US3345066A - Scenery handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 3, 1967 e c. IZENOUR SCENERY HANDLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1964 h rm .r W L 2 C mfi G Y B KN A TTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,345,066 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 3,345,066 SCENERY HANDLING APPARATUS George C. lzenour, Alston Ave., New Haven, Conn. 06515 Filed July 22, 1964, Ser. No. 384,386 12 Claims. (Cl. 272-43) The present invention relates to theatres, and particularly to apparatus for handling scenery.

In a theatre the audience views scenery that is commonly suspended by lines extending upward over pulleys and laterally to apparatusw off-stage for handling the scenery. The handling apparatus lifts unwanted scenery to a storage space well above the stage called the flies, and lowers selected scenery units to the stage. Over the centuries, scenery has been counterbalanced by weights, and hand lines have been used for operating the handling apparatus to raise or lower the scenery. In recent years motor operation has been introduced. In my U.S. Patent No. 2,942,879, FIG. 10 shows a conventional scenery handling system, and that patent also discloses and claims a completely different system that avoids counterweights entirely. The novel system in that patent has many unique advantages, and yet the earlier type is desirable where counterweights are acceptable.

A broad object of the present invention is to improve counterweight-type scenery handling apparatus.

Another important object of this invention resides in the provision of a simple mechanical means for trimming scenery-suspending lines so that when the operating rneans reaches a limit, the lowermost edge of the scenery will be disposed at the stage level or at any other desired viewing level.

The usual scenery unit is made in the form of a flat, that is, a wooden frame covered by canvas bearing the required painted images. In common practice a flat needs several lines, typically four lines, for supporting its weight and avoiding excessive local loads, and for locating the scenery unit at the desired place and facing in the desired direction when lowered to viewing level.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a readily adjustable multiple-line suspension system and a readily accessible and easily operable means for individually adjusting multiple lines that extend from the operating apparatus and a common counterweight to a single scenery unit.

In achieving the foregoing and other objects of the invention, the illustrative embodiment described below in detail and shown in the annexed drawings involves an electric motor coupled to a closed-loop line so as to be operable in reverse directions. A counterweight is secured to this closed-loop line; and multiple lines extend from a flat over first and second stationary pulleys, then down and around respective pulleys that carry the counterweight, and these lines then extend to individual trimming clamps. Further, the trimming clamps are associated with a line-length adjusting device. A single length-adjusting device is provided for serving many lines or groups of lines of several flats. Additionally, means is provided for maintaining orderly and readily available a reserve length of line at the side of the line clamp opposite the scenerycarrying length of line.

More particularly, one end of each line in the system described extends from a point of attachment to a scenery unit, directly upward and over a first stationary pulley, then laterally and over a second stationary pulley, then downward and around a pulley on the movable counterweight frame, upward and around a third fixed pulley, and through an individual line clamp. The reserve length of each line extending from each clamp terminates at a permanently secured end, and a pulley-supported weight maintains the reserve length of line as a moderately tensioned loop that remains orderly, free of any tendency to become tangled with itself or with adjacent reserve lengths of line.

The line-adjusting device is operable to grip an individual line and, when the clamp of that line is released, the adjusting device can shift the part of the line extending through the clamp so as to draw more line into the reserve loop or to release more line into the cable-suspending length of line. When the length and tension of a line has been adjusted, the clamp of that line is locked and the adjusting device is available for use on other lines.

With the foregoing suspension system, and with the mechanical means of adjustment provided, it is an easy matter to distribute the loads among the lines of a group that extend to a single scenery unit, and a common counterweight can be used for that group of lines. Many other advantages are also realized, as will appear. In the annexed drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of the front view of so much of a theatre stage as is concerned with the scenery and the scenery suspension apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of part of the apparatus in FIG. 1, drawn to larger scale and with parts shown in section and certain portions broken away; and

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged details of the apparatus in FIGS. 1 and 2, shown partly in section and drawn to enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings, a stage is shown including a floor 10, an overhead catwalk 12, overhead beams 14, suspended panels or flats 16, and suspension apparatus 18 for supporting flats 16 and for raising and lowering such flats from the level of floor 10 of the stage. The scenery represented by the flats is in the View of the audience when at stage level, and the flats can be lifted by apparatus 18 to the flies, well above the stage and out of view of the audience.

The multi-section flat 16 is supported by a group of lines Zita, 26b, 20c and 20d. These lines extend vertically to pulleys 22 that are attached to portions of beams 14 directly above the points of flats 16 to which lines 20 are secured. Flat section 16a is parallel to the front of the stage. Lines 20a and 20b to the upper corners of section 16a extend about respective pulleys 22 that are mounted on a line parallel to the front of the stage. Flat sections 16b and'16c are hinged together and to section 16a, and are supported by lines 20b, 20c and 20a. The pulleys 22 that carry the latter two lines are spaced farther fromthe front of the stage than are the pulleys that carry lines 20a and 20b. Beams 14 are directly above gaps 12a between confronting channels 12b which form parts of the catwalk 12.

