Improvements in Apparatus for Gymnastic and Acrobatic Performances and Feats of Balancing.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Gymnastic and Acrobatic
Performances and Feats of Balancing.
I ROBERT WILSON (Professionally known as Robert Romah) of 41 Penton Place
Kennington Park Road, Gymnast, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GYMNASTIO AND ACROBATIC PERFORMANCES
AND FEATS OF BALANCING.
The apparatus the subject of this invention is intended for the performance of
various acrobatic, gymnastic, and balancing feats, in which locomotion, gyration, and
flight form a prominent feature.
In the locomotive performances I employ either a single, double or variable number
of rails, wires, or their equivalents, either straight, circular, or other form, suspended
from the roof of a building, or otherwise supported.
In the case of the employment of double rails, wires or what not, they may be of
metal or other substance, tubular, or solid, or of angle or other suitable iron, supported
and slung on bearings, arranged equidistant throughout the longth and course of the
line, above which they are arched, and by which they are hung from the roof, the
suspending wires being tightened or slackened to keep the line perfectly level, by
means of a screw adjustment which is well known and used for such purposes.
These rails are kept perfectly rigid by aid of wires, or ropes at the sides, and ends
in the ordinary manner.
Travelling along this line of rails, is a roller or ball whose grooved ends run upon
the rails. In some cases where a ball is used the ends are provided with metal disks,
either fixed to the ball itself, or to the ends of an axis passing through the ball, these
run in a groove in the rails, or on the angle iron, as the case may be. Or two
grooved wheels fixed to an axle having a grooved wheel in the centre, or a simple
groove on the axle may be used.
From the centre groove of this roller or ball, below and between the rails, a hoop of
metal or any other suitable substance such as angle or other shaped iron, or steam
tubing depends.
The end supports of the rails terminate in arms, and from these wires or ropes
descend, and are made fust below by any convenient method. These wires or ropes
bear the necessary stands or rests, from which the performer starts, or they may be
separately supported.
Before fixing the lower ends of these wires or ropes, each is given one turn round a
grooved wheel fixed at each end of a cranked axle.
The performer seizes the ropes, or wires in his hands, and placing his feet on the
cranks commences to turn the axle, this causes the ascent of the wheels up the wires
or ropes, and consequently raises the performer to the stand, having reached which
the axle and wheels are kept in position by aid of a weight and cord, or other simple
method. A seat may be mounted on the axle, by means of supports in which the axle
turns.
Or in lieu of the grooved wheels, reels may be used, in this case the free ends of
the wires are fixed to the reels, and the performer in turning the crank with his feet,
winds up the wires on the reels in his ascent.
In order to facilitate this, and lessen exertion, the centres of the wheels or reels are
provided with teeth, which gear with toothed wheels or pinions fixed on the ends of
the cranked axle.
The rails are made in sections, each length at its ends being bent downwards, the
joints of the rails being fished with a plate terminating the ends of the rail supports,
so that the rail, sunuorts, and plates, can be united with bolts and nuts.

page_text: The ends of the rails where the line terminates, are hent laterally outwards, and are
bolted to the arms, on the arched rail supports at the ends of the line.
The hoop is, or may be made in segments, the parts being united by the insertion
of a projection at one part, entering a hollow in the corresponding part, and screwing
the junction together by means of screws, or by connecting the parts by any other
convenient means.
In causing a gyration or pivotting of the hoop I provide a movable cross bar, or
traverse, adjustable on the rails by means of books at each end, and thumb screws.
Beneath this cross bar and in its centre is an iron frame bearing a grooved wheel,
sheaf or roller. This frame and wheel turn on a pivotting axis, ball and socket, or
universal joint, or swivel mounted in the centre of the cross har.
On one side of the frame a sufficient space is left for the introduction of the hoop,
so that it can be placed over the wheel.
Various feats can be performed with the hoop, the grooved wheel being at the time
fixed by passing a pin through the frame at the side and into the wheel, so as to
lock it.
When this pin is removed the wheel will turn with the hoop. The frame with the
grooved wheel, hoop, cross bar and swivel may be used independently of the rails by
mounting them on a separate support.
I also insert a pin through the cross bar into the upper part of the frame of the
grooved wheel; on the removal of this pin the performor can cause the hoop to gyrate
or spin on its pivot, swivel, or ball and socket joint.
