Improvements in Stage Dancing or Gymnastics, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stage Dancing or Gymnastics, and Apparatus
therefor.
1, WILLIAM BEVOIR BUCHANAN NEALE of No. 5 Idol Lane London E.C.
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :--
My invention has relation to that class of stage performances known as aerial
dancing, in which one or more performers are enabled by aid of special mechanism
invisible to the spectators to rise into the air to a greater or less height above the
stage.
The mechanism which I have devised enables the performer to rise or spring
into the air not only in a vertical direction but also to make considerable
It also enables two or more persons
movements horizontally across the stage.
to perform at the same time either together or separately without getting in each
other's way or limiting their power of independent motion.
In carrying my invention into effect I place at a suitable position on or near the
stage a winding mechanism actuated by hand or power as may be requisite consisting
essentially of a winch with conical drum, spirally grooved in such manner that the
tension of the rope wound thereon and springs is substantially uniform when the
apparatus is in operation. One end of the rope aforesaid is attached to a suitable
spring preferably of india-rubber the other end of which is securely fastened to a
wall or support.
The other end of the rope passes through a pulley block
suspended above the stage and is attached to the wire which is fastened to the
performer on the stage.
In order to attain certain effects in the operation of the mechanism, a spring or
accumulator preferably of india-rubber may be interposed between the rope and the
wire, giving increased elasticity to the arrangement.
By means of this device the performer can make comparatively short springs and
quick movements without the aid of the winding mechanism, but with considerable
assistance from the rubber spring which also causes a more graceful motion when
the winding mechanism is operated.
If it be desired to attach two or more performers at the same time a ring or loop
is secured to the main rope from which ring separate ropes pass through pulleys
suspended as described.
Each performer being thus attached to the main rope, is lifted simultaneously
when the winding mechanism is operated.
In order to cause motion of the performer in a horizontal direction I employ
another winch, actuating an endless rope passing through pulleys at each side of
the stage. This rope carries one or more holders or travellers provided with friction
wheels or rollers between which the vertical wire or rope passes.
When therefore the horizontal rope is caused to travel forwards or backwards by
means of the winch, the traveller or travellers are drawn along correspondingly
and the performer or performers are moved about the stage.
Dated this 7th day of February 1895.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Stage Dancing or Gymnastics, and Apparatus
therefor.
I, WILLIAM BEVOIR BUCHANAN NEALE, of No. 5 Idol Lane, London, E.C.
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention has relation to that class of stage performances known as aerial
dancing in which one or more performers are enabled by means of mechanism
invisible to the spectators to rise into the air to a greater or less height above the
stage. It is essential that the mechanism shall impart graceful motion and admit
of rapid springs and changing of place both across the stage and in an upward
direction whilst being in all positions safe and reliable.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which
a
Fig. 1 shews a view of the apparatus in place behind the proscenium,
Fig. 2 a view of the winding mechanism,
Fig. 3 an end view of the hoisting apparatus and
Fig. 4 of the apparatus for imparting horizontal motion,
Fig. 5 elevation and plan view of the traveller or guide pulleys and
Fig. 6 view of the suspending ring
The winding device shewn at Fig. 2 consists of a movable frame bearing two
winches D and E respectively. The winch D gives vertical motion to the performer
by means of the rope d passing over pulleys X and V and attached to the wire e
passing through the traveller K and ending in the loop Z. The winch D has a
cylindrical part a on which is wound the rope d and a spirally grooved cone a', around
which is wound a rope d¹ attached at one end to the winch and at the other to a
spring or accumulator the other end of which is secured to a fixed support. The
strength and tension of the spring is proportioned to the weight of the performer
and it is fully stretched when the performer stands on the stage.
As the rope d is wound up and the performer lifted, the rope attached to ƒ is
unwound and the tension on the spring is correspondingly diminished. By means
of this device I obtain a uniform tension upon the rope d and consequently avoid
any jerking or too hasty impetus to the performer.
h
The winch E is preferably constructed as shewn in Fig. 4 the endless rope / boing
coiled thereon in such manner that as the portion wound on the barrel o is wound
up, that on the barrel p is uncoiled.
Where it is desired to have the rope adjustable to very different lengths, it
is preferably made with two ends one fixed on the barrel o, the other on the
barrel p. In this case each barrel has a circular rack or cog-wheel secured to
it in such manner that the two racks interlock when the discs are pushed close
together in order to adjust the rope the drum o is drawn away from the
drum until the respective racks no longer gear together and the drums can
be revolved independently of each other by their respective handles. When the
rope has been adjusted the two barrels are pushed together, the racks engage in
each other and the whole is thereby locked together.
;
The drums when in place can be held firmly together by means of a lock-nut or
other equivalent device.
The traveller K Figure 5 consists essentially of two flat pieces of metal k
joined together by bolts to which the ends of the rope h are attached and
having two grooved wheels or pulleys m between which passes the vertical
wire e.
In order to provide for the convenient insertion or removal of the said wire e
I prefer to make one of the flat pieces k with an aperture at the centre closed by a

page_text: hinged piece securely fastened by bolts in such a manner that the same can be
swung aside and the wire passed through the aperture and between the wheels m
and the piece k¹ can then be pushed in to place and bolted. The apparatus is shewn
in Fig. 1 adapted for one performer only, for the sake of clearness.
When it is desired to actuate two or more performers at the same time, I
provide a pulley V and a separate rope and wire e passing through a separate
traveller K on the rope h for each performer; the lifting ropes are attached to
the rings which is also fastened to the rope d. By this means the said performers
are simultaneously actuated by the winding device.
In order to prevent as far as possible an accident arising through the breaking
of the vertical wire e I reinforce the same at the point of greatest strain which
I have discovered to be the point immediately above the loop Z by passing
another piece of wire of the same or nearly the same strength around the loop Z
and lapping it round the vertical wire e for a short distance above the said loop and
securing the end of the same firmly by means of solder or the like in place thus
doubling the strength of the wire at that point.
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 :-
1. The combination of parts forming the apparatus for aerial dancing substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for aerial dancing the combination of parts for simultaneously
moving several performers consisting essentially of pulleys V and ropes passing
through the same and united to the main rope dat s together with means for
imparting vertical and lateral motion to the same substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for aerial dancing, the safety loop Z reinforced by doubling the
wire e which passes around it and continuing the lapping of the outer wire to above
the point of junction of the inner wire and attaching the outer wire firmly to the
inner wire.
Dated this 7th day of November 1895.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
31, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.