Improvements in or relating to Houses or other Structures,. applicable for Use in Theatrical or other Performances.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Houses or other Structures,.
applicable for Use in Theatrical or other Performances.
A communication from SAM ELTON, of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The house or structure forming the subject of this invention and represented in
Figures 1 and 2 is intended for acrobatic, gymnastic, theatrical or other
performances, and is so constructed that it may appear to be smashed without in.
reality being damaged at all.
The skeleton of the house, represented in the Fig. 2 is constructed of wooden
beams secured together by pins or bolts. To prevent its sliding on the floor it is
secured to it by wood-screws. On the canvas or other suitable material forming
the walls, surrounding the skeleton are painted, on the outside, panes and cross-bars
of windows, so as to give the house the look of a glass greenhouse. The gable-
wall is provided with a door which can turn round its horizontal and vertical axis,
as well as with a flap window opening to either side and automatically closing.
As can be seen from the drawing, the construction of the door pivoting round its
vertical and horizontal axis is such, that the corresponding vertical and horizontal
trunnions are introduced in the bearings and kept therein by the bearing-cover or
after the removal of the latter slide through corresponding recesses in the bearings.
according as the door is to be turned round its horizontal or vertical axis. The
closing of bearings b and d is effected by a recessed slide 1 (Fig. 6), which
surrounds the trunnions a and c like a bearing, so that lateral movement of these
trunnions is prevented. The automatic closing from outside to inside of the gable
window is effected by the spiral springs, which are connected with window leaves t
and with the window frame, whereas if the jump is effected in the opposite
direction, the rubber band 9 stretched by opening of t, closes the window.
In the painted, glass window-like walls there are a number of holes, which
represent breakages of glass, but they are originally covered by corresponding
covers. These covers, which like their framelike surroundings, consist of canvas
are temporarily attached by means of cotton threads or other easily torn threads.
As soon as in consequence of a jump made from the house to the outside the corre-
sponding covers are torn, the jagged openings on the drawings (Fig. 1) become
apparent. The lower jumping tables are originally reached by the gymnast.
through the door, the upper ones through the window. The jumps take place
from the jumping tables to the outside and vice versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a house or structure for theatrical or other performances the combination
with a wooden framework, of canvas walls with openings having covers capable of
being readily broken away and doors and windows opening both ways substantially
as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 2. In a house or structure for theatrical or other performances a door capable of
turning round its horizontal and vertical axes the lateral or vertical trunnions of
which are secured as required in their respective bearings by slides such as
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a house or structure for theatrical or other performances a window capable
of being opened either way and automatically closing by springs such as for an
elastic band such as g substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 25th day of March 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.