An Improved Portable Apparatus for the Exhibition of Kinetoscopic Pictures and Effects.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Portable Apparatus for the Exhibition of Kinetoscopic
Pictures and Effects.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES HUGHES, of Brewster House, Mortimer Road, Kingsland,
London, N.E., Manufacturing Optician, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved portable apparatus for the exhibition or
display of kinetoscopic pictures and effects, by the means of the instrument or
machine now more generally known as the cinematograph or cinematoscope, my
said invention having for its objects, portability, compactness, and a shape and
configuration and general construction by means of which a large number of per-
sons may simultaneously see the effects produced, and each have a like clear and
uninterrupted view of the same the said apparatus being adaptable for both out-
door use at fairs, seaside places, and the like, or and at bazaars, local exhibitions,
home and other private and indoor entertainments.
In order that my said invention, the manner of its use, and the points of novelty
involved may be fully and clearly understood, I have hereunto appended a sheet
of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same partly in section upon the line A B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same with the projecting apparatus and its
accessories removed.
Fig. 4 is a back elevation of same with the back door or screen removed.
Fig. 5 is a reduced perspective view of the box or case upon which the projecting
apparatus is mounted and which also forms part of my invention.
My invention consists of a wooden or other box or case A of any dimensions
and preferably of rectangular formation in cross section, and preferably having a
gable, leanto or otherwise sloping roof B, to throw off rain when necessary. A
salient feature of my invention is that the back end of A, is twice or thereabouts
the width of the front end, while the sides of A are each provided with any num-
ber of rectangular or other shaped holes or apertures, preferably arranged in two
rows, one above the other, and each covered externally by a wood or other pocket C,
screwed or otherwise fixed in position, and each in plan in the form of a scalene
triangle, the outer side and base of each being right angles or thereabouts, a suit-
able rectangular or other shaped hole or aperture 1), being provided in each of the
said bases through either of which a person may look directly upon and see the
whole of the inner surface of the back end or screen E, of the case A, upon which
the pictures and other effects are projected as hereinafter explained, the said end E
being either portable or hinged to A (as indicated by dotted outline at Fig. 1)
whichever may be most convenient, while the said holes D may be open or glazed,
or provided with suitable lenses as desired, and provided with a shutter or door
for closing the said apertures not in use at the time of exhibition.

page_text: The narrow end of A is enclosed by a front having a plane surface F and angular
sides G, G, the latter of which have each one or more like pockets ("', each provided
with a glazed or other hole or lens D¹ in such a position, that a person looking
through either may have an uninterrupted view of the back end or screen E,
while the plane surface has a hole H (Fig. 4) covered externally by a preferably
tapered or cone shaped cylinder J. The case A and its accessories may be mounted
upon a suitable stand or trestle K, or be fixed upon a frame or truck upon wheels,
that the whole may be wheeled about from place to place if desired.
Another important and novel feature of this invention is the frame or case upon
which is mounted the cinematograph or like projecting instrument and the
necessary accompanying lantern, the said frame or case being arranged to be easily
placed in fixed connection with the case A and as easily removed therefrom after
use.
The said case or frame is constructed substantially as at Fig. 5, and may be
made wholly of wood or partly of wood and other suitable material, and consists
of a rectangular case L, having at one end a dip or well M, which may be provided
with one or more doors N, the roof a of the said case being extended in length at b,
the said extension being adapted to slide freely into a slot or groove c at the bottom
end of the front F of the case A, as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The side d
of the case L is extended in height and may or may not have connected thereto
a return end e, and carries a roof f, the latter being supported by a partition or
upright g, resting upon and may be in fixed connection with a, and when b is slid
into the slot c in the front of the case A, as at Figs. 1 and 2, the back end of L
may be supported by a prop or stay or stays such as h (Fig. 1) which may be
arranged to fold up beneath L when not in use as indicated by dotted outline.
The space between 9 and e, or the part occupied by the latter when not employed,
is intended for occupation by the necessary lantern (as suggested by dotted out-
line at O in Fig. 1) a suitable aperture j being provided in the rooff for the
chimney of same, (Fig. 5) while the space at the opposite side of g is intended for
occupation by any suitable form of apparatus or cinematograph or cinematoscope
adapted to project kinetoscopic pictures, such for instance, as, and preferably that
described and shewn in my application for Patent No. 681 of 1898, the position of
such an apparatus being indicated by dotted outline P in Fig. 1, the lens of which k
would fit close up to or enter the end of the cylinder J when b is pushed home into
the slot or groove c in the cast A. A suitable screen or screens or any other con-
venient means may be provided for preventing any stray rays of light from the
lantern O or the lens & or both, from obstructing the desired effect, the open side of
the chambers containing the said lantern and projecting apparatus, being enclosed
(when the apparatus is is use) by a curtain (not shewn) adapted to be slid along a
rod m fixed upon the roof f (Figs. 1 and 5).
In practice, the pictures upon the passing film or strip in the apparatus P would
be projected through the cylinder J (in the direction of the dotted lines X X in
Fig. 2) directly to and upon the back end or screen E, this being suitably prepared
for the purpose, and whatever number of persons may be looking through the
pockets C or C¹, each and all would have a clear and uninterrupted view of the
said pictures or effects, the particular formation and position of the said pockets
providing that no one person may be inconvenienced by the presence of the others.
The film or strip as fed off from the apparatus P would be led through an aper-
ture R in the roof of a (Fig. 5) into the well or box M beneath, and may at any
time be collected therefrom through one of the doors N.
I may find it convenient to arrange that the upper half of the side d of the
case L, may be separate from and be hinged upon the lower half, so that the former
with its connections f, e and may fold down upon the latter when not in use,
the object of such an arrangement being that the whole of L and its accessories
when not in use may, with the lantern O and projecting apparatus P be stored in
and may be conveyed from place to place within the case A.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. As an improved method of and means for exhibiting and displaying kinetos-
copic pictures and effects by the means of a cinematoscope or cinematograph or
like instrument the construction use and application of the herein described port-
able apparatus, and its several connections and accessories, connected, combined
and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn.
2nd. In a portable apparatus for the exhibition of kinetoscopic pictures and
effects, the combination of a case such as A, tapered in width from end to end, and
having a roof such as B, and at its widest end a suitable screen such as E, and
at its sides, any number of suitably disposed sight pockets such as C, and at its
front or narrowed end two or more sight pockets such as C, and a central hole
such as H carrying a tapered or other cylinder such as J, in combination with a
suitable projecting apparatus and lantern, and means for supporting and holding
the same, substantially as herein described and shewn by the appended drawings.
3rd. In combination, the case A, with screen E, sight pockets C and C and
cylinder Jas set forth in the preceding claim, the construction and use of a case L,
having an extended roof such as b, adapted to slide into a slot or groove c, in the
bottom of the front of the said case A, and having a dip or well such as M,
approached by a door or doors N for receiving the film of pictures passing through
an aperture R as delivered from a suitable projecting apparatus, situated at P,
and receiving light from a suitable lantern situated at O, with division, partition
or support g, with or without the end piece e, side piece d and upper roof f, the
latter having a chimney aperture j and carrying a curtain rod such as m sub-
stantially as set forth and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
100
1 Manch 1000
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
No. 1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.