US716490A

US716490A - Theatrical scenic arch.

Info

Publication number: US716490A
Application number: US12734802A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward L Snader
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1902-10-15
Filing date: 1902-10-15
Publication date: 1902-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1919-12-23

Description

Np. `7|(i,490. Patented 080.23, 1902.

E. L. sNAnEn. THEATRICAL SCENIC ARCH.

(Application med' ont. 15, 1902.)

(No Model.)

I 71, U'e 71,

mc :wams Enns co, PHomLlTn., WASHINGTON, D` c.

UNrrtn @rares Partnr DFrIcE.

EDWARD L. SNADER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

THEATRICAL SCENIC ARCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 716,490, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed October l5, 1902- Serial No. 127,348. (No model.)

T0 al?, whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. SNADER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Theatrical Scenic Arches for Producing Scenic Eects in Theatrical Performances, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in theatrical scenery and mechanical dramatic eects; and the object of myimprovementis to provide a scenic arch which can be readily set up and which upon a given cue in the progress of a theatrical performance will collapse and fall into pieces upon the stage, thus producing the dramatic effect of a disaster brought about by the sudden falling of an arch of masonry. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows the arch A as it exists when set up ready for use on the stage, resting on the piers E E. The arch is composed, in the usual manner of a building-arch, of wedge-shaped arch-stones d2 ct, ct d2, resting unfastened (except by the cord hereinafter mentioned) one against another. It must, however, be so formed as to be in a high degree unstable by reason of the outthrust. The arch-stones are made of wood, papiermch or other light material shaped and painted to represent masonry.

B is a cord passing freely around the arch and binding it securely together, the ends of the cord being fastened at some convenient point d. It is necessary that the cord should pass over the extrados or upper surface of the arch, pressing every arch stone under or through the end stones a2 a2 and through a ring or channel D in the keystone at the crown of the arch, except that instead of passing under or through both of the end stones and being fastened at d the cord may, if desired, have its ends fastened upon opposite sides of one only of the end stones, as at c and d. The cord should be of small size and so colored as not to be apparent to the audience.

The arch may be greatly varied in size and shape and may be used to represent in part a house, church, temple, bridge, or other structure, and several arches may be used at the same time.

Vhen the cord is unted or severed at d or any convenient point, t-he arch, by reason of its outthrust, will instantly collapse and fall into pieces. This loosening of the cord may be accomplished upon a cue by a stage-hand who is located in the wings of the theater or elsewhere out of sight of the audience.

The arch is best put together for use lying at onits side on the stage. The cord is then bound around it in the manner already described. For convenience of application and to prevent accidental shifting it is well to pass the cord through grooves or channels in the end stones, as b and b', and also through a ring orgroove in the keystone at C. When thus bound together, the arch may lifted into its final postion upon the piers E E in any convenient manner, preferably in the way that is usual in theaters-that is, by a rope let down from the liies and attached to a ringbolt in the keystone at C.

The utility and originality of my invention consist in the manner of binding the archstones together, which, I believe, is the only way of securing these three advantages: First, the arch may be easily and quickly put together for use; second, it is secure against accidental displacement while being lifted into position and afterward; third, it can be made to collapse upon a cue easily, quickly, and certainly.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, in theatrical scenery, of an unstable arch of Wood or other light material, with a cord binding the arch together, all substantially as set forth.

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

EDWARD L. SNADER.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. CAMPBELL, SAML. D. HoLT.