A frame 24 at the extreme left of the stage is carried by I-beams 25 that extend from the front to the rear of the stage. Frames 24 carry a series of caster-mounted pulleys 26 (see also FIG. 3), there being one pulley 26 for each of the group of lines 20. As shown in FIG. 3, pulley 26 includes its own shaft 26a about which the pulley rotates and, offset from the axis of shaft 26a is a pivot 26b in a socket 260 secured to a bracket 24: of frame 24. There is one bracket 24a for each of the pulleys 26, so that frame 24 and its brackets resemble a step-ladder. Frames 24 are at a level that is below beams 14 but above catwalk 12, and consequently lines 20 extend at a small angle upward from pulleys 26 toward pulleys 22. The latter pulleys are also caster-mounted, so that these pulleys align themselves with the length of line extending from each pulley 22 to the companion pulley 26. Lines 20 extend vertically downward from pulleys 26 around a counterweight pulley 28 that is rotatably mounted in counterweight frame 30. Pulley 28 advantageously in:

cludes four individually rotatable coaxial parts. The

i) counterweight frame includes a pair of vertical bars 30a, top and bottom frame members 3% and 300, and a stack of an appropriate number of weights 30d for counterbalancing the weight of the flat 16. 7

Lines 20 extend from counterweight pulley 28 upward and around a small pulley 32 carried by framework 33 on beams 25, and around another pulley 34 mounted on a vertical bar or hanger 36 to a lock or cable clamp 38 (see FIG. 4) which is also mounted on hanger 36. An individual clamp 38 is provided for each one of the lines 20. Below clamps 38, lines 20 extend around a further pulley 40 that is suitably supported at the bottom of hanger 36. Downward loops of lines 20a, b, c and d are held taut by small Weights 42 carried by pulleys 44, the loops of lines 20 extending to a beam 46 to which the lines are secured. Beam 46 is carried by a series of hangers 48 depending from a channel 12b of the catwalk. A further catwalk 46b extends from beam 46 to another beam 46a, for personnel who are to operate clamps 38 and tension adjuster 70, to be described.

A line 50 is fixed to counterweight frame 30 and extends vertically over a large-diameter freely rotatable pulley 52 that is coaxial with pulley 32; and line 59 extends downward to a turnbuckle 54 and to chain 56. The latter extends around a sprocket 53 and upWard to a line that is attached to counterweight frame 30. Line 50, chain 56 and line 60 constitute a closed loop which extends around sprocket 58 and pulley 52. Inasmuch as the movable lengths of lines 20 extend down and around counterweight pulley 28, the system is balanced by making weights 30d substantially twice the weight of scenery unit 16. A motor 62 operates reduction gearing 64 for operating sprocket 58. Turnbuckle 54 tensions the loop 50, 56, 60. Operation of motor 62 in one direction or the opposite raises or lowers the scenery.

A screen 66 protects personnel working on the stage; and a screen 68 that is suspended between beams 46 and 46a provides protection against the possibility of weights 42 falling, in the event of any of the lines 20 breaking.

Along hangers 36 directly below locks or clamps 38 is a tension adjuster 70 (FIG. 5). This tensioner includes a lever 70a mounted for swinging in a vertical plane, about a horizontal axis formed by a slotted cylinder or channel 72 that is secured by member 74 to hangers 36. A cylindrical plug 70b to which lever 70a is attached is rotatable in channel 72, and is axially slidable along channel 72. A rubber-faced eccentric steel roller 700 is carried by bracket 70d on lever 70a at a point between plug 70b and the handle portion 70a of lever 70a. Lever 70a advantageously is rubber-faced opposite eccentric 76. Bracket 70d extends across Only one side of the eccentric, so that at the other side of the eccentric there is free access to the space between eccentric 70c and lever 70a for admitting a line 20.

Clamp 38 (FIG. 4) includes a fixed steel plate 38a, a movably mounted plate 38b, a pair of confronting rubber liners 38c bonded to plates 38a and 38b, and a lever 38d having an eccentric portion 38:: that bears against plate 38b. Lever 38d is pivoted in a bolt 38 that is fixed to the support of plate 38a.

