Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 2nd Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
We, LOUISE ADELE VAIDIS, of 169 Kennington Road in the County of Surrey,
Professor of Gymnastics, and FRANCIS BEAUCHAMP of Tottenham High Cross, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to that kind of trapèze apparatus which is partly or wholly
operated by mechanical means, and consists of the following arrangements.
From the roof, or other convenient and suitable point of support, we attach, by
hooks or otherwise, a main driving shaft, having mounted thereon at the required
distance apart, bevel wheels which gear into other bevel wheels attached to the ends
of two shafts revolving at right angles to and vertically dependent from the said main
driving shaft. On the lower end of each of these dependent shafts we mount a worm
or screw which gears into a worm wheel mounted on an axle at right angles to the
dependent shaft. To these two axles we attach a three sided revolving frame, two
sides of which are more or less parallel with the said dependent shafts the third side
being parallel with the main driving shaft and forming a horizontal bar from which is
suspended an ordinary trapèze. This frame is preferably provided with stay rods or
other equivalent means for stiffening the same. The main shaft and the two vertically
dependent shafts are preferably cased in steel or other tubing, and the bevel and
worm gearing boxed, over, so that all the actuating parts including the revolving
shafts are hidden from view. The said tubing also forms a convenient means for
bracketting the whole apparatus together in a strong, light, and substantial manner.
We arrange the apparatus with suitable joints at various places so that the whole
may easily be taken to pieces and packed within a comparatively small compass.
Instead of the before mentioned three sided frame which is specially applicable for
the use of one performer only, we may in some cases employ a four sided or other
frame or series thereof suitable for any required number of performers.
The main driving shaft may be operated either by hand, or by steam, compressed
air, electricity, or other source of power and in some cases we prefer to employ
springs or other means of storing up the necessary power and so arrange that the
ID 077

page_text: performer or performers shall be able to release or shut off such power by any suitable
means and appliances whilst performing so as to have complete control over the action
of the apparatus.
We do not limit ourselves to the bevel and worm wheel gearing as above described
as the apparatus may be driven by pitch chains and wheels or other driving mechanism
according to circumstances.
L. A. VAIDIS.
F. BEAUCHAMP.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Trapèze Apparatus.
We, LOUISE ADÈLE VAIDIS, of 169 Kennington Road, in the County of Surrey,
Professor of gymnastics, and FRANCIS BEAUCHAMP, of Tottenham High Cross, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying three
sheets of drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon that is to say:-
This invention relates to that kind of trapèze apparatus which is partly or wholly
operated by mechanical means and consists of the following arrangements:-
From the roof, or other convenient and suitable point of support, we attach, by
hooks or otherwise a horizontal shaft, having mounted thereon at the required
distance apart, bevil wheels which gear into other bevil wheels attached to the ends
of two shafts revolving at right angles to and vertically dependent from the said
horizontal shaft. On the lower end of each of these dependent shafts we mount a
worm or screw which gears into a worm wheel mounted on an axle at right angles to
the dependent shaft. To these two axles we attach a three sided revolving frame,
two sides of which are more or less parallel with the said dependent shafts the third
side being parallel with the horizontal shaft and forming a horizontal bar from which
is suspended an ordinary trapèze. This revolving frame is preferably provided with
stay rods, or other equivalent means for stiffening the same, and weights may be
provided order to counter-balance the weight of the performer. The horizontal and
the two vertical dependent shafts are cased in steel or other tubing, and the bevel and
worm gearing boxed over, so that all the actuating parts including the revolving
shafts are hidden from view. The said tubing also forms a convenient means for

page_text: bracketting or jointing the whole apparatus together in a strong, light and substantial
manner. We arrange the apparatus with suitable joints at various places so that the
whole may easily be taken to pieces and packed within a comparatively small
compass.
