US2671161A - Overhead lighting system for miniature theaters - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1954 A. R. JOHNSON OVERHEAD LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR MINIATURE THEATER 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR f l A NEY AZ eff/Q, 7021125021 March 2, 1954 A. R. JOHNSON OVERHEAD LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR MINIATURE THEATERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3l, 1952 m\1 w. QQ QQ d SN n R 0 mm Nh E a VJ m.

ArroRNEY March 2, 1954 A. R. JOHNSON 2,671,161

NG SYSTEM FOR MINIATURE THEATERS OVERHEAD LIGHTI 3 lSheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 3l, 1952 ef 522 n ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED VOVERHEDfIIG'H MINIATUR TING SYSTEMFOR E THEATERS? Albertl ,R. Johnson, New-l Y.ork,N. Y.

Applica/tomMreh 31,

3:1;Glaims; l

The present invention: relates to. ;a: miniature theatre and Y it particularly relatesrto: a: lighting arrangement particularly toa be utilized'fin connection with ay miniature;.theatrev to give1unusual, controlled lightingeiects:

It iis among the; objects; of theI present ini/'ensA tionl to provide a novel miniaturefftheatre and' particularly a' lighting .arrangementV therefor; which will enablev complete@ presentation of^`dramatic productions and give not only a complete lighting arrangement.: andi variationA Vof lighting eects 1 as is possible in' the,vr commerciali theatre' but: in. addition. to givef` unusual; attractivelight'L ing.: eiiectsV particularlyn designed for a: miniature theatre; and to: give: greater. emphasi's:in:viewf of the smaller size.

A further object.` off the;presentinvention is to.: provide a; miniature theatre f andf partieularl'yf an: illuminating arrangement? therefor which f.wi=ll enable accurateY adjustrnentii` and control of( the illumination', .including spot: lighting; color changes an'dA gradations: inf the lightingr values aswill' best expose the curtain or@ stage: to., :View: or' to enable emphasis-itcr b'e placed uponafdiier, ent parts ofthe stage-orh upolrthefcharacters being displayed or dramatized thereon.

Another object` of theA present iV invention isf to provide a small, miniaturelstage Which-.may"b`e readilyI operatedv` for const professional purposes, which"` may'I be'fvvi'dlyj eine ployedin a. school asewell"asiindramatiei meetings f orf societies and* which?l can beT emplcyedf' tov demonstrate# various 1 theatrical #presentations-f at-f lcwfxcosi'.-= andi-without the :neeessityfof' exceptinal training: on the-spartoif'tlie --workmenworf emes plyees:

Another object.v

of f the presents invention isz toprovide' a simple,l durable; readily'. collapsed and: 1e=assembledf miniature theatre-- Vconstructiony which is substantially lire-proof and'wwithou-t electricalswitchesl or other.3 spark^causing#'` devices;l vandi Wit-lr evenf one for two else-trica bulbs: toa-...give`v a wide:l variety; range=y and control@` off? colon; gradation', spotilli'ghtingaand so'ffrtl-i.

Stillf furtherV obj ects?. andi f advantages .Willi apipear in the'l more.I detailedff description x -set v"fortln un'derstocdr however; that this morev detailed descriptienis'I givenf-byswayofilfv lustration :andf explanationi only r-andnot? by' Way: of i limitation; since varionsfrchaisigesn therein: may bezrmadezbtt those .f skilled;` inf.- theffartiwithout desy partngfrom stlieaseope-fandf spirit' 1offithe-fpresent invention.

yImaceompiisiiingttheeabovenbiectsg;itihessiieenv found mostesaztisfactoryrto fcrmithc entirmstaaei off a: :seriesrA ofiv slotted;- heavy paperrorrffplastic.' sheets, so arranged that theyf-mayf'beelconnected to one' another as thef front; back; filoor; ceiling; and; covers of a i miniaturea theatre:`

In'v the preferredI embodiment; thematerial-z Whichf is,I employed z is. of =1ilrehproof.materiaorl of,H material'which isy treated so.: as tofbesrea. proof, and; above.- the: theatre and' betweenffthe; roof.: and' ceiling:l or dome isy positioned; aarsingle orseveral electricl bulbs,. a` single bulbfusualtyf being preferable, which will serve.=as:thef:solef, source of i illumination',

The present inventionzis.Iv particularly directed; to the :manner in. which .this :singleffbuilbgonesevia eral bulbs, is transmitted to or arranged'riuponf.

the-stage.

