US 4,303,237 AGranted

Arrangement for supporting theatrical equipment

OwnerDonald A. Hoffend, Jr., Nicholas G. Cristyinventors

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Abstract

Theatrical equipment including riggings sets, light fixtures and the like are supported from a batten which is elevated and lowered relative to a stage floor by a plurality of ropes. The ropes are coupled to the batten and depend from a rectilinear array of rotary bodies mounted aloft. A mechanical coupling device intercouples the rotary bodies for providing simultaneous rotation of the bodies. An electrically energized drive device is also mounted aloft and is coupled to the array for causing rotation of the bodies. A locking device is mounted aloft and engages the coupling device for selectively enabling and inhibiting rotation. The ropes are coupled to the rotary bodies for causing ropes of different bodies to travel in laterally opposite directions for offsetting potential lateral movement of the batten. A plurality of rectilinear arrays of rotary bodies is provided which extends between a proscenium wall and a rear stage wall.

Claims13

Dependent claims

In a theatre having a stage floor, a proscenium opening having a height and a length, an improved arrangement for elevating and lowering batten supported stage equipment relative to the stage floor comprising:

(a) a plurality of cylindrically shaped rotary bodies;
(b) said rotary bodies horizontally orientated, concentrically aligned and spaced apart in a rectilinear array;
(c) means for supporting said array aloft above the stage floor
(d) drive shaft means for mechanically intercoupling said array of bodies for causing simultaneous rotation thereof;
(e) electric motor and rotary speed reducing drive means supported aloft and mechanically coupled to said array of bodies for causing simultaneous rotation thereof;
(f) an elongated batten for supporting stage equipment;
(g) said batten having a length for supporting stage equipment which extends for a distance substantially coextensive with the length of the proscenium opening;
(h) a flexible rope extending from each of said rotary bodies and coupled to said batten at spaced apart locations along the length of said batten;
(i) said rope means mounted to said rotary bodies for causing winding of a rope about an associated rotary body when said body is rotated in a first direction for elevating said batten and for unwinding said rope from said rotary body when rotated in a second opposite direction for lowering said batten, and,
(j) locking means coupled to said drive shaft means for selectively enabling and inhibiting rotation of said array of bodies.

7 more elements

(a) a plurality of cylindrically shaped rotary bodies;
(b) said rotary bodies horizontally orientated, concentrically aligned and spaced apart in a rectilinear array;
(c) means for supporting said array aloft above the stage floor;
(d) drive shaft means for mechanically intercoupling said array of bodies for causing simultaneous rotation thereof in a same rotary direction;
(e) an electrically energized drive means supported aloft and mechanically coupled to said array of bodies for causing simultaneous rotation thereof;
(f) an elongated batten for supporting stage equipment;
(g) said batten having a length for supporting stage equipment which extends for a distance substantially coextensive with the length of the proscenium opening;
(h) a flexible rope extending from each of said rotary bodies and coupled to said batten at spaced apart locations along the length of said batten;
and,
(i) said rope means mounted to said rotary bodies for causing winding of a rope about an associated rotary body when said body is rotated in a first direction for elevating said batten and for unwinding said rope from said rotary body when rotated in a second opposite direction for lowering said batten, said ropes coupled to said rotary bodies for causing ropes of different bodies to travel in opposite directions upon rotation of said bodies.

7 more elements

(a) a plurality of parallel aligned, rectilinear arrays of cylindrically shaped rotary bodies extending parallel to a length of the proscenium opening;
(b) each of said rectilinear arrays including a plurality of horizontally orientated, concentrically aligned rotary bodies, drive shaft means for mechanically intercoupling said array of bodies for causing simultaneous rotation thereof in a same rotary direction, electric motor and speed reducing drive means mechanically coupled to said rectilinear array of bodies for causing rotation therof, an elongated batten for supporting stage equipment, a plurality of flexible ropes, each of said ropes extending from a rotary body and coupled to said batten at spaced apart locations along the length of said rope for causing winding of the rope about an associated rotary body when said body is rotated in a first direction for elevating said batten and for unwinding said rope from said rotary body when rotated in a second opposite direction for lowering said batten, said bodies coupled to said rotary bodies in the same array for causing ropes of different bodies to travel in opposite longitudinal directions upon rotation of said bodies;
and,
(c) means for supporting aloft above said stage floor said plurality of rectilinear arrays and said drive means associated with each of said rectilineary arrays.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.