US865774A

US865774A - Stage-brace.

Info

Publication number: US865774A
Application number: US33999306A
Authority: US
Inventors: James Critchfield England
Original assignee: JESSE COULTRAP
Current assignee: JESSE COULTRAP
Priority date: 1906-10-22
Filing date: 1906-10-22
Publication date: 1907-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1924-09-10

Description

No. 865,774. PATENTED SEPT. 10, '1907.

I .J. G. ENGLAND.

STAGE BRAOE. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 22. 1906- W/TNESSES "ms NORRIS PETERS cm, wnsumorau, n, c.

UETTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE;

JAMES ORITOHFIELD ENGLAND, OF ZANESVILLE, OHlO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JESSE GOULTRAP, OF ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

STAGE-BRACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

Application filed October 22,1906. Serial No. 339,993.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns ORITCHFIELD ENGLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zanesville, in the county of Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stage-Braces, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in stage braces, and the object of my invention is to provide a stage brace which will be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and readily placed in position.

A stage brace now in common use consists of a wooden brace with an iron bottom resting upon the floor and'formed with a hole through which passes a large thumb-screw to secure the brace to the floor of the stage. The brace is secured to the scenery in much the same way. To place and secure the brace in position now requires a great deal of time and where there is a carpet on the floor of the stage, the carpet is twisted in the operation of securing the brace to the floor.

In carrying out my invention, I provide the lower end of the wooden brace with a pointed plate made of any suitable metal. To this plate is pivotally secured a bar the free end of which is formed with a tooth or prong. The brace is placed in position by thrusting it smartly downwards to engage the metal point of the plate into the floor; after which the scenery is placed against the brace at the proper angle. The bar is then secured to the floor by hitting it near its toothed end smartly with the heel.

The upper end of the brace is provided with a plate to which is pivotally secured a forked member in which is mounted a clamp-screw by which the forked member and thereby the brace is secured to the scenery. Before bringing the parts of the scenery upon the stage, the braces may be secured thereto, thereby saving time.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of my in vention and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my new stage brace in position; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation oi the same; Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views showing the parts attached to the top of my new stage brace; and Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views showing the fittings for the lower end of the brace. I

a is a stick or pole of wood of suitable length which forms the main or body portion of the brace. To the lower end of this pole a is suitably secured, as by screws passing through the holes 0, a metal plate I) formed with ears d and having its lower end pointed, as shown at e, Figs. 5 and 6. Between the ears d and hinged thereto is a metal bar f the free end of which is formed with a tooth g and with a flattened portion h just above the tooth g.

To the top of the stick or pole a is suitably secured, as by screws passing through the holesj, a metal plate 1' the top of which is formed with a split ring 70 within which is pivotally mounted the clamp m made up of the fork n in one arm of which is adjustably mounted the clamp-screw 0. (See Figs. 3 and 4.)

The parts of the scenery are brought upon the stage with the braces clamped to said parts. The pole a is thrust smartly downwards, whereby the point is forced into the floor of the stage. The piece p of scenery is then given its proper inclination, whereupon the bar f is struck smartly with the heel upon the flattened portion h, thereby driving the tooth 9 into the floor and securing the brace in position at its lower end. Should it have been necessary to have loosened the clamp m at the top of the brace, the latter is now tightened by turning the clamp-screw o.

It will be obvious that the brace does not have to be turned, and there is no danger of disarranging a carpet placed .upon the floor of the stage. Every operation necessary to place the brace in position and secure the same therein may be done with great rapidity. Of course, the time-saving elementis most essential in these contrivances.

I claim:

In a stage brace, the combination of a body portion; a plate secured to the lower end thereof, the lower end of said plate being formed with a point projecting below the lower extremity of said body portion; and a bar one end of which is pivotally secured to the upper end of said plate, and the other end of which is formed with a tooth and extends to the rear beyond and free from said plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of October, A. D. 1906, at said Zanesville, in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES CRI'ICHFIELD ENGLAND.

Witnesses G. C. RILEY, CHAS. W. GIBsoN.