The ceiling or roof at the consisting :of-a horizontal; plastic or. treated paper sheet, is desirably,providedewithl-a seriesfoffpas- 20I sagewayss or parallel? arrangements: positioned closely side by side and sextend-fromsideto-'side laterally: ofthe miniature theatre;

Each of these passageways'is: providedewithi ahinge'd'shutter:arrangement;-y pr top` .of theastate';

give; a y controlled* illuminati-@nnte diiierent' portions. off vthe st'agef` from7A tliefront tothe lbackthereof' Desirably; these 'sh-utters may lb'e'- mailer-b Allhave ing a sheet of paperl or plasticmaterial=fwivthftopxv and bottombover facesswhich extend over or-are attached to-the# upper face oreftop-faeer of the roof oi? the-.theatre andwhich-Wi'llfiseryef asfhinge or v pivotv connections;

Iii-addition; each" passageway or' light runway. at the top ofthe roofis proyidedrwithxdjustableslide members which. may. ,Vary .the cnlon or thedistributionof t 'e..light-apartiromiand., independent of4 the` shutters...

For exampleftheslide members-.may-fha/Y2a series. oi :transverse or longiiudlinali,` slots:v lfiQrr cular on oyalopenings arra-ngeclr-atisil tion that as they are passageways, they will'- ationA of the-'lighter c eitherf: change: the; colorause.-y concentrations. of? the;V light:` orfv Spott-light 0.??"cliiie1'ent-- port-ions: off' the; sectionsfoff the-stage fromifront'" to=-ba l lil-y tliereef1A Desi-rably; the acting: figures mayft lbe prevideidf'f with faces.v which', may beL of*y permanent magnet'- materialgsuch asthe; alloy known asf-Malpica andvbLelovv-,ftheJ floor ofi the theatre there maybe '551-3 positioned slider members-with=magnetslthereon moved or slid along??they,

to move these gures around in predetermined position.

The magnets on the control members below the stage, as well as at the base of the figures, are desirably so arranged that by suitable manipulation, the gure can be caused to turn or can be caused to face forwardly at all times, and if desired will not at any time turn its back upon the audience.

In the preferred construction, the dome of the theatre is provided with suitable ventilation to ventilate the heat of the illuminating electric bulb, and similarly the iront of the theatre is provided with a pull-up or drop-down curtain which may be co-ordinated with a lighting arrangement at the iront or the top section of the stage to give a simulated lighting for the theatre when the curtain is down, which lighting is automatically cut 01T when the curtain is lifted.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement oi parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the stage.. showing the top lighting arrangement with the curtain elevated and with several of the figures in position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view upon the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse central vertical sectional view upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view upon the line 4-4 of Figs. l, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view upon the line 5--5 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Fig. 6 is a top perspective view of a color slide which may be utilized in controlling the color of the light from the top of the theatre.

Fig. 7 is a top perspective view showing a slidable spot-light control arrangement.

Fig. 8 is a top perspective view oi a magnet control .bar for controlling the movement and position oi the rigores to be inserted through and utilized under the licor of the stage.

Fig. 9 is a rear perspective View of a typical gure which may be utilized for producing the theatrical or dramatic performance.

Referring to Figs. l to 4, the arrangement has a stage A with a floor structure B and a lighting dome C.

The present invention is particularly directed to the lighting or illuminating control system D, which embodies the hinged shutters E, G and H and the slideways or runways J, K, L and M.

Cooperating with the control shutters E, F, G and H on the runways J, K, L and M are the color slides N and the control spot-light illumination slides O.

The stage itself is provided with a series of partition members P which may give back-drop effects or serve to give partial or complete back scenery, and on the floor B of the stage A are positioned the iigures R shown in small scale in Figs. l, 2 and 3 and in large scale in Fig. 9.

Below the licor oi-the theatre may be positioned the control bars S which will control. and enable adjustment of the gures R.

' lar The theatre structure itself is preferably provided with interfitting flats of sheet material, such as berboard, cardboard, plywood, plastic or even light metal, and the members may be connected to one another by slotted connections, screws, pins or dowels.

There is provided a front, vertical main sheet element lll to which is connected the rearwardly extending face member Il, the rearwardly extending iicor stage member i2 and the floor roof member I3.

The dome C is formed oi the top element Hl, the downwardly extending front member l5, the rearwardly and downwardly extending member l', and there may be a back cover member Il closing oi the rear of the theatre.

Mounted in the ceiling 44 is the socket 25 having the nange connection 2E which received the light bulb 21. y

The sides 28 of the dome C are desirably provided with the Ventilating arrangement 23 to permit iiow of air through the dome C.

