rails or bars 13, 14 and -15 and the cross-pieces 16, means for 'securing said sections together, and supporting the same in a horizontal postion,and said track being arranged to' project beyond the front of the stage into the main portion of the house, for the purpose set forth. l 6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the stage, of the track composed of a series of sections and projecting beyond the front o'f the stage, means for supporting said track, and the floor or tread of the. track being inwardly inclined, for the purpose set forth. I

7. 'Ihe combination, in a stage race-track, having 4one end supported upon said stage and the other extending beyond the portion of the house, said track being composed of a series of sections securely fastened together, means for supporting said track, the guard-netting surroundingthe same, and a similar netting filling the space in the middle of the track, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination, with the stage, of the track having one end supported thereby, and its opposite end projecting forward above the seats, said track being composed of `a series seats,

front thereof into the main iof sections secured togther, the guard-netting arranged about the track, the wire-matting forming the floor. of the same and being inwardly inclined at each end, and means for supporting the inner end of the track, substantially as described. i

9. In a device of the class described, the combination, with the stage, of the oval section of trackhaving one end supported thereby and its opposite end extending over the means'for supporting said lastnamed end of the track, the matting forming the floor of the track, the guard-netting surround-- ing .the same, andthe movable sections beneath the curtain and opposite the aisles, for the purpose set forth.

10. A theatrical device consisting in a suitably suspended or supported race-track having a floor or tread of an open-meshed material, as and for the purpose specified.

11. An oval or circular theatrical racetrack, having adjustable supports andthe iioor or'tread ofthe track being inwardly iuclined and of an exaggerated inclination at the ends or turns, as and for the purpose specified.

= 12. Atheatrical appliance consisting in combination with the stage, of a curvilinear track extending from the stage into the body of the house and suitable supports therefor, as and for the purpose specified. f

13. A theatrical appliance comprising 4a substantially curvilinear race-track eXtensible above the iioor of the stage and of the auditorium and composed of Iseparable scctions and adjustable supports whereby the track is adapted for use in various theaters, as and for the purpose specified.

14. The combination in a theatrical device of the class described, of a curvilinear track supported from thestage and the floor of the auditorium, and said track having sections which are removable to permit the curtain to drop, as and for the purpose speci ed.

15. A theatrical appliance comprising a'n l oval or circular track made in sections and having vertically-adjustable supports, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof my hand this 11th day of February, A. D.

f l SAMUEL HOOPES. In presence of RICHARD PAUL, y M. E. GooLEY.

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