Improved Apparatus for Circus Performances.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Circus Performances.
I, ALBERT SCHUMANN, of "Circus Schumann" Francfort on the Main,
Germany, Circus Director, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The present invention consists of a bed or sofa for use in connection with per-
forming animals in circuses. The device consists of an ordinary bedstead, or
sofa frame, large enough to accommodate a horse, or any other desired animal,
said bed or sofa frame being mounted on wheels and having at the foot end a
cushioned portion against which the horse or other animal may push with its
head and so wheel the bedstead or sofa into the arena. The upper end of the
frame, i.e., the head piece, is provided with a cavity in which a board is vertically
moveable, being provided with a spring or weight tending to push or pull the
said board into its uppermost position, and the said board is retained in its
Jower or concealed position by means of a catch device to which is attached a
cord or chain having a handle or suitable means attached thereto to enable the
animal to grip the end with the teeth.
The performance takes place in the following manner:-The performing
horse, or other animal, enters the arena, dressed up in ordinary clothes and
pushing his bed before him. After the latter has been pushed to its respective
place, the animal proceeds to undress, gets into bed and then pulls the cord
and releases the sliding board on which a suitable inscription such as good
night" or the like is provided.
A pillow and bedding should also be provided, which the animal fetches after
he has wheeled the bed into position, and after having undressed he proceeds
to cover himself up and then operates the board as above mentioned.
.
The general arrangement of the bed or sofa may be carried out in any desired
manner, the main thing being to provide a device which will enable a performing
animal such as a horse to perform in the above described manner.
1007

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The present invention consists of a bed or sofa for use in connection with
The inven-
performing animals in circuses and similar places of amusement.
tion consists of the details of construction hereinafter set forth and particularly
pointed out in the claim.
And in order to render the present specification more easily intelligible refer-
ence is had to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference
denote similar parts throughout the several views:-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a bed,
Fig. 2 an end view of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 a section on line M-M of Fig. 1,
Fig. 4 a section on line NN of Fig. 3, and,
Fig. 5 an end view from the foot end with the latter partly broken away, the
last three views being drawn to a larger scale.
In the present case a bed is shown but a sofa might be employed. The bed
is provided at one end, advantageously the foot end with a cushion A against
which the horse or other animal pushes with its head in order to wheel the
bed, which is mounted on rolls or wheels into the arena. At the head of the
bed inside the head board a vertically sliding board B is suitably guided, said
board being spring pressed upwardly into the position shown at Figure 5 when
a bolt, which engages the side of the same (Fig. 3) is withdrawn by pulling
the knotted cloth or handle C. Instead of the spring indicated in the drawing
the board might be raised by means of a weight. The words " good night
or any other suitable inscription may be written on the board B. The perform-
ance takes place in the following manner:
The horse or other animal, which should be dressed up, first pushes its bed
into the arena, it then goes back and fetches a mattress and a pillow, as also a
counterpane puts them on the bed, removes its clothes, gets into the bed which
is very low, covers itself up, and pulls the knotted cloth or handle C when the
board with the words " good night" will be released and be visible for the
public.
The present invention is not confined to the particular details, hereinbefore
described, which may be varied to any desired extent, the main object of the
invention is to provide suitable means to enable a horse or other animal to per-
form in the manner just described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
Transportable bed or sofa frame for a horse or other animal, having a cushion
at the outside of one end board and a vertically moveable board at the other end,
said board being spring pressed or upwardly pressed by means of a weight and
means for arresting it in its lower position against the action of said spring or
weight, means to withdraw said arresting device, the parts being arranged for
the purpose of enabling a horse or other animal to perform in the manner sub-
stantially as herein before set forth.
Dated this 25th day of July 1808