The light from the bulb will normally pass orwardly to the iront lighting arrangement Si? in the front, vertical member lil, as indicated by the arrow 3l, and it will also pass downwardly as indicated by the arrows 33, 3d, and 35, into each of the runways J, K, L and M in an amount depending upon the position of the shutters E, F, G and H.

To the rear of the front member l!) is the curtain 3e, which may be engaged between the iront member I0 and the rear panel 3l. This curtain when drawn up to the position of the openings 3l) will cut off the light from the bulb 21, passing in the direction 3l.

The curtain 36 may be raised and lowered by the cord 38, which passes over the guides 38 and All and may be tied at lli on the rear of the panel i0 and to the side of the stage A.

As is shown best'in Fig. 3 the celing or roof i3 of the stage A has a plurality of grooved members 50, 5I, 52, 53 and 54 which form runways or slotways for insertionof the elements N and O and which are positioned below the shutters E, F and At the sides of the miniature theatre, as shown in Fig. 2, there are provided slots 55, 55, 5': and 58 which communicate with the slidcways formed by the groovesin the blocks 5B, 5l, 52, 53 and 5t.

It is possible to insert in the slots 55 to 5B and in the grooves of the blocks to 54 the color slides N as well as the spot-light slides Ol, to give a controlled distribution of color and spot-light illumination to the front and back of the stage.

As shown in Fig. 6, the color slide is relatively stiir so it may be slid in and out of the slots to 58 and it may all be of one color or of a gradation of different colors from side to side or from end to end.

The slider O, on the other hand, is shown with one opening 59 but there may be a whole series of different size and shape openings in different rows or other arrangements, as for example as indicated by the circular opening G0 and the relatively rectangular opening 6l of Fig. 4.

By positioning these openings at different places along the the stage may be adequately controlled.

In the spot-light slider O, it will be noted that there is a stop shoulder or head 62 with the projecting gripping of the end of the slider O.

vThe transparent Aelements desirably have simibeads E4 with the shoulders 65', which may slideways J to M, the light on edges 63, which `will enable convenient .exam-e1 5 bbe manipulatedfffrom the opposite rends. rof- #the runways. alito-iM'.

yAS1 `showniinligi .-`3,the.v shuttersh'ltoilLy all :face 'f toward ftheli'ghtiin an :upright position' and'Y Athey fdesifrably fare provided :with :re'ecting- "faces iat 6'6, 16 1-,' 08 s:andflflto re'iiect.' the@ light I downwardly -onfthe stage fllheirhinges '10, f||.',`1;2.and f1.3 fmay'fbe mountedonfthe'blocks 50,551, 52.*and15l and they mayiconsist of-:a.surface =ply which is l pasted -to bothfthe s'huttersE tof-Haswell asithe mounting blocks.

iliheseshutters fare slotted so ras, to f be `guided along the quarter circularedges'fflfl,l 15,116 and r11 in-ftlae-fsideipanel members #2 8', and theref-is ;a

sucient projection, as indicated .fat 18,331389 t :and im, :to :give a fhandle which: enablesfsuitable adjustment Vof fthe angular position.

` :'In the arrangement'. shown in 4lligs. v2 :and- 3, each o'f the shutters E-to- H' are in vertical :=posi'- tion, giving the maximum illumination to Ythe stage -A from the vlight 2l. This may be varied by lowering the shutters E to H where they will close off entirely the `runways or slot-ways J` to M to cut offv alllightuponithe'stageA.

In Eig. 4 the runway or empty, without either spotlight or colorslides in .positionand with the entire .area ofthe slot dened bythe end edges 90 andthe sideedges 9| being .available for passage of light from the light sourcez'l.

This will give a maximum illumination 'to the portion of the stage, indicated by the numeral 92 in Figs. 2 and 3, below the slot-way or runway L.

The rear slot-way or runway M is provided with a color sl1de N which will illuminate the portion of the stage indicated by the numeral 93 with the color of the particular slide N.

In the slot-way or runway K, there is both a color slide N.

By arranging the position of the shutters E, H and the position of the color slide N and the spot-light slides O, the illumination on the stage may be controlled in accordance with the requirements of the dramatic situation and the position of the figures R.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that there are a series of slide member P in position to give the back-drop or scenery effect.

Depending from the ceiling I3 may be a series of members 00 to |06 which form the slots I0?, |08, |09, H0, ||2 and H3. These slots cooperate with the slot members H4, H5, H6, Il?, 8, 9 and |20, which serve to hold the backdrop elements P in position both at the roof and floor of the state.

These scenes or back-drops may extend partly or wholly into the v' ible area of the stage to give the desired scenic effects.