In taking a flight from one end to the other, a wire or rope is stretched in an
inclined position from one of the ends of the rails, the other end of the wire being
firmly secured in any convenient manner. The hoop is held in a hook or hooks,
above and to which a grooved wheel or wheels are fixed, the wire passes under this
wheel or wheels so that it or they can run along the wire, above which and on each
side of the wheel or wheels a grooved bar extends, the ends of which are also provided
with a hook or hooks for securing the hoop as described.
The weight of the performer when in the hoop has a tendency to draw down the
wire, at the point of suspension of the weight; it is intended therefore to obviate
this by the employment of the bar referred to.
On a single line of rail, rope, or wire I make use of three cog wheels (held in
a frame, one above the other) grooved in the centre; the rail, rope, or wire passes
between the two first, or upper and centre ones, and the hoop between the centre
and lower ones. By this arrangement the performer can travel forwards or back-
wards on the line.
In lieu of cog wheels I can employ rollers simply grooved in the centre, their
ends being also grooved for carrying india rubber rings, the frictional contact of
which with similar rings on the other rollers obviates the use of cogs or teeth.
Dated January 18th 1880
A. C. HENDERSON & Co.,
Patent Agents,
46, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Gymnastic and Acrobatic
Performances and Feats of Balancing.
I ROBERT WILSON (Professionally known as Robert Romalı) of 41 Penton Place,
Kennington Park Road, Gymnast do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR GYMNASTIC AND ACROBATIC PERFORMANCES,
AND FEATS OF BALANCING" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, to be
as follows:-
The apparatus the subject of this invention is intended for the performance of

page_text: various acrobatic, gymnastic and balancing feats, in which locomotion, gyration and
flight form a prominent feature.
In the locomotive performances I employ either a single, double or variable number
of rails, wires or their equivalents either straight, circular or other form, suspended
from the roof of a building or otherwise supported.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a double line of rails suspended
to the roof as described with the accessories requisite for the performances herein
referred to.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are various parts of the appliances shown in detail.
In the case of the employment of double rails A, wires or whatnot they may
be of metal or other substance; tubular or solid or of angle or other suitable
iron, supported and slung on bearings B, arranged equidistant throughout the
length and course of the line, above which they are arched, and by which they
are hung from the roof, the suspending wires, being tightened or slackened to
keep the line perfectly level, by means of a screw adjustment D, which is well
known and used for such purposes.
These rails are kept perfectly rigid, by aid of wires or ropos at the sides and
ends in the ordinary manner.
Travelling along this line of rails, is a roller or ball (not shown in the drawings)
whose grooved ends run upon the rails. In some cases where a ball is used, the ends
are provided with metal discs either fixed to the ball itself or to the ends of an axis
passing through the ball, these run in a groove in the rails or on the angle iron as the
case may be. Or two grooved wheels E, E, Fig. 1, fixed to an axle F having a
grooved wheel G in the centre; or a simple groove on the axle may be used.
From the centre groove of this roller or ball G, below and between the rails, a
hoop of metal H, or any other suitable substance such as angle or other shaped iron
or steam tubing depends.
The end supports of the rails terminate in arms I, Figs. 1 and 7 and from these,
wires or ropes J, descend, and are made fast below by any convenient method. These
wires or ropes bear the necessary stands or rosts K, from which the performer starts
or they may be separately supported.
The rails are made in sections as shown Figs. 4 and 6 each length at its ends L,
being bent downwards, the joints of the rails being fished with a plate M, terminating
the ends of the rail supports B, so that the rails A, supports B, and plates M, can be
united with bolts and nuts, M.
The end of the rails Á where the line terminates, are bent laterally outwards
(see N Fig. 6) and are bolted to the arms I, on the arched rail supports B, at the ends
of the line.
The hoop is, or may be made in segments, the parts being united by the insertion
of a projection O, at one part, entering a hollow P, vide Fig. 8, in the corresponding
part, and securing the junction together by means of screws, or by connecting the
parts by any other convenient means.
In causing a gyration or pivotting of the hoop 1 provide a moveable crossbar, or
traverse Q, adjustable on the rails A, A vide Fig. 2, by means of hooks R at each end,
and thumb or adjusting screws S.
Beneath this crossbar and in its centre is an iron frame T bearing a grooved wheel,
sheaf or roller u. This frame T and wheel u, turn on a pivotting axis V, ball and
socket or universal joint or swivel mounted in the centre of the crossbar Q. On one
side of the frame T, a sufficient space W, is left for the introduction of the hoop H, so
that it can be placed over the wheel u.
Various feats can be performed with the hoop H, the grooved wheel u. being at the
time fixed by passing a pin X through the frame at the side and into the wheel u, so
as to lock it.
