Improvements in Means for Supporting Stage Scenery.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896--Accepted, 27th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Supporting Stage Scenery.
1, ROBERT COURTNEIDGE of Princes Theatre, Manchester, Theatrical Manager,
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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the means used for supporting stage
scenery and has for its object to provide an arrangement which can be more easily
applied than those at present in use, and which will not be liable to injure the
floors.
According to one arrangement now in use the braces or irons connected to the
scenes are attached to the floor at one end by means of screws which are passed
through holes in the ends of the said braces. This however tears the floor or stage
and is also troublesome to fix. According to another arrangement, a counterweight
is placed upon the end of the brace. This is liable to slip out of position and the
scene is then allowed to fall, the counterweight being placed loosely in position.
According to the arrangement I propose to employ, a weight is used which
instead of being placed loosely upon the end of the brace is formed with a groove
or recess at its under side, into which the brace takes. It is also provided with a
pin projecting into the hole in the end of the brace, the weight being by this means
fixed securely in position without danger of the parts becoming loose. Instead of
the pin being formed on the weight, it may be provided on the end of the brace,
the weight having a hole or recess into which it projects.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a plan of the weight and brace, Fig. 2 is an under side view of the
same and Fig. 3 is a section.
Fig. 4 shows a modification and Figs. 5 and 6 another modification.
According to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the weight A, which may be formed of iron or
any other suitable metal, is formed with the recess or groove B at its under side.
This groove receives the end or foot C of the brace, which rests upon the ground,
the weight being placed over the foot so as to bear upon it. The weight is provided
with the central pin or peg a which is adapted to enter in the hole or perforation c
in the foot of the brace, thus securing the weight and brace together. A handle a¹
is provided at the top of the weight by which it can be raised and carried.
According to the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the foot of the brace is provided
with the projecting pin c and the weight with the central perforation a² into which
the pin extends. As shown in these figures the weight is of circular form, but in
the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the weight A' is formed with three rounded
portions placed in a triangular manner. Three deep grooves B¹ extend from the
central hole a to the edge. Any of these grooves can be used for the purpose of
securing the weight to the brace.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.-
(1.) An improved means for securing the braces of stage scenery, consisting of
a weight grooved or recessed at its lower side to receive the end of the brace and

page_text: connected to it by a pin and hôle, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
(2.) An improved means for securing braces of such scenery, consisting of a
weight having a recess at its lower side to receive the foot of the brace, and a pin
taking into a hole in the foot, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
(3.) The improved means for securing the braces of stage scenery, constructed
and operating substantially as described and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the
drawings, and for the purposes specified.
(4.) An improved means for securing the braces of stage scenery consisting of a
weight formed with three radial grooves or recesses, and a central hole adapted to
receive the foot of the brace, substantially as described and shown in Figs. 5 and 6
of the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 21st day of May 1896.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.