Modified theatrical counterweight apparatus

• US 5,711,713 A
• Filed: 09/27/1996
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Krueger
• Original Assignee: Donald Krueger
• Inventors: Krueger, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US08/726,053
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 472/75, 472/77, 472/78, 472/79
• US Class Current: 472/77
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 1/028 Means for moving hanging scenery

Abstract

A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus (10) in a double or single purchase counterweight system (12) consists of an improved counterweight arbor carriage (50), for holding a plurality of improved counterweights (56). The improved counterweights (56) are stored on two elongate arbor bars (48), which when released will slide down into the improved counterweight arbor carriage (50). The improved counterweight arbor carriage (50) when obtaining the proper amount of the improved counterweights (56), will now slide down the elongate arbor bars (48) to raise a piece of scenery (34) with a batten (36) up from a stage (14), via lift lines (38) and an operating line (42).

Claims

1. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus in a double or single purchase counterweight system for a stage with a counterweight pit, the system having a plurality of loft beams over the stage, a plurality of loft beam sheaves underhung on the loft beams, two head block beams over the counterweight pit, an upright head block sheive between the two head block beams, a loading gallery above with an operating gallery below suspended vertically from one loft beam and the first head block beam, a pin rail on the operating gallery, a pair of guide rails extending vertically from the second head block beam into the counterweight pit, a piece of scenery with a batten suspended over the stage by a plurality of lift lines extending about the loft beam sheaves and the upright head block sheive, a tensioning floating foot block sheive carried within the counterweight pit, and an operating line extending between the upright head block sheive through the pin rail and the tensioning floating foot block sheive, said apparatus comprising:

a) a bottom stop bracket affixed at a right angle to the guide rails above the counterweight pit;

b) a top stop bracket affixed at a right angle to the guide rails at the second head block beam;

c) a pair of elongate arbor bars extending vertically between said bottom stop bracket and said top stop bracket;

d) an improved counterweight arbor carriage which slides upon said elongate arbor bars and the guide rails between said bottom stop bracket and said top stop bracket;

e) means for coupling the lift lines to a top end of said improved counterweight arbor carriage from the upright head block sheive;

f) means for coupling the operating line to the top end and a bottom end of said improved counterweight arbor carriage;

g) a plurality of improved counterweights;

h) means for storing some of said improved counterweights on said elongate arbor bars directly under said top stop bracket and above said improved counterweight arbor carriage until released; and

i) means for locking some of said improved counterweights in said improved counterweight arbor carriage, after being released, whereby said improved counterweights will slide upon said elongate arbor bars when said improved counterweight arbor carriage raises the piece of scenery with said batten up from the stage.

2. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said improved counterweight arbor carriage includes:

a) a bottom plate having a pair of spaced apart holes, to allow said elongate arbor bars to extend therethrough;

b) a top plate having a large rectangular aperture, to allow said improved counterweights to pass therethrough on said elongate arbor bars;

c) a plurality of front vertical support members extending between a front end of said bottom plate and said top plate;

d) a plurality of rear vertical support members extending between a rear end of said bottom plate and said top plate; and

e) a pair of horizontal guide members transversely spaced apart and affixed to said rear vertical support members to ride on the guide rails.

3. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said lift lines coupling means includes:

a) a first lift sheive mounted to a first side of said top plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to accommodate some of the lift lines; and

b) a second lift sheive mounted to a second side of said top plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to accommodate some of the lift lines.

4. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said operating line coupling means includes:

a) an operating sheive mounted to a front end of said top plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to accommodate the operating line; and

b) a lower arbor sheive mounted centrally to a bottom surface of said bottom plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to also accommodate the operating line.

5. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein each said improved counterweight includes a rectangular shaped block having a long bore extending between the center of the short sides thereof, a short bore extending between the center of the long sides thereof and each of the short sides having a slotted cavity which straddle said elongate arbor bars.

6. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said storing means includes:

a) each said elongate arbor bar having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough adjacent said top stop bracket; and

b) a plurality of locking pins, whereby each said locking pin can extend through said matching holes in said elongate arbor bars and said long bore between said slotted cavities in one said rectangular shaped block of said improved counterweight to retain said improved counterweight to said elongate arbor bars, whereby when the said lowest of said locking pins is pulled out, said lowest improved counterweight will drop down into said improved counterweight arbor carriage to increase the weight thereof.

7. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said locking means includes:

a) a pair of holding straps, each said holding strap having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough, which extends between a side end of said bottom plate and said top plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage; and

b) a plurality of holding pins, whereby each said holding pin can extend through said matching holes in said holding straps and said short bore in one said rectangular shaped block of said improved counterweight, to keep said improved counterweight in a stationary position within said improved counterweight arbor carriage.

8. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 2, further including a pair of grease cups welded to the bottom surface of said bottom plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, whereby each said grease cup straddles one of said elongate arbor bars, so that when said improved counterweight arbor carriage moves up and down, said elongate arbor bars will be lubricated by said grease cups.

9. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein each said grease cup includes:

a) a cylindrical shaped cover having internal threads and a central aperture therethrough, said cover being welded to the bottom surface of said bottom plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to allow one said elongate arbor bar to pass through said central aperture;

b) a cylindrical shaped container having external threads and a central orifice therethrough, said container threaded to said cover, to allow one said elongate arbor bar to pass through said central orifice; and

c) an external grease fitting on said cover, so that grease can be inserted into said cover, held in said container and be applied onto said elongate arbor bar.

10. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein each said shaped cup further includes a cylindrical shaped sponge member having a central hole and a vertical slot extending from said central hole, so that said sponge member can be placed between said cover and said container, about one said elongate arbor bar to hold the grease and apply the grease to said elongate arbor bar, when said improved counterweight arbor carriage moves up and down.

11. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus in a double or single purchase counterweight system for a stage with a counterweight pit, the system having a plurality of loft beams over the stage, a plurality of loft beam sheaves underhung on the loft beams, two head block beams over the counterweight pit, an upright head block sheive between the two head block beams, a loading gallery above with an operating gallery below suspended vertically from one loft beam and the first head block beam, a pin rail on the operating gallery, a pair of guide rails extending vertically from the second head block beam into the counterweight pit, a piece of scenery with a batten suspended over the stage by a plurality of lift lines extending about the loft beam sheaves and the upright head block sheive, a tensioning floating foot block sheive carried within the counterweight pit, and an operating line extending between the upright head block sheive through the pin rail and the tensioning floating foot block sheive, said apparatus comprising:

a) a bottom stop bracket affixed at a right angle to the guide rails above the counterweight pit;

b) a top stop bracket affixed at a right angle to the guide rails at the second head block beam;

c) a pair of elongate arbor bars extending vertically between said bottom stop bracket and said top stop bracket;

d) an improved counterweight arbor carriage which slides upon said elongate arbor bars and the guide rails between said bottom stop bracket and said top stop bracket, wherein said improved counterweight arbor carriage includes a bottom plate having a pair of spaced apart holes, to allow said elongate arbor bars to extend therethrough, a top plate having a large rectangular aperture, to allow said improved counterweights to pass therethrough on said elongate arbor bars, a plurality of front vertical support members extending between a front end of said bottom plate and said top plate, a plurality of rear vertical support members extending between a rear end of said bottom plate and said top plate and a pair of horizontal guide members transversely spaced apart and affixed to said rear vertical support members to ride on the guide rails;

e) means for coupling the lift lines to a top end of said improved counterweight arbor carriage from the upright head block sheive;

f) means for coupling the operating line to the top end and a bottom end of said improved counterweight arbor carriage;

g) a plurality of improved counterweights;

h) means for storing some of said improved counterweights on said elongate arbor bars directly under said top stop bracket and above said improved counterweight arbor carriage until released; and

i) means for locking some of said improved counterweights in said improved counterweight arbor carriage, after being released, whereby said improved counterweights will slide upon said elongate arbor bars when said improved counterweight arbor carriage raises the piece of scenery with said batten up from the stage.

12. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said lift lines coupling means includes:

a) a first lift sheive mounted to a first side of said top plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to accommodate some of the lift lines; and

b) a second lift sheive mounted to a second side of said top plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to accommodate some of the lift lines.

13. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said operating line coupling means includes:

a) an operating sheive mounted to a front end of said top plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to accommodate the operating line; and

b) a lower arbor sheive mounted centrally to a bottom surface of said bottom plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to also accommodate the operating line.

14. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein each said improved counterweight includes a rectangular shaped block having a long bore extending between the center of the short sides thereof, a short bore extending between the center of the long sides thereof and each of the short sides having a slotted cavity which straddle said elongate arbor bars.

15. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said storing means includes:

a) each said elongate arbor bar having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough adjacent said top stop bracket; and

b) a plurality of locking pins, whereby each said locking pin can extend through said matching holes in said elongate arbor bars and said long bore between said slotted cavities in one said rectangular shaped block of said improved counterweight to retain said improved counterweight to said elongate arbor bars, whereby when said lowest of said locking pins is pulled out, said lowest improved counterweight will drop down into said improved counterweight arbor carriage to increase the weight thereof.

16. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said locking means includes:

a) a pair of holding straps, each said holding strap having a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough, which extends between a side end of said bottom plate and said top plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage; and

b) a plurality of holding pins, whereby each said holding pin can extend through said matching holes in said holding straps and said short bore in one said rectangular shaped block of said improved counterweight, to keep said improved counterweight in a stationary position within said improved counterweight arbor carriage.

17. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 16, further including a pair of grease cups welded to the bottom surface of said bottom plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, whereby each said grease cup straddles one of said elongate arbor bars, so that when said improved counterweight arbor carriage moves up and down, said elongate arbor bars will be lubricated by said grease cups.

18. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein each said grease cup includes:

a) a cylindrical shaped cover having internal threads and a central aperture therethrough, said cover being welded to the bottom surface of said bottom plate of said improved counterweight arbor carriage, to allow one said elongate arbor bar to pass through said central aperture;

b) a cylindrical shaped container having external threads and a central orifice therethrough, said container threaded to said cover, to allow one said elongate arbor bar to pass through said central orifice; and

c) an external grease fitting on said cover, so that grease can be inserted into said cover, held in said container and be applied onto said elongate arbor bar.

19. A modified theatrical counterweight apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein each said grease cup further includes a cylindrical shaped sponge member having a central hole and a vertical slot extending from said central hole, so that said sponge member can be placed between said cover and said container, about one said elongate arbor bar to hold the grease and apply the grease to said elongate arbor bar, when said improved counterweight arbor carriage moves up and down.