Instead of the beforementioned three sided frame which is specially applicable for
the use of one performer only we may in some cases employ a four sided or other
frame or series thereof suitable for any required number of performers.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents in front elevation an apparatus
constructed in accordance with this invention applicable for the performance of one
gymnast only, the trapèze being shown in its highest position. Figure 2 is a front
elevation partly in section, of a similar apparatus adapted for the use of two
performers and Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section of an apparatus adapted
for the use of four performers. Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of various parts
of the apparatus.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in each of the Figures of the
Drawings. A is the horizontal shaft suspended from the roof or other support by the
hooks B and having secured thereon the bevil wheels C. D are the vertically
dependent shafts provided at their upper ends with bevil wheels E which gear into
the bevil wheels C on the shaft A. F is a worm or screw on the lower end of each
of the shafts D and which gears into a worm wheel G on the axle of the revolving
frame H which carries an ordinary trapèze J on each of its horizontal bars H¹. In
Figure 1 the weights O serve to counter-balance the weight of the gymnast as
hereinbefore described. These weights O with their arms 0¹ may be so arranged
as to be easily detached from the frame H and the apparatus adapted for more than
one performer when required. The apparatus may be stiffened or strengthened by
means of the stay rods K. A¹ and D represent tubing surrounding the revolving
shafts A and D and which are bracketted together as at L, the bevil wheels C and E
and the worm gearing F G being also hidden from view by suitable casings as shewn
at F1 and G¹ for example.
For facilitating the dismounting of the apparatus for removal from place to place
we prefer to form a screw joint or union M in the tubes or casings D¹ and we
construct each of the shafts D in two pieces and connect them by socket joints as
at N, Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. Figures 4 and 5 also shew to an enlarged scale the
means of connection of the axle of the revolving frame H with the dependent shaft D.
T and T are ordinary roller bearings for reducing the friction on the axle of the
revolving frame. The apparatus may be operated by power applied to either of
the shafts A or D which may be prolonged (as shewn in Figure 2) to some suitable
or convenient point out of sight of the spectators and such power may be applied
either by hand, steam, compressed air, electricity, or otherwise and in some cases we
prefer to employ springs, storage batteries, or other means of storing up the
necessary power and so arrange that such power may be applied as and when
required by any suitable means whereby the mechanical parts can be engaged or
disengaged or electrical connections made or broken by the gymnast so that
complete control over the action of the apparatus may be exercised by the said
gymnast whilst performing. For example as shown in Figures 6 and 7 when the
shaft A is driven direct it may be moved endwise by means of a handle or knob P
connected to a fork Q which takes between shoulders or collars R on the said shaft A
the stem of the said handle or knob passing through and sliding in a slot S in the
tube A¹ as shown. In this case the two bevil wheels C must be placed on the same
side of the two bevil wheels E so that when the said shaft A is moved to the left in
the Figure the bevil wheels C are disengaged from the bevil wheels E on the
dependent shafts D and the rotation of the latter is then stopped, and on moving the
shaft A to the right the bevil wheels C are brought into gear with the bevil wheels E
and the dependent shafts D are set in motion.
We do not limit ourselves to the bevil and worm wheel gearing as above described
as the apparatus may be driven by pitch chains and wheels or other suitable driving
and transmitting mechanism according to circumstances.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
First. The mechanical trapèze apparatus composed of the fixed tubular frame A² D' I
containing the shafts A and D, the revolving frame H carrying a trapèze J, suspended
therefrom, the said revolving frame H being provided or not with counter balance
weights O, and actuated by the shafts A and D by means of gearing C, E, F and G
or other suitable driving and transmitting mechanism, the whole combined, arranged
and operating substantially as herein before described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 2
and 3 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. In mechanical trapèze apparatus the employment of tubular framing and
casings enclosing the shafting and other actuating parts whereby such shafting
and actuating parts are hidden from view substantially as hereinbefore described, and
illustrated in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Third. In mechanical trapèze apparatus the employment of engaging and dis-
engaging mechanism so arranged that it may be operated by the gymnast whilst
performing
1
la onhatantially
as hereinbefore described, and partly illustrated in Figures o anuo
hereto annexed.
HOT