It will be noted that the corners of the elements |00 to |06 are rounded, as indicated at 2 to enable more ready insertion of the back-drops or scenery effects P.

The gures as shown in Fig. 9 consist of upright simulations of the human form on a small scale, which are painted or decorated on their front sides, as shown in Fig. 1, and which are' provided with bar magnets 3| with down-turned ends held in position by the clips |32.

Below the floor I2 of the state are a series of for the presentation 6. fguidesfcrarrlersfil. 13,41, allai, 4m6, I'leandf t3 8, in whichfmaybe slidcmitrolznenibers:withzthe -fendvmagnets 3&39.

Normally the figures R will heucansed toimoye "laterallyl :across: thefristagevrather 'than trans- .versel-y.back-andsforth Jcetweenathey slot-:ways 10.? to ||3, and ||4 to |20.

.Ihe polarity ofithe magnetslS-.l and .|39 are so .controlled as: itougive .the .desired ,-.eifect :and .maintain .the figures It passing 4:forwardly .at .all times.

As shown in Fig. 5, a seriesroft the control memberssare indicatedeas'being. in position, Vcontrolling theingureslR. at-fthe front rand" middle .of ythe stage, with thefmagnets: 139. .positioned .at one sidefzofthe stage.

However, itlrese magnets may be .readily moved yto .m'ove .the'li'lgures R.Y laterally across '.the stage and in some instances the gures maybe picked upbymnegmagnetaandcmovedto another magnet `tozgivtefa ba'ck-.andf-:forthumotion s as well .as `the lateralifcross motion.

Theziront.aofthessta'ga :as: indicated at M5, .has a:seri`es:of foot-light: arrangements which maybe illuminated; zby .a `rlarnp. :positioned between the basefill fandfthe door t2.

'The :apertura 'of :the stage :formed between the side edges 5MB, .the-.itop/edge fm1 `andthe bottom edge |`481=may--be Widely variedv .in shape, design J and expanse.

r rate with time.

It will be noted that the front shutters E, F and G close the rear shutter faces forwardly so that the front reflecting surface will always be directed toward the light source.

As indicated best in Fig. 5, the scenery or backdrops P are merely side elements and terminate at the side edges of the state, as indicated at |50, Il and |52.

If desired, the stage licor I2 may have different levels instead of the same lever as indicated.

The color slides N may be either of transparent or translucent colored plastic sheet materials.

The grooves or recesses in the sides of the blocks 50 to 54 desirably are so Wide that they can receive both the color slide N as well as the opaque spot-light slide O.

The theatre arrangement shown and designed of plays, musical comedies, pageants, spectacles and pantomimes and there may be provided a complete working script and directions for each type of play or dramatic production.

The theatre may be operated by one or more persons and the entire miniature theatre is desirably positioned at eye level.

The operators may be positioned in back of a drop or screen of light, opaque material, which may be positioned alongside or back of the stage front I0.

The operators at the rear of the miniature theatre may have speaking parts and they will control the lighting shutters E to H and slides N, O and S.

The entire theatre as shown may be knocked down and packaged in small form and it may be assembled with or without the use of glue.

rihere may be a set of scenery or slides and figures R arranged for each type of dramatic or other production and a new play may be produced weekly or monthly, as the case may be, and it is particularly effective upon television.

The illumination 30 gives the eiect of a chandelier of a theatre.

Although the structure is of miniature or toy size, it may be made much larger for actual trial dramatic productions.

While there has been described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of application Ser. No. 728,877, filed February 15, 1947, and now abandoned.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In a miniature or toy theatre of the type having a housing of light-weight sheet material having vertical front, back and side walls, a horizontal floor or deck forming a stage iioor on which the action takes place, said front Wall having an approximately rectangular opening through which the stage iioor may be viewed from the front of the theatre, a top lighting structure including an open ceiling, a dome about said ceiling and an electric incandescent lamp positioned in said dome and positioned to shine downwardly upon and illuminate the stage iioor through said ceiling, said ceiling having a plurality of transverse laterally extending apertures positioned in side-by-side relationship from the front to the back of the theatre, said transverse apertures permitting the light to illuminate the stage, and sliders movably inserted above said apertures to control the amount and color of said illumination and elongated rectangular reiiectors pivotally mounted at the sides of the apertures to control the amount of light reflected through said apertures onto said stage.

2. The theatre of claim 1, said sliders including color light transmitting strips which will transmit the variation of the color across the stage from front to rear.

3. The theatre of claim 1 in which the sliders are opaque and have controlled openings to regulate the amount of light and position of light directed upon the stage from said top lighting structure.

ALBERT R. JOHNSON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images