Improvements in Illusion Apparatus in the Nature of a See-saw or Teeter Board.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
COMIDELE DI DUITUATION.
Improvements in Illusion Apparatus in the Nature of a See-saw
or Teeter Board.
I, AMARIAH LAKE, of Pleasantville, in the County of Atlantic, in the State
of New Jersey, one of the United States of America, Saw Mill Proprietor, 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:-
My invention consists of an apparatus in the nature of a see-saw or teeter of
such character that the occupants of the see-saw are subject to illusion, and this
object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, in which—
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an illusion apparatus constructed in accordance
with my invention;
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing some of the parts in a different position;
Fig. 3 is a like view showing still another position of the parts;
Fig. 4 is a view showing the fixed enclosure or building in section and the parts
within the same in side elevation ;
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view on the line 5-5, Fig. 4, but showing certain doors
on the internal structure open instead of closed;
Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6, Fig. 4; and
Fig. 7 is an outside view of the fixed enclosure.
A represents an enclosed shed, house, or like structure, preferably built partly
above and partly below a sidewalk or passageway B, as shown in Fig. 7, said
enclosure A having doors a on the level of said passageway or sidewalk.
Within the enclosure A are supports D for a shaft 6 which carries a box or
casing F considerably less in vertical height than the enclosure A and also
somewhat less in length and width than the same so that it is free to vibrate within
the outer enclosure.
In the sides of this box F are doors a' which are in line with the doors a of the
outer enclosure, the latter also having platforms a bridging the space between
the same and the box F so that persons can pass from the sidewalk B into the
interior of said box F when the doors a a¹ are opened, as shown in Fig. 5, the
doors a¹ being preferably so constructed as to extend completely across the space
between the outer enclosure and the interior box, so as to hide said space from the
view of anyone passing into the box F, although if desired a permanent casing
may be employed for this purpose.
Within the box F and secured to the transverse shaft b is a teeter-board or
see-saw G, which has at each end pivotted boxes or cars d provided with suitable
eats for the passengers. These cars d can be locked to the box F by means of
bolts/actuated by suitable levers f'f' and connecting rods f³, or the teeter-board
may be rigidly supported in a horizontal position by means of braces a hung to
the underside of said board and adapted to swing into engagement with suitable
stops on the floor of the enclosure A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, cords gl providing
for the lifting of the braces out of engagement with said stops when it is desired
to release the teeter-board and permit the same to vibrate.
When the cars d are not constructed as to be locked to the box F, rods h may
project downward from said cars through suitable slots in the box F and guide
openings in the floor of the enclosure A so as to hold the cars d in horizontal
position when the teeter-board vibrates independently of the box F.

page_text: To a bearing on one of the standards D is hung a handle J which is connected
by a rod i to one side of the box F so that the box can be caused to vibrate on the
transverse shaft 6 by manipulating said lever.
In an apparatus constructed as described the passengers may be subjected to the
illusion that the teeter is in motion while it is in fact stationary, or to the illusion
that the teeter is stationary, while it is in fact vibrating, or the teeter may be used
in the ordinary way.
In order to subject the passengers to the illusion that they are in motion, while
they are in reality stationary, the enclosing box or casing F is tilted first in one
direction and then in the other, the teeter-board G being in such case preferably
locked in position by means of the braces g so that it does not partake of this tilting
movement.
The interior of the box or casing F may be furnished to represent the interior
of a room or apartment, the objects being of course immovably fixed in position, 80
that while the walls, ceiling and floor of the box, and the objects secured thereon
are in reality moving in respect to the passengers on the stationary teeter-board,
the effect upon the minds of the passengers is that of the movement of the
teeter-board itself.
If on the other hand it is desired to subject the passengers to the illusion that
they are stationary while in reality the teeter-board is in motion, said teeter-board
may be locked to the box or casing F by means of the bolts and may be permitted
to tilt back and forth with said box or casing by lifting the braces g out of engage-
ment with the stops on the floor of the outer enclosure. In this case, although the
passengers know that they are moving, because of the tendency first to tip forward
and then backward in their seats, by reason of the changing angle of the teeter-
board, they are apparently not moving, because, as the enclosure moves with
them, the teeter-board always bears the same relation to the objects within the
enclosure.
By unlocking the teeter-board from the enclosure F and raising the braces 9
out of their locking position the teeter-board may be used in the ordinary way,
the enclosure F being held stationary.
One or more movable boxes having weights or representations of weights
therein, may be mounted on the teeter-board, these boxes being adjusted in one
direction or the other, depending upon the difference in load of the opposite cars d
so as to aid in the illusion that it is the teeter-board which vibrates.
Having now particularly described and 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. An illusion apparatus in which a teeter-board fixed or mounted so as to be
free to vibrate on a suitable axle or capable of being held stationary is combined
with an enclosing box or casing also mounted so as to be free to vibrate in respect
to the teeter-board, substantially as specified.
2. The combination in an illusion apparatus, of an outer enclosing structure, a
teeter-board, a box or casing enclosing said teeter-board, and mounted within said
outer enclosure so as to be free to vibrate therein and in respect to the teeter-
board, doorways in said box or casing, and in the outer enclosure, and means for
bridging the space between said outer enclosure and the contained box or casing,
substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th day of December 1893
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for Applicant.