When this pin is removed the wheel will turn with the hoop.
The frame with grooved wheel u, hoop H, crossbar Q and swivel V, may be used
independently of the rail, by mounting them on a separate support. I also insert a
pin through the crossbar Q into the upper part of the frame T, of the grooved

page_text: wheel u, on the removal of this pin Y, the performer can cause the hoop H, to gyrate
or spin on its pivot V swivel or ball and socket joint.
In taking a flight from one end to the other a wire or rope Z, Fig. 3 is stretched
in an inclined position from one of the ends of the rails, the other end of the wire
being firmly secured in any convenient manner. The hoop is held in a hook or
books above and to which a grooved wheel or wheels are fixed, the wire passes
under this wheel or wheels go that it or they can run along the wire, above
which and on each side of the wheel or wheels a grooved bar (not shown in the
drawings) extends, the ends of which are also provided with a hook or hooks for
securing the hoop as described. A small engine may be attached to the hoop as
shown Fig. 3 worked by clockwork which would slide with the hoop to give effect
to the performance.
The weight of the performer when in the hoop has a tendency to draw down the
wire at the point of suspension of the weight, it is intended therefore to obviate
this, by the employment of the bar referred to.
On a single line of rail, rope or wire, I make use of three cogwheels grooved in the
centre (not shown in the drawings) held in a frame one above the other, the rail,
rope or wire is passed between the two first or upper and centre ones, and the hoop
between the centre and lower ones. By this arrangement the performer can travel
with the hoop forwards or backwards on the line.
In lieu of cogwheels I can employ rollers simply grooved in the centre, their ends
being also grooved for carrying india rubber rings, the frictional contact of which
with similar rings on the other wheels obviate the use of cogs or teeth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1st. The apparatus and its accessories herein described for the performance of gym-
nastic and acrobatic performances and feats of balancing, consisting of a double or
single line of metal or other rails A suspended from the roof of a building by aid of
arched or other shaped bars B to which the suspending rods, wires or ropes C, are
attached. The position of suspension, of the rail or rails being regulated by the
screw adjustments D.
2nd. The construction of the metal or other rail or rails in segments the ends L
being bent downwards and the rails fished by a plate M forming part of the arched
suspending bars B. The supports terminating the ends of the rails being provided
with arms I Fig. 7 from which are slung the rests K.
3rd. A ball or roller whose grooved ends run upon the rails, the ball in some cases
having a metal disc either fixed to the ball itself or to the ends of an axis passing
through the ball these discs running in a groove in the rail or rails or ou angle
iron.
4th. The grooved wheels E, E, Fig. 1 fixed to an axle F having a grooved wheel G
in the centre or a simple groove on the axle in which groove on either the roller or
ball a metal or other hoop is hung and depends between the rails.
5th. The use and construction of a moveable crossbar or traverse Q adjustable on
the rails by means of hooks R at each end and thumb or adjusting screws S. From
the centre of which crossbar hangs a grooved wheel or sheave u, held and turning on
its axis in a frame T the upper part of the frame being connected to the bar by
means of a swivel or ball and socket joint with pins Y and X for arresting the
revolutions either of the frame and wheel or the wheel only as desired.
6th. The construction of the hoop in segments if required.
7th. The method of suspending the hoop to and below a wire or rope (stretched
across a building) the hoop being held in a hook or hooks to which are connected a
grooved wheel or wheels the wire or rope passing under the wheel or wheels so that it
or they can run along the wire, above which and on each side of the wheel or wheels
a grooved bar extends the ends of which are also provided with a hook or hooks to
keep the wire or rope straight where the weight of the performer is felt.

page_text: I
8th. The employment with a single line of rail, rope or wire of three cogwheels
grooved in the centre held in a frame one above the other, the rail, rope or wire
passing between the two first or upper and centre ones and the hoop between the
centre and lower ones for enabling the performer to travel to and fro on the line.
claim also the employment of rollers grooved in the centre their ends being also
grooved to carry india rubber rings whose frictional contact with similar rings on the
other wheels obviate the use of cogs or teeth.
9th. The employment (in conjunction and connection with the hoop) of a small
Engine whose wheels are worked by clock work, the Engine and hoop being connected,
the former runs with the latter along the inclined rope or wire.
The whole in the manner by the means and for the purposes herein specified.
Dated this 17th day of October 1889.
A. C. HENDERSON & Co.,
46, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, Agents for the Applicant.