A pair of limit switches 72 and 74 are operable by a corresponding pair of blocks 76 and 78 on chain 56. Block 76 operates switch 72 to interrupt power to motor 62 when the scenery carried by lines 20 has been lifted into the flies for storage; and block 78 operates switch 74 to interrupt power to motor 62 and thereby arrest the scenery carried by lines 20 when it has been lowered to stage level. Suitable reversing switches, a brake, and auxiliary speed-control switches for motor 62 are included in a motor control circuit (not shown) such as that in my Patent No. 2,942,879 mentioned above. Significantly, the limit stops etc. identified with the motor need no attention or adjustment after initial installation, since lines 20 are individually adjustable, as already indicated. When scenery is to be hung, motor 62 is operated until the lower limit switch 74 is activated. Lines 20 are then secured to flats 16a, 16b, 160, etc.; pulleys 22 are secured to parts of beams 14 directly overhead, and lines 20 are pulled taut manually through individually released camps 38. At this time the flats rest directly on the stage. The scenery should preferably clear the stage by a small amount or, in any event, the weight of the scenery should be carried by lines 20 to avoid bumping subsequently when the scenery is lowered. To this end, tension adjuster 70 is operated as follows. Lever 70a is raised as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5 and line 20 is moved into the space between eccentric 70c and the tensioning lever. Slight lowering of lever 70a causes eccentric 700 to rotate and grip line 20 against lever 70a. Clamp 38 related to the line 28 held by tensioner 7G is then released. Further depression of lever 70a tensions line 20, and even raises the part of scenery unit 16 to which that line it attached. After the desired tension is established, clamp 38 is closed on the adjusted line 20. Pulling on the part of line 20 depending from eccentric 70c releases the eccentric so the line can be removed. Tension adjuster '70 is then moved into line with the clamp 38 of another line 20 to be adjusted. If the scenery is to be elevated above the stage, it is readily possible to grip and pull line 20 with tensioner '70, then operate clamp 38 and release the tensioner, then raise lever 70a and once again grip line 20, pulling line 20 a step at a time.

There is one lock or clamp 38 for each line 20. However only one tensioner 70 is provided for a large number of lines 20. Not only can tensioner 70 serve lines 20 26b, 20c, 2001 that carry scenery unit 16, but tensioner 70 can also serve other groups of lines. It will be understood that other flats are carried by additional groups of lines having their respective motor drives, supporting lines, etc., that are suitably located. Additional flat-carrying lines and tensioning and operating systems (not shown) are located along the left-hand side of stage 10, at various positions behind the system 18 illustrated. A second frame 24' (FIG. 1) designates the location of a second such system.

The nature of tension adjuster 70 and its operation have been explained in some detail; but although this tensioner is exemplary, it is nonetheless susceptible of a latitude of modification and substitution. For example, a portable motor-powered tensioner is a contemplated substitute.

Among the advantages of the foregoing apparatus are coordinated operation of the groups of lines that carry a scenery unit; individual adjustment of the lines with equalized or properly distributed loads among the lines; power operation of the operating apparatus between limits controlled electrically, without dependence on extended control circuit wiring; and installation of the drive motor at a location below stage where any motor noise that may develop cannot interfere with the performance on stage.

Various modifications and substitutions in the described apparatus are contemplated, as will be evident to those skilled in the art, and therefore the invention should be construed broadly in accordance with its full spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. Scenery handling apparatus for operating a plurality of lines secured to a unit of scenery, where said lines extend vertically from the scenery unit and laterally to the handling apparatus, said apparatus including a displaceable unit having a pulley, guiding means for said lines located above said pulley and disposed along the lines between one side of said pulley and the unit of scenery, supporting and individually adjustable securing means for the portions of said lines extending from the opposite side of said pulley, and means to reversibly operate said displaceable unit for lifting and lowering the scenery unit alternately, said supporting and securing means including a stationary clamp individual to each of said lines for locking its related line in adjustment, and means, cooperable with each of said lines and operable even while each said line is tensioned by a scenery unit for adjusting the point along the length of each line that is engageable by its related clamp, the adjusting means being operable on one of said lines while the clamp related to that line is released.

2. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance With claim 1, wherein said adjusting means includes a lever means operable in a vertical arc and having a line clamp thereon, said lever means and its line clamp being operable to adjust a line when the individual clamp of that line has been released.

3. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said lever means is mounted to be laterally movable into operative relation with each of said lines adjacent the individual clamps thereof.

4. Apparatus for handling scenery above a stage, including plural lines for suspending a scenery unit, a first group of pulley for said lines, respectively, directly above points of securement of said lines to the scenery unit, a second group of pulleys for said lines disposed above and lateral of the stage, and operating means for said lines including a counterweight unit having a pulley below said second group of pulleys, means for operating said counterweight unit up and down to lower and lift the scenery unit alternately, supporting and individually adjustable securing means for the lengths of said lines at the side of the counterweight unit remote from the scenery unit, said supporting and securing means including an individual lock for each line, said lines extending from a scenery unit successively over the first and second groups of pulleys, down and around the counterweight pulley, and upward to and beyond said supporting and securing means, and means operable to adjust said lines individually while the corresponding line locks thereof are released.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, further including means fixedly securing the ends of said lines remote from the scenery-unit ends thereof, and means individually tensioning the portions of said lines between said line locks and said remote ends of said lines.

6. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a single said adjusting means is mounted for cooperating successively with a plurality of said lines individually.

7. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said adjusting means includes a lever means operable about a fulcrum in an are long one of said lines to be adjusted, and means for securing the line to be adjusted to a part of the lever means spaced from the fulcrum.

8. Scenery handling apparatus in accordance with claim 7, including a rail extending across multiple lines to be adjusted and means for mounting said lever means movably along said rail for carrying the lever means into cooperation with any selected one of plural lines.

9. Apparatus for handling a scenery unit above a stage, including plural lines for suspending a scenery unit, a first group of individual pulleys for said lines, respectively,

and means for mounting said first group of pulleys at various locations fore-and-aft and laterally above the stage at points directly above points of securement of said lines to the scenery unit, a second group of individually rotatable pulleys for said lines, respectively, spaced hori Zontally from the first group of pulleys and disposed above the outer limits of the stage, operating means for said lines including a vertically operable pulley unit having an individual pulley for each of said lines, means for operating said pulley unit up and down to lower and lift the scenery =unit alternately, and individually adjustable securing means for the portions of said lines at the side of said pulley unit remote from the scenery unit, said lines extending from a scenery unit successively over the first and second groups of pulleys, reversely around the individual pulleys of the pulley unit, and thence to said securing means.

10. Apparatus for handling a scenery unit above a stage, including plural lines for suspending a scenery unit, a first group of caster-mounted pulleys for said lines, respectively, and means for mounting said first group of pulleys at various locations fore-and-aft and laterally above the stage at points directly above points of securement of said lines to the scenery unit, a second group of caster-mounted pulleys individual to said lines, respectively, for automatic alignment therewith disposed above and lateral of the stage, and operating means for said lines including a vertically operable pulley unit below said second group of pulleys, said pulley unit including an individually rotatable pulley for each of said lines, reversible motor means for operating said pulley unit up and down to lower and lift the scenery unit alternately, and individually adjustable securing means for the ends of said lines remote from the scenery unit, said lines extending from a scenery unit successively over the first and second groups of pulleys, down and around the pulleys of said pulley unit, and upward to said securing means.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of the pulleys of the first and second groups are individually caster-mounted for self-alignment of a pulley of the first group and a pulley of the second group with a line extending therebetween.

12. Apparatus for handling a scenery unit in accordance with claim 9, wherein said individually adjustable securing means includes means for producing lengthwise adjustment of the line and for retaining the line in its adjustment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,090 10/ 1898 Conquest 27224 766,238 8/ 1904 Garrett 272-22 X 2,942,879 6/ 1960 Izenour 272-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 496,799 4/1930 Germany. 552,725 6/ 1932 Germany.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. F. BARRY SHAY, Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. SCENERY HANDLING APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A PLURALITY OF LINES SECURED TO A UNIT OF SCENERY, WHERE SAID LINES EXTEND VERTICALLY FROM THE SCENERY UNIT AND LATERALLY TO THE HANDLING APPARATUS, SAID APPARAATUS INCLUDING A DISPLACEABLE UNIT HAVING A PULLEY, GUIDING MEANS FOR SAID LINES LOCATED ABOVE SAID PULLEY AND DISPOSED ALONG THE LINES BETWEEN ONE SIDE OF SAID PULLEY AND THE UNIT OF SCENERY, SUPPORTING AND INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTABLE SECURING MEANS FOR THE PORTIONS OF SAID LINES EXTENDING FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PULLEY, AND MEANS TO REVERSIBLY OPERATE SAID DISPLACEABLE UNIT FOR LIFTING AND LOWERING THE SECENERY UNIT ALTERNATELY, AND SUPPORTING AND SECURING MEANS INCLUDING A STATIONARY CLAMP INDIVIDUAL TO EACH OF SAID LINES FOR LOCKING ITS RELATED LINE IN ADJUSTMENT, AND MEANS, COOPERABLE WITH EACH OF SAID LINES AND OPERABLE EVEN WHILE EACH SAID LINE IS TENSIONED BY A SCENERY UNIT FOR ADJUSTING THE POINT ALONG THE LENGTH OF EACH LINE THAT IS ENGAGEABLE BY ITS RELATED CLAMP, THE ADJUSTING MEANS BEING OPERABLE ON ONE OF SAID LINES WHILE THE CLAMP RELATED TO THAT LINE IS RELEASED.

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