Improvements in Optical Illusions.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Optical Illusions.
I, LOUIS MORGENSTERN, 11 York Road Lambeth London S.E. Artist, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has for its object the construction and arrangement of a device,
so that a person may be suspended in mid air without the means or supports
employed for this purpose being visible to the audience; and the same is carried out
in the following manner.
I provide a main frame of suitable material having at its lower part a track or
rail. Upon this track runs another secon lary, frame which is steadied by wheels
or such like attached to the same and which engage with the upper part of the
aforesaid main frame. The essential part of this secondary frame is an upright
which may be of any suitable material, and upon which a truck may be moved in
an up & down direction. This truck is provided with suitable friction rollers, and
carries a hollow spindle suitably journalled, which projects at right angles to the
said frame and truck. One end of this spindle is cup shaped having a central
screwed projection engaging with a female thread cut in the boss supporting the
corset for suspending the performer. The main belt of the corset consists of two
parallel semi-circular bands of steel or other convenient material, one of the
superposed faces of which is cut to form a rack. These bands are suitably con-
nected together and form a complete circle, when enveloping the performer being
suitably connected together. The bands are so rebated as to allow the boss to pass
around same on the outside; the boss carries a small bevel wheel which. engages
with the aforesaid rack, and is revolved by engaging with a forked rod which passes
through the hollow spindle and terminates in a wheel and handle at the handle
end of same a shoulder is formed which by means of a screw collar retains the said
forked rod when it is not desired to revolve same. The cup on the end of the
hollow spindle is provided with two or more spring pins which engage with a
corresponding number of slots or holes in the boss carrying the corset, the said
pins being operated by a ring having inclined planes which engage on the heads
of the said pins. This ring encircles the said cup and by its revolution the pins
engage or disengage with the holes in the boss and prevent the spindle from
becoming unscrewed during the performance. Suitable handles are provided for
revolving the said spindle. A frame covered with black velvet or other suitable
material and suitably intersected with slits for the passage of the said spindle is
placed in front of the apparatus and suitable curtains of the same material are
hung so as to cover the said slits as desired. Suitable straps are attached to the
belt for sustaining the performer and equalizing the weight.
Dated this 14th day of December 1890.
Ε. ΕΑΤΟΝ,
Agent for Applicant.
0
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Optical Illusions.
I, LOUIS MORGENSTERN 11 York Road Lambeth London S.E. Artist, 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
5 following statement :---
This invention has for its object the construction and arrangement of a device
so that a person may be suspended in mid air without the means or supports

page_text: employed for this purpose being visible to the audience and the same is carried out
in the following manner.
Referring to the annexed drawings
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of my belt and spindle.
Fig. 3 is a section through line ay of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the clamping pin.
by
I provide a main frame a, of suitable material having at its lower part a track
or rail b. Upon this track runs another frame through the medium of the
wheels d, the top wheels engaging with the upper part e of the main frame a. The
frame c carries an upright of suitable material, and upon which a truck g runs in
an up and down direction. This truck has suitable friction rollers and carries the
spindle journalled at & may be raised by a rope & pulley or other well known
means. One end of this spindle has a cup having a central screwed portion k
engaging with a female thread cut in the boss supporting the corset m for
suspending the performer. The corset consists of two circular bands of steel
divided at A, or other material n, & o, secured to the split ring of metal
screws or such like means, one of the faces of the band o is cut to form a rack p.
These bands are connected together and form a complete circle, by means of
screws Qor such suitable means. The boss travels round the outside of the bands
in the rebate in the directions as indicated by arrows Q Fig. 1. A small bevel
wheel is carried in the boss which engages with the rack p, and is revolved by
means of a forked rod s engaging with the pin, & passing through the spindle
and terminating in a wheel t, the rods is prevented from leaving its position by a
screwed collar u, and collar or shoulder v on a rod s. Two or more spring pins ware
provided in the cup ; which engage in holes in the boss l, these pins being operated
by a ring having enclined planes which engage with the heads of the pins w.
This ring encircles the cup ; and by its revolution the pins are engaged or
disengaged from the holes in the boss l. These pins prevent the boss from
becoming unscrewed during the performance. A handle y is provided for revolving
the spindle h. A frame covered with velvet (& indicated by the dotted lines in
Figure 1) is placed before the apparatus, the velvet being intersected with slits for
the passage of the spindle h, curtains being so hung as to cover the said slits. Any
of the ordinary arrangement of straps may be provided & attached to the corset to
secure the performer in same.
2"
Having now particularly described & 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 & arrangement of the various parts substantially as
described.
2. In a device for performing illusions, the use of a spindle carrying a corset
said corset being revolved by means of a rack and pinion operated by a rod having
a fork at its end engaging with said pinion substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 12th day of September 1891.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.