Object Appears to Float Free in the Air.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1888
Specification Accepted, 24th Aug., 1888
Object Appears to Float Free in the Air.
We, LOUIS CASTAN and GUSTAV CASTAN of 22 and 23 Unter den Linden, Berlin,
Germany, Sculptors, trading under the style or firm of "Gebrüder Castan," do hereby
declare the nature of our Invention for IMPROVED MECHANISM BY MEANS OF WHICH
A HUMAN BEING OR OTHER OBJECT APPEARS TO FLOAT FREE IN THE AIR, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to an improved mechanisin by means of which a human being
or other object appears to float free in the air.
This mechanism consists of a horizontal rotary disc of glass which is only supported
at each edge and serves to receive the person or other object to be exhibited and also
of a mirror arrangod at an angle of 45° to the glass disc.
The mirror reflects the image of the person or object on the glass disc but not the
edge of the same or the rings carrying and surrounding said disc towards the audience
and as the transparent glass disc is not reflected in the mirror the person or object on
the former appears to be floating in the air and when the glass disc is rotated the
person or object appears to make various movements. When the edge of the mirror
is appropriately decorated and the light properly arranged the mirror is not to be
detected and the audience is led to believe that the image is a reality.
Fig. 1. is a view of the apparatus as seen from the space occupied by the
audience.
Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus without the mirror. Fig. 3 is a vertical section
of the apparatus with the mirror arranged at 45° to the glass disc.
Fig. 4 is a view of the device for rotating the glass disc.
A is the disc of glass for receiving the person or object to be exhibited which is
fixed in the rotary frame B. Around the periphery and also beneath the lower surface
of the frame B in the framework C, we arrange antifriction rollers a in order to
facilitate the rotary movement of the glass disc A. E is a mirror arranged at an
angle of 45° to the glass disc and at appropriate distance from the same said mirror
"

page_text: being held in a suitable frame D which can be held or supported by the framework as
represented in the accompanying drawing or in other appropriate manner so that the
person or object on the glass disc A will be reflected before the opening to the stage
and thus be visible to the audience.
The glass disc A can be rotated direct by hand by means of a suitable motor or as
represented in the accompanying drawing by means of a driving strap 6 strap drum d,
crank c and bevil wheels e or other equivalents. According to the driving gear as
represented in the drawing Figs. 2 and 4 the strap 6 which runs around the frame B
of the glass disc A passes round the strap drum d said strap drum being set in motion
by means of the crank c and gear wheels e.
The framework, the mirror and other parts as may be found requisite are
appropriately decorated in order to obtain the best possible results and it will be
evident that the glass disc must be so operated that the reflected apparent movements
of the person on the glass disc appear as natural as possible and in order to increase
the effect the person can move arius and legs which said movements will of course be
reflected in the mirror. The lights employed for illuminating the glass disc and
mirror must be so arranged that the glass disc is not reflected in the mirror. It will
be evident that the parts of our improved mechanism can be modified in various ways
without departing from the nature of our invention.
Having now particularly described the nature of our said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. An apparatus by means of which a person or object lying or placed on a glass
disc is made to appear to the audience as floating free and moving in the air consisting
of a rotary glass disc A on which the person or object to be exhibited lies said glass
disc being supported only on its periphery and a mirror arranged at an angle of 45°
to the rotary glass disc substantially as set forth and shown on the Drawings.
2. The improved apparatus consisting of the glass disc A frame B, framework C,
rollers a strap band driving gear or its equivalent substantially as set forth and shown
on the drawings.
3. The improved apparatus substantially as and for the purpose set forth and shown
on the drawings.