Improvements in Apparatus for Acrobatic Performances.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 27th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Acrobatic Performances.
I, WALTER SILBON, of 38, Milson Road, West Kensington, London, Gymnast,
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 :-
This invention for improvements in apparatus for acrobatic performances relates
more especially to the framings or platforms on which the performer stands, or
performs his acrobatic feats, and has for its object an improved construction of
such framings or platforms whereby they can be readily adapted by the performer
either for use as a platform or as a framing for trick purposes, the parts not then
required being so arranged that they can be turned up out of the way.
And in order that this invention may be more clearly described reference is
had to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings on which;
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the whole arrangement.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the main frame or platform.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.
-
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the auxiliary platform and Fig. is a plan thereof.
The main frame or platform is formed in two parts AA hinged together at Aª
The portion A consists of the bars aa, ala¹, and as a arranged to form vertical
triangular framings at each side, and the bars as a³, a a³, forming inclined trian-
gular framings projecting outwardly at each side. These bars together constitute
a strong framework and from the apices bbbb1 of the said triangular framings
the supporting cords or wires B B ] B' extend upwards and pass over pulleys in
the roof or are otherwise attached so as to admit of adjusting the height of the
arrangement. Spring pendants CC extend from 66 downwardly and support a
trapeze bar C¹.
The outer portion A¹ of the main framing consists of the bars as as and an end
bar a. A short distance from this a bar D is pivoted at d and is provided with
a hook end d by which it can be secured in the eye d in a position parallel to
the bar a and at a short distance from it. The bars 6 1) then afford sufficient
support for the acrobat to serve the purpose of the platform. When however he
wishes to use the bar as for swinging or other feats he can unfasten the bar D and
turn it out of the way as shown in dotted lines, a clip E being provided to hold
it in this position.
The cords or wires B B supporting the portion A¹ are passed over pulleys in the
roof or otherwise attached and are preferably provided with counterbalancing
weights so that a very slight effort is sufficient to cause the portion A¹ to turn up
into the position shown in dotted lines out of the way so that there is no possí
bility of its interfering with feats performed on the trapeze bar C¹. At the same
time it is as easy for the acrobat to bring the portion A¹ into position again or
the raising or lowering may be effected by assistants working the cords or
wires BBB.
The other platform F is at a suitable distance from the framing AA' and is so
arranged that in the normal position it is not horizontal, the suspending corda

page_text: or wires GG being shorter than the cords or wires GG. When however the
platform F is swung inwardly toward the framing AA it will then be horizontal
as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 instead of slightly inclined upwards as would be
the case if the platform were normally horizontal as usual. The supporting cords
or wires HH pass over pulleys in the roof or are otherwise attached to admit of
varying the height of the arrangement. These cords or wires HH are extended
downwardly and support a trapeze bar I. The distance between this and the plat-
form F can be varied by means of the cords JJJJ. passing over pulleys suitably
arranged and operated by an assistant.
It will therefore be seen that this invention allows of a variety of acrobatic
feats being performed and the arrangement can be readily manipulated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;-
(1) A framing for acrobatic performances in two portions hinged together so
that when not required, one portion can be turned up out of the way either by the
acrobat or by an assistant, the said portion being counterbalanced or not, substan-
tially as described.
(2) In a framing for acrobatic performances formed in two portions hinged
together, a hinged bar having a hook end and adapted to be secured across the
framing and a clip by which the said hinged bar can be secured out of the way
when not required, substantially as described.
(3) In apparatus for acrobatic performances the combination of the triangular
bar framings, suspending wires or cords, a hinged portion to said framing adapted
to be turned out of the way when not required, the said portion being counter-
balanced or not, a hinged bar having a hook and adapted to be secured across the
framing, a clip by which the said hinged bar can be secured out of the way,
spring pendants below the framing and a trapeze bar supported by said spring
pendants, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(4) An auxiliary platform for use in acrobatic performances in which the plat-
form is normally inclined so that when swung inwardly it takes a horizontal posi-
tion substantially as described.
(5) In apparatus for acrobatic performances, the frame bars a a, a'a', a² aª,
aa aa, suspending cords or wires BBB'B', hinge A³, frame bars af a³ a³,
hinged bar D pivoted at having hook end d, hook, clip E, suspending cords
or wires B B³, spring pendants CC and trapeze bar C¹ all arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
(6) In combination with the apparatus claimed in Claim 5, a platform F, sus-
pending cords or wires GG G¹G¹ the cords or wires G G being longer than the
cords or wires GIG¹, supporting cords or wires HH, trapeze bar I and adjusting
cords or wires J J J¹J₁ all arranged and operating substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.
Dated this 28